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:
50,937 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 51 of 58)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #157

Mar 142011

Sonata

  • 150 miles

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

Since my 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE turbos has been new it pulls to the left. So bad that if I take my hands off the steering wheel for 1.5 seconds at 55mph my car drifts completely to the left lane. This is dangerous. The dealer has looked at an worked on it 4 times, replace tires, rebalanced tires, replaced struts, realigned car, even did a road force wheel balance, nothing helps and the factory sent an engineer who claims that there is no problem. The problem with his statement is that is that I have several video tapes and witnesses of it doing it and I took the service manger for a ride so he can experience it. I currently just started a lemon law case on it. Want this fixed or a Sonata that doesn't do this. This is a problem with certain cars built in a certain time frame. They won't admit that but I found that out from reliable inside info. Have owned about 10 new cars in my life and none of them ever did this.

- Poppton Lakes, NJ, USA

problem #156

Apr 152011

Sonata

  • 500 miles
Vehicle pulls to the left...felt it at right away but was unsure if it was the vehicle or the roads making it pull...I had the vehicle 2 weeks when I was positive it was the vehicle. Took it to the dealer and was told alignment was in "specs". vehicle continues to pull. Waiting on Hyundai tech support to look at vehicle again. Road conditions make no difference when it comes to this pull to the left.

- Schertz, TX, USA

problem #155

Apr 172011

Sonata

  • 1,000 miles
2011 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T pulls to the left even when driver steers to the right. On a flat surface, this vehicle will pull to the left and if not corrected will cross into another lane within a second or two. My vehicle is 2 weeks old and has had the issue from the beginning. Dealership service department re-aligned the vehicle and it did not correct the problem. I have yet to bring the vehicle back for re-inspection. This issue is constant from the moment I apply power to the vehicle until the vehicle comes to a rest. I tested this by crossing into the right lane on the highway and briefly letting go of the steering wheel; the vehicle immediately pulled into the left lane on its own.

- Crestview, FL, USA

problem #154

Apr 252011

Sonata

  • 200 miles

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

Before and after a dealer completed alignment, the steering wheel returns past center after making a right turn. It also pulls left when new and after any correction.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #153

Apr 252011

Sonata

  • 0 miles
New Hyundai Sonata steering issue where car pulls strongly and continuous to the left. So far two service visits to pugi Hyundai in downers grove, il have not resolved the issue. Hyundai has replaced a strut and aligned.

- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

problem #152

Mar 212011

Sonata

  • 1 miles
Car pulls left. Worsens with speed. Has been to the dealer twice. First attempt was an alignment. Second attempt was a replaced strut. Still not fixed and the issue is a major safety hazard. Lemon law paperwork has been filed.

- Monmouth Beach, NJ, USA

problem #151

Apr 052011

Sonata

  • 1,077 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle began to shake and veer towards the left. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the vehicle was realigned yet the failure persisted. The contact also stated that once the vehicle came to a complete stop, the steering wheel would independently turn all the way to the left as if she had removed her hands from the wheel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was told that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 10V426000 (steering:gear box:shaft sector). The vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted. The failure and current mileage was 1,077. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 05/13/11 updated 2/8/12

- Elizabeth, NJ, USA

problem #150

Apr 242011

Sonata

  • 2,400 miles
2011 Sonata pulls hard left.

- Copley, OH, USA

problem #149

Jun 012010

Sonata

  • 50 miles
Car pulled left first time I drove it on the highway. Had dealer work it four times since buying the car in may, 2010. Twice the performance appeared to improve, but then it would get worse after I had it in for an oil change & tire rotation. Dealer suggested it 1) had to do with me driving in the left lane and 2) these sporty suspensions are just more sensitive - they don't handle like a "comfort car". I've driven sport suspensions before & never experienced anything like this.

- Hampton, NH, USA

problem #148

Apr 142011

Sonata

  • 415 miles
Hyundai Sonata ltd turbo pulls to the left.

- Wilmette, IL, USA

problem #147

Nov 252010

Sonata

  • miles

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

Vehicle always pulls left when driving at any speed. Problem noticed day after purchase. Vehicle has been in service 4 times for this issue & still pulls left.

