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:
20 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 1
Average Mileage:
51,010 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 15 of 58)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #875

Aug 012016

Sonata

  • 90,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shook violently and became difficult to manueuver without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft coupler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #874

Feb 282017

Sonata

  • miles
Steering is making knocking/clunking sound with vibration, and has significant play either left or right while driving/turning. When driving on city streets the clunking is significantly worse, and I recently drove down a gravel road which vibrations in the steering made the vehicle difficult to control even at low speed ( <5mph). This is a 2011 mom driven, part time driver vehicle, with only 46,878 miles on the odometer. I have owned many vehicles with excessively higher miles that have had no steering issues such as this. This is obviously a manufacture/design/quality control issue, especially after researching and seeing all of the other similar complaints. I am due to take the vehicle into the dealer for 2 other recalls next week. I will bring it up to the Hyundai mechanic and see what kind of response I get. Research on the internet state that the problem is most likely a "rubber steering coupler"? I thought I had taken it in for a recall for something similar, but supposedly it had nothing to do with this part. It's funny that my wife noticed the noise shortly after the last recall about a year ago, and the knocking/clunking has slowly gotten worse and more frequent.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #873

Nov 012016

Sonata

  • 130,000 miles
Had issues of knocking/rattling noise while driving or hitting bumps. Dealer told me it was the steering spring coupling. Had it replaced and less than one year, the problem has arisen again. At first, the rattling sound would be heard only while driving over small speed bumps or uneven terrains such as a brick driveway, but now it can be felt and heard while driving either on the freeway or local. There is also a clicking noise when turning the steering wheel to the right or left. Again, this part was replaced less than one year ago for $300+ and the problem has arisen again.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #872

Nov 182016

Sonata

  • 98,000 miles

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

When driving steering column rattles and shakes when braking or going over bump or pot-holes.it also makes a clicking noise when turning wheel at rests like something is loose.

- Schuylkill Haven, PA, USA

problem #871

Feb 172017

Sonata

  • 80,000 miles
I noticed quite a bit of play and a clicking noise in the steering of my son's car. Upon taking it to my wonderful mechanic, learned he's seen at least 4 Hyundai Sonatas in the past month with the same issue. He said he believed it was a recall so I should take it to the dealer. When talking to the service manager at the dealership, he was almost certain of the problem as he's seen more of the same than my mechanic. He said it's not a recall and I was misinformed (but kudos to my honest and forthright mechanic for not being greedy). The problem, both of them told me, a wearing of the pictured rubber gear deep inside the steering column. My mechanic showed meld the old and new parts noting if this had been left and continue to wear, the steering wheel would have turned but the tires would not have! I am sickened this recall has not come to fruition. Hyundai needs to expedite the issue of a recall before more people are injured and/or killed.

- Lake Forest, CA, USA

problem #870

Nov 012016

Sonata

  • 58,000 miles
While driving, the steering column area rattles and makes noises. While steering on a turn at a street or gently at a slow speed (like in my driveway), the steering wheel does not feel like it used to and it clicks. In 25 years of driving vehicles, I have never experienced this defect or safety issue.

- Wallingford, PA, USA

problem #869

Feb 152017

Sonata

  • 38,000 miles

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

Rattling sound coming from left front area of car when driving, especially over bumps. Dealer says coupling in steering shaft is worn out and must be replaced. Steering feels too loose. Car has only 38,000 miles on it and this part should not need to be replaced at this point.

- Larchmont, NY, USA

problem #868

Feb 212017

Sonata

  • 102,000 miles
Takata recall for an issue in the steering column of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Steering feels loose, makes a clicking noise and vibrates when the wheel is turned or even when you just hit a bump. Very well known issue with anyone who has a Sonata. Dealership states that it is not a recall yet as the rubber coupler wears out.

