2011 Hyundai Sonata Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 173 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 5% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 49,444 miles. The words owners use most often: “gear shift” (5% of reports).
- 173power train complaints
- 49,444median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%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.
- Gear shift: mentioned in 9 of 173 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata at $1,200, and half of them between $1,050 and $3,250.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2019–2020), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 141 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 173 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 4 an injury.
Hyundai Sonata power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sonata | 3 | 18% | 19,025 |
| 2024 Sonata | 6 | 13% | 16,500 |
| 2023 Sonata | 16 | 18% | 50 |
| 2022 Sonata | 24 | 26% | 8,500 |
| 2021 Sonata | 25 | 19% | 21,500 |
| 2020 Sonata | 24 | 13% | 16,599 |
| 2019 Sonata | 8 | 5% | — |
| 2018 Sonata | 40 | 11% | 40,538 |
| 2017 Sonata | 56 | 7% | 43,000 |
| 2016 Sonata | 59 | 8% | 60,000 |
| 2015 Sonata | 135 | 12% | 50,000 |
| 2014 Sonata | 55 | 7% | 51,000 |
| 2013 Sonata | 94 | 5% | 57,555 |
| 2012 Sonata | 97 | 6% | 86,000 |
| 2011 Sonata | 173 | 5% | 49,444 |
| 2010 Sonata | 21 | 6% | 47,500 |
| 2009 Sonata | 41 | 9% | 38,889 |
| 2008 Sonata | 14 | 3% | 61,500 |
| 2007 Sonata | 9 | 1% | 35,000 |
| 2006 Sonata | 22 | 2% | 76,860 |
| 2005 Sonata | 5 | 3% | 59,755 |
| 2004 Sonata | 10 | 5% | 43,750 |
| 2003 Sonata | 10 | 5% | 9,300 |
| 2002 Sonata | 11 | 3% | 72,832 |
| 2001 Sonata | 18 | 9% | 69,334 |
| 2000 Sonata | 19 | 7% | 72,000 |
| 1999 Sonata | 14 | 11% | 71,313 |
| 1998 Sonata | 12 | 24% | 42,000 |
| 1997 Sonata | 9 | 18% | 72,000 |
| 1996 Sonata | 5 | 22% | — |
| 1995 Sonata | 15 | 23% | 142,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, through May 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin.
Risk: If the transmission shift cable detaches, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver parks the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position and the parking brake is not applied, there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, repair the connection between the shift cable and shift lever, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 123.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Good day, please note that most of my communication with Hyundai has been over the phone. I sent one an email shortly after the event, and after following up on the phone, I received this following string separately. I can forward you more along the way, but Hyundai is in possession of the call…
The affected component is the engine/rod bearing (Theta II 2.4L). My 2011 Hyundai Sonata stalled and the engine locked up twice in live traffic (March 2025 and July 2025). The vehicle is available for inspection if needed. This created a serious safety risk to me and others on the road, as the…
on [XXX] iwas driving coming back home from [XXX] by exit [XXX]. the engine turn off and didnt turn back on. i had to get a town to take me out of the highway and pay $141.00 becide that my engine seized. now i dont have a car and the car didn't gave me any notification that something it was going…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 Hyundai Sonatas have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 173 owner complaints about power train for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata (5% 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 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 49,444 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,200 (half paid between $1,050 and $3,250), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
The most frequent phrase is “gear shift”, in 9 of 173 complaints.
Other 2011 Hyundai Sonata problems
- Steering problems (1,171)
- Engine problems (967)
- Electrical System problems (443)
- Air Bags problems (419)
- Exterior Lighting problems (248)
- Suspension problems (148)
- Service Brakes problems (145)
- Seat Belts problems (106)
See all 2011 Hyundai Sonata problems or power train problems across all Sonata years.