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:
2 / 13
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,327 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 6 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #95

Aug 242018

Sonata

  • 124,000 miles

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

I bought a used 2011 Hyundai Sonata in March for my birthday, and about 3 months ago, the steering wheel started shaking violently any time I got to 60mph or higher. Upon further investigation, I found out I needed a new steering coupler. Before it got fixed, my dome lights, and all of the buttons on the right side of the steering wheel (trip, cruise control) stopped working. After being fixed, none of the above mentioned things work, but also now, my power locks, dash clock and horn stopped working. I almost got hit by another driver a few days ago, and didnt even have a horn to honk!

- Milford, KS, USA

problem #94

Aug 092018

Sonata

  • 130,000 miles
There is a problem with the shift. If you put the car in reverse the icon disappears off the home screen and the vehicle wont drive or go into reverse. You will have to shut the car down and then restart. There was a previous recall on this issue. I contact the Hyundai dealership they claim the issue was fixed prior to me purchasing the car and refuse to inspect the car and refuse to repair the car. They told me I needed to pay I have never heard of someone having to pay for a recall. This was at the heritage Hyundai towson

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #93

Oct 092018

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
I have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata I had problem with my engine Hyundai auto decided not to fix it I have problem with my starter Hyundai auto decided not to fix it I had to pay out of pocket for both engine install [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #92

Sep 102018

Sonata

  • miles

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

Car just won't start at all it has oil and stuff in it and it won't start it's a push start I got it from car max about 5 months ago.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #91

Aug 222018

Sonata

  • 140,000 miles
Takata recall my 2011 Hyundai Sonata limited has been having problems with the engine not turning completely. My car is a push to start, so when holding the brake and pushing the start button the car still hesitates to come on but the lights on the dashboard do so I know it's not a battery issue. This has happened a couple years ago and I was stranded in my car at work, after several tries it eventually switches over and comes on. I've read several complaints from other Hyundai Sonata owners having the same exact issue, I'm hoping Hyundai takes action in resolving this malfunction.

- Rixeyville, VA, USA

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problem #90

Feb 072018

Sonata

  • 117,400 miles
The transmission needs to be replaced.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #89

Jun 302018

Sonata

  • 126,000 miles

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

Car was in motion heading straight on a busy interstate. I had been driving for approximately 45 minutes when it completely died causing the car to come to a complete stop right in the middle of a dark interstate. All of the dash lights came on right when the car started to die. There was no shoulder on this part of the interstate and it would not make it to the next exit. When the car came to a complete stop all the lights were then off and I could not even turn on the hazard lights, nothing at all was working. I tried to restart it a couple of times until I saw smoke coming from under the hood then I stopped because I thought it was going to catch on fire. I ended up getting it towed off the interstate to my house. The 2011 Sonata has known engine problems but not sure yet if mine was a result of the motor locking up or if it was electrical or perhaps both.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

problem #88

Jan 042017

Sonata

  • miles
The dash has cracks all through it. These are deep cracks. I have had many cars and have never see cracks like these.

- Harker Heights, TX, USA

problem #87

Mar 092017

Sonata

  • 99,198 miles
Inhibitor switch was recalled on the Santa Fe's however there is a lot of reviews regarding them on the Sonata's as well. This switch is preventing my vehicle from switching gears properly. If im in park and try to switch to either reverse or drive there is no indication what im in on the instrument cluster.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #86

May 112018

Sonata

  • 72,000 miles
After putting gas in my car the gas gauge is everywhere. I can stop and restart my car after filling it and it will say I'm empty. Whether I'm actually driving at the moment or stationary, the gauge will constantly move up and down. I have to keep an eye on my mileage to know how much I really have. It has been happening for over a year now. I've seen other stories online of many others having the same issue.

- S St Paul, MN, USA

problem #85

Apr 202018

Sonata

  • 78,000 miles

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

Takata recall my caught fire 4/20/2018, the smell came from near the passenger lower foot area, it was a rubbery burning smell that quickly became white smoke emitting from the area. The car began running very roughly about 6 months ago, I did an oil change. A month later the car was over 2 quarts low on oil, where the oil went I have no idea. The car has been in the dealership over and over and over for various electrical, mechanical and engine issues. I have all documentation and feel the car is a safety hazard. Why is Hyundai performing the inspections on these cars when clearly they are the ones responsible. The inpsections should be done by independent mechanics that will be non biased. My car doesn't have brake lights that operate correctly either they work sometimes or not at all. It just depends on the connectivity of the electrical wiring at the time, I am totally not sure. The car just began being able to start without pressing the brake pedal. This just started and the stop pad for the brake recall has already been performed. It isn't just a stop pad issue. The entire car is an electrical hazard waiting to happen I just pray I am not in my car when it catches fire and no one else is caused any accident or injury as a result of it.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #84

