YearToAvoid

2011 Hyundai Sonata Seat Belts Problems

NHTSA lists 106 seat belt complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 3% of its 3,376 total complaints, tied to 18 crashes and 15 injuries. Two recalls (17V152000 and 17V617000) address front seat belt linkages detaching from the anchor pretensioner.

Seat Belts complaints
106
3% of 3,376
Crashes reported
18
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
15
Median mileage
100,500 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical seat belt symptoms owners report

  • Front seat belts reportedly detach or disconnect from the door panel or anchor point during a crash, leaving the occupant unrestrained.
  • Seat belts sometimes fail to tighten or engage properly on impact, letting the occupant's head strike the steering wheel.
  • Some owners describe the belt unlatching mid-collision after being rear-ended.
  • Seat belt pretensioners reportedly tighten with enough force during a crash to cause chest, abdominal, or hernia injuries.
  • One report describes a rear-seat passenger sustaining a fractured jaw despite wearing the seat belt during a frontal crash.

When 2011 Hyundai Sonata seat belt complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 14, 2010, latest Nov 14, 2024.

2011 Hyundai Sonata seat belts complaints: complaints filed per quarter212010 Q42014 Q32016 Q42018 Q12019 Q12020 Q22022 Q32024 Q1
106 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q4 to 2024 Q4; peak 2018 Q3 (21).

Seat Belts recalls for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata

  1. NHTSA 17V617000Oct 4, 2017Seat Belts443,545 vehicles

    Seat belts:pretensioner

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles previously repaired under recall campaign 17V-152. The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.

    Risk: If the seat belt linkage detaches from the seat belt anchorage, it can not properly restrain the occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will again verify the connection between the seat belt linkage and the pretensioner and additionally install a warning label to prevent future seat belt linkage detachment, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 169.

  2. NHTSA 17V152000Mar 8, 2017Seat Belts977,778 vehicles

    Seat belts:front:anchorage

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and the seat belt anchor pretensioners, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 7, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for the recall is 160.

Seat Belts complaints by Sonata model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20100 (0%)
  2. 2011106 (3%)
  3. 201274 (5%)
  4. 201361 (3%)
  5. 201425 (3%)
  6. 201521 (2%)
  7. 20169 (1%)
  8. 20178 (1%)
  9. 20188 (2%)
  10. 20195 (3%)
  11. 20201 (1%)
  12. 20212 (2%)
  13. 20220 (0%)
  14. 20230 (0%)
  15. 20241 (2%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many seat belt complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA lists 106 seat belt complaints for the 2011 Sonata, which is 3% of the 3,376 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a seat belt recall for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
Yes. Recall 17V152000 and a follow-up recall 17V617000 both cover 2011-2014 Sonata (and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid) vehicles where the front seat belt linkages could detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioner.
Do the seat belt complaints involve crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this complaint area shows 18 crashes and 15 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 100,500 miles.
What seat belt problems do owners describe most?
Owners most often describe the front seat belt detaching from its anchor during a crash or failing to tighten properly, which the two related recalls specifically address.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.