2011 Hyundai Sonata Visibility Problems

I was driving on the interstate when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise that terrified me. I quickly realized the glass of my sunroof was gone. There were no warning signs at all and the sunroof was not open when this happened. After inspection it was clear that only the glass was missing and no other parts of the sunroof assembly. I called Hyundai and was told I could bring it in but it would be an out of pocket expense and would be at least a week before they could get to it. I wasn't sure of the date so I put today's date. N

NHTSA ID

11496020

Incident

Dec 5, 2022

All the electrical on the drivers side conti ues to fail. The blinker on the driver side only works if the headlights are on and the brake/blinker lights constantly go out even though the bulbs are fine.

NHTSA ID

11485962

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

WHEN I TURN STEERING WHEEL IT MAKES THE LOUD SOUND. MY WINDSHIELD ONLY WORKS ON FAST MODE. TRY TO CALL THE PLACE I GOT IT FROM THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY WANT TO KEEP IT OVER NIGHT BUT CAN'T GET AHOLD OF ANYMORE FOR THEM TO GET IT. THEY WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS. THE BEEN GOING ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11327345

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

SUNGLASSES HOLDER DROPS DOWN DUE TO WEAR IN THE LATCHING MECHANISM, PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY IN REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE PROBLEM INITIALLY OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS HOT, BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT WITH MORE WEAR. APPEARS TO BE COMMON OCCURRENCE BASED ON INTERNET QUERY.

NHTSA ID

11291979

Incident

Dec 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE ABOVE HER HEAD. SUDDENLY, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WHILE THE SLIDER WAS OPEN. GLASS FRAGMENTS FELL ON THE DRIVER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS MADE WITH THE DEALER (ALLEN TURNER HYUNDAI, 6000 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505, 1-(850) 479-9667). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11153352

Incident

Nov 23, 2018

Mileage

115,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON, AND PASSENGER DASHBOARD CRACKED.

NHTSA ID

10993791

Incident

Jun 2, 2017

THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 22,2016 ABOUT 7:30 AM HEADED TO WORK, SUDDENLY I HEAR SOMETHING SOUNDING LIKE A GUN SHOT NEAR MY HEAD!! MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED!! SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME!! I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45-55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW I DID NOT WRECK MY CAR!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10944961

Incident

Dec 22, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE SUN/MOONROOF SHATTERED. NO DEBRIS STRUCK THE ROOF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10919779

Incident

Oct 27, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10750315

Incident

Jul 31, 2015

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 SONATA, THE WINDOWS FOG UP TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL WHERE I CAN NOT CLEARLY SEE THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT IN COLD, HOT, HUMID OR RAINING, ETC. WEATHER CONDITIONS. I AM MOST AFFECTED AT NIGHT WHILE RETURNING FROM THE GYM AND I HAVE TO TRAVEL THROUGH WINDING, DARK, DEER INFESTED WOODED ROADS. NO MATTER WHAT TEMPERATURE SETTING I PLACE THERMOSTAT, IT FOGS! I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THE DEALER IS AWARE AND SAYS MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED BUT THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION. DEALER SAYS TO MATCH OUTSIDE TEMP WITH INSIDE CAR TEMP AND LEAVE A/C ON. I FOLLOWED THE ADVICE, I TURN ON THE A/C IN THE WINTER AND THE HEAT IN THE SUMMER AND IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE BUT STILL DOESN'T EFFECTIVELY SOLVE THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES REACH 100+ DEGREES IN ATLANTA AND TURNING ON THE HEAT AFTER WORKING OUT MAKES A BAD SITUATION WORSE. I FEEL PEOPLE CAN OR WILL DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER / DEALERS....UPDATED 10/05/15*BF *CN

NHTSA ID

10745191

Incident

May 19, 2012

Mileage

7,000 mi

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE FOR APPROX 1 HOUR, WHEN SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARDS, NO ROAD DEBRIS HIT THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE EXPLODING SUNROOF, IT WAS NOT AN EXTREME TEMPERATURE CHANGE. SOUND WAS LIKE A GUNSHOT INSIDE THE CAR, AND THANKFUL THAT THE MOONROOF COVER WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME SO THAT GLASS DID NOT SHOWER INTO THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. VERY FRIGHTENING AND COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED ACCIDENT. GOING ROUNDS WITH HYUNDAI RIGHT NOW TO GET REPAIRED. DEALERSHIP STATING THAT HYUNDAI WILL NOT COVER THE PART. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTING I FILE WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, HOWEVER THIS WAS A FAULT ISSUE WITH PRODUCT, NOT INSURANCE RELATED. VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY AND STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654309

