2012 HYUNDAI SONATA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The airbag warning light came on, so we took it in to see about a recall on the airbag control unit issue that required a wire filter kit as out lined in a recall in 2011-2013 Sonatas and Sonata Hybrids. In fact, upon reading the invoice filling out this form, I think that is exactly the issue, and Potamkin Hyundai is ignoring the recall. The invoice states that "AIRBAG MODULE NEED FIXING caused by the DTC for the driver airbag resistance is too high, and has liquid leaking out of it through the connector into the clock spring, and need to replace the air bag incongruent with clock spring to perform repair correctly" The technician explained to my son that driving the car in it's current state, the air bag could go off at any moment, possibly killing him. Their airbag could kill my child. The repair is quoted at $1588 and the solution was to turn off the airbag until a decision could be made if my son wanted to drive the car home, which he did, so not it is disabled. It is a Hyundai manufactured airbag, a safety feature installed into this vehicle that should not degrade over time. It is actually the reason my aunt bought the car for her child and why my son bought the car from her. The car has never been wrecked, the airbag had never been deployed or otherwise molested, has been dealer maintained, and had an extended warranty. I spoke to a Hyundai representative and am awaiting a call back, I do not think that he should be responsible for repair of a defective, degrading safety feature built and manufactured by Hyundai, installed a vehicle built and manufactured by Hyundai. I believe other people should be warned that their Sonata airbags might also have this dangerous issue and it should be immediately investigated. Attached is the invoice given to my son.

While driving, the vehicle experienced sudden engine malfunction. The car entered limp mode, lost power, and produced a loud knocking noise from the engine. The failure occurred without warning and created a safety risk because the vehicle could not accelerate properly in traffic. This increased the risk of being rear-ended or unable to move out of dangerous situations. The issue appears to involve the engine (possible internal failure). The vehicle is currently at an authorized dealership and is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been confirmed by the dealership during inspection. The vehicle has been under diagnosis for over three weeks. There were no prior major warning signs before the failure. At the time of the incident, the vehicle suddenly lost performance, entered limp mode, and began making abnormal engine noise. This issue is consistent with widely reported engine defects in similar vehicles. Despite this, the manufacturer has denied coverage and attributed the issue to maintenance, even though regular maintenance was performed. This is a serious safety concern due to sudden loss of power while driving.

While I was driving my car wouldn’t go no higher than 60mph and kept dropping speed but I came to a stop and when I stopped the car was smoking. I heard knocking noise and rumbling noise on the passenger side. It wouldn’t start again

Painting chipping on front top car... Seatbelt don't fasten all the time...Lights are dim.

The warning light for the airbags is on on my dashboard with no airbags ever been deployed.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. The contact stated that the mileage on the title was discovered to be 98,000. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 99,000; however, a Carfax Report indicated that the mileage was 237,532.

My 2012 Hyundai Sonata recently had an engine replacement completed under a Hyundai recall. Immediately after the recall repair, the vehicle began shaking while driving, produced a burning smell, and the air conditioning stopped working, none of which occurred prior to the recall repair. These symptoms started immediately after the engine replacement, indicating a possible improper or unsafe installation. I believe the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to the burning smell and shaking. I contacted Hyundai Customer Service and was told the issue must be resolved with the dealership. However, the dealership has refused timely inspection, has dismissed my safety concerns, and has declined to provide a rental or loaner vehicle, leaving me without safe transportation. This is a post-recall safety issue, and I am concerned about the risk of fire or mechanical failure due to the burning smell and vehicle instability. I am requesting this issue be formally investigated.

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check brake and "Hybrid System Warning Safely Stop - Do Not Drive" messages were displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and the contact replaced the hydraulic pressure units and hydraulic unit assemblies (HECU/ABS modules). The contact stated that after the repairs, the failure returned approximately 30,000 miles later. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Unknown, my ESP KEEPS Coming trying to see if it’s recall

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, which required the oil reservoir to be refilled after 3-4 weeks. Additionally, there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to Jiffy Lube for a top off, the mechanic would inform the contact that the oil reservoir was empty and needed to be refilled. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

The vehicle dashboard is severely cracked. It doesn’t appear to be from wear and tear.

The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving to her residence at unknown speeds, the vehicle suddenly caught fire while making a U-turn. The brakes and emergency brake were inoperable. The seatbelt was inoperable. The driver jumped out of the window. A pedestrian attempted to alert her of the fire. The vehicle exploded after exiting the vehicle. The contact sustained an injury to her leg, but no medical attention was provided. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. There was no report of a crash or airbag deployment. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000. The vehicle was auctioned off by the towing company.

