2.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,001 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 Hybrid steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Owner Comments

problem #17

Jun 112018

Sonata Hybrid

  • miles

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

The is a clanking noise behind the steering wheel. Local mechanic describes it as notorious Hyundai problem. The information for recall 10V-426 was given to me. Hyundai does not include the hybrid with this recall. There are several other similar complaints, on this website, that describe the same problem. I have made this complaint before but notice it is no longer on the website. This noise happens when traveling over bumps, even slight subtle bumps, or while turning the wheel. It can happen while stationary or moving. This has been an ongoing problem but June 2018 is when Hyundai acknowledged the problem during another service campaign. I currently have 129K miles.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #16

Nov 202018

Sonata Hybrid

  • 89,000 miles
Taking my car to the dealership on Dec. 1 to get seatbelt recalls addressed and requested that they check my steering wheel issue. The steering clanks and rattles when turning and when going over rough roads it is terribly noisy. Driving over 60 causes the steering wheel to rattle and vibrate too. It is just a scary sound and feeling to be driving and thinking your steering wheel might fly off and you'll go heading into the woods! they said they have a lot of complaints about this same issue and I am not alone. They deal with this Hyundai issue daily. Hoping this will be just an easy fix of the gasket or whatever has eroded and not become something greater. I am glad I can schedule an appointment to address this concern.

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #15

Jul 132018

Sonata Hybrid

  • 66,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving 70 mph, the steering wheel became tight and there was an abnormal vibration. The contact had to decelerate as the abnormal steering wheel vibration was affecting the suspension. The dealer and an independent mechanic had not diagnosed the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.

- Palm City, FL, USA

problem #14

Jul 142018

Sonata Hybrid

  • 66,584 miles

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

On Saturday, July 14th, while on the Florida turnpike northbound, and driving at approx. 70 mph, the steering wheel started shaking, and I could hear some noise from the steering column. I immediately reduced my speed down to 50, and the steering wheel was still shaking, and the noise from the steering column was still there. I am a disabled veteran, and this is my only means of transportation to my appointments at the va hospital in West palm beach, Florida which is approx. A 1/2 hour drive from my house.

- Palm City, FL, USA

problem #13

Jun 012018

Sonata Hybrid

  • miles
Mills 70010 my car 2011 Sonata hybrid steering column making a knocking noise. Dealer said this is a very common problem. This problem coverage werrenty any cost charge me ## VIN passed ## 2011 ##

- Glen Oaks, NY, USA

problem #12

Apr 272018

Sonata Hybrid

  • 126,000 miles
The recall for the coupler should be explanded to unlimited miles. This is a well documented problem and has failed on thousands of customers. $400 for a $5 piece of plastic is a ridiculous price for something Hyundai should be fixing. With a broken coupler, the steering becomes very unstable and is not safe. The steering wheel shakes violently and is not able to be controlled at high speeds.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #11

Apr 182018

Sonata Hybrid

  • 115,000 miles

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

While driving on the highway I noticed a knocking sound radiating from my engine at speeds of 60 mph it the noise increased and then the engine appeared to be failing. My gages where the rmp's reflect where not functioning either. Amongst the engine issue my power steering column is also rattling as if it is loose and steering is become difficult. It is frightening to not feel safe in your own vehicle.

- Camden, NJ, USA

problem #10

May 262017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 45,000 miles
Steering column making a knocking noise. Internet research describes this as a very common problem. The steering coupling device is cheap rubber which wears easily & will eventually cause steering difficulties. This problem is always present when driving. The car only has 46,000 miles & I noticed it about a couple of months ago. Hyundai needs to issue a recall to fix this problem.

- Gallatin, TN, USA

problem #9

Jul 092016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 67,000 miles
There is already a recall for this issue but my specific VIN is not included and it needs to be! September 20, 2010 NHTSA campaign number: 10V426000 steering gear assembly improper assembly or insufficient tightening of the connections could result in a complete separation or compromised attachment of the connections, such that the driver could experience a loss of, or reduction in, steering capability increasing the risk of a crash. NHTSA campaign number: 10V426000 manufacturer Hyundai motor company components steering potential number of units affected 138,354 summary Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2011 sonata vehicles manufactured from December 11, 2009, through September 10, 2010. On some of these vehicles the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened. My steering wheel would rattle like crazy every time I hit a bump! it started small but got bigger and louder and more sensitive over time. There was also an increasing lag in the steering-wheel-to-wheels response time. I took it to the dealership and it turned out to be the problem described in the recall. However, the dealership pretended to be unaware of the problem and refused to repair it for free!

