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.

8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$220
Average Mileage:
98,200 miles
Total Complaints:
31 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (18 reports)
  2. replace engine (7 reports)
  3. perform an oil consumption test (3 reports)
  4. it's fixed under extended warranty (1 reports)
  5. replace oil pan and gasket (1 reports)
  6. replace valve seals (1 reports)
2011 Hyundai Sonata engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #11

Dec 012015

Sonata Limited 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,000 miles

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

I first noticed an issue with the car at around 100,000 miles when I smelled burning oil. I was on a trip in the mountains about 300 miles from home. I checked the oil level and it was barely on the dipstick. I added 2 quarts of oil to a car that had barely 1000 miles on a fresh oil change. Since the oil has been changed at the dealer regularly I thought maybe the tech didn't add enough oil back during the oil change. Now that I'm monitoring the oil every week it is burning through 4-5 quarts of oil every 3-4K miles. I took it to the dealer and they told me this was a known issue and to wait for the recall. The recall came out and I took the car in only to be told that my car didn't meet the guidelines for an engine replacement. This is crap, I took good care of this car. If I didn't change the oil every 3k miles it would have blown up long ago. Now that i know its burning oil profusely I add oil constantly and that's the only reason it hasn't seized. Thanks Hyundai, you've already lost another sale. I just bought my daughter a Honda. God help you Hyundai if something happens to my family WHEN it does seize. I hope not standing behind your defective was worth it.

- Robert H., Lexington, SC, US

problem #10

Dec 162015

Sonata Sport 2.0t

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

I had a 2011 Hyundai Sonata which I was very happy with it. I bought it new at the end of model year in 2012. Got a great deal on it too. Over the course of the owning it, I noticed the car was 'eating' oil. I would have the oil changed at a local shop and they check the oil before changing it, show me the car's dipstick and it virtually empty and the oil very, very dark. I was doing synthetic oil to avoid having to have the oil changed every 3,000. I was going to 7,000 before changing it. The mechanic suggested only going to 5,000 instead, which I did. However the next time I had the oil changed, same thing, virtually empty and very dark. I went to the Hyundai dealer for routine maintenance and repair for a TSB and let them know the issue. They changed the oil at that time(it was due) and checked it and said there was plenty of oil in the car(surprise!). They had no possible explanation as to why my car might be eating oil.

Fast forward and the recall is issued on for the engine failure on these cars. I go in January to have my car checked to see if my engine is one of the ones that needs fixing. I asked a TON of questions, how the test is done etc. and if any other cars checked so far had flunked(none, she told me, surprise!). The service person printed out the test that the mechanics do. Well, beware, it's a lame ass test to check for engine noise over a certain decibel level. If you car is over a certain decibel level it flunks, and they replace only PART of the engine. No surprise, my car passed. My mileage at that point, is about 97,000. Hyundai said they are extending the warranty to 120,000 for these recalled cars. I called the corporate to clarify, if it's all the cars, including the ones that pass the recall test. BEWARE, it's ONLY if your car flunks and is repaired is the warranty extended. So even though my car passed, if my engine still fails after 100,000, I was screwed. I still owed money on the car. I would have no recourse, still owe money, and have no car. If Hyundai was extending the warranty for all of the cars, I would have taken my chances and kept the car.

I unloaded this car in March, I bought a 2014 Volvo S60 with about 25,000 miles. Traded in my potential lemon to the dealer, covered my loan and I am driving a great car that will last forever. Bye, bye Hyundai!!

- Chris L., Barrington, RI, US

problem #9

Aug 012015

Sonata ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

This is not the only problem I have with my car, but it is the most recent. On or about the same time the engine recall came out, I noticed my car was burning an excessive amount of oil. It's not leaking. It's burning. I took it to my local dealership who told me that the original dipstick that came with the car was the wrong one. This means, the years that I have owned my car, I have never been getting an accurate reading on oil levels. The dealership "fix" was to put a new/longer dipstick rod in my car to "get a better reading" of my oil level. NEWS FLASH: This will not fix the problem, and the dealership is not willing to do anything else about it. I am so sorry I purchased a Hyundai, never will again.

- Michele E., York, PA, US

problem #8

Jun 012015

Sonata Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,500 miles

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

I have a 2011 hyundai sonata, which is under engine recall(2015). Dealer tested my car and said everything is fine as per the recall is concerned.

After 90000 miles i started noticing excessive oil burning and loud engine noise, especially when the oil is low. my car burns 1 quart per 1000 miles. I was doing oil change every 3000 miles at the dealer and its well maintained.

Dealer have done an oil consumption test and found out that there is excessive oil burn. Now they gave me two options, pay $400 to open up the engine and send a picture to hyundai or replace the engine.

2011 sonata engines known for its issues, i don't understand ,why they don't cover it under engine recall. Seems like they are really waiting for me to get in to engine stall or crash in the middle of highway. I am not going to buy a hyundai anymore, I won't suggest to anyone either.

- abeyv0007, Snellville, GA, US

problem #7

Jul 152015

Sonata Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

In August 2015, my engine seemed louder than usually. I had the oil changed in July and eventually thought to check that. Surprise! I was low on oil. I added quart and the noise seem to lower. A month later, September 2015, noisy engine again. Sure enough, I'm down about a quart again. I have had to add a quart every month so far. ARGH!!!!

