13 of the
4,621 complaints about the 2011 Hyundai Sonata are about the
equipment — 0% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
5,250 miles.
C
13
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Equipment
861.5%
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
430.8%
Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
17.7%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 33,546 milesFT Worth, TXCrash
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING SHAKING AND RATTLING, WAS WAITING FOR MY APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AS I NOTICED WAS ON A RECALL NHTSA #10V457000 & 10V426000, DEALER STATED THEY WERE COMPLETED 05/ 2010. THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN. I WAS IN PROCESS OF TRANSFERING BACK TO FT WORTH. DUE TO LIMETED BUDGET COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM .. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT WHERE A PERSON HAD CONTACTED MY VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT. I MANAGED TO CAUSE THIS POSSIBLY FATAL FRONT END COLLISION TO BE A GLANCING BLOW. BUT NOT BEFORE HAVING PROBLEMS OPERATING THE VEHICLE'S STEERING CAPABILITY. THE SHAKING AND RATTLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH THEY (DEALERSHIP) SAID WAS CORRECTED; COME ALSO WITH PLAY IN THE STEERING IT SELF THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED ...LEFT OR RIGHT. DUE TO THIS DELAY THE SECONDS CAUSED CONTACT TO STILL BE MADE WHERE AS IF WAS CORRECTED WITH A ADEQUATE REPLACEMENT PART COULD POSSIBLY BEEN AVOIDED. NOW AM TOLD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED EVEN THOUGH IS A PRIOR RECAL; THAT IS STILL DEFECTIVE. MIND YOU THE PART IS $500. SO IS THIS A MATTER OF ONCE A RECALL ALWAYS A RECALL. AT $500 A POP. WARANTY IS 6 YRS / 60,000?? (NOT TOTALLY SURE ON THAT?) SO IS MY RESPONSBILITY AFTER THAT? MAY AS WELL SELL. IS IT THE AUTOMOTIVE S INDUSTRY TO HAVE CONSUMERS LEASE INSTEAD OF BUY. ..AND PARTS INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TO CAPITALIZE OFF OF DEFECTIVE PARTS...BY RESELLING THESE DEFECTICE PARTS OVER AND OVER???????????
NHTSA complaint #10750438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,230 milesPensacola, FL
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THE GEAR SHIFT GOT STUCK AND MOVE OUT OF PARK.BRAKE LIGHTS DOES NOT WORK WHEN PRESSING BREAK PEDDLE, WHICH RESENTLY ACCURED,THAT IS TO IT BRAKE LIGHTS.ALSO FOUR MONTHS AGO I BEGIN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10628494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2011 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TIRES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS JACKING UP THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE THE RIGHT TIRE, THE MOMENT THE WHEEL LEFT THE GROUND, THE STEEL IN THE JACK HEAD COLLAPSED CAUSING THE JACK TO PART FROM THE VEHICLE, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE STEEL WAS OF POOR QUALITY, WHICH COULD NOT SUPPORT THE PARTIAL WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10492742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,900 milesAustin, TX4 injured
EQUIPMENT
FROM: CONSUMERAFFAIRS@HMAUSA.COM SUBJECT: RE: HYUNDAI SONATA 2011 DATE: TUE, 6 MAR 2012 18:01:34 -0700 DEAR JAVIER RIVERA: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST YOU, BUT WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PROMPTED YOUR CONTACT. WE WOULD LIKE TO REFER YOU TO YOUR SERVICING DEALERSHIP FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF YOUR BATTERY CONCERN PRIOR TO ANY DECISIONS BEING MADE ABOUT A BUYBACK SITUATION. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE YOU BUT WE NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR SITUATION TO REVIEW YOUR CASE FURTHER. ONCE YOU HAVE CONTACTED YOUR DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIR DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT US WITH THE DEALERSHIP CONTACT INFORMATION THAT INCLUDES WHO IS WORKING WITH YOU AND WHAT THEY ARE OFFERING TO DO TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS. WE HAVE DOCUMENTED YOUR COMMENTS. YOUR CASE NUMBER 4751061 CAN BE REFERENCED IF WE CAN PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. TO: CONSUMERAFFAIRS@HMAUSA.COM SENT: MON, 05 MAR 2012 20:55:27 -0700 SUBJECT: HYUNDAI SONATA 2011 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM THE OWNER OF A HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID 2011. I RECENTLY BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2011. I WAS VERY EXCITED OF BUYING MY FIRST HYBRID AND THE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS IN GAS. I HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH THE CAR, ALTHOUGH I HAVE REALIZED THAT THE SAVINGS IN GAS WERE GOOD IN THE BEGINNING, BUT HAVE DRAMATICALLY DECREASE LATELY. I THOUGHT IT WAS OUR DRIVING AND HAD NOT PAID TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THIS UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN THE FOLLOWING INCIDENT OCCURRED. YESTERDAY, SUNDAY MARCH 4, 2012, AROUND 9:00 AM ON OUR WAY TO CHURCH WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY, WHILE MY SON, 15 YEARS OLD WITH A LEARNERS PERMIT. OUT OF THE BLUE THE CAR JERKED, STALLED AND COMPLETELY LOST POWER ON SOUTHWEST PARKWAY. MY SON, AN INEXPERIENCE DRIVER, TOTALLY PANIC AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO A PASSING CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, ROUND ROCK HYUNDAI IN TX. TODAY THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GIVE ADDITIONAL IN
NHTSA complaint #10453351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesGouldsboro, PA
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, I CONTINUALLY COMPLAINED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS THAT THE DRIVERS FLOORMAT WAS NOT REMAINING SECURE AND WOULD SLIDE UP ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. MOST DEALERSHIPS SIMPLY REATTACHED THE MAT TO THE TETHER ATTACHED TO THE CARPET. I CONTINUALLY COMPLAINED THAT THIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT BECAUSE UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE THE MAT SLID OFF THE TETHER AND WOULD BEGIN ITS JOURNEY FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING, AT VARIOUS TIMES, MOVING ONES FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE ACCELERATOR WOULD THEN CREATE PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. FINALLY, A DEALER IN SCRANTON PA., DICKSON CITY HYUNDAI DECIDED TO ORDER NEW FLOOR TETHERS. AFTER MONTHS - I RETURNED TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY ADVISED THE TETHERS WERE NOT THERE .. AGAIN, AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF OVER THREE WEEKS OF MY CAR LEFT AT THE DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS A HAZARD TO DRIVE, THEY REPLACED THE CARPET AND TETHERS THAT ATTACH TO IT. THREE WEEKS THIS CAR SAT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR TETHERS. DURING THIS PERIOD, I INVESTIGATED THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE ON THE INTERNET. LOW AND BEHOLD, THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. THAT IS: THE FRONT DRIVER FLOOR MAT DOES NOT STAY ATTACHED TO THE TETHERS AND SLIDES UP ONTO THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MOST MEMBERS WRITING THE COMPLAINT SAID HYUNDAI DID NOT WANT TO MAKE THE REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10449062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fishers, IN
EQUIPMENT
BLUETOOTH NEVER INITIALIZES WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. MUST WARM UP (30 MINUTES) IN ORDER FOR IT TO INITIALIZE.
NHTSA complaint #10447466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,685 milesStafford, VA
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
2011 SONATA SE. WILL NOT START. WARNING LIGHT INDICATES KEY NOT PRESENT OR PRESS BRAKE TO START. WHEN PRESSING BRAKE, PEDAL IS "STIFF". TRIED EMERGENCY KEY RESET PROCEDURE PER OWNER'S MANUAL. NO LUCK. WAIT 30 MINUTES, HEARD RELAY IN DASH CLICK, AND CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. 3RD TIME OCCURRED. NOTICED I HAD PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE BY TRUNING HARD RIGHT PRIOR TO SHUT OFF. ALSO, MY WIFE HAD OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR AND CLIMBED IN PRIOR TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR BEING OPENED (POSSIBLE ALARM SYSTEM PROBLEM?) NO WARNING. DEALER IS STUMPED. MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME EXACT ISSUE. SUSPECT EITHER COMPUTER OR SENSOR PROBLEM. OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE, ISSUE WITH THE ALARM SYSTEM WHEN TEH PASSENGER DOOR IS OPENED WHILE CAR IS LOCKED. CAR WAITS UNTIL AFTER A TIME RESET TO INITIALIZE THE RELAY AGAIN.... MILAGE 13,600.
