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 driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle safely, and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact referenced an unknown recall but stated that the vehicle was not included. The contact had the vehicle towed back to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the contact pulled over safely to the side of the road. The contact then restarted the vehicle; however, there was a metallic grinding sound coming from the vehicle. The contact turned off the vehicle and had it towed by AAA to a local dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 159,719.
My engine seized up on me while driving in heavy traffic. I just purchased this vehicle in April 2022, and other than me having to replace a headlight, the car drives smooth and has never stalled or given any check engine, or oil lights, or any type of indication that there was something wrong with my vehicle. I just drove it and out of the blue my dashboard lights go off and my engine locks up while I'm driving. I wasn't able to get the car back started. I had it towed to a shop and they weren't able to get the engine to turn either. I am now resorting to a Hyundai dealership to inspect.
After doing some research, I am now aware that there was a recall 20V-746 or 21V-727 that my car was affected by & was never notified about. On 6/2/2022, I was driving and just exited the freeway. Smoke started coming out of the passengers side of the engine. Cars were honking at me & flames started coming out as I drove into a parking lot. I was terrified as my life was at risk & felt fortunate that this did not happen on the freeway. I feel lucky to have been able to escape this life threatening experience. There is now an open claim with my insurance. I had brake lights changed at Frank Hyundai on 4/08/2022 in National City, CA where they also ran a diagnostic check on the car. There was never mention of a recall & my car was cleared of any issues. In addition to the photos I have attached, I also have videos that I am not able to upload.
- Chula Vista, CA, USA
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The car began exhibiting a knocking noise on 5/21/2022 when increasing speed up to around 60 mph. Vehicle did the same thing again on 5/24/2022 and was shaking for a few minutes around the 50-60 mph mark. I took it to my local mechanic who drove it 6 blocks and then towed it back to his shop because he "didn't want to be the one to blow the motor out." At that point there was a consistent knocking noise in the engine even when in park. I did some research and discovered the "engine rod bearing failure" recall associated with similar model and year Hyundai Sonatas. So I had my car towed on 6/2/2022 to the nearest Hyundai dealership from Alpena, Michigan to Traverse City, Michigan, where they ran the engine rod diagnostic test and my vehicle failed the test. So the service rep at the dealership informed me on 6/3/2022 that my car failed the test and would be receiving a full engine replacement and knock sensors with the 10-year warranty.
Upon accelerating to enter traffic the engine stalled. Subsequent attempts to restart the vehicle have been unsuccessful. The engine will not turn at all. A mechanic determined the engine was locked. Prior to this the check engine light had been on and the defective part had been replaced based on diagnostic code P0449.
The engine failed going down the highway and wouldn-??t go over 30min. The engine needs to be replaced agin. But the dealership won-??t because there are no open recalls. They should replace with a working engine.
The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear end of the vehicle. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle skidded and stopped. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to her residence and parked the vehicle. The contact then sought medical assistance and was informed that she had sustained a left shoulder rotator cuff tear. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bags failed to engage and did not need to be reset. The vehicle was then taken to an auto collision mechanic where it was repaired. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. The contact was thrown to the right and to the driver's side door. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by emergency units. The contact was informed by her orthopedist that her left shoulder rotator cuff tear was reinjured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was then towed to a second dealer Bob Johnson Kia (3817 W Henrietta Rd, Rochester, NY 14623), where it was diagnosed that the air bags failed to engage and did not need to be reset. The vehicle was then taken to an auto collision mechanic where it was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she smelled a burning odor. Upon parking the vehicle at her residence, the contact saw smoke coming in through the instrument panel and AC vents. The contact stated that all four doors were then locked. The contact then released the key from the ignition and unlock the doors using the key fob. The contact saw a flame coming through the AC vent just before she exited the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle, the contact saw that the front seats were on fire and there was fire underneath the hood of the vehicle. The fire department arrived at the scene but was unable to
When driving, I would get an unusual loud alarm sound, then the car start to cut off, couldn't stop the car using the brakes, had to wait until it slows down, usually when I'm in traffic, which is dangerous. This has happened several times off/on, I would get warning saying check brake, when all this is happening, no warning before the alarm sound or when the car has cutoff. Took car to Hyundai in olive branch, ms on 04/22/2022, therefore it has not been repaired, I was not offered a loaner car, I asked for a loaner, she (lexi) quickly said "they don't offer loaner cars" so I'm having to borrow a vehicle to get to work. I've called, left messages, no one has returned my calls.