Fire 1 injured

Based on what I experienced, the fire appears to have resulted from an internal mechanical or electrical failure that occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion. No prior issues or dashboard alerts were present at the time, and there was no external impact or damage that could explain the fire.

Fire

Based on what I experienced, the fire appears to have resulted from an internal mechanical or electrical failure that occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion. No prior issues or dashboard alerts were present at the time, and there was no external impact or damage that could explain the fire.

Fire

Based on what I experienced, the fire appears to have resulted from an internal mechanical or electrical failure that occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion. No prior issues or dashboard alerts were present at the time, and there was no external impact or damage that could explain the fire.

Fire

Noticed there’s a crack on the passenger side dashboard of the car that’s about 12 inches long. From what I read this could cause issues with any possible airbag deployment.

The engine in my Hyundai Sonata (replacement engine VIN [XXX] ) experienced a complete internal failure. The component that failed is the 2.4L Theta II GDI engine, which is known for issues related to metal debris, oil restriction, rod bearing wear, and resulting piston and compression failure. The failed engine is currently at the dealership (Carolina Hyundai) and is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk because the engine lost power unexpectedly, ran extremely rough, and became inoperable. A sudden loss of power while driving could have caused a crash, especially in traffic situations. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership. They performed a compression test and found all cylinders at extremely low PSI (35–45 psi). The dealer stated the engine cannot perform the required bearing clearance test due to the level of internal damage. Hyundai Corporate initially declined assistance, calling it a piston failure, but the symptoms and damage are consistent with the known Theta II recall issues. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, and all diagnostic information has been submitted to Hyundai under PA Reference #XXX. Hyundai Corporate has not yet responded to me with a case manager. Before the engine failure, the vehicle had rough running and loss of power, but no warning lights or messages illuminated on the dashboard. Symptoms appeared shortly before the engine became undriveable. Based on the dealer’s findings and the engine’s known defect history, it is my assessment that the failure is related to the same issues described in Hyundai’s Theta II engine recall (Campaign 132). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2012 Hyundai Sonata (VIN: [XXX] ) experienced complete engine failure at 241,433 miles on August 7, 2025. The failure aligns with known safety defect symptoms described under NHTSA Recall Campaign 15V568000 and 17V226000, which cite premature bearing wear due to metal debris during engine manufacturing. My vehicle had previously received the knock sensor update under Campaign T3G and failed the BCT (bearing clearance test), confirming bearing damage. Despite this, Hyundai denied my engine replacement claim, stating the issue was related to a fuel pipe and not a rod bearing issue—this is contrary to their own recall documentation and dealer diagnosis. Hyundai continues to deny engine replacement, in violation of their federal recall obligations under 49 U.S.C. §30120. Their refusal endangers public safety by ignoring engine failures that can lead to stalling and crashes. I request NHTSA intervention to compel Hyundai Motor America to comply with federal law and perform the necessary recall repairs on my vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2012 Hyundai Sonata cut off and stopped working! The vehicle locked up in the middle of a main street and would not start back up causing a very unsafe situation. There were no check engine lights on or anything at the time of the incident I immediately had the vehicle towed and inspected it has been determined that the engine is failing! Upon research I found out that these engines have had recalls in the past. Carfax shows that the vehicle has been taken in for routine maintenance and oil changes when needed. I am looking to see if the engine replacement could be covered for this vehicle.

My engine seized on the highway on my way home from work. The service department has been horrid. They lied about who the manager is. They lied about the reason behind not wanting to honor the recall. They are rude - threatened to tow my car today after I waited 6 days to hear back from them about the issue with my car and determination. Was extremely rude. Stated that they were not honoring the recall because there was obvious signs of my engine being tampered with or certain parts on my engine, but could not provide a name of the part or a serial or model number so that this could be verified. I need this addressed immediately.

Crash

No incident to report. Vehicle not regularly driven in about 5 years, other than to keep battery charged. But charge not hold. Have to charge battery again the next day. This is to reporting a crack in the passenger side dashboard where airbag is located.

This is the 2nd Hyundai I've owned, same year make and model. The first one was totaled due to the air bag deployment. The accident did not warrant the air bag deploying. I should have reported it at the time. I didn't realize that I could and now it's too late. The claim has already been submitted. Now, we have the same exact car and a crack has appeared on the passenger dash. My concern is the airbag. The crack just appeared from nowhere. I do not feel that we should have to pay for a replacement dash. Is this something that can be repaired by Hyundai, as it poses a risk to my 18 year old student driver. My number is [XXX] , [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Vehicle loses power while driving making it unsafe to drive, it can cause an accident in certain conditions like when passing another vehicle or crossing a street. There is a recall for this issue.

