2012 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,557 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 51 involved a crash and 95 involved a fire. 38 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineDec 28, 2018
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles previously repaired under recall numbers 15V-568 and 17V-226. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, allowing fuel to leak from the pipe.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's recall number for this recall is 180.
Campaign 18V934000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, pretensionerFeb 27, 2018
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. On February 27, 2018, Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) notified NHTSA that they were recalling 154,753 model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. On April 18, 2018, Hyundai expanded the recall to include an additional 425,305 model year 2012-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying.
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 a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install an external wire filter kit, free of charge. The recall began October 15, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 174.
Campaign 18V137000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, pretensionerOct 4, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles previously repaired under recall campaign 17V-152. The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
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 injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will again verify the connection between the seat belt linkage and the pretensioner and additionally install a warning label to prevent future seat belt linkage detachment, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 169.
Campaign 17V617000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, anchorageMar 8, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
In the event of a crash, if the seat belts detach from the anchor pretensioners, it can increase the risk of injury.
Hyundai will notify owners and dealers will inspect the connection between the seat belt linkages and the seat belt anchor pretensioners, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 7, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for the recall is 160.
Campaign 17V152000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchNov 16, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.
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 accurate communication to rearward following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 136.
Campaign 15V759000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineSep 10, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to April 12, 2012 at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and equipped with either a 2.0 liter or 2.4 liter Gasoline Direct injection engine. In the affected vehicles, metallic debris may not have been fully removed during manufacturing of the engine crankshaft. If the debris was not completely removed, oil flow may be restricted through the connecting rod bearings, causing connecting rod damage. A worn connecting rod bearing will produce a metallic, cyclic knocking noise from the engine and possible engine failure.
Engine failure would result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the engine assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Additionally, Hyundai Motor America will increase the warranty for the engine sub-assembly (short block) to 10 years/120,000 miles for both original and subsequent owners of 2011 and 2012 Sonatas manufactured at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama equipped with 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter Gasoline Direct injection engines. Interim notifications were mailed to owners starting on October 8, 2015. A second notification will be mailed when parts are available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059 or by visiting www.HyundaiUSA.com/Campaign132. Hyundai's number for this recall is 132.
Campaign 15V568000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionJul 18, 2014
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, through May 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin.
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 unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver parks the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position and the parking brake is not applied, there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, repair the connection between the shift cable and shift lever, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 123.
Campaign 14V434000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowJul 24, 2012
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Hyundai Sonata passenger cars, manufactured from January 24, 2012, through June 21, 2012. The curtain side airbags on these vehicles may inflate without deployment command due to an error during manufacturing.
The curtain airbag may inflate without deployment command and increase the risk of injury to occupants of the vehicle. Additionally, an unexpected deployment would be a significant driver distraction and would limit the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai dealers will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain side airbags free of charge. This recall began on August 31, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 12V352000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
301 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jul 13, 2020
MAKES AN UNKNOWN CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TWIST THE WHEEL
Steering, Engine, Jun 25, 2020
CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CLUNKING NOISE SINCE 2018. VEHICLE WOULD STALL ALL OF A SUDDEN. DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT OUT AND THEY FAILED TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON 6/23 I WAS ON THE FAST LANE OF THE FREEWAY AND CAR STALLED AND ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY BLINKING ON AND OFF. CYCLIC KNOCKING NOISE, RPM WOULD NOT ELEVATE FROM 1 CAR JUST STALLED WHILE IN MOTION I ALMOST GOT HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES. WAS ABLE TO PULL CAR TO THE SIDE. WHILE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED BLINKING. GOING UP HILL IT LOST POWER AS WELL. I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITH MY GRANDKIDS IN THE BACK SEAT. I FEARED FOR ALL OF OUR LIVES. SENDING PICTURES AND I HAVE A VIDEO AS WELL. *TR
Steering, Jun 18, 2020
THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THERE IS A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE ASSOCIATED WITH MY STEERING COLUMN THAT IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ISSUE IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BUT I BELIEVE HYUNDAI SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE FOR FREE. THE CLICKING SOUND IS LOUD AND MAKES LOTS OF NOISE WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR TURN THE WHEEL. *TR
Steering, Engine, Jun 8, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERT OGDEN HARLINGEN HYUNDAI 8621 E FRONTAGE RD, HARLINGEN, TX 78552 956-4230-5555, TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 (ENGINE) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP AND NOT THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO HAVE A SPECIALIST PERFORM A SOUND TEST FROM INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPECIALIST FOUND NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS INFORMED THAT ON A PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER UNREPAIRED WITH THE ENGINE FAILURE AND ALSO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Steering, May 24, 2020
THE STEERING WHEEL CLICKS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, WHEN STEERING. IT'S A RATTLING METAL CLICKING SOUND. CAR SEEMS TO STEER, BUT THE NOISE IS WORRISOME. I CAN BE DRIVING AND WHEN I MOVE STEERING WHEEL, IT CLICKS AND WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. IT CLICKS WITH MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Steering, Structure, Wheels, May 18, 2020, crash
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CAUSING ME TO HIT THE ONLY PARKED CAR THAT WAS 20 FT FROM THE CORNER. *TR
Steering, May 17, 2020
STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE RAPIDLY WHEN DRIVING. ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE.
Steering, May 14, 2020
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICK WHEN TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE WITH TIME. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR MDPS RUBBER COUPLER LINK HAD BEGAN TO FAIL. THIS CAUSE A DEAD ZONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH GETS WORSE WITH TIME. THE LINK IS A KNOWN FAILING PART AND COST $10 TO REPLACE THE PART BUT 300 FOR LABOR DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDING TO BE COMPLETELY REMOVED TO REPLACE THE FAULTY RUBBER PART. *TR
Steering, May 12, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURING, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC LINKED THE FAILURE TO TWO UNKNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Steering, May 3, 2020
STEERING WHEEL NOISE MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.
Steering, Mar 4, 2020
STEERING WHEEL STARTED "STICKING" AS YOUR GOING STRAIT. IT IS NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND DANGEROUS AT HIGH SPEEDS WHERE IT IS EASY TO OVER-CORRECT STEERING. BEEN READING REVIEWS OF COMMON USER COMPLAINTS BUT DO NOT SEE ANY RECALLS AS OF YET. OPENED CASE WITH HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA CASE#: 16870224 - WAS ASKED TO GO TO DEALER TO HAVE CHECKED OUT.
Steering, Feb 29, 2020
EPS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NOW THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP ON ME NOW I CANTSEI
Steering, Feb 26, 2020
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT. IT GETS WORSE AS YOU ACCELERATE IN SPEED. FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY YOU CAN TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AND STILL HEAR THE CLICKING SOUND.
Steering, Feb 4, 2020
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE, LEFT & RIGHT
Steering, Jan 17, 2020
200,000 MILES. AT SPEEDS ABOVE 25 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL " CHATTERS IN A SIDEWAYS MOTION. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF YOU PUT A LITTLE SIDEWAYS STEERING PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL AND THEN LET GO, IT JUMPS ALL AROUND. TIE RODS AND RACK/PINION HAVE BEEN RULED OUT AS THE CAUSE BY MICHIGAN STATE CERTIFIED AND LICENSED MECHANICS.
Steering, Dec 31, 2019
WHILE DRIVING AT ALMOST ANY SPEED, AS LONG AS IT IS IN A FAIRLY STRAIGHT LINE, THE STEERING HAS A CATCH IN IT WHEN YOU TRY TO EASE THE CAR TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK IN A RUT AND YOU HAVE TO TURN HARDER THAN EXPECTED TO BREAK IT OUT OF THAT RUT. THIS CAUSES INSTANCES OF OVERSTEERING. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE AT ALL!!
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Dec 14, 2019
THERE IS A KNOCK IN THE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP ITS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOSE THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I DRIVE OR WHEN IM SITTING STILL IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT KNOCKS
Steering, Dec 7, 2019
AFTER APPX 65K MILES, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED CLICKING WHILE STATIONARY OR MOVING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE DESCRIBED THE ISSUE AS THE STEERING KNUCKLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. MY ISSUE WAS NOT ONLY THE KNUCKLE, BUT THE STEERING GEARBOX. THERE WERE TEETH BROKEN ON THE GEARS. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. $2000-$4000. THESE ISSUES SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS THERE WERE WEAK OR DEFECTIVE PARTS INSTALLED DURING THE BUILD PROCESS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 16, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MY 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0T LIMITED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN WHILE PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND BEFORE I STOPPED ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE PANEL WERE OUT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRIED TO CUT IT OFF WITH THE PUSH STOP BUTTON AND IT WOULD NOT CUT OFF. THEN I CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND BEFORE I ENDED THE CALL THE ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRESSING THE ENGINE STOP BUTTON. IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN A BUSY AREA THE COULD HAVE ENDED IN A FATALITY. WHY ARE THERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS?
Steering, Nov 14, 2019
CLUNKING WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. CLUNKING WHEN STATIONARY AND TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT.
Steering, Nov 13, 2019
ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE A LOT OF NOISE AND THE STEERING COLUMN RATTLES WHEN YOU HIT THE SMALLEST BUMPS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE STEERING STRAIGHT AND IT IS MY WIFE'S CALL DRIVING MY FAMILY TO SCHOOL ETC. IT WILL CATCH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN INCREASING THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE QUICK MOVES.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 6, 2019
WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR WOULD JUST STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE WOULD JUST STOP. WE NEARLY GOT ON A ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. I HAVE NO PICTURE DIE TO IT SITTING AT THE SHOP NOW FOR 3 WEEKS. MY HUSBAND RISKS LOSING HIS JOB CAUSE OF THE ENGINE GOING OUT ON OUR 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. AND IT COULD POSSIBLY GET REPOSSESSED. THEN WE COULDNT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. IT WONT CRANK OR TURN OVER AT ALL. IT WOULD IT UP ALOT OF OIL JUST IN ONE MONTH AND WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE WINDOWS WOULDNT GO DOWN AND THE LOCKS WOULDNT LOCK. HAD ALOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THATS OUR ONLY CAR TO GET TO AND FROM WORK,NOW WE HAVE NOTHING CAUSE WE CANT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. NO ONE WILL HELP US WITH THIS RECALL ON THIS VIECHLE. WE WILL LOSE OUR CAR IF THE RECALL ON THIS CAR/ENGINE AND ETC THAT IS RECALLED ON THIS VIECHLE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP.
Steering, Oct 21, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE DETECTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED BLAISE ALEXANDER HYUNDAI (1703 W COLLEGE AVE, STATE COLLEGE, PA 16801, (814) 234-2886) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Oct 16, 2019
NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING INTO PARKING PLACE. ALSO MY SONATA LOCKS DOORS BY ITSELF. I CAN BE IN HOUSE AND CAR IS IN GARAGE AND I CAN HEAR THE DOORS LOCK. SOMETIMES WHEN I LEAVE MY HOUSE TO GET IN CAR THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. WHY IS THAT? THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. HYUNDAI SERVICE SAID TO BRING CAR IN AND THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT. I DID NOT DO THAT DUE TO NEEDING THE CAR EVERY DAY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 15, 2019
WAS CHANGING LANES AND TRIED TO PICK UP SPEED. AT WHICH POINT MY ENGINE LOCKED UP AND NO LONGER TURN OVER. THIS CAUSED MY POWER STEERING TO FAIL, BRAKES TO BE APPLIED DESPITE ME NOT PRESSING THEM. THEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SMELL LIKE IT WAS BURNING. I WAS GOING 50 ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS ACCRUED DURING RUSH HOUR.