While driving the car, the engine just stopped. We had to push the car to the side of the road and it would not start again. The car was towed to a mechanic and the engine had seized up completely.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his son was driving at approximately 65 MPH, blackish smoke began to emit from the engine without warning. His son immediately pulled over as his girlfriend and their dogs exited the vehicle. The smoke quickly turned into flames as the vehicle became engulfed in a fire. The fire department arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard where they deemed the vehicle a complete loss. The contact spoke to several attorneys and was advised to keep the vehicle in his possession if possible. The contact then had the vehicle towed to his home where it remained in his possession. The contact's son notified the manufacturer of the failure and received no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Hyundai recalled my vehicle twice for GDI ENGINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (Recall 132). Subsequently, my vehicle was recalled a 3rd time for HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT (Recall 180). During this recall, the dealership inspected and DID NOT replace or repair any equipment. 4/12/2022 I smelled gasoline and took my vehicle to an Auto Shop for inspection. The technician explained that the HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM was leaking fuel significantly and was an extreme safety hazard. I contacted Hyundai Manufacturer right away due to my knowledge of Recall 180. Hyundai set me up with a Dealership Service appointment and I had the vehicle towed to the dealership for safety. The Dealership refuses to honor the recall (Recall 180) and after several phone calls, emails, and tweets; I am still unable to get reconciliation from Hyundai Consumer Affairs. For context, please understand that this Dealership is the same Dealership that FAILED to repair or replace anything when I took my vehicle in for recall (Recall 180). Please help!
Driving down the road my car just shut down and wouldn't start it happened once before but I was able to jump it and it worked but this time after we replace the battery and got it running there was a knocking under the hood that sounds like a rod going out or the engine is toast. There's no knocking before the engine totally just shut down it was running perfectly fine and because it started and ran fine the last time the car just died when I was driving I thought it was the battery and low and behold I replaced the battery and it turns on perfectly fine but now the knocking in the engine. It also will not drive over so many miles per hour cuz if it goes up to those miles per hour then it shuts down or the knocking gets louder and it starts to die. Again no warning about this which is why I replace the battery cuz that's what happened last time and when it came back on this time after getting the battery replaced and put in lonely hold there's knocking in the engine and it won't drive. I've seen on YouTube a guy with the same problem find out there is something recalled on the engines for the 2011 Hyundai sonata. The manufacturer replaced his engine for the same exact thing my car is doing. I just inherited this vehicle from my dad who passed away but he had just put it in his name from my brothers who passed away from COVID so I have not had this car long at all. Literally just received title in the mail. This is my only vehicle and my husband is blind and we have two kids that we have to get to and from school and very limited income right now and this problem needs to be fixed by the manufacturer because I did nothing wrong
Had took it and called servals times to dealer complaining that something is wrong with the engine all they said is get a new car even thou was still making payments and told me warranty was not covered. After waiting a year later asked again and said warranty was covered due to the recall but when I took ot they denied my engine replaced saying I caused the head gasket to be replaced. Explaining the car showed no signs of over heating and just shut off once I got off the exit.
This vehicle's engine made a rattling noise and then suddenly stalled while I was driving it. I had it towed to the closest manufacturer dealership and the mechanic submitted a claim on my behalf to the manufacturer. It denied because the car has a salvage title. After reviewing your website it looks like the manufacturer can not solely deny a recall claim based on salvage title. This vehicle's engine has acted just like all the other recall's on this manufacturer, make & model.
My engine has failed due to a well known manufacturing defect. I never received the recall notice Service Campaign 953, as I am not the original owner. This Theta engine is part of a class action lawsuit and Hyundai is aware however they may try to not pay for a replacement engine according to the dealership. Please assist. Thank you so much.
My engine seized-up at approximately 125,000 miles. We were on the highway traveling about 75mph and heard an unusual sound from the engine compartment. We exited the highway on an exit ramp and at the stop, I hit the gas and lost most power - could only go about 15mph tops. Had to have it towed to my local Hyundai dealership and they determined that the engine was seized. My check engine light and low oil light were on when the problem presented. This was on 03/12/22. Thankfully this occurred when I and a buddy were traveling home from a basketball game, however, the primary driver of this car has been my 18 yo daughter - I'm SUPER glad it happened on my drive and not on hers.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and exiting a highway the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated and the instrument panel went blank. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the vehicle had engine failure related to NHTSA Campaign Number 20V746000 (Engine) and 15V568000 (Engine). The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Carrollton, GA, USA