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2012 Hyundai Sonata Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 8 NHTSA recalls and 1,548 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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Avoid This Year — 2012 Hyundai Sonata

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

8
NHTSA Recalls
8 recalls on record
1,548
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
51
Crashes + Injuries
93 fire reports

Own or buying a 2012 Hyundai Sonata?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Hyundai Sonata (8)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Hyundai dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V934000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #17V617000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V137000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #17V152000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #15V759000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #15V568000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V434000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #12V352000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Hyundai Sonata

Based on 1,548 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine
373
Steering
300
Electrical System
199
Air Bags
132
Power Train
92
Exterior Lighting
81
Service Brakes
80
Unknown Or Other
74
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Hyundai Sonata — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 345 complaints 2011 0 complaints 2012 1,548 complaints 2013 1,886 complaints 2014 739 complaints 2015 1,118 complaints 2016 712 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2013 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2010, 2011 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Hyundai Sonata

Is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata has 8 recalls and 1,548 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata have?
The 2012 Hyundai Sonata has 8 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Sonata?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata are: Engine, Steering, Electrical System, Air Bags. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata safe to buy?
The 2012 Hyundai Sonata has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 8 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Hyundai Sonata should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Hyundai Sonata are: 2010, 2011. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2013.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.