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:
18 / 83
Injuries / Deaths:
15 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,497 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 18 of 46)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #563

Feb 012019

Sonata

  • 103,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fuel fumes inside the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to harbor Hyundai (3720 cherry ave, long beach, ca 90807, (866) 967-2242) where the fuel line was repaired. The dealer also repaired the vehicle per NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #562

Feb 182019

Sonata

  • 15,900 miles
Car won't drive, all my lights are on my dashboard & can't move it nowhere!

- Lenoir, NC, USA

problem #561

Feb 022019

Sonata

  • 138,460 miles
Takata recall.on 2/2/2019 my car stalled out why I was driving and when I lifted the hood it's was a electrical burning smell with smoke coming from under the motor I had the car towed and the tow driver also said he smelled like something. Electrical was burning I was coming off a main highway to get an a city street had a friend check out the starter which he replaced, and I replaced it with a new battery.and my friend said the motor is locked

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #560

Sep 042017

Sonata

  • 177,000 miles

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

I was driving about 55 mph on a highway and my car just shut down in the middle of traffic and wouldn't start, I was blessed not to get from behind. I had to have it towed home. Now I'm afraid to drive it. Also my steering wheel has been making this rattling/knocking sound anytime I try to steer it at all times. I have call in every recall notice I've gotten and I'm always told my car wasn't in the recall.

- Fordyce, AR, USA

problem #559

Jan 302019

Sonata

  • 101,500 miles
I was driving and the car went completely silent then eventually stopping. Car would not crank back up again, lights are fully functional, horn works, but the car just won't crank.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #558

Nov 192018

Sonata

  • 10 miles
New engine and starter under recall by Hyundai dealership in montgomery, al. I pick my car up no one in service is in my radio bluetooth ac won't work and they all worked prior! car kept cutting off felt like wheels was gonna fall off drove horrible! plug phone in usb start smelling burnt smell, unplug it smoke is coming out, it's extremely hot and cords burnt. Get home look at paperwork says 'tire separated needs immediate attention' no one told me let me drive on it. I had no clue my tires are fairly new. Tire exploded leaving dent in my car. I ask about tire he said 'oh I forgot to tell you' (as no big deal) in fact was! ask which tire he didn't remember! call Consumer Affairs advised to take back. Dealt with service manager rude and denied any fault before ever looking at car insisting they weren't to blame. How would he know if he hasn't ever even looked at it" ask why lights on dash and why'd it not run properly? blamed on my tire. Sold me tire $88 but he'd give me discount for my trouble, he didn't I paid $114. Calls cars ready. I ask if everythings fixed and what was wrong with it" he said no and didn't know what was wrong with it but it wasn't anything they done! honestly don't think he checked he denied blame before looking at it and said it'd be ready in couple hours time to put tire on. Said to take to stero shop and they can pull radio out and might find reset switch behind it to reset radio, he should've. Ask about usb he said 'plugged one in it worked ask if he left in least 10 minutes as I did he said 'don't got one to' can't use one used to test it ask if electrical wiring burnt when engine seized as starter did, says no lights be on in dash, they are, blamed it on tires. 3 mechanics said electrical wasn't hooked back up properly and/or electrical wiring burnt when engine seized. Car wont start problems cycloids not firing and fuel injector too!

- Prattville, AL, USA

problem #557

Jan 252019

Sonata

  • miles

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

Was told engine is about done. Kepted up with oil changes.

- Waterford, NY, USA

problem #556

Jan 032019

Sonata

  • 92,015 miles
Turbo

- West Warwick, RI, USA

problem #555

Oct 012015

Sonata

  • 75,000 miles
The car stated to run hot as the oil was running into the anti freeze pot through the motor while traveling on the highway.

- Gary, IN, USA

problem #554

Dec 222018

Sonata

  • miles
I was driving the car and it made a noise from under the hood and shut off in traffic. I tried to restart it but it won't start the engine has completely shut down.