- kamla, Palm Bay, FL, US

problem #6

Mar 202015

Sonata GL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,778 miles

Great help from the dealership, but Hyundai Canada was useless. Because my engine did not fail, the extended warranty would not cover the replacement of the engine, even though all services were done on time at one of their dealerships. Despite their promise to do so, Hyundai Canada stopped short of disassembling the engine to determine the cause and therefore the problem fell under oil consumption. Not that they needed to go that far in light of the class action in the US. Now that the problem has extended to include vehicles from 2011-2014 hopefully they will be held responsible.

- van demarkbc, Kelowna, BC, Canada

problem #5

Oct 032015

Sonata SE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,000 miles

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

I went in to Meineke for the excessive engine noise and had them inspect the engine, oil, etc. My mechanic came out and let me know that the car had used all of the oil and he guessed it may have been from a significant leak from the oil pan gasket or the timing chain cover and suggested the replacement of the oil pan first with some monitoring to see if the leak was in both places.

Upon further inspection he noted that there were excessive metallic shavings in the oil pan once they removed it. They were of the brass and aluminum variety. Naturally, anyone who knows anything about engines knows this is a horrible sign and should expect a catastrophic failure of my engine very soon.

- crookedanchor6, Edmonds, WA, US

problem #4

Jan 022015

Sonata GLS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

I am college student worked my butt off and bought myself a used 2011 Sonata GLS with 29,850 miles on it. I also purchased extended warranty through Hyundai. Reason I bought it was I really loved the design and the warranty they give. Overall I thought it was a good car, always took care of it like my baby. But then later on I started to have quite a few issues.

I had front axle replaced, my door lock motor, timing belt and all the recalls all this before hitting 60,000 miles. I started hearing a weird noise when my car had around 60,000 miles, so I took it to dealer and they said my car have a low oil level. I thought that's weird, because I never got any lights and always got the oil change done on time at dealership. So they replaced the oil and bought it back for next oil change after 3000 miles and told them I still hear the same noise. So they did oil consumption test and told me it is normal.

So they did the oil change and on my next 3000 mile oil change I complained again, so they replaced the oil and told me to come every 1000 mile so I did that and they found out that between those three interval total oil level was 2.3 quart low but the service department supervisor or manager at my local dealership didn't believe it. He said that might been a error and told me I will check with my technicians if they made any errors and call you but never called me back.

So they made me drive another 3000 mile and told me to come back and get the oil consumption test again. So this time I went there before it hit another 3000 mile for my oil change, because I checked at home and it was below low. So I took the appointment and took my car in and they did the test and found out oil was 2.3 quart low. And told me I will need the short block replaced.

Since I am second owner my manufacturer warranty ended at 60000, but I have an extended warranty through Hyundai but they seem to be so slow or the dealership I am still waiting for the answers from them, just don't want to ruin the car more by keep driving it or for my own safety. Just hoping warranty covers my stuff because I really can't afford to lose a car. I'm just going crazy college is already stressful and top of this car issues. :(

- justdoit.patel, Renton, WA, US

problem #3

May 012015

Sonata GLS 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

My 2011 Sonata started loosing oil. Dealer replace timing casing seal said leaking. Still kept loosing oil which was not leaking. Was using a quart of oil per 1,500 miles. Dealer say 1 qt per 2,000 is normal which tells you how bad the engine is if that is normal. After many visits to dealer to review they agreed to change the valve seals which they said were bad. Luckily I had them do all oil changes every 4,000 miles so it was well maintained and 100K warranty covered repair which was good they said it was 13 house of book time to repair would of run $1.5K.

Based on other reports on engine I probably will get rid of car soon, don't need an engine failure who knows what else may be brewing based on other reported engine problem. Key items are do regular oil changes with dealer and check the oil every month to make sure you find if it starts using oil. Most people do not and then engine fails and they are out for not keeping the oil levels up.

- John N., Tampa, FL, US

problem #2

Apr 132015

Sonata Limited 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

Just like most others here have complained about, I have kept up with my regular maintenance every 5000 miles or so with engine oil on my 2011 Sonata Limited. Suddenly, my wife complains of a warning light so I have her go straight to our mechanic who tells us the engine has seized and no oil is registering on the stick!! Had it towed to the dealer in Austin where they are telling me that there were 3 quarts in the pan (which should not have resulted in a seizure) but there was "some sludge". I'm not the original owner so I have no warranty leverage. With only 87,000 miles, this should NOT be happening. It's still early, but Hyundai is basically saying "we can't help you if you can't produce proof of oil changes", which unfortunately I don't keep those receipts....until now!! Sheez. Being told $6K for a new engine. I have signed up for information about the class action lawsuit but have not heard anything.

- Kevin R., Dripping Springs, TX, US

problem #1

Feb 012015

Sonata GLS 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 118,000 miles

I bought my Sonata new in May of 2010. As of 2015 it began losing oil at a rate of 4 quarts every 3 weeks. There is no oil anywhere on the engine or leaking. I've had 3 mechanics look at this already and none of them could tell me anything. My oil light does come on when I'm driving but only when it is completely dry.

After reading these complaints I am going to have to trade this car in. Unfortunately I still owe $4000 on it and planned on keeping it for a few more years, obviously this is a game changer.

- rwagner1972, Tinley Park, IL, US

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