Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle independently jerked to the right and clipped a semi truck. The contact's vehicle was pulled under the semi and dragged for 100 yards. Prior to the failure, the ESC and TPMS indicators illuminated. The contact also noticed an abnormal burning odor. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. There were no injuries. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
While driving on the highway and attempting to brake the steering wheel shook rapidly. The steering wheel makes a click when in park and I move the steeping wheel slightly off center to the left or the right. When driving at any speed and go over bumps on the road the steering wheel makes a clunk noise. The steering feels loose when driving on the highway at speeds of 60+. This is an issue that needs to be recalled. When I spoke to the dealer they said that my car doesn't have any recalls on the steering! But found right here on this website, shows the TSB#10-01-32. We purchased this car in 2011 with the full warranty intact from crain Kia, which also owns crain Hyundai the vehicle was a dealership demo vehicle. After running a VIN search on this website, it has not been inspected or repaired. …
Last week I was driving and the ESC indicator light randomly came on on my dashboard. Later, after I tried to shut it off by pressing the ESC button which did not work, I tried to adjust the volume on my radio using the steering wheel controls. Instead of adjusting the volume down it went to the Bluetooth for my cell phone. Next day no further issues. No warning/indicator lights came on, car functioned normally. Two days later ESC light came back on. Stopped at the store and when I came back out I noticed my brake lights were on. Drove home, parked in the driveway and again, brake lights remained on even after car was off, lights were turned to the off position and there was no possible way for them to remain on. Had to disconnect my battery for the night. Next day noticed recall for 2011 sonatas for the same issue. …
Transmission replaced.. Starter taking more battery power to start car so starter was replaced then catastrophic engine failure. After replacement of engine- it was found that there is an electrical short that will not allow the alternator to remain charged. When the engine failed we were driving 68mph on the highway all lights, dummy lights and the power to the car started to flash, increase then decrease quickly then again and again.. Thumping noise lights continued to flash/on off/etc car lost power engine died. The dealership is now saying that I am responsible for paying for diagnostics to find the underlying cause of electrical short .. I am responsible for any electrical repair that needs to happen. Electrical system was not faulty prior to engine failure. Hyundai should be responsible for finding the issue and correcting the problem.. …
Recently, I started to document soon as I can remember the time and date of the incident because it caused such as panic while I am driving on the highway. After April 27, 2018, ESC malfunction indicator and check engine lights have come on and off. Since then it's more often within the last 6 months. Few times on the highway, car started to slow down (losing power) and need immediately pull over to avoid any accident. After sat and waited few minutes restarted the engine both lights disappeared. September 05 2018, ESC malfunction indicator light came on in the morning, went home and left the vehicle sitting over night. ESC malfunction lights are disappeared. September 06 2018, ESC malfunction indicator light came on and off in the afternoon. …
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the brake warning light failed to disengage with the traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was turned off when the failure occurred. The contact stated that he pumped the brake pedal a couple of times in order for the brake light to function properly. The vehicle was taken to edwards Hyundai (1029 32nd ave, council bluffs, ia 51501) where it was diagnosed that the brake pedal stopper failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact mentioned NHTSA campaign number: 15V759000 (service brakes, hydraulic) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000. The VIN was not available.
I have had two separate incidents where my vehicle's engine completely lose power while driving. There is no warning and the steering locks up and my car is immediately disabled each time I came extremely close to being hit by on coming traffic.with the incident the car suddenly start slowing down and when I pressed the gas pedal nothing happened but all the sensors popped up I was able to pull over just as it lost power and the car wouldn't restart and I had it towed. Few days later car started as if nothing happened I began to drive it again but after about a week I was on the highway during morning rush hour attempted to cross lanes and it suddenly lost power again and I couldn't move the vehicle at all I feel very unsafe driving the car beacuse this happens randomly and without warning
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine while attempting to accelerate. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle consumed an excessive amount of oil. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine); however, the remedy failed to repair the recall. Earlier this year, the vehicle was diagnosed for a check engine warning indicator that illuminated and the remedy was a fuel injection flush. The local dealer (north freeway Hyundai, 20440 interstate 45 n, spring, tx, 77373) was contacted and scheduled an appointment through the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 10640136. The failure mileage was approximately 112,943.
My car stall whiljng driving then stop in front of another vehicles. I had to push it over on neutral. My vehicles had knocking sound when trying to get it back up running . Let it sit for a while and it start back up on its own. I took it to hynduai 8/8 the service worker jim said he can't diagnostic cause the light is gone. I told him that I cant risk driving this vehicle when I know it had a knock sensor recall last year campaign 953 and its doing it again. He told me their is noth I ng he can do and advice me to drive it back home until it happens again and then get tow. J scold him and said and risk my kids life and others. It stalls in the middle of driving. The engine completely goes out for almost 40 minute. This the 6th time it happen between oct 2019 to aug 2020.
Traction Control complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 65 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2% of the model year's 3,378 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Hyundai Sonata traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, though it has 14 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Hyundai Sonata traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to stability & traction control problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.