Incident

Nov 8, 2014

Mileage

68,000 mi

I OWN A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS IT BEGAN TO RAIN VERY HARD, WHEN I TURNED THE SWITCH ON FOR WIPERS THEY WOULD NOT WORK. I WAS ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK, AND PULLED UNDER A BRIDGE, AND WAITED FOR THE STORM TO BLOW OVER WHICH LASTED A LOT LONGER THAN I EXPECTED. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY USELESS UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE WIPER MOTOR WENT BAD. WITH A PRETTY HEFTY COST TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE MOTOR YET, AND I AM UPSET THAT A CAR ONLY 3 YRS. OLD WOULD HAVE A WIPER MOTOR GOING OUT ALREADY . I READ ON THE WEB OF MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM SO GLAD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DOWNPOUR WITH RAIN. IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE CAUSED AND ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595059

Incident

May 28, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE GLASS SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED AND SHATTERED CAUSING A VERY LOUD BOOMING SOUND. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED DURING THE INCIDENT AND NOTHING MADE CONTACT WITH THE GLASS TO CAUSE THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. ..UPDATED 04-24-14*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AT THEIR EXPENSE. UPDATED 05/14/14 *TR

NHTSA ID

10568784

Incident

Mar 8, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

PREMATURE SCRATCHING OF WINDSHIELD GLASS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563477

Incident

Feb 18, 2013

Mileage

28,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HEARD WHAT SOUND LIKE AN EXPLOSION. ALMOST WRECK THE VEHICLE FROM THE NOISE IT MADE. MY CHILDREN STARTED TO SCREAM AND CRY. THEN I HEARD GLASS FLYING OFF MY CAR. PULLED OVER TO SEE THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED INTO A MILLIONS PIECES. I CALL HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD THE ONLY SUNROOF RECALL THEY HAVE IS FOR THE VELOSTER WHICH FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN REGARDS TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553176

Incident

Nov 20, 2013

Mileage

37,987 mi

TODAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT A NORMAL SPEED WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG. IT WAS SO FRIGHTENING I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT. I WAS STARRING STRAIGHT AHEAD. THERE WAS NO TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ON A TWO LANE ROAD DIVIDED WITH A GRASS MEDIUM WITH STEEL GRIDS SEPARATING THE SIDES. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR TO FIND OUT THAT THE GLASS OF THE MOON ROOF HAD SHATTERED AND HAD COMPLETELY COME OUT LEAVING A HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOF. FORTUNATELY, MY INSIDE VISOR WAS CLOSED AND THE GLASS DID NOT ENTER THE CAR. THE TEMPERATURE HAD GONE DOWN TO A CHILLY 60 DEGREES THAT NIGHT AND WARMED UP DURING THE DAY. I SEARCHED THE AREA AND FOUND NOTHING TO INDICATE A ROCK OR AN OBJECT HAVING HIT THE GLASS. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOF. I CALLED INSURANCE AND HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IMMEDIATELY THE HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE SAID SOMETHING HIT THE CAR POINTING TO A SPOT THAT HAD RESIDUE WAX FROM A RECENT WAXING STATING THIS IS WHERE THE HIT HAD COME FROM. I DISAGREED AND INSURANCE IS NOW SENDING AN ADJUSTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10480788

Incident

Oct 16, 2012

Mileage

73,686 mi

3X THE DRIVER WINDOW BUTTON IS INOPERABLE. WOULD TURN OFF CAR AND THEN IT WOULD AGAIN WORK. THE WORST ISSUE IS THIS: STARTED UP CAR THIS MORNING 7-9-12 (THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE) AND THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK, THEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT GOES ABOUT 2 FEET AND IT APPLIES THE BRAKES. I NOTICED EACH TIME THE GEAR CONSOLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP. THE CAR ACTUALLY DOES NOT GO INTO GEAR. EACH TIME I HAVE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WORKS FINE. IT'S GOING TO THE SHOP FOR THE 30K CHECK UP AND THIS WILL BE BROUGHT UP. THE DRIVERS WINDOW HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP AND THE DEALER HAS SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WRONG. THERE IS WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK. I HAD ONE OF THESE IN 2001 AND IT TOO HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MY NEIGHBOR JUST SOLD THEIR 05 SONATA DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464675

