What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Hyundai Sonata

Typical pattern

4.7% of complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (567 complaints), typically at 7.9 yr or about 92,000 miles.

Complaints
2,259
Median age at failure
7.3 yr
Median mileage
80,872 n=1394
Crash / fire / tow
14.2% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
567 reports · 92,000 mi
7.9 yr
22.9%
Steering
292 reports · 75,000 mi
5.3 yr
3.1%
Electrical system
233 reports · 80,000 mi
7.8 yr
15.9%
Air bags
170 reports · 82,800 mi
7.0 yr
12.9%
Service brakes
151 reports · 71,000 mi
9.2 yr
12.6%
Exterior lighting
140 reports · 105,000 mi
7.8 yr
10.7%
Other
122 reports · 80,000 mi
8.8 yr
13.1%
Fuel / propulsion
99 reports · 94,000 mi
7.8 yr
10.1%
Power train
96 reports · 88,000 mi
7.8 yr
12.5%
Speed control
83 reports · 56,052 mi
5.7 yr
13.3%
Seat belts
74 reports · 85,000 mi
7.0 yr
9.5%
Structure
38 reports · 57,189 mi
6.8 yr
34.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

18V934000 2018-12-28
Engine

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles previously repaired under recall numbers 15V-568 and 17V-226. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, allowing fuel to leak from the pipe.

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

18V137000 2018-02-27
Seat belts:pretensioner

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. On February 27, 2018, Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) notified NHTSA that they were recalling 154,753 model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. On April 18, 2018, Hyundai expanded the recall to include an additional 425,305 model year 2012-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying.

If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

17V617000 2017-10-04
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.

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.

17V152000 2017-03-08
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.

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

15V759000 2015-11-16
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.

If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to rearward following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Eith

15V568000 2015-09-10
Engine

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to April 12, 2012 at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and equipped with either a 2.0 liter or 2.4 liter Gasoline Direct injection engine. In the affected vehicles, metallic debris may not have been fully removed during manufacturing of the engine crankshaft. If the debris was not completely removed, oil flow may be restricted through the connecting rod bearings, causing connecting rod damage. A worn connecting rod bearing will produce a metallic, cyclic knocking noise f

Engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V434000 2014-07-18
Power train:automatic transmission

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, through May 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin.

If the transmission shift cable detaches, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver parks the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position and the parking brake

12V352000 2012-07-24
Air bags:side/window

Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Hyundai Sonata passenger cars, manufactured from January 24, 2012, through June 21, 2012. The curtain side airbags on these vehicles may inflate without deployment command due to an error during manufacturing.

The curtain airbag may inflate without deployment command and increase the risk of injury to occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, an unexpected deployment would be a significant driver distraction and would limit the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Steering 100 mi 0 mo in service
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. DEALER INDICATES ALIGNMENT IS OK PER THEIR ALIGNMENT CALIBRATION MACHINE BUT THE MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS STILL PULLING TO THE RIGHT. *KB THE FRUSTRATING PART OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT THE 2011 SONATA WE TEST DROVE ALSO HAD THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT ISSUE AND THE SALESMAN JUST TOLD US IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT.
Steering 125 mi 0 mo in service
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I NOTICED A SLIGHT DRIFT, CAR SEEMS TO BE TEETERING ON CENTER AND REQUIRE LOTS OF CORRECTIONS TO GO STRAIGHT. FEELS OK AT LOWER SPEEDS. *TR
Steering 700 mi 0 mo in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY TURNED LEFT AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED BUT THE TEST DID NOT GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 700.
Suspension 100 mi 0 mo in service
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. DEALER INDICATES ALIGNMENT IS OK PER THEIR ALIGNMENT CALIBRATION MACHINE BUT THE MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS STILL PULLING TO THE RIGHT. *KB THE FRUSTRATING PART OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT THE 2011 SONATA WE TEST DROVE ALSO HAD THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT ISSUE AND THE SALESMAN JUST TOLD US IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT.

Other Sonata model years

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