2011 Hyundai Sonata Problems

A high pressure fuel pipe near the fuel pump may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly tightened during an engine replacement, so fuel can leak out. Fuel leaking near an ignition source can cause a fire.

Fix: The dealer will inspect the fuel pipe and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.

On February 27, 2018, Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) notified NHTSA that they were recalling 154,753 model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. On April 18, 2018, Hyundai expanded the recall to include an additional 425,305 model year 2012-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying. If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install an external wire filter kit, free of charge.

The linkage connecting each front seat belt to its pretensioner can come loose. If that happens, the belt may not hold the occupant properly in a crash, which raises the risk of injury.

Fix: The dealer will check the connection between each front seat belt linkage and its pretensioner and install a warning label to prevent future detachment, free of charge.

The linkages for both front seat belts can come loose from the seat belt anchor pretensioners. If that happens in a crash, the belts may not restrain occupants properly, which raises the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and pretensioners and repair it if needed, free of charge.

The electronic power steering circuit board can be damaged, causing a sudden loss of steering assist. Without assist, the wheel takes much more effort to turn, especially at low speeds, which raises the chance of a crash.

Fix: The dealer will replace the electronic power steering control unit free of charge.

A worn brake pedal stopper pad can keep the brake light switch stuck extended after you release the pedal. That can leave brake lights on when you are not braking, confusing drivers behind you, and it can let the car be shifted out of Park without pressing the brake, raising the risk of a crash.

Fix: Your dealer will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part free of charge.

Road salt can corrode the front coil springs, and a corroded spring may break. A broken spring can hit the tire and puncture it, which raises the risk of a crash.

Fix: The dealer will replace the front coil springs at no cost to you, and vehicles previously registered in salt-belt states are eligible even if they now live elsewhere.

0 liter or 2.4 liter Gasoline Direct injection engine. In the affected vehicles, metallic debris may not have been fully removed during manufacturing of the engine crankshaft. If the debris was not completely removed, oil flow may be restricted through the connecting rod bearings, causing connecting rod damage. A worn connecting rod bearing will produce a metallic, cyclic knocking noise from the engine and possible engine failure. Engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the engine assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Additionally, Hyundai Motor America will increase the warranty for the engine sub-assembly (short block) to 10 years/120,000 miles for both original and subsequent owners of 2011 and 2012 Sonatas manufactured at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama equipped with 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter Gasoline Direct injection engines.

Two brake lines can leak fluid because a seal between a brake hose and a metal fitting is not tight enough. When fluid is lost, the brake warning light comes on and the car needs a longer distance to stop, which raises the risk of a crash.

Fix: The dealer will replace the brake hoses with a revised part at no cost to you.

In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin. If the transmission shift cable detaches, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver parks the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position and the parking brake is not applied, there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, repair the connection between the shift cable and shift lever, free of charge.

Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

On some of these vehicles the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened. Improper assembly or insufficient tightening of the connections could result in a complete separation or compromised attachment of the connections, such that the driver could experience a loss of, or reduction in, steering capability increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections for proper assembly and torque. In addition dealers will update the power steering software free of charge.

On some of these vehicles the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened. Improper assembly or insufficient tightening of the connections could result in a complete separation or compromised attachment of the connections, such that the driver could experience a loss of, or reduction in, steering capability increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections for proper assembly and torque. In addition dealers will update the power steering software free of charge.

Hyundai-kia has notified nhtsa about a defect in certain model year 2011 sonata vehicles manufactured from december 11, 2009 through february 15, 2010. The front inside door lock switch can remain in the unlatched position. The door may not be in the locked position and may open while the vehicle is in motion, possibly resulting in injury to the driver or passenger.

Fix: Hyundai-kia will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles by replacing latches affected by this recall campaign free of charge.