10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 24
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,700 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Hyundai Sonata electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 2 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #188

Jan 272022

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2012 Hyundai Sonta. The brake lights are not working properly. I have been changing the tail light for some time now but it doesn't seem to be working. At first all lights came on and they wouldn't go off until I took the battery cable wire off. Then on another day the brake light in the back window, got stuck and the turn signal wasn't lighting up(no brake, nor turn signal lights but it showed in the car like it was working.when hitting the blinkers. I have taken it to several car shops even the dealership to have it checked out. I was told that it wasn't nothing wrong, but got stopped by police on numerous occasions cs the car didn't have Bck lights. The last shop i took it to said that it was the cars electrical system. I've checked to see if there was recalls.Doesn'tshow anything. It should be recalls on this, cause that's a safety hazard. Knowing you just changed out the lights and then boom u have no lights to show your turning or just on the road period at night. This is dangerous, I've almost got rear ended by a semi n other vehicles that was behind me and i had my granddaughter in the vehicle. Please check into this for the safety of ppl like me. Thanks in advance..

- Valdosta, GA, USA

problem #187

Dec 162022

Sonata

  • miles
Hybrid System Malfunction. The "Hybrid System Warning! Safely Stop and Do Not Drive" appeared on the vehicle dashboard. While traveling on the highway or in town the vehicle will want to slow down then stop. The dealership's (Wyatt Johnson Hyundai) Clarksville, TN, maintenance tech have troubleshot the vehicle. Since my daughter and I have owned the vehicle, it has been seen by the dealer a few times during this time a transmission replacement was completed for the Hybrid System Malfunction, which did not solve the problem and I had to pay out almost $6,000. Still, same issue arises and also, I was told by another tech that the transmission is sealed and should not have been opened. The only thing we heard from the dealer(Wyatt Johnson Hyundai) was to come and pick up the car. When my son-n-law went to pick up the vehicle, the engine was still torn apart. They said they would fix it and then let us know when it is ready to be picked up. We have not heard anything from the dealer (Wyatt Johnson Hyundai) at all, assuming they are still working on it. Until, we received a letter from Express Auto the the vehicle was towed and reported abandoned. So, I drove to Clarksville, TN and trailered the vehicle back to Las Vegas, NV to have the Hyundai techs here diagnose the vehicle.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #186

Jun 132023

Sonata

  • miles
Approximately a month ago I notice that my passenger side low beam head light was not working on my 2012 Hyundai Sonata so I purchased a replacement H7 halogen bulb thinking it was simply a burned out bulb. I replace the bulb with the new bulb only to find the low beam was still not working. I tried the new bulb in the drivers side to rule out a bad new bulb. The bulb worked fine in the drivers side. I also inspected the connector found no obvious problem. So far I have not been able to get the passenger side working so I did some on line research and found that this is not an uncommon problem on Hyundai vehicles and particularly with the Sonata. It appears that this is a wiring or computer issue not easily resolved. I believe this is a significant safety issue that Hyundai should repair at no cost.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #185

Jul 012023

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Came Home Saw that the break lights were on in my Sonata. Tapped the brake pedal, they went off. Came home the next day same thing. I found a re call (google) for stuck brake lights. 2011 - 2012 Sonatas. I purchased the car used, and was informed that everything is working and in order. I'm just curios if there were any other reports concerning this matter?

- Springfield, PA, USA

problem #184

May 172023

Sonata

  • miles
My vehicle is experiencing several recall issues. The seat belt in driver seat randomly pops unlocked which is very dangerous while driving, the headlights and brakes lights go out once a month due to some electrical issues with the vehicle, the tire bearing clocks when the vehicle is turning

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #183

Sep 302022

Sonata

  • miles
I was driving on a busy street when all of a sudden. My car reduce speed hesitated There was a pull over Safely and don't drive this vehicle warning Message Every light on the dash came on and shut off in the middle of a busy street. THANK GOD I DIDNT GET HIT Didn't get the chance to pull over the car just shut off. The whole car died I had to have it towed way I tried changing 12 V battery to a brand new one still didn't work. I've had it towed to hyundai dealer. What is wrong with this car? Still don't kno this happened in september of 2022 took it 2 different Hyundai dealerships. As I've been researching this is happening to a lot of people. With the same make a model car. I talk to corporate. They can't help me with anything because it's over a 150000 miles. You would think that they would help with some of the cause being the fact that is happening to all of the hybrid cars

- New Haven, CT, USA

problem #182

Apr 192023

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The break light don-??t want to turn off Seat belts don-??t latch

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #181

Jan 062023

Sonata

  • miles
I recently purchased a Hyundai Sonata hybrid with 132K miles on it and it has been driving fine for at least two weeks until a few days back the car has been displaying a recurring alarm on the dashboard telling " hybrid system warming! Safely Stop and Do Not Drive " now as soon as I turn on the vehicle the alarm comes on immediately. It's been a week since the car is technically inoperable because if I attempt to drive the car it makes this horrible grinding sound which is terrifying considering if I drive like this it would probably cause more damage to the car, and I have look for information on this issue and have found many of these cases over the years that I can relate to but unfortunately there's no a recall of this problem. I'm taking the car to the dealership soon but I don't have any hopes that they will find a permanent fix for this since nobody has apparently. I'm just trying find some help with this issue. So far I just have lots of regrets about this purchase and just hoping I can find some help with this matter.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #180

Jan 062022

Sonata

  • miles
The lighting system on the front and back lights, tail lights and brake lights are shortaged and melts the housings thst the bulbs go in. I have had two of these cars with the same identical problems and my son has had two sonatas and I have more people that-??s having the issue as well. It-??s very dangerous because the tail lights work whenever and me as the driver can-??t see behind me nor the person driving behind me will know that I-??m stopping. I can-??t drive my vehicles at all at this present time and has made s appointment with the company, Hyundai and filed a complaint as well. Something has to be done quickly to put this on the recall list because it-??s very dangerous for myself and others on the national highways

- Moss Point , MS, USA

problem #179

Jul 152018

Sonata

  • miles
My tail and brake lights sometimes work sometimes doesn't. Rear window brake light stays illuminated when car is turned off causing battery to drain. This problem has been on going for years. I can sometimes wiggle bulbs and make them work for a while but problem has been persistent for too many years. Tired of replacing bulbs.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #178

Nov 262022

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power steering loses power and window between speedometer and tach goes blank. Car keeps running but no power steering and cannot take out of park. Must restart the car to solve issue. Happened several times while at idle, in park. Happened once while in drive, at idle while stopped, and was able to drive forward when I discovered no power steering. Concerned it could happen while driving.

- Goodyear, AZ, USA

problem #177

Nov 142022

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
There is a recall of our 2012 Hyundai Sonata but Hyundai never informed us of the recall. https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/Campaign132/sitecontents/English/CustomerLetters/site_97_page_1530_customerLetter1.pdf#pdfjs.action=download Our car qualifies for the recall but Hyundai does not want to do anything about it. Our car experienced engine knocking and we took it to an independent repair shop. The repair shop informed us about the recall but Hyundai never did. The recall is because there is a defect in the engine in which friction caused by metal bits burned up the oil. The low level of oil causes the knocking. The repair shop filled our car engine with oil. We took the car to a Hyundai dealership but they refuse to do the repairs unless the engine is knocking even though the recall letter admits there is a potential safety issue if the engine is not replaced.

- Glenview, IL, USA

problem #176

Aug 072022

Sonata

  • miles
Brake lights keep exploding

- Harrisonburg, VA, USA

problem #175

Aug 032022

Sonata

  • miles
Check hybrid system keeps appearing on the dash, forcing me to have to pull over and stop the car. Dealer can-??t fix it due to the code being intermittent.

- Blythewood , SC, USA

problem #174

Jul 262022

Sonata

  • miles
I was on the expressway and car hesitated and jerked while speed began to increase followed by hybrid warning system alert. (Pull over and stop the vehicle) with a flashing ready light. Could have caused a major accident with loss of life as there was no place to safely pull over. Warning lights came in immediately after the cat jerked.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #173

Jun 012021

Sonata

  • miles
AHB Hydraulic Break Module Failure car only has 60k miles.

- Forney, TX, USA

problem #172

Jun 072022

Sonata

  • miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?: Vehicle went into LIMP mode on highway (June 7th 2022). The next day, the vehicle would not start, despite battery replacement. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk" When in limp mode, car would not accelerate. My vehicle could have been hit by another vehicle due to the sudden, unexpected decline in speed; Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Vehicle was towed to the Hyundai dealership the evening of June 10, 2022. I was informed by Hyundai that it would take 2 to 3 weeks before they could even look at my vehicle. Vehicle has not been diagnosed yet. It is still at Hyundai as of today, June 22, 2022. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle is currently awaiting diagnosis by Hyundai. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" The vehicle went into limp mode. The next day it would not start.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #171

May 032022

Sonata

  • miles
The brake pedal stopper pad deteriorated, allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal was released. This kept my break lights on even when the car was turned off, which lead to issues with my accelerator randomly giving out while I was on the road, and my traction control forced off.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #170

Mar 102022

Sonata

  • miles
It all started with the electronic system. Both of my brake lights burned, leaving huge holes in the back of my brake light bracket. Replace the whole brake assembly on both brake light fixtures, then now my horn is not working-?"nothing to do with the relay or fuse.

- Alvin, TX, USA

problem #169

Mar 252022

Sonata

  • miles
As I was driving on the highway, my car engine stalled and all the interior dashboard lights came on. I was unable to accelerate although all other features of my car worked (steering, brakes, radio, bluetooth, etc...). I was barely able to get off the highway safely as the highway I was on had no shoulder that was safely accessible. Luckily, I was in the far right lane already which allowed me to exit the highway. I was just barely able to exit the highway and move to the middle and far right lane of the service road before my car came to a complete stop. I attempted to turn my car off and back on without success. At this point, I could start to smell burning of something and knew I needed to exit the car immediately, however, I was unable to do so due to traffic on the driver side of my car. I noticed smoke coming from my engine which prompted to me to jump out of the car without continuing to pay attention to the traffic that was passing me. I called 911 to alert them of my car impeding traffic, potentially causing another wreck, and the potential that my car may be on fire. After making those statements to dispatch, flames shot forward from my hood and I was able to move away from my car. The fire department arrived on scene but not before the flames had reached 12+ feet as they were taller than the fire truck. The firefighters were able to put out the flames. My car engine was completely melted from the fire. At this point, the dealership, insurance agent or any other representative has determined a cause of the fire or has looked at my car. No warning lights to indicate a malfunction was visible prior to the incident. No noises or engine malfunctions were noted prior to the incident.

- Rowlett, TX, USA

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