Incident

Jul 9, 2012

Mileage

28,212 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SENSOR. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START ON ONE OCCASION AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE GROUND CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE GROUND CABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN AND COULD NOT BE CLOSED. THE WINDOW FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

NHTSA ID

10453009

Incident

Mar 26, 2011

Mileage

14,000 mi

AFTER SCRAPING SOME ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD WITH A STANDARD PLASTIC SCRAPER, THE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH SCRATCHES. THE SAME SCRAPER WAS USED ON THE OTHER WINDOWS OF THIS CAR, AND ON THE WINDSHIELD OF ANOTHER CAR WITH NO SCRATCHING. TESTED ON ANOTHER DAY WITH A NEW SCRAPER, AND ADDITIONAL SCRATCHES WERE CAUSED. THE RESULT IS REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO THE SCRATCHES, AND AN INABILITY TO PHYSICALLY CLEAR ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD IN ORDER TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL SCRATCHING. VISIBILITY IS ESPECIALLY IMPACTED WHEN DRIVING TOWARD THE SUN. THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452141

Incident

Dec 20, 2011

Mileage

6,500 mi

MY WIFE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT TWO OF FOUR VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD BLOW 10%-20% CAPACITY DESPITE WHICH SETTING (LOW, MID, HIGH). *TR

NHTSA ID

10439318

Incident

Nov 27, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PRODUCED A SHADOW ON THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE CLEARLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE HEADLIGHTS MET SAFETY STANDARDS. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO UPGRADE THE HEADLIGHTS AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500. UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF UPDATED 09/28/11

NHTSA ID

10424059

Incident

Jul 15, 2011

Mileage

8,500 mi

WHEN I RETURNED HOME FROM WORK AND CLOSED THE DRIVER DOOR THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND EXPLODED OUTWARD. IT WAS 7P AND HYUNDAI WAS CLOSED, HAD SAFELITE EMERGENCY REPLACE WINDSHIELD AND THEY CONFIRMED IT DID NOT BREAK FROM AN IMPACT BUT FROM STRESS DUE TO A BAD FACTORY INSTALL. HYUNDAI REFUSED WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT CLAIMING IT CANNOT BE PROVEN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THE WINDSHIELD WAS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400800

Incident

Apr 5, 2011

Mileage

1,000 mi

WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE WINDSHIELD. VIEW IS DISTORTED THROUGH THESE SECTIONS OF THE WINDSHIELD, ESPECIALLY THE LOWER 1/3 AREA AND AREAS NEAR THE POSTS. PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF CAR SICKNESS LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS LOWER THAN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND MY WIFE HAS LOOKED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRASH OR AT LEAST GO OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL BUT THE REPLACEMENT GLASS IS WORSE. ALL THE SONATA'S ON THEIR LOT ARE AS BAD OR WORSE. IT APPEARS HYUNDAI'S SUPPLIER OF WINDSHIELDS IS MANUFACTURING DISTORTED WINDSHIELDS. IT APPEARS ALL SONATA'S ARE BEING MANUFACTURED WITH THIS DISTORTED GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELDS. THERE IS DISTORTION LOOKING OUT THE REAR GLASS THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BUT WE CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

NHTSA ID

10374154

Incident

Jun 27, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD DISTORTED IMAGES AND A RIPPLED EFFECT AT THE BOTTOM. WHEN SHE LOOKED AT THE RIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD, IT SEEMED AS IF VEHICLES WERE MOVING INTO HER LANE, CAUSING HER TO MOVE INTO THE LEFT LANE TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. WHEN SHE RODE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, SHE NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, SHE NOTICED THE SAME RIPPLED EFFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER TOLD HER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE SECOND WINDSHIELD'S PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,100. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 04/21/11

NHTSA ID

10360074

Incident

Aug 14, 2010

Mileage

100 mi

THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA WINDSHIELDS HAVE DISTORTED IMAGES WHEN SEATED IN THE FRONT AND VIEWING DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE VEHICLE AND OUT THE WINDSHIELD. ALL IMAGES SHOW A "RIPPLE EFFECT" . THIS HAPPENS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS (LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT) I CHECKED OTHER NEW VEHICLES IN THE SHOWROOM AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WHILE IT IS SUTTLE AND MOST MAY NOT NOTICE IT CAN BE A PROBLEM WHEN CHANGING LANES OR TURNING RIGHT. OBVIOUSLY THE DRIVER SEE A DISTORTED IMAGE WHEN LOOKING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD TO TURN RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343469

Incident

Jul 15, 2010