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.
Bought the car exactly a year ago. Left rear brake light went out. When the tech at Auto Zone tried to replace the bulb for me, the housing was melted on the brake light assembly. When I checked for open recalls on my vehicle, there was one open for the brake cushion and a problem with the brake light staying on. Thinking that was related as the housing would have melted from excess heat and the brake light staying on, I took it to the dealer for repair of the brake light and recall. The dealer stated that the damage to the brake light is not covered under the recall!!! There are a plethora of the same complaints on line for the exact same thing! Hyundai needs to include this in the recall or issue a separate recall! It is over $300 to fix one assembly!
light bulb seems to be melting the housing for the bulbs
This is a saftey issue when the bulb gets so hot it melts the casing and then the lights eventually quit working - not - - I ordered a left and right tail light assembly from a used auto parts one came in really good shape the other one also had a melting issue on it this is a constant issue and complaint if you google the problem
I purchase my 2011 Sonata new and off the lot in '11, since then I have replaced bulb after bulb headlights, brake lights, dimmer lights, you name it and I cannot recall replacing bulbs with any other vehicle I've owned the way I have with this vehicle. Although I love my car, it's just a headache to have to encounter these inconveniences periodically. I think I'm going back to Honda after this experience!
I HAD A PROBLEM RECENTLY, MY TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED AROUND THE CONNECTOR FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONNECTOR AND BULB GOT SO HOT THAT SURROUNDING PLASTIC AND CONNECTOR PLASTIC MELTED, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FAIL AND MAKING REPLACEMENT COST AROUND $650.
THE PROBLEM ALSO CAUSED A FUSE TO SHORT OUT AND THE BRAKE SENSOR UNDER THE PADDLE FAILED (WHICH IS ALREADY AN ONGOING ISSUE CURRENTLY BEING RECALLED FOR SONATA’S ) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HYUNDAI DEALER CLAIM REPLACEMENT BULBS WERE PUT IN WRONG WHEN CHANGED OUT WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM, BUT I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE.
I DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I AGREE THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY NHTSA. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT IS CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR 2011 HYUNDAI DRIVERS AND OTHER DRIVERS THAT ENCOUNTER CARS WITH THE FAILING BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY.
Hyundai is not loyal to their customers. Every complaint that I have had with my car other people have had the same problem and it has not been brought up as a recall. As a matter of fact, I have a lot of expense that should be listed as a recall because of the same problem with prior year vehicles. I am really fearful of this light and the wiring, praying that it does not cause an electrical fire in the trunk.
- ecunningham0315,
Louisville, GA, US
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Tail light Assembly melted because the brake switch shorted and it overheated the light assembly.
O'Brien Hyundai could not identify why all these electrical components all shorted out at the same time.
While they repaired the car (Nearly $2000!) I am really disappointed in the lack of concern O'Brien's tech showed for identifying the root cause of this electrical problem.
Given these issues and their inability to find the root cause, this is the last Hyundai I will ever own. I never expected to have a $2000 repair bill on a vehicle that is supposed to be covered by a 100,000 mile "bumper to bumper" warranty!
This tail light issue happened while it was still under warranty for which I was glad. I had replaced failing bulbs in the taillights a couple of times before I found it one time melted down. I have had a lot of electrical issues with my Sonata. I have had ongoing issues with my headlights as well. I like my car. It runs well. I just wish the manufacturer would own up to obvious manufacturing flaws like this.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought the car exactly a year ago. Left rear brake light went out. When the tech at Auto Zone tried to replace the bulb for me, the housing was melted on the brake light assembly. When I checked for open recalls on my vehicle, there was one open for the brake cushion and a problem with the brake light staying on. Thinking that was related as the housing would have melted from excess heat and the brake light staying on, I took it to the dealer for repair of the brake light and recall. The dealer stated that the damage to the brake light is not covered under the recall!!! There are a plethora of the same complaints on line for the exact same thing! Hyundai needs to include this in the recall or issue a separate recall! It is over $300 to fix one assembly!
- amnovacheck, Pinellas Park, FL, US