NHTSA (USA)CriticalPark Outside
This page covers 31 recalls, 3456 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata.
26–36 mpg combined
6.5–9 L/100km
Large Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering and engine issues dominate what 2011 Sonata owners report, with steering complaints making up the largest share by a wide margin. The most common steering complaint centers on the clock spring, the coiled connector behind the steering wheel, failing in a way that triggers the airbag warning light and causes a clicking noise from the wheel. Owners frequently describe the driver airbag warning lamp illuminating and staying on, which connects directly to the clock spring pattern and explains why airbag complaints rank third. On the engine side, owners report stalling at highway and city speeds, sometimes with no warning lights beforehand, followed by a no-start condition requiring a tow. Fuel system faults, including low-pressure fuel pump failures, come up across multiple reports as the diagnosed cause behind the stalling episodes.
3,456
Total Complaints
122
Crash-Related
116
Fire-Related
65
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has 31 recalls, the most serious involving fire risks, sudden engine failure, and a steering column that can separate and cause complete loss of steering control.
Several recalls cluster around the engine. Connecting rod bearings can wear prematurely, leading to knocking, oil pressure loss, engine seizure, and potential fire from leaking oil. Metallic debris left in crankshaft oil passages during manufacturing accelerates that wear. A high-pressure fuel pipe can also leak near ignition sources, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this in all cases. The automatic transmission shift cable can detach from the shift lever, leaving the driver unable to select gears or reach Park, with the vehicle potentially rolling in an unintended direction.
On occupant safety, the airbag control unit can develop damaged circuits that disable frontal and side airbags and seatbelt pretensioners in a crash. Front seatbelt linkages can detach from their anchor pretensioners, and a prior repair attempt did not fully resolve that issue either. Electric power steering can lose assist due to a damaged circuit board, requiring significantly more steering effort. Brake lines can leak or restrict fluid flow, extending stopping distances. Front door latches can remain unlatched and allow doors to open while driving. Front coil springs can corrode, fracture, and puncture a tire. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate, causing brake lights to stay on continuously and masking actual braking to drivers behind. The 12V accessory outlet can overheat and pose a fire risk with prolonged use
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 3 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The Anti-Lock Brake System module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, potentially starting a fire in the engine compartment.
What the fix does
The ABS fuse will be replaced at no cost to restore normal brake system function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connecting rod bearings in the engine can wear prematurely, causing abnormal knocking noise and oil pressure warning light activation. Continued driving risks complete engine failure, sudden power loss, and inability to restart. A damaged connecting rod may puncture the engine block and cause oil leakage.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect your engine for bearing damage. If found, the engine will be replaced and the engine control module software will be updated.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely over time, potentially causing engine damage.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the engine and replace it if bearing damage is found. A software update with a new Knock Sensor Detection System will be installed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, disabling the thermal fuse. This allows the outlet to overheat during prolonged use, such as when using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control module may not detect developing problems, potentially leading to sudden engine failure and loss of power with no ability to restart.
What the fix does
Dealer will update the engine control module software to enable early problem detection. Vehicles previously repaired under campaign R0153 are excluded.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control module lacks software to detect early warning signs of engine failure. Without this detection, an engine could suddenly lose power and fail to restart.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the engine control module software to enable early detection of potential engine problems.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During previous recall repairs (2015-428 or 2017-197), the high pressure fuel pipe may not have been installed correctly on the fuel pump. If damaged, misaligned, or improperly tightened, fuel could leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the fuel pipe connection. If leaking is found, they will replace the fuel pipe with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high pressure fuel pipe connecting to the fuel pump may be damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued from a previous engine replacement, causing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Circuits inside the airbag control unit can become damaged, preventing airbags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying during certain collisions.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a wire harness kit between the airbag control unit connector and the vehicle harness connector.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag control unit may short circuit during a crash, which could prevent the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying.
What the fix does
Dealers will install an external wire filter kit at no charge to prevent the air bag control unit from short circuiting.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seat belt linkages may come loose and separate from the seat belt anchor pretensioners, which are devices that tighten seat belts during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the connection between the seat belt linkage and pretensioner, then install a warning label to prevent future detachment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connections between front seat belts and floor-mounted anchor pretensioners may not be properly attached. In a crash, a seat belt could detach from the anchor, increasing injury risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the connection between the seat belt linkage and anchor pretensioner cable connector for both front seats and repair if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seat belt linkages may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners, causing the seat belts to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the connections between the seat belt linkages and pretensioners at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front suspension coil springs can corrode over time. Corroded springs may break, damaging front tires and causing rapid air loss or tire failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the coil springs and repair or replace them as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric power steering control circuit board can become damaged and fail, causing the steering assist to stop working. The steering will revert to manual mode, requiring much greater driver effort to turn the wheel.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electric power steering control unit.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electronic power steering circuit board may be damaged, causing loss of power steering assist.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electronic power steering control unit at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake pedal stopper pad can wear down, causing the brake light switch plunger to stay extended even when you release the brake pedal.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front suspension coil springs may corrode over time. Corroded springs can fail, potentially damage front tires, cause rapid air loss or tire failure, and increase crash risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the coil springs and repair or replace them as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt can corrode the front coil springs, causing them to crack or break.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front coil springs at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Metallic debris left on the engine crankshaft during manufacturing can block oil passages to the connecting rod bearings, causing premature wear. A failed bearing can stall the engine while driving and trigger an oil pressure warning light.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the engine and replace it if necessary. Engine warranty is extended to 10 years/200,000 kilometers for all owners.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Metallic debris may not have been fully removed during engine crankshaft manufacturing. This debris can restrict oil flow through connecting rod bearings, causing bearing wear, engine knocking noise, and possible engine failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your vehicle and replace the engine assembly if needed, at no cost. Engine warranty extends to 10 years/120,000 miles.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The shift cable connecting to the shift lever may come loose or detach. This prevents the driver from changing gears or putting the transmission in PARK, which could allow the vehicle to roll away if parked without the parking brake.
What the fix does
The dealer will inspect the shift cable connection and repair it as needed to restore proper operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Brake lines connecting the master cylinder to the hydraulic control unit may leak or restrict fluid flow, causing brake fluid loss or reduced pressure to the brake calipers, which can increase stopping distances.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the brake hoses with revised parts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Brake fluid may leak from the two brake lines connecting the master cylinder to the electronic control unit due to a weak seal between the inner hose and metal fitting.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both brake hoses with updated parts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission shift cable can detach from the shift lever pin, which may prevent proper gear selection.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the connection between the shift cable and shift lever at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt and water can accumulate in the rear crossmember, causing steel corrosion. This corrosion may weaken the crossmember enough that a rear control arm detaches.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair or replace the rear crossmember assembly to restore structural integrity and control arm attachment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may be improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened, potentially affecting steering control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the steering column connections for proper assembly and tightness, and update the power steering software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering column intermediate shaft universal joint may be loose or improperly assembled, causing noise or unresponsive steering. If ignored, the joint could separate, causing loss of front-wheel steering control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the steering column u-joint bolts and tighten them to specification if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may not be properly assembled or tightened, potentially causing steering issues.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the connections for proper assembly and tightness, and update the power steering software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The inside door latch can become misaligned if the lock switch is held while pulling the inside door handle. When this happens, the handle won't return to its resting position and the door won't latch when closed.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the door latch assemblies and replace them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front inside door lock switch can stick in the unlatched position, preventing the door from locking properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the affected door latches at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
