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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 20)

problem #397

Sep 172024

Sonata

  • miles

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

Car spontaneously caught fire while turned on. First smoke started coming from under the hood. Within three - five minutes, the car erupted in flames followed by a minor explosion that burned more than half of the car causing a total loss.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #396

May 302024

Sonata

  • miles
On [XXX], I smelled a chemical burning smell. We searched the house for about 5 minutes and finally went to the garage. As my husband opened the garage door he said the car is on fire. I looked and smoke was pouring out of the inside. He ran, opened the door and flames came bursting out. He immediately took off to get the fire extinquisher from the kitchen and I called 911. The fire department came and put the flames out. Upon inspection, the dashboard had a fire and the extreme heat had melted the entire dash. The fire chief and my husband were trying to figure out what had happened. The car was not running at the time. A little earlier, my husband had an air compressor plugged into the cigarette lighter. When he finished filling a tire, he unplugged the compressor, put the compressor in the car on the floor and turned the car off. Then later, as I described there was a fire. My husband and the fire chief inspected the engine which had no damage. The were specifically looking for the fuses. All fuses were in tact. In researching I discovered the the Hyundai Sonata had issues and new about the problems. We purchased the car in March and were not aware of any recalls, nor were the previous owners. I have spent the last 6 weeks in communication with Hyundai who led me on a wild goose chase and has refused to take responsibility for the fire. The are trying to blame in on the compressor which was not even plugged in. I was made aware of several class action law suits, but have not been able to find any information. I have kept all communication with Hyundai and have requested the recorded phone conversations also. The car is still in my driveway. Obviously all the electrical is destroyed and not fixable. I was trying to avoid lawyers and just get Hyundai to own up to the problem and take responsibility to pay what I paid for the car. I can get copies of all email communication. I attached the final email received yesterday. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A

- North Ogden, UT, USA

problem #395

Sep 082023

Sonata

  • miles
Prior to my trip I checked all fluids, and all was good levels. Car was traveling on improved interstate at posted highway speed. As I was passing another vehicle my vehicle lost power and I was forced to cross lanes in traffic to get to shoulder. There were no prior warnings or lights before my vehicle lost power. I opened my hood and saw the radiator coolant boiling over in reservoir and the top hose was collapsed. Had the vehicle towed home. I checked and replaced the thermostat however found that the engine would not turn over and the starter failed.

- Navarre, FL, USA

problem #394

Feb 122024

Sonata

  • miles

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

Engine leaks/burns oil too frequently. Every other week I-??m continuously having to put oil to refill levels. Also electrical system for turn signals is always going in and out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn-??t. Safety hazard because other vehicles can-??t tell that I-??m turning.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #393

Dec 012023

Sonata

  • miles
My car airbag light came on. I called the dealership about the remedy that was already recalled under campaign number 18V137000 because my last visit I got told by the dealership that my ACU was bad for the car and that it was going to cost me upwards of $2000 to replace and the dead was no recall on my vehicle and then called corporate and they had told me that this had been taken care of back in 2016 when I did not on the vehicle this time in the second owner and that basically they would not cover to fix this issue and that any warranty that was extended ran out when I only had purchased the vehicle in November 2020 so now they are unwilling to fix the issue because they had stated that it was already previously fixed with the previous owner and then I could either basically pay to get it fixed or they weren-??t gonna do anything about it I feel my safety at risk because in the event of crash airbags will not deploy and basically that they would not fix the problem even though it is under a National recall, and my car was manufactured within the manufacturing dates of the recall I do not feel safe driving this vehicle, and I also do not feel that I have to pay for that has been nationally recalled

- Luthersburg, PA, USA

problem #392

Jan 202024

Sonata

  • miles
I was gifted the car for graduation and immediately my brakes weren-??t working right my interior electrical stopped working and my window switches stopped working as well as my lights for my car all went out including the brake lights changing the bulbs didn-??t help and my check engine light stays on at all times.

- Saint George, UT, USA

problem #391

Dec 292023

Sonata

  • 202,008 miles

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

I [XXX] purchased the vehicle from a dealership Mr. T-??s world test drive the car was fine left the dealership had to go back he change the brake lights made it back left to go to the store the next day had to pull over they had smoke coming from under the hood open the hood up the wires was on fire INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Lafayette La, LA, USA

problem #390

Nov 122023

Sonata

  • miles
10/31/23 Car lost power on freeway. Dash lit up and stalled, I took picture brought to dealership. Could not find any issues or codes. 11/12/23 Driving on Pacific Coast Highway car started making knocking/ticking noise. Pull off to a side street and car hesitated and check engine light came on. Had it towed to dealership. Still waiting on assessment. Was told will take 2-3 days due to backlog. Clearly a known Engine issue dating back to recall campaign 132 Engine/inspection/replace. (I brought into dealership on 2/9/16 to perform checks on the 132 campaign - shows completed).

