2012 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Hyundai SONATA HYBRID has 216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: while slowly moving downhill, on the freeway, during rush hour traffic, i attempted to change lanes and accelerated quickly. the switch from hybrid to gas engine interface only caused the engine to rev (increase rpm) without any gear being engaged. i quickly let off the peddle and depressed it again. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.
216
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
71 complaints- • WHILE SLOWLY MOVING DOWNHILL, ON THE FREEWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO GAS ENGINE INTERFACE ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV (INCREASE RPM) WITHOUT ANY GEAR BEING ENGAGED. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE PEDDLE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN
- • WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY 125 WHEN MY 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT COMPLETELY BURNED TO THE GROUND. WE HAD ABOUT 5 SECONDS TO JUMP OUT OF CAR. ALL 4 OCCUPANTS GOT OUT OF CAR THANK YOU GOD. *TR
- • THE CAR WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND BURST INTO FLAMES, ALL OF THE SONATAS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, ALL SONATAS WILL AT THE LEAST BURN UP THE ENGINES, TRANSMISSIONS, OR BATTERIES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. OUT OF 35 SONATAS TESTED 35 HAD THIS PROBLEM. CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA, HYUNDAI FULLERTON, HYUNDAI CONSUMER COMPLA
“WHILE SLOWLY MOVING DOWNHILL, ON THE FREEWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO GAS ENGINE INTERFACE ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV (INCREASE RPM) WITHOUT ANY GEAR BEING ENGAGED. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE PEDDLE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
29 complaints- • WHILE SLOWLY MOVING DOWNHILL, ON THE FREEWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO GAS ENGINE INTERFACE ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV (INCREASE RPM) WITHOUT ANY GEAR BEING ENGAGED. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE PEDDLE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN
- • PURCHASED NEW IN MAR. 2013, NOT OUR FIRST HYBRID. CAR BEGAN TO HAVE SHUDDER/JERKY/ROUGH TAKE OFF FROM MORNING START AND FIRST STOP SIGN AT END OF STREET. THIS BECAME MORE OFTEN AND WORSENED. ONE MORNING LEFT CURB AS USUAL, BRAKES LOCKED UP AT STOP SIGN AND WARNING LIGHT ON DASH FOR BRAKE PROBLEM. WA
- • SEE SUBMISSION NUMBER 10559603 SENT PRIOR TO THIS ON 1/14/2014: THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE EXPLANATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL/TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN ISSUE EXPERIENCED WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE NEW. THE TEXT FROM THAT SUBMISSION CONTINUES TO ITS END. "IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL/POWER
“WHILE SLOWLY MOVING DOWNHILL, ON THE FREEWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO GAS ENGINE INTERFACE ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV (INCREASE RPM) WITHOUT ANY GEAR BEING ENGAGED. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE PEDDLE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
24 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE
- • PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE. BRAKES BEGAN MAKING LOUD GRINDING NOISE. PULLED BACK INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN BRAKES FAILED. BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT AND CHIME WAS ACTIVATED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND HIT THE CONCRETE HANDICAP SIGN STOPPING THE CAR. PREVIOUSLY HAD PROBLEM WITH NAVIGATION U
- • VEHICLE WILL NOT START. FLASHING "CHECK BRAKES" .NO FOOT BRAKE PRESSURE. WITH THE HOOD UP CAN DETECT A MOTOR PUMPING INTERMITTENTLY WHICH I THINK IS THE BRAKE POWER UNIT. CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT A MONTH. NO FLUIDS ON THE GROUND. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
23 complaints- • PULLING INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR QUIT, LEAVING ME STARRING DOWN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND GET IT RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE DURING THE SAME DAY. IT WILL ALSO ONLY CHARGE THE BATTERIES TO 50%, AND SOMETIME THE CAR WON'T OPERATE ON ONLY BATTERY POWER. THIS IS A POTE
- • PURCHASED NEW IN MAR. 2013, NOT OUR FIRST HYBRID. CAR BEGAN TO HAVE SHUDDER/JERKY/ROUGH TAKE OFF FROM MORNING START AND FIRST STOP SIGN AT END OF STREET. THIS BECAME MORE OFTEN AND WORSENED. ONE MORNING LEFT CURB AS USUAL, BRAKES LOCKED UP AT STOP SIGN AND WARNING LIGHT ON DASH FOR BRAKE PROBLEM. WA
- • ELECTRICAL SMELL LIKE MELTING PLASTIC WIRING: FIRST INCIDENT AS NOTED ABOVE; 2ND INCIDENT ON 1/29/2013, MILEAGE 9227-ON VEHICLE START UP (ENGINE WARM AS IT WAS AFTER EARLIER DRIVING) SAME HOT, MELTING WIRE TYPE SMELL COMING THROUGH CLIMATE CONTROL DASH VENTS; 3RD INCIDENT ON 4/12/2013-MILEAGE 12,353
“PULLING INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR QUIT, LEAVING ME STARRING DOWN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND GET IT RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE DURING THE SAME DAY. IT WILL ALSO ONLY CHARGE THE BATTERIES TO 50%, AND SOMETIME THE CAR WON'T OPERATE ON ONLY BATTERY POWER. THIS IS A POTE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
16 complaints- • WHILE SLOWLY MOVING DOWNHILL, ON THE FREEWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO GAS ENGINE INTERFACE ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV (INCREASE RPM) WITHOUT ANY GEAR BEING ENGAGED. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE PEDDLE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN
- • MY 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID LIMITED IS COMING UP WITH A WARNING SIGNAL "HYBRID SAFETY WARNING DO NOT DRIVE". THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE COMMON FACTOR HAS BEEN THAT I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A 95+ DEGREE DAY AND IT HAPPENS WHEN I PULL IN TO PARK AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMAT
- • SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID NUMBERS: 10546231 & 10582880 - "CHECK BRAKES" ...2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID WILL NOT START OR MOVE (APR 2014). FROM PARKED POSITION, TURNED ON VEHICLE (STEPPED ON BRAKE AND DEPRESSED ELECTRONIC IGNITION). LOUD CHIMES OCCURRED WITH MESSAGE "CHECK BRAKES". NO BRAKES WERE ON, CAR
“WHILE SLOWLY MOVING DOWNHILL, ON THE FREEWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO GAS ENGINE INTERFACE ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV (INCREASE RPM) WITHOUT ANY GEAR BEING ENGAGED. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE PEDDLE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 216 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: WHILE SLOWLY MOVING DOWNHILL, ON THE FREEWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO GAS ENGINE INTERFACE ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV (INCREASE RPM) WITHOUT ANY GEAR BEING ENGAGED. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE PEDDLE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: WHILE SLOWLY MOVING DOWNHILL, ON THE FREEWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATED QUICKLY. THE SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO GAS ENGINE INTERFACE ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV (INCREASE RPM) WITHOUT ANY GEAR BEING ENGAGED. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE PEDDLE AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: PULLING INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR QUIT, LEAVING ME STARRING DOWN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND GET IT RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE DURING THE SAME DAY. IT WILL ALSO ONLY CHARGE THE BATTERIES TO 50%, AND SOMETIME THE CAR WON'T OPERATE ON ONLY BATTERY POWER. THIS IS A POTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Hyundai SONATA HYBRID — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 216
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 7
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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