2011 Hyundai Sonata Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 1, 2026 · Filed: October 26, 2026

On September 24, 2026, I brought my vehicle to Kelly Hyundai Service Center for two recall repairs: IBU/BCM Anti-Theft Software Upgrade and Decal Application Anti-Theft Ignition Cylinder Protector and Decal Installation My vehicle was at the dealership all day. At the end of the day, I received a call from the technician advising me that the recall work could not be completed due to an electrical issue. When I returned home, I immediately noticed several problems that did not exist prior to the service appointment. Specifically: The high beams no longer worked. The dashboard illumination was not functioning properly. The automatic door lock system stopped working. The trunk could only be opened with the key. I contacted the service center and was informed that the only way they could determine the cause of these issues was for me to bring the vehicle back and pay a $200 diagnostic fee. I explained that I did not believe I should be charged to diagnose problems that appeared immediately after their attempted recall repair. I requested to speak with the service manager, but I was told he was unavailable. I never received a return call from management. On October 1, 2026, I returned to the service center and spoke with the manager. He recommended that I leave the vehicle for further evaluation. I did so, but later that day I received another call stating that the recall still could not be completed and that I would again need to pay a $200 diagnostic fee. I picked up my vehicle because I did not believe I should be responsible for that expense. The problems began only after the dealership attempted the recall repair and that I should not be required to pay diagnostic charges to identify or correct issues that may have been caused during that process.

Incident: October 25, 2026 · Filed: October 25, 2026

While driving home and negotiating an ordinary turn onto our residential street, we heard a loud popping sound. We immediately pulled over and discovered that the driver’s-side rear wheel was leaning inward substantially. Upon inspecting the suspension, I discovered that the cylindrical bushing attachment on a rear suspension control arm had fractured, allowing the suspension connection to separate. I subsequently walked back to the location where the noise occurred and recovered the detached metal fragment. The fracture surfaces exhibit distinctly different coloration, suggesting that part of the fracture may have existed for some time before the final separation. Of greater concern, upon inspecting the corresponding suspension component on the passenger side, I discovered a substantial crack along what appears to be the same fracture path as the failed driver’s-side component. Both sides appear to exhibit a common structural weakness. The failure occurred during ordinary driving without a collision or known impact immediately preceding the event. A similar failure at highway speed could cause a serious crash, injury, or death. I understand Hyundai previously conducted rear lower control arm replacement Service Campaign TP3 for certain 2011–2013 Sonata vehicles. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this failure is related to a known defect or represents a broader safety concern. Photographs of the failed driver’s-side component, recovered fragment, and corresponding passenger-side crack are available. The vehicle and recovered fragment are being preserved for further inspection. I request that this incident be reviewed as a potential safety-related structural suspension defect.

Incident: August 10, 2026 · Filed: October 18, 2026

My 2011 Hyundai Sonata with the 2.4L Theta II GDI engine developed an engine failure at 99,928 miles. On XXX Hyundai’s dealer (McFarland Hyundai, [XXX]) ran Hyundai’s T3G connecting-rod-bearing test, and the engine returned NO PASS. Hyundai’s own test recorded the oil level as full. This engine family is the subject of Hyundai’s connecting-rod-bearing safety campaigns and its extended engine warranty. Hyundai declined the repair (#XXX) as “exceptional maintenance neglect,” although the oil and filter were changed about 730 miles before the failure, with two more documented oil changes in the prior 16 months. Connecting-rod-bearing failure in this engine can cause engine seizure or stalling while driving, which creates a crash risk. The vehicle is at the dealer and has not been repaired. I am reporting this so NHTSA has a record of a Theta II failure in a vehicle covered by these campaigns that was denied repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: October 4, 2026 · Filed: October 5, 2026

