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 5 of 58)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1075

Aug 072019

Sonata

  • 116,000 miles

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

Power steering suddenly cut out without warning while in motion on the street. This rendered the vehicle nearly unusable.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #1074

Aug 202019

Sonata

  • 125,000 miles
Steering coupler recall needed! front dash crack randomly appeared I read it could be due to the damaged coupler. I had a wreck and my car was about $400 from being totalled. The insurance refused to fix the coupler and it is now my responsibility. It sounds awful and it is scary driving around with my steering wheel sounding like it is going to fly off the dash.

- Graham, NC, USA

problem #1073

Aug 082019

Sonata

  • 106,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at any speed and turning the steering wheel, the steering column made a strange clicking sound. The vehicle was taken to happy Hyundai (9121 South cicero ave, oak lawn, il 60453, (708) 422-9300) where it was diagnosed that the steering gearbox shaft failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #1072

Jul 292019

Sonata

  • 205,000 miles

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

I was driving and my steering column started making a strange noise. The steering wheel has a lot of play in it. I was only about two miles from home, so luckily I made it. Upon a google search I realize there was a recall open on the steering coupling. I made an appointment to have my car looked at. When I dropped it off, I was notified I wasn't covered under recall because I was past the 100,000 mile warranty for the coupling. It's extremely sad that I had to pay $300 to fix a $5 part that Hyundai knows is defective.

- Wedowee, AL, USA

problem #1071

Jul 042019

Sonata

  • 106,000 miles
Sonata recall. All of a sudden my steering wheels makes thia clicking noise when turning and on rough roads. There is a clamp the snapped and my mechanic fixes those all the time. I was driving and ot now sounds like my steering wheel is about to fall off.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #1070

Jul 122019

Sonata

  • miles
Since, I have owned the car I have, noticed the steering wheel feeling loose. Over, the last several months I have experienced uncontrollable rattling and increased shaking. I took my car in to be looked at and 3 different shops told me my steering rack was about to go. After some research on my make and model, it is determined that some 2011 Sonatas made between certain dates had faulty steering racks from the start. The car is almost undriveable and Hyundai continues to ignore this problem when it should go into recall. There are over 1100 complaints to the same issue.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #1069

May 122019

Sonata

  • miles

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

Takata recall on my engine and they are saying my steering wheel doesn't have a recall but it's really bad and it makes loud noises and gets louder when you go 70mphg where it shakes really bad.

- Halls, TN, USA

problem #1068

Jul 012019

Sonata

  • 148,012 miles
The steering has been failing over the course of several months. There is a loud clunking sound when turning the wheel and the steering is extremely loose. There is not an open recall at this point for this part. Research indicates this is a common problem and continues to worsen as the part erodes away. Shame on Hyundai for not addressing this known issue.

- Green Lane, PA, USA

problem #1067

Jun 282019

Sonata

  • 113,000 miles
I was driving my vehicle downtown and my eps light came on along as well as flickering of my low tire pressure and ABS light which I believe is breaks failing. But I had failure of my power steering for sure. Out of nowhere I could no longer navigate heavy and slow traffic. I turned the car off and back on only to have all of my gears lock up and not allow me to even attempt at moving it, after turning it off the second time car entirely died and will not start at all. We managed to get the gears unlocked after a few attempts with just the battery on and push it off the busy road to call for a tow truck. I see online that the 2011 Hyundai Sonata has a recall for the power steering failure but my VIN is not covered but I am definitely effected by this recall. The campaign number is 16V190000

- Glendale, CO, USA

problem #1066

Mar 012019

Sonata

  • miles
I have seen recalls before for this car about the steering wheel but the dealership says it's closed. I never took my car in for any recalls. Iva had mechanics look at my car and do work and it never is fixed. My steering wheel clicks horrible on any minor bump or turn

- Smyrna, NC, USA

problem #1065

Oct 012018

Sonata

  • miles

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

Steering makes a clunking noise when hitting bumps and turning left and right. This is in motion and stable

- Paducah, KY, USA

problem #1064

Jun 062019

Sonata

  • 131,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving in the rain, the contact lost control of the vehicle. She attempted to regain control, but the steering wheel would not stop shaking. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering coupler needed to be installed and the air bag was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

problem #1063

May 152019

Sonata

  • 80,000 miles
When backing up and turning the steering wheel a knocking occurs. Also when moving at a slow speed and turning the wheels the knocking occurs.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #1062

Jan 112019

Sonata

  • 118,000 miles
I bought this car in March of 2018. They never told me about the 20 plus recalls that were never fixed. I recently had my engine replaced due to a recall. I also have about 20 recalls on this car that were not fixed. After my engine was replaced the Hyundai dealership cleared out all of my recalls as if they were fixed. They were not fixed or replaced, only the engine and fuel pump. They are telling me I have to pay out of pocket for other recalls on the car. They changed the wording to "extended warranty" when the part is on the recall list. Please look into this seeing they commited a fradulent act on me in the past on another car I bought from them.

- Morris, CT, USA

problem #1061

Feb 022019

Sonata

  • 93,000 miles
Takata recalls. Very very loose steering column. Makes a rattling/knicking noise especially if you hit a bump. Steering wheel is very loose and does not even lock. It makes noise when in park if you move or shake steering wheel. Then of course is worse when driving. Ive noticed it right after we bought it in febuary 2019. But didnt realize what it was.

- Washington, PA, USA

problem #1060

Jan 072019

Sonata

  • 95,000 miles
The steering wheel is so loose that it shakes and makes a rattling noise.

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

problem #1059

Jan 172019

Sonata

  • miles
Takata recall. I bought my 2011 Hyundai Sonata last year in March of 2018. I was unaware of the many recalls it had, but figured the dealership wohld have notified me, which they did not. January of 2019 I had my engine replaced, which was on the recall list. Before I had brought the car in they told me they would fix all recalls. They never did. There is a recall on the "cupler" which is in the steering wheel compartment, which I was told they would fix before bringing it in. When I picked the car up it was not fixed and when I asked why not, they told me I was over the limited mileage by 1,000 miles. They now tell me I have to pay $300 for that part. Also, when checked on this website about my recalls it said they have all been repaired, which is a complete lie. Out of the 20 recalls they fixed 2. the engine and the fuel pump which was affected by the motor issue. I have dealt with them in the past, with my 2003 elantra when I needed a radiator, which I paid full price, but they never gave me a new radiator like they told me they were putting in my car. I found out when I later sold my car, years later. I feel this company is fradulent. Hyundai of watertown, ct.

- Morris, CT, USA

problem #1058

Feb 062018

Sonata

  • 117,000 miles
I took my car to the Hyundai dealership in turnersville NJ they claimed they but a "new" engine as a replacement of my recall because the engine was making a knocking sound so they kept my car for 3 months then they called me on memorial weekend to pick up my car two days after I picked up my car the engine light went back on so I took the car back then service department wanted to charge me to fix it which I refused too. Now last month I get another recall for my Hyundai 2011 Sonata what it's going on my engine light still goes on and to be honest I'm so disappointed with this car that I don't even drive even though I'm making payments on it still. I hate my car and Hyundai cars

- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

problem #1057

Jan 022019

Sonata

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving high speeds, the steering seized and the vehicle decelerated without warning. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The diagnostic test stated to repair the electronic control unit. The vehicle had not been repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #1056

Apr 102019

Sonata

  • 89,000 miles
The steering column is making clunking sounds when turning right or left and the vehicle has lost steering response. My own reading tells me that it is the bushing in the column, which has been worn down or broken; long story short - this is not a unique problem to me. The vehicle unsafe to drive at this point.

- Thornton, CO, USA

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