2011 Hyundai Equus Owner Complaints

Airbag suspension bags keep unable

NHTSA ID

11693505

Incident

Oct 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that the front shocks were previously replaced under an unknown recall. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced rear suspension failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the rear springs were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, where the rear springs were replaced a second time; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving on an uneven road surface, the vehicle was bouncing, and felt like the wheels were rubbing the front and rear wheel wells. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ID

11658557

Incident

May 2, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the rod bearings had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11654706

Incident

Mar 27, 2025

Mileage

120,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled however, the driver was able to pull to the side of the road where the vehicle lost motive and was unable to be restarted. The contact stated that he was unaware of any warning lights being illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who advised that they would attempt to restart the electronic computer module (ECM). The repair was successful however, the contact stated that the independent mechanic advised him that the failure could recur and that the vehicle should be taken to the dealer. The contact stated that the failure recurred without warning. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer. The failure was diagnosed that the ECM had malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The ECM was replaced by a module from another vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer since July of 2021 as the replacement part was on back order. The contact stated that the dealer informed him that other issues were found with the vehicle and the contact was awaiting a call from the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11463358

Incident

Jul 9, 2021

Mileage

50,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the front end of the vehicle would lower to the ground without warning. Each time the failure occurred, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it was repaired; however, the failure would return soon after repair. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11449625

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Clock spring malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11433441

Incident

Apr 20, 2019

THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I DO NOT HAVE MUCH BRAKING AND I HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS (FRONT/REAR) AND BLED THE BRAKES AND IT DID NOT HELP. I HAVE READ THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (HECU) AND THE PART IS COVERED UNDER RECALL FOR THE 2011 HYUNDAI GENESIS (RECALL 13V489000). SINCE IT IS THE SAME PART THAT IS USED ON THE 2011 GENESIS, DOES THE RECALL COVER THE EQUUS WHICH IS THE SAME CAR.

NHTSA ID

11317194

Incident

Mar 7, 2020

Mileage

106,800 mi

MALFUNCTION OF SUSPENSION AND NO DEALERSHIP CAN RESET. WE BEEN TO MERIDIAN AND HATTIESBURG DEALERSHIP AND EITHER THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT WORKING OR HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. ALWAYS TRIED TO SELL US ANOTHER VEHICLE. YOU

NHTSA ID

11279163

Incident

Oct 17, 2019

Mileage

30 mi

SIMILAR COMPLAINT AS NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11058378. THE FRONT END DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. NOTED THAT THE FRONT AIR-STRUTS WERE TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED THEM IN OCTOBER 2018. HOWEVER IN MARCH 2019, THE TOTAL CAR HAS DROPPED LOWER THAN EARLIER. THIS WHILE SITTING. TRIED TO RESTART CAR TO SEE IF ALL SYSTEMS WOULD RESET, BUT TO NO AVAIL. TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AROUND.

NHTSA ID

11192338

Incident

Mar 6, 2019

CAR BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW CAR IN EMERGENCY TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY, BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE THEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOD AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR AHEAD. REAR BRAKES WERE NEW, REPLACED FRONT PADS, BUT BRAKE PEDAL STILL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR GENESIS HCU , WHICH HAS THE SAME PART AS THIS CAR, THE COST OF REPAIR IS $3000. THE CAR HAS 39000 MILES , I BELIEVE THE CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE HCU, SIMILAR TO THE SISTER CAR THE GENISIS WHICH WAS RECALLED. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, THE REPAIR COST IS ENORMOUS AND FORCES PEOPLE TO KEEP DRIVING WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES. DRIVING WITHOUT NEEDING TO STOP SUDDENLY THE CAR WORKS FINE. ONLY WHEN TRAFFIC STOPS SUDDENLY DO YOU NOTICE THE NEED TO PUT THE FOOT TO THE FLOOR , AND IT TAKES 100 EXTRA FEET TO STOP. THIS IS AFTER REPLACING ALL PADS AND HAVING THE SYSTEM CHECKED. AT THE BRAKE SHOP. I DRIVE LESS THAN 500 MILES A MONTH AND HAVE HAD 2 NEAR ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

11180224

Incident

Dec 28, 2018

Mileage

39,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI EQUUS. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE FRONT END FRAME DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE STABILITY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HOMER SKELTON HYUNDAI (8145 CRAFT RD, OLIVE BRANCH, MS 38654) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARNES CROSSING HYUNDAI (3988 NORTH GLOSTER ST, TUPELO, MS 38804) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID

11058378

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

Mileage

165,000 mi

I HAVE 2011 HYUNDAI EQUSS THAT STARTED HAVING VSM ISSUE THAT WOULD KEEP SMART CRUISE FROM WORKING>IT WAS RESOLVED TO BE A BRAKE SWITCH!>DURING THE TRIPS TO (2) DIFFERENT HYUNDAI EQUSS DEALERSHIPS FIRST IN LEXINGTON@ GLENN'S HYUNDAI & FINALLY AFTER ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED FRIENDSHIP HYUNDAI, IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE CASTER AND CAMBER ISSUE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL>I HAS THE FRIENDSHIP DEALERSHIP DO A (4) WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND ALL TOE IN CAME GOOD AND STEER AHEAD.THE REMAINING ISSUE WAS RIGHT FRONT STILL WAS QUITE A BIT OUT IN UPPER RED ON BOTH CASTER AND CAMBER.I WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO FRAME SHOP AND I DID,THEY COULD FIND NO WRONG MEASUREMENTS AND THEY ARE REGIONAL MULTI LINE CAR REPAIR FACILITY THAT DOES ALL MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANY BODY & FRAME ISSUES,THE ENGINE AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED DURING IT'S 100600 MILE LIFE BUT AFTER CONTACTING THE HYUNDAI EQUUS CUSTOMER CARE THEY REFERRED M BACK TO DEALER AND HE TOLD ME HELP DESK GIVES NO ANSWERS???HOW DO I RESOLVE AND WHY HAVE THEY NOT MADE A KIT LIKE GENESIS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE??>VERY DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET!

NHTSA ID

10956821

Incident

Feb 20, 2017

Mileage

100,260 mi

AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO FIND A SERVICE CENTER OR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO ADJUST MY ALIGNMENT, I FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY CONCERNS ABOUT MY VEHICLE'S FRONT TIRE ALIGNMENT. MY MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 14, 2016 AFTER GETTING A NEW SET OF TIRES FOR MY CAR. INCLUDED IN THE TIRE FITTING SERVICE WAS A WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK AND ADJUSTMENT. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE ENCOUNTERED ISSUES WITH A SERVICE CENTER SAYING THEY ARE UNABLE TO ADJUST MY FRONT CAMBER AND CASTOR ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE THE "MANUFACTURER DOES NOT SPECIFY" WHAT THESE ALIGNMENTS SHOULD BE. PERHAPS THE STRANGEST PART ABOUT THIS IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE REAR WHEELS. I HAVE EVEN CONTACTED SEVERAL HYUNDAI AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS AND THEY TOO INDICATE THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE THE PROPER ADJUSTMENTS. MY LAST RESORT WAS TO CONTACT HYUNDAI USA TECHNICAL SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY COULD OFFER ADVICE AND THEY'RE ONLY FEEDBACK WAS THAT I NEEDED TO VISIT A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR SUPPORT ..... FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY SITUATION DUE TO THIS DEFECT BUT WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PROPERLY ADJUST THE ALIGNMENT MY TIRES WILL NEVER WEAR PROPORTIONATELY. THIS IS INCREDIBLY CONCERNING BECAUSE THE TREAD LIFE ON ANY TIRES I HAVE INSTALLED ON MY CAR CONTINUES I LESSEN. I FELT INCLINED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S IMPACTING ALL HYUNDAI EQUUS OWNERS. IT IS ALSO CONCERNING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWER ON HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ATTACHED YOU WILL FIND PAPERWORK FROM MY MOST RECENT ATTEMPT TO GET THE WHEELS ALIGNED . I AM HOPEFUL YOU CAN HELP BRING LIGHT TO THIS ISSUE AND HELP CORRECT AND FUTURE PROBLEMS FOR ALL EQUUS OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

10935225

Incident

Dec 14, 2016

Mileage

89,019 mi

THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IS VERY LONG. I MUST BEGIN THE STOPPING PROCESS MUCH EARLIER THAN PREVIOUS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAILED HECU. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW MILES AND ONE MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA HAD AN INSPECTION CAMPAIGN FOR GENESIS HECU UNITS, BUT NOT EQUUS. HOW CAN THE HECU BE PROPERLY INSPECTED WITHOUT DISASSEMBLING THE UNIT? HYUNDAI SHOULD REPLACE THE FAILED HECU.

NHTSA ID

10920266

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

Mileage

69,000 mi

WHEN APPLYING CAR BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. IF I TURN ON CAR HEAD LIGHTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. BUT IF THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE OFF THEY DON'T WORK.

NHTSA ID

10894091

Incident

Aug 4, 2016

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI EQUUS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OPERABLE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V713000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,400.

NHTSA ID

10894079

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

92,400 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE HARD AND I HAD TO COME TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKES TURNED SPONGY AND I SWERVED TO MISS A CAR. I HAVE HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED THINKING THAT WAS THE ISSUE BUT IT WAS STILL SPONGY. I THEN NOTICED THE RECALL ON THE GENESIS AND I CONTACTED HYUNDAI. I ASKED DID THE RECALL AFFECT THE EQUSS SEEING HOW THEY ARE THE SAME PART NUMBERS. THEY TOLD ME NO AND IT DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY EITHER. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AROUND $2800 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE SAME PART GOES BAD ON 2 DIFFERENT CARS BUT THE RECALL ISN'T FOR THE EQUUS IN THE SAME YEARS AS THE RECALL ON THE GENESIS.