- Douglas, GA, USA

problem #553

Jan 012019

Sonata

  • miles

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

Since I bought this vehicle, they had replaced the engie due to, the recall, they had to, replace my fual sensors, steering column piece, and another part. But since they replaced my engine, my electrical in my car is, mever accurate. Speed sensoer is wrong, the radio shorts all the time, and my cruise control doesnt work. The problems countniue to get worse especially with the electrical. This car has costed me 1000's of dollars and it just countniues to have problems. I have taken it to Hyundai in redlands ca. They have all documentation on the vehicle.

- Yucaipa, CA, USA

problem #552

Jan 162019

Sonata

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled in front of a tractor trailer while driving 50 mph on the highway. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle did not accelerate and all of the instrument panel indicators illuminated. Balise Hyundai of cape cod (556 yarmouth rd, hyannis, MA 02601, (508) 778-0500) performed an oil change, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and did not have a record of the contact purchasing the vehicle. The contact believed that metal shavings were left when the engine was made, which caused the engine to seize. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Sandwich, MA, USA

problem #551

Sep 152018

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While the contact's daughter was driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was towed to tuscaloosa Hyundai (3831 hargrove rd E, tuscaloosa, al 35405, (205) 752-8113) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced after the rebuilt engine was removed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 120,000. Consumer stated sudden engine failure and the car was towed to a local mechanic and engine replaced. Mechanic found there was a recall for sudden engine failure. Consumer found 12 other recalls.

- Woodstock, AL, USA

problem #550

Jan 092019

Sonata

  • miles
Car engine is making knocking sounds, quickens and gets loud when I press on gas petal. Oil changed and fuids checked on regular bases. 168.000 miles on car. Had car checked out at fort mill hyundia which they said found nothing. Now car sitting in yard, scare to drive. I am a nursing student, mom and wife. We cant not afford this time or money wise. Please help

- Fort Mill, SC, USA

problem #549

Jan 112019

Sonata

  • 125,000 miles
While driving on the interstate engine started making a knocking sound when acellerating on the gas, after passing the vehicle the car stalled on the interstate. I was able to get to a gas station. Car towed to a mechanic who states the engine is locked up. Told it would cost 2900-3500 to replace the engine. Single dad, two toddlers cannot afford this. Is this some sort of recall" engine as 125000 miles and has oil in it. What can be done about this"

- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #548

Aug 052018

Sonata

  • 112,764 miles
While driving on the expressway the car shut completely down and the engine locked up and the bottom of the motor came a loose burning up the engine.

- Jacksonville Florida, FL, USA

problem #547

Dec 102018

Sonata

  • 174,000 miles
We have had nothing but problems with our 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Less than a year ago our engine completely died while driving the vehicle. The dealership replaced the engine and since then we have had starting and electrical problems. When we went to pick up the car it didn't start right away and they told us we needed a new battery. We bought a new battery and about a week later it still wouldn't start on and off. Since we had the engine replaced, we have had to change the headlights and brake lights 4 times! we believe that when the engine died it caused an electrical issue. Fast forward about 9 months and now the car has 3 engine codes. P0017 P0014 and P0560. Crankshaft and camshaft position sensors and a system voltage malfunction. We will never buy a Hyundai again! they claim they totally replaced the engine but now I wonder if they salvaged old parts in the new engine and what exactly happened to the electrical system when the car shut off while driving.

- Westover, AL, USA

problem #546

Jan 022019

Sonata

  • 109,000 miles
The turbo charger stops working anytime I quickly step down on the gas pedal. I have to pull over, turn off the engine, restart in order to reset the turbo charger, otherwise there is no reasonable engine response without going through this process. Turbo charger motor unit was replaced, but there was no change in performance. It is a safety issue when attempting quick lane changes to avoid an obstacles in the roadway.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #545

Dec 242018

Sonata

  • miles
On December 24, 2018 I was driving on the freeway the car started to slow down like it wasn't getting fuel, I stopped the car and opened the hood because it was making a knocking sound, the entireengine was rocking... I turned the car off and had it towed.

- Reynoldsburg Ohio, OH, USA

problem #544

Dec 242018

Sonata

  • 11,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and a humming noise was heard from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact called lafontaine Hyundai at 866-568-6530 (located at 1847 S telegraph rd, dearborn, mi 48124) where a diagnostic test was recommended, but was not performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.

- Inkster, MI, USA

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