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2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, most often about the engine (43% of complaints, typically around 94,000 miles). It is 4th of 16 Sonata Hybrid model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
Engine
41 complaints · 43%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. While driving 75 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the contact heard an abnormal noise. The contact stated that the vehicle began to decelerate and failed to accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact parked the vehicle onto the side of the road and…
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v746000 (engine). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and had recall repair was completed. The contact stated that two weeks after the repair, while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate above…
Steering
18 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 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…
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…
Brakes
17 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 75,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Takata recall . Today I have an issue with my car that is when I stopped on almost top of a hill on a red signal suddenly the brakes pedal go down and there was a light on saying : check brakes and I began to loss brake power so I pressed on the accelerate pedal to stop drifting back and parked it aside and turned the…
I was driving on the freeway at approx. 60 MPH and the parking brake suddenly engaged. The dash alarm went off and the car starting making terrible grinding noises and swerving lane to lane. I was able to fight it and make it to the right shoulder. After turning the car off and on again it disengaged and I was able to…
Electrical
17 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 112,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. While driving 60 MPH, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact also stated that the battery became drained and could not be recharged. The vehicle was taken to spradley barr motors inc. (2200 westland rd, cheyenne, wy 82001, [phone])…
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…
Transmission
10 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles.
This vehicle Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has all the issues that the regular Hyundai sonata recalls have engine was rebuilt due to metal shavings in the oil pan, also this hybrid accelerates at times when it doesnt run on battery (engine kicks in) too many issues with this Hyundai Sonata Hybrid!!! In motion on highway/ city…
I was coming off of an on ramp to get onto the highway and due to traffic I had to let off the gas. The vehicle suddenly accelerated by itself, causing me to nearly lose control of the vehicle. Another incident took place at a school crosswalk area. I lightly pressed the brakes and the vehicle accelerated by itself…
Other or unspecified
9 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles.
While driving on a busy road at 40mph my car suddenly downshifted and would not move. As I tried pressing on gas to accelerate the car slowly went up to 5 on the speedometer and stopped moving again. I luckily did not get hit from behind or cross main road to get into a side street for me to safely get out of vehicle…
February 2017 at around 85,000 miles while driving the car on a residential street approaching a red light stopped moving. The oil, battery and engine lights went on, I turned car off and turned back on and it moved I drove right to the dealership. After testing they could find nothing wrong. The same thing happened…
Air bags
8 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 122,000 miles.
I was driving 35mph and I got into the pothole then my side airbag deployed it was so scary and almost got into accident. There was no damage on my car on that incident.
I had a terrible accident on highway. Another car hit me on my right side. I was driving with 60 mile/ hours. I deviate from the road and that car hit few more times. My car was distroyed. Ok this accident the air bags didn't deploy. The seat belt protected. Even that I didn't broke any bone I hurt really bed my left…
Stability control
6 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles.
Check brake warning display 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. When driving the check brake signal comes on and shuts down the car and render it driveless until I shut off the engine and restart it .we chang new own 12 v battery OEM parts . Still have the problem check brake signal come on .
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed april 10, 2024 through october 11, 2024. Owners may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 elantra, genesis coupe, sonata hybrid, 2012-2015 accent, azera, veloster, 2013-2015 elantra coupe, santa fe, 2014-2015 equus, 2010-2012 veracruz, 2010-2013 tucson, 2015 tucson fuel cell, and 2013 santa fe sport vehicles. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Engine
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new knock sensor detection system (ksds). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began march 31, 2021. Owners may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 veloster, 2012 santa fe, 2011-2013 sonata hybrid, and 2016 sonata hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
Equipment: electrical
Risk: An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tire mobility kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began september 28, 2020. Owners may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 hyundai elantra and sonata hybrid, 2012 accent and veloster vehicles. The 12v accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the tire mobility kit air compressor to inflate a tire.
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install an external wire filter kit, free of charge. The recall began october 15, 2018. Owners may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 174.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 sonata and 2011-2012 sonata hybrid vehicles. On february 27, 2018, hyundai motor company (hyundai) notified NHTSA that they were recalling 154,753 model year 2011 sonata vehicles. On april 18, 2018, hyundai expanded the recall to include an additional 425,305 model year 2012-2013 sonata and 2011-2012 sonata hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (acu) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying.
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk: If the seat belt linkage detaches from the seat belt anchorage, it can not properly restrain the occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will again verify the connection between the seat belt linkage and the pretensioner and additionally install a warning label to prevent future seat belt linkage detachment, free of charge. The recall began november 6, 2017. Owners may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 169.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 sonata and 2011-2015 sonata hybrid vehicles previously repaired under recall campaign 17v-152. The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
Seat belts: anchorage
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and the seat belt anchor pretensioners, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin april 7, 2017. Owner's may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for the recall is 160.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 sonata and 2011-2015 sonata hybrid vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Non-crash vehicle fires
Summary
During this preliminary evaluation (pe), the office of defects investigation (odi) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (my) 2011-2014 hyundai sonata and santa fe vehicles equipped with theta II and lambda II engines (approximately 1.3 million vehicles). Odi also reviewed field data of other hyundai vehicles equipped with theta II, gamma, nu and lambda engines (approximately 4.8 million). As a result of this pe, hyundai has issued NHTSA recalls 20v-746 and 21v-727 to address potential engine failures and fires in certain hyundai vehicles
Non-crash vehicle fires
Summary
In a letter dated june 11, 2018, the center for auto safety (cas) petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (my) 2011-2014 kia optima and sorento, and hyundai sonata and santa fe vehicles. In a letter dated july 24, 2018, cas requested that my 2010-2015 kia soul vehicles be added to the petition. Cas stated that there is a higher number of complaints to NHTSA regarding non-crash fires on these vehicles compared to other similar vehicles. The office of defects investigation (odi) had already opened recall queries (rq17-003 and rq17-004) on all kia and hyundai vehicles equipped
Air bags may be disabled during crash
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe18-003 on 3/16/18 to investigate incidents involving crashes, resulting in significant collision related damage, where the frontal airbags failed to deploy. Odi reviewed complaint data, available design, test, and field data on the model year (my) 2011 hyundai sonata, my 2012-2013 kia forte and forte koup vehicles. Odi also evaluated data from the automotive air bag system supplier, zf-trw (zf), to review vehicles that may contain the same air bag control unit (acu) used in the subject vehicles. Hyundai motor america (hma) issued recall no. 18v-137 for my 2011-2013 sonata and my 2012 sonata hybrid vehicles. Kia motors america (kma) issued re
Questions about the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (41 complaints, typically around 94,000 miles); steering (18 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles); brakes (17 complaints, typically around 75,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 22, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?
- It is 4th of 16 Sonata Hybrid model years by number of complaints, with 96 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.