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 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,536 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 5 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #108

Jan 172016

Sonata

  • 60,000 miles

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

Takara recalls after buying several new batteries my Sonata 2011 won't start and continues to do the same over and over again....what is wrong" and is there a recall"

- Canonsburg, PA, USA

problem #107

May 122019

Sonata

  • 90,000 miles
Prior to having a safety recall addressed, regarding my steering column, I'd experienced moisture buildup and dampness. On the drivers side of the floor, running continuing under the the front seat to the back. Leaving the carpet wet after the slightest rain or water condition. The vehicle is used daily, back and forth to work, 20 highway miles round-trip. Can the repaired recall need reparing again?

- New York, NY, USA

problem #106

Mar 182019

Sonata

  • 68,000 miles
I bought a 2011 Hyundai Sonata for my local dealership in bangor Maine and the ingin ight came so the fixed is said it was a small leak. I didn't have the car for a week because work was done to it. I was told it was a trade in. Now the trasmion light is on a and a light day passage air bag is off. I haven't have the vehicle in my position for more then 4 days since March 18th 2019 when I bought it. I have been told many recalls have been on this make a model. I don't know if this vehicle has been serviced or repaired.

- Bangor, ME, USA

problem #105

Dec 012018

Sonata

  • 107,000 miles

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

There is a rattling noise in the steering column when turning the wheel or when driving over a speed bump/bump in the road. I was informed by my mechanic that it is a little rubber part that looks like a black disc that needs to be replaced...my mechanic said it is a common issue with Sonatas.

- Lutz, FL, USA

problem #104

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

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problem #103

Feb 012019

Sonata

  • 56,700 miles
Tamara recall, my car is constantly cutting off when I'm attempting to stop, however it will start up but then cuts off and slow to acclerate

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #102

Jan 302019

Sonata

  • 101,500 miles

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

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 #101

Jan 012019

Sonata

  • 6,000 miles
The smell of fuel/gasoline while car is idling

- Essex, MD, USA

problem #100

Jul 012018

Sonata

  • miles
Headlights and brake lights, they will not work, put in brand new bulbs, they light up for about five mins. Then stop working, cannot get a bulb to work, it seems the electrical parts of the lights are not working properly. This is bringing me a lot of problems, cops pull me over for no brake lights, but I can't get them to work>>>>>

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #99

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 #98

Dec 152018

Sonata

  • 150,000 miles

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

Takata recall. Hello, I own a 2011 Hyundai Sonata and recently the engine was making a loud noise like someone was knocking but really hard and it was shaking. While driving I felt the car really weak. I was going about 45mph and slowed down to 25mph in a 55mph zone. After slowing down I got to a light and suddenly the car turns off. I tried to turn it back on but it wasn't responding. There was a lot of traffic and I was feared that if I got out to push the car to a safe point someone could run me over. I decided to call 911 to help me push the car. Before it was making the noise and shaking the car was doing fine. I had recently had a change of oil and had my next appointment next year in February. It has over 150,000 miles and I wanted to know if it has some type of guarantee or if Hyundai or someone can fix this problem because right now the car is on car shop and they told me that it doesn't have a fix. They told me that the solution would be to be a new engine because apparently it didn't have oil but I checked and it did have. If that would be the case they would charge me 2,800$ for everything. I'm a college student and I can hardly pay my classes. My parents had just bought me this used car for 5,000$ about 9 months ago. At first I was glad that I had a Hyundai car because it saved gas but right know I'm kind of disappointed. I would like a response. Thank you for your time.

- Mercedes, TX, USA

problem #97

Nov 262018

Sonata

  • 110,000 miles
I recently was driving my vehicle 'Hyundai Sonata 2011' on interstate 95 highway, and then randomly the car stopped on me while accelerating.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #96

Aug 302018

Sonata

  • 159,938 miles
In random instances, while parking the vehicle, the car will shift to park and completely park. When the car is stationary and turned off, a beeping alerts begins and the dashboard screen will prompt 'shift to park'. the car will not completely turn off, leaving the battery running.

- Rosenberg, TX, USA

problem #95

Aug 242018

Sonata

  • 124,000 miles
I bought a used 2011 Hyundai Sonata in March for my birthday, and about 3 months ago, the steering wheel started shaking violently any time I got to 60mph or higher. Upon further investigation, I found out I needed a new steering coupler. Before it got fixed, my dome lights, and all of the buttons on the right side of the steering wheel (trip, cruise control) stopped working. After being fixed, none of the above mentioned things work, but also now, my power locks, dash clock and horn stopped working. I almost got hit by another driver a few days ago, and didnt even have a horn to honk!

- Milford, KS, USA

problem #94

Aug 092018

Sonata

  • 130,000 miles
There is a problem with the shift. If you put the car in reverse the icon disappears off the home screen and the vehicle wont drive or go into reverse. You will have to shut the car down and then restart. There was a previous recall on this issue. I contact the Hyundai dealership they claim the issue was fixed prior to me purchasing the car and refuse to inspect the car and refuse to repair the car. They told me I needed to pay I have never heard of someone having to pay for a recall. This was at the heritage Hyundai towson

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #93

Oct 092018

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
I have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata I had problem with my engine Hyundai auto decided not to fix it I have problem with my starter Hyundai auto decided not to fix it I had to pay out of pocket for both engine install [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #92

Sep 102018

Sonata

  • miles
Car just won't start at all it has oil and stuff in it and it won't start it's a push start I got it from car max about 5 months ago.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #91

Aug 222018

Sonata

  • 140,000 miles
Takata recall my 2011 Hyundai Sonata limited has been having problems with the engine not turning completely. My car is a push to start, so when holding the brake and pushing the start button the car still hesitates to come on but the lights on the dashboard do so I know it's not a battery issue. This has happened a couple years ago and I was stranded in my car at work, after several tries it eventually switches over and comes on. I've read several complaints from other Hyundai Sonata owners having the same exact issue, I'm hoping Hyundai takes action in resolving this malfunction.

- Rixeyville, VA, USA

problem #90

Feb 072018

Sonata

  • 117,400 miles
The transmission needs to be replaced.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #89

Jun 302018

Sonata

  • 126,000 miles
Car was in motion heading straight on a busy interstate. I had been driving for approximately 45 minutes when it completely died causing the car to come to a complete stop right in the middle of a dark interstate. All of the dash lights came on right when the car started to die. There was no shoulder on this part of the interstate and it would not make it to the next exit. When the car came to a complete stop all the lights were then off and I could not even turn on the hazard lights, nothing at all was working. I tried to restart it a couple of times until I saw smoke coming from under the hood then I stopped because I thought it was going to catch on fire. I ended up getting it towed off the interstate to my house. The 2011 Sonata has known engine problems but not sure yet if mine was a result of the motor locking up or if it was electrical or perhaps both.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

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