10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,510 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 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #125

Dec 262023

Sonata

  • 92,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to immediately stop, causing the stopping distance to be extended. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.

- Oak Park, MI, USA

problem #124

Nov 282023

Sonata

  • miles
I noticed a clicking noise when pressing and releasing the brake pedal that had not been there before. I started hearing that sound 3-5 days ago. After driving to pick up food I noticed smoke coming from the engine area then the car burst into flames. The fire depress called a they put out the fire.

- Kennesaw , GA, USA

problem #123

Dec 202023

Sonata

  • miles
Several times a week I get "Hybrid System Warning. Check Brakes" that comes with red flashing light on the dash and beeping noise. When I turn the car off, give it a few seconds and restart the car, it goes away. It has mostly been happening when I am parked so it is not an issue to shut it off and restart. Two days ago, this happened while I have driving on the street and when I applied the brakes, it went down to the floor with grinding noise. I was going about 35 MPH and no cars in front of me so I was able to come to a stop on the street with hazards on. I turned off the car, restarted it and the issue went away. I have researched this online and it looks like many people are having the same issue. Many have taken their vehicle to the dealer to get the issue fixed and the dealer is unable to fix the issue because they cannot recreate the problem. I am afraid that this might lead into an accident and feel like something that Hyundai should do a recall on.

- West Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #122

Dec 132023

Sonata

  • miles

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

Alarm started and Hybrid brake check warning instructed to pull over and do not drive. This happened while driving down the road. The car lost power and would not accelerate. The brakes were gone and were making a grinding noise.

- Ridgefield, WA, USA

problem #121

Nov 302023

Sonata

  • miles
The ABS (Antilock Brake System) or BMS ( Brake Module System) warning light illumination came on flashing -??DO NOT DRIVE -?? and the brakes sieze-up making it impossible to drive. Key Hyundai in Jacksonville previously charged me $2600 to replace the BMS and within warranty. A few months later the same company charged me another $342.56 to diagnose the same issue. I had to rent a car for $700 while in the service repair department. Key Hyundai was unable to fix my 2012 Sonata hybrid except offering me a replacement hybrid battery and control system for $12,900. I declined. I believe that the campaign 251 involves this problem. I had to get the car towed to another mechanic that is currently working on the vehicle.

- Ponte Vedra Beach , FL, USA

problem #120

Nov 222022

Sonata

  • miles
Illumination of the malfunction indicator lamp and/or ABS (Anti-lock brake system) light. My 2012 Sonata Hybrid has been towed twice to Key Hyundai dealer in Jacksonville, FL. They charged me several thousand dollars and the vehicle ABS lamp remains illuminated. The dealership did not offer me alternative transportation and I feel unsafe driving the vehicle. On Friday November 12th they blamed the brake lamp illumination on the Hybrid main battery and gave me an estimate of $12,900 to replace the battery. The first time I took the vehicle in for this problem my vehicle was still under 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. My car has approximately only 35,000 miles driven. They did not honor the warranty. This is a brake issue not a battery issue.

- Ponte Vedra, FL, USA

problem #119

Nov 172023

Sonata

  • miles

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

Check engine lights on and says -??Warning do not drive the hybrid brakes may fail do not drive -??.

- Ponte Vedra , FL, USA

problem #118

Oct 172023

Sonata

  • miles
I went to start my car up 10 days ago and it began to alarm with a message to check the brake system. My car was stuck and wouldn't drive. This also happened in July 2022 while I was on the highway. I could no longer accelerate and the gas pedal no longer gave power. I had to put on my hazard lights and coast to the far right lane. I took it to the Hyundai dealership near by and they said it wasn't safe to drive. I left it there and was told that Hyundai would replace the part in good faith at no charge but charged me $700 for labor. This is becoming a problem. I was told the car could catch fire while driving or while parked and that I could continue to drive it. I decided not to drive it because I do not feel safe.

- Laguna Niguel, CA, USA

problem #117

May 012023

Sonata

  • miles
I have a 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid that has a problem with its ABS Module. It is overheating and causes my car to stop its brake and motor functions while driving. I contacted the dealership to get a rental or replacement in the meantime and they told me there is nothing they can do and to drive with caution. I called the manufacturer to get a rental for the meantime and they told me the same thing. I have looked on the recall documents and it says they should give me a vehicle in the meantime if it is unsafe to drive. Please, I don't even want the car at this point because of all the problems with it and with my dissatisfaction with customer service from any Hyundai business. But if I could just get a car that is safe to drive while I wait for the recall to have a remedy, I would take that.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #116

Sep 142023

Sonata

  • miles
While driving on the freeway, the Hybrid system warning, safely stop and do not drive will alternately flash with check brake and continuously the alarm sound with the park brake red light. The car would loose acceleration, and the brake pedal goes to the floor when applied. Once stopped, I restarted the car and the same things happen. The car can accelerate on and off for about 5mph. Brake pedal still goes to the floor. After restarting the car for 30-minutes- 1 hour, there are no warning lights or alarm. The car can be driven again. I brought to independent mechanic and found the code C1604 and there-??s a recall 251 on ABS brake system- recommended to bring to dealer. Brought to dealer, they say that recall 251 had no fix yet. They diagnosed that the safety plug relay needs to be replaced. Dealer replaced it and said that the car is fixed. Pick up the car from the dealer. After 20 miles of driving the same problem occurred- Hybrid system warning, safely stop and do not drive will alternately flash with check brake and continuously the alarm sound with the park brake red light. Had the car towed back to the dealer. After 2 days, the dealer says it-??s possibly a transmission issue. I asked how come it wasn-??t diagnosed the first time around? No clear response.issue occurred 4 times already.

- San Mateo, CA, USA

problem #115

Sep 212023

Sonata

  • miles

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

2012 hyundai sonta The car brakes out of no where.comes to a stop.

- Moreno Valley , CA, USA

problem #114

Aug 012023

Sonata

  • miles
i-??ve been having issues with the brake lights being sometimey sometime it works and sometimes not, and almost been in accidents once too many times. i-??ve also notice a lot of hyundais especially sonatas that-??s on the road have the same issue. i-??m at a loss in what to do with having to change light bulbs every month it acts up with both break lights. horn doesn-??t work. it stopped months ago and fused changes and still no horn work. the other day while driving it brought someone was blowing at me so i turned down the radio and heard my very own horn blow on it-??s own several times it does this off n on even at the light or while driving. i don-??t have money to fix all these issues with this car. hopefully we can get a recall and get this fixed!

- Forest Hill, TX, USA

problem #113

Jul 012023

Sonata

  • miles
Came Home Saw that the break lights were on in my Sonata. Tapped the brake pedal, they went off. Came home the next day same thing. I found a re call (google) for stuck brake lights. 2011 - 2012 Sonatas. I purchased the car used, and was informed that everything is working and in order. I'm just curios if there were any other reports concerning this matter?

- Springfield, PA, USA

problem #112

May 172023

Sonata

  • miles
My vehicle is experiencing several recall issues. The seat belt in driver seat randomly pops unlocked which is very dangerous while driving, the headlights and brakes lights go out once a month due to some electrical issues with the vehicle, the tire bearing clocks when the vehicle is turning

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #111

Apr 192023

Sonata

  • miles
The break light don-??t want to turn off Seat belts don-??t latch

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #110

Apr 052023

Sonata

  • miles
Brake light is stuck

- Sheridan , OR, USA

problem #109

Aug 022022

Sonata

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the brake light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure had been draining battery. The contact stated that the battery, the alternator and the started were replaced with the assistance of a friend. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

- Redmond, WA, USA

problem #108

Jan 062023

Sonata

  • miles
I recently purchased a Hyundai Sonata hybrid with 132K miles on it and it has been driving fine for at least two weeks until a few days back the car has been displaying a recurring alarm on the dashboard telling " hybrid system warming! Safely Stop and Do Not Drive " now as soon as I turn on the vehicle the alarm comes on immediately. It's been a week since the car is technically inoperable because if I attempt to drive the car it makes this horrible grinding sound which is terrifying considering if I drive like this it would probably cause more damage to the car, and I have look for information on this issue and have found many of these cases over the years that I can relate to but unfortunately there's no a recall of this problem. I'm taking the car to the dealership soon but I don't have any hopes that they will find a permanent fix for this since nobody has apparently. I'm just trying find some help with this issue. So far I just have lots of regrets about this purchase and just hoping I can find some help with this matter.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #107

Jan 262023

Sonata

  • miles
While driving with foot on accelerator, acceleration/ current speed will randomly just stop. 1-1- Once i fully release the accelerator and then reengage the accelerator problem goes away. This is very random as to when it happens, and will happen multiple times in a row some times... and other times happens once and doesn't the rest of the trip. This seems to be more amplified occurrences when it is cold. 2- Safety is put at risk. 3- Not gone to dealer yet. 4- No inspection yet. 5- No warning messages.

- Southern View, IL, USA

problem #106

Nov 302022

Sonata

  • miles
Vehicle doesn-€™t stop hard pedal and brake light came on 144k

- Brownsville , TX, USA

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