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:
12 / 27
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,916 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 7 of 20)

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problem #277

Dec 032018

Sonata

  • 250,000 miles

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

Driving home my mom asked me to stop by the local gas station. I pulled into the parking space my mom got out & went in the store. A guy at the staion started screaming at me to get out because my car is about to blow up he could see the fire coming out the front of the hood & grill of the car. By the time I understood wht he was saying the car had a big boom hood blew up & went bk dwn during that the locks were locking & unlocking. I had to manually unlock tge door & push my way out with young man assistance. After I was out of it for 3 seconds the fire started raging & popping. The firemen finally made it they were very helpful & understanding. What I don't understand is why I didn't get some type of warning my car was mot running hot. Im thankful to my heavenly father because although this was a very scary situation for me but it could always be worse. Very grateful. But is Hyundai gonna replace my car or pay for the damages" will my insurance cover this tyoe of claim"

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #276

Nov 292016

Sonata

  • 126,803 miles
On November 29, 2016, while sitting at a stop light at West chester pike in West chester, pa. I noticed a flash and spark on the passenger side. One more blink and a stream of fire shot across the top of the hood of the car. Within in minutes, the entire car was engulfed in flames giving me seconds to get out of the car. While traffic was stopped, the police and fire departments were called to distinguish the fire while attending to me on the side of the road. The engine was part of a nationwide recall and was replaced "new" on June 10, 2016 which I satisfied including the extension of the warranty that was issued to me after getting it replaced.

- Hagerstown, MD, USA

problem #275

Nov 192018

Sonata

  • 82,000 miles
The engine has seized. The brake lights were always on and it melted the harness the holds the bulb in the receptacle area. I cannot place the bulb in the seating for it anymore and then successfully place in the area for it. The area just beneath the glove box began emitting smoke and I smelled rubber melting. The language of the car is in spanish cannot be changed back to english. The buttons don't control what they are intended to. The center instrument panel, radio, A/C and the other functions occasionally are not operable, no light nothing.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #274

Jan 012017

Sonata

  • miles

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

I no longer have fog lights that entire area has melted. My tail lights go out every two or 3 weeks and the bulbs are black. There is a burning smell coming from the vehicle only when the car is being driven or parked on. The ac line that should be cold is hot. Recently the car was leaking oil and smoking the dealership said it had to do with the engine recall. My engine seized while driving in 2016 and I had to get a engine replacement. After the engine replacement my turbo went out which only allowed the car to drive slow and the engine sounded the whole time driving. It had something to do with when they replaced the engine.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #273

Oct 012018

Sonata

  • 125,475 miles
A shortage in the electrical system causing the headlights to go out, the brake lights to not come on and have the check engine light to come on, and the check tire pressure light to come on as well.

- Bedford Heights, OH, USA

problem #272

Oct 012016

Sonata

  • 171,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 65 mph, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the brake lights remained illuminated. When the contact pressed the push start button, the engine started without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle was taken to craft Hyundai (2625 lakeside dr, lynchburg, va 24501, 434-455-7060) where it was diagnosed that the crank shaft failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and stated that the contact should have an extended warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

problem #271

Nov 032018

Sonata

  • 117,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the starter needed to be replaced and there was no oil in the engine. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #270

Jun 092018

Sonata

  • 180,000 miles
While I was driving the car turned off and started to smell like burned plastic. The car did not turned back on and had it towed back to my house.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #269

May 132018

Sonata

  • 120,000 miles
The airbag light in my 2011 Hyundai Sonata came on while I was driving one day. The car has not been in any accidents. The airbag light has been on for several months now and I've been told by different mechanics that this may be the result of problems in the electrical steering system. I've checked numerous blogs and found that many other people are having the exact same issue with their 2011 Hyundai Sonatas.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #268

Aug 152018

Sonata

  • 130,000 miles
I've had problems with all front and rear lights. Mainly the headlights, tail lights and brake lights burning out. Since I got the car I've had problems with my brake lights not lighting up on one side, the tail light will work fine but once I press that brake my passenger brake light won't light up. Also I had my passenger side brake light heat up and melt the socket and housing of the taillight. All lights burn out way too soon like the car is providing too much juice and frying the bulbs.

