CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2011 Sonata has a seriously defective engine that seizes without warning. It was awarded the dubious honor of being the first CarTalk / CarComplaints Turd of the Week in late September 2015.

A class action lawsuit was filed in May 2015 against Hyundai that claims the 2.4L Sonata engine is defective. More info here.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,365 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Hyundai Sonata accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments

problem #4

Oct 142014

Sonata

  • 33,546 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was having problems with my steering shaking and rattling, was waiting for my appointment at the dealership to resolve the problem as I noticed was on a recall NHTSA #10V457000 & 10V426000, dealer stated they were completed 05/ 2010. That I would have to pay $500 to fix the problem again. I was in process of transfering back to ft worth. Due to limeted budget could not fix the problem.. several days later I was involved in an incident where a person had contacted my vehicle from the front. I managed to cause this possibly fatal front end collision to be a glancing blow. But not before having problems operating the vehicle's steering capability. The shaking and rattling in the steering wheel which they (dealership) said was corrected; come also with play in the steering it self the steering wheel is turned...left or right. Due to this delay the seconds caused contact to still be made where as if was corrected with a adequate replacement part could possibly been avoided. Now am told I have to pay for this to be fixed even though is a prior recal; that is still defective. Mind you the part is $500. So is this a matter of once a recall always a recall. At $500 a pop. Waranty is 6 yrs / 60,000"? (not totally sure on that") so is my responsbility after that" may as well sell. Is it the automotive S industry to have consumers lease instead of buy...and parts industry and manufacturing industry to capitalize off of defective parts...by reselling these defectice parts over and over??????????"

- Ft Worth, TX, USA

problem #3

May 152013

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 58,230 miles
The gear shift got stuck and move out of park.brake lights does not work when pressing break peddle, which resently accured, that is to it brake lights.also four months ago I begin to have problems with my brakes.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #2

Aug 042011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 4,000 miles
After purchasing this vehicle brand new, I continually complained to Hyundai dealerships that the drivers floormat was not remaining secure and would slide up onto the accelerator. Most dealerships simply reattached the mat to the tether attached to the carpet. I continually complained that this was not sufficient because upon entering the vehicle the mat slid off the tether and would begin its journey forward. While driving, at various times, moving ones foot from the brake to the accelerator would then create problems with sudden acceleration. Finally, a dealer in scranton pa., dickson city Hyundai decided to order new floor tethers. After months - I returned to have an oil change and they advised the tethers were not there.. again, after an extended period of over three weeks of my car left at the dealership as it was a hazard to drive, they replaced the carpet and tethers that attach to it. Three weeks this car sat at the dealership for tethers. During this period, I investigated this make, model and year vehicle on the internet. Low and behold, this is a common complaint. That is: The front driver floor mat does not stay attached to the tethers and slides up onto the accelerator causing sudden acceleration. Most members writing the complaint said Hyundai did not want to make the repair.

- Gouldsboro, PA, USA

problem #1

Apr 132011

Sonata

  • 13,685 miles
2011 Sonata SE. Will not start. Warning light indicates key not present or press brake to start. When pressing brake, pedal is "stiff". tried emergency key reset procedure per owner's manual. No luck. Wait 30 minutes, heard relay in dash click, and car returned to normal operation. 3rd time occurred. Noticed I had pulled into parking space by truning hard right prior to shut off. Also, my wife had opened the passenger door and climbed in prior to the driver's door being opened (possible alarm system problem?) no warning. Dealer is stumped. Many others have same exact issue. Suspect either computer or sensor problem. Other possible cause, issue with the alarm system when teh passenger door is opened while car is locked. Car waits until after a time reset to initialize the relay again.... milage 13,600.

- Stafford, VA, USA

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