repaired · 2020 Q2
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
2012 Hyundai SonataProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,559 owner complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata, most often about the engine. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-934 the manufacturer reports only 56% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 27, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Hyundai Sonata has problems
1,559 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
568Engine80 crash/fire/injury
301Steering9 crash/fire/injury
235Electrical system35 crash/fire/injury
170Air bags21 crash/fire/injury
151Service brakes19 crash/fire/injury
141Exterior lighting13 crash/fire/injury
99Fuel/propulsion system
97Power train
84Vehicle speed control
31222 other systems30 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 568 | 80 |
| Steering | 301 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 235 | 35 |
| Air bags | 170 | 21 |
| Service brakes | 151 | 19 |
| Exterior lighting | 141 | 13 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 99 | 9 |
| Power train | 97 | 10 |
| Vehicle speed control | 84 | 10 |
| 22 other systems | 312 | 30 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2012 Hyundai Sonata recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Air bags
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2019 Q1
Front: anchorage
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2018 Q3
Front: anchorage
Risk. In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.
Show 4 more recalls
repaired · 2017 Q2
Brake lights: switch
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2017 Q2
Engine
Risk. Engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. 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…
no report yet
Air bags: side/window
Risk. The curtain airbag may inflate without deployment command and increase the risk of injury to occupants of the vehicle.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
92kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 341 engine complaints. 55% were reported before 100,000 miles.
27under 30k miles188under 100k miles153100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
20 owners mentioned a cost$400median
Middle half: $343 – $504
Engine
17 owners mentioned a cost$4,800median
Middle half: $1,500 – $5,774
Service brakes
15 owners mentioned a cost$3,000median
Middle half: $365 – $3,377
Air bags
11 owners mentioned a cost$800median
Middle half: $303 – $1,544
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Sonata year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sonata median. How we score
11162922263662349491242762053201992021651,0476964254603453,3801,5591,9217501,157730769375162183135988848173
'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Hyundai Sonata safety ratings
2012 Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Hyundai Sonata, and the recalls they led to.
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 19V-204
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
- Air bags may be disabled during crashLed to recall 18V-137
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 21V-727
- Scope and TimelinessLed to recall 17V-226
In owners' words
What Sonata owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On August 19, 2026, at 76,170 miles, the engine in a 2012 Hyundai Sonata GLS suddenly lost power and shut off while the vehicle was moving on gas station property. The driver had traveled approximately 10 feet before the engine stopped. Repeated attempts to restart were unsuccessful; the engine…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, the engine started knocking, and smoke emitted from under the hood. The contact decelerated to approximately 15 MPH and drove to her nearby residence. Upon…
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. 2022 and this is causing stress, setbacks. No attorneys want to take the…
Own a 2012 Sonata?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.