2011 Hyundai Sonata Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 4% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 84,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “brake switch” (10% of reports).
- 145service brakes complaints
- 84,000median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 27%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.
- Brake switch: mentioned in 14 of 145 complaints (10%)
- Service brakes hydraulic: mentioned in 13 of 145 complaints (9%)
- Pedal depressed: mentioned in 9 of 145 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 94 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 145 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 5 an injury.
Hyundai Sonata service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sonata | 6 | 35% | — |
| 2024 Sonata | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2023 Sonata | 4 | 5% | — |
| 2022 Sonata | 5 | 5% | — |
| 2021 Sonata | 3 | 2% | 42,000 |
| 2020 Sonata | 4 | 2% | — |
| 2019 Sonata | 3 | 2% | 78,093 |
| 2018 Sonata | 14 | 4% | 8,896 |
| 2017 Sonata | 20 | 3% | 17,000 |
| 2016 Sonata | 42 | 6% | 12,548 |
| 2015 Sonata | 73 | 6% | 39,000 |
| 2014 Sonata | 57 | 8% | 43,000 |
| 2013 Sonata | 143 | 7% | 56,000 |
| 2012 Sonata | 151 | 10% | 71,000 |
| 2011 Sonata | 145 | 4% | 84,000 |
| 2010 Sonata | 28 | 8% | 64,475 |
| 2009 Sonata | 64 | 14% | 66,500 |
| 2008 Sonata | 21 | 5% | 81,622 |
| 2007 Sonata | 40 | 6% | 82,771 |
| 2006 Sonata | 51 | 5% | 89,400 |
| 2005 Sonata | 6 | 4% | 95,000 |
| 2004 Sonata | 7 | 3% | 98,000 |
| 2003 Sonata | 5 | 3% | 136,000 |
| 2002 Sonata | 5 | 2% | 95,000 |
| 2001 Sonata | 1 | 0% | 140,000 |
| 2000 Sonata | 1 | 0% | 197,700 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sonata vehicles manufactured from December 11, 2009, through September 1, 2010. The affected vehicles may experience a brake fluid leak from the two brake lines that connect the brake system's master cylinder to the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) due to insufficient seal between the inner brake hose and metal brake line fitting.
Risk: If the brake lines leak brake sufficient fluid, the brake warning lamp in the instrument cluster will illuminate and longer stopping distance will be required, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake hoses with a revised service part, 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 122.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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 vehicle experiences a recurring defect where the brake light turns on suddenly and the engine shuts off while driving. The failure appears related to the braking system (brake switch circuit), electrical system (CAN-bus/ECU communication), and engine control (shutdown/stall). The system remains…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 Hyundai Sonatas have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 145 owner complaints about service brakes for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata (4% 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 service brakes?
Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes problems start?
The median reported mileage is 84,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
The most frequent phrase is “brake switch”, in 14 of 145 complaints, followed by “service brakes hydraulic” (13).
Other 2011 Hyundai Sonata problems
- Steering problems (1,171)
- Engine problems (967)
- Electrical System problems (443)
- Air Bags problems (419)
- Exterior Lighting problems (248)
- Power Train problems (173)
- Suspension problems (148)
- Seat Belts problems (106)
See all 2011 Hyundai Sonata problems or service brakes problems across all Sonata years.