10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 56
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,875 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 2 of 26)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #481

Jul 192023

Sonata

  • miles

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

I went to get my car fixed at a local garage but the employee came back with a recall information form printed out and said my engine and oil consumption problem was under a recall and would not charge me for the work. Hyundai dealership in Brockton. Ma refused to fix the issues & made my car further damaged and gave me a 1 week rental. I-??ve had this car for a little over 1 year. Now today my car lit up lights on the dash while I was driving, locked up and won-??t start. I-??m currently on the side of the road.

- Mansfield, MA, USA

problem #480

Jul 092023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine completely stopped working while driving down the road. Brought to mechanic and told seized engine.

- Kenilworth, NJ, USA

problem #479

Jun 032023

Sonata

  • miles
I purchased a 2012 Hyundai sonata from Dulles auto in Leesburg VA at the end of Feb. 2023 on June third my husband and I were driving on 395 at 74 miles and hours and lost all power to our car. We were in the middle of the highway around 2:00 pm and we manage to get over to the side with out getting hit as the engine was smoking !!!. We then called a tow truck which took 2 hours because there was another accident behind us that could not move and tow truck was stuck in that. We were in the wedding and missed the ceremony which is devastating. We had the car towed to dealer and they looked at the car and said engine seized and needs to be towed to a Safford brown Hyundai in Leesburg. We did just that. We asked for a loaner car from dealer that we bought car from and from Hyundai and both said they didn't have any loaner. They both told me i can rent a car but no guarantee if i will get reimbursed. I have three drivers in my house and a car i had for 3months and 1 week before it broke down. I still have no car no loaner and no help. Hyundai in Leesburg did everything that Hyundai corp asked and took pictures i showed proof that the dealer did oil change 12-22 before i bought end of Feb. 2023. They then asked for engine cover be removed and then it was diagnosed as sludge on the engine and that is why it has seized and can not be repaired. It would cost $9000 to fix and I bought it for $12,000 for my 17 year old. No one will take responsibility or help so we are asked what we can do and what rights we have. During the 3months that we had the car it ran great and no lights ever came on or any warnings that why it was such a shock when this happened. I have lost work time for all the hours i have to put in for this and get no calls back or help. Please contact me at 703-403-8573 Carys Dannenberg/ I can get picture and notes from Hyundai if needed.

- Reston, VA, USA

problem #478

May 312023

Sonata

  • miles

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

Made a left turn on a busy intersection when all of a sudden the knocks from the engine got loud and and an alarm came up stating to pull over and to stop my car. I had it towed to the dealership where they state that it-??s a connecting rod issue that has an extended warranty on it. They recommended that I have the entire engine replaced. I filed a claim with their claims department where they denied it because I was apparently out of warranty with it. I am not because their extended warranty covers up to 150,000 miles and I-??m at 104575 miles.

- Norwalk, CA, USA

problem #477

Feb 082023

Sonata

  • miles
My car is burning oil very fast it has a engine campaign running but Hyundai refuses to fix it.. it cuts while driving it at high speeds

- Cleveland, TN, USA

problem #476

Apr 152023

Sonata

  • 213,433 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that there was a failure with the engine. The contact called a second independent mechanic who informed him that there were recalls on the vehicle related to the knock sensor. The dealer was notified of the failure but informed the contact that the manufacturer had denied the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and denied the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 213,443.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #475

May 192023

Sonata

  • miles

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

The vehicle has cut off while driving. My check engine light started flashing and the code P1326 was detected when diagnosed. Engine is making a tapping noise.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #474

May 172023

Sonata

  • miles
I bought this car from someone recently and was unaware of the engine recall, I did checking and found that there's a recall on the engine, it's knocking, can't be driven, it has 128,000 miles on odometer, does the recall expire because I read that they never expire, I love the car and would really like to have it repaired.

