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:
20 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 1
Average Mileage:
50,849 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.
Steering not precise on road (larger play in wheel) and loud clunking noise when going over bumps. Took to dealer and it was a steering wheel coupler that needing changing. Original was rigid and they changed the design on later models. Issue on play the N wheel and noise at all speeds, however felt more dangerous on freeway. Car was 5.5 years old and 86K miles of mainly freeway driving.
Steering has become "loose". it started out a month ago with just slight vibration when driving, now when turning steering wheel in either direction, wheel clicks and shifts from side to side. Also, when going over bumps, the steering wheel makes clanging noise.
When turning, a popping noise is heard and also felt in the steering. Also, when traveling at interstate speeds, the steering wheel shakes. In addition, when turning the wheel while backing the car the popping noise is also heard and felt something is very wrong, please help!
Had no idea there was this many complaints about the steering I as well had a rattle in the steering when I went over a bump or turned my wheels it would make a loud noise, was told by someone in my hometown they had an elantra that something in steering broke and caused them to brake so I was really paranoid then. I called the dealer told me exactly what it was as soon as I told him how it was doing and that's a $200 fix I said this must happen a lot reply was yes in Sonatas and elantras why isn't there a recall my car doesn't even have 58,000 miles on it and have never had anything like this happen in any other vehicle I have owned. Once drove one for 15 years never had this problem!!
- Ripley, MS, USA
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The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, a loud clicking noise emitted from the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the sound was heard when making a left or right turn and became louder when driving over bumpy roads. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering coupling failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 53,000.
After recall repair on steering the steering started a harsh bumping when turning steering wheel left or right while in motion on highway or stopped. The steering went from no problem to a severe problem shortly after the recall. Hyundai service said the relationship to the recall was puirely coincidental. Problems like this usually occur gradually. The service agent stated that he had seen hundreds of Hyundai with this problem. Please investigate this as a possible recall.
I bought my Hyundai Sonata gls 2011, in 2010, and since then there have been several recalls on it. I have done my research, and have found that a manufacturer must repair, replace, or supply a new vehicle to the owner when a recall is mandated. I have taken my vehicle to the dealership for each recall, and what they do is inspect the vehicle, and in most cases, tell me my car doesn't apply to the recall as they find nothing wrong. I am disturbed by this because again, everything I have read, everyone I have talked to, etc... tells me that the dealer must do something in order for the recall to be considered complete. I am driving around in a vehicle with things wrong with it, transporting a toddler, and am stuck with finding resolution on my own. How is this fair to the consumer? the manufacturer has all of its money, as my car is paid off, and my car isn't worth anything for trade or resell due to negligence. If I can make a difference by filing a complaint, and possibly save someone's life, I am willing to try everything and anything in my power to do so.
My steering column started clicking and getting more and more play in it. I took it to Hyundai and they already knew what was wrong with it but my car was not on the recall list-same problem as the cars that are on the list except I have to pay-put my car on that list and give my money back. Please this is a dangerous situation
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the steering wheel violently shook without warning. The contact was able to maintain control of the steering wheel with excessive force. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving various speeds, the contact heard a clicking sound when turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the washer located in the steering assembly needed to be replaced. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V190000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000.
I made a previous complaint NHTSA # 10896943...I just wanted to confirm when I picked my car up from the shop because my brake lights would not go off which caused my battery to die and multiple other problems, this was actually my 4th recall to be fixed on this car. They confirmed the rattling and lose steering wheel is because the steeling coupler needs replaced. There is no recall and it is going to cost over $300 to get it fixed. While the car was in the shop I found out there was 2 other recalls 6 total recalls since I bought this car. The shop had to order parts for one of the recalls so I am having to take my car back when the part arrives. There needs to be a recall on the coupler as well, if I do not pay to have this fixed and it breaks while driving it could cause me to lose steering which obviously is not a situation I want to put my family or myself in!! this needs to be addressed before someone get seriously hurt or killed due to all these failures!!
2011 Hyundai Sonata. Consumer writes in regards to electronic power steering recall notice issues, brake light switch repairs, tail light assembly problems and steering coupler/column replacements. The consumer stated there were loud noises coming from the vehicle and the steering wheel would shake, when the braking. Also, the brake light began stay on which caused problem during highway driving.
I started to hear a clunking noise every time I went over any type of bump in July 2016. I took it to the dealership and they stated the sway bar end links needed to be replaced on the left and right side. My warranty wouldn't cover it so it took me a month to come up with the money to fix it. Two days ago right before my appointment to get the end links replaced the right side sway bar ended up breaking off while driving. I noticed it hanging off when I parked. I had it fixed yesterday for $285. When I picked up the car this morning now my eps light is on. Waiting to hear back from the dealership.
Every time I go over a bump in the road even a bump so small most people dont even feel, a rattle comes from the steering column. While in the shop for multiple other recalls I ask them to look at this and he tells me the sterring coupler has been a major issue and probably needs to be replaced but I would need to pay to have it checked. This same issue has occurred on many other 2011 through 2014 Sonatas. It is going to cost over $300 to get it fixed. Given the many issues with this part, it appears to be one of the recalls. I love my car but this is starting to be a bit much seeing how I only have 67,000 miles on the car. Ready to sale it and get something else if Hyundai cant provide a safe and decent care for me and my family!
61,149 miles and about a month ago I was on the expressway and noticed the steering wheel start shaking when I hit about 65mph, drop to around 60 and it would stop. I thought it was the tires, alignment or something else but then I started noticing that even going over small bumps or sewer lids the steering wheel would shake and make a knocking noise. I took it to a mechanic who said this was a recall and should be covered, went to dealer and they said its not covered because general warranty just expired, called and told me it was the steering coupling, it was not under recall and it would be $427! ebay has the part for $5.45! after researching and reading these complaints I am glad that I am not alone, however a lot of us are unfairly out a lot of money if we had to pay to replace this rather than risk our lives! with the eps recall and the other steering gear assembly recall, why isn't this part of it and why isnt it covered" seems to me that there are enough complaints and owners having this issue, and not all of them have made complaints here. It also seem that this is happening right after warranty, 60K miles?? ironic? this is my 2nd Sonata and I and the 2nd time that right after the warranty expires, something all of a sudden goes wrong. I have persuaded others to purchase Sonata and elantra and planned on purchasing another Sonata but this is really leaving a bad taste in my mouth. A week after my last Sonata warranty expired I started to have problems, problems that were of course no longer covered under warranty althought when it was covered they told me there was nothing wrong yet after warranty they found the issue" I ended up spending over 2K out of pocket and then decided to purchase the 2011 Sonata. I really hope this problem is investigated, corrected and added to the recalls!
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving various speeds over a bump in the road, the steering column rattled. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 16V190000 (steering), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the steering had not improved before the recall repair was performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,200.
I was driving down a highway when I noticed my steering wheel started to feel very loose and make a clunking noise. I contacted my local Hyundai dealership and was advised the it is a known issue and without even looking at the vehicle knew that it was the coupling. Although my car is on the list for the steering recall, they coupling isn't a part of the recall and they will only fix it for almost $500.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V190000 (steering). The dealer and manufacturer indicated that they were unable to determine when the parts would be supplied for the recall repair. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tampa, FL, USA