There are 50 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Sonatain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the failure was due to an unrepaired recall. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The repair was performed. The failure reoccurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that the recall was closed. The vehicle was taken to an alternate dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed hydraulic ABS booster sensor. The contact was provided DTC: C1237/HPU. The contact was informed that the hydraulic ABS booster sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was released to the contact; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the ABS warning light illuminated and then went off. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to take the vehicle for a second inspection. The dealer declined to perform the second inspection. The contact was informed that the repair was not associated with the recall repair. In addition, the contact referenced several unknown recalls; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not related to a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
The issue has happened multiple times while driving, sitting in traffic, or parked idling. The Brake Light comes on and starts flashing, Alarm Chimes, Brake Pedal goes to the floor seems to not have any hydraulic pressure, the brakes grind like I have no brake pads, and essentially I have NO Brakes. If I turn the car off and on it goes back to normal. I took it to have it checked for a diagnostic code, there were none.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at approximately 80 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but was stiff and difficult to depress. The contact stated that her daughter accelerated to steer the vehicle away from slower traffic. The contact stated that her daughter depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond and started losing motive power. The contact stated that her daughter was able to steer the vehicle to the side of the road and stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine check brake and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Abs unit still in need of remedy Engine emitting smoke and harsh smell no incident has occurred yet but there may be damage occurring to my vehicle
Code p1326; vehicle equipped with YELLOW diptick
The ABS system has had a recall due to the potential for an engine fire. The initial recall was set on 9/22/23. Up until today (12/6/23) no action has been taken by the manufacturer but we are left without a car.
The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH the battery warning light illuminated. The contact stated that white smoke was issuing from under the hood. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, however, the pedal depressed to the floorboard, and the vehicle did not slow. The contact stated that he was able to stop after the engine had stalled. The contact exited the vehicle and observed that flames were issuing from under the front end. The contact stated that the fire department was called and when they arrived the fire had spread to the passenger compartment. The contact stated that the fire department extinguished the fire with water. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and the contact stated it was later declared a total loss by his insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
When Driving the Alarms go off indicating a brake issue, my brake peddle goes to the the floor, car looses power and slows down to 5 MPH. Car will not accelerate past 5 MPH when i am trying to pull over or get off the freeway. Brakes are grinding as i try to use them, very dangerous while on the freeway. When I am able to pull over. I will turn off the car and turn it back on and the issue goes away. Now this may happen several more times before i am able to get some where safe. Dealership has no clue why its doing this after showing the video of the Alarms and describing it. No codes are found either. They just want to start replacing parts stating at 3k a round hoping it will fix the issue. This issue doesn't happen every day but it does happen while driving on the freeway. I have read online others having the same safety issue while driving and having thes same brake failures. Not sure where Hyundai is at with this issue and the fix for it? Yet does someone have to be in a serious accident before someone takes action with this issue?
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The brake pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact coasted the vehicle into a parking space. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with HECU failure. The contact was informed that the failure was the result of a failed ABS fuse. The contact was informed that the HECU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the recall repair was performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact requested reimbursement for the previous repair. The request was declined by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 150,728.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power, an alarm sounded for the braking system, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. After originally paying out-of-pocket for an ABS module at the dealer and was informed that the engine needed to be repaired and the brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the residence where an independent mechanic repaired the vehicle. There was a recall for the ABS module and the contact returned to the dealer, and the dealer confirmed that the independent mechanic had correctly installed the part. The dealer performed the official recall repair and refused to reimburse the contact for the previous expenses. Three months later, the braking system failed again. The contact stated that the vehicle temporarily returned to normal after a restart, but the failure worsened and required a return trip to the dealer for another repair. In January 2026, the failure recurred for a third time with a loud squealing sound. The dealer was not notified of the third failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The ABS system just stopped working while driving, loud brake warning beeps and the brakes stopped functioning making a vibrating sound then stopped working all together, I pulled over as safe as i could and found no leaks , fluid is good. started the car again and after 2 minutes did it again... was told by hyundai that a new abs modulator will be needed but it could not be reset to the computer so I would need a new ECU as well to match....are you kidding,,,thousands of dollars of work and labor ,,,,"""FOR BRAKES,""",,, I bought a money pit not a car...