- Columbia, IL, USA

problem #867

Jan 022017

Sonata

  • 125,000 miles
Clicking noise in the steering column, that gets really bad when going over bumps and makes the car hard to control while driving. When car was taken to dealership they advised they believe a recall will happen in the future because so many cars are having this problem. They say its the rubber steering coupler.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #866

Jan 202015

Sonata

  • miles
Hyundai need to recall the steering column I spoke with a employee at Hyundai and they explained this is a cheap part Hyundai knows is tearing up and it makes steering wheel shake uncontrollably at 45 plus miles per hour. And it is causing other issues. Hyundai said part cost like $10 but we have to pay $400 to have part changed. And at the time I was speaking to a employee he informed me he was putting one on at that present moment. Certain models are not covered and thus isn't fair if this happens to all Hyundai Sonatas

- Locust Grove, GA, USA

problem #865

Nov 012014

Sonata

  • miles

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

Brake lights-my back brake lights won't work..wiring problem" steering wheel-my steering assembly is loose and makes a loud clicking sound..the dealership said it was a gear that needs to be replaced.. air bags- I was in a wreck and the air bags never deployed..wasbhit hard..also now a default air bag light is on"

- Sharpsburg, GA, USA

problem #864

Feb 152017

Sonata

  • 75,000 miles
Knocking or clicking or rattling sound is heard any time I drive over 50 mph and especially when slowing down from highway speeds, in which case the noise becomes very loud and the steering column physically shakes. I feel endangered whenever I drive this car. It is a hazard and a potential life-threatening defect. I put today's date but this has been going on for months and is now starting in my wife's car (same make model year) as well.

- Newington, CT, USA

problem #863

Feb 012017

Sonata

  • 85,000 miles
My vehicle's steering makes a clicking noise while stationary and moving. I took it into the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and they knew about the problem and the cost to repair as soon as I mentioned the symptoms. The problem is a steering coupler. The csr was surprised that Hyundai had not made a recall on this problem since he had seen quite a few cars of this make/model/year with the same problem. The coupler is made of plastic and wears down over time. My car is 6 years old and now has about 88,000 miles on it. The repair quoted was $404. I am concerned that this is may be a safety issue. I have also contacted Hyundai customer complaint and logged case number 9975977.

- Kernersville, NC, USA

problem #862

Feb 132017

Sonata

  • 185,000 miles
The steering column makes a clanking noise when turning in either direction or hitting bumps in the road. I called Hyundai customer service and was told that my vehicle was not covered under the recall as it was made after the cars in the recall even though it has the same problem. It is a plastic gear that can cause the steering to fail. Why not in the recall?

- Conyers, GA, USA

problem #861

Jun 062016

Sonata 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise progressing from the area of the steering wheel when turning the steering wheel to the left or right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V426000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 03/21/17

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA

problem #860

Feb 082017

Sonata

  • 87,650 miles
The vehicle is in motion and every single bump or imperfection in the road results in the steering column clicking and rattling. Doesn't matter what U barely go over but it clicks constantly and rattles constantly. There should be a recall on this! it seems to be a very prevalent problem in Hyundai owners of the Sonata.

- Chapin, SC, USA

problem #859

Jan 022017

Sonata

  • 60,000 miles
The steering column is making a clicking noise when I drive and or hit bumps, there was a recall #10V457000 Oct 2010 for steering gear box shaft not tightened properly and possibly to be replaced- this recall falls under teh production time of my car however I had not purchased the car when teh recall came out so was never notified and now I have the problem and am very concerned that I will have an accident if the sterring column fails- the dealer said they would charge me$800 to replace some part that they have heard of same complaints- Hyundai should cover my car for this recall how do I get that to happen

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #858

Jan 182017

Sonata

  • 42,800 miles
Clunking noise in steering wheel. Research indicated it was a common problem with these vehicles. A plastic coupler fails in the power steering assist motor located on the steering wheel shaft underneath the dash. Dealer replaced the $3.72 part and labor was $371.42. Hyundai is aware of the problem and stated it was a common issue. This vehicle was bought new and the mileage when repaired on Feb. 1, 2017 was 42892.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #857

Nov 032016

Sonata

  • 46,000 miles
Started to hear (and feel) a "clunking" when I turned the steering wheel. I took it to the dealer and was told that a plastic coupling was worn/broken and it will cost $400 to repair (!!) this vehicle has less than 46K miles on it and has never been in an accident or abused and yet....I'm on the hook to pay for the repairs. I feel that this should be a recall issue.

- Rancho Santa Mararita, CA, USA

problem #856

Jan 252017

Sonata

  • 90,000 miles
Steering is making a clicking noise when completing turns. Also vibrates over bumps. Coupler between electronic steering motor and shaft has gone bad. Not sure what further damage or controllability issues could result.

- Mableton, GA, USA

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