HYUNDAI AZERA · model year

2016 HYUNDAI AZERA

16 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016HYUNDAIAZERA carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 AZERA is air bags with 3 filings, followed by steering (3) and electrical system (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2016 AZERA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

16
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

16 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: Not Rated/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS3
STEERING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
POWER TRAIN1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1

Recalls (1)

21V61900006/08/2021

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of F

Recent Complaints

20251117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Azera. The contact stated that the heating system was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to two Goodyear Auto Repair Shops, where it was diagnosed with a head gasket leak. One of the Goodyear facilities replaced the thermostat and the radiator. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, a message that the engine was overheating was displayed. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the head gasket was leaking because the head gasket bolts had melted. The dealer sent the vehicle to a machine shop, where the engine was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, and the contact noticed a burning odor coming from the vehicle and oil leaking underneath the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test, and the vehicle could b

Mileage: 109,000

20230927ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Moonroof- I opened my moonroof and when I tried to close it, the sunshade would not retract - it is hanging - causing me not to be able to see the back window when looking through my rear view mirror. I brought to a body shop and they said it is a design flaw. Now they want $1,800 to fix it!

20230927VISIBILITY/WIPER

Moonroof- I opened my moonroof and when I tried to close it, the sunshade would not retract - it is hanging - causing me not to be able to see the back window when looking through my rear view mirror. I brought to a body shop and they said it is a design flaw. Now they want $1,800 to fix it!

20230927VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Moonroof- I opened my moonroof and when I tried to close it, the sunshade would not retract - it is hanging - causing me not to be able to see the back window when looking through my rear view mirror. I brought to a body shop and they said it is a design flaw. Now they want $1,800 to fix it!

20220816AIR BAGS

Air Bag light came on while driving. After getting it checked, the technician stated that the air bag module went out and was erased. A new module would need to be ordered and the old one replaced. repair was not done as the cost was expensive and I don't believe that I should pay for something that is a safety equipment issue, This should be under a lifetime warranty. Currently driving the vehicle without working air bags. Has not been reported to the manufacturer. Light first appeared in February of 2022.

20220625STRUCTURE:BODY

While driving on the interstate, the panoramic sunroof exploded. Pieces of glass flew off my car. The explosive sound was very loud and startling, but I was able to maintain control of my vehicle. Vehicles behind me were potentially impacted by flying pieces of glass. I took my vehicle directly to the dealer, (Nalley Hyundai) who confirmed the glass shattered. There was no evidence of any foreign object impacting the glass. There were no warnings lights, messages or any other symptoms of an impending issue. Reported to Hyundai USA, Case # 19935493.

20220504UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The hydraulic hood lifting "hinges" did not hold the hood up. When I raised the hood to fill the window washer container, the hood fell, unhindered, on my left wrist, as I was taking the cap off of the filling tube. 2 seconds later it could have been my head as I would have been over the washer reservoir opening. The hand was very bruised, and the wrist was cut. (really hurt) Went to the dealer & he said this was the first Azera they had heard of with the problem but had seen several Sonatas with this problem. I believe the hydraulic lifters are the same, so perhaps the problem affects both models.

20220220POWER TRAIN

It has happened now over several years. When the temperature is cold, freezing and below, the gear shift lever is locked in the parking position and can not be moved to the R, N or D position. Last time it happened on the date shown below.

20211025AIR BAGS

Vehicle airbag light came on by itself while driving. Diagnosis shows that the Module needs to be replaced. Currently the vehicle does not have working airbags. it has been diagnosed by dealer but not manufacturer. Car is currently at the dealer service shop.

20210820ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Trunk will not open from inside or out unless key is used

20210813STEERING

I have been driving for 55 years, so I have a pretty good handle on "normal" as it pertains to driving. For the last couple of years I have noticed that the steering on my car "sticks" as I travel on nearly straight roads. It does not seem to pose a safety risk, but is very annoying as it causes the driver to over correct steering when it breaks free of the "sticking". This is not an occasional event, but a continuous, ongoing one. It is not noticeable when making turns. I have never had this problem analyzed due to the dealership costs.

20210313STEERING

THE STEERING WOULD ALMOST LOCK UP WHEN TRYING TO MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS. DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN (OR I HAVE NOT NOT NOTICED IT) IN TOWN, BUT DEFINITELY NOTICABLE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. I FEEL THIS TO BE A HAZARD IN CASE I NEED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STEERING CHANGE. BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INDICATED IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PAID $120 FOR ALIGNMENT AND IT SEEMED TO BE OK FOR A LITTLE BIT. ISSUE IS BACK NOW 11,000 MILES LATER. I FOUND A TSB ON A SIMILAR ISSUE, WHICH I NOTED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE NOT RELATED.

Mileage: 36,393

20210208STEERING

THE STEERING SEEMS TO "LOCK" OR STICK IN POSITION WHILE DRIVING. IT SOMETIME TAKES CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO MAKE THE STEERING TURN,. THE ACTION NEEDED TO "BREAK" THE STEERING FREE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ESPECIALLY UNDER SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING. WE LEASED THE CAN WHEN IT WAS NEW AND PURCHASED IT WHEN THE LEASE WAS EXPIRED, SO I KNOW THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE SO FAR. THE VEHICLE HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT NOW. THIS CONDITION HAS GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST MONTH. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE WITH THIS.

Mileage: 32,000

20171114CrashSERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A TRAIN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DAYTONA HYUNDAI (901 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32117) AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO AN UNKNOWN BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

Mileage: 900

20171114CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A TRAIN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DAYTONA HYUNDAI (901 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32117) AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO AN UNKNOWN BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

Mileage: 900

20171114CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A TRAIN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DAYTONA HYUNDAI (901 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32117) AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO AN UNKNOWN BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

Mileage: 900

Compare 2016HYUNDAIAZERA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA have?
The 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA has 16 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA?
The 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA?
Yes, the 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA?
The most-complained component for the 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA is AIR BAGS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2016 HYUNDAI AZERA has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.