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:
18 / 84
Injuries / Deaths:
15 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,220 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 3 of 46)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #869

Sep 052023

Sonata

  • 140,000 miles

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

The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that he sold the vehicle to a lady yesterday, and while the lady was driving with her daughter at an undisclosed speed at around 9:00 p.m., the vehicle stalled and the engine caught fire. No warning lights were illuminated. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was not towed. There were no injuries. No police report was filed. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Madison, TN, USA

problem #868

Jul 312023

Sonata

  • 175,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #867

Jul 162023

Sonata

  • miles
My engine is stalling out. It shuts off while driving. And the engine oil lamp light keeps flicking on and off. Definitely something wrong with the engine.

- Hermitage , TN, USA

problem #866

Jul 192023

Sonata

  • miles

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

- Code P0304 Engine- Metallic debris have been detected upon inspection and it was declared that the debris have not been completely removed near the engine crankshaft this caused oil flow to be restricted through the connecting rod bearings, causing connecting rod damage, also there is a worn out connecting rod bearing causing this vehicle to have a loud knocking noise possible engine failure. Due to this Malfunction it caused the following Code - Code P0304- Vibrations indicating excessive connecting rod bearing wear.

- Ballston Spa, NY, USA

problem #865

Jun 282023

Sonata

  • miles
On June 28th 2023, while driving on Route80-West near Parsippany, NJ my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS seized on the highway. I was forced to veer to the shoulder as the oil light flashed on, followed by multiple lights flashing on with immediate engine failure. I waited almost 3 hours for a tow to arrive late night, where many vehicles continued to speed past dangeriously close to my seized car. Even with my hazard lights on, this is not a safe situation a driver should be in. Having an engine stall is especially dangerous when traveling highway speeds. I assumed my engine stalled due to the widely known recall issue that Hyundai Theta-2 are susceptible to. After having my Sonata towed to Towne Hyundai at Denville, NJ- they informed me that it was not a valid engine recall but that my oil completely drained, destroying my engine in the process. They said quote "the oil pan cap was not properly torqued, resulting in it falling off mid-drive. Your last mechanic probably did not tighten it, and after months of vehicle vibrations, it fell off". After speaking to my regular mechanic and gathering opinions of many others, nobody has seen an oil drain plug fall off on its own. My last oil change had been almost 2 months prior to the incident, only 1,400 miles driven since then. I also had my same mechanic fix a check engine light issue 2 weeks before the incident, where they again saw no oil leakage or notifiable issues. I did not hit any potholes or damage the underside, my dash cam footage can confirm this. Towne Hyundai quoted me nearly $13,000 for a new rebuilt engine, and refused to front any cost. They denied it to be apart of their engine recall program. They returned back saying they can install a junkyard find engine and fix the car for around $6,400 that I have to pay out of pocket. After escalating my issue with Hyundai Corporate and building a case, they said they would speak to Towne Hyundai-Denville to confirm the incident.

- Rockaway, NJ, USA

problem #864

Jun 272023

Sonata

  • 143,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pushed the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway and attempted to jumpstart the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to Service Campaign Number: 953 (Engine) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,000.

- Oakdale, CA, USA

problem #863

May 232023

Sonata

  • miles

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

I received a code through my ECM reading P1326 or a knock sensor code. They -??diagnosed-?? my vehicle and gave it back to me after just replacing the knock sensor. After driving it for a week, the code came back and said it just needed an update. Then, the same thing happened, so they rediagnosed the vehicle and turns out there-??s a hole in my engine but didn-??t mark it under the recall warranty because the hole in my piston wasn-??t due to a rod bearing issue. My problem is the Hyundai dealership giving me back a vehicle that is very unsafe to drive not once, but three separate times. For all I know, my engine could have seized any moment and the dealership wouldn-??t have taken accountability for anything in regards to having to transport back and forth to their offices.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #862

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 #861

Jun 182023

Sonata

  • miles
My car caught on fire while I was driving it. I was put at risk of burning, and being struck by other vehicles as I exited the burning car. Warning lamps came on just as another motorist alerted me to flames coming out of my car. Fire Department and Highway Patrol responded. Police report was filed. Insurance has looked at the car and declared it a total loss. Engine was replaced 7 months ago, under a recall for the Theta II 2.4 engine

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #860

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 #859

Jun 152023

Sonata

  • miles

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

as i was drivim back home from engine started a smoke green, smelling like burn wires electricity ect. the shut off, i ran out the car. in the middle of traffic. i contacted mechanic, has inform me that the engine has siezed.will no longer turn on. and maybe some ECM or electrical but dat the engine is locked.oil looks very clean radiator fluid clean aswell. what could have caused this no idea. im scare to try to start the car

- Summit Argo, IL, USA

problem #858

Jun 062023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine stalled while merging onto interstate. Mechanic friend looked at motor and believed the motor seized even after motor recall was ok'ed, repaired.

- Animas, NM, USA

problem #857

Mar 242023

Sonata

  • miles
My engine stop suddently and it wont start it seems like its stuck

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #856

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 #855

May 012023

Sonata

  • miles
My engine is knocking/tapping

- Grenada, MS, USA

problem #854

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 #853

Feb 162023

Sonata

  • miles
My engine was replaced under warranty due to the major Theta engine recall, after 20k miles on the new engine its failing too, burning oil, smoking, making loud valve train noise on acceleration, and at time operates very sluggishly and strangely no engine codes, almost like my engine code system was programmed to ignore these issues. My new replaced engine seems to be failing again and they don't care. I'm afraid this car will catastrophically fail or catch fire like I've been reading about.. Because its past the 12k warranty they are declining to fix,12k warranty REALLY "?"!! Here's my concern, I am hearing many many, many stories from others and even the dealer people that Hyundai is replacing the recall engines with BAD faulty engines, some I've heard have received 3 engines. My dealer lied to me saying it was a PCV, the PCV valve was replaced and my engine is still failing like the first engine. Please help, Hyundai is basically getting away with ignoring the recall settlement by replacing the engines with still known faulty engines !

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #852

Apr 112023

Sonata

  • miles
I was accelerating from a county road onto a state road, and the engine quit. The dash board displayed a bunch of tiny colored symbols of which I hadn't seen before. I coasted and pulled into an Elementary School parking lot and braked to a stop. I attempted to restart but got nothing. I smelled something and got out and opened the hood. The bottom end of the motor was on fire! I flagged down a lady and described my situation. She was the principal and went to get a matinance man with a extinguisher. Soon, two guys with water bottles stopped and extinguisher the flames. The principal and matinance man arrived and the guys pushed my Sonata into a parking spot. The principal (nice lady) gave me a ride home. I bought it used, no warranty, from a used car lot. I still owe a lot on it. Up until that point, I liked the car as so did my friends. Having full coverage insurance on it, I'm waiting to see what Allstate is going to do. This happened this past Friday, first week of April in the evening.

- Westville , IN, USA

problem #851

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 #850

Apr 022023

Sonata

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast into a parking lot. The engine, oil, air bag, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the engine had seized. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who informed the contact that it would be four to five weeks before being serviced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced in 2018. The manufacturer was notified and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

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