- Elkhart, IN, USA

problem #267

Oct 112018

Sonata

  • miles

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

While driving at night, the headlights, as well as interior dash and radio lights, would flicker. Most of the time this is triggered by using the turn signal. At times the lights may turn off altogether and have to be turned back on by jostling the turn signal. This happens while the car is in motion.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #266

Sep 102018

Sonata

  • 147,000 miles
I have had issue after issue with my 2011 Sonata. In just a year and a half I have had 5 things fixed or replaced 2 of them major. I've had the whole break assembly fixed for my break lights not working. Most recently I had to have the engine replaced due to it seizing up with just barely over 100K miles. Then 3 months after that I'm having issues with the cruise randomly turning off, the break lights not working. Also the gear shifter will not go into gear at times. One of the major issues ive had is the engine randomly stalling or the accelerator nor working at all. The issue ive had with the cruise control will randomly happen whether I'm moving or in park and during this is also effects the stability control as well and it will turn its self off. With the car stalling, it randomly happens whether I'm at a traffic light trying to accelerate or while I'm driving.

- Seymour, TN, USA

problem #265

Oct 152018

Sonata

  • 80,000 miles
While driving on the street and highway. The headlights flicker, and the radio/clock lights flicker on and off when the turn signals are used.it seems like mostly on right turns.I noticed a similar compiant when reading the complaints for the same exact car. I had my car in for an unrelated issued and I mentioned it to the service center. I found out about another recall that I did not know about. Why are there so many recall..

- Berkeley, IL, USA

problem #264

Oct 152018

Sonata

  • miles
Hyundai announced a recall in February 2018. To date there has been no communication whatsoever from Hyundai on the remedy or repair for this recall.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #263

Oct 032018

Sonata

  • 103,000 miles
This will be the second time in 18 months that my car has not started and needed to be towed to the dealership. They stated it was the electrical issues with the push starter. You should not have to replace a push starter/parts associated with it this many times in a vehicle, let alone 18 months apart. Cheap parts, expensive labor and a lemon of a car with 13 recalls and not even 100K miles on the car. I would like for Hyundai to look into this electrical issue and why this keeps happening, as I've seen other owners post about it.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #262

Aug 052018

Sonata

  • 95,000 miles
There appears to be something wrong with the car's electrical system. While driving at night, the headlights flicker, and the radio/clock lights flicker on and off when the turn signals are used. In addition, about a month ago I was driving in the rain, and had the A/C running. Whenever the windscreen wipers were running, the car's engine lost power and felt like it was going to cut off. When the electrical load was reduced, the engine operated normally. I had the alternator checked and was told that it was functioning fine.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #261

Sep 042018

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 143,424 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While accelerating to 40 mph, the instrument panel began to flash and the radio and air conditioning turned on and off. The vehicle completely shut off. The contact pulled over and attempted to restart the vehicle. The contact noticed smoke and flames from the driver's side of the hood. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was 144,000. The VIN was unknown. * consumer stated mileage on the car was 143,424. Updated 11/8/18

- Medford, NY, USA

problem #260

Aug 172018

Sonata

  • 130,000 miles
When driving on the interstate my car continues to jerk like I hit something and the immobilizer indicator light flashes on and off. I have changed the battery in the key fob but this still happens at least once a day. The car jerks very hard like you hit a wall.

- Kingsland, GA, USA

problem #259

Aug 122018

Sonata

  • 107,000 miles
Last week I was driving and the ESC indicator light randomly came on on my dashboard. Later, after I tried to shut it off by pressing the ESC button which did not work, I tried to adjust the volume on my radio using the steering wheel controls. Instead of adjusting the volume down it went to the bluetooth for my cell phone. Next day no further issues. No warning/indicator lights came on, car functioned normally. Two days later ESC light came back on. Stopped at the store and when I came back out I noticed my brake lights were on. Drove home, parked in the driveway and again, brake lights remained on even after car was off, lights were turned to the off position and there was no possible way for them to remain on. Had to disconnect my battery for the night. Next day noticed recall for 2011 Sonatas for the same issue. Called Hyundai and they stated my VIN is not part of the recall, so they can't do anything for me. This is after Hyundai refused to acknowledge their engine defects in the same vehicle. I was one of the first affected by the engine blowing out and was refused warranty service. I had to sue Hyundai and it was not until they openly acknowledged engine failures that they finally honored my warranty and replaced my engine. I was without my vehicle for over a year during that process. My point is that Hyundai has a history, and documented track record, of ignoring customer concerns and complaints. They regularly neglect the consumer and leave us to make due with a defective car. They refuse, yet again, to honor a known safety issue with their vehicle.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #258

Aug 032018

Sonata

  • 49,000 miles
When lights are on in auto mode, the lights flicker (high add low beam) randomly. Dash lights flicker as well. This occurs when not touching the light switch, but also occurs randomly when using the turn signals or switching between high and low beams. This issue occurs while moving and while stationary.

- Fairfax Station, VA, USA

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