10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,923 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 Hybrid engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #25

Jul 272018

Sonata Hybrid

  • 116,000 miles

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

While driving down the highway at 55mph the engine was ticking and made a large bang sound and stopped getting any power. I was not braking or turning it smelled like something was burning. I had several vehicles behind me when this happened once I got the car pulled off the road it would not move at all. Now it will not start at all. Lights on in car are engine light and low battery light for hybrid. When trying to start it dings loudly and you can hear the hybrid battery try to start but engine will not even roll over at all. This happened while I was driving down the road

- Kane, PA, USA

problem #24

Apr 132018

Sonata Hybrid

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving various speeds or making a turn, the vehicle would sputter and then stall without warning. In addition, the vehicle experienced a drastic reduction in speed. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, it traveled to the floorboard, and then the vehicle would suddenly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (bob brady auto mall, 4025 E boyd rd, Decatur, il 62521, (217) 876-3800) where it was awaiting diagnostic testing. The contact stated that a possible cause of the failure could be the wastegate actuator. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was awaiting their response. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.

- Decatur, IL, USA

problem #23

Dec 062017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 109,123 miles
While driving on the interstate at normal speed, a sudden and catastrophic engine failure occurred without warning or previous engine trouble. Suddenly a warning sounded and displayed, "hybrid system warning, stop immediately, do not drive". car was towed to a dealership and gas engine was "locked up". this occurred suddenly and created a severe danger to the operator (my wife) as she in the center lane of 3 during rush hour. This sudden engine failure was very similar to those described as covered in the 2011-2014 safety recall involving the 2.4L engines in the base sonatas and that is the engine in my car (with the additional hybrid electric motor). I have reached out to Hyundai for assistance and they have refused siting the warranty limit of 100,000 miles. We have 109,123 on the car. I am requesting that the recall also be applied to the hybrid models. I am in the process of documenting the maintenance history and will supplement this complaint as needed.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #22

Nov 112017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 97,000 miles

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

While driving the vehicle on side street we heard a knocking noise. We had our car towed to local mechanic where they diagnosed engine rod failure. Car was well maintained with oil changes. Oil and clean and full when error occurred. No warning lights or check engine light ever alerted. Had vehicle towed to romero Hyundai was purchased. They confirmed diagnosis and advised to call customer care as the vehicle previously had 10 visits to dealership for other failures. Over the last month customer care has not been able to assist.

- Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

problem #21

Sep 202017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 101,053 miles
I loved my Hyundai right up until it died on me while driving on I26 toward columbia SC. $150 tow to the dealer in columbia to learn I had engine failure. Given I had the oil changed at my dealer in atlanta before leaving, this was a total shock. The service advisor (ryan) lets me know this happens but there is a recall. Hyundai will take care of me. Only my car isn't covered by the recall. No problem, he says, I'll just put in a claim. Since you have the exact symptoms as the recall cars, we've had Hyundai fix them via a claim. Since I had 101053 miles and the warranty is up at 100K, Hyundai informs me I am denied.

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #20

Mar 202017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving 40 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate while making an abnormal knocking noise. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (folsom lake Hyundai 12530 auto mall cir, folsom, ca 95630), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer (roseville Hyundai 200 N. sunrise avenue. Roseville, ca 95661) where it was diagnosed that the engine had metal debris and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Antlope, CA, USA

problem #19

Jun 292017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 64,000 miles

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

Failure to perform warranty repair. Vehicle still under warranty. No help. Please advice. Matthew highway stalling and dash board lights, lithium battery replaced. Car towed more than twice to dealership and costs for towing. Thanks

- Shrewsbury, MA, USA

problem #18

Aug 012017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 63,000 miles
Driving along the highway when I heard a knocking sound coming from the engine while returning home the sound got louder, then I lost control of the vehicle. I regain some control and pulled over on the side of the road. I realized that all the oil leaked out and there were some metal parts on the road. Took it to the dealer when they told me a rod fell through the engine.

