10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 61
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,945 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 12 of 27)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #303

Apr 192020

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles

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

The vehicle does not start as it doesn't recognize the key fob. My daughters and wife have been stranded on different occasions as they were not able to start the car. Something is wrong with the electrical as the engine does not recognize the key. I am scared to take the car on long trips as this happens frequently and it can take up to 20 attempts before the engine starts. Please help!!

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #302

Mar 022020

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles
I am contacting you regarding the following recalls, part 573 safety recall report 17V-226 and 15V-568 after visiting Hyundai dealership twice, my car still has knocking noise from the engine, and the last month my car engine caught fire

- Rolla, MO, USA

problem #301

Mar 292020

Sonata

  • 85,648 miles
On Sunday March 29,2020, the vehicle was in motion on a city street, my wife was driving the vehicle to her daughter's house. A knocking noise from the engine and illumination of the check engine light happened. The vehicle then stalled and the engine went dead. It did not respond at all to start it. It was towed to my wife's daughter's house by a friend of mine with a strap to pull a vehicle. The distance to her house was about a quarter of a mile. The next day on 03/30/2020 I went to go check on it to see what the problem was. There was no response on the engine. On 03/31/2020 I contacted allstate, my insurance company and the vehicle was towed by a wrecker to an auto electric business. On 04/02/2020 the mechanic said I needed a new motor, the engine was locked. That same day allstate towed it to a mechanic. On 04/03/2020 the mechanic called me and said the engine was locked and not responding. He said I needed a new motor or a used one. I then left it there until I researched any recalls on this make and model. On 04/08/2020 I found a website that is autoservice. Hyundaiusa.com and it did say my wife's vehicle was affected. I request a recall on this make and model on the engine to be inspected by a Hyundai dealer. My complaint as a buyer on this vehicle is that we should have been notified of this problem of metal debris generated on the manufacturing of the engine. These engines were manufactured at Hyundai motor manufacturing Alabama.

- Weslaco, TX, USA

problem #300

Apr 032020

Sonata

  • miles

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

I was on my way home the engine shutdown

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #299

Mar 092020

Sonata

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns an 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 55 mph the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The check engine, oil, and the transmission temperature warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over abd observed white smoke coming from the under the hood. There was also an odor of burning plastic. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

- Bayonne, NJ, USA

problem #298

Feb 292020

Sonata

  • 149,000 miles
I never had a check engine light on my vehicle but while I was driving in the middle of the road the vehicle engine shut off. I recently got my oil changed..

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #297

Dec 212019

Sonata

  • 105,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The contact stated while driving at 15 mph, white smoke emitted from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that a message was displayed on the instrument panel to (pull the vehicle over and turn engine off). The contact pulled the vehicle over and the vehicle was towed to tulsa Hyundai located at (9777 S. memorial dr, tulsa, ok 74133) to be diagnosed where the failure was discovered to be related to the engine. The vehicle was not repaired and currently still at the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to pay $1,500 of the repair cost for goodwill. The failure mileage was 105,000.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #296

Feb 132020

Sonata

  • 73,500 miles
You can add my Sonata to the list of blown engine.its in the shop now having the engine replaced under warranty only 73,000 + miles on it always used mobil one.oil at around 7,000 mile intervals. Was just returning home getting off freeway running around 70mph slowed down for curve in side road to about 45mph. Accelerated and engine quit shuttered and vibrated. I was able to drive about a mile on the battery to get off the road safely when to battery ran out..

- Brooksville, FL, USA

problem #295

Feb 112020

Sonata

  • 121,000 miles
While owning my vehicle for 5 years, I have regularly maintained all aspects of the car from oil changes every 3000 miles to recall notices. I was just due for a 3000 mile oil change when while driving on a highway the car shut down the gas pedal stopped, and I assumed the alternator died. I got it towed and mechanic said the engine is done, there is no oil! this came as a shock since I have it changed timely and there was no sensor or light in the car that should have indicated low oil. I read on carguru website with other reviews this happened with the same vehicle model. Very disappointing with this car with low mileage to have to replace an engine so soon.

- Middle River, MD, USA

problem #294

Feb 102020

Sonata

  • 127,000 miles
When I got this car, I noticed that the coolant container doesnt stay full. In fact, I have to go to walmart to by collant and fill the container every week. I noticed there is a leak as well and its spraying all over the motor and battery. Aldo after driving for hours, I'm able to open the cap to the collant container with no issues. It's not hot or anything. Not sure what's going on with this car and dint want go spend hundreds of dollars just for someone to look at it.

- Summerville, PA, USA

problem #293

Jan 092020

Sonata

  • 20 miles

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

After a new engine was put into the Sonata due to recall, within 24 hours the car caught fire and was destroyed. The car was being driven on the highway when catching fire causing driver to abandon vehicle on high way for fire department.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #292

Jan 032020

Sonata

  • 116,000 miles
Wastegate accuator defective multiple times since engine failure replacement.. but rick case Hyundai wont replace under warranty as it was giving issues when the warranty period was still valid. Possibly damaged at the time of block replacement as I had to return to the dealer 3 times to resolve check engine light and turbo failure.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #291

Dec 012016

Sonata

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. While driving, the engine suddenly failed and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to lehigh valley Hyundai (675 state ave, emmaus, pa) where it was diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact indicated that the engine was previously replaced in 2016. The manufacturer was notified and provided case number: Cas-16227242, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #290

Aug 012017

Sonata

  • 22,700 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. While driving various speeds, the rpms increased, the vehicle lost power, and the engine made a knocking sound. The failures were experienced numerous times. The contact took the vehicle to an unknown dealer, but it was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer stated that the noise was normal. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 22,700.

- La Mesa, CA, USA

problem #289

Nov 052019

Sonata

  • 121,000 miles
Was getting ready to move from nc to la. During acceleration all the lights on the dash came on. The vehicle was still in motion, stumbled and then died shortly afterwards. Had a hard time steering and braking, but luckily there was no vehicle around. Vehicle was towed to a mechanic shop where they diagnosed the engine as failing/seized. Recall 132 was performed, but engine was not replaced and only inspected. Recall description : gdi engine inspection/replacement. ; completed : May 23, 2018

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #288

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 #287

Oct 132019

Sonata

  • 141,000 miles
Took my car in for an oil change a month ago.soon as I leave oil lube, not even halfway home my car started hesitating and cutting off.by the time I made it home not even 10 mins away my car started knocking.I purchased this car 4 months ago and can't drive it I was in the city limits of huntsville Alabama

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #286

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 #285

Nov 042019

Sonata

  • miles
Car stop in the middle of the road when I tried to accelerate the was making a loud grinding noise. Prior to being on this road I was on the highway for about 35-40 miles before it stopped and wouldn't move. When I would put the car in reverse it would make a loud clicking noise. I called Hyundai they said that there was no open recall related to this issue

- Middletown, PA, USA

problem #284

Oct 012019

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles
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

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