Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 Hyundai Sonata
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3,381 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars, averaged across 3 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #18V934000 High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V137000 Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V617000 Seat Belt Linkage Detaches from Pretensioner NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V152000 Seat Belt Linkages may Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V190000 Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V759000 Brake Pedal Stopper Pad Deterioration NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V629000 Front Coil Springs May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V568000 Connecting Rod Wear may Result in Engine Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V433000 Brake Lines Leaking Brake Fluid NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V434000 Transmission Shift Cable Detachment/Rollaway Risk NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V113000 Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V457000 STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V426000 STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V070000 FRONT DOOR LATCHES NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 1,171 complaints
- Engine 969 complaints
- Electrical System 445 complaints
- Air Bags 419 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 249 complaints
- Unknown or Other 213 complaints
Of the 3,381 complaints on file, 116 report a crash and 112 a fire; across all 3,381 complaints, owners report 85 injuries and 3 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has a below-average rating due to numerous recalls and complaints, primarily around engine, steering, and seat belt issues. High complaint numbers for the steering and engine suggest frequent, costly repairs. Despite recall efforts, systemic issues imply higher reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $4,000–$6,000 | very common |
| steering system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| seat belts | 40,000–70,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| brake system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$800 | occasional |
| electrical system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $100–$500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection annually
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 30,000 miles
- Inspect suspension components annually
- Replace cabin air filter annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine light illumination
- Steering wheel vibration
- Unusual engine noises
- Brake fluid leaks
- Seat belt failure to retract
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.