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:
71,895 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.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while her husband was driving approximately 5-10 MPH into parking lot, the vehicle started shuddering and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer who informed the contact that the wait time for diagnostic test was 2-3 months. The dealer informed the contact that Hyundai Independent Recall Number: 953 (ECM & Cluster Update-Engine Monitoring Logic Product Improvement) needed to be completed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V934000 (Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the vehicle would accelerate whenever the volume for the radio is turned up. The vehicle would suddenly accelerate inadvertently when other functions of the vehicle were activated. The vehicle also suddenly stalled at various speeds, causing the contact to turn off and then restart the vehicle several times to regain normal functionality. The brakes also failed intermittently. The vehicle displayed a warning light however, the contact was unsure of the meaning. The failure mileage was unknown due to odometer fraud that was linked with the vehicle. Parts distribution disconnect.
Car stalled on the highway without warning, putting myself and others in danger. Motor was inspected and the engine needs replaced. Hyundai not honoring recall settlement
I have code P1326- Manufacturer Control show up on code scanner, first appearing on 08/19/2022, the engine light blinks on and off. Looking up the scan code one of connecting rod bearing is possibly getting to the point of failing through wear and tear on my 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited. The problem has been reproduced while Accelerating to 40mph before car will Decelerate and only shifting between 1800-2000 rpm, on a busy road near my home, that may could have caused an incident
I own a 2011 Hyundai sonata limited edition 2.4 my sonata is making a horrible knocking sound from the engine in 2019 Hyundai dealership installed the knock sensor which is default my sonata is knocking no engine light has come on to make me aware of the knock the problem has progressively gotton worse I can hear the knock now is why I'm aware of this my sonata has a salvaged title also is one of the many built in Alabama the engine recall campaign says metal matalic shavings are stuck in oil ports which could ruin rod bearings crankshaft and other internal components I took my car to Hyundai dealership they ran a mpt test on rod bearing and ignoring the faulty knock sensor that they installed dealership said the bearing test passed but something else in my engine is knocking really bad and still ignored the faulty knock sensor even after telling them about it mind you the engine light is still not on although the engine is knocking all recalls for this vehicle are up to date Hyundai dealership has denied me of any help with my sonata because it has a salvaged title but didn't deny me in 2019 when knock sensor was installed my sonata has been maintained oil change tune up ECT why am I being denied of this recall they was aware of the engine recall campaign or would have never ran a rod bearing test so why am I being denied my sonata stalled on the freeway in a lemp mode this could have caused serious injuries due to Hyundai dealership not fixing the problem how and why are they able to do this if a vehicle is recalled no matter what needs to be fixed
- New Caney, TX, USA
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I know for a fact that one of the recalls I was told by Green Hyundai they could not do because they did not have a solution for the recall I know in 2019 I had the recall for my seatbelt done and it still comes on buckled I also know because I have one with blue Drive that if you hold the battery for the electric out without turning off blue drive it affects it I did not do this but somebody breaking into my car dead And I-??m not sure all of the effects it had but I have had motor problems because the same dealer who told me they had no resolution for Yoru fact that there is no recalls that were undone even though are not done even though I was told that one they had no solution for and couldn-??t do so I know at least one has not been done, also forgot to connect the coolant line resulting in motor damage..
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the engine seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
I would like to report a serious Safety Hazard. Hyundai Motor America replaced my 2011 Sonata's defective engine in January 2020. The new engine turned off on its own approximately 20 times without the "Check Engine" light turning on between August 2021 and January 2022. The "Check Engine" light did not turn on until January 24, 2022. I had my car towed to El Cajon Hyundai in August 2021 after the engine turned off on its own while my car was traveling more than 40 MPH. El Cajon Hyundai could not diagnose the cause of the problem in August 2021 because the "Check Engine" light never turned on each time the engine turned off on its own. I had to work when the non-flashing -??Check Engine-?? light finally turned for three days starting on January 24, 2021. The engine turned off on its own approximately 20 more times from January 27, 2021 until July 22, 2022 without the -??Check Engine-?? light turning on. The -??Check Engine-?? light finally turned on again on July 22, 2022, but it was not for Crankshaft Position Sensor. I told the mechanic what my Sonata has been doing since August 2021 after he initially could not diagnose the problem. The mechanic checked the computer again and he was able to locate the Check Engine Light message for the Crankshaft Position Sensor that occurred on January 24, 2022. I paid El Cajon Hyundai $593.71 on July 25, 2022 and July 29, 2022 to replace the Crankshaft Position Sensor. Unfortunately, my car turned off on its own again on July 30, 2022 and August 13, 2022 after the new Crankshaft Position Sensor was installed. My 2011 Hyundai Sonata has been posing a serious safety hazard for me each time I turn the engine on since early August 2021. Hyundai Motor America is ethically and financially responsible for ensuring that my 2011 Sonata is safe to drive. I am also concern that this serious safety hazard may be impacting other Hyundai owners.
On March 5, 2020 I was entering a highway and increased my speed a little so I can get into my lane. After I made it into the highway my car lost power in the middle of the road and immediately would not go past 20 mph. I had to drive slowly and get all the way over into another lane and stopped in a nearby neighborhood. I went to not having any dashboard indicators to now a check engine light, oil light, and ABS. I checked my dip stick to see how much oil did I have in my car and I was completely empty but I was not due for an oil change yet. I had to get my car towed to my home. The next day, we tried to let my car rest so it sat. On that Morning, I drove my car maybe 8 minutes up the road to stop at an auto zone place. There weren-??t any dashboard lights so I assumed my car was okay. The representative did a diagnostic on my car and he said he didn-??t find any problems except I needed my brakes worked on & I didn-??t have any oil. He put new oil in my car and told me I should be able to drive it up the road to my mechanic. I let my car run a little with the oil topped off and maybe drove no more than 15 minutes before those previous dashboard lights appeared on my car again and my car stopped power and wouldn-??t drive any more than 20 mph. Long story short, I had to get my car towed twice since then. To my mechanic and then to the Hyundai dealership in Gaithersburg, MD. The rep. at the dealership said her mechanic recommended that I get an engine combustion cleaning, a new pcv valve and a oil change because I didn-??t have any oil in my car. I told her that was weird because I had put oil in my car from the auto zone place and I believe my car must be leaking oil. Today, August 15th I am still having problems with running out of oil before my oil change mileage and date and I am not having any indicators on my dashboard to alert me. This can cause me to drive around without knowing and my engine can lock. That is a safety issue!!
The car started having issues like turn off itself while running and the oil warning lamp lights up. It did that twice then the engine burst on the third time. Oil leaked on the ground in the middle of the freeway, I am lucky I didn't get myself into a bad accident.
My vehicle has an excessive oil consumption issue that started approximately in September 2021 after I got an oil change and had to put more oil in it after about 2 months when the oil change light went off. I have taken the vehicle to 2 different mechanics and they are unable to find an oil leak. There has been no oil leaking on the ground, no burning smell, no smoke showing, but the oil is somehow being consumed rapidly. The check oil light has not gone off since. I literally have to check the oil level every 2-3 weeks to check the levels. I got another oil change in February 2022 and have had to put 12 quarts in since that time. In July 2022 my car started driving funny with low power issues and the check engine light came on. I had the spark plugs and coil packs replaced. Now I'm dealing with low power on inclines and the catalytic converter now needs to be replaced. The mechanic believes it's due to the excessive oil consumption issue. It's my understanding that several Hyundais have been recalled due to excessive oil consumption issues. The contact has stated that during one incident, the vehicle lost power going up an incline. The oil levels were checked and were normal. A tow truck mechanic was able to get the vehicle started back up so that the contact could drive it home. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told the catalytic converter was bad. Unfortunately, the part is on back order and the vehicle is unable to be repaired. Aside from the catalytic converter, the vehicle has an oil consumption issue.
Engine knocking. If engine would-??ve turned off it could have caused an accident. Yes, problem has been reproduced. Component has been inspected by dealer. No, warnings.
The vehicle has been slowing down and failing to drive. Took it to the mechanic and the vehicle caught on fire. The mechanic said other vehicles had the same issue. When I called Hyundai they said my VIN was not apart of that recall and they can only go off of that. I have a vehicle that has been sitting for a long time unable to use because of engine problems that Hyundai is well aware of.
My engine seized while I was driving a few miles from home at 104,000 miles. I was told by the mechanic that there was not enough oil in the vehicle and that caused the problem. However, I have never missed a maintenance on this car and it was only 4,000 miles out of warranty. I don't understand how the car could have no oil. I checked and I was just a few hundred miles passed the date for an oil change but I never received any light indicating that oil was a problem and I cannot understand how the car could be using that much oil without me having any prior indication from the car.. just the engine seizing and now I am told the car is toast unless I put in a new engine! I don't see my car on recall but it seems that I have the same problem of many other people and I feel that Hyundai should make this problem right and fix it.
Approx. 6/8 While driving car, engine ceases, had towed to mechanic shop, Towne Hyundai dealer advised have car again towed to them. Dealer advised needed oil change receipts for 69,000-90,000 which they received, I had been calling to check status several times. Called 7/1 advising I-??m inconveniencing everyone using their car. Was advised they had to now remove valve cover & send pictures, they were waiting for Hyundai-??s response but later on Towne left me voicemail they were trying to get me a rental car, none were available but probably on Tuesday they would have better luck. Well got the call today (Tuesday) it was denied for coverage due to maintenance on the vehicle -??. So my car which I take great care of I was told there is no one that they could respond to with my dispute! Gave me Hyundai csr service #, I called & was advised when Hyundai denies coverage that is the final decision & there is no dispute & no one else to speak to. I was advised I could call the Better Business Bureau & given the # to call. When this first happened I went on the site where Hyundai was being fined & put my vin to check, it showed I should-??ve been art of the recall, now after I-??m denied the status changed! I advised the rep at Towne after he said I was denied I was part of that recall & I checked he said I wasn-??t, so I feel like things were altered, I took a screenshot of my vin covered, is there anything else I can do or speak to on this, I-??m so upset!
I was attending a wedding on 7/01/2022 as I was leaving for dropping my child off at the hospital as I was leaving to go change clothes my car had shut off in the middle of the road without no warning of what so ever it started smoking and wouldn't start or do anything for me to get out of the road which could've cause a bad wreck thank God for some gentleman helping me getting out of the road I have had mechanic look at there so many problems he don't know where to begin and I just spent out money fixing my car
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle vibrated and inadvertently lost motive power while driving. The contact was able to drive safely to the side of the highway. The check engine warning light illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated the air bag warning light had since illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired and was towed back to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000. The consumer stated engine was replaced.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Winston-Salem, NC, USA