2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 60 MPH, there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact immediately pulled over to inspect the vehicle. Upon checking under the hood, the contact noticed that the coolant level was low. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine had overheated and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11657515

Incident

Apr 14, 2025

Mileage

130,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that upon starting or reversing, the steering wheel seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11610520

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

Mileage

82,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. That contact stated that the ABS fuse had been replaced but the vehicle experienced unstated failures with the braking system. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11587715

Incident

Jan 29, 2024

Mileage

138,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11584949

Incident

Apr 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11566937

Incident

Jan 22, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that upon retrieving the vehicle from the local dealer after a recall repair, the brakes were inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where a diagnostic test was completed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11541674

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the front driver's side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V137000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags) was serviced by the previous owner in 2020. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

NHTSA ID

11493693

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

Mileage

141,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and had recall repair was completed. The contact stated that two weeks after the repair, while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. Additionally, there was an abnormal sound with the battery warning light illuminated. The contact parked in a parking lot and restarted the vehicle but continued to experience the failure. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to Allen Turner Hyundai (6501 Pensacola Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32505: (850) 479-9667) however, the vehicle was not serviced at the dealer. The vehicle was towed back to the first dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact stated that the failure recurred seven times. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

NHTSA ID

11464527

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

Mileage

102,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had stated that the engine was replaced; however, the vehicle was not able to be started. The approximate failure mileage was 176,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11455903

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

Mileage

176,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving there was an abnormal knocking noise detected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The contact stated the failure was like NHTSA Campaign number 20V746000 (Engine). The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11431194

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE JIM ELLIS HYUNDAI ATLANTA (5785 PEACHTREE BLVD, ATLANTA, GA 30341) TO BE DIAGNOSED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC ASSURED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SERVICE SOON AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT A NEARBY PARKING LOT OVERNIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY SHE RETURNED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, STALLED, WITH A HINT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT REMAINED FOR TWO DAYS WHILE THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER AND SHE WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS OF THE ISSUES WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME DEALER PERFORMED A MULTI-POINT CHECK ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID

11406895

Incident

Nov 20, 2020

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11403464

Incident

Mar 17, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LEE HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 1960 SKIBO RD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28314, (910) 684-4827) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. VIN TOOL CONFIRM PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN

NHTSA ID

11403068

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE OVERHEAT MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO CONICELLI HYUNDAI (1208 RIDGE PIKE, CONSHOHOCKEN, PA 19428, (610) 624-2029) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS THERMOSTAT BLOCKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11400398

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING SOUND DETECTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AMARILLO HYUNDAI (1900 INTERSTATE 40 ACCESS RD #3029, AMARILLO, TX 79103, (806) 376-4911) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11397944

Incident

Feb 24, 2021

Mileage

105,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A STRANGE KNOCKING SOUND SO I TURNED AROUND TO GO HOME WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING OUT. I PULLED OVER POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WENT UP LIKE CRAZY. I CALLED 911 AND VACATED IMMEDIATELY

NHTSA ID

11373645

Incident

Nov 6, 2020

Mileage

129,000 mi

ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE THAT BECAME WORSE OVER THREE DAYS (ORIGINALLY MISTAKEN FOR BAD GAS BUT BECAME MUCH LOUDER THAN THAT WOULD BE). WHILE DRIVING ALONG A BUSY STATE ROAD (NC 98) AND CAR CHOKED TWICE WITH A LOUD THUMP AND I FEARED IT WOULD STALL. PULLED OVER, SHUT VEHICLE OFF. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO ACTUAL FLAMES DETECTED. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DESCRIBED HOLES IN THE ENGINE. CONSULTED HYUNDAI AND THEY WILL ONLY OFFER A SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. LABOR COSTS ARE APPROXIMATELY $2500 WHICH I AM REQUIRED TO PAY. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 141K MILES. TOW TRUCK OPERATOR ALSO TOLD ME TO RESEARCH THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED BUT SHOULD BE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE RECALL WAS INCOMPLETE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROADER.

