2012 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

563Engine complaints

36.3%Of all 1,551 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE563 · 36.3%

STEERING298 · 19.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM228 · 14.7%

AIR BAGS168 · 10.8%

SERVICE BRAKES151 · 9.7%

Share of the 1,551 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata overview page.

What owners report

“2012 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. MILEAGE NOT AS ADVERTISED. STICKER SAID 25 CITY AND 35 HIGHWAY. HAVE TRACKED MILEAGE FROM 1000 TO 5000 MILES AND AVERAGES…”NHTSA complaint 10492186 — filed 01/10/2013

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10482745 — filed 10/31/2012

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO…”NHTSA complaint 10472998 — filed 08/30/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata: 563 of 1,551 complaints on file (36.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata have in total?

1,551 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 51 involved a crash, 94 involved a fire, 38 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.