MYRModel Year Report

2012 Hyundai Sonata

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2012 Hyundai Sonata
BUILT 2026-09-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Hyundai Sonata Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2012 highlighted. 1987: 1 complaints 1987 1988: 0 complaints 1989: 11 complaints 1990: 16 complaints 1991: 29 complaints 1992: 22 complaints 1992 1993: 26 complaints 1994: 3 complaints 1995: 68 complaints 1996: 23 complaints 1997: 49 complaints 1997 1998: 49 complaints 1999: 124 complaints 2000: 276 complaints 2001: 205 complaints 2002: 319 complaints 2002 2003: 199 complaints 2004: 202 complaints 2005: 165 complaints 2006: 1047 complaints 2007: 696 complaints 2007 2008: 425 complaints 2009: 460 complaints 2010: 345 complaints 2011: 3375 complaints 2012: 1556 complaints 2012 2013: 1904 complaints 2014: 743 complaints 2015: 1141 complaints 2016: 721 complaints 2017: 761 complaints 2017 2018: 369 complaints 2019: 159 complaints 2020: 174 complaints 2021: 129 complaints 2022: 91 complaints 2022 2023: 85 complaints 2024: 45 complaints 2025: 16 complaints 2026: 2 complaints 2026
2012: 1556 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19860
19871
19880
198911
199016
199129
199222
199326
19943
199568
199623
199749
199849
1999124
2000276
2001205
2002319
2003199
2004202
2005165
20061047
2007696
2008425
2009460
2010345
20113375
20121556
20131904
2014743
20151141
2016721
2017761
2018369
2019159
2020174
2021129
202291
202385
202445
202516
20262

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

ENGINE 36%

36% of complaints: engine — 567 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Vehicle engine caught fire in April 2026! Tow company sold for parts without my permission! Immediately after gaining possession of my car. I didn't have comprehensive insurance, only basic. I had a brain bleed stroke Nov.

NHTSA ODI report, 20260730

Also filed under UNKNOWN OR OTHER

This is a 2012 sonata hybrid. The vehicle popped under the hood when my wife was driving to visit her father. My son opened the hood and fire started shooting out from next to the exhaust manifold. The car was just into Gurnee Hyundai for service.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230927

Also filed under ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and POWER TRAIN

SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION ON A HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. SAW BRAKE LIGHTS ON VEHICLES AND STARTED BRAKING. SUDDENLY, MY VEHICLE SPED UP, CATCHING UP TO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171126

Also filed under SERVICE BRAKES and POWER TRAIN

STEERING 19%

19% of complaints: steering — 301 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing column and rack.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE BRAKING HARD TO AVOID A COYOTE, VEHICLE PULLED HARD RIGHT EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO STEER LEFT. WAS PULLED OFF ROAD TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A DRIVEWAY. CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO UNDER CARRIAGE AND BUMPER.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120922

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH.

NHTSA ODI report, 20111214

THIS IS FOR A 2012 SONATA. YOUR OPTIONS TO SELECT THIS MAKE AND MODEL ONLY SHOWED 2011 AS THE OPTION YEAR. THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2012. I PURCHASED A 2012 SONATA IN LATE JUNE. TECHNICALLY THIS IS THE SECOND ONE I PURCHASED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20110721

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%

15% of complaints: electrical system — 234 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing wiring and speedometer/odometer.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND ALL THE ELECTRONICS SHUT DOWN. I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121009

AIR BAGS 11%

11% of complaints: air bags — 170 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing inflator module and frontal.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES 10%

10% of complaints: service brakes — 158 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2012 — complaint volume: 1556
R 20120831 — air bags

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 with

Remedy: Hyundai dealers will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain side airbags free of charge. This recall began on August 31, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

Campaign 12V352000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20140912 — power train

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.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, repair the connection between the shift cable and shift lever, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014.

Campaign 14V434000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160106 — 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...

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the engine assembly, as necessary, free of charge.

Campaign 15V568000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160106 — exterior lighting

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.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059.

Campaign 15V759000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20170413 — seat belts

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.

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.

Campaign 17V152000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20170518 — RQ (closed 20211222)

Scope and Timeliness

R 20171106 — seat belts

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles previously repaired under recall campaign 17V-152.

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.

Campaign 17V617000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20180316 — PE (closed 20190830)

Air bags may be disabled during crash

I 20180821 — DP (closed 20190510)

Non-crash Vehicle Fires

R 20181015 — air bags, seat belts

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.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install an external wire filter kit, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 174.

Campaign 18V137000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190301 — engine, fuel system, gasoline

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.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

Campaign 18V934000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20190329 — PE (closed 20211222)

Non-crash Vehicle Fires

I 20211112 — DP (closed 20230620)

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

I 20211222 — EA (closed 20240205)

Engine Fires

I 20220912 — DP (closed 20231212)

Loss of Motive Power

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2012 Hyundai Sonata — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine issues (567 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for steering issues (301 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (234 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 12V352000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V434000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V568000 (engine) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V759000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 17V152000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 17V617000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V137000 (air bags, seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V934000 (engine, fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2024 ▲ 1998 ▲ 1997

WORST YEARS

■ 2011 ■ 2013 ■ 2015

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Sonata?

The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 36% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata have?

8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.