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 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,639 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 2 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #199

Dec 012011

Sonata

  • miles

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

Brake lights have been needed to be replaced multiple times a year, since I purchased the car. Now this past year I have had to replace my break lights more often and noticed the port that holds the light appears to be burnt. So after I noticed the situation, I googled to see if there were any recalls and there have been, but my dealership advised me that my car had no recall for the break lights but had other recalls (which nothing was ever sent to me stating any recalls). Also be advised approximately every 5 hyundai sonata has a break light out. I am EXTREMELY upset that there has not been a recall for the break lights and also upset that the dealer charged $115 for two break light bulbs and -€œlabor-€) and why was I not aware of recalls on my vehicle until I went into the dealership with a problem.

- Bayonne, NJ, USA

problem #198

May 052021

Sonata

  • miles
my passenger headlight continuously goes out. I also have where my headlights completely go out as well as my interior lights. there is nothing out of the ordinary when it happens. Sometimes it will do it when I use a turn signal, other times just on it's own. I will have it happen very frequently and then not again for months. I also have the taillight burn out very often

- S St Paul, MN, USA

problem #197

Jan 212020

Sonata

  • miles
Everything worked good until I had to take my car to the dealer for knock sensor, air bag check, software update, and my engine was also part of the affected engine recall... well ever since then I have had to replace my car battery a few times and now I just invested in a battery charger because now my cars battery gets drained whether or not I use it" I asked the dealer on a couple of occasions to check out why my dash and lights flicker and shut off and come back on seconds later when I turn my lights on at night? also told the service writer that I noticed this happening when I used my turn signal, because I could notice the dash lights and head beams behave erratic and most dangerously? I know I was told more than once that they could not find nothing wrong and there were no codes either" I have to disconnect my battery now because of this dangerous issue and just gets very frustrating that now I have a car that sits there in my car port more than its driven nowadays but because car prices are high I really need my car repaired so that it could work safely like it used to before. I'm afraid that my car will catch on fire because of this and just wished that Hyundai Motor Corporation would look into this matter more seriously and more importantly find a solution for this big safety mater. I just finally got tired of all this that I have to go through and still probably wont ever hear of a safety recall for this big problem...

- Covina, CA, USA

problem #196

Sep 272021

Sonata

  • miles

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

All of the light wither short out or burn out all the time. I always have an out tail light. I-€™ve bought replacements at the dealer as well as auto zone. I have noticed many people also have this problem. We get tickets in California for this and half time I don-€™t even know it-€™s our because I just changed it 2 months ago. This is not normal and I have all of me receipts and could potentially get someone rear ended they short out it-€™s very strange !!!

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #195

Apr 012021

Sonata

  • miles
Several people we know have the same issue as we do...the brake light wiring harness shorts out and keeps the lights from working and you can smack the side of the fender and it will work for a little while and go back off....my car was already inspected for this issue and it is an electrical issue. The headlights on our friends cars does it also.

- Urbana, OH, USA

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problem #194

Aug 212021

Sonata

  • miles
Well my break lights keep burning out the whole harness and light part were the bulbs go burns and melted the harness completely on both sides I have had to replace them twice for both break lights The satellite antenna on the roof of the car is completely out and doesn-€™t get a signal The key keeps getting stuck in the ignition where the battery had to be disconnected to remove

- Brunswick, GA, USA

problem #193

Mar 012018

Sonata

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that her tail light bulbs had repeatedly failed. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they have repeatedly replaced both tail lights; however, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to bakersfield Hyundai(5300 wible rd, bakersfield, ca 93313) where they informed her that the driver side tail light melted and that passenger side tail light harness had shorted. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #192

Feb 112021

Sonata

  • miles
My VIN is showing 2 recalls that are incomplete that I have taken to a local dealership to be corrected. My 2011 Hyundai burns oil very quickly within weeks of an oil change. I am constantly adding oil. There is no oil leak detected in the vehicle. I was assured that the engine recall was looked at and not affected but according to this site that recall is incomplete. I also have to replace tail and headlights and when I use a blinker at night the headlights turn off. I had my vehicle serviced at jenkins Hyundai of jacksonville fl 904/420-7171

- Neptune Beach, FL, USA

problem #191

Aug 012020

Sonata

  • 130,000 miles
The front bumper and grill have partially detached from broken or faulty clips, wheels original size rub against wheel well covering and constant sensor failure for tire api. Actual speed is lower then the speed indicated on the vehicle where as 55 mph actual speed shows 59 on the gage. Cruis control will not work and traction control will not turn off, after replacement of all tires and sensors. Exterior- head lights need replaced every 2 to 3 months due to failure, break lights replaced 6X in 4 months and wiring harness to breaklights has partially melted the casing and entry spot for bulb. Replacement bulb didn't remedy the problem, as break lights now do not work at all on vehicle, only tail lights. Fog light have also been replaced 1X im 1 year and 1 is out. Rear plate light also not wiring. Fuses are good. Possible wiring issue. Faulty body issue and possible computer and or sensor issue.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #190

Jan 232021

Sonata

  • miles
Radio went completely out. Head lights and tail light always going out.

