Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
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Our database holds 3,376 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 3,376 · page 1 of 136
I was driving down the road going the speed limit and all of a sudden it felt like I hit a brick wall my car staked out and I was stuck in the middle of the road for about 20 minutes and finally I got it to start and drove home it did it again 2 months later
I had taken my Sonata to Mike Miller Hyndia in Peoria,I'll and they agreed to do the recall although they had my vehicle for two weeks. They did not service it and when I picked it up they said I had to drive it till the service engine light come on. I was driving it five days later and heard a loud noise and car started malfunctioning I was stuck in a middle of a intersection and I had to push vehicle off road. I broke my right hand in this process and I have also lost my job I am very concerned why they did not service it after they agreed too and sent me off in it in that condition ..The car is currently parked and unsure what to do with it ..
The vehicle suffered an internal connecting rod bearing failure, a known manufacturing defect affecting the Theta II GDI engine. The failure was explicitly diagnosed via the manufacturer - specific OBD-II fault code p1326 Knock Sensor Detector System. This defect causes sudden engine stalling poses an immediate risk of catastrophic engine failure or fire while driving. Hyundai Motor America has denied financial reimbursement for the required engine repair because the work was completed by an independent shop and third-party arbitration deadline (BBB Auto Line) communicated to me. The manufacturer is actively refusing to remedy an acknowledged safety defect.
On the freeway at night when headlights and back lights quit working. Got off freeway and were able to temporarily fix it. A few months later while parked in driveway and not in use for a couple of days, lights came on without our knowledge and drained our battery. Neighbor alerted us to the situation.
Intermittent and sudden loss of power steering nearly caused an accident for both of sons when each one was driving on two separate occasions this past week. "EPS" and traction control warning lights both illuminate on the dash when steering goes out. Sometimes the codes will clear themselves out after restarting the vehicle, but not always. Had it inspected by an independent service center and they cleared out the codes with their scanner. Steering worked fine for a few days afterwards, but then suddenly lost power steering again yesterday. It is very dangerous to drive and it is very unpredictable. I see that there was a recall for this issue for certain manufacture dates for 2011 Hyundai Sonata, but mine was not part of the recall. I believe that it should be part of that recall before someone dies or is injured.
I test drove the vehicle at an auction, watched several other people test drive the vehicle. Before the auction I test drove it one more time and put my obd scan tool on it to make sure there were no hidden codes or problems. I won the bid,and picked up the vehicle. I drove it approximately 6 miles from the auction and the falshing engine light popped on. I immediately pulled over in heavy freeway traffic. Put my scan tool on it and found out the knock sensor had triggered. The vehicle was shaking and making a terrible racket. It was inoperable in the worst possible spot on Highway 51 during rush hour traffic. I managed to slowing coast down the offramp and roll into a parking lot. I then called Purdy Hyundai and spoke with a service advisor and provided the VIN#. He (Vue Kue) informed me that the vehicle qualified for the recall and warranty work based on exactly that issue. I had the vehicle towed to the Purdy dealership on July 8th 2026. I was told today that it was unlikely that Hyundai would honor the recall because I did not have service records of a vehicle I had owned for 6 miles of driving. I filed a complaint with Hyundai corporate. Claim#43010067 and awaiting the reconciliation of this situation. Of which they appear to to be avoiding.
I purchased fgis car from a used car dealership, for over $6,000.00 , which is not a ton of money, but plenty enough to not have instant issues. Since my purchase in june 30, 2026, i have already had all of these issues occur. There is white smoke coming from the left tail pipe, it is sluggish when you push on the gas, there is black soot constantly on my rims that is extreamly hard to remove, the high pressure fuel pump jas failed, I can tell because the oil is higher then it was when o had the oil freshly changed, and it smells of gasoline.inside the oil. The exhaust has stron smell of gasoline. My steering wheel has a loud clinking noise everytime I go over a speed bump on pull into my driveway. Just so many items consistently needing repair or replacement, even though I just had the fuel system cleaned, the oil changed, and filters, and.oil filter too. I checked to see if any of my issues are covered by a recall warranty, because they all are recalled items for my car year, make, and model, but apparently Hyunfai is only covering these dangerous recall items for ul to 10 years. These items shkuld be covered longer, because my carfax states that at least one of these recalled items had already been changed in 2018, and is already broken again!! Hyundai should have covered these extreamly high wear out car parts for a longer period of time, or for the life of the vehicle, if every 5 years your replacing a $1000.00 part, not including labor, like the (HPFP) I was quoted by auto zone for over that price point!! "Ridiculous"! Another item is the air bag cover on the driver side windows area, of the body frame it is loose and keeps un-clipping, i am afraid that it is going to possibly just go off and kill me or something!! Very disappointed right now, that i cannot get any of these recalled items replaced by the manufacturer!!
