2011 Hyundai Sonata Headlight Problems

Which parts fail

• Brake lights
  11
• Brake lights › Switch
  7
• Headlights
  6
• Tail lights
  3

Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  2113%
• 25k–50k
  2717%
• 50k–75k
  3421%
• 75k–100k
  3019%
• 100k–150k
  3824%
• 150k+
  106%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, he and his wife exited the vehicle and both noticed that the brake lights had remained illuminated. The brake lights failed to turn off as designed. The dealer and the manufacturer were both contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V759000 (Exterior Lighting). No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 120,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the headlights ceased to operate as designed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the headlight bulbs were replaced three times within a month; however, the failure persisted. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the dome light failed to deactivate and remained illuminated. The contact then stated that he had to manually deactivate to turn the light off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,500.

Everything worked good until I had to take my car to the dealer for knock sensor, air bag check, software update, and my engine was also part of the affected engine recall... well ever since then I have had to replace my car battery a few times and now I just invested in a battery charger because now my cars battery gets drained whether or not I use it? I asked the dealer on a couple of occasions to check out why my dash and lights flicker and shut off and come back on seconds later when I turn my lights on at night? also told the service writer that I noticed this happening when I used my turn signal, because I could notice the dash lights and head beams behave erratic and most dangerously? I know I was told more than once that they could not find nothing wrong and there were no codes either? …

The vehicle dash and center console lights flicker and/or dim between bright and dim lights while the headlights temporarily turn off at random intervals while driving. This random, but frequent occurrence happens often when applying the turn signal in either direction. The problem generally exist between 1 to 5 seconds, causing impaired driving during nighttime operation. The turn signal appears to work as expected during the electrical issue. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This safety issue can impair nighttime driving visibility which can result in an accident, distracted driving to the primary vehicle driver and other motorists, and false driving signals to other drivers. This issue has been reproduced by an authorized Hyundai dealer and other drivers with similar Hyundai Sonata GLS model years. …

I have had to replace my brake lights, sometimes, every few months. My third brake light only works intermittently. Recently, my brake lights and my door lights failed to shut off after I turned the engine off. Also, my abs light came on on the dash, but after turning the engine off and back on, that light went out. After re-starting my car and repeatedly, stepping on the brake, my lights finally shut off. I checked the internet for similar problems and found out that there had been a Hyundai recall for this issue. I phoned Hyundai customer support. They told me the recall had been repaired on my car by the dealer . Obviously, it had not. …

The brake lights stay on all the time, thus preventing vehicles behind mine from knowing if I'm actually stopping. Hence, they may stop without reason, and endanger drivers behind them. The manufacturer has likely known of this being an issue in Sonatas from, at least, 2007 through 2013 models. The manufacturer is putting the task of solving the problem (if that's even possible), upon a dealer. And, my trip to that (nearest) dealership (75 miles away) creates its own danger. The danger is added to by a pre-existing unsolved issue of the horn not functioning. As per the brake light issue, I've been to the dealership about it twice, and they weren't even aware that the brake light switch they think attaches to my car doesn't. …

The taillight socket is melting disabling the effective use of the brake system to alert other drivers the vehicle is stopping. The light works but can not be reinserted into the given space because it has melted close on the tailight cause my entire tail light to have to be replaced. The light bulb then melted into the trunk space and could have caused a fire but luckily we smelled it and moved the placement. I have almost been rear ending multiple times cause long the oncoming driver to swerve off the road to avoid hitting me because they were not able to see I was stopped. I have been stopped by law enforcement and given a warning thankfully. I have sent a complaint to hyundai and have seen multiple complaints and myself seen multiple sonatas on the road with no tail light/brake light issues. My dealer wants to charge over $600-1000 to repair this imperative issue. …

On my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS, both rear tail lights have melted to the point that the lightbulbs cannot be extracted and the brake and tail lights no longer work. When I looked into this, I found out this is a common issue on 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. It is almost always caused by excessive heat from the standard incandescent bulbs, which damages the wiring harness and deforms the plastic housing. When I called the closest Hyundai dealer (in Chico, California), they told me the warranty had expired last year and that I should have received a notice about it after I obtained ownership of the car in March 2025 (a little over a year ago). However, I did not receive a notice about this. Since the tail lights do not work properly as a result of this problem, it is a safety issue as it could cause an accident. It should be a recall repair instead of a warranty that expires. …

The NHTSA has filed a Consent Order (RQ17-004) for a Engine Replacement due to safety concerns while driving the vehicle on the road, Vehicle may stall and cause / be involved in a accident. Please make this recall public so the affected vehicles can be properly repaired as the Consent Order states I have reviewed the Consent Order and I will not continue to drive this vehicle, I will not risk being involved in a accident The Hyundai dealership in Alexandria Virginia has refused to repair this recall under the Consent Order, My vehicle Vin# is [redacted] My vehicle has been at this dealership location for over 3 weeks and I was told that they were not going to perform this recall and I noted that If I pick up my vehicle and drive it away and the engine fails, stalls or stops in the middle of the highway and I survive I will have to file a lawsuit in this matter and the dealership still …

Related recalls

Headlight complaints in other Sonata years