Hyundai Sonata / 2012
2012 Hyundai Sonata problems
Owners have filed 2,280 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 24.9% of them — the clear leader, ahead of steering at 13.2%.
Complaints2,280
Crashes86
Fires165
Injuries68
Deaths3
What owners report breaking
Engine 24.9% · 567
Steering 13.2% · 301
Electrical system 10.3% · 234
Air bags 7.5% · 170
Service brakes 6.6% · 151
Exterior lighting 6.3% · 143
Unknown or other 5.4% · 122
Fuel/propulsion system 4.3% · 99
Severity
Of those complaints, 86 describe a crash, 165 describe a fire, 68 report an injury and 3 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 25 model years of the Hyundai Sonata in this data, 2012 ranks 3rd by complaint volume — 2011 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 219 in the last three years against 473 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 80,000 miles.
In owners' own words
I was parked. I started the car and put it in reverse to move it closer to a building, from one side of a dirt driveway to the other. When I started backing up everything seemed fine but after a few, maybe 3 seconds, the engine started roaring and the car took off at tremendous speed. I don't know how fast the car went.I hit the building, that's what stopped the car. I don't know if it would have stopped otherwise. Engine · reported at 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at approximately 25 mph, the vehicle sputtered and the engine stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v568000 (engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000. Engine · reported at 66,000 miles
My car broke down on a busy highway during a lunch rush due to an engine rod knocking in the engine. It was a terrifying experience and even sitting still on the side of the road I was scared my car would be hit by any of the 70-80mph cars exiting the ramp behind me. I tried joining the class action suit but for some reason, even though it's the same engine with the same problem, hybrids aren't a part of the suit. Engine · reported at 75,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…