- Troy, MI, USA

problem #146

Oct 302010

Sonata

  • 50 miles
My 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T limited pulls to the left at all speeds (not torque steer). The car requires constant clockwise pressure on the steering wheel just to keep the car from veering to the left. The pull occurs in all lanes, but it is especially dangerous in the left lane where it will leave the road in approximately two seconds without a steering correction. My car has been in for the left pull issue five times now, and there is still no solution to this problem. In addition to the safety concern, the tires will wear prematurely and in an uneven fashion. Since their engineers have been unable to provide a viable solution, Hyundai should really think about a recall at this point in time.

- Proctorville, OH, USA

problem #145

Dec 162010

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 50 miles
Bought a Hyundai Sonata 2011 model 2.0turbo in December 2010. Car pulls heavily to the left resulting in constant pressure that needs to be applied to steering wheel so the car won't change lane by itself. At low speed (35mph nd under) not an issue, but above 45mph the car is unsafe to drive. Have taken to dealership 3 times already, they changed camber bolts then put a new strut but none of these corrected the problem.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #144

Mar 232011

Sonata

  • 71 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle pulled to the left repeatedly while driving. The failure recurred each time the vehicle was driven. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer several times where the steering wheel was aligned and the struts were replaced yet the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where for further inspection. The manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was filed. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 71 and the current mileage was approximately 1,000.

- Ashby, MA, USA

problem #143

Apr 012011

Sonata

  • 6 miles
Car pulls left from moment driven off lot. When release steering wheels it moves from center to left and then car rapidly moves left. Constant pressure is required on right side of steering wheel. This is a dangerous safety issue. Vehicle movement not as bad when passenger in car. Returned car to dealer for alignment and balancing. When this did not fix the problem a company engineer came to look at the vehicle who drove it and pronounced it fixed. Nothing had changed it still pulled as hard left as before. I took it back to the dealership and test drove it with the mechanic who had worked on the car. With me in the passenger seat the car drifted right (I outweigh the mechanic by 100 pounds). Mechanic told me he was frustrated by these cars, all the turbos with 18 inch wheels pull left. He thinks it is either the wheels size since Sonata's equipped with smaller wheels don't pull or the power steering assist needs adjusting. Hyundai is denying problem exists.

- Greenwich, CT, USA

problem #142

Apr 112011

Sonata

  • 100 miles
New, 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T. Cars consistently pulls left at all speeds greater than 30 mph and in all lanes of travel.

- Saline, MI, USA

problem #141

Feb 242011

Sonata

  • 4,000 miles
I have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE. This vehicle pulls to the left. I checked the tire pressure in all tires after the vehicle sat for about 16 hours and tire pressure was the same in each tire and at the correct pressure. I took it to the dealer and was informed the vehicle is in spec and no issue found. However, it still pulls to the left. This pull is more noticeable at speeds above 60mph. When driving on the highway, in order to drive straight the driver must turn the wheel slightly to right. I have had numerous vehicles and this is not normal.

- Rochester, MI, USA

problem #140

Apr 012010

Sonata

  • 3 miles
I have a 2011 Sonata SE which I've taken to the dealer 4 times for steering issues. The car pulls to left and I must apply pressure at all times to the steering wheel to keep the car from veering off the road. There is an issue with the steering system and the dealer is giving me the run around and telling there is nothing wrong with the car. Someone is going to get hurt due to this issue unless someone gets the problem rectified.

- Illinois, IL, USA

problem #139

Dec 012010

Sonata

  • 5 miles
My 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T constantly pulls left while under very mild acceleration and cruising speeds. I took it into the dealer for the problem and they said it was torque-steer and that it happens on all fwd vehicles. I've had my fair share of fwd vehicles and I've experienced nothing like this. It pulls under the lightest acceleration.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #138

Apr 152011

Sonata

  • 230 miles
New 2011 Hyundai Sonata steering problem. The vehicle feels very unstable at highway speeds. Driver must constantly fight to keep the vehicle in lane. At a minimum it is distracting. Worst case this car could drift into another lane. There is something wrong this electronic steering. Dealer tells me its fine.

- Orlando, FL, USA

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