2016 Hyundai Sonata: Excessive oil consumption
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Sonata report: excessive oil consumption. CarComplaints.com lists 28 owner complaints, average mileage 89,250 miles.
NHTSA has 460 owner complaints for the 2016 Sonata in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11772400 (filed 10/20/2026): “The contact owns a 2016 hyundai sonata. the contact stated that while getting an oil change, the contact was informed that the oil pan was empty. the contact could not recall seeing leaks or making changes to the oil change routine. an independent mechanic inf…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11769408 (filed 10/06/2026): “The contact owns a 2016 hyundai sonata. while the contact's daughter was driving 55 mph, the engine seized. the contact stated that the failure had occurred while the contact's two minor grandchildren were inside the vehicle during the failure. the vehicle was…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: engine replacement (9 reports) keep driving it and had a ltr of oil every second day or so (3 reports) oil consumption testing refill as needed (2 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $5,700 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .