2012 Hyundai Sonata problems and complaints
Owners have filed 1558 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The most-reported areas: Engine (567), Steering (301), Electrical System (235).
Key takeaways
- 1558 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 51 involve a crash, 95 a fire, 38 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 567 | 36% |
| Steering | 301 | 19% |
| Electrical System | 235 | 15% |
| Air Bags | 170 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 158 | 10% |
| Exterior Lighting | 141 | 9% |
| Unknown Or Other | 122 | 8% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 99 | 6% |
| Power Train | 97 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 84 | 5% |
| Seat Belts | 75 | 5% |
| Structure | 39 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System - filed 2026-10-15
I am reporting a total manufacturer parts shortage. My 2012 Hyundai Sonata GLS is part of the Hyundai Anti-Theft Customer Satisfaction Campaign P33 (Ignition Cylinder Protector). Hyundai launched this program to fix a massive vehicle theft vulnerability, but they have failed to release or distribute the physical parts ...
Air Bags,seat Belts - filed 2026-09-26
The passenger side curtain and front airbags popped with no crash or reason, yes Hyundai will be able to inspect upon pick up. My safety risk was fortunately at minimal during times of explosion because I had just parked the vehicle when curtain side air bags went off first then slowly reserving when the front passenge...
Engine - filed 2026-07-31
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 inspection, the contact observe...
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More for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.