Worst 2012 Hyundai Sonata Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 556 | 11 | 68 | 91,915 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 298 | 6 | 3 | 72,924 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 228 | 3 | 31 | 81,386 mi | |
| Airbags | 167 | 18 | 2 | 88,062 mi | |
| Brakes | 151 | 10 | 9 | 73,023 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 121 | 1 | 6 | 107,257 mi | |
| Fuel System | 98 | 1 | 8 | 84,074 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 93 | 8 | 2 | 83,173 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 79 | 9 | — | 62,243 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 71 | 1 | 2 | 82,720 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 36 | 1 | 1 | 40,984 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 35 | — | 1 | 70,874 mi | |
| Body Structure | 31 | 7 | 6 | 71,670 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 27 | 3 | 1 | 64,138 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 12 | — | — | 85,619 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 9 | 1 | 2 | 109,216 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 9 | — | — | 12,424 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 9 | — | — | 39,214 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 7 | — | 2 | 54,680 mi | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 7 | — | — | 58,133 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 6 | — | 2 | 90,250 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 6 | — | — | 13,192 mi | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 5 | — | — | 28,750 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 5 | — | 2 | 51,160 mi | |
| Visibility | 5 | — | — | 101 mi | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 5 | — | — | 35,160 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 3 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2012 Hyundai Sonata
8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,839,778 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 from the engine and possible engine failure.
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.
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.
Other Hyundai Sonata Years
2012 Hyundai Sonata — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
What are common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Sonata?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata?
How safe is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata?
Does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2012 Hyundai Sonata?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Sonata reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Hyundai Sonata
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