- Myrtle Beach, SC, USA

problem #17

Aug 012017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 146,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway when my car started driving rough. It made some loud clicking sounds and started to misfire and stutter. The next day I took it to the mechanic and he said the oil was empty, but I had just had the car in for service a few months earlier and there was no problem. The check engine and oil lights didn't illuminate. He did an oil change and tune up. The car continued to ride rough. I took it back to the mechanic a few days later and the oil was low again. There was no oil leak. He checked everything again and said it appeared the spark plugs were failing. Two weeks later I had the same problem again. I added oil. I took it to another mechanic (I was out of town). He cleaned the spark plugs. Four days later the car started acting really horrible, making loud clanking noise and stuttering. I added oil again and took it back to my original mechanic. He treated the oil and asked me to come back in a week so he could monitor the problem. The car drove smooth and without any problem then one week later, while driving to the mechanic the car made loud clanking noise and a cloud of white smoke came from the car. I had it towed to the mechanic. He is looking to replace my engine. In all this the indicator lights never came on (oil or check engine).

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #16

May 012017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The contact stated that the engine failed and the hybrid indicator illuminated while driving. The contact was able to coast the vehicle onto the road shoulder. The vehicle was driven to the Hyundai dealer (28432 camino capistrano laguna nigel, ca 92677, phone: 855-770-9074) where it was diagnosed that metal fragments entered the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine). The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #15

Jun 232017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 59,000 miles

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

Vehicle has already had the transmission changed out under 30K miles and hybrid battery changed under 60K miles. I keep getting a hybrid system failure notice on the dashboard. One time it happened when the transmission failed on the 5fwy in burbank while driving to san francisco. Another time it happened on a toll road in irvine, ca where I had to get towed to the dealership. The warning is alarming and tells you not to drive. After the recent hybrid battery replacement I'm getting the hybrid system failure warning again after I drive it for a little bit and put it in park. I've been going to the tustin Hyundai dealership in tustin, ca and the issue seems different everytime, but I'll never recommend a Hyundai to anyone else given the number of forums and posts regarding the 2012-2016 hybrid sonatas engine issues.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #14

Jun 042017

Sonata Hybrid

  • 120,100 miles
Driving at approx. 60 mph, car made terrible noise in engine bay and stalled on on highway. Car was towed Hyundai dealer, engine seized with the same recalled problem as the standard sonata models. Hyundai said the hybrid is not under recall and will do nothing!!!! what a bunch of crap!!

- Tallapoosa, GA, USA

problem #13

Nov 012016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 134,000 miles
While driving heard engine knocking pulled back in drive way and engine sezied.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #12

Sep 072016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving 55 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 108,000.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #11

Aug 232016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 102,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, the vehicle stalled as the hybrid system catastrophic failure vehicle unsafe to drive error message displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine). The failure mileage was 102,000.

- Ahwahnee, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 162016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving 55 mph, the hybrid system failure warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Rockport, IN, USA

problem #9

Jul 162015

Sonata Hybrid

  • 46,278 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving 3 mph, the engine seized without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle continued to lose oil while driving. The contact replaced the oil in the vehicle numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil consumption test. The vehicle was taken to be repaired, but the dealer could not diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 46,278.

- Branden, FL, USA

problem #8

Apr 292016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 68,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata hybrid. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle made a loud rattling noise. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the highway. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that a piston rod blew out and the motor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 68,000.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #7

Apr 292016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 69,000 miles
My vehicle blew a piston rod while I was driving down the highway on cruise control doing 2000 RPM's. I have always kept up on the maintenance with this car but when I had it towed to the dealership they are saying that it was my fault. They do have an open recall on my year, make, model and engine size but not my VIN. I have done my research online and I have found other cases like this. The car only has 69,000 miles on it.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #6

Apr 202016

Sonata Hybrid

  • 71,585 miles
04/20/16 ' mileage 71585 ' check engine light came on while driving, engine made loud noises ' had towed to Hyundai ' engine needs to be replaced we purchased the 2012 Hyundai sonanta hybrid pre-owned vehicle May 17, 2014 with 17128 miles on it. This is the history of our 'check engine' lights 05/26/14 ' mileage 54114 ' the evap purge valve was leaking. 11/13/15 ' mileage 63071 ' said there was a past code for a misfire and was no longer active 12/2/15 ' mileage 64087 ' sparkplugs have carbon build up.

- Fresno, CA, USA

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