NHTSA ID

11301915

Incident

Jan 11, 2020

Mileage

141,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, AN AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE CHECK BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE CHIME STOPPED, THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS WERE RENDERED INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM HYUNDAI (4355 STONE MOUNTAIN HWY, LILBURN, GA 30047, (770) 972-1222) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

11270844

Incident

Oct 24, 2019

Mileage

123,000 mi

I HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY. ANOTHER CAR HIT ME ON MY RIGHT SIDE. I WAS DRIVING WITH 60 MILE/ HOURS. I DEVIATE FROM THE ROAD AND THAT CAR HIT FEW MORE TIMES. MY CAR WAS DISTROYED. OK THIS ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT PROTECTED. EVEN THAT I DIDN'T BROKE ANY BONE I HURT REALLY BED MY LEFT SHOULDER, LEFT HIP AND ALSO I HIT MY HEAD DURING THIS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11232616

Incident

May 7, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

YEAR: 2011 VIN: [XXX] FEW DAYS AGO CHANGE NEW PART AND INSTALLATION 6/28/2019 CHANGING THE BRAKE ABS ASSY IN MILLENNIUM HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEMS CHECK BRAKE WARNING AGAIN MY HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHEN DRIVING THE CHECK BRAKE SIGNAL COMES ON AND SHUTS DOWN THE CAR AND RENDER IT DRIVE LESS UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT .WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM CHECK BRAKE SIGNAL COME ON INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ID

11228576

Incident

Jun 24, 2019

Mileage

1 mi

CHECK BRAKE WARNING DISPLAY 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHEN DRIVING THE CHECK BRAKE SIGNAL COMES ON AND SHUTS DOWN THE CAR AND RENDER IT DRIVELESS UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT .WE CHANG NEW OWN 12 V BATTERY OEM PARTS . STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECK BRAKE SIGNAL COME ON .

NHTSA ID

11221385

Incident

Jun 14, 2019

Mileage

77,940 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED ORR AUTO MALL RUSSELLVILLE (LOCATED AT 3115 E MAIN ST, RUSSELLVILLE, AR 72802, (877) 742-3331) AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID

11220047

Incident

Jun 13, 2019

Mileage

94,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING O WORK AND SAT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME THROUGH VENTS AND OUT THE SIDE OF PASSENGER HOOD. I GOT OUT AND IT STARTED TO SMOKE EVEN MORE AND THEN WITH A FEW SECONDS IT BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD

NHTSA ID

11219486

Incident

Jun 12, 2019

Mileage

104,890 mi

MAY BE ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL OR SOFTWARE PROBLEM; LOST POWER ON INTERSTATE FROM 70 MPH TO 20 MPH THEN GOT OFF EXIT, SHUT DOWN AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN STARTED IT UP AND NO PROBLEM AGAIN; HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN LAST 4 MONTHS; TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE WITHOUT SUCCESS- NO CODES IN COMPUTER; NOW CAR IS SPUTTERING AND JUMPING WHEN GAS IS APPLIED AFTER SLOW DOWN/STOP. NOW GETTING FLASHING/BLINKS ON/OFF READY LIGHT ON DASH. SAW NHTSA ID NUMBER 10056327 AND SOUNDS LIKE MY ISSUE. DRIVE 40 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK ON INTERSTATE DAILY AND AM GETTING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING POWER. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO DEALER TWICE AND NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT AND REPORTED IT HYUNDIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER WITHOUT A CALL BACK TO DATE.

NHTSA ID

11205391

Incident

May 2, 2019

Mileage

156,947 mi

AFTER BEING JUMPED ONCE AND RUNNING PROPERLY THE CAR NO LONGER HAS ANY KIND OF POWER. THE REAR BATTERY IS WORKING FINE. MY MECHANIC HAD ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE WHEELS HAD A CERTAIN TYPE OF SPRING LIKE MECHANISM THAT WAS READY TO SHOOT OFF THE CAR AND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A VERY EXPENSIVE LARGE PIECE OF PLASTIC TO REGULATE AIRFLOW IF IT IS GOING TO PASS INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENTS AND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HAS HAPPENED TO IT TO CAUSE THESE THINGS

NHTSA ID

11203070

Incident

Feb 14, 2019