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #8

Feb 062017

Sonata Hybrid 4-cyl

  • miles
Steering wheel rattles and clunks when driving and turning. The consumer stated the airbag light was illuminate and was included in a safety recall, but the there has not been any notification of a remedy.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #7

Nov 012016

Sonata Hybrid

  • miles

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

The wheel shakes when you turn it or hit any bumps kind of like a clicking sound

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #6

Jul 252016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 78,880 miles
Metal shavings in engine oil pan causing engine failure, knocking, lose of power while driving, manufacturing defect on small block engine but not on the small block hybrid... we were told by the dealer but the hybrid still has the same defect as the none hybrid same exact issues metal shaving in oil pan defects from manufacturer. The none hybrid was recalled but a recall was never issued for the hybrid stated by employees at global auto mall in New Jersey.

- Somerville, NJ, USA

problem #5

Oct 172016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 45,000 miles
The steering wheel has some very noticeable play when turning the steering wheel to the left and right. The steering wheel makes a clicking clunking sound when turned both ways. Also whenever the car goes over any kind of pothole or any bumps in the road it makes a very loud rattling sound coming from the steering wheel column. The rattling has progressively gotten worse. Taking the car in today but I see that this is obviously a very common problem with this make and model. Love my sonata but disappointed I how a second owner is treated with issues that have nothing to do with being a second owner. If you believe your cars are built to last 100K miles stand by it and keep the mileage plan for everyone. Changing the miles and years just because someone new bought the car is unfair. I had to replace a hybrid battery cable for this car already, part cost $10 and the labor cost $300. Now from what I am reading the part for this fix is potentially $1 and I am going to pay 300%+ in labor.

- Middleburg, FL, USA

problem #4

Aug 012016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 25,000 miles
3 months out of warranty and with about 25,000 miles on the odometer, my car developed a pronounced clunking noise coming from the steering column. This would occur whenever I went over even the smallest bump in the road. It also occurred with the engine off if I turned the wheel in either direction and I could feel slop in the steering. It developed suddenly and worsened rapidly, so I took it to the dealer. My service advisor said he was aware of a steering coupler issue in the 2011 model and recommended I have it repaired at $390. I requested he intervene with Hyundai and ask them to cover it since it is a safety defect and argued that it should have been recalled. He did so and the request was denied by Hyundai. The dealership took care of it as a goodwill gesture.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

problem #3

Jul 092016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into park, the eps (electric power steering) warning light illuminated. In addition, the vehicle failed to power off and the 'shift gear into park' warning message illuminated when the vehicle was already in the park position. The contact also stated that when the vehicle was powered off, it took numerous attempts to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Tijeras, NM, USA

problem #2

Apr 012015

Sonata Hybrid

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving at an unknown speed over a bump in the road, the contact heard a knocking sound coming from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the "coupling for the motor driven power steering system" needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Loxley, AL, USA

problem #1

Oct 112013

Sonata Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 42,561 miles
On October 11, 2013 I was driving vehicle at about 30 mph. The traction, brake, and check engine light started flashing. The engine started to accelerate & decelerate at random and vehicle jerked (intermittently) all mentioned lights then stayed on constantly. Vehicle was driven to dealership. Dealership scan tested & found steering angle sensor code in history, then recalibrated steering angle sensor. Vehicle was also serviced for recall regarding lower control arm (replaced). 2nd incident occurred on 10/22/13. I started car in the morning, and all the lights came on. Vehicle was shut off and then towed to same dealer. Service technician could not "duplicate" code. I was told by service that car was fine/operable. 3rd incident occurred on 10/23/13. I was driving and vehicle brake light, & trac light came on. Car was again jerking/surging and accelerating and decelerating at random. Vehicle scanned by technician and multiple "can" codes and steering angle sensor communication code found in history. Technician called technical assistance and was advised to replace motor driven power steering unit, replaced steering column with power steering unit, all ok after repairs (per dealer). Rental car charge incurred totaling $26.28. 4th incident occurred on 1/2/14. I was driving vehicle and traction control lights, brake light, and ABS brake started flashing. Trac light then stayed on constantly. Car began jerking (again) and accelerated/decelerating. Vehicle taken to different dealership. Service writer test drove car while I was in vehicle, and stated there was something definitely wrong w/vehicle and that it wasn't safe to drive. Rental car obtained. Technician looked at car, called support, and was told to charge hybrid battery. Service writer called back and stated that car was ready to be picked up. I refused to pick car...

- Wind Lake, WI, USA

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