NHTSA ID

10881849

Incident

Jun 25, 2016

Mileage

92,741 mi

DRIVER BEHIND ME ALERTED THAT MY BRAKES WORKED BUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. HE INDICATED THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE NATION'S HIGHWAYS. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE HARNESS DIODE Z06. AGAIN ON 20MAY2014, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME, DEALER REPLACED DIODE Z01. THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE OR VISUAL WARNING ON THE DASH ALTHOUGH VEHICLE PERFORMS A "SYSTEM CHECK" AT STARTUP AND WARNS OF MINOR ALERTS LIKE LOW TIRE PRESSURE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS I AM A RETIRED PERSON AND I MUST DEPEND ON THE SAFETY FEATURES OF MY CAR. TWO LETTERS TO HYUNDAI HQ HAVE NOT PRODUCED RESULTS. INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED WITH HYUNDAI FOR MANY YEARS. A PERMANENT FIX IN THE FORM OF A RECALL IS REQUIRED. OR, REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE SO THAT OWNERS CAN BUY A SAFE CAR. ... UPDATED 10/27/14 *BF UPDATED 11/13/14 *BF UPDATED 7/28/2015 *JS *TR

NHTSA ID

10616518

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

14,948 mi

WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR'S FRONT SUSPENSION SUDDENLY FAILED, THE FRONT COLLAPSED AND THE BODY OF THE CAR NEARLY TOUCHED THE GROUND ON FLAT GROUNDS AND DRAGGED AGAINST THE GROUND ON INCLINES AND DECLINES. THE WHEELS RUBBED AGAINST THE BODY OF THE CAR ON TURNS AND THE CAR BECAME VERY UNSTABLE AND STARTED TO SHAKE. THIS EPISODE HAS OCCURRED THRICE DESPITE MANUFACTURER'S REPAIRS. THIS SECOND EPISODE RESULTED IN MILD WHIPLASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10531683

Incident

Nov 5, 2012

Mileage

28,000 mi

WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR'S FRONT SUSPENSION SUDDENLY FAILED, THE FRONT COLLAPSED AND THE BODY OF THE CAR NEARLY TOUCHED THE GROUND ON FLAT GROUNDS AND DRAGGED AGAINST THE GROUND ON INCLINES AND DECLINES. THE WHEELS RUBBED AGAINST THE BODY OF THE CAR ON TURNS AND THE CAR BECAME VERY UNSTABLE AND STARTED TO SHAKE. THIS EPISODE HAS OCCURRED THRICE DESPITE MANUFACTURER'S REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10531682

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

26,807 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDIA EQUUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED BROWNISH SOOT WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AREA AND SEAT WERE BURNT. IN ADDITION, A SMALL PORTION OF THE CONSOLE MELTED. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE WHO STATED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR PERFORMED FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10508541

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI EQUUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ID

10499916

Incident

Jan 30, 2013

Mileage

11,000 mi

THIS WAS THE DATE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED THREE MONTHS LATER. WE WERE JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED AND THE WHOLE CAR, MOSTLY THE FRONT DROPPED A NUMBER OF INCHES, WE COULD BARELY DRIVE HOME AND HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED, SEEMS TO BE A VERY UNSAFE ITEM. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE, SECOND TIME IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE.I CONTACTED HYUNDAI, AND WANTED THEM TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE, AS I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER SMALL ISSUES GO WRONG, BUT THIS SUSPENSION PROBLEM FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND ACTUALLY MAKES ME CONCERNED WHEN I DRIVE,THEY REFUSED TO BUY IT BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468861

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

Mileage

21,000 mi

SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, IT RANDOMLY OPENS THE TRUNK BY ITSELF WITHOUT PUSHING ANY BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD OR ON THE REMOTE CONTROL. ONE TIME, I ALMOST DROVE BACK INTO A CAR PASSING BY, BECAUSE MY REAR VIEW WAS BLOCKED BY OPENED TRUNK. I AM AFRAID THAT MY TRUNK MAY OPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING BY ITSELF OR RUN INTO ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MY VIEW WAS BLOCKED BY THIS TRUNK. I HAVE FOUR VIDEOS OF MY TRUNK BEING OPENED BY ITSELF, BUT HYUNDAI'S DISTRIC PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER IS REFUSING TO FIX MY PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=WQUDGHGOZUG HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=KZCBOX7OINU HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=-ZE2ASPWH_0 HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=EW3DF_VS954. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467989

Incident

Jul 25, 2012

Mileage

6,000 mi