Without warning, the Sonata stalls while in motion: - the brake pedal goes close to the floor, - the CHECK BRAKE light goes on, - the emergency brake audio alarm and light go on, - the READY light between the fuel and temperature gauges blinks. I have to pull over and turn the car off / on in order to get the car functional again. The speed of the car doesn't seem to matter. This has occurred 11 times over the past year, including 6 times today (7/22/2021) within a span of 15 min, while at speeds between 30- 60 mph. I took the car to the dealer (initially on 6/22/2021). There were no diagnostic error codes and they could not reproduce the problem. I called Hyundai, both on 6/22/2021 and today, to file a report. Hyundai did not provide any insights into the issue. Online, I have read of others having this same issue with Sonatas. Some believe a faulty power brake booster to be the cause.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF HER FRIENDS DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO THE CURB. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DON DAVIS HYUNDAI (214 HIGHWAY 332 W, LAKE JACKSON, TX 77566) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NO RECALLS WERE UNDER THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.
I HAD SMELLING A GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS ON FRIDAY JULY 19TH ANDI TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE FOR A NEW BATTERY AND A OIL CHANGE. I CALLED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP BECAUSE FIRESTONE TOLD ME ABOUT A NEW RECALL FOR THE FIRE PRESSURE FUEL REGULATOR AND THEY HIGHLY SUGGESTED I TAKE IT INTO THEM. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID FOR ME TO BRING IT IN AND I DIDN'T NEED AN APPOINTMENT SO I TOLD THEM I WOULD BE THERE AROUND 3-4PM YESTERDAY. SO I LEFT WORK EARLY, PICKED UP MY CAR FROM FIRESTONE AND HEADED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY. I GOT ON I-35 DOING ABOUT 40MPH OR SO BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR NEXT TO ME STARTS HONKING AND WAVING SAYING MY CARS OF FIRE. I TRY TO APPLY THE BREAK BUT THERE WAS NO PRESSURE. MY INSTRUMENT COLUMN LIT UP LIKE THE 4TH OF JULY AND THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SMOKE STARTS COMING IN FROM THE VENTS, DASHBOARD AND FLOOR. SO MY ONLY OPTION IS TO TUCK AND ROLL DOING ABOUT 35-40MPH ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST HIGHWAYS IN AUSTIN. SO I TUCK AND ROLL, PEOPLE ARE STOPPED TO HELP. I SEE MY CAR CONTINUE TO ROLL INTO THE BARRIER AND WHILE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES.
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON SUNNYSIDE ROAD AFTER LEAVING THE PARKING LOT OF NEW SEASONS. I COULD SEE THAT THE LIGHT WAS RED AND I PULLED OUT ONTO SUNNYSIDE ROAD. IT WAS ABOUT 200 FEET TO THE TRAFFIC THAT WAS STOPPED. I WAS DOING ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT GOING TO STOP. I PUSHED HARD ONTO THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED FOREWARD UNDER THE PICKUP IN FRONT OF ME. EVEN WITH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED I HAD NO CONTROL. I WAS PUSHING THE TRUCK FOREWARD. THE OTHER DRIVER TURNED ONTO 157TH AVE AND I WAS STILL UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I ALSO TURNED RIGHT ONTO 157TH AVE. IT WAS UP HILL I TURNED OFF THE KEY AND IT CAME TO A STOP. MY WIFE WAS PANNICKING AND SO WAS I. THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND A LOT OF HEAT. MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING FOR SOMEONE TO CALL 911. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK RUSHED BACK TO SEE IF WE WERE ALL OK. HE CALLED 911. MY WIFE WAS SORE AS THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND HIT HER IN THE CHEST. SHE HAD PAIN IN HER NECK TOO. I WAS OK AT THE MOMENT. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE OTHER DRIVER. HE SAID THAT HE WAS FINE. HE SAID THAT HE HAD TO HONK HIS HORN TO GET THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM TO MOVE. THEY DID AND HE WAS ABLE TO TURN RIGHT. I AM UPSET WITH RON TONKIN HYUNDAI AS I HAVE HAD TO WAIT ALMOST A MONTH TO GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY OIL CHANGE AND THE RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF. THE FIRST RECALL WAS FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE SECOND RECALL WAS FOR THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PIPE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED MISALIGNED OR IMPROPERLY TORQUED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED ALLOWING THE FUEL TO LEAK. I AM VERY UPSET WITH RON TONKIN HYUNDAI AS I HAVE HAD TO WAIT FOR ALMOST A MONTH TO GET AN APPOINTMENT. JENNIFER LOPEZ THE SERVICE ADVISOR. MY APPOINTMENT WAS SET FOR JUNE 26TH 4 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I WENT IN TO CHANGE THE CARS AS I HAVE A 2004 ELANTRA. I HAVE FREE OIL CHANGES ON BOTH CARS. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE RECALLS WERE NOT THE REASON AND ASKED ME IF I WAS GOING TO BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI.
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 BRAKE CALIPERS ON MY 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS DUE TO NOT RELEASING AND WEARING OUT BRAKE PADS AND ROTARS. HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER?
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT OUT, MY SHIFT LOCK LOCKS EVERYTIME I PUT MY CAR IN PARK I HAVE TO USE SOMETHING TO PRESS THE BUTTON TO UNLOCK MY GEAR SHIFT. GOT IT CHECKED AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH
OUR CAR WAS IN THE NUMBER 2 LANE OF A 5 LANE FREEWAY WHEN IT ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER AND THE GAS PEDAL DIDN'T WORK AND THEN A VERY SUDDEN, HARD JOLT IN THE CAR. I WANTED TO DOWNSHIFT, BUT THE SHIFT LEVER WENT TO PARK WITH NO EFFECT. I TURNED ON MY TURN SIGNAL TO GET TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT. I LET THE WHEELS DRAG ALONG THE ASPHALT CURB OF THE SHOULDER UNTIL I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, BY THEN, THE SMOKE WAS FILLING THE CABIN COMING THROUGH ALL OF THE AIR VENTS AND MY WIFE AND I GOT OUT AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD. IT WASN'T UNTIL THEN THAT I FOUND THAT WE HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY A TOW TRUCK WITH ITS EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND BLOCKED THE SLOW LANE OF TRAFFIC FOR US AND WHO HAD HIS DISPATCHER CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR HAD BEEN REPLACED IN MARCH, 2018 UNDER A RECALL FOR ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TRIED HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT AND HE STATED IT WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE IT WAS A GASOLINE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE NEW ENGINE THEY HAVE TO BEND THE FUEL LINES OUT OF THE WAY AND A FUEL LINE COULD HAVE BEEN KINKED, OR WAS NEVER INSTALLED PROPERLY. NO ONE HAD DONE ANY WORK ON THE ENGINE SINCE IT WAS INSTALLED BY THE HYUNDAI DEALER. I HAVE A FIRE REPORT, BUT IT IS 8 PAGES. HIGHWAY PATROL WAS PRESENT, BUT THEY DO NOT MAKE A REPORT WHEN ONLY 1 CAR IS INVOLVED.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYS ON AS IF PRESSURE IS BEING APPLY TO THEM. CAR BE AT 60 PLUS MILES PER HOURS AND THE CAR COMES TO A SLOW STOP WHILE I'M APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS; HAVING OTHER DRIVERS ALMOST TO HIT ME IN THE BACK.
REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS, ROTORS TWICE WITHIN 2 MONTHS. REPLACING HOSES, CALIPERS, EVEN THOUGH NO SIGN OF LEAK AND CALIPERS EASILY MOVE IN AND OUT. MANUFACTURE PROBLEM/ABS? OUT OF WARRANTY AND DEALER WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026