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:
51,054 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 48 of 58)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #214

Jul 252011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 39 miles

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

Car pulls to the left most of the time, sometimes forcefully. Occassionally pulls to the left. Vibrates at multiple speeds. Spent four visits to two different dealers for service that did not correct the issue.

- Edinburg, TX, USA

problem #213

Oct 312010

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 50 miles
Our 2011 Hyundai Sonata has a pull to the left. We noticed it immediately on the day we took delivery and have had the car in the dealership on at least three occasions, but it still pulls. We have had three alignments and replaced one tire....no help.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #212

Aug 252011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 19 miles
Purchased a 2011 Sonata hybrid (premium package). Since driving off the lot the car pulls to the left and vibrates between 65-75mph. Brought it to a local dealer for service and they performed a computer wheel alignment and straight trak. Problems still exists all the time. From looking at the listing, there are over 100 complaints on this that are registered for 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. NHTSA, please help the consumers with this problem. Even when calling the Hyundai toll free number, they act like it is the first time they heard of this problem.

- Nanuet, NY, USA

problem #211

Aug 302011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 13,200 miles

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

2011 Hyundai Sonata, has been returned to dealer six times since purchased in June 2010. Difficult to steer the vehicle and keep on your side of the road. This is my second complaint, ODI # 10380197. Hyundai states the "car drives as designed". Hyundai refuses to admit their is a problem. Software update ordered by NHTSA did not fix the problem. Factory rep has refused to authorize any repairs. 13200 miles on car now. Original incident date 8/23/2010. Cannot drive on any long road trips with this car.

- Missouri, MO, USA

problem #210

May 272011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 60 miles
I purchased a Hyundai Sonata limited 2.0 turbo and took delivery on May 27, 2011. During the following weekend, I noticed it has a discernible pulling-left steering defect at all times, which becomes dramatically more noticeable, and dangerous, at speeds above 50 mph. I returned the car to the dealer to correct this defect on June 6, 2011 without success. A second attempt by the dealer to correct this defect during the week of June 17-24, 2011 was also unsuccessful. I brought the car to the dealer a third time on Friday, July 8, 2011 at the request of the service manager. He drove the car and pronounced that the dealer had made all the factory adjustments it can make, the car now meets all factory specs, this model has "sensitive" steering and our car will not drive differently. I contacted Hyundai Consumer Affairs at 800-633-5151 on Monday, July 18, 2011. I spoke with an employee who assigned me case # 4472765 and advised I would be contacted by a special representative. The representative called, confirmed all facts of the defect and said the dealer will contact you for further action. I received no contact from the dealer or the special representative. The special representative refused to return our calls on 8/8/2011 and 8/15/2011, so I contacted Hyundai Consumer Affairs (again) at 800-633-5151 on wed, Aug 17, 2011. I spoke with an employee about case # 4472765. He advised that as of August 15, 2011, Hyundai had issued a Sonata service campaign (recall) # 927, and I should contact the dealer for an appointment to repair the steering problem. I called the dealer and was connected to a service adviser, who looked for service campaign #927. It was not in her system yet for our vehicle VIN#, but she found information in her system that described 927. She said she would check her system daily for updates and call me when it was available. 8/29/2011: I've received no recall letter from Hyundai and the dealer refuses to act until Hyundai authorizes action.

- St Clair Shores, MI, USA

problem #209

Oct 122010

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 18 miles
Bought a 2011 Sonata SE 2010 and has pulled to the left from day one. Pull is more noticeable at highway speeds. Have taken it back to dealer 8 different times (alignments, tire rotation etc.). last time Hyundai tech drove it and said it was fine. It's not fine! I am turning in as a lemon.

- Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #208

Apr 012011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 16,000 miles

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

I have a 2011 Sonata limited. Earlier this year I began having a starting issue where the car would say "apply brake pedal to start" even though my foot was firmly planted on the brake. Took the car in and they couldn't duplicate so I just kept on working around it. In June, it got worse so I took it back, spoke to the service manager at the dealership and they ordered a brake switch and new push button ignition on June 20th or thereabouts. The parts finally arrived on August 17th..yes..it took that long apparently. I dropped the car off that morning and went back that afternoon around 5. I was informed that they had replaced the brake switch and push button but when they went to test drive, they lost steering control and the eps and traction control system had failed. They took a part off a new Sonata in their lot and put it on my car but that did not correct the problem. After 2 days of troubleshooting they managed to correct that issue but as soon as they did, the ABS light came on and it stated the ABS system had failed too. I am now waiting on a part for the ABS as of 8/22. None of these systems had issues prior to the drop off date. This concerns me that there may be a serious problem with the electrical system. We will see when they replace the ABS module if something else goes wrong.

- Victoria, TX, USA

problem #207

Feb 252011

Sonata

  • 2 miles
2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T pulls to left at normal speeds during normal driving. This is not a "torque-steer" issue (the tendency of front-wheel drive cars to veer under acceleration due to uneven torque to the front wheels). Even on cruise control, if you don't apply constant "right" correction, the car will veer left. The crown of the road does not stop this, nor is it a wind issue. If you let the wheel go, the car will change lanes to the left (or veer into oncoming traffic!) within 10 seconds. This is an extremely dangerous condition. I have had the car in the shop 3 times and while they are very aware of the issue, have no solution. This is unacceptable and a significant public safety hazard. Please initiate a formal inquiry. Same issues as other complaints, engineers (2 of them) said car is in spec and fine, pulling getting worse with miles, 4400., they act like I am making this up every time, dealer that I got vehicle from gave up, and will not address this dangerous issue anymore.

