2011 Hyundai Sonata Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 248 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 7% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 73,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “tail assembly” (8% of reports).
- 248exterior lighting complaints
- 73,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $430typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Tail assembly: mentioned in 19 of 248 complaints (8%)
- Low beam: mentioned in 14 of 248 complaints (6%)
- Turn signal: mentioned in 13 of 248 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata at $430, and half of them between $350 and $710.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 159 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 248 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire.
Hyundai Sonata exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Sonata | 6 | 13% | — |
| 2023 Sonata | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2020 Sonata | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2019 Sonata | 18 | 11% | 1,600 |
| 2018 Sonata | 22 | 6% | 293 |
| 2017 Sonata | 20 | 3% | 24,000 |
| 2016 Sonata | 38 | 5% | 55,500 |
| 2015 Sonata | 38 | 3% | 57,850 |
| 2014 Sonata | 120 | 16% | 69,306 |
| 2013 Sonata | 197 | 10% | 81,684 |
| 2012 Sonata | 141 | 9% | 100,000 |
| 2011 Sonata | 248 | 7% | 73,000 |
| 2010 Sonata | 10 | 3% | 1,500 |
| 2009 Sonata | 14 | 3% | 90,962 |
| 2008 Sonata | 20 | 5% | 78,000 |
| 2007 Sonata | 35 | 5% | 48,221 |
| 2006 Sonata | 45 | 4% | 68,000 |
| 2005 Sonata | 17 | 10% | 80,000 |
| 2004 Sonata | 5 | 2% | 74,723 |
| 2003 Sonata | 3 | 2% | 112,500 |
| 2002 Sonata | 2 | 1% | 129,500 |
| 2001 Sonata | 1 | 0% | 28,159 |
| 2000 Sonata | 2 | 1% | — |
| 1999 Sonata | 3 | 2% | — |
| 1998 Sonata | 1 | 2% | 43,000 |
| 1997 Sonata | 2 | 4% | — |
| 1996 Sonata | 1 | 4% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.
Risk: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to rearward following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. 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 136.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I had taken my Sonata to Mike Miller Hyndia in Peoria,I'll and they agreed to do the recall although they had my vehicle for two weeks. They did not service it and when I picked it up they said I had to drive it till the service engine light come on. I was driving it five days later and heard a…
On the freeway at night when headlights and back lights quit working. Got off freeway and were able to temporarily fix it. A few months later while parked in driveway and not in use for a couple of days, lights came on without our knowledge and drained our battery. Neighbor alerted us to the…
On my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS, both rear tail lights have melted to the point that the lightbulbs cannot be extracted and the brake and tail lights no longer work. When I looked into this, I found out this is a common issue on 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. It is almost always caused by excessive heat from…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 Hyundai Sonatas have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 248 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata (7% of the 3,377 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata exterior lighting?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems start?
The median reported mileage is 73,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
Owners report a typical cost of $430 (half paid between $350 and $710), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
The most frequent phrase is “tail assembly”, in 19 of 248 complaints, followed by “low beam” (14).
Other 2011 Hyundai Sonata problems
- Steering problems (1,171)
- Engine problems (967)
- Electrical System problems (443)
- Air Bags problems (419)
- Power Train problems (173)
- Suspension problems (148)
- Service Brakes problems (145)
- Seat Belts problems (106)
See all 2011 Hyundai Sonata problems or exterior lighting problems across all Sonata years.