general problems of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata - part 1

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started to overheat, with the check engine and temperature warning lights illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 184,000.

I bought this car from someone in April of 2024 and the person who I bought it from said everything was perfectly fine, they brought it to the Hyundai dealership and according to the mechanic there the engine was fine…. I have taken care of the engine since I bought the car, kept up with oil changes and everything…. Until a few days ago when the whole thing ceased up on me while driving down the road to my sons school. I wasnt going fast either, the speed limit is 40mph where I was when it happened, but I’m glad I have quick reflexes because otherwise we would have wrecked the car. Everything shut off on me and now its knocking. There is alot of metal shavings in my oil and my mechanic tried to drain it a few times to get the debris out of the oil but it does no good.

Good day, please note that most of my communication with Hyundai has been over the phone. I sent one an email shortly after the event, and after following up on the phone, I received this following string separately. I can forward you more along the way, but Hyundai is in possession of the call recordings. I was hoping they would cover my repairs, my engine had a lifetime warranty, but during this process I learned that there was a recall for this car that I was never aware of as the new owner. I needed a software update to get any repairs covered. Please reach out to me for more info!.

I am the proud owner of a 2011 Hyundai Sonata this is my 3rd Sonata; we love it due to the worry free long last and warranty. Never had any issues through the years until last night ([xxx]). When getting off from work 6:15pm heading home for about 30 mins. I was driving my car approximately 35 mph when I went to turn a corner suddenly, my car started sputtering, knocking sound and failed to accelerate having traffic behind me not to cause an accident I put my hazard flashers on, and I lean over to the right on grass. Puzzled and scared saying to myself “ what the hecks” what’s going on. The car parked on the side was having hard time staying on and shut down. I then went and opened the hood to check to make sure nothing was in my engine causing it, everything looked normal except, the smell of oil has a burnt smell to it which means in technical terms it has thrown a rod and bent valves and smell of burned electric. Finally, we called aaa, they advised their busy and it will be about 2 hrs. So, I sat there to wait for aaa. As I sat in my car waiting, I started researching online. I currently do not have any recalls or ever got any notice. I came across there is an active class action lawsuit going on for the rod bearing going out in these models and years. After some time, I called aaa back to get an eta, they told us they were extremely busy, it would be about another 45 mins. At that time another tow company pulled up and asked if we needed a tow, we didn’t want to wait longer for aaa to get home so decided to have it towed home … totally cost $175. Today I am trying to contact Hyundai to see what we going to do regarding my car and praying it can get fixed on this recall that I had no idea and thanks god, I turned it off my car could start a fire & burned up. I never got notice about recalls for my engine and it’s sad Hyundai does contact owners ahead to let them know about this problem, think about it we are talking about lives. Thank you for taking information redacted pursuant to the freedom of info.

I am filing this complaint regarding a catastrophic engine failure in my 2011 Hyundai Sonata. According to Hyundai’s own documentation, service campaign 953, issued in 2018, was never performed on this vehicle. This campaign addresses the risk of connecting rod bearing failure caused by residual metal debris in the crankshaft oil passages.

I own a 2011 Hyundai Sonata with a 2. 0 turbocharged engine. The engine failed/presents issues such as loss of power, rattling, oil consumption, and smoking, which resulted in my engine seizing up. This creates a serious safety risk while driving, to now my car no longer operates. I checked NHTSA’s recall database and found no open recalls for my VIN regarding engine replacement, but I believe this engine defect should be investigated for a recall.

I had just started up my vehicle as normal and exited a parking lot when all of a sudden the vehicle switched off and I was able to safely maneuver to the side of the road and it would refuse to start, and there was smoking coming from beside the engine and we were unsure of what it was. I got it towed to a local mechanic and he let me know that it was an engine failure, and that the starter had burned as result of that.

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from under the hood. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine hesitated while turning over. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the long block kit and engine needed to be replaced. The contact was advised that due to the mileage and aftermarket engine in the vehicle, the recall repairs were denied. The contact related the failure to Hyundai service campaign: 953. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 216,301.

I would like to file a complaint regarding a serious engine issue with my vehicle. At times, when I put the car in reverse, the engine suddenly accelerates on its own without pressing the gas pedal. This unexpected acceleration creates a dangerous situation and increases the risk of an accident. I request that this matter be investigated for potential safety defects to prevent harm to drivers and passengers.

