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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,783 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 1 of 2)

problem #22

Jan 052024

Sonata

  • 17,742 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 the steering wheel was making an abnormal rattling sound. While making a turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the horn became inoperable and the buttons on the steering wheel became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 17,742.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #21

Jul 232014

Sonata

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at 25 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the horn functioned intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #20

Feb 082012

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 17,000 miles
The oem horn is not effective, I have had it replaced by the dealer when it was intermitant but T no one can hear the new one. I have been cut off numerious times hit the horn and no one reacts, it is as if they don't know I exist. I tested it on my family and they just laughed, calling it a bickcycle's horn. Someone will get hurt/killed. I would think these things must be at least a minium of "X" decibles, it this horn meets standards than the standard must be changed.this is a saftey harzard.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #19

Jul 182011

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 1 miles

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

The horn supplied with this vehicle is so low it can not be heard by other drivers.

- Conowingo, MD, USA

problem #18

Apr 232011

Sonata

  • 10 miles
A few times I have nearly had accidents, involving both cars and people because the horn cannot be heard! I think a horn is a safety device, to warn others, but this one cannot. It sounds like it is from a motor scooter. Unfortunately, someone will probably end up being hit, injured or even killed before something is done. I have heard that Hyundai, in effect, admitted the problem by re-designing the horn on later 2011 model year cars. All cars should get the new horn. This type of incident happens everytime someone pulls or walks out in front of me at the last second, and I am unable to properly warn them with the horn.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

problem #17

Feb 212011

Sonata

  • 1,042 miles
The horn on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is so weak it is inaudible while in traffic. The dealer ordered a new one but to no avail. My Sonata was built prior to the Sept. 2010 switch to a dual horn. The old horn is a hazard and offer no protection to alert drivers as to prevent accidents. There should be a fix but dealer advises there is none thus far.

- Lenoir City, TN, USA

problem #16

Mar 012011

Sonata

  • miles

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

The horn on my 2011 Hyundai Sonata is not loud at all. I honk at people and they have no idea I am honking at them. Its very quiet and high pitch. This could cause a serious accident if the horn was seriously needed on a highway or something.

- Booneville, MS, USA

problem #15

Feb 182011

Sonata

  • 12,500 miles
It happened in one afternoon in a company parking lot when all the employees were leaving for the weekend. The exit line was backed up and while waiting in line for traffic to clear, another employee backed up her car from the parking space. Although the car was moving slowly, the driver was paying attention to the other cars parked on sides but failing to assure that there is enough space behind. Immediatly I noticed that there is a potential for a collision and I activated the horn for at least 15 seconds. Unfortunatly the horn was not loud enough for the other driver to hear it (by her own admission the horn was innaudiable) and the colision could not be avoided. As a result the cars front right fender was slightly bended. The damaged resulted was valued at $708. Nevertheless, since I purchased the car there were at least five other incidents in highway traffic when the horn was not loud enough to alert other drivers.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #14

Feb 082011

Sonata

  • 6,775 miles
I was driving on a major dallas freeway when a truck started changing lanes without visibly seeing me. I attempted to use the horn only to discover it did not work. I took the vehicle back to the dealership and after four hours was told they will need to order one. This is a major issue for an automobile when navigating extremely over utilized freeways. Based on read forums, the horn on this car appears to be an issue. I do not know when they will fix my horn. I was only told they would call when the horn comes in. This is extremely poor customer service and care when a product, with known issues, is not supported with replacement parts, in house, in effort to minimize danger to the end user and customer.

- Richardson, TX, USA

problem #13

Jul 302010

Sonata

  • 52 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 20 mph, the contact attempted to engage the horn but it could barely be heard. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told that the horn was designed in that manner. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 52 and the current mileage was 1,242.

- Louiesville, KY, USA

problem #12

Oct 072010

Sonata

  • 100 miles

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

The horn in a 2011 Hyundai Sonata is very weak. On a highway with all the road noise cars cannot hear the horn. When the horn is used it sounds like it is in the distance and not warning the car near you. The horn should be replaced with a louder audible horn.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #11

Sep 232010

Sonata

  • miles
I back up a previous complaint that the horn on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is completely worthless and a safety hazard. It is so quiet that it is useless as a warning to pedestrians or other motorists should the need arise. It has to be replaced with a "normal" loud horn.

- Bordentown, NJ, USA

problem #10

Sep 072010

Sonata

  • 50 miles
The horn on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is not audible in traffic and does not provide any warning to other drivers or pedestrians. The very weak, ineffective horn and needs to be replaced. Please note dan bedore, a Hyundai spokesman, confirmed the model built after 9/1 will have a dual shell horn. Hyundai Consumer Affairs 1 800 633 5151 confirmed this as well dealership does not want to do anything.

- Plainview, NY, USA

problem #9

Aug 272010

Sonata

  • 6,500 miles
I was cut off by a driver making a left turn into my path at an intersection who failed to stop at his stop sign. I tried to get the drivers attention by laying on my horn but the horn on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata is not even audible in traffic and does not provide any warning to other drivers or pedestrians. The very weak, ineffective horn is a safety defect and should be replaced by an effective horn.

- Paducah, KY, USA

problem #8

Aug 152010

Sonata

  • 1,000 miles
Sonata 2011 horn and acceleration problems. People can not hear the horn. Also when I test drove they Sonata the test car had problems where there was accelerator problems. When I stepped on the gas the car almost quit, paused and they took off. This is dangerous and could cause an accident by not accelerating in time. This has happened on my car at least 7 times, accelerate, pause or hesitation the motor kicks in. When I asked the salesman about it at the dealer he told me the motor on the test car was probably cold. This happens when the car is warmed up. This is very scary when you pull out in traffic. Also the horn is a joke. You can't hear the horn and it needs to be replaced.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #7

May 242010

Sonata

  • 370 miles
2011 Hyundai Sonata horn is so weak as to be inaudible at highway speeds. It needs to be upgraded to a dual tone immediately before someone gets hurt from not hearing the horn. On a car of this caliber, there is no excuse. I hope I get a notice to bring mine 2 day old car with 370 miles in for a replacement of the horn. Lane change going home from dealer caused me to notice this. Scared both myself and the guy trying to swerve into my lane.

- Nacogdoches, TX, USA

problem #6

May 092010

Sonata

  • 950 miles
I was driving my vehicle down a four lane road and another vehicle driving parallel to me started creeping into my lane. I applied the horn of my vehicle but the other driver failed to hear me. I had to swerve off the road to avoid them. I have noticed that the horn in my car is very weak compared to previous cars I own, and am concerned about other people hearing it.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #5

May 192010

Sonata

  • 320 miles
I purchased a 2011 Hyundai Sonata on 5/11/2010, and noticed that the horn isn't loud enough for others to hear in heavy traffic.

- Great Mills, MD, USA

problem #4

May 132010

Sonata

  • 400 miles
Driving approximately 45 mph on a four-lane divided road, in left lane. Driver of large pickup truck on my right attempted to change lanes into the passenger side of my car. I honked but do not believe my vehicle's horn was audible to the driver of the truck at highway speeds. Was able to take evasive action to avoid truck without collision. The horn on this vehicle is very weak and represents a glaring safety hazard.

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #3

Mar 202010

Sonata

  • 200 miles
I have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata and noticed upon delivery of vehicle that the horn is very weak. I have used the horn on the freeway and the driver of the other car did not even hear me. This is a potential problem in an emergency situation if you want to alert someone on the road. I hope this gets replaced soon.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

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