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #206

May 202011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 12 miles
New 2011 Hyundai Sonata purchased 5-20-2011. Safety issue is erratic undependable steering. Current mileage as of 8-18-2011 is 3020, 800 miles of which have been for 4 visits to dealer(s) to try to fix with no satisfactory result. Originally the car pulled hard right. On 4th visit Hyundai factory field engineer moved tires around which reduced the right pull. Now car pulls erratically sometimes left, sometimes right but requires constant force on steering wheel to hold car straight. This is more serious at highway speeds and only a short drive causes fatigue.

- Onancock, VA, USA

problem #205

Jun 282011

Sonata

  • 40 miles
Hyundai Sonata 2011 new steering problem, alignment problem the car pull to the right leaving the lane on high way with strong resist from the steering power assist to return to the lane wrong alignment not adjustable by the dealer who did it 4 times the last one the Hyundai representative ask for non standard parts to fix the problem with bigger sizes in braking on high speed 100 km the car turn to the right and was stopped away from the next lane cars by 5 cm this pulling is all the time and in corners turn the car moves in zigzag the power steering assist stopped assisting over 40 km speed and the force from the moving wheels is very high you have to use both hands strongly all the way of the trip to keep the car in track by shifting the wheel 3 degree to the lift if you are lucky and no strong breaks need it may you will be safe.

- Mississauga, 00, USA

problem #204

May 152011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles

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

My wife and I have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata turbo with 4500 miles that pulls to the left at all speeds and is much worse at highway speeds requiring constant pressure to keep the car going in a straight line. A recent trip of 2500 miles mostly on interstate 95 became very tiring after hours of constant steering wheel correction. The car has been into the selling dealer three times {alignment twice and subframe adjustment} to correct the issue but car still pulls to the left. I strongly feel that this condition is a safety concern and am not comfortable with my wife driving the car on the highway. I am bringing the car into the dealer next week again and am told there are many cars with this same defect and Hyundai has issued a campaign code 927 to fix the problem.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #203

Jan 302011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 600 miles
Bought a 2011 Sonata limited with 17 inch wheels in January and has pulled to the left from day one. Pull is more noticeable at highway speeds. Have taken it back to dealer 9 different times (alignments, tire rotation etc.). last time Hyundai engineer drove it and said it was fine. He drove it 6 miles of which 2 of those are to and from getting on highway. Made it sound like it was my fault and that I did not know how new cars drive. I am turning in as a lemon.

- Select An Airport, VA, USA

problem #202

May 012011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 6 miles
Since I purchased this car, it has an annoying and potentially dangerous pull to the left. Sometimes it pulls more than others but it's always present to some extent.

- Mi, MI, USA

problem #201

Jun 012011

Sonata

  • 200 miles
Vehicle tracks--poorly pulls to left at highway speeds. Brought back to dealer for fix, alignment performed several times. Requires much more effort to hold steering, and creates fatigue after hours of driving. I consider this a hazzard condition

- Darien, IL, USA

problem #200

May 162011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 50 miles
2011 Hyundai SE 2.0T steering pulls left and does not center despite alignment and tire rotations. Delivery was 16 May 2011. Above actions improve performance briefly, but do not cure problem.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #199

Aug 052011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
I bought a 2011 Sonata 2.0T 2 weeks ago. I am having issues with the car pulling to the left and right. This vehicle has 17 inch wheels.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #198

Feb 152011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 8 miles
Pulled left immediately upon delivery. Returned to dealer. They said they switched the two front tires to fix the problem. They said it was due to radial pull. This begs the question "what happens when I replace or rotate tires?" I am concerned that the root cause has not been addressed. It has not pulled since they switched the front tires.

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #197

Jun 252011

Sonata

  • 140 miles
Leased 2011 Hyundai Sonata on 6/21/11. On 6/25 with 140 miles on the odometer I noticed a strong pull to the left at about 35 mph. Needed to actively correct steering to keep car in a straight trajectory. I immediately checked tire pressure looked under the car for anything obvious but found nothing. Did not drive on high speed roadway until many days later and found that at 65 mph the problem was the same. After July 4th holiday I telephoned Hyundai dealership and they told me to make an appointment, they said they had never heard that before.I did not go to the dealership thru today 8/15/11. I have however seen the numerous same complaints about the 2011 Sonata. I wanted to make my own self heard as to this problem. It continues today and I am going to go to the dealership but expect the same stonewalling I have read about.

- East Brunswick, NJ, USA

problem #196

May 012011

Sonata

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving, the vehicle would pull to the left. There was a NHTSA campaign id number: 10V457000 (steering:gear box:shaft sector) recall that may be related to the failure. The contact was in the process of finding out if his VIN was a part of the recall. The dealer replaced the strut, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 0 and the current mileage was 4,000.

- Port Jefferson, NY, USA

problem #195

Mar 212011

Sonata

  • miles
My 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T pulls to the left very hard. It occurs at just about any speed, but is worse with highway speeds. In less than1.5 seconds my car would be 1 lane over if my hands are not on the wheel. I have to hold the wheel to the right just to go straight. I have had this addressed twice at the dealership where I purchased my car. The problem has not been fixed.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

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