On [xxx] iwas driving coming back home from [xxx] by exit [xxx]. The engine turn off and didnt turn back on. I had to get a town to take me out of the highway and pay $141. 00 becide that my engine seized. Now I dont have a car and the car didn't gave me any notification that something it was going on with the engine. If I had any light on the car I wil take it to the mechanic, know I loss my source of income because Hyundai problems with engine. And to get another engine it cost $5000. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 55 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and stopped independently. The contact stated the vehicle went into limp mode independently, with a clinking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled into a parking lot, awaiting tow truck assistance. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was inspected and the contact that the lifters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters, rod bearings, and piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 15v568000 (engine); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and denied the claim. The failure mileage was 167,000.

My daughter was driving her 2011 Hyundai Sonata on the freeway at 65mph when the engine light came on and car simultaneously slowed to a stop on 8/21/25 creating significant danger to my daughter and other drivers on the road. There were no prior warnings or indications, and car just had an engine check performed in June 2025. Had it towed to Hyundai on 8/22/25 and Hyundai completed an engine check and it failed. Hyundai told us they'd cover it under the extended warranty if only we could provide complete maintenance records. We were unable to satisfy their record request threshold, as we are not the only owners of this 14-year-old vehicle, so they've requested $10,000 to replace the engine instead. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is part of the theta ii engine family that has been subject to multiple recalls, class-action lawsuits, and federal investigations due to catastrophic engine failures.

This car has been having white smoke since I got it the smoke coming from the exhaust smells like oil burning.

Not sure . The car has been regulaurly maintenced and one day the emgine complagely seized up going down the road .

While driving at highway speed, the engine suddenly lost power and the brakes locked. I narrowly avoided a collision. This sudden failure left me unable to safely control the vehicle, placing myself and other motorists in immediate danger. This is not only a mechanical defect but a serious safety hazard that matches the exact conditions described in Hyundai’s prior theta ii engine recalls.

While driving on the highway, the motor all of a sudden lost all power and the brakes locked causing a collision. I've never had any problems until then. My car was in tip top shape with no issues until the engine / motor decided to defect. Hyundai she recall this engine issue before someone gets killed.

I recently got a radiator replaced and now my car won't reverse.

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21v727000 (engine); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

I purchased this 2011 Hyundai Sonata (VIN: [xxx]) on [xxx]. A few weeks later, the engine started knocking, wouldn’t shift beyond 2nd gear, and wouldn’t go over 60 mph. A diagnostic test at express oil returned the error code p1326, which is tied to Hyundai’s recall campaign 132 for engine failure due to bearing wear. I brought the car to serra Hyundai in trussville, al. I provided my bill of sale, diagnostic code, and a recent oil change receipt, but Hyundai denied my engine replacement, saying there was a gap in service history between 2021 and 2025 — even though I was not the owner during that time. They confirmed it was a recall-eligible engine and admitted the failure matches the recall symptoms, yet are refusing to fix it — while also suggesting I “trade the car in” instead. This is a known safety defect, and I believe Hyundai is wrongfully denying legitimate recall repairs based on ownership history rather than actual engine failure. I am now without a working vehicle. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate Hyundai’s denial of engine replacements under campaign 132 for new owners and hold them accountable. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving our 2011 Hyundai Sonata on [xxx], my fiancée and I experienced sudden engine failure on [xxx]. The car suddenly lost power and began vibrating violently, then stalled completely and would not restart. We had to pull over in a dangerous area with no power and limited shoulder space, creating a serious safety hazard. A relative had previously scanned the vehicle and retrieved a p1326 knock sensor code, indicating a potential engine bearing issue. He cleared the code temporarily in an attempt to drive the vehicle again. However, when it failed on the freeway, we were forced to tow the vehicle twice—first to our home and then to anaheim Hyundai for diagnosis. Hyundai later denied warranty assistance, claiming "exceptional maintenance neglect" despite the fact that we provided all available oil change records since our 2017 purchase. We were not the original owners, yet were expected to produce records dating back to 2013. No sludge or varnish evidence was cited in the repair order, and the dealer simply claimed a seized engine. We’ve since been denied under both the extended warranty and goodwill policies, even though our engine displayed the same symptoms covered in the theta ii engine class action settlement. This failure was dangerous, left us without transportation, and has caused serious financial and emotional strain. We are reporting this because it reflects a potential ongoing safety risk for other Hyundai owners. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

2011 Hyundai Sonata had a theta ii engine replaced in September 2024 after engine failure. Hyundai paid for the engine through the extended warranty on the theta engines. Check engine light is still illuminated after new engine and after multiple visits to the dealership, they say the wiring harness is bad. Contacted Hyundai corporate who said they will not pay for anymore warranty repairs, even though the wiring harness was damaged from the bad engine or during the replacement. From my understanding, it is dangerous to drive a car with a bad wiring harness due to fire risk, loss of power, or loss of safety components.

