The Lemon Index2012 Hyundai Sonata.
The 2012 Hyundai Sonata is worse than average by owner complaints: 335 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 130, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 26 to 36 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Sonata year is 2004.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,712 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Sonata year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 48K to 113K miles on the car (1,128 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 65K–122K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 43K–100K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 47K–117K miles
Recalls 8
- engine 2018
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.
- seat belts 2018
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…
- seat belts 2017
The seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
Show all 8 recalls
- seat belts 2017
In the affected vehicles, the seat belt linkages for both front seat belts may detach from the seat belt anchor pretensioners.
- lights 2015
The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released.
- engine 2015
In the affected vehicles, metallic debris may not have been fully removed during manufacturing of the engine crankshaft.
- transmission & drivetrain 2014
In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from from the shift lever pin.
- airbags 2012
The curtain side airbags on these vehicles may inflate without deployment command due to an error during manufacturing.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 231 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Issues with a minor clicking or thud type noise when turning the steering wheel
- Slight leak from the oil feed
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenHyundai and kia abs module fires2023
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
- ClosedThrottle control system vulnerabilities2021–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1800–2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Erratic steering pulls lft or right mainly right brought in 3x still not fixed.
2012 Hyundai Sonata owner · NHTSA complaint 10448908
More owner reports
Car has been wandering all over from left to right and all roads. 2nd Sonata in three years both with the same problem. Constantly correcting the steering to keep the car straight.
NHTSA complaint 10551549
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 89,895.
NHTSA complaint 10780264
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 130; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Sonata year by this measure since 2010 is 2010.
What are the most common 2012 Hyundai Sonata problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (26%), steering (25%) and electrical (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata have?
8 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata get?
26 to 36 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Hyundai Sonata problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 48,000 and 113,000 miles. The middle report was at 80,000 miles, from 1,128 complaints.
Does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 8% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata cost in fuel a year?
About $1800 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Hyundai Sonata year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2019 and 2014.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works