Apr 212018

Sonata

  • 140,000 miles
Traction control light came on. After a few minutes of travel the car lost power. Brake spring has already been replaced. Parked turned car off and was fine for a few minutes then light cane on again and car lost power. This happened on the interstate as well as trabelong at a lower rate of speed in the city.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #83

Aug 122017

Sonata

  • 110,000 miles
Takata recall I have gone through the ringer with this vehicle I purchased the engine stopped on me while I was driving down the interstate. It wasn't until I hounded down Hyundai after them not returning my calls for 3 weeks that they told me there was a recall on my engine. I spent almost $1000 in rental fees of my own money before they contacted me. They eventually got in contact with me and put in a rental car but also assured me I I would be reimbursed for the out-of-pocket fees I had to pay. That happened in September of 2017 it is now April of 2018 and I still haven't received any funds. Another issue happened about 3 weeks ago while I was on my way to work while sitting at a red light once it turned green I pressed down on the gas to go forward and the car would not move. I've had my car towed almost 7 times in the past month for it to be a transmission issue. Which after doing research online there is a recall for the cvt transmission for my car. This is another recall that I was not informed about and have yet to be informed about. I've had nothing but financial hardships dealing with servicing this car and being ignored by your company. It is absolutely outrageous

- North Charleston, SC, USA

problem #82

May 252016

Sonata

  • miles
2011 Hyundai Sonata. Consumer writes in regards to loud squeaking noise while exiting the vehicle.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #81

Feb 072018

Sonata

  • miles
Bluetooth won't allow to say command to pair the phone

- Travelerest, SC, USA

problem #80

May 212016

Sonata

  • miles
I purchased my lemon vehicle from webb Hyundai in highland, in and purchased it used in March of 2013. I'm always hearing about this 100000 miles warranty, my vehicle hadn't quite made it to that, when I first questioned the clicking in the steering wheel and shaking of my vehicle; because my car was used for me to daily travel throughout the entire state of Indiana, my vehicle in July 2017 had exceeded the 100000 mile and the used warranty stated coverage only up to 60,000. However, I wrote Hyundai, took it back on several occassion and they did actually fix my engine, thanks to the recall, in which they first denied me for 45 days, when I receive my vehicle back I told them about the clicking noise and I always was given some lame excuse and it's amazing how in July of 2017 they were constantly calling my phone and I even got an email on July 12, 2017 on how they've been attempting to phone me, not mentioning all the continual calls I had given them prior to this. However, during this time our family was dealing with a crisis in which me getting back with them was not as urgent and when I did try returning the call on several attempts between August and September of 2017, I never received a call back and I still have ownership of the awesome lemon that was sold to me.

- Gary, IN, USA

problem #79

Jan 252018

Sonata

  • 73,883 miles
I own a 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE 2. 4 liter sedan. I have encountered no issues with engine won't start. On Thursday, 01/26/17, without warning, the vehicle (mileage 74K) would not start. The same day after server try it just stared and I took it to Hyundai dealership and inspection. They informed me that the starter is connected using some plastic and it is broken and I had replace. The cost for parts and labor would be $340. I read numerous forums where consumers reference starter malfunction. Clearly, there is an ongoing issue with the starter on this vehicle. The manufacturer should take responsibility and replace the starters at no cost to the consumer.

- Boyds, MD, USA

problem #78

Dec 212017

Sonata

  • 90,000 miles
Starter problem, and problems with starter motor lever, one month after purchasing, this car there were continuous problem with it starting and no one told us about this and continuous paying for diagnostic, until now the car started and stopped stopped when backing and stopped in the middle of flow of traffic, and fearing for my life, and Hyundai diagnostic machines are not working, correctly they don't identify everything wrong, you have to continuesly have it placed on diagnostic machine and you continue to pay, each time

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #77

Oct 202015

Sonata

  • 58,000 miles
The controls on my steering wheel will randomly quit working. The cruise control will work fine one time and then the next I can't hit set or the cancel button will be the cruise or it will flip through the other options (trip button). If I hit the steering wheel in this vicinity it will work correctly sometimes. The volume button will either mute, or the + will actual decrease the volume. The button to change the station (presets) will change the mode (am, cd, sirius...) sometimes one direction (up) works and the other does something else random. All of the steering wheel controls seem to have a mind of their own and do not work correctly most days vs some days the buttons work fine. I took it to the dealership prior to the warranty expiring and it worked fine. Next day, issues again. I saw other complaints about this but can't seem to make it happen when I need it to. Frustrating since it is safer to use these controls that the buttons on the dash.

- York, PA, USA

problem #76

Dec 022017

Sonata

  • 127,000 miles
2011 Hyundai Sonata. Car was in motion in busy traffic and engine seized without warning. Right before started hearing noise upon acceleration. Took car to get a diagnostic done, 11/29/17 nothing. Was sent on my way 12/02/17 car seized at busy intersection. Car had to be towed. Mechanic states the bearings are bad and engine needs to be replaced. We have had recalls and issues since purchased date 03/05/15.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

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