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:
50 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
53 / 2
Average Mileage:
74,310 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 9 of 21)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #245

Feb 272018

Sonata

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V137000 (seat belts, air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (fort mill Hyundai, 805 gold hill rd, fort mill, SC 29708, (855)-548-9524) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- York, SC, USA

problem #244

Apr 022018

Sonata

  • 75,000 miles
I was recently rear-ended. The vehicle was stopped at a stop light when someone ran into me. The airbag light for driver and passenger side turned on after the accident. Hyundai dealership said that the airbag sensor needed to be reset but it was not due to the accident because the air bags are not designed to deploy if you are hit from behind. They said it sometimes just fails on its own. This cannot be, it is either defective or it was caused by the accident. There were no issues before the accident. The accident occurred in April in lakewood, co. Case report number 18-100159 with lakewood pd.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #243

Mar 142018

Sonata

  • 74,000 miles
Faulty air bag control module, air bag warning lamp illuminated, took to dealer for service, was told there is a recall for this issue. However the parts to repair are not available at this time. Very concerned about driving a vehicle with a faulty air bag system.

- Kanab, UT, USA

problem #242

Jul 062018

Sonata

  • 162,234 miles

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

My car has been blowing out white smoke out of the exhaust. I seen there has been alot of recall issues on the Hyundai. I got a letter informing the recall of the air bags. I bought this car in September 2017. I dont know if the previous owner had the issue fixed on the recalls about the engine, brakes, and seat belts.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #241

Jul 252018

Sonata

  • 107,778 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit, which was a safety concern. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 107,778.

- Trenton, GA, USA

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problem #240

Jun 192018

Sonata

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 25 mph, another vehicle rear ended the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. As a result, the contact sustained injuries to the right shoulder and back that required medical attention. The contact was not aware if the driver of the other vehicle sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing of the air bag failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V137000 (seat belts, air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called lehman Hyundai (21400 nw 2nd ave, miami, fl 33169, (888) 375-9159) and was informed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty and opened case number: 11446468. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Aventura, FL, USA

problem #239

Jun 012018

Sonata

  • miles

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

My car has the air bag light on, it came on with out any reason; because of this my car is not being used.

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #238

Jul 022018

Sonata

  • 15,300 miles
Air bag light on so air bags wont deploy. Engine lock

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #237

Jul 182018

Sonata

  • miles
Hyundai announced the most recent recall for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata on February 27, 2018. To date there is no announcement on any remedy. This is a safety feature, or rather not, is Hyundai being told that this kind of delay is unacceptable. There have been so many recalls on this model.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #236

Jul 162018

Sonata

  • 70,000 miles
Sonata 2011 recall was announced more than a year ago and nothing has been done: Hyundai motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011 Sonata vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (acu) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying.

- Green Valley, AZ, USA

problem #235

Feb 022018

Sonata

  • miles

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

2011 Hyundai Sonata - recalled 2/2018 do to seatbelts/ airbag malfunctioning. Still no solution. Customer is advised to keep driving (unsafe) vehicle while waiting. However, also advised to take straight to dealership as soon is there is a solution.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #234

Aug 012017

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
My airbag light has been illuminated for almost a year now. I was told by my Hyundai dealer that this situation is under recall review... "your vehicle is affected by the Sonata airbag control unit recall. The remedy is not yet available. We are currently making preparations to implement the recall." I was also told that they can fix the problem for approx $2,500. I cannot afford to pay that and it has been close to a year now that Hyundai corporation has been trying to come up with a recall remedy. This is totally unacceptable and obviously unsafe. My complaint is on the Hyundai corporation for moving entirely too slowly on this recall campaign. Mine and my family's safety is at stake! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Roseland, NJ, USA

problem #233

Jun 172018

Sonata

  • 56,000 miles
Airbag failed to deploy. After hitting a pole.

- Willingboro, NJ, USA

problem #232

Jul 032018

Sonata

  • 64,000 miles
The air bag light stays on and won't go off. We've had it in the dealership at minimum 3 times in the past 5 years for this and they have never been able to correct it, just cleared the code. Car has not been into any accident or crash.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #231

Feb 272018

Sonata

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V137000 (seat belts, air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called a local dealer (williamsburg Hyundai, 7277 richmond rd, williamsburg, va 23188, (757) 564-9700) and was informed that the remedy was not available and was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #230

Jul 012017

Sonata

  • 55,176 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While stopped at a traffic light, another vehicle reversed and struck the front of the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact was referred to a local body shop to have the body damages repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,176.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #229

Jan 012018

Sonata

  • miles
Takata recall. As of 6/30/2018 I have yet to be notified on how Hyundai will remedy this problem. I recieved a letter about this problem months ago.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #228

Feb 182018

Sonata

  • 92,000 miles
Recall for the air bag control unit still has not be completed. The recall was issued in February of 2018 and still no remedy available. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (acu) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying. It is unacceptable that a solution has not be found at this time. Hyundai should have to buy back all 2011-2014 Sonata's as they are a danger to the owners.

- Mahwah, NJ, USA

problem #227

Feb 272018

Sonata

  • miles
Complaint in regards to NHTSA recall number 18V137000 Hyundai has failed to remedy this safety recall for my vehicle in a timely manner. Campaign 174 is dated Feb. 27, 2018. I called Hyundai recall hotline at 855-371-9460 on May 2, 2018. I requested a rental car until remedy is provided. I was told nothing can be done, and I should contact my local dealership. Local dealership said they have no information or remedy and told me to call the hotline. Dealership said if I wanted a rental car, I could rent one myself, as nothing would be provided for me. Recall remains incomplete as of June 29, 2018. This recall is a serious safety concern and places myself and my family at a great risk of injury or death. Hyundai has acted in bad faith by providing no remedy or solution to my requests over this matter in a timely fashion. While there are no airbag warning lights active on my vehicle, you won't know the airbags and seat belts properly function until you crash. That's unacceptable. I have a case number from my initial contact with Hyundai regarding my concerns over the vehicle. Case # 11225055. Honda provided free rental cars for their airbag recalls. How can Hyundai sit idle and offer nothing? I am requesting NHTSA to please pursue this complaint to help expedite a remedy from Hyundai for this recall.

- Rockvale, TN, USA

problem #226

Apr 042018

Sonata

  • 121,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact took the vehicle to crenshaw Hyundai (330 huffman mill rd, burlington, nc 27215, (336) 584-1144) for routine service and a diagnostic testing was completed on the air bags. The contact was informed that the air bag module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V137000 (seat belts, air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The manufacturer informed the contact that the part was not available for the repair and opened case number: 11401169. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Elon, NC, USA

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