While driving home and negotiating an ordinary turn onto our residential street, we heard a loud popping sound. We immediately pulled over and discovered that the driver’s-side rear wheel was leaning inward substantially. Upon inspecting the suspension, I discovered that the cylindrical bushing attachment on a rear suspension control arm had fractured, allowing the suspension connection to separate. I subsequently walked back to the location where the noise occurred and recovered the detached metal fragment. The fracture surfaces exhibit distinctly different coloration, suggesting that part of the fracture may have existed for some time before the final separation. Of greater concern, upon inspecting the corresponding suspension component on the passenger side, I discovered a substantial crack along what appears to be the same fracture path as the failed driver’s-side component. Both sides appear to exhibit a common structural weakness. The failure occurred during ordinary driving without a collision or known impact immediately preceding the event. A similar failure at highway speed could cause a serious crash, injury, or death. I understand Hyundai previously conducted rear lower control arm replacement Service Campaign TP3 for certain 2011–2013 Sonata vehicles. I request that the federal safety agency investigate whether this failure is related to a known defect or represents a broader safety concern. Photographs of the failed driver’s-side component, recovered fragment, and corresponding passenger-side crack are available. The vehicle and recovered fragment are being preserved for further inspection. I request that this incident be reviewed as a potential safety-related structural suspension defect.
2011 Hyundai Sonata suspension problems
149 complaints (4% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 64,567. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 149
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- typical mileage
- 64,567
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Front4
- Front: springs: coil springs3
- Rear1
- Front: control arm1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Hyundai Sonata suspension problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata suspension
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Elantra vehicles manufactured November 12, 2010, to March 31, 2011, and Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to February 28, 2010, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
- Risk
- If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front coil springs, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed on November 17, 2015. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑671‑3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 133. Note: Vehicles that were previously registered in salt belt states but are currently registered elsewhere are eligible to be inspected and repaired.
Recall number 15V629000 · Recall details
What 2011 Hyundai Sonata owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I started to get engine knocking noises about 6 months after the purchase of the used car. This knocking noise began to increase in frequency as I pressed my foot on the accelerator and the car would not accelerate when I pressed my foot on the gas pedal. Then the car would shut down in the middle of traffic. After waiting about 30 -45 mins, I would try to start the car again and would start and initially run as long as I drove less than 20 miles/hour the knocking noise level would decrease but if I went above 15 - 20 mph the car would shut down. The check engine light and engine oil light would come on. So I would check the engine oil level oil using the dip stick and it showed oil levels were ok. On October 10 2023 while driving to Walmart the engine turned off and would not start after waiting over 1 hour and I was stuck in the mall entrance road. A concerned driver with his passengers pushed the car to a Walmart parking spot where it is currently at. In addition, the traction light kept coming on and I paid the Hyundai dealership $2,800 to repair to keep the car from drifting to the left and to get the light off.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started swerving in the lane to the right and the left. The contact heard an abnormal thumping noise from underneath the floorboard. The contact stated that the power steering and brakes functioned as needed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear cross member needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 13V354000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
Air conditioning drain drips onto front sub frame, which holds the engine and transmission. It also holds the suspension bolts. Dripping from air conditioning drain is causing sub frame to rust, rot out and weaken prematurely. This will cause the engine and transmission to drop out of the vehicle when the sub frame collapses.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a ticking sound and then heard something detach from the vehicle. The contact pulled over and checked underneath the driver’s side front of the vehicle and became aware that the coil spring had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would bounce up and down without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where she was informed that her vehicle was not covered under warranty or recall. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a fractured front coil spring. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V629000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
While I was driving in the access road I heard a pop and my car started making. A weird noise just for me to get out my car and my tire wasn’t straight it was dislocated I bought the car in april
The rear crossmember bolt snapped off on the passenger side with no warning. It caused the rear passenger complete wheel assembly to breakaway and fold backwards.
Car is very low I found a piece of my spring to my car in the street
Front driver strut coil spring broke while parked . Power steering assist motor coupling gear broke .
Questions about the 2011 Hyundai Sonata suspension
Does the 2011 Hyundai Sonata have suspension problems?
Owners have filed 149 complaints about the suspension of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 4% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2011 Hyundai Sonata suspension problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 64,567 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata suspension?
Yes, 1 recall: 15V629000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Hyundai Sonata have bad suspension?
The Hyundai Sonata model years with the most suspension complaints are 2011 (149 complaints), 2006 (86 complaints) and 2000 (64 complaints).
Other 2011 Hyundai Sonata problems
Steering 1,171Engine 1,012Electrical 444Airbags 419Lights 250Brakes 175Transmission 173Fuel system 135Seat belts 107Acceleration 95Body 73Driver assistance 70Wheels 33Tires 27Visibility 25Seats 15Locks 11
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