HyundaiSonata Hybrid2011Overview/hyundai/sonata-hybrid/2011/base/

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Sonata Hybrid.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a passenger‑car sedan that pairs its hybrid powertrain with a 6‑speed automatic transmission and requires 4.8 qt of 5W‑20/5W‑30 oil for service. It delivers an EPA‑rated 34 mpg city, 39 mpg highway and 36 mpg combined, while carrying six recall campaigns and logging a total of 95 owner complaints, with engine‑related issues being the most frequent. Placed within the 2011‑2025 complaint history, the 2011 model’s 95 complaints sit below the 2012 peak of 153 but above the 2019 low of just four, showing that this early hybrid year already benefits from the reliability gains seen in later Sonata Hybrids.

Model year20152014201320122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy34/39/36 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-65R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Front wiper blades99H09AKA18H alt 99H09AKA26H

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.8 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase110.2 in
Curb weight3344 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined34 / 39 / 36 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume104 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.3-32.5 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-IV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.5
Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-IV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.8 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts86-94 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-20 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts36-40 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsM8 nut: 18-22 ft-lbs, M10 nut: 25-40 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.3-32.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)720 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)600 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.56-.68 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5950-8050 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.56-.68 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.27 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.73-5.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number124R

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)55.0 psi
Engine Compression171
Engine Compression164
Engine Compression164
Engine Oil Pressure21.33 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1000 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs / 47-54 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0017 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1M6 Bolts8–9 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1M6 Bolts8–9 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts. Apply Loctite 5900H or equivalent on the front edge of the cylinder head gasket. Both the upside and the down side. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 120-12511 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 12511 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner)
Every 4,800 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Refrigerant Line (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2011 model recorded 95 federal complaints and 6 recalls, figures that exceed the 4 complaints and 0 recalls seen in later years but are below the 153 complaints reported for the 2012 model. Across the model’s production span, complaints rose sharply in 2012, then generally fell, making 2011 a peak‑adjacent year with a moderate complaint volume relative to the downward trend that followed. The 2011 complaints were concentrated in the Engine (25), Steering (13), Service Brakes (7) and Unknown/Other (5) categories, with 6 crash‑related and 5 fire‑related complaints documented. Given that the 2011 year sits before the steep complaint decline and carries a higher complaint count than most subsequent years while maintaining a comparable recall count, it represents a transitional point rather than the safest recent model. Consequently, a buyer seeking lower complaint exposure should consider model years after 2014, whereas the 2011 Sonata Hybrid remains a viable option only if the purchaser accepts its relatively higher early‑generation complaint level.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
108
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
7
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
95
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 95 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine25
Steering13
Service Brakes7
Unknown Or Other5
Electrical System,Engine4
Power Train4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Air Bags,Seat Belts3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V746000EngineReported 01/12/2020

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a…

20V393000Equipment:ElectricalReported 02/07/2020

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 108 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
26-01-033H TSB2026-03-26EngineThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based…
26-01-033H DN2026-03-26EngineThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based…
TRW Settlement DCS2025-12-18Air BagsA Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided. Based on the…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sonata Hybrid. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2011 Sonata Hybrid take?

4.8 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 Sonata Hybrid have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sonata Hybrid get?

EPA figures are 34 city / 39 highway / 36 combined mpg.