Check a VIN

2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: stuck in gear or won't shift

6 of the 133 complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid describe stuck in gear or won't shift.

owner complaints
6
of this car's complaints
5%
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 11 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Stuck in gear or won't shift by model year

  • 2023
    1
  • 2021
    2
  • 2019
    2
  • 2017
    4
  • 2016
    6
  • 2012
    3
  • 2011
    1

What owners say

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · 88,385 miles · NV

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and decelerated. The check engine warning light and the battery warning light were illuminated. The failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was towed to the first dealer, and the contact was informed that an oil change was needed. The failure persisted, and the vehicle was taken to another dealer and was diagnosed and DTC: C222908; was retrieved. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,385.

Filed Oct 9, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · FL

The car will randomly lose acceleration and jerk forward. It will make a beeping noise while the hev system warning flashes on the dash. It also says to turn off engine. While the warning is flashing and engine light is on it goes into a limp mode and you have limited acceleration. It has almost caused multiple wrecks when I go to acceleration from turning or at lights in traffic because I cant go over 20-30 mph. I have turned the car on and off and the hev system and engine light turns off and the car continues to work normal. It eventually comes back on and does the same loss of power/hev warning. It will be random and does not matter on how fast you are going to trigger the warning lights and loss of power.

Filed May 6, 2025 · Engine · 70,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Mar 27, 2024 · Engine · 104,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the dashboard warning lights had suddenly activated and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode causing the vehicle to decelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions and the NOx sensor, intake manifold and EGR were replaced but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 104,000.

Filed Aug 9, 2022 · Engine · NC

My vehicle first went into limp mode and stalled while driving December 2021. Vehicle was taken to Dealership in Alpharetta, GA. I was advised the knock sensor needed an update. The update was completed but the vehicle continued to go in limp mode and stall again March 2022 after driving less than 1000 miles since previous repair. The vehicle was taken to dealership in Wake Forest, NC. This time there was no update for the knock sensor so I was advised they would need to replace knock sensor but it was on backorder until end of May 2022. The knock senor was replaced picked up vehicle and engine light came on by the time I had drove 50 miles and vehicle started to go in limp mode and stall again and car started shaking an bad vibration. Drove the car next morning and it put me down again going into limp mode, stalling, whole dash board lit up every warning light on and dinging, car shaking and made loud noise had to have towed back to dealership. This time dealership claim it came from misfire on cylinder 3 but that doesn't explain all the issues. I was called to pick up car again June 2022 car had bad vibration, knocking, still going into limp and stall mode, hybrid system warning light came on again, gear sticking not changing like it's supposed to had towed back to dealership. This time dealership replaced other 3 cylinders picked up car July 2022. Did a test drive advised car is still stalling, gear still sticking, vibration still , air not cooling and hybrid indicator needle bouncing back and forth from power to 80 never stabilized. Dealership claims can't find anything wrong. I have almost been hit 10 times since December 2021 because of vehicle going into limp mode while driving this is very dangerous to be going 55 to 70 and vehicle drops speed back to 10 all of a sudden in traffic

Filed Dec 16, 2019 · Transmission · 42,000 miles · MD

The automatic transmission on the 2016 hyundai sonata hybrid went out on the car oct 31, 2019. My wife was driving the car, when she lost drivability of the car. The car would not go, she was able to park it on a side street. She restarted the car but would not go into gear, the engine was running. The car was towed to the closest dealership, when scanned, indicating of a transmission problem. The car has been at the dealership since oct 31, 2019 with no eta of when a new transmission will be available to repair the car. At this point I can not sale the car because it needs a transmission. Hyundai needs to give a date when the transmission will be available. The dealership has no time frame when they will get a transmission from hyundai.

Questions about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid won't shift

Is stuck in gear or won't shift a common problem on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

6 of 133 owner complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (5%) mention stuck in gear or won't shift. The model year with the most reports is 2016.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

There are 0 recalls and 11 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Check engine light 31Knocking 21Engine failure 19Stalling 13Loss of power 9Fire or smoke 6Sunroof shattered 5Won't start 5

All model years of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history