My car has a problem whith the break lamps, the sockets that hold the bulbs are melting and they have deformed making it hard to replace the fused bulbs. Also the brake light stay on even after the engine is off draining the Battery and causing a short circuit.

Driving came to a stop ,light turned green made a U-turn to go to the gas station heard a pop noise smoke came from inside the car tried stopping it but the brake pedal sunk into the ground pressed my emergency brake it was seized wouldn’t go down (never had that issue my brakes always work ) I smelled brake fluid and seen the abs light on the dash then the power started to go out and my girlfriend almost got trapped in the car

Fire

Driving came to a stop ,light turned green made a U-turn to go to the gas station heard a pop noise smoke came from inside the car tried stopping it but the brake pedal sunk into the ground pressed my emergency brake it was seized wouldn’t go down (never had that issue my brakes always work ) I smelled brake fluid and seen the abs light on the dash then the power started to go out and my girlfriend almost got trapped in the car

Fire

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V934000 (Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled after five minutes. The engine and the ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the maintenance records were needed. The contact was using an independent mechanic for maintenance and did not have the records. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

came off the highway to a stop sign went turn and the engine just seized and would not start no matter what I did. had to have it towed to my house. safety risk was just off the road so i did not get hit. police stop and told me to get a tow truck. and no warning signs at all

The part of hand break assembly that’s inside the disk break (the drum assembly) fell off when the dealer ( [XXX] Hyundai, Schaumburg, IL) tried to adjusted. I went to the dealer because the hand break stop to function. I suspect very bad design of the whole assembly disk and drum break. Also the dealer stated that all assembly was rusted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

came off the highway to a stop sign went turn and the engine just seized and would not start no matter what I did. had to have it towed to my house. safety risk was just off the road so i did not get hit. police stop and told me to get a tow truck. and no warning signs at all

My 2012 Hyundai Sonata originally had its engine replaced under Hyundai’s recall (NHTSA Recall #17V226000) due to the Theta II GDI engine defect. The replacement engine was installed by the dealership as part of the recall. However, the replacement engine has now failed after only ~50,000 miles, exhibiting the same issues (engine knocking, stalling, and eventual failure). This occurred despite proper maintenance and care. The dealership contacted Hyundai, and I also contacted Hyundai Consumer Affairs directly. Both refused to replace or assist with the failed replacement engine. It is unacceptable that a recall replacement engine would fail so soon and that Hyundai will not stand behind the part they used to correct a safety defect. The issue remains a serious safety concern, especially since engine failure can lead to fire. I request that NHTSA investigate the durability and safety of replacement engines and Hyundai’s refusal to support affected owners when these replacement engines fail prematurely. I have case number with Hyundai 41436693

With no warning my car left me sit on the side of the road and when started the engine made an awful knocking noise. Hyundai denied to replace the engine despite there being at least 2 engine recalls. When I asked why they said it was due to no maintenance records so I provided them with maintenance records like they requested and then they deny it again and say they aren’t replacing the engine because the problem with my engine had nothing to do with the 2 engine recalls my vehicle IS affected by.

Airbags failed to deploy. I was involved in a hit and run accident. Vehicle has not been inspected. I had a recall done on it with paperwork confirming it was fixed. I have 4 herniated discs in my back and neck.

Crash 1 injured

This is the first time I have an engine failure. I drove my car 3 min before merging into the route 1 highway. In approximately 800 feet, my car went haywire, all lights in the dashboard went ON, the steering wheel got stiff, and the car speed dropped off, I almost got rear-ended. I made an effort to pull over to the break lane. The car shut off and I could not get it to start. I opened the hood, a light smoke was coming out of the engine. I left it open to make sure it doesn't get worse. After 10 min, a State trooper stopped by to check on my safety, I informed him that I called the insurance to report the incident and request a tow truck. After the tow truck dropped off my car in front of my house, I called a mechanic to check it, he informed me that the engine is seized.

I bought car octv230th little after month as driving engine failure occurred had towed to dealership and they sent to authorized hyndai dealership for the extended warranty campaign. That garage acknowledged problems with the cars engine stating rod bearing clearance and the engine had to be replaced then charged me denied the extended warranty they initially said would classify for. I couldn't keep up with traffic and was very busy almost cause a crash.

I was driving I seen smoke then full flames on my windshield and I tried to stop and put my car in park to get out but my brakes stopped working and I couldn’t get the gear in park so I opened the driver door and had to jump out of the car .I had an engine replacement a year before for it being recalled and police and firefighters were on scene after incident

Fire 1 injured