While merging onto the interstate my vehicle suffered sudden loss of motive power. All dash lights illuminated ,engine shut off instantly with no prior knock or warning.vehicle will not crank or restart.push button start activates accessories only .This matches TSB 22-EM-003H for connecting rod bearing seizure.No crash occured because I was able to coast to shoulder but loss of power steering/brakes at highway speed created a dangerous situation.
Hyundai Sonata key fob problems
84 of the 16,121 owner complaints about the Hyundai Sonata describe key fob or push-button start problems, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 84
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical mileage
- 42,000
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Won't start 22Stalling 7Door locks 7Fire or smoke 5Engine failure 5Check engine light 4Warning lights 3Loss of power 3
What owners say
Here is your updated review with that included: ⸻ I am very disappointed with Hyundai Motor America and the service I received at Hyundai of Renton. I own a 2017 Hyundai Sonata and received a letter about a required software update and ignition cylinder protector due to known theft issues. I went to the Renton dealer for the recall service. They performed the software update and were supposed to install the ignition cylinder protector. Unfortunately, my car was later stolen because of this exact issue. The ignition was damaged during the theft, and I had to replace it myself just so I could drive the car. When I returned to the dealer, they refused to install the ignition cylinder protector, saying the ignition was broken. It was broken because of the theft — which happened due to Hyundai’s known defect. After the recall software update, my key fob also stopped working properly. I went back to the dealership, and they refused to fix or properly reprogram my key fob. On top of that, the service manager, John, was very rude and unprofessional. This has been the worst experience I’ve had with a vehicle and a dealership. Because of this situation. Very disappointed.
About a year ago, I went out one morning, and the Rear Passenger Door would not engage or open. I tried using the key fob, as well as manual lock, trying to lock and unlock, and it still would not open. No one can get into the car from the outside. No one can get out of the car from the inside. This especially is very dangerous. Nothing has changed. I would like Hyundai to repair my door, since it is inoperable. In case of accident, fire, or other reason, someone would be locked in to their detriment.
Intermittent no-crank, no-start condition. Dash lights illuminate, push-button start produces no response. Brake pedal applied. Vehicle becomes immobilized without warning. I’ve been stranded on multiple occasions. Unable to commute to work, or home. Most recently on December 19,2025 the car completely shut off while driving on the highway.
The right-rear passenger door will not open from either the inside or outside of the car. This happened suddenly with no warning. It was instantaneous. I went to go pick my toddler from daycare and when we were returning to the car, the right-rear passenger door will not open after unlocking the car with my key fob. All the other doors (3) could be opened with the key fob or without the key fob from inside the car. I tried to open the right-rear paasenger door from the inside and it still will not open. Additionally, you can hear the locking system on the door moving when locking and unlocking the car with the key fob but the door simply won't open. This is a safety issue because it hinders my ability to quickly get to my toddler in case of an emergency.
The car got the 993 campaign software engine immobilizer update and it was locked with the keyfob. It still got stolen. Thieves broke the lock on driver side door which deactivates the immobilizer. Car was found and police report was filed. It is available for inspection. Many Hyundais that have had the immobilizer update have since been stolen. The 993 software update is ineffective.
While driving a EPS light came in and the steering was extremely hard to drive. I was on the highway so I had to pull over to turn off the car and then turn it on. After turning it on it worked ok for a little and then messed up again and I couldn’t turning the steering wheel again. While driving in the highway my safety was at risk because I could have crashed into another car and hurt my self or other people driving. The car can be inspected at any point in time because it is at a Hyundai dealership where it got fixed a few months before. The problem was confirmed by the dealer. The vehicle has not been impounded and a selected dealer. The EPS warning light and key not detected light came on. Hyundai has multiple issues with their staring and wiring with multiple different Hyundais, including elantra and Sonata, but directly with the Hyundai Sonata hybrid. There are multiple warranties for recall 14325000. I bought this car in November 20 24 and went into the shop December 30 of 2024. It stayed in two shops, including a Hyundai dealer from December 2024 to April 2025 it had been out from April till August and went back into the shop in August. His car I believe is defective and shouldn’t be on the road whatsoever. In logically how does a whole steering column go out and need to be replaced at only 109,000 miles?!
On freeway accelerated and it stalled the attempted to push button start all dash light were on and then it completely started smoking and that was from the starter getting to hot and died and nothing engine won't turn over so vehicle has no to started since
The left rear door won't open from the inside or from outside. The door just suddenly stopped working without any warning or without any damage to the door, or to the key FOB. I use it to transport an elderly person or sometimes my grand kids, it is dangerous especially if someone has to exit the car immediately.
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to open the trunk manually using the key fob; however, the trunk intermittently failed to open. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Related recalls
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on January 28, 2026.
Recall number 26V047000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. The Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) software may fail to prevent vehicle movement upon detection of an RSPA system malfunction.
- Risk
- Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RSPA software, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 191.
Recall number 20V213000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- Risk
- If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑671‑3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.
Recall number 15V678000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 2, 2014, through May 23, 2014. A poor connection within the vehicle's wiring harness may result in a reduction of steering assist from the vehicle's motor driven power steering system or the inability to move the vehicle's shifter from the Park position.
- Risk
- The reduction of power steering assist can increase the steering effort needed, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Sonata vehicles and has published recall bulletin 14-01-024 providing a service procedure to repair the affected vehicles. On June 7, 2014 Hyundai began to contact the affected retail customers. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑800‑633‑5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 119.
Recall number 14V325000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: some sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter v-6 engines and all elantra model vehicles may have experienced intermittent low-speed engine stalling, which could occur if the maf (mass air flow) sensor electrical signal is interrupted as a result of engine vibration transmitted to the maf sensor connector wiring harness.
- Risk
- This condition can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will re-route the maf sensor connector wiring harness.
Recall number 00V259001 · Recall details
Questions about the Hyundai Sonata key fob
Which Hyundai Sonata years have key fob or push-button start problems problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (33 complaints), 2013 (12 complaints) and 2012 (9 complaints).
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