2011 Hyundai Sonata: brake failure

Filed Jul 18, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · TN · fire

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 filling with smoke. Once I stopped, there was nothing I could do to extinguish the fire, as the car was completely consumed within seconds. It was a fire in the engine bay; I lost the brakes, and the ABS and traction control lights lit up. I assume it was a critical failure in the braking system, most likely involving the ABS module.

Filed Sep 23, 2025 · Brakes · GA

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.

Filed Dec 10, 2022 · Brakes · CA

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?

Filed Oct 27, 2018 · Engine · 175,000 miles · OH · fire

Car engulfed in flames as I drove home from work last night. First the brakes went out, smoke then flames. My engine was new. Installed due to recall in 2017

Filed Jun 14, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 112,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 hyundai sonata. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the engine stalled and the brakes failed without warning. The vehicle was restarted and the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the mechanic. The failure was diagnosed as an engine issue. The VIN was included in an unknown recall. The failure mileage was 112,000.

Filed Nov 12, 2015 · Brakes · 54,250 miles · PA

The front brakes on our hyundai sonata failed 9/17/15 forcing my daughter off the road using the emergency brake. This is a result of on-going brake problems dating back to when we purchased this certified pre-owned car 11/25/13. Hyundai refused to cover the repair, so we paid to have brake pads, rotors and calipers replaced. This is the 3rd set of brakes we've paid to replace in less than 12,000 miles. After numerous calls and correspondence with hyundai consumer affairs explaining this is a life threatening problem caused by defective brake system, they did pay for the calipers but refused to pay for the other components. The front brakes had grinding noise since we bought the car and only lasted 2,743 miles (dealer told us this cpo car had brand new brakes), the second set only lasted 9,856 miles. Since the caliper was replaced 9/21/15, there is no more grinding. It seems clear that the defective caliper caused the pad and rotor failure, but hyundai denies this. When speaking with hyundai consumer affairs, they said 1)they had no record of us owning the car, 2) had no recalls for this problem, and 3) we did not purchase an extended warranty (we did). I subsequently found on the hntsb website that there is a recall for the 2011 hyundai sonata brakes (attached) involving the brake calipers. Hyundai has been dishonest and deceitful during this ordeal. I would to file an official nhstb complaint against hyundai to 1) prevent other catastrophic brake failures and potential fatalities, 2) obtain reimbursement from hyundai for the cost of repairs ($1,085.68, receipts attached) + inconvenience/time/punitive damages. Attached are copies of correspondence, repair orders, nhtsb recall, etc. Thank you for any help you can provide. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 18, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 109,000 miles · OR

I was on the freeway driving at 65 MPH when the engine stalled and shut off. There were no warning lights indicating an issue with the engine. I was informed later by my mechanic that the engine had a catastrophic failure. The brakes failed because the engine was not running. I was lucky and able to coast to the next exit, the stop light was green and I could make it to safe location. Had the engine failed a few minutes earlier I would have been in the fast lane of the freeway trying to make it to the shoulder. Or trying to stop at a light with no brakes.

Filed Apr 21, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 18,200 miles · IL · crash

On march 11, 2014 approximately at 3:30 pm I went to my car in an underground garage. I entered the car, put my seat belt on, and put the car in reverse. Then when putting car in drive, the steering wouldn't move and without acceleration the car took off. .my foot was on the brake when the car took off. At that time, I tried to brake and had no steering or brakes. When that happened with the car accelerating, I had no brakes or steering. I crashed into my husbands car that was parked in spot next to me. I smashed his rear right panel. The car was going at such a speed my husband's car was pushed a couple of feet over. If his car was not there, I would have crashed into the cement wall. As for my car, I smashed the left front fender, head light and lower panel on the front of the car. The car immediately went dead. I immediately called my insurance company and proceeded to call hyundai. I had vehicle towed to the auto body shop for repairs caused by accident. After the body shop repairs were finished, the car was towed to hyundai. This auto body shop had the car for 2-3 weeks. Hyundai technicians were called in to check. Hyundai's final outcome/decision was that there were no findings and they feel they are not responsible. I was then called to pick the car up the manager. He claimed to have phoned me numerous amount of times, but this is false. I only received one call from him. The car is unsafe to drive since this is the second incident involving the same problem the car was towed from hyundai back to my residence and parked in the underground garage. I find this completely appalling and very upsetting that this has happened. This is not the response or service I expected to receive from a so called reputable company. This could have resulted in serious injury or fatalities. I feel hyundai is totally responsible for this situation. They are not taking responsibility for this.

Filed Apr 21, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 17,800 miles · IL · crash

On thursday, feb 6, 2014 approximately at 2pm on a busy street. I was approaching a stoplight and as I was approaching stop light and attempted to put on brakes to stop. Instead of stopping the car the car sped up and didn't stop until I smashed into him. Car did not stop until collision occurred upon impact. I had no brakes!!!!! I smashed his rear bumper and cracked his license plate window. On saturday, feb 8th 2014 I took car into hyundai dealer they insisted nothing was wrong with vehicle. I was asked if by hyundai dealer if street was icy and the streets were completely dry. I called insurance reported incident, and with this collision there was 1300.00 damage to his vehicle. Luckily there was no injury this time.

Filed Jun 21, 2013 · Brakes · 13,042 miles · PA

3 times on january 22, my brakes screamed and failed, almost causing me to crash. Since then, once in the rain, as I applied the brakes, the engine revved very noisily and the brakes failed, again nearly causing an accident. Now, every time I take my foot off the gas pedal and/or apply the brakes, the engine revs. This is a very dangerous situation. Hyundai has told me this incident is not covered by them.

Filed Apr 6, 2013 · Brakes · 34,000 miles · SC · crash

Backing out of my drive way into the street, brakes did not work and accelerated. I damaged the back of my car and drivers side door. Hit neighbors mailbox.

Filed Jul 25, 2011 · Airbags, Brakes · 9,900 miles · KS · crash · 1 injury

Tonight I was rear ended by a woman in an SUV, who's brakes did not work in her durango, she said. There were no skid marks indicating an attempted stop. Her impact on my vehicle was severe. Police officer guessed she was going 40 MPH when she hit my car. My car was shoved forward into the car in front of mine, that car then hit the car in front of it. There were 3 cars, mine last in line, sitting at a red light. We were all stopped. Then there was a 4th car that hit mine from behind. The matter im reporting is that the airbags in my hyundai sonata se 2011 car did not deploy when I then hit the car in front of me. The impact was great enough to cause that car to then hit another car and that caused a crack in the radiator of the car in front of mine. Also, after I hit that car in front of me, I then bounced back about 10 feet. More evidence of impact. Why no airbags? I did not see very much damage to the front of my car nor the back of the car that was directly in front of mine, while the back of my car was bad enough that I expect to be told it is not repairable.. Im reporting just in case you receive any other reports indicating there is something faulty concerning airbags in the hyundai. I know airbags are not to deploy in rear end collision but since I then hit another car frontally, I would think the airbags would deploy. My husband was in the passenger, front seat and in order to brace himself, he put his hand up at the windshield. The glass was broken in an area the size of a cantaloupe from the impact against his hand. Im thinking the impact must have been moderate to severe. On the up side, my sonata took that hit and sustained the damage to the outside and up into the air at the trunk rather than into the cab of the car. My father and son were in the backseat and were not killed, I think because the car is a good, safe vehicle in a crash.