2012 HYUNDAI SONATA Structurebody Problems
30 NHTSA complaints on file
Structurebody Issues in the 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA
30 structurebody complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. Of these, 7 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, and 3 resulted in injury.
30
Complaints
7
Crashes
6
Fires
3
Injuries
1
Deaths
All Structurebody Complaints
Noticed there’s a crack on the passenger side dashboard of the car that’s about 12 inches long. From what I read this could cause issues with any possible airbag deployment.
The passenger rear door will not open from the inside OR the outside. The door lock on the inside of the car will not open. Door is in locked position. Problems like this are all over the internet regarding Hyundai cars. This is a safety issue because someone in the back seat can NOT open the door and are potentially locked inside the car with no way out. This could be life and death if there was a fire, accident, etc. Independent repair center has inspected and confirms. No warning lights. Just happened in September 2024.
B pillar separated from the frame during collision causing catastrophic intrusion into the cabin upon impact leading to death of the driver. No other occupants in the vehicle. Multiple investigators noted the B pillar failure upon inspection. Independent, certified crash reconstruction expert also noticed immediately that the B pillar had failed which caused cabin intrusion to an extraordinary degree considering the 2 vehicles involved were going less than 40mph. Vehicle is available for inspection. In addition, edr data reveals that although throttle was engaged, rpm's remained at idle up to the time of impact. Driver pushing on the gas and vehicle not responding.
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON BUT IT DIDN'T COME ON, AND THEN I NOTICED IT SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG HOUSING. VIN TOOL SHOWED NO RECALLS ON THE ISSUE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,573.
WHILE DRIVING 25 MILES ON WALNUT ST IN RIALTO CA .ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HYBRID HYUNDAI SONATA MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND STOP RESPONDING I AVOID HITTING A CAR INFRONT OF ME AND APPROACHED THE SIDE WALK MESSING UP MY RIGHT FRONT BUMPER, WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED I PUT THE CAR ON PARK AND IT MADE A NASTY GRINDING SOUND. I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR ON D AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE I PUT IT ON R AND NOTHING. IT WAS A VERY SCARRY EXPERIENCE, I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN HELP ME WITH IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THATS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE BECAUSE THE GEARS ARE NOT WORKINGIT . IT HAS 149346 MILES
THE EXTERIOR PAINT IS PEELING
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CAUSING ME TO HIT THE ONLY PARKED CAR THAT WAS 20 FT FROM THE CORNER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED NEAR THE AIR BAGS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HYUNDAI DE FAJARDO (LOCATED AT KM 51., PR-3, FAJARDO, 00738, PUERTO RICO), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
DRIVER DOOR, UNABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. ABSOLUTELY NO DAMAGE TO CAR, EVER, ORIGINAL OWNER, CAR IN MINT CONDITION.
ON JUNE 8TH, 2018 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 85 IN CHARLOTTE NC GOING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE COASTED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THEN TRIED TO RESTART IT AND NOTHING HAPPEN AND POWER WAS DEAD IN THE CAR. THEN HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DOORS WON'T OPEN SO HE HAD TO CLIMB OUT THOUGH THE SUNROOF TO SAFETY. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS INFLAMED WITH FIRE. HE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE REASON I'M FILING THIS COMPLIANT IS BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURTOR KILLED IF THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSE. HYUNDAI HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND MY VEHOWAS TOTAL LOST. WE ALSO HAVE PICTURES AND A VIDEO. I CAN'T UPLOAD THE VIDEO SO IF SOMEONE CONTACTS ME...
ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018, I WAS IN A PARKING STRUCTURE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PARK. I WAS ON THE RAMP TO THE 2ND FLOOR WHEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY QUICKLY REVERSED BACKWARDS AND HIT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH LIKE A BUMPER CAR. I WAS TRYING TO PRESS THE BREAK BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I STARTED SCREAMING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT 5 TIMES BEFORE BEING STOPPED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENED.
ON JULY 15TH 2018 AT 10:30 AM WHILE DRIVING AT 35+ MPH THE CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM THE HOOD AREA, AFTER PULLING OVER I NOTICED IT WAS SMOKING QUITE HEAVY, I RAISED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE... HYUNDAI OF CANADA REFUSES TO RESPOND TO MY REQUESTS FOR COMPENSATION...*DT *TR *JB *JS*JB
WHILE DRIVING CAR ON RT 50 WEST BOUND TOWARDS THE BAY BRIDGE, AN ENGINE POPPING NOISE OCCURRED, THEN FUMES STARTING COMING FROM VENTS. PULL CAR OVER WHILE GETTING OUT FLAMES WERE ALREADY COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WITHIN MINUTES THE WHOLE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. NO TIME TO RETRIEVE ANY ITEMS INSIDE THE CAR. THE MD TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY POLICE WERE ON THE SEEN AND CALLED FIRE DEPT. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL BASED ON SPARKS AS THEY WERE PUTTING OUT THE FIRE. HYUNDAI INVESTIGATED THE CAR REMAINS AND COULD NOT DETERMINE ANY CAUSE.CAR PICTURES ARE TO LARGE OF A FILE TO SUBMIT
TAKATA RECALL. MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR STATE ROUTE AT 9:30PM WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, SHORTLY THERE AFTER, IT STALLED OUT, ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT ON AND WITHIN 2-3 MINS, SMOKE POURED FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WITHIN 2 MINS THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ONE HUGE BLAZE OF FIRE. HE WAS LUCKY TO GET OUT IN TIME. IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC FOR HIM TO SAY THE LEAST, NOT TO MENTION AS HIS PARENTS, WE WERE ON FACE TIME WITH HIM AFTER HE PULLED OVER AND SAW THIS AS IT WAS HAPPENING AND COULDN'T BE THERE TO ASSIST HIM.
WATER LEAKING INSIDE CABIN ON PASSENGER SIDE. MOLD ACCUMULATING BEHIND DASHBOARD. ALSO LOUD NOISE