May be engine or electrical or software problem; lost power on interstate from 70 MPH to 20 MPH then got off exit, shut down and waited a few minutes and then started it up and no problem again; has happened 3 times in last 4 months; taken to dealer twice without success- no codes in computer; now car is sputtering and jumping when gas is applied after slow down/stop. Now getting flashing/blinks on/off ready light on dash. Saw the federal safety agency id number 10056327 and sounds like my issue. Drive 40 miles one way to work on interstate daily and am getting very concerned about losing power. I have reported it to dealer twice and nothing done about it and reported it hyundia customer service center without a call back to date.
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid electrical problems
17 complaints (18% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 112,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 17
- of this car's complaints
- 18%
- typical mileage
- 112,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- 12v/24v/48v battery1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid electrical problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid electrical
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles equipped with Theta II and Lambda II engines (approximately 1.3 million vehicles). ODI also reviewed field data of other Hyundai vehicles equipped with Theta II, Gamma, Nu and Lambda engines (approximately 4.8 million). As a result of this PE, Hyundai has issued the federal safety agency Recalls 20V‑746 and 21V‑727 to address potential engine failures and fires in certain Hyundai vehicles equipped with various engine types. Additional information on these and other related recall actions is available in the downloadable version of this resume available at In addition, ODI has upgraded this PE to an Engineering Analysis (EA) 21-003 which will focus on potential recall scope concerns and recall remedy concerns related to the engine failure rewlated recalls mentioned above and conducted previously. See the EA21-003 Opening Resume available at for more information. Also available in the downloadable version of this resume is a list of the reference numbers for the 302 ODI reports, or Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), cited above which ODI received through mid-November 2021. Note that the Manufacturer reports cited above are customer complaints received through March 2019.
PE19003
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
In a letter dated June 11, 2018, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the federal safety agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles. In a letter dated July 24, 2018, CAS requested that MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles be added to the petition. CAS stated that there is a higher number of complaints to the federal safety agency regarding non-crash fires on these vehicles compared to other similar vehicles. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) had already opened Recall Queries (RQ17-003 and RQ17-004) on all Kia and Hyundai vehicles equipped with Theta II engines for engine failures that may cause stalling and fires.The queries cover most of the petition subject Optima, Sorento, Sonata, and Santa Fe vehicles but not any of the subject Soul vehicles.On August 21, 2018, ODI opened a Defect Petition (DP18-003) to evaluate whether to grant or deny the CAS petition. ODI sent Information Request letters to Kia and Hyundai (September and October 2018) requesting information on all engine and non-engine related fires in the petition vehicles.ODI performed extensive analysis on the information obtained from Kia and Hyundai. During the DP18-003 analysis, Kia and Hyundai each initiated three additional safety recalls related to engine compartment fires on certain petitioned and non-petitioned vehicles (nearly 740,000 total vehicles: Recalls 18V‑907, 18V‑934, 19V‑101, 19V‑063, 19V‑120, and 19V‑204). Based on ODI?s review of the applicable materials, including responses to Information Requests sent to multiple manufacturers, Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ), and Early Warning Data, the federal safety agency decided to grant the petition.The CAS petition was granted on March 29, 2019. Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) have been opened to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety-related consequences of alleged defects relating to non-collision vehicle fires in the 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe, and 2010-2015 Kia Soul.Attached is a list of the reference numbers for the 404 VOQs cited above.
DP18003
What 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
After being jumped once and running properly the car no longer has any kind of power. The rear battery is working fine. My mechanic had also told me that the wheels had a certain type of spring like mechanism that was ready to shoot off the car and that the car needs a very expensive large piece of plastic to regulate airflow if it is going to pass inspection. The vehicle has not been in accidents and nothing out of the ordinary has happened to it to cause these things
My vehicle "check charging system" warning came upon the start up of the hybrid in the morning 12/31/2018, going to work. This was an issue on a heavy precipitous day in past. However there was not heavy rain, I turned the vehicle back off. It turned on without the warning which 1st appeared in front area and is audible. It started as I approached a stop sign. I live about 6 minutes away from work. The battery life is visible and it was not changed from mid point which has always been same. The tank had gas, no issue, and I drove it to work. I assumed with the car turned off for the 6hour shift I had, that it would possibly be relieved. I started the car to now drive to the store for quick grocery essentials. Within a 15 min time frame from work, store quick shopping there, and home again. The warning came back on. As I braked, or came to a stop for lights the warning would stop. As I pushed on gas pedal it would start. As I was approaching an intersection with traffic lights, I prepared to stop but as I got closer the car would not stop anymore than it had (which was significant) but not stopping, as I noticed the distance, my foot on the brake all the way I heard the vehicle (closing song) which is supposed to be heard when you turn the vehicle off. I looked at the dash in front of me which went blank all across the board and I braced for impact. My vehicle came to a stop because the collision occurred with this malfunction and my car hit the car in front of me. Physically we are ok. I am still paying for this vehicle and it is powerless by the curb at my residence until I can afford to have a tow truck pick it up. The dealership said no warranty, no assistance by them. I have a claim with hyundai which is slow. You tube has so many vehicles from 2011 and recent models that are reporting same warning issues. I have a recording of it from that day.
While car is in motion, on highway or anywhere at anytime, the check brake warning light comes on display screen, with an beeping alarm, then the brakes drop to floor barely stopping the vehicle with a grudging noise. I went to the dealer, they gave me the option to replace the ABS system but was not sure of the exact problem and tried to sell me a newer car. This company already has lots of recalls and has put many people's lives in danger. This issue is happening to many other vehicles the same as mine and they are not safe for anyone.
We have had multiple issues with the car accelerating. The vehicle will not respond immediately when pressing the gas pedal. We have had the car worked on by hyundai 12-15 different times and it continues to have the same issue time and time again. We do not feel safe in the vehicle. The last time that we had the issue was in october of this year and we have not been able to drive the vehicle since that time. Hyundai will not help us get out of the vehicle even though it has had the safety concerns. Recently we found out that the vehicle also had a recall on the air bag and they did not have a fix for the issue. We have come close to wrecking the vehicle multiple times. Thankfully that has not happened or we may have not even had an airbag to protect us. There has been close to $25000 worth of work done to the vehicle and they have never been able to fix the issue properly. We do not trust the vehicle and will not put our family at risk any longer. We need help to get out of the vehicle financially as we have a vehicle that is not safe to drive. It is not safe for us or anyone else on the road.
Charging system malfunctioned, complete engine and battery failure, unable to accelerate I was driving on the highway when the "ready" light started flashing on the dashboard and the battery level started dropping without the engine starting and recharging. I was then unable to accelerate the vehicle and was forced to pull over. I turned the car off and back on and the "ready" light flashed on and off then stayed off. I had the car towed to hyundai where I was told the engine 'locked up' and needed to be replaced along with the battery because it couldn't be recharged.
My 2011 sonata hybrid has smoke coming out of the dash and from under the dash and you can smell wires burning. It's all factory nothing has been done to it. It does it when you start it up and it does it off and on while driving
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 hyundai sonata hybrid. While driving 60 MPH, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact also stated that the battery became drained and could not be recharged. The vehicle was taken to spradley barr motors inc. (2200 westland rd, cheyenne, wy 82001, 307‑638‑3335) where it was diagnosed that the oil filter contained metal fragments. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they were waiting for the warranty company to diagnose the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
While driving on the highway I noticed a knocking sound radiating from my engine at speeds of 60 MPH it the noise increased and then the engine appeared to be failing. My gages where the rmp's reflect where not functioning either. Amongst the engine issue my power steering column is also rattling as if it is loose and steering is become difficult. It is frightening to not feel safe in your own vehicle.
Check charge system alarm(chime) comes on when the car is turned on. The car hesitates when accelerating, then suddenly gains speed without touching the gas pedal. Battery, check engine, and service lights are also on.
Questions about the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid electrical
Does the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 17 complaints about the electrical of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 18% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid electrical problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 112,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid electrical?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have the most electrical problems?
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid model years with the most electrical complaints are 2016 (36 complaints), 2021 (25 complaints) and 2013 (24 complaints).
Other 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
Engine 41Steering 18Brakes 17Transmission 10Airbags 8Driver assistance 6Acceleration 5Seat belts 3Wheels 3Fuel system 2Suspension 2Body 1Lights 1Visibility 1
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