2011 Hyundai Sonata electrical system problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 3, 2026OHElectrical SystemEngineSteering

   I was driving down the road going the speed limit and all of a sudden it felt like I hit a brick wall my car staked out and I was stuck in the middle of the road for about 20 minutes and finally I got it to start and drove home it did it again 2 months later

   NHTSA complaint #11762026 · source
2. Filed Aug 29, 2026ILElectrical SystemEngineLighting

   I had taken my Sonata to Mike Miller Hyndia in Peoria,I'll and they agreed to do the recall although they had my vehicle for two weeks. They did not service it and when I picked it up they said I had to drive it till the service engine light come on. I was driving it five days later and heard a loud noise and car started malfunctioning I was stuck in a middle of a intersection and I had to push vehicle off road. I broke my right hand in this process and I have also lost my…

   NHTSA complaint #11760651 · source
3. Filed Aug 13, 2026FLElectrical SystemLighting

   On the freeway at night when headlights and back lights quit working. Got off freeway and were able to temporarily fix it. A few months later while parked in driveway and not in use for a couple of days, lights came on without our knowledge and drained our battery. Neighbor alerted us to the situation.

   NHTSA complaint #11756748 · source
4. Filed Jul 18, 2026TNFireBrakesElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   I was heading to work when suddenly smoke started pouring from the air conditioning vents, and the ABS and traction control warning lights came on. I hit the brakes to pull over, only to realize I had lost braking power. I managed to steer to the side of the road as carefully as possible and bring the car to a stop—despite having no brakes and a fire burning under the hood. I tried downshifting to slow the vehicle, but the transmission didn't respond, and the cabin began…

   NHTSA complaint #11751236 · source
5. Filed Jun 25, 2026FLDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

   Randomly all controls on my steering wheel (I.e. cruise control, volume for sound, Bluetooth phone controls etc) just stopped working. Now I cannot control the radio, phone or even toggle to see mpg, mileage driven, use cruise control etc. I read there was an extended warranty regarding this issue and my vehicle was or is affected. However it has since expired and upon contacting local dealership they did not even have the parts for that recall.

   NHTSA complaint #11746557 · source
6. Filed Jun 25, 2026FLElectrical System

   Once again I am having to replace a bulb for my vehicle. This will be the second time in 3 months I have had to replace my rear blinker bulb. Not including the 4-5 times per year I have to replace headlight bulbs. This time the wiring has melted and the bulb has nearly melted the lens cover. I only buy the exact OEM recommended bulb every time. Nothing fancy. Just the basic old school bulbs. Every year model around mine has been recalled for this exact issue.

   NHTSA complaint #11746555 · source
7. Filed May 19, 2026CAElectrical SystemLightingOther / Unknown

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11738903 · source
8. Filed Apr 8, 2026167,000 miNCTowedElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds on four occasions. During the first occasion, the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the low-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but approximately a year later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then towed to an…

   NHTSA complaint #11729883 · source
9. Filed Nov 19, 2025VABrakesElectrical SystemEngine

   The vehicle experiences a recurring defect where the brake light turns on suddenly and the engine shuts off while driving. The failure appears related to the braking system (brake switch circuit), electrical system (CAN-bus/ECU communication), and engine control (shutdown/stall). The system remains installed and is available for inspection upon request. The shutdown poses a serious safety risk, including possible rear-end collision or loss of power in traffic. The problem…

   NHTSA complaint #11700240 · source
10. Filed Aug 28, 2025ILElectrical SystemEngine

    2011 Hyundai Sonata had a Theta ii engine replaced in September 2024 after engine failure. Hyundai paid for the engine through the extended warranty on the theta engines. Check engine light is still illuminated after new engine and after multiple visits to the dealership, they say the wiring harness is bad. Contacted Hyundai Corporate who said they will not pay for anymore warranty repairs, even though the wiring harness was damaged from the bad engine or during the…

    NHTSA complaint #11683761 · source
11. Filed May 23, 2025OKElectrical SystemEngine

    The vehicle just died out of nowhere. Would not start back up. Has a clicking noise when trying start and then had a burning smell.

    NHTSA complaint #11662774 · source
12. Filed Oct 30, 2024WIFire2 injuredElectrical System

    The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 60 MPH, the instrument panel started flickering, the engine started to rev, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle veered to the side of the road and was parked. The contact then noticed that there was smoke coming from the vehicle and proceeded to open the hood of the vehicle. Soon after, flames were discovered coming from under the vehicle. The contact and her husband removed…

    NHTSA complaint #11622822 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology