general problems of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata - part 1

My car was broken into and they broke off my door handle and took out ignition parts, a police report was done.

There was no accident . Airbag light on the dash, on the driver side, remains on at all times. The airbag indicator on the passenger side says off. Dashboard has completely cracked, both sides and the center. Unknown incidents- I don’t know of any incidents.

Cruise controldoesnt work due to design defect dirt getting in and stopping the function.

There was a 2011 Hyundai Sonata hybrid transmission-related shift cable recall, campaign 123, which covered certain 2011-2014 Sonatas (including some 2011-2015 hybrids). The recall addressed the potential for the transmission shift cable to detach from the shift lever pin, which could prevent the car from being fully in park and potentially lead to rollaway.

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 .

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

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.

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.

While driving sometimes car comes to a slow paste like it wants to stall I have to take my foot off gas paddle and put my foot back on again for car to accelerate and speed up again I am also noticing this when I turn my headlights on while car is driving. Recently had car engine light come on and car had to be towed to a mechanic. Car was fix where light was gone but I am still having the problem with the car wanting to stall while driving. Took it to dealer who said they saw nothing wrong because no check light was on but the problem for me still is there as of this morning 1/12/2024.

Dashboard has large cracks all over it including where the passenger air bag is located. I am concerned about the pieces of plastic flying if the air bag deploys. Also concerned that the cracks could release the air bag at any time, even during normal driving. Dealer only suggested getting a dashboard cover, but that would negate the purpose of the air bag. My research showed that there are many other cases of the happening with Hyundai Sonata's 2011-2014.

Leaking.

Car is overheating. Took it to a mechanic they replaced the thermostat but car is still overheating, jerking and so much more. The mechanic wants to charge more to fix it. I got a second opinion from another mechanic and after he reviewed the paperwork from the first mechanic. He searched my VIN number and told me to contact this number because my vehicle is on a recall list. So I need someone to contact me about where and how we can get my vehicle fixed.

On July 19 I started my car and there was a loud knocking noise coming from underneath my hood when I lifted the hood the knocking sound was coming from my engine I’ve had this car for 3 years never had any problems or issues at all with my car not sure what’s going on or if there are any recalls on parts for my car.

Driving from home to a shopping center, approximately 25 miles, I did not observe any unusual noises nor smoke nor dashboard warning lights. Once I parked and shut off the engine in the shopping center parking lot, I observed a small amount of thick, white smoke coming from the hood on the front passenger side of my car, and then the smoke abruptly stopped. I was concerned enough that I decided I should probably move my car to a parking space a bit further away from the store I planned to go into in order to be further away from other vehicles. I started the engine again, and once again, no smoke nor unusual noises nor warning lights. I drove around to the next parking aisle and parked in a different parking space. Once I turned off the engine again, the smoke then immediately started from the right side of the hood again and quickly smoke started coming from the left side of the hood. I was quickly trying to grab my things to get out of the car as I saw the paint starting to peel off of the hood of my car. I was barely able to get out of my car as fire flames and very thick white smoke were then emerging from the hood. A person in the parking lot called 911 for me, and the local fire department arrived and put the fire out that destroyed my car. I am in the process of securing the fire marshall's lengthy report. At the present time, my vehicle is at our home where we paid to have it towed.

Not sure what component is responseable but the car caught fire while driving on route 38. Started smoking and then shut off. Limped car to the shoulder and got out. Saw from underneath that it was on fire and called 911.

My car won’t start idk what’s cost that’s.

My dash board is cracking and the Hyundai dealership don’t seem to think it’s a safety recall. And I found this information, saying this Sonatas due to defective materials used for the dashboard that may cause it to crack and form sharp edges, potentially causing injury during an accident. The recall affects over 220,000 vehicles and requires dealers to replace the dashboard in affected models for free. I would like you to look into and see if it’s was a recall please,.

My vehicle dash board has started cracking in several locations. Causing a risk to my safety, having the potential of breaking up in the event of a crash casing the dash board to break up and shatter that would cause injury to my passenger and myself. I have seen on the internet where Hyundai has a recall on this, but I was not contracted about this and wound like this matter review please thanks.

My 2011 Hyundai Sonata engine failed in April 2023. Was towed and the engine was replaced due to the recall. Got car back November 4th 2023. Fuel gauge never went out and after driving about 3 miles the engine light came on. Dec 13th was driving on highway and felt like the car was going to fall apart. Able to get off highway only for the car to die. Every light including some I have never seen came on. Was stuck on the side of the road with my esa dog in 28°. Temp. For over an hour with no power and hazards starting to dim. I'm disabled and had no help. Local pd towed vehicle and drove me home. Car sat at tow yard collecting fees as I was waiting for the dealership to call me back. Finally got help with paying the tow yard company only to be stuck once again for over an hour in the cold and then denied a tow to the dealership since they decided to cancel my appointment by text while I was on with Hyundai roadside assistance. They denied any help. Luckily the tow yard felt bad and made a call for me and a friend came and paid the 160. 00 tow truck to get the car back to my house. They have now not returned my calls and the case manager has not responded as well. This is unacceptable. I don't have any money and I have no idea how they can get away with treating a disabled person in the winter days before christmas by letting me be stranded twice on the side of the road with an engine that has less than 10 miles on it.