I was heading to work when suddenly smoke started pouring from the air conditioning vents, and the ABS and traction control warning lights came on. I hit the brakes to pull over, only to realize I had lost braking power. I managed to steer to the side of the road as carefully as possible and bring the car to a stop—despite having no brakes and a fire burning under the hood. I tried downshifting to slow the vehicle, but the transmission didn't respond, and the cabin began filling with smoke. Once I stopped, there was nothing I could do to extinguish the fire, as the car was completely consumed within seconds. It was a fire in the engine bay; I lost the brakes, and the ABS and traction control lights lit up. I assume it was a critical failure in the braking system, most likely involving the ABS module.
Rod bearing issue due to particles in engine causing engine to not accelerate as normal and jerk when goes over 10 MPH can’t exceed 50 miles causing safety issues and knocking/clicking noise took it to Hyundai and was informed it is apart of the recall but wont replace engine my vehicle has ALL the same issues as the Hyundai recall but my VIN isn’t registered on the site for recall on carfax it shows a pattern of the previous owners being car in for maintenance and engine issues but engine never being replace under recall
Randomly all controls on my steering wheel (I.e. cruise control, volume for sound, Bluetooth phone controls etc) just stopped working. Now I cannot control the radio, phone or even toggle to see mpg, mileage driven, use cruise control etc. I read there was an extended warranty regarding this issue and my vehicle was or is affected. However it has since expired and upon contacting local dealership they did not even have the parts for that recall.
Once again I am having to replace a bulb for my vehicle. This will be the second time in 3 months I have had to replace my rear blinker bulb. Not including the 4-5 times per year I have to replace headlight bulbs. This time the wiring has melted and the bulb has nearly melted the lens cover. I only buy the exact OEM recommended bulb every time. Nothing fancy. Just the basic old school bulbs. Every year model around mine has been recalled for this exact issue.
The clock spring went bad causing failure of horn and all buttons on the steering wheel including cruise control. It also caused the airbag light to illuminate.
My 2011 Hyundai Sonata (VIN [XXX] ) was brought to Gateway Hyundai in [XXX] for the mandatory P1326/KSDS engine recall inspection. I had a confirmed appointment on XXX at 7:30 AM. The dealership acknowledged the P1326 code and that the KSDS test was required.Instead of performing the recall, the dealership refused to inspect the vehicle. They contacted a third party who was not in possession of the vehicle and released the vehicle to that person without my authorization. The plates were removed and the vehicle was later sold without my consent. The recall was never performed and the engine defect was never inspected.This is a failure to perform a required safety recall and a violation of chain-of-custody procedures. A vehicle with a known engine failure risk was put back into public circulation without inspection. This creates a safety hazard for the public.I also suffered financial harm including $1,500 in towing, parts, labor, and storage fees. I have a signed tow invoice showing the VIN and the total amount paid.I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Gateway Hyundai’s handling of recall vehicles, review their authorization and release procedures, and take enforcement action if violations are found. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS, both rear tail lights have melted to the point that the lightbulbs cannot be extracted and the brake and tail lights no longer work. When I looked into this, I found out this is a common issue on 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. It is almost always caused by excessive heat from the standard incandescent bulbs, which damages the wiring harness and deforms the plastic housing. When I called the closest Hyundai dealer (in Chico, California), they told me the warranty had expired last year and that I should have received a notice about it after I obtained ownership of the car in March 2025 (a little over a year ago). However, I did not receive a notice about this. Since the tail lights do not work properly as a result of this problem, it is a safety issue as it could cause an accident. It should be a recall repair instead of a warranty that expires. My car is still well under the 200,000 mile limit that was set on the extended warranty, but they're refusing to honor that because of the warranty being expired.
My 2013 Hyundai Sonata suffered engine failure consistent with Hyundai Theta II engine defects. The vehicle became inoperable/unsafe. Hyundai denied warranty coverage despite my maintenance records and documentation.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and had to be towed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
The vehicle’s airbag warning light is illuminated. The steering wheel also makes a clicking noise, which appears related to an internal clock spring/coil connector failure. This defect may prevent the driver airbag from deploying properly in a crash, creating a serious safety risk. I contacted O’Brien Hyundai of Normal on 4/23/2026 and was denied repair assistance solely due to vehicle mileage. The vehicle has been well maintained, and this issue involves a critical safety component that should not fail under normal use. I am submitting this complaint due to concerns about airbag system failure and occupant safety.
