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:
2 / 13
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,942 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 3 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #153

May 042021

Sonata

  • 156,000 miles

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

I was driving approximately 55 mph on a highway and it started raining. I turned my headlights on and the traction control light came on. I also lost acceleration power until I completely let off the gas pedal. This has happened several times over the last month. I also am unable to set the cruise control if my headlights are on.

- Coshocton, OH, USA

problem #152

Mar 122021

Sonata

  • 150,000 miles
Car would not start took it to dealership they said alternator was bad had it took it to mechanic shop paid 300 alternator drove it to car wash car would not start again. Was told it has something to do with push to start and sensor in break pedal. Paid cash for the vehicle drove it from the individual I bought froms location to the store and it's left me stranded ever since. Dealership keeps diagnosing alternator, starter get online and read and there are complaints and even videos on you tube about this same issue but Hyundai refuses to fix it. Wish I had never throw my money down the drain now I'm just out of a car no way to work and don't know what I'm gonna do. Poured every last penny I have into it and it still will not start. Single mother of two children no financial help other than my work income which I may not have much longer if I'm unable to have transportation to get there. Thanks Hyundai what a way to treat customers who's put faith in your vehicles.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #151

Mar 022021

Sonata

  • miles
On March 1, 2021, I noticed an odd smell while idling in line. Turned car off until it was my turn. The smell was gone once I turned it back on, so thought it was another car and drove to work. That evening, smell started again after driving a few miles to parent's house. Parked the car at parent's and arranged to drive it to mechanic the next morning after having my father confirm there was water in the radiator and the oil wasn't too low. Engine temp gauge was normal. Check engine light was on, but had been for the length of time I had car. I had it checked several times- issue would be supposedly found, but it would always come back on. I was led to believe it was a faulty sensor issue. There was nothing obviously wrong when we looked under the hood and had no reason to think it would not be safe to drive the short distance to the mechanic. Next morning, March 2, 2021, I intended to drive the car to the shop so they could address the issue causing the smell, and father followed behind. Car seemed fine at first, but after a couple of miles driving on surface streets, the smell came back. Pulled over and turned off car, thinking that I would need to have the car towed the remainder of the way. I saw something come from under hood. My father, who had been following behind, asked me to pop the hood. As I climbed back in the car to pop the hood, I realized there was smoke inside the car. I got out, told my dad that there might be a fire as there was smoke inside the car. As we had that discussion, smoke started pouring from under the hood, and we backed away from the vehicle and called 911. Within seconds, there were visible flames and the whole front of the vehicle was engulfed in flame. Today, March 10, 2021, I was made aware that 2011 Hyundai Sonatas were included in a list of vehicles known to catch fire, so I am filing this notification.

- Mentone, CA, USA

problem #150

Feb 222021

Sonata

  • 116,800 miles

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

Engine replaced in 2015 after seizing and recall of theta 11. Vehicle serviced including oil change at dealership on 2/11/21. On 2/22/21 engine knocked twice and vehicle stalled. Drifted off road, turned key off, put car in park. Within 3 minutes engine was on fire with flames extending below car. Fire department put fire out and had car towed to Suburban Hyundai service department.

- Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

problem #149

Jan 152021

Sonata

  • 120,237 miles
The car does not start at random, usually after it has been driven somewhere like the gas station or the grocery store. It cannot be jump-started and pumping the breaks has no effect, the only way to get the car to start is to wait, letting the car sit off for a while, and eventually, an attempt to restart the car will work (note: "a while" can range from anywhere from 10 minutes to 4 hours). The battery and starter have both been tested to be functional and thus are not the culprit. This issue happens regardless of how new the battery in the key is. This issue has resulted in being stranded in some places for long periods of time. This has been happening for 3 years and has started happening with more frequency as time goes on.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

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problem #148

Dec 022020

Sonata

  • 116,000 miles
Sometime when I switch from reversed or drive the car bounce forward a bit.

