Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2011)
3,476 consumer complaints on file.
- #10464675July 9, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
3X THE DRIVER WINDOW BUTTON IS INOPERABLE. WOULD TURN OFF CAR AND THEN IT WOULD AGAIN WORK. THE WORST ISSUE IS THIS: STARTED UP CAR THIS MORNING 7-9-12 (THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE) AND THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK, THEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT GOES ABOUT 2 FEET AND IT APPLIES THE BRAKES. I NOTICED EACH TIME THE GEAR CONSOLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP. THE CAR ACTUALLY DOES NOT GO INTO GEAR. EACH TIME I HAVE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WORKS FINE. IT'S GOING TO THE SHOP FOR THE 30K CHECK UP AND THIS WILL BE BROUGHT UP. THE DRIVERS WINDOW HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP AND THE DEALER HAS SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WRONG. THERE IS WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK. I HAD ONE OF THESE IN 2001 AND IT TOO HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MY NEIGHBOR JUST SOLD THEIR 05 SONATA DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464430July 6, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
CAR WOULD NOT START.. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464431July 6, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WON'T START. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10464076July 3, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER WORK AND DROVE TO A RESTAURANT. WHEN I GOT OUT, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAD SLID OUT OF PLACE AND WAS HANGING BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT, EVER. MY CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THE PARTS ASSOCIATE INFORMED ME THAT ALL THE PLASTIC PIECES THAT HOLD THE SCREWS WERE BROKEN. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS LOOSE. ONE OF THE PLASTIC PIECES THAT HOLD A SCREW WAS BROKEN ON THAT TAIL LIGHT. HE ORDERED TWO TAIL LIGHTS FOR ME. THE PARTS MANAGER DOESN'T THINK THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE, BECAUSE THE PLASTIC PIECES ARE BROKEN. BUT, THEY HAVE TO BE DEFECTIVE, BECAUSE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED TO MY CAR. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10463602June 29, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS
WHILE GOING DOWN THE HILL, THE CAR DASH BOARD SUDDENLY POP UP THE MESSAGE CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM WITH A LOUD NOISE. AFTER GET OFF ON THE FIRST RAM, TURN THE CAR OFF THEN ON AGAIN THE MESSAGE GO AWAY, ABLE TO RUN AGAIN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. FOR THE SEAT BELT, THE ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SOMETIME IT'S HARD TO PULL OUT SPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. IT'S ALSO WORN OUT AFTER 5000 MILE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462957June 25, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START AFTER PARKING IT. DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL THROUGH THE FLOOR, PRESS START BUTTON, YET IT SAYS "PRESS DOWN BRAKE PEDAL TO START". THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THREE WEEKS. THE FIRST TIME I GOT IT STARTED AFTER ~30 MINUTES. SECOND TIME, WITHIN ~ 5 - 10 MINUTES. THIS THIRD TIME, I COULDN'T GET IT STARTED. HAD TO CALL FOR A RIDE. WENT BACK NEXT DAY, TRIED AGAIN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR ~ 30 MINUTES. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY NEVER CAME. AFTER ~1:45 MINUTES, I TRIED ONE MORE TIME AND GOT IT TO START. EACH TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED STRONGLY TO THE LEFT AND IT FELT LOCKED. EACH TIME I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO YANK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. FELT LIKE THE HYDRAULICS KICKED IN. THEN, IT WOULD START EACH TIME. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN THE FIRST TIME I MESSED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ....BUT EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY MAKE IT DO IT. UNTIL THEN, IT HAD THAT LOCKED FEELING OF NO HYDRAULICS. OTHER THAN THIS, NO BRAKE ISSUES, NO STEERING ISSUES, NO LIGHTS ON DASH, ETC. ONE EXCEPTION, FIRST TIME COMING DOWN A HILL, I HAD THE ESC (BRAKE) LIGHT COME ON BRIEFLY. VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462973June 25, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOR 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR MY SONATA WOULD NOT START BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE LIMIT SWITCH. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THESE PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR AND HYUNDAI SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND THEY WANTED TO TOW IT 50 MILES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO MY HOME. NO OFFER OF A LOANER TO GET ME HOME. PERHAPS ALL SONATA OWNERS SHOULD JUST TAKE THEIR CARS IN EVERY 6 MONTHS TO GET THE SWITCH REPLACED SO WE DO NOT END UP STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITH LIMITED HELP. I GUESS THIS PROBLEM IS NOT AS SERIOUS AS THOSE REPORTING SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THEY PUSH THE BRAKE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462737June 22, 2012UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AFTER GETTING TO WORK AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RETRIEVE THE KEY, THE KEY WOULD ONLY GO TO OFF AND WOULD NOT GO TO LOCK OR LET ME PULL THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462543June 21, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO START OUR 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA SE. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED LESS THAN 1 YEAR AGO AND WAS DETERMINED BY OUR LOCAL HYUDNAI DEALER TO BE A FAULTY BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2011 SONATAS, WHICH IS WHY THE PART IS IN STOCK. THE NEW PART WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO CAUSE THE SAME PROBLEM TO REOCCUR-BUT IT HAS! THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER AS I FILE THIS COMPLAINT AND THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH IS AGAIN AT FAULT. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON LINE BY OTHER OWNERS THAT HAD AND ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS SEEM TO BE A WIDESPREAD DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY! THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH HER SAFETY AND THE VEHICLE'S QUESTIONABLE RELIABILITY! *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10461009June 8, 2012VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,594.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460628June 5, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE WAS SPORADIC BUT BECAME WORSE AS TIME PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460507June 4, 2012STEERING