The passenger frontal airbag deployed on its own while the vehicle was being driven, with no collision or impact that the driver is aware of. The driver airbag did not deploy. The incident occurred on October 4, 2026, at about 11:14 PM, shortly after the driver refueled at a gas station and was heading toward the highway. The airbag tore open the dashboard panel and cracked the windshield from the inside where the bag struck the glass. The driver brought the vehicle back to the gas station and it was towed. It has not been driven since. Safety risk: The sudden deployment startled the driver and the cracked windshield reduced visibility while the vehicle was moving. Anyone in the passenger seat would have been struck at close range. Recall history: This vehicle received the Recall 174 / NHTSA 18V-137 airbag control unit remedy (ACU main wiring harness installation, part 91700-4R100-QQH) at a Hyundai dealer in September 2025, at about 305,800 miles. The deployment occurred about 13 months and 18,400 miles later, at 324,243 miles. Warning signs: No airbag warning light or other warning appeared before the deployment. The vehicle was serviced at a Hyundai dealer about one month earlier (oil change and multi-point inspection), and no airbag or restraint-system problem was reported. Inspection: The vehicle is at a Hyundai dealer and is available for inspection. We have asked that the airbag control unit, airbag module, and stored crash data be preserved. A case has been opened with Hyundai Motor America. As of this report, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or an insurer, and no dealer has confirmed the cause. Cause: UNKNOWN. Our best assessment is an electrical fault in the airbag control unit or its wiring, which received recall work in 2025.

Incident: April 11, 2025 · Filed: September 3, 2026

I was driving down the road going the speed limit and all of a sudden it felt like I hit a brick wall my car staked out and I was stuck in the middle of the road for about 20 minutes and finally I got it to start and drove home it did it again 2 months later

Incident: August 24, 2026 · Filed: August 29, 2026

I had taken my Sonata to Mike Miller Hyndia in Peoria,I'll and they agreed to do the recall although they had my vehicle for two weeks. They did not service it and when I picked it up they said I had to drive it till the service engine light come on. I was driving it five days later and heard a loud noise and car started malfunctioning I was stuck in a middle of a intersection and I had to push vehicle off road. I broke my right hand in this process and I have also lost my job I am very concerned why they did not service it after they agreed too and sent me off in it in that condition ..The car is currently parked and unsure what to do with it ..

Incident: July 6, 2026 · Filed: August 18, 2026

The vehicle suffered an internal connecting rod bearing failure, a known manufacturing defect affecting the Theta II GDI engine. The failure was explicitly diagnosed via the manufacturer - specific OBD-II fault code p1326 Knock Sensor Detector System. This defect causes sudden engine stalling poses an immediate risk of catastrophic engine failure or fire while driving. Hyundai Motor America has denied financial reimbursement for the required engine repair because the work was completed by an independent shop and third-party arbitration deadline (BBB Auto Line) communicated to me. The manufacturer is actively refusing to remedy an acknowledged safety defect.

Incident: August 10, 2026 · Filed: August 13, 2026

On the freeway at night when headlights and back lights quit working. Got off freeway and were able to temporarily fix it. A few months later while parked in driveway and not in use for a couple of days, lights came on without our knowledge and drained our battery. Neighbor alerted us to the situation.

Incident: August 9, 2026 · Filed: August 10, 2026

Intermittent and sudden loss of power steering nearly caused an accident for both of sons when each one was driving on two separate occasions this past week. "EPS" and traction control warning lights both illuminate on the dash when steering goes out. Sometimes the codes will clear themselves out after restarting the vehicle, but not always. Had it inspected by an independent service center and they cleared out the codes with their scanner. Steering worked fine for a few days afterwards, but then suddenly lost power steering again yesterday. It is very dangerous to drive and it is very unpredictable. I see that there was a recall for this issue for certain manufacture dates for 2011 Hyundai Sonata, but mine was not part of the recall. I believe that it should be part of that recall before someone dies or is injured.

Incident: July 8, 2026 · Filed: July 22, 2026

I test drove the vehicle at an auction, watched several other people test drive the vehicle. Before the auction I test drove it one more time and put my obd scan tool on it to make sure there were no hidden codes or problems. I won the bid,and picked up the vehicle. I drove it approximately 6 miles from the auction and the falshing engine light popped on. I immediately pulled over in heavy freeway traffic. Put my scan tool on it and found out the knock sensor had triggered. The vehicle was shaking and making a terrible racket. It was inoperable in the worst possible spot on Highway 51 during rush hour traffic. I managed to slowing coast down the offramp and roll into a parking lot. I then called Purdy Hyundai and spoke with a service advisor and provided the VIN#. He (Vue Kue) informed me that the vehicle qualified for the recall and warranty work based on exactly that issue. I had the vehicle towed to the Purdy dealership on July 8th 2026. I was told today that it was unlikely that Hyundai would honor the recall because I did not have service records of a vehicle I had owned for 6 miles of driving. I filed a complaint with Hyundai corporate. Claim#43010067 and awaiting the reconciliation of this situation. Of which they appear to to be avoiding.