To whom it may concern, subject: formal complaint – 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS tail light meltdown / fire hazard date: August 3, 2025 I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue with my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS, specifically concerning the tail light assembly, which has melted and poses a potential fire hazard and traffic safety risk. Approximately a year and a half ago, I noticed melting in the tail light housing and took the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership to address the issue. At that time, the car had approximately 208,000 miles. Despite the obvious manufacturing defect and safety implications, the dealership refused to repair or inspect the issue without charging a $275 inspection fee, stating the vehicle was out of warranty. I believe this to be an unfair and irresponsible business practice. Tail light assemblies should not melt under normal use, and such a defect could lead electrical fires brake light failure (increasing the risk of rear-end collisions) potential traffic citations for inoperative brake lights damage to other vehicles or individuals I have already notified Hyundai motor corporation about this issue, placing them on notice that should any damages or incidents occur as a result of this defect, they may be held liable. This is not a minor cosmetic issue but a major safety defect, and I strongly urge the NHTSA to investigate whether this is an isolated issue or part of a wider trend affecting Hyundai and kia vehicles. If so, a safety recall may be warranted. I also intend to report this situation to the indiana attorney general's office as a matter of consumer protection and product safety. I have been backwards and forwards with the Hyundai corporation via and emails. . . . . . I look forward to a prompt response. Please!.

My Hyundai Sonata started messing up 3 months ago. My check engine light came on I took it to autozone to get it checked and it was my knock sensor wire harness I dont have a warranty on my car and I dont know what else to do.

Starting 6 months ago air bag light is on constantly. Horn stopped working, speed control doesn't work. The whole steering wheel and buttons with horn doesn't work.

As I was drivim back home from engine started a smoke green, smelling like burn wires electricity ect. The shut off , I ran out the car. In the middle of traffic. I contacted mechanic , has inform me that the engine has siezed . Will no longer turn on. And maybe some ecm or electrical but dat the engine is locked. Oil looks very clean radiator fluid clean aswell. What could have caused this no idea. Im scare to try to start the car.

My 2011 Hyundai Sonata was stolen on June 13th in minneapolis in broad daylight on a busy street. When I got it back at the mpls police impound lot they said it was stolen (most likely by kids) because of the security defect the Hyundais and kias are known to have: the lack of an interceptor that other cars have. That security defect has been well publicized and apparently widely featured on tiktok. The week before the theft I received the Hyundai recall notice for a software solution to be installed to solve the security defect, but when I contacted area dealerships they either didn't have it yet or were booked out several months. I've seen it reported that Hyundai (and kia) companies have known about the defect for years, so it's especially frustrating!.

In summer of 2023 my car 2011 Sonata hybrid quit running and would not start. My granddaughter had used the car to go to oklahoma city for a tennis tournament. Her life was at risk because she was coming back in the evening and was alone. The next day I had the car towed to ada oklahoma and then called dealership and had it towed to ardmore, oklahoma where I had purchased the car new in 2011. The car was at the dealership for 6 months. The vehicle was inspected at the dealership. There were no warning lights or symptoms of the failure prior to the breakdown. I am an 80 year old female that knows nothing about a car engine and they talked to me like I was a mechanic. I still do not know why my claim was denied but was told that I did not have a claim. I had to rent a car to get to work for several months and was out the money to have my car towed 2 times. Not to mention the strain of being without my car for 6-7 months. I finally just gave up until I read about all these other people having trouble with Hyundai also.

Picked up my car after getting my recalls done on may 10, 2023. Drove it for 2 days. As I was on my way home on the 2nd day, my car started giving me trouble. As I accelerate, the car will stall out and I will have to turn it off and back on just to get it out of the middle of the street. It won't go over 1000 rpms. The eps light, battery light, and engine light all lit up.

The alternator and battery of this vehicle has been switched at least 3 times. Purchased new and all, yet the car keeps getting drained and left powerless. Something is draining the energy of the vehicle and the root to the problem is not known.

I'm smelling has from under the car and it's got a ticking sound and burning oil it looks like.

The car suddenly stopped idling while driving at around 40-45 mph and everything seemed normal until it would not drive but the car was on and then the steering was difficult to pull over to a safe area and the brakes were hard to brake and stop but when it came to a full stop the vehicle dash warning lights were flickering and shut off. When I tried to attempt and start the vehicle it would not start but everything turns on ike normal al the lights except the engine was not on. Also it started smelling like some sort of electrical components were burning or something but I couldn't see any smoke or anything coming from the engine area but it seemed like electrical burn somewhere in the car. The vehicle is very unsafe to drive since there was no kind of warning lights or sounds and just stopped working while driving. The vehicle is well maintained and up to date with maintenance services. It became inoperable and had to be towed home since I ended up stuck in a unsafe spot in the middle of a busy street and waited hours for someone to tow it back to my house because it was already about 1 or 2 in the morning. The next day had hired a mechanic to come and do the diagnostics and repairs and still doesn't start or drive and I had to hire another mechanic to diagnose the problem again and was told that the motor is seized and I would need a new engine and other work done on it as well and so me and my family are stuck without a car which is our only car and no more money to fix the car and have no way to bring my child to school and also take my wife to work and etc etc since this problem and don't know what's wrong with it after spending so much money trying to have it fixed so possibly a lemon car.

Engine stalled and shut off and wouldn’t start again.

I was driving on the interstate when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise that terrified me. I quickly realized the glass of my sunroof was gone. There were no warning signs at all and the sunroof was not open when this happened. After inspection it was clear that only the glass was missing and no other parts of the sunroof assembly. I called Hyundai and was told I could bring it in but it would be an out of pocket expense and would be at least a week before they could get to it. I wasn't sure of the date so I put today's date. N.

Hyundai has refused to get back to me about my car it's been months they don't return my phone calls or emails or anything. The motor recall had caused me and my children to be stranded in the busy highway after just shutting down 2 times. Amongst other things this is unacceptable.

Car accelerates randomly. Makes a sort of "vroom" sound and lurches forward. Causing my vehicle to run into my friends garage door. Also noticed acceleration at various times while moving.

Rear brake light bulb socket melted . Brake light will not work it melted the bulb in the wire harness.