CAR HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE IT WAS FIRST BOUGHT. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS, EPS REPROGRAMMING, AND SINGLE STRUT REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIRS HAVE MADE THE PROBLEM LESS SEVERE, BUT THE CAR MUST BE DRIVEN VIGILANTLY OR IT WILL PULL OUT OF THE LANE. DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY IS FATIGUING DUE TO CONSTANT COURSE CORRECTION. WHILE PRIMARILY A LEFT PULL ISSUE, THE CAR'S STEERING IS IMPRECISE AND WANDERS, SOMETIMES EVEN TO THE RIGHT. HYUNDAI REALLY GOT THIS WRONG AND HAS A CORPORATE WALL OF SILENCE AROUND THE ISSUE, REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. MY LATEST COMMUNICATION FROM THEM AFTER AN "ENGINEER" DROVE THE CAR READS, "THE DISTRACT PARTS SERVICE MANAGER [DPSM] IS HIGHLY TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES. THE DPSM'S DECISION IS FINAL AND WE ARE UNABLE TO GIVE THIS MATTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION." VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ACTIVITY AROUND THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460100May 31, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND WON'T COME OUT. THE CAR IS IN PARK, BUT THE KEY WON'T TURN COMPLETELY OFF OR COME OUT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10459554May 24, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT STUD WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE REAR TAIL LIGHT TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10459465May 23, 2012STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE TOOK ONE HAND OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGIN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALLOWED ANOTHER DRIVER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A ALIGNMENT AND THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10459143May 21, 2012ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I NOTICED THAT THE ESC LIGHT WAS ON. I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. WHEN READING WHAT ESC LIGHT WAS I KNEW I COULD PROCEED WITHOUTH DANGER. I THEN TRIED TO SHIFT AND I COULDN'T. I HAD TO KEEP TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF UNTIL I COULD. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLES TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY FIXED IN. SUPPOSEDLY WAS A BRAKE SENSOR ISSUE. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10458489May 14, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND LOST POWER. CAR CAME TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY RESTARTED. CONTINUED ABOUT A BLOCK THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. GOT IT STARTED, DROVE A LITTLE FURTHER AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. GOT THE CAR HOME AND CALLED HYUNDAI SERVICE TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10457971May 10, 2012POWER TRAIN
MY BRAND NEW 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.4L GLS ENGINE BLEW UP AT 18,000 MILES ON I-10, 670 MILES FROM OUR HOME. WE HAD THE CAR FULLY SERVICED PRIOR TO OUR TRIP, 10 DAYS TO BE EXACT. THIS WAS THE SECOND LONG DISTANT ROAD TRIP, WITH THIS NEW CAR. WE ALMOST LOST OUR LIFE. WHAT SAVED US WAS AN EXIT WE WERE APPROACHING AT THE TIME, AND EXPERIENCE DRIVING. IT SOUNDED LIKE PARTS WAS FLYING IN EVERY DIRECTION. THIS STORY WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN OUT IF WE WERE DEAD. BUT, WE ARE ALIVE AND WELL AND READY TO TELL THE WORLD OUR STORY. UP SET AND CONFUSED AT THAT MOMENT THE CAR STOPPED, WE JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT A BRAND NEW CAR WOULD BLOW AN ENGINE. THE TOW TRUCK TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP CLOSE BY 15 MILES AWAY. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND DETERMINES THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACE. HE CALLED TO ORDER A NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE FOR 2011 SONATA 2.4L GLS WAS SECOND OR THIRD IN LINE ON THE BACK ORDER LIST. I WAS SO VERY WRONG ABOUT HYUNDAI MOTORS INC. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP GOT US BACK ON THE ROAD WE WERE FORGOTTEN. ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS I FOUND ON THE INTERNET MADE ME ANGRY THAT ALL THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT IN THE MEDIA SOONER TO ALERT PEOPLE BEFORE THEY TOOK A BITE OF THAT ROTTEN PRETTY SHINY APPLE LIKE ME AND MY WIFE.MY OPINION, OF AN OLD MECHANIC, THIS ENGINE IS A TIME BOMB. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10457938May 9, 2012AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. FOUR PASSENGERS WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 700.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 4
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10457947May 9, 2012POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE START PEDAL, IT WOULD "LOCK" UP AND NOT RECOGNIZE THE AUTOMATIC KEY IN THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO SAID THE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDED REPLACING. NOW, AT THE END OF APRIL, AGAIN, IT IS HAPPENING. IT IS GOING IN AGAIN THIS WEEK FOR THE SAME SITUATION. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME THE ESC ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON RANDOMLY AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS RESTARTED. I USED THE OVERRIDE PROCEDURE SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED TO GET THE CAR GOING -- DEPRESS AND HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR 30 SECONDS. EVEN ONCE THE ENGINE STARTED, THE GEAR SHIFT REMAINED STUCK IN PARK AND TOOK AWHILE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THIS POSITION. WHEN I WAS IDLING IN PARK TODAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHICH TOLD ME THE SITUATION WAS GETTING WORSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0