WhichCarParts

LF (7th generation) · 2015–2019 · Mid-size sedan

2016 Hyundai Sonata parts and specs

Everything you need to own and maintain this exact model year. Verified specifications, part numbers, and the problems that recur, in one place.

Last verified

Photo: Mr.choppers / CC BY-SA 3.0. Illustrative, not necessarily your model year or trim.

Quick facts

Engine oil
5W-20, 4.8 qt (base engine)
Battery
Group 94R (AGM, idle-stop-equipped trims) / 124R (flooded, non-ISG trims)
Tire size
205/65R16 (base trim)
Wiper blades
26" / 17"
Cabin filter
97133-C1000 (gas); 97133-C1010 (Hybrid/PHEV)
Key fob battery
CR2032

Specifications for the 2015–2019 Sonata

Oil & filter

Viscosity, capacity, filter part numbers, change interval

Battery

BCI group size, cold cranking amps, AGM or flooded

Tires & wheels

Factory sizes by trim, pressures, bolt pattern, lug torque

Wiper blades

Driver, passenger and rear blade lengths

Air & cabin filters

Cabin and engine air filter part numbers, locations, intervals

Bulbs

Headlight, fog and marker bulb types

Brakes

Rotor diameters, pad references, service notes

Fluids

Transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid and capacities

Service schedule

What's actually due at every mileage interval

Problems & reliability

Documented failures, recalls, and which years to avoid

Oil light reset

Step-by-step maintenance light reset, no tools

Key fob battery

Which coin cell the remote takes

Specs

Towing, weight, fuel tank, fuel economy

These specifications are shared across every Sonata of the LF (7th generation) generation. See the 2015–2019 Hyundai Sonata overview for the full picture, or the Hyundai Sonata guide to compare every generation.

What changed for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata

  • 2016Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid trims join the lineup with the Nu 2.0L GDI hybrid powertrain

Known problems with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata

2 of the 3 issues we track for the 2015–2019 generation are documented against the 2016 model year.

  • Eco 1.6T 7-speed dual-clutch transmission shudder/hesitation

    moderate

    The Eco trim's 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (paired with the 1.6T) is widely reported to shudder, hesitate, or clunk during low-speed engagement, pulling away from a stop or in stop-and-go traffic, most noticeably when the clutch packs are cold. Software recalibrations improve it in many cases; persistent shudder can require clutch or mechatronic unit replacement.

    Typical cost: Free (software update) under warranty; $1,500–$3,000 for clutch/mechatronic replacement out of warranty

  • Blue Link/infotainment connectivity dropouts

    minor

    Owners report intermittent Bluetooth pairing loss, frozen touchscreens, and Blue Link telematics dropouts, particularly on pre-facelift (2015–2017) head units. Software updates and head-unit resets resolve most cases; it's an annoyance rather than a safety issue.

    Typical cost: $0 (reset/update) – $500+ (head unit replacement out of warranty)

1 more issue reported in other 2015–2019 years
  • Theta II-family engine warranty coverage carries into early LF years — 2015 (early LF Theta II engines)

Full detail, costs and sources on the Hyundai Sonata problems and years to avoid guide.

Which engines were offered in the 2016 Sonata?

EngineTrimsOilOil capacity
2.4L 4-cylinder (Theta II GDI)SE, Sport, Limited (2.4L)5W-204.8 qt
1.6L Turbo 4-cylinder (Gamma T-GDI, Eco)Eco5W-304 qt
2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder (Theta II Turbo GDI)Sport 2.0T, Limited 2.0T5W-304.2 qt
2.0L Hybrid / Plug-in Hybrid (Nu 2.0L GDI + electric motor)Hybrid, Hybrid Limited, Plug-in Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid Limited5W-204 qt

About the Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata is the brand's midsize sedan and, for much of the 2011–2025 span covered here, a cautionary tale about engine manufacturing quality alongside genuinely good value. 0T GDI engines are the center of Hyundai's biggest-ever US recall saga: manufacturing debris left in connecting-rod oil passages caused a wave of engine seizures and fires, triggering two NHTSA recalls (15V-568, then the broader 17V-226), a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software campaign, and, after a November 2020 NHTSA consent order found Hyundai and Kia had moved too slowly and misreported data, a lifetime engine warranty extension for affected owners who install the KSDS update. The same generation's Sonata Hybrid was separately recalled (23V-651) for an ABS module that could short-circuit and start an engine-bay fire, with owners told to park outside.

0L hybrid/PHEV; Theta-family warranty coverage extends into its early years. 0L) shared with the Sonata Hybrid/Hybrid Limited. 3. Because of the recall history, checking a Sonata's VIN against NHTSA and Hyundai's recall lookup before buying or servicing one is more important here than on almost any other nameplate in this database.

For how the specifications changed across every generation, see the full Hyundai Sonata guide.

Other Hyundai Sonata years

20252024202320222021202020192018201720152014201320122011
Data confidence for this generationHigh confidence

Sources