Car is stuck in the drive position and won't change into neutral not park even with pushing the shift lock release button. I turned it off and now it won't even start.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds on four occasions. During the first occasion, the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the low-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but approximately a year later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was advised to contact a dealer for assistance. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the high-pressure fuel pump and electrical wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.
On March 18, 2026 I brought my vehicle to AutoNation Hyundai for an oil change and full diagnostic. Your dealership’s own diagnostic report showed no knock sensor code, no engine issues, and no active warning lights. My car was fully drivable when I dropped it off. Within 30 minutes of picking my vehicle up, the check engine light began blinking and the car became completely undrivable. It has not moved since March 20, 2026 at the dealership. The dealership did an additional diagnostic and found a knock sensor that was not there during the first diagnostics and have stated that my engine has too many miles to be covered uder warranty.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power, an alarm sounded for the braking system, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. After originally paying out-of-pocket for an ABS module at the dealer and was informed that the engine needed to be repaired and the brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the residence where an independent mechanic repaired the vehicle. There was a recall for the ABS module and the contact returned to the dealer, and the dealer confirmed that the independent mechanic had correctly installed the part. The dealer performed the official recall repair and refused to reimburse the contact for the previous expenses. Three months later, the braking system failed again. The contact stated that the vehicle temporarily returned to normal after a restart, but the failure worsened and required a return trip to the dealer for another repair. In January 2026, the failure recurred for a third time with a loud squealing sound. The dealer was not notified of the third failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The vehicle suddenly stopped and died while driving. The mechanic confirms that the engine is gone, contact Hyundai. Ourisman of Rockville and Hyundai Motor America (HMA) refuses to replace the engine for free. The vehicle has now developed a severe engine knock consistent with the well-documented defect affecting Hyundai’s Theta II engines. Hyundai has publicly acknowledged this issue and issued a major recall covering approximately 470,000 vehicles with the following specifications: • Model Years: 2011–2012 • Engines: 2.0L and 2.4L • Manufacturing Period: December 11, 2009 – April 12, 2012 Hyundai and federal regulators identified the safety concern as manufacturing debris that could restrict oil flow to rod bearings. This defect can lead to engine knocking and eventual engine failure. Critically, Hyundai has acknowledged that engine failure may stall the vehicle while driving, significantly increasing the risk of a crash. Hyundai’s official remedy for this defect required dealerships to: • Inspect engines for bearing noise • Replace the engine if necessary • Honor Hyundai’s extended engine warranty of 10 years / 120,000 miles for affected vehicles. This issue has also been the subject of significant litigation, including the class action lawsuit Case No. [XXX], filed January 23, 2018, against Hyundai Motor America (HMA), Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA), Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), and Kia Motors Corporation (KMC). Despite these well-known issues, Ourisman of Rockville failed to disclose any of the following when selling my daughter's this vehicle: 1. The widespread engine defects associated with the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. 2. The recall and safety concerns related to debris restricting oil flow to rod bearings. 3. The extended Hyundai engine warranty covering affected vehicles up to 120,000 miles. This omission is particularly concerning because this defect presents a serious safety hazard and a clear and present danger. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.
My 2011 Hyundai Sonata experienced sudden engine failure and the engine is now locked up. The vehicle became inoperable and had to be taken to a Hyundai dealership. The dealership confirmed the engine is locked and not drivable. Hyundai denied the engine replacement claim stating the vehicle has A04/A08 branding indicating the engine originates from a scrapped or rebuilt vehicle. However, Hyundai refused to provide any documentation supporting this claim. They also refused to verify the engine serial number against the VIN to confirm whether the engine is original to the vehicle. A NMVTIS vehicle history report shows the title status as ACTIVE with no salvage, junk, or rebuilt branding. Despite this, Hyundai continues to deny the claim without documentation. This vehicle contains the Hyundai Theta II engine that has been the subject of recalls and settlement actions related to premature engine failure. The failure pattern in this case matches the known defect where engines seize or lock up unexpectedly.
The steering column gets loose because of a commonly defective bushing. The steering bangs and has free play making full control more difficult.
My car was broken into and they broke off my door handle and took out ignition parts, a police report was done
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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