2012 Hyundai Sonata problems
Owners have filed 2,283 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 25% of complaints. Next are steering (13%) and electrical system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,283 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 25% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 86 and 165
- Injuries and deaths
- 68 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 1,410 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 | 199 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 106 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 158 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 227 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 226 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 195 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 164 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 83 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 29 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 20 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Of the 1,410 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 80,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 92,000 miles (347 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 86 complaints mention a crash; 165 complaints mention a fire; 68 injuries reported; 3 deaths 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 34 model years of the Hyundai Sonata with enough data (847 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 8 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.
B pillar separated from the frame during collision causing catastrophic intrusion into the cabin upon impact leading to death of the driver. No other occupants in the vehicle. Multiple investigators noted the B pillar failure upon inspection. Independent, certified crash reconstruction expert also noticed immediately that the B pillar had failed which caused cabin intrusion to an extraordinary degree considering the 2 vehicles involved were going less than 40mph. Vehicle is available for inspection.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while idled, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. In addition, the vehicle lunged forward and the contact was able to avoid a collision. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that an ECU upgrade needed to be performed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,800.
Had a minor fender bender and the car stalled. I had the car towed and was told by hyundai that the engine ceased. I was told it was my fault . I had the oil changed a few months before so I know that was not an issue. I was forced to either trade the dead car in of pay $6500. For a new engine. Hyundai told me over and over again that hyundai had never seen this problem before.