- Irvington, NJ, USA

problem #147

Oct 292019

Sonata

  • 112,000 miles

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

Cruise control works off and on one day it works fine and the next day it don't work! very annoying I just don't understand how something will work and then it won't work

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #146

Oct 282020

Sonata

  • 180,000 miles
I've been having this issue with my Sonata since I've had it. The key always gets stuck in the ignition and won't come out at all. No matter how many times you wiggle it. I've google this issue and several people have had it. There is no answer on how to fix it.

- Ogden, UT, USA

problem #145

Oct 272020

Sonata

  • 65 miles
I purchase this vehicle the owner tollme the engine spend lot of oil I still purchace, I still buy this car but 3 days pass I check engine after awas driving 65 mil car was making lot of noise I stop and was with (0)oil I check internet on this car and is recall for this engine burning oil and need to be replaced I contact the dealer they told me to bring the car to perform oil consumption I bring the car and they did the oil change 95 dollars and 2weeks later was no oil again they told me the they will documented and see if they decide to replace

- Bonsall, CA, USA

problem #144

Oct 032020

Sonata

  • miles
I bought this used O this summer had it looked at and had oil change and the engine needs replaced. Oil was completely gone but no leak. And cruise control stopped working. This was supposed to be a reliable car for my daughter to get back and forth to college.

- Chillicothe, OH, USA

problem #143

Aug 302020

Sonata

  • 99,300 miles

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

There is a knocking noise coming from underneath the gear shift. As I use the gear shift, while braking and releasing, a knocking noise is heard under the gear shift. It is caused by the brake pedal being pressed. It knocks while pressing the brake pedal and shifting from drive to reverse and back.

- Madera, CA, USA

problem #142

Sep 042020

Sonata

  • 130,000 miles
Connection between the shift cable and shift lever, it says there is a recall on it, but when I call the dealership they tell me there is not one with my VIN number. When I put my car in reverse or drive it will not display on my dash if it is in reverse drive or park and my car has trouble moving when it does that.

- Athens, AL, USA

problem #141

Apr 152020

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
My dashboard has hairline cracks in the areas by the air bags. I feel that this could be a compromise issue with the air bags. We had the same issue with our other 2011 Sonata. We replaced it because we sold it. Please advise me if I have a safety issue thank you [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- North Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #140

Sep 012020

Sonata

  • 194,000 miles
Torque converter went out all of a sudden. Cost me $3150 to have it replaced. Then the gear shifter moved back and forth but will not go into gear.

- Kennesaw, GA, USA

problem #139

May 062020

Sonata

  • 50,000 miles
The dashboard has several cracks and many others have reported the same problem on 2011 and other models. My concern is for the passenger side airbag since there are several cracks on the dashboard in that area.

- Ballwin, MO, USA

problem #138

Jul 282020

Sonata

  • 120,993 miles
A screen can lose by the driver side front tire and tore the bumper by the tire. Also paint chips very easy to the frame.

- Gainesville, GA, USA

problem #137

Jul 222020

Sonata

  • 160,000 miles
Was driving down the road, noticed an odd smell, like burning/melting plastic. I looked around to see if someone was burning anything, but there wasn't. the smell seemed to go away, but a few miles down the road I started to smell it again and noticed black smoke coming from under the hood. I looked for a safe place to pull over but flames started coming out from the hood, so I pulled over and got out, ran away from the car. Within less that 2 to 3 minuets it was completely engulfed in flames. The fire department, police and state troopers showed up, put out the fire. My car was burnt to the ground!

- Cookville, TX, USA

problem #136

Jul 112020

Sonata

  • 85,000 miles
I cannot wind up both drivers and passengers seats windows on MY2011 Hyundai Sonata

- Margate, FL, USA

problem #135

Jun 222020

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
Purchased the vehicle today and odometer reads different than reports. Report show it should 151,000 while the dash shows 92,583.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #134

Jun 022020

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
Clicking in steering wheel now wobble.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

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