NHTSA complaint #10395855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,042 milesLenoir City, TN
EQUIPMENT
THE HORN ON THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA IS SO WEAK IT IS INAUDIBLE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW ONE BUT TO NO AVAIL. MY SONATA WAS BUILT PRIOR TO THE SEPT. 2010 SWITCH TO A DUAL HORN. THE OLD HORN IS A HAZARD AND OFFER NO PROTECTION TO ALERT DRIVERS AS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. THERE SHOULD BE A FIX BUT DEALER ADVISES THERE IS NONE THUS FAR.
NHTSA complaint #10394276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,500 milesFarmington Hills, MICrash
EQUIPMENT
IT HAPPENED IN ONE AFTERNOON IN A COMPANY PARKING LOT WHEN ALL THE EMPLOYEES WERE LEAVING FOR THE WEEKEND. THE EXIT LINE WAS BACKED UP AND WHILE WAITING IN LINE FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR, ANOTHER EMPLOYEE BACKED UP HER CAR FROM THE PARKING SPACE. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS MOVING SLOWLY, THE DRIVER WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE OTHER CARS PARKED ON SIDES BUT FAILING TO ASSURE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH SPACE BEHIND. IMMEDIATLY I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A COLLISION AND I ACTIVATED THE HORN FOR AT LEAST 15 SECONDS. UNFORTUNATLY THE HORN WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH FOR THE OTHER DRIVER TO HEAR IT (BY HER OWN ADMISSION THE HORN WAS INNAUDIABLE) AND THE COLISION COULD NOT BE AVOIDED. AS A RESULT THE CARS FRONT RIGHT FENDER WAS SLIGHTLY BENDED. THE DAMAGED RESULTED WAS VALUED AT $708. NEVERTHELESS, SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR THERE WERE AT LEAST FIVE OTHER INCIDENTS IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE HORN WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS.
NHTSA complaint #10386925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesMcadoo, PA
EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION IN STEERING, GRINDING NOISE IN TRANSAXE, LOW TIRE PRESSURE (BY DEALER), REFUSAL TO PERFORM 3,750 MILE MAINTINCE SECDULE (DEALER REFUSED).
NHTSA complaint #10381559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54 milesRandolph, MA
EQUIPMENT
SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE RADIO WILL CUT OFF AND ALL OF THE PRESETTING GET ERASED. WHEN THE HEATER IS ON THERE IS A BURNING SMELL. THE HORN IS VERY WEAK. FRONT END HAS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE SEATBELTS SEEM LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10367085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,500 milesPaducah, KY
EQUIPMENT
I WAS CUT OFF BY A DRIVER MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO MY PATH AT AN INTERSECTION WHO FAILED TO STOP AT HIS STOP SIGN. I TRIED TO GET THE DRIVERS ATTENTION BY LAYING ON MY HORN BUT THE HORN ON THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA IS NOT EVEN AUDIBLE IN TRAFFIC AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY WARNING TO OTHER DRIVERS OR PEDESTRIANS. THE VERY WEAK, INEFFECTIVE HORN IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY AN EFFECTIVE HORN.
NHTSA complaint #10352419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 19 milesCape Coral, FL
EQUIPMENT
WE TOOK DELIVERY OF OUR 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA ON 4/29/2010. AS WE WERE DRIVING HOME A CAR ON THE LANE NEXT TO US ON MY RIGHT HAND SIDE STARTED SHIFTING ONTO MY LANE. I BLEW THE HORN BUT HE STILL CUT ME OFF. AT THE LIGHT I ASKED THE PERSON WHO CUT ME OFF IF HE DIDN'T HEAR ME BLOWING MY HORN AT HIM AND HE SAID NO I AM REALLY SORRY BUT I DIDN'T SEE YOU AND I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR HORN EITHER. WHEN I GOT HOME I GOT INTO MY OTHER CAR AND STARTED IT WITH THE AC ON AND NO RADIO I ASKED MY WIFE TO PRESS THE HORN ON THE SONATA AND I CAN BARELY HEAR IT AND WE WERE JUST SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH NO ROAD NOISE AND MY RADIO OFF. I LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE HORNS ON THEIR SONATA. HYUNDAI ALSO ADMITTED THAT THE HORN WAS WEAK BUT I STILL SEE NO CHANGE OR RECALL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE IT COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE OR A REAL BAD ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10328355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.