10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
18 / 83
Injuries / Deaths:
15 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,497 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #523

Oct 012016

Sonata

  • 171,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 65 mph, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the brake lights remained illuminated. When the contact pressed the push start button, the engine started without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle was taken to craft Hyundai (2625 lakeside dr, lynchburg, va 24501, 434-455-7060) where it was diagnosed that the crank shaft failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and stated that the contact should have an extended warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

problem #522

Nov 032018

Sonata

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the starter needed to be replaced and there was no oil in the engine. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #521

Aug 082018

Sonata

  • 100,015 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving between 65 to 75 mph, the contact stated that the vehicle lost at least a quart of oil and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to two independent mechanics and the dealer (butler Hyundai, 5000 crater lake ave, medford, or 97504, (541) 245-5335). The dealer test drove the vehicle and stated that the check engine indicator did not illuminate and the oil may have been overfilled. The independent mechanics stated that the oil leak could be due to an internal leak. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,015.

- Medford, OR, USA

problem #520

Jun 092018

Sonata

  • 180,000 miles
While I was driving the car turned off and started to smell like burned plastic. The car did not turned back on and had it towed back to my house.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #519

Oct 292018

Sonata

  • 131,000 miles
My engine completely seized while driving. No warning lights, no oil light. Nothing

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #518

Jan 012018

Sonata

  • miles
My car goes through at least 5 quarts of oil a month. When I get an oil change it turns dark right away. There is no visual leak seen on ground from vehical.

- Oroville, CA, USA

problem #517

Nov 012018

Sonata

  • 154,000 miles
My engine started making a knocking noise, when accelerating, going up hills, or speed limit going up. Makes knocking anytime foot is on the gas pedal. I see there is a recall on my car for this issue. But according to records the issue was only inspected. I have loss of power when going uphill. My car hesitates to start. I have complained numerous times of this knocking issue. But they said they couldnt find it. It started getting really bad 2 days ago, so I stopped at a mechanic who said its definitely the engine knocking. And if it was only inspected at the recall, it needs to be replaced by Hyundai. Because it may cause serious issues. And that Hyundai is responsible for replacing the engine. When it clearly should have been replaced. Even though it may have seemed ok when they " inspected " it. I have 2 children. And expect this to be rectified. As it should have been in the first place. Not just looked at and being lied to. I also see there is a lawsuit against Hyundai for not wanted to replace the engines, knowing they were bad. The noise happens on highways and streets. It doesnt stop. The original recall was #132.

- Sidney, NY, USA

problem #516

Aug 252018

Sonata

  • 119,000 miles
Our car was in the number 2 lane of a 5 lane freeway when it all of a sudden lost power and the gas pedal didn't work and then a very sudden, hard jolt in the car. I wanted to downshift, but the shift lever went to park with no effect. I turned on my turn signal to get to the shoulder on the right. I let the wheels drag along the asphalt curb of the shoulder until I applied the emergency brake and turned off the ignition, by then, the smoke was filling the cabin coming through all of the air vents and my wife and I got out as quickly as we could. It wasn't until then that I found that we had been followed by a tow truck with its emergency lights on and blocked the slow lane of traffic for us and who had his dispatcher call the fire department. The engine in this car had been replaced in March, 2018 under a recall for engine knocking noise. The tow truck driver tried his fire extinguisher, but it had no effect and he stated it would not work because it was a gasoline fire. No injuries were sustained.in order to install the new engine they have to bend the fuel lines out of the way and a fuel line could have been kinked, or was never installed properly. No one had done any work on the engine since it was installed by the Hyundai dealer. I have a fire report, but it is 8 pages. Highway patrol was present, but they do not make a report when only 1 car is involved.

- Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA

problem #515

Oct 262018

Sonata

  • 175,000 miles
Car engulfed in flames as I drove home from work last night. First the brakes went out, smoke then flames. My engine was new. Installed due to recall in 2017

- Medina, OH, USA

problem #514

Nov 202017

Sonata

  • 139,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the engine was hesitant and there was excessive smoke emitting from the tail pipe. The dealer (ciocca Hyundai, 550 S West end blvd, quakertown, pa 18951, (215) 536-2700) indicated that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact was uncertain that the oem defective part was replaced with the new engine assembly. The vehicle was not diagnosed again by a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #513

Sep 112018

Sonata

  • 93,000 miles
Announcement: The car book 2018 is now online! ratings on over 1,000 new & used models going back 5 years, from the center from auto safety. Learn more about the car book 2018 here. Latest news Oct 16: Ford F-250 and F-350 tailgates opening without warning Oct 14: Hyundai Kia fire recall needed you are logged in. My account |logout show the: Worst vehicles update a car complaint step 2 of 3 -- edit your complaint you wrote... add another one to your list of complaints I was on my way to work and on a major highway when my engine completely seized. I lost power, brakes, and steering. Thank god I was able to coast to the left turning lane or I would have been slammed into from behind and probably would not be here to tell about it. I cannot believe that these cars have not been taken off the road by the nhtsb.when we called Hyundai to tell them what happened their service advisor said "oh yeah that is typical for those engines". so, a car with known engines problems and seizing and known fires is still allowed to be on the road" while at the same time, the car has an ongoing recall for no airbags with no solution to that problem. So if I had been ran off the road with no brajes, power or steering, the airbags probably would not have deployed either. Tge worst part is I took the car to Hyundai 8 months ago and was told that none of the symptoms that my car had, which matched the recall exactly, were part of the engine issue. Seriously" I am thinking, they were wrong. And on top if that. They wanted to charge me to look at it for their recall! after engine seizing, rhey replacef engine... rhree days later, my engine seized. Un -freakin'-believable!

- West Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #512

Sep 102018

Sonata

  • 147,000 miles
I have had issue after issue with my 2011 Sonata. In just a year and a half I have had 5 things fixed or replaced 2 of them major. I've had the whole break assembly fixed for my break lights not working. Most recently I had to have the engine replaced due to it seizing up with just barely over 100K miles. Then 3 months after that I'm having issues with the cruise randomly turning off, the break lights not working. Also the gear shifter will not go into gear at times. One of the major issues ive had is the engine randomly stalling or the accelerator nor working at all. The issue ive had with the cruise control will randomly happen whether I'm moving or in park and during this is also effects the stability control as well and it will turn its self off. With the car stalling, it randomly happens whether I'm at a traffic light trying to accelerate or while I'm driving.

- Seymour, TN, USA

problem #511

Oct 092018

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
I have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata I had problem with my engine Hyundai auto decided not to fix it I have problem with my starter Hyundai auto decided not to fix it I had to pay out of pocket for both engine install [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #510

Apr 052018

Sonata

  • 125,000 miles
NHTSA in December 2015 the engine on our 2011 Hyundai Sonata failed while accelerating to merge into traffic on a very busy hwy 101 in the san francisco bay area. We brought our vehicle to the dealership where we had purchased it in May 2011. The following morning we were told by the dealership's service department that the engine had failed and that Hyundai North american has authorized them to replace the engine at no cost to us. Afterwards, we brought the vehicle back complaining of 1. a noise coming from the engine compartment, and 2. a toxic smell invading the passenger cabin seemingly coming from the engine compartment. We were told that they were unable to replicate either of these conditions while the vehicle was with them. After several return visits we were told that the sound and smell were due to a failed 'motor assembly' needing to be replaced. We were charged approximately $575 despite our objectives asserting that the failed motor assembly was the result of faulty work when the engine was replaced lest the other 3 motor assemblies would also need to be replaced. We were eventually reimbursed but not my the dealership but rather by Hyundai N.a.. we again mentioned our complaint about the frequent toxic smell to Hyundai N.a. requesting that they buy the vehicle back from us based on the aforementioned conditions. We were advised that our vehicle was not eligible for buy back, rather Hyundai N.a. offered a settlement agreement for $2,000. We reluctantly accepted the settlement agreement and signed the release believing that there was no other forum for us to seek remedies except through the costly court system. We regret having accepted the settlement agreement each time the toxic smell invades the passenger cabin. After the recent news reports we are now fearful that our 2011 Sonata will burst into flames.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #509

Oct 062018

Sonata

  • 123,700 miles
Bought car 4/2017 5 days later engine locked 4/2017 replaced by Hyundai under warranty and received back 5/2017. Was driving started smelling antifreeze, car never showed overheat, pulled over, it blew radiator cap off, bought new cap, went back to car, added fluid and cap, drive 1/10 of a mile and car cut off and would not start back. My mechanic picked up and reports water in engine and metal in oil. Same as first engine. Hyundai claims no warranty on this new engine. This engine has metal in oil the same as their recall.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #508

Aug 282018

Sonata

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 25-30 mph, the vehicle shut off and was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The mechanic stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine) and should be repaired by an authorized dealer. The vehicle was towed to pride Hyundai (located at 777 lynnway, lynn, MA 01905, (781) 592-3800) and repaired per the recall. Afterwards, the vehicle experienced independent acceleration while driving. The contact stated that several days later, the vehicle failed to start. The contact was informed to have the vehicle towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but the contact declined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000. The VIN was not available.

- Swantscott, MA, USA

problem #507

Oct 072018

Sonata

  • 81,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at high speeds, the electric power steering and check oil warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

- Bellflower, CA, USA

problem #506

Apr 052015

Sonata

  • miles
A motor oil burning smell fills the interior cabin of car. Over years dealers say no leaks top or bottom but burning more then a quart of oil between 3,000 oil changes. It's a burning fumes smell like something is burning abnormally in the engine. If it's not leaking oil then its an engine internal issue possibly prone to fire starting. I find the dealerships refuse to knowledge the 2011 Sonata 2.4 theta engines are rated for failure extremely poorly.these engines are known to seize at highway speeds.

- Mount Dora, FL, USA

problem #505

Apr 232018

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
2011 Hyundai Sonata. Consumer writes in regards to being unaware of engine recall and requests reimbursement from company.

- Parlin, NJ, USA

problem #504

Oct 022018

Sonata

  • 104,000 miles
While driving on highway the vehicle stalled and stopped. Engine lights went on. The car started after 15 minutes

- Morrisville, PA, USA

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