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #389

Aug 162023

Sonata

  • miles
When I have my headlights turned on, and am driving my headlights flicker on and off. It mostly happens when I use the turn signal, but not always. sometimes it happens when I hit bumps. The headlights and the dash lights all go out when this happens, it usually lasts from 1 to 20 seconds at a time. I have taken it to my local garage(straight and clear) and they tested all electrical components and replaced the alternator and I still have the issue. They looked it up and determined that this is a known issue with the Hyundai Sonata, and one of the modules needs replaced in the steering column. This is a major safety issue because my headlights go out when driving and could cause and accident, and depending on the exact issue of the module it could cause a fire. There are no warning lights, just the lights go on and off. I will be getting the car repaired around November 9th 2023, because I need my car to be safe, and can submit my invoice at that time if this becomes a recall.

- Apollo, PA, USA

problem #388

Jun 012023

Sonata

  • miles
My brake lights constantly go out new bulbs don't work either...it sems to be a malfunction in the wiring for the lights. The seatbelt on driver side will not latch no matter what. All electrical has issues, dash will go in and out as well as radio and heating/ac lights.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #387

Jan 142023

Sonata

  • miles

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

My Hyundai keeps jumping out of gear it's like the tray is sliding but it don't have one

- Sacto, CA, USA

problem #386

Jul 042023

Sonata

  • miles
On June 17, 2023, while during this car suddenly it started losing speed, pressing accelerator did not help. I stopped the car and restarted, it drove for another 400 yards and stopped again. I checked with my obd2 and it gave a code of misfiring third cylinder. Car had a recent replacement of engine under warranty by Parks Hyundai of Gainesville as previous engine had started smoking in 2011. My recent calls to the dealership did not result in any return call from them. Car is standing at my house for the past two weeks. I am really SCARED to drive this car. Also fed up with the dealership which does not care even to return my calls.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #385

Mar 282023

Sonata

  • miles
Took vehicle in for recall due to check engine light flashing on March 26,2023.Received a call from dealership that car was ready March 28,2023 upon driving home car overheats. Call dealership to relay problem was advised to bring vehicle back. Had vehicle towed back to dealership at my own expense. Two weeks later I get a call stating that it was the radiator and that they would fix it and get it back to me. Two weeks after not hearing from dealership I called do an update to my surprise now it the engine is bad. So I ask the service manager where do we go from here. He proceeds to tell me that it-??s one of those things where the recall didn-??t help but hurt my engine. Then he proceeds to say I would have to give the dealership $2,000 dollars to fix the problem they caused. So here we are 4 months in and I still do not have a vehicle nor do I know who is responsible for fixing it.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #384

Jun 062023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine seized at 87337 miles today. Fuel gauge wrong. Left us stranded on the interstate for 3 hours. Couldn't get it off highyway without pushing. No warning or lights before engine blew. All fluid levels correct. Silver Rock and Carvana refuse repair.

- Pima, AZ, USA

problem #383

May 022023

Sonata

  • miles
The alternator and battery of this vehicle has been switched at least 3 times. Purchased new and all, yet the car keeps getting drained and left powerless. Something is draining the energy of the vehicle and the root to the problem is not known.

- Hialeah, FL, USA

problem #382

Apr 302023

Sonata

  • miles
I have had replaced my taillight bulbs 8 times in the last year. They keep blowing out and getting so hot they melt the taillight assembly. I replaced the whole assembly a couple months ago and it is already melted so bad the light bulb will not fit properly or stay in place. This is a fire hazard and also a safety hazard as my taillights quit working at anytime.

- Walnut, MS, USA

problem #381

Jan 012020

Sonata

  • 113,329 miles
Smell of fuel & starting issues. The car has been taken to the dealer multiple times regarding gas fumes and they could not find anything. And it is currently at a mechanic shop to for same reason. When you start the car it doesnt take long before the whole car smells like gas & the smell is so strong it is suffocating. The car is health & fire risk. Also the car sometimes doesnt want to start for days but the starter, battery, alternator all work & even the mechanic doesnt know whats wrong with it. Apperantly there is no recall & if you search online there are alot of people with same cars complaining about gas smell & starting issues..

- Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, USA

problem #380

Jan 042023

Sonata

  • miles
EPS and traction light came on when driving around 20mph making the wheel stiff and barely able to turn. Looked up 2011 Hyundai recalls and came across recall 143 regarding the steering column. Took car to dealer and they said no recalls found for my vehicle. I told them about what I found online and that I-??m experiencing the same issues so I-??m not sure why my 2011 wasn-??t affected. They basically said too bad too sad. They still have my car so I-??m hoping that they figure out my car should be apart of the recall campaign.

- Garland , TX, USA

problem #379

Oct 262022

Sonata

  • miles
2020 wiring harness overheated and melted - replaced taillight 6 times in 1 year. Hyundai fixed. 2021 tailight out again - Hyundai stated the taillight assembly melted, needs to be replaced (403.00) light bulb cannot be replaced (warped). Safety issue is what is causing things to heat up and melt. Many others reported same issue online - Hyundai is not taking ownership to fix whatever is causing this? No warning lamps.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #378

Sep 202022

Sonata

  • miles
Hyundai has refused to get back to me about my car it's been months they don't return my phone calls or emails or anything. The motor recall had caused me and my children to be stranded in the busy highway after just shutting down 2 times. Amongst other things this is unacceptable

- Sharpsburg , GA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?