Home · 2011 · Hyundai
2011 Hyundai Equus
Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.
24 owner complaints · 2 recalls · data verified July 26, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Suspension problems dominate (46% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#134 of 497Among the 2011 models with a matured record, the 2011 Hyundai Equus ranks #134, scoring higher than 70% of them. See the 2011 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Hyundai Equus, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Suspension (11) · Brakes (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Suspension
46%11 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“MALFUNCTION OF SUSPENSION AND NO DEALERSHIP CAN RESET. WE BEEN TO MERIDIAN AND HATTIESBURG DEALERSHIP AND EITHER THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT WORKING OR HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS…”
Brakes
25%6 complaints
“THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IS VERY LONG. I MUST BEGIN THE STOPPING PROCESS MUCH EARLIER THAN PREVIOUS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAILED HECU. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW MILES …”
Electrical system
17%4 complaints
“MALFUNCTION OF SUSPENSION AND NO DEALERSHIP CAN RESET. WE BEEN TO MERIDIAN AND HATTIESBURG DEALERSHIP AND EITHER THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT WORKING OR HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS…”
Wheels
13%3 complaints
“WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR'S FRONT SUSPENSION SUDDENLY FAILED, THE FRONT COLLAPSED AND THE BODY OF THE CAR NEARLY TOUCHED THE GROUND ON FLAT GROUNDS AND DR…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 24 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 3 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (2)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Visibility · 16V117000
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2012 Genesis vehicles manufactured August 1, 2011, to April 30, 2012, and 2011-2013 Equus vehicles manufactured July 10, 2011, to June 12, 2012. The windshield wiper motor cover seal on the affected vehicles may degrade allowing corrosion on the wiper motor's circuit board. The corrosion can cause intermittent or total loss of wiper function.
Risk: Inoperative wipers during inclement weather can decrease driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor cover and seal, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 140.
Exterior Lighting · 14V713000
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Hyundai Genesis vehicles manufactured April 30, 2008, to November 21, 2010, and 2011 Hyundai Equus vehicles manufactured July 31, 2010, to November 21, 2010. Due to a circuit failure, the stop lamps in the affected vehicles may not illuminate.
Risk: A following vehicle may not recognize that the vehicle is slowing or coming to a stop if the stop lamps on the vehicle do not illuminate as expected. There is an increased risk of a rear-end crash as a result.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the stop lamp switch circuit, free of charge. Hyundai issued an interim notification to owners on January 6, 2015. The recall began on March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 125.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Hyundai before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2011 Hyundai Equus. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report suspension problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any suspension symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Hyundai EQUUS beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every Equus model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Hyundai Equus against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.