2011 Hyundai Sonata Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Part of Generation 6 (YF) — 2011–2014.

20102012
Complaints
4,597
per 10K Sold
203.4
US Sales
225,961
Crashes
194
Fires
184
Injuries
150
Fatalities
3
Recalls
14

Worst 2011 Hyundai Sonata Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11,162 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:61,278 mi
Crash-related:20
Fires:6
#2960 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:100,273 mi
Crash-related:19
Fires:85
#3412 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:119,427 mi
Crash-related:50
Fires:5
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata.

Steering Defects
1,162
complaints
Crashes
20
Fires
6
Avg Miles
61,278
Engine Problems
960
complaints
Crashes
19
Fires
85
Avg Miles
100,273
Airbags
412
complaints
Crashes
50
Fires
5
Avg Miles
119,427
Electrical Faults
404
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
28
Avg Miles
66,835
Headlight/Taillight Failures
221
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
75,013
Transmission / Drivetrain
150
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
5
Avg Miles
64,750
Brakes
144
complaints
Crashes
15
Fires
6
Avg Miles
84,580
Suspension Failures
140
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
68,479
Fuel System
104
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
14
Avg Miles
98,055
Seat Belt Issues
101
complaints
Crashes
17
Fires
Avg Miles
92,135
Unintended Acceleration
93
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
1
Avg Miles
67,729
Body Structure
63
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
8
Avg Miles
77,575
Electronic Stability Control
62
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
65,762
Engine & Cooling
34
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
21,423
Wheel Issues
33
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
53,387
Hydraulic Brakes
26
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
43,006
Gasoline Fuel System
25
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
64,439
Electrical System:Horn
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
6,362
Automatic Transmission
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
9,236
Tire Defects
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
27,328
Seat-Related Issues
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
55,218
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
110,838
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
6,128
Other Equipment
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
3,859
Wipers & Visibility
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,000
Sunroof/Moonroof
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
81,427
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
33,152
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
17,578
Visibility
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
14,812

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Hyundai Sonata

14 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~6,000,886 vehicles.

18V934000Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
~150,730 affected

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles previously repaired under recall numbers 15V-568 and 17V-226. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, allowing fuel to leak from the pipe.

18V137000Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module · Seat Belts:pretensioner · Air Bags:side/window · Airbags
~580,058 affected

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.

17V617000Seat Belts:pretensioner · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
~443,545 affected

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.

17V152000Seat Belts:front:anchorage
~977,778 affected

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.

16V190000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~173,000 affected

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to October 31, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) circuit board may be damaged and result in a loss of power steering assist.

15V759000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
~304,900 affected

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.

15V629000Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
~28,157 affected

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Elantra vehicles manufactured November 12, 2010, to March 31, 2011, and Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to February 28, 2010, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.

15V568000Engine
~470,000 affected

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to April 12, 2012 at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and equipped with either a 2.0 liter or 2.4 liter Gasoline Direct injection engine. In the affected vehicles, metallic debris may not have been fully removed during manufacturing of the engine crankshaft. If the debris was not completely removed, oil flow may be restricted through the connecting rod bearings, causing connecting rod damage. A worn connecting rod bearing will produce a metallic, cyclic knocking noise from the engine and possible engine failure.

14V433000Hydraulic Brakes
~133,075 affected

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sonata vehicles manufactured from December 11, 2009, through September 1, 2010. The affected vehicles may experience a brake fluid leak from the two brake lines that connect the brake system's master cylinder to the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) due to insufficient seal between the inner brake hose and metal brake line fitting.

14V434000Automatic Transmission
~883,000 affected

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, through May 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin.

+ 4 more recalls

Other Hyundai Sonata Years

2011 Hyundai Sonata — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has 4,597 NHTSA complaints, 194 crash-related, and 14 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 1,162 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (1,162 complaints, avg 61,278 mi); Engine Problems (960 complaints, avg 100,273 mi); Airbags (412 complaints, avg 119,427 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 78,653 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata include 194 crash-related reports, 184 fire reports, 150 injuries, and 3 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2011 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes — 14 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 6,000,886 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Hyundai Sonata reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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