- Conway, AR, USA

problem #189

Nov 092020

Sonata

  • 136,133 miles

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

My engine failed while driving.....I had it towed to Hyundai dealer because I was informef about vehicle recall. The dealership will not provide me with loaner car without full coverage insurance. I have been without my vehicle almost 30 days.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #188

Nov 132020

Sonata

  • 136,331 miles
Check engine lights comes on and oil light. So im prompted to get oil change. Mechanic says he reset some codes and the engine locked up.mechanic took my running vehicle from the shop to check how it was driving and the car stalled in motion.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #187

Sep 252020

Sonata

  • 135,000 miles
During normal driving with headlight setting on auto, headlights turn off when turn signal is activated. Headlights turn on when turn signal is off (either manually turned off or when turn is completed). This can happen while moving or stopped at light. Consistent problem with left turn, less often for right turn.

- Coppell, TX, USA

problem #186

Aug 312020

Sonata

  • miles
Lights occasionally shut off while driving. Happens on its own but happens more often when switching on high beams. All lights shut off inside and outside car. Has happened many times since owning the car

- New Lebanon, NY, USA

problem #185

Feb 112019

Sonata

  • 150,000 miles
Back lights always going out not working during braking, air bag light won't go off, fuel gauge doesn't work, noted rattling noise under the front end, always having to replace tires.

- Petersburg, VA, USA

problem #184

Sep 072020

Sonata

  • 164,000 miles
I am consistently having to replace my tail and brake lights on both the driver and passenger side every 2-6 months. I just replaced the bulbs in July and now in September, they're bad again. But now even with new bulbs in, the tail lights do not work but the brake lights do. I am also having an issue with the interior dome light not turning off while set on the "door" setting with all doors closed. For this, I have checked the door jamb switch and the inside of the dome light switch and there are no obvious causes for this issue. I'm not sure if these light problems are connected or not, but the dome light worked perfectly fine until I replaced my tail/brake light bulbs yesterday and discovered that they aren't working at all.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #183

Dec 012017

Sonata

  • miles
The first problem is about the headlights when turning the car on whether it is stationary or in motion, the headlights intermittently blinking or cutting off shortly which is dangerous when driving in dark. The problem may be related to the multi-function switch. The second problem is related to the battery, the battery on this car, 2011 Hyundai Sonata gls, can not last long and it needs to be replaced every couple of months. The problem is related to parasitic electricity in this model as the dealership told me. It might be caused by electricity drainage on the radio part. The third common problem in this model is the overheating engine. I realized the radiator fan is not working until I stop the car, open the hood, and then give the fan blades a push! also, the fan can turn on by itself only if I turn on the ac on high blowing level.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #182

Jul 062020

Sonata

  • 200,000 miles
Headlights going out at night as well as the interior dash lights going out for no reason, while driving. Benn happing every few days since July

- Haslet, TX, USA

problem #181

Jul 012020

Sonata

  • miles
Tail light burns out after being replaced. Brake lights out; got hit from rear. Window brake light came on in the middle of night while car was parked... I was indoors, happened to notice it while looking out house window, apparently had been on for hours until I went outside and turned key and stepped on brake pedal repeatedly. I'm concerned that there's a electrical issue.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #180

Jul 172020

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 109,366 miles
First, my low beams quit working months ago. Bulbs are good. I even took it in to a shop to have it checked. They said they couldn't find anything and that it was an electrical issue. That makes sense since I just started having issues with the dome lights inside as well. Have to have the inside lights turned off or they will not go off. Most recently, on the highway on my way to work, my car lost power and the dash lit up with lights and I had to pull over. Started making a loud clanging noise as well. Took it to the shop again to get it looked at. They said my oil was almost gone. No oil on the dipstick. I just recently had the oil changed! should not be out of oil. They further noted that there were no signs of oil leakage anywhere. Suggested that the engine was faulty and was excessively burning oil. Not sure what I aza M supposed to do now. I have a issues with safety due to my lights not working, and a bigger issue with my engine not working properly. I need help!

- Kansas City, KS, USA

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