2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid problems
NHTSA has received 219 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, and 33% of them involve engine. After that come drivetrain & axles (14%) and brakes (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 219 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 33% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 9
- Injuries and deaths
- 6 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 72,000 miles 192 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 34 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 20 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 39 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 17 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 26 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 17 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 20 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 192 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 72,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 95,000 miles (66 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 9 complaints mention a fire; 6 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with enough data (96 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
We were traveling down highway 125 when my 2012 hyundai sonata hybrid caught on fire. It completely burned to the ground. We had about 5 seconds to jump out of car. All 4 occupants got out of car thank you god.
Driving along the highway when I heard a knocking sound coming from the engine while returning home the sound got louder, then I lost control of the vehicle. I regain some control and pulled over on the side of the road. I realized that all the oil leaked out and there were some metal parts on the road. Took it to the dealer when they told me a rod fell through the engine.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai sonata hybrid. While driving 60 MPH, the engine stalled and the battery warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.