Problems · by component

2011 Hyundai Sonata electronic stability control (esc) problems

62 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Hyundai Sonata cite electronic stability control (esc), 2% of all 3,380 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
62
2% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“EVER SINCE I HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT IN MY CAR, MY CAR HASN'T BEEN THE SAME. IT ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL RIGHT AFTER (WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ECO MODE), THEN MY DASH STARTED TO CRACK, NOW IS EXTREMELY CRACKED WHICH HAS AN AIR BAG, GAS GAGE HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN, BURNING A SEVERE AMOUNT OF OIL A WEEK SO THERE IS NO POINT IN 'CHANGING THE OIL', OIL LIGHT NEVER ONCE COMES ON LETTING ME KNOW ITS LOW, NO OIL ON MY DRIVEWAY OR UNDER THE HOOD, INTERIOR DOME LIGHT SOMETIMES DOESN'T SHUT OFF, THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHORT OUT ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND GET PULLED OVER BY THE COPS ALL THE TIME. NOW WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THE 'NEW ENGINE', I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE ITS SMOKING WHEN I CRANK IT, DOESN'T ACCELERATE SOMETIMES GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I PRESS THE GAS, THEN STARTS SMOKING, HEADLIGHTS FLICKER, ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND LOW TIRE LIGHT STAYS ON (EVEN AFTER GETTING NEW TIRES & ALIGNMENT). TOOK IT IN YESTERDAY, HYUNDAI IS STATING MY OXYGEN SENSORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER & GASKETS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT $3,177. THE CAR ISN'T EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH. THIS IS NOT THE REASON WHY MY CAR IS USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2020Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11372834
“MY CAR STALL WHILJNG DRIVING THEN STOP IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLES. I HAD TO PUSH IT OVER ON NEUTRAL. MY VEHICLES HAD KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TRYING TO GET IT BACK UP RUNNING . LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE AND IT START BACK UP ON ITS OWN. I TOOK IT TO HYNDUAI 8/8 THE SERVICE WORKER JIM SAID HE CAN'T DIAGNOSTIC CAUSE THE LIGHT IS GONE. I TOLD HIM THAT I CANT RISK DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN I KNOW IT HAD A KNOCK SENSOR RECALL LAST YEAR CAMPAIGN 953 AND ITS DOING IT AGAIN. HE TOLD ME THEIR IS NOTH I NG HE CAN DO AND ADVICE ME TO DRIVE IT BACK HOME UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEN GET TOW. J SCOLD HIM AND SAID AND RISK MY KIDS LIFE AND OTHERS. IT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY GOES OUT FOR ALMOST 40 MINUTE. THIS THE 6TH TIME IT HAPPEN BETWEEN OCT 2019 TO AUG 2020.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2020Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11344053
“THE CAR IS STILL THROWING THE ECM CODE UP AFTER ITS BEEN REPLACED SUPPOSEDLY THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN GRINDING SINCE DAY 1 THE BRAKE ACTUATOR IS BAD SOMETHING IS MAKING THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TO KEEP GOING BAD THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF ALL THE ISSUES AND MADE US AWARE OF 2”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2019Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakes, EngineODI 11281675
“MY 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD - PERHAPS OVER 50 MPH, IT TURNS ON THE ESC MODE IN THE CAR, AND THE ENGINE SLOWS DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. EVEN IF YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY, WHIC CAN BE VERY SCARY. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IT FREQUENTLY NOW. I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND TURN OFF CAR, AND THEN TURN IT ON. SOMETIMES THIS WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2019Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11253825
“THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT. IT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WE BOTH HAD OUR SEATBELTS ON. I'M CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY. NOT SURE WHAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS TRYING TO WARN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11232091
“TAKARA RECALLS AFTER BUYING SEVERAL NEW BATTERIES MY SONATA 2011 WON'T START AND CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME OVER AND OVER AGAIN....WHAT IS WRONG? AND IS THERE A RECALL?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 31, 2019Electrical system, Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11217129

Showing 6 of 62 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.