The vehicle just died out of nowhere. Would not start back up. Has a clicking noise when trying start and then had a burning smell.

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated after the vehicle was serviced, while driving 50 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lost power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road while awaiting towing assistance. The contact stated that while waiting on the tow assistance, the contact became aware there was smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 35 mph, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact opened the hood, and there was smoke coming from the valve cover and coolant reservoir. The contact waited for the engine to cool down and the vehicle was able to restart. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, after turning off the vehicle after arriving at work, there was an abnormal bubbling sound coming from underneath the hood. The contact opened the hood and there were bubbles coming from the radiator. Prior to the failure, the contact had replaced the radiator, due to the engine overheating. Two weeks later the radiator hose detached. The contact stated that the fluid leaking from the radiator was dark brown and seemed to be mixed with slush. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that there was foreign parts inside the radiator. The contact was informed that the radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. A mobile mechanic arrived at the residence and confirmed that the radiator needed to be replaced and an unknown valve on top of the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure became progressively worse, and the vehicle was no longer driven. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

My girlfriend was driving my car at 70mph on [xxx] when suddenly the engine stalled abruptly with no warning. She had to coast over to the shoulder and come to a stop. At this point the engine would not turn over. If it did it was very challenged to turn over as if the engine was seized-partially or fully. My car was towed to my mechanic who later confirmed that the battery and starter were indeed good and that the engine seemed partially seized and even possessed metal shavings. On top of this my car has been consuming half a quart of oil every 400 miles as I check the oil everytime I get gas. So with this information my car seems to be fit for the Hyundai class action settlement recall #132 for the 2011 Sonata gdi engine. So I towed my car to coastal Hyundai of melbourne, FL, a dealership where all my records and maintenance have been done and are up to date. My car has been at this dealership for two weeks and they won’t even confirm that they have looked at it. I am under the understanding that it is costing Hyundai a lot of money to replace this engines and that they purposely stall hoping to somehow save money. I commute 72 miles round trip to work and have been greatly inconvenienced as I am having to borrow cars from family and figure out how to get to work. Any help in this regard is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I purchased a vehicle from cash car network on 4/3/2025. At the time of purchase, the vehicle's odometer showed a mileage significantly lower than what official records indicated. After purchasing, I reviewed the carfax report and the vehicle registration history, which documented that the actual mileage was approximately 270,000 miles — much higher than what the odometer displayed. This discrepancy suggests that either the odometer was tampered with or the instrument cluster was switched from another vehicle without disclosure, which violates federal laws related to odometer fraud (49 u. S. C. § 32701 et seq. ). Additionally, the vehicle experienced multiple serious mechanical failures shortly after the purchase, affecting its safety and drivability. I have since returned the vehicle to the dealership. I am filing this complaint to report potential odometer fraud, failure to disclose critical vehicle information, and the sale of an unsafe vehicle to a consumer. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this dealership for possible violations of federal odometer disclosure laws. Supporting documentation, including the carfax report and registration history, is available upon request.

Engine just stopped with no warnings or signs. Will not run. Mechanic said motor was locked up.

On [xxx] my 2011 Hyundai Sonata seized and all lights illuminated on the dash while accelerating on to a busy street. I was able to pull to the side of the road but unable to restart the vehicle. I had it towed to wesley chapel Hyundai (27000 wesley chapel blvd. , wesley chapel, FL 33544) who notified me that there was an oil pan leak which was the possible cause of the engine failing. They corrected that issue and completed an oil change on 3/14/2025. I picked up the vehicle and there were no issues on the drive home which was approximately 11 miles. Then on [xxx] after driving approximately 24 miles to my place of employment, the engine started knocking but I was able to arrive and park with no issues. I immediately turned the vehicle off and contacted the closest dealership to have it towed there which was courtesy Hyundai (3810 w hillsborough Ave, tampa, FL 33614). I informed them that the vehicle was on it's way there and to notify me when it arrived. It wasn't until I called several hours later that they advised me the vehicle was received and that they would be submitting a claim to Hyundai motors of America for the engine. I had to continuously call to get updates as no one would contact me. I then was told that hma was requesting service records. I emailed those records to the service advisor on 3/20/2025. I had not heard anything for about a week so I contacted the service manager who stated hma is requesting additional service records. I asked why I was not informed sooner but was unable to get a real answer. I then forwarded those documents directly to the manager on 3/28/25. I was then notified on 4/1/25 that hma had denied the claim due to negligence of the motor despite providing the requested documents as well as confirming via Hyundai's website that my vehicle was affected by the Sonata engine connecting rod bearing inspection recall campaign. I am now being quoted $4059. 89 + tax to replace the engine. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The affected component is the engine/rod bearing (theta ii 2. 4l). My 2011 Hyundai Sonata stalled and the engine locked up twice in live traffic (March 2025 and July 2025). The vehicle is available for inspection if needed. This created a serious safety risk to me and others on the road, as the stall occurred on [xxx] at highway speeds. This failure could have been catastrophic had it happened on the DC/baltimore beltway or another high-traffic roadway. Hyundai’s system shows recall 132 was marked complete at very low mileage (around 32,000 miles), but my vehicle later developed oil consumption and stalling consistent with rod bearing failure. Capitol heights Hyundai noted a warranty pre-authorization (PA) in March 2025 and told me Hyundai needed my mailing address “for the claim,” but later said it was a typo and that no record exists. The dealership charged me for a diagnostic but did not inspect the vehicle for rod bearing failure, despite symptoms consistent with recall 132. Annapolis Hyundai, where the car was purchased as a cpo, has admitted they have no documentation that recall 132 was ever performed (no repair order, mileage, or technician notes). Yet Hyundai’s system shows recall 132 marked “complete. ” without proof that the ksds software or bearing inspection was done, I belive this recall should be considered open. Hyundai consumer affairs has stated that I must pay for towing and diagnosis before they will investigate, with possible reimbursement later. This conflicts with federal law (49 u. S. C. § 30120), which requires recall diagnosis and repair at no cost to the consumer. Prior to the failures, my vehicle had a history of oil consumption and “no oil on dipstick” findings, which are known precursors to rod bearing failure. No warning lamps appeared before the stalls. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance in requiring Hyundai to provide documentation or reopen recall 132 and perform a no-cost inspection/repair to ensure this vehicle is safe to operate information redacted pursuant to the freedom of.

Unknown, makes a disturbing sound upon starting the vehicle like something inside the engine rattling, access oil consumption and burning smell , replaced valve cover gasket, still smelling oil burning.

Desconocido.

I had bought this car off facebook marketplace after confirming with my dad that it was a good car, when I had finally saved enough. After I took it home the check engine light had come on not too long after, the engine stalls when turning the key, pressing on the brake helps start the engine. Turns out the car was a salvage title and my dad didn’t know that and I didn’t know what that was.

When my car is turned on there is a very noticeable shake coming from the engine area. It's not that bad once the car is driving. However, I was driving 40 miles an hour when my check engine light came on, then I was unable to accelerate and my car stalled (it's an automatic car). Once my car started up again, the check engine light was flashing, and I could only drive at like 15-20 miles per hour for my speed. Made it to o'reilly and had them run the check engine light codes for me and it popped up with the p1326 code regarding the knock signal range/performance. I recently got a check engine light code for a p0449 evap vent control valve (it wouldnt allow me to pump gas into the car). I'm unsure if the issues are related but wanted to provide all the details.

After my car gets going and warms up, the engine has a problem. When it is time for the engine to shift to a higher gear, it makes a revving sound like the clutch has been pushed in and the gas pedal is being pushed. This mostly happens around 25 and 45mph. When you hit the as to make it stop it jerks and sometimes skids. If you take you foot off the gas it stops, but also slows down. When you hit the gas again it jerks again. If you try to speed up to get it to stop, it jerks again and this time pretty badly.

After taking my mom to the airport the vehicle engine blew up what absolutely no warning at all leave me on the side of the road the key keep getting stuck inside the car.