The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is a spacious midsize sedan with plenty of room for up to five passengers. With its standard keyless entry, heated mirrors, six-speaker sound system, and Bluetooth® connectivity, there’s a lot to love about this sedan. What you might not love, however, are the recall notices that have been issued for this car over the years. While recall notices are common in nearly all makes and models, it’s important to stay on top of notices that affect your 2011 Sonata, so you can have them addressed as soon as possible.
2011 Hyundai Sonata Recalls
While Hyundai is known for its vehicles’ excellent safety ratings, few vehicles are completely immune to safety recalls. The 2011 Sonata is no exception. If you drive this vehicle, there are a number of open recall notices you’ll want to be aware of.
Leaking Fuel Pipe
This recall, which was issued in December of 2018, affects more than 150,000 Hyundai vehicles (including the Sonata and the Santa Fe Sport crossover). With this recall, it was discovered that the high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged during assembly. As a result, it may be misaligned or incorrectly torqued, which can result in a fuel leak. A fuel leak on its own is a headache enough, but if an ignition source is present, a fire may occur.
All Hyundai Sonata models affected by this recall are eligible for a free fuel pipe replacement. This will ensure a proper connection between the fuel pump outlet and the pipe itself, which will also prevent fuel leaks.
Airbags/Seat Belt Pretensioners
Another recall affecting the 2011 Sonata was issued in February of 2018, affecting more than 580,000 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid models. With this recall, it was discovered that the airbag control unit (ACU) could malfunction in the event of a crash. This, in turn, could prevent the car’s front and side airbags (as well as the seat belt pretensioners) from deploying as needed. Without these safety systems in proper operation, the risk of serious injury is significantly higher in the event of a crash.
Hyundai will fix this issue on affected vehicles by installing an external wire filter kit, which will ensure that the airbags and seat belt pretensioners deploy correctly during a crash.
Seat Belt Detachment
Another recall related to the 2011 Sonata’s seat belts was issued several months prior, in October of 2017. This recall affected more than 443,000 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid models that were thought to have been repaired in a previous recall. However, it was found that previous repairs to defective seat belt anchor pretensioners may not have been sufficient. As a result, the belt linkages for the driver and front-passenger seat belt may become detached from the pretensioners themselves. In the event of a crash, occupants in these seats may not be properly secured, which can increase the risk of serious injury.
On all affected vehicles, Hyundai service technicians will check the connections between the seat belt and pretensioner and add a warning label to prevent seat belt detachment.
Electric Power Steering
If you own a 2011 Sonata equipped with Electronic Power Steering, you’ll want to be aware of this recall that was issued in April of 2016. On vehicles affected by this recall, the circuit board used to control the vehicle’s Electronic Power Steering system may be damaged, which can cause a loss of power steering control. While driving, this will require additional steering effort on behalf of the driver, which can increase the risk of a crash—especially when the car is traveling at low speeds.
The Electronic Power Steering system on all affected Sonata models will be replaced free of charge as part of this recall.
Brake Pedal Stopper Pad
This recall was issued in November of 2015 and affects more than 304,000 Sonata models; with this recall, the brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate over time. When this occurs, the car’s brake light switch plunger (which controls when the brake lights turn on and off) may remain extended, resulting in the brake lights staying on even when the vehicle is not braking. This can cause confusion to other drivers and may prevent motorists from being able to tell when the car is actually braking in front of them, thus increasing the risk of a crash.
With this recall, it was also found that if the brake switch plunger gets stuck due to this issue, the car’s transmission can also be shifted out of “park,” even when the brake pedal is not depressed. This, in turn, may increase the risk of a crash.
For Sonata models affected by this recall, Hyundai is offering to replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved version to resolve this issue.
Front Coil Springs
This recall, issued in October of 2015, affects the suspension on more than 28,000 Sonata and Elantra models. Specifically, it was discovered that road salt can corrode the suspension’s front coil springs, which can lead to fracturing over time. If a front coil spring fractures, it may also puncture the tire and increase the risk of a crash—especially at high speeds.
Hyundai is offering to replace all front coil springs on recalled models at any service center to remedy this issue. While this recall is most likely to affect cars registered in states where road salt is used frequently during the winter months, it’s a good idea for all Sonata owners affected by this recall to have the free repair done.
Connecting Rod Wear
Approximately 470,000 2011 and 2012 Sonata models may be affected by this engine recall, which was issued in September of 2015. On affected vehicles equipped with the 2.0L or 2.4L engine, a defect of the engine’s crankshaft may have resulted in metallic debris being left inside the part itself. In vehicles where this has occurred, the debris may restrict oil flow through the engine’s connecting rod bearings, causing damage and even possible engine failure over time.
Cars affected by this issue will often produce a loud knocking noise that is often proceeded by engine failure. If the engine fails while the vehicle is in motion, this can cause a stall that may increase the risk of a serious crash.
All vehicles affected by this recall may be inspected at any licensed Hyundai service center. If needed, the engine assembly will be replaced. Hyundai has also announced that they will be extending the warranty on their engine sub-assemblies on affected models.
Leaking Brake Lines
Another 2011 Sonata recall, which was issued in July of 2014, affects more than 133,000 Sonata models. With this recall, it was found that two brake lines that connect to the vehicle’s master cylinder can leak due to an improper seal. Leaking brake fluid can affect the car’s stopping distance and overall braking ability, which could increase the risk of a crash. Many vehicle owners affected by this recall also found that they received a brake warning light on the vehicle’s instrument panel.
Hyundai’s proposed remedy for this recall is to replace the two affected brake hoses with new parts. This will ensure a proper connection between the master cylinder and the car’s hydraulic electronic control unit, which will prevent fluid leaks.
Transmission Shift Cable
This recall, which was issued in July of 2014, presents a serious vehicle rollaway risk and may affect up to 883,000 Sonata models. The issue here is that the powertrain shift cable can detach from the shift level pin, which can cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected or unintended way and cause a crash. With this defect, the driver of an affected vehicle may also find that even though the shifter indicates the car is in a parked position, it may not actually be parked. This can result in the parking brake not being applied and the vehicle rolling away after the vehicle is exited, posing a serious risk to other motorists and bystanders.
To remedy this recall, Hyundai will inspect the transmission shift cables on all affected models and repair or replace the shift cables and shift levers as necessary.
Steering Gear Assembly
This steering recall initially affected only a limited number of Sonata models (60) that were manufactured at Hyundai’s Caribbean-Puerto Rico plant. By September of 2010, however, it was determined that an additional 138,000 vehicles were affected. With this recall, it was discovered that affected vehicles may be equipped with steering column universal joint connections that were incorrectly assembled or not properly tightened. As a result, the steering gear assembly joint could detach completely, preventing a driver from steering the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash—especially at high speeds.
On all affected vehicles, Hyundai is offering to inspect the steering column and universal joint to determine if they were properly assembled. If not, these parts will be completely replaced. Dealers will also update the vehicle’s power steering software at the time of the inspection and repair.
Front Door Latch
Issued in March of 2010, this door-latch recall affects nearly 6,000 Sonata models. On vehicles with this recall, the front inside door lock may not engage fully, which can result in the door opening while the vehicle is in motion. This, in turn, can increase the risk of injury to the driver or passengers.
Hyundai is addressing this recall by replacing all front door latches on affected vehicles. These new parts will ensure proper engagement of the latch, allowing the door to close and latch completely.
Is My 2011 Sonata Recalled?
While this may seem like a long list of recalls, it’s important to understand that not all 2011 Sonatas are affected by all recalls. Some may only apply to vehicles manufactured within specific date ranges or at certain manufacturing plants. With this in mind, you may be wondering if any of these recalls may apply to the 2011 Sonata that you drive.
When a recall is issued by the NHTSA, vehicle manufacturers have 60 days to notify owners of affected vehicles by mail. If your car was involved in a specific recall, then, there’s a good chance you would have received a paper notice in the mail. However, if your mailing address is not up-to-date with your vehicle registration office, the notice may not have been mailed to your current address. Likewise, if you bought your 2011 Sonata used, you may not know whether the previous owner took care of any recall issues.
This is why it’s a good idea to manually check for recalls using your 2011 Sonata’s unique vehicle identification number (VIN), which is located on your driver’s side dashboard and inside your driver’s side door jamb. By entering this number (which contains both numbers and capital letters) on the Hyundai service website, you can instantly be alerted of any open recalls affecting your vehicle. The recall information on Hyundai’s website dates back to 1986, so you can be sure that any recall affecting your 2011 Sonata will be covered.
Another option is to check for recalls on the NHTSA website, which also involves entering your VIN. The recalls on this website cover only the past 15 calendar years, but they will still be current enough to include any recalls on your 2011 Sonata.
What to Do if Your 2011 Sonata Has a Recall
If your 2011 Sonata has a recall that needs to be addressed, schedule a service appointment at your local Hyundai service center as soon as possible. When making your appointment, be sure to reference the exact recall number; this way, your dealership’s service department can be prepared to handle any necessary repairs or part replacement.
In some cases, you may have already paid for a repair on your car before you knew it was part of a recall. If this is the case, you should be eligible for reimbursement directly through Hyundai. To apply for reimbursement, fill out this online form and attach any receipts/documentation related to the repair itself.
No vehicle owner enjoys dealing with recall notices, but they’re usually pretty quick and simple to have addressed at your local service center. And of course, you should never have to pay anything out of your own pocket for a recall repair.
