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 5 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #128

Apr 082020

Sonata

  • 140,000 miles

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

My brake switch light keeps failing I have replaced it once already and now once again my brake lights are staying on while I'm driving I think there is a problem but I'm not sure what I know there was a recall a while ago

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #127

Mar 132020

Sonata

  • 106,669 miles
My airbag light came on randomly one night and will not go off, it will flicker on and off but eventually just stays on. This happened a few nights ago. I noticed it once I parked at home. This morning when I crunk the car, it was on and then went off and came on every time I turned my steering wheel until it just stayed on for the remainder of my drive. Also the interior lights stay on unless I have them turned off (if they are set to come on with 'door open' they stay on indefinitely)

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #126

Feb 012020

Sonata

  • miles
Continued issues since day one of ownership of vehicle with rear break lights constantly burning out and bulbs melting where there to be installed. Causing issues with replacing new bulbs all together and unable to twist in/out of replacement bulbs. Preventing new bulbs from being able to be replaced.

- Nacogdoches, TX, USA

problem #125

Feb 072020

Sonata

  • 140,234 miles

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

The brake sockets are burnt and lightbulbs are melting. My brake light continues to go out.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #124

Dec 052019

Sonata

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was at stand still at a parking light over night, when noticed the front driver and door side was burned. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated no one was injured or sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to impound lot. The contact called local dealer capitol Hyundai service center located at 1050 capitol expressway auto mall, san jose, ca 95136, (408) 445-1600, were made aware of the failure. The contact stated a third party company inspected and diagnosed the vehicle, but did not release any information. The vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer had been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #123

Dec 212019

Sonata

  • 88,000 miles
Brake lights go out all the time even after replacing. Have now replaced wiring in both and new problems now the brake light stay on all the time

- Yorkville, IL, USA

problem #122

Jan 072020

Sonata

  • 71,000 miles

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

The brake lights are remaining on even if brake pads are not being depressed. While driving or in park. The car also will stall while driving down the road.

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #121

Aug 172017

Sonata

  • miles
We own a 2012 Hyundai Sonata and the brake-tail lights keep going out. One tail light we had to replace the whole assembly because the hole that the bulb goes in melted. It does not matter what you do they always burn out. When I'm on the highway and I'm behind a Hyundai Sonata or elantra around the 2012 model they always have a tail light that does not work. I know a few other people who have had this issue. I emailed Hyundai about it and they said their basically not doing anything about it. This is a safety issue that can cause someone to run into the back of you.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #120

Nov 162019

Sonata

  • 170,002 miles
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?

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #119

Jun 222019

Sonata

  • 118,000 miles
On June 22th, 2019 I was driving on the highway in my 2012 Hyundai Sonata gls and I heard a knocking sound under my hood and my engine light came on, so I pulled over to be safe. I called roadside assistance but the time of arrival was two plus hours. Since I was within a half mile of my home I continued on. Made an appointment with bentley Hyundai in huntsville, al for June 24th, 2019. My car sat for 2 days because it was the weekend and bentley Hyundai service was closed. The morning of June 24th, 2019 my vehicle would not start so I had it towed to bentley Hyundai. I ask chris erickson service advisor was there any service campaigns or recalls for my vehicle since I had many others for my Hyundai Sonata gls recently. After about thirty minutes he came back and said no which was not true. Here is the proof: Hyundai assurance car care website it states; service campaign T3G dealer best practice launch February 15th, 2019 for Sonata/sante fe sport/ tucson engine dtc P1326 wiring inspection/installation and engine replacement (tsb # 19-01-006H supercedes tsb # 18-01-032-2). It specifically states affected vehicles affected 2011-2014 my Sonata (yf) vehicles with 2.0L turbo and 2.4 engines that may experience the check light engine warning lamp illuminated with dtc P1326. According to bentley Hyundai service department it was a switch issues which caused the problem. I paid $572.36 for repairs. On 11/10/2019 I experienced the exact same issue knocking under the hood and engine light came on continous blinking. I was almost hit by an 18 wheeler because my vehicle decreased in speed drastically, pull to the shoulder drove very slow to advance auto two minutes away. They did a diagnostic code was P1326. I waited five hours for a tow from nashville, tn to bentley Hyundai in huntsville, al which cost me $475. Now Hyundai is asking me for $6785.82 for an entire new engine.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #118

Oct 012019

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles

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

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.

- Mount Vernon, AL, USA

problem #117

Oct 182019

Sonata

  • miles
My car would no longer start. I received a jump. The car started. It would not start again. I received a jump. The car started. I let it run 40 mins. I shut it off; tried to start the car back up; and it would not start. I received a third jump, it started, and I took my battery to get tested. The battery was fine. We went to jump it again, and we could not get it to start. I had it towed. After inspection, the battery tested as fine for a 2nd time. It was believed that the started needed to be replaced. A different mechanic came out for the started replacement but wanted to run some additional tests due to this being a common Sonata issue. He jumped the car and immediately it started by bypassing the break. He tested the battery (3rd time)--passed. Alternator--passed. Starter--passed. He advised me to take it to the dealership to have them pinpoint the relay/signal that was not properly working. I took the car to the dealership where they required another diagnostic. The dealership claims there a bad battery, despite it having passed 3X prior and would not do anything further because they say its a bad battery and nothing else--despite me consistently telling them the car has had electrical issues since purchased (cpo) and this being a [google-able and] very common issue with the 2012 Sonata. Less than 3 months ago, I experienced a common issue with the brake lights not turning off as well. The 2011 - 2013 Sonatas are ridden with electrical issues that Hyundai is covering up, and this needs to be recalled.

- Holiday, FL, USA

problem #116

Sep 142019

Sonata

  • 95,000 miles
Brake light burnt out also burnt the light fixture. Dealer said this was a problem so they changed the brake light piece on the harness and the fixture. But the didnt recall it. So if you order another light harness it won't fit because of the change. Smh now air bag light came on while driving down road. Now riding without brake light. I've seen so many of the same without 1 brake light smh. Guess same problem!

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #115

Jul 032019

Sonata

  • 89,000 miles
This is a common problem I see in these cars. The taillights melt and melt the housing causing a fire hazard and collision hazard due to no brake lights

- Gulf Breeze, FL, USA

problem #114

Aug 252019

Sonata

  • 121,000 miles
Vehicle stalls/dies while driving. It stalled 2 times but when I pulled over, it would start right away. While trying to make it home, it stalled for a third time and while pulling over it started smoking so bad I thought the vehicle was going to catch on fire. Vehicle had to be towed. There is an engine recall for this vehicle but dealer is giving me the runaround. Very disappointed with how Hyundai has handled the incident that almost caused an accident that could off been deadly.

- Mascotte, FL, USA

problem #113

Aug 202019

Sonata

  • 93,000 miles
There were recent recalls for the vehicle to fix faulty sensor and front air bags. Recently I see the air bag sensor light on in the dashboard and also after the airbag was replaced, I could hear a cluck sound in my steering while driving.

- Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

problem #112

Aug 072019

Sonata

  • miles
My radio just stop working suddenly. Then few days after the car wont start.

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #111

Jul 242019

Sonata

  • miles
Car brake light keep overheating causing the brake light sockets to burn out

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #110

Jul 022019

Sonata

  • 120,000 miles
The power to the engine cuts out when the lights are turned on.

- Winchester, CA, USA

problem #109

Mar 132019

Sonata

  • 117,000 miles
Electrical wires getting hot and constantly having to change tail light bulbs... just a matter of time I'm sure it will cause a fire

- Martinez, GA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

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