- Glencoe, KY, USA

problem #473

Sep 302022

Sonata

  • miles
I was driving on a busy street when all of a sudden. My car reduce speed hesitated There was a pull over Safely and don't drive this vehicle warning Message Every light on the dash came on and shut off in the middle of a busy street. THANK GOD I DIDNT GET HIT Didn't get the chance to pull over the car just shut off. The whole car died I had to have it towed way I tried changing 12 V battery to a brand new one still didn't work. I've had it towed to hyundai dealer. What is wrong with this car? Still don't kno this happened in september of 2022 took it 2 different Hyundai dealerships. As I've been researching this is happening to a lot of people. With the same make a model car. I talk to corporate. They can't help me with anything because it's over a 150000 miles. You would think that they would help with some of the cause being the fact that is happening to all of the hybrid cars

- New Haven, CT, USA

problem #472

Apr 252023

Sonata

  • miles
On 04/25/2023 while driving to work my car all of a sudden started flashing -??check engine light-??. The flashing was continuous and my car lost almost all power and would not go above 2 rpm. It was terrifying. I immediately notified Hyundai and had my car towed to dealership. Now Hyundai is telling me I can-??t get rental reimbursement until they approve and engine replacement, which can take up 2 months.

- Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

problem #471

Jun 182021

Sonata

  • miles

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

After intermittent starting and car dying for no reason, the engine completely died while driving on highway. I filed a claim with Hyundai as part of Theta Engine settlement. I had the engine replaced at my expense, they will not cover. It is now burning oil at an alarming rate. This is dangerous and has happened to many many HYUNDAI/KIA owners as part of this engine problem.

- Beachwood, NJ, USA

problem #470

Jan 102023

Sonata

  • miles
When driving to work, the engine just stop without any warning signs. I had to tow my car to the mechanic and he told me that my engine was seized. My oil change is up to date.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #469

Nov 062022

Sonata

  • miles
As i was getting off the interstate, my car literally shut off completely, no warning signs or anything, so my fiance thought it was the alternator, went to get a new alternator, & my car still didnt crank, got a new starter, my car still didnt crank. So i had to tow it to an independent service center and he determined that my motor had seized. Which was weird because i kept my car up. My safety was put at risk because i could have had a wreck getting off the highway with cars coming down a ramp.

- Monroe, LA, USA

problem #468

Apr 142023

Sonata

  • miles
Hello, I am the second owner of this car since 6+ years. I had given the car for fluid flush as part of regular service at a local Firestone. The technician was on a test drive after service and the engine hydrolocked. I have been without a car since last 5 days and no one seems to take the responsibility and help me with replacing the defective engine as it has major known issues with engine. Please review and help. Thank you. Moiz

- Franklin , TN, USA

problem #467

Apr 072023

Sonata

  • miles
The car quit on road going 40 mph. Won't restart.

- Benbrook, TX, USA

problem #466

Mar 312023

Sonata

  • miles
Oil leak

- Ramseur , NC, USA

problem #465

Mar 232023

Sonata

  • miles
I was driving my car at approximately 45 MPH when my car began smoking and overheating and making a knocking sound from the engine. I pulled over and checked but had coolant in the vehicle as I had just got my car serviced 3 weeks prior. I was about to get onto the highway when my car decelerated and the oil lamp and engine light started flickering as my car lost power and started smoking profusely.

- Kapolei, HI, USA

problem #464

Oct 222022

Sonata

  • miles
Hyundai denied engine replacement after providing them with complete and full oil change history.

- Phenix City, AL, USA

problem #463

Feb 222023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine suddenly shutdown while driving in the middle of the road. Luckily, I was not on the highway. Had it towed to my mechanic and he told me that there was a class action lawsuit on these engines and that they were known to fail after 100,000 miles. I never got any notification about this problem. I am checking with the Hyundai dealership about replacing the engine.

- La Mirada, CA, USA

problem #462

Feb 072023

Sonata

  • miles
3 Months post oil change June 2022, oil plug fell out on highway and motor seized. Dealership advised motor no longer manufactured and recommended used motor supplier. Purchased a used motor with 80K on engine, had it installed in June of 2022. Dealership did oil change in December 2022, in February 2023 noticed oil smell and oil on the ground in driveway. Added 4.25 quarts of oil and started motor, attempted to locate the leak when noticed leak below motor. Turned off motor and found oil dripping from under car near the oil drain plug. Reached under car and touched oil drain plug with finger and plug fell out draining all oil to the ground. Had vehicle towed to the dealership, new oil change completed. Demanded the dealership install new oil drain plug, torque to manufacture specifications and apply lock tight to plug. Dealership stated they no longer remove the oil drain plug due to customer complaints and stated they only pump out the oil. When i asked them if that was a manufacture recommendation or their own they stated they started doing it due to multiple complaints from customers. Two engines 8 months apart, oil drain plug coming lose and falling out not a coincidence.

- Exeter, CA, USA

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