NHTSA Complaint #11461452 — 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID

The NHTSA has numerous complaints from owners of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata and 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with failures associated with the following: abnormal (knocking) noise from engine, reduced motive power and/or hesitation, illumination of the “Check Engine” warning lamp, illumination of engine oil pressure warning lamp, and a burning smell, oil leaking, and smoke. After research, I found the recall 21V301000, which lists “Part 573 Safety Recall Report 21V-301”, and I have attached it. I believe the piston oil rings are potentially a source of engine failure for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata and 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (since they are from the same manufacturer) and not the process and defect that Hyundai previously listed (that they stated was corrected), yet referenced in their recall. Hyundai and Kia both have defects with their ignition coils that have the shared part number: 27300-2E601, which also appears as: 27300 2E601. We have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited that is on its 3rd set of ignition coils, and some Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte owners have reported the use of a 4th set of ignition coils. I have researched this part number by contacting multiple Hyundai Certified Parts Departments. A Hyundai Parts Department verified that the Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 16-01-003-1 states that it “replaces” part number 27300-2E601 with part number 27300-2E601QQH, but they are the same exact part down to the 27300-2E601 appearing on both parts. One of the Hyundai parts people that I spoke to said that Hyundai put white circle stickers on the top of the ignition coils to differentiate between the older and newer part numbers, but the parts are identical. He said that Hyundai contacted their supplier of the ignition coils and negotiated a lower price due to a high failure rate. This means a significant price difference per ignition coil for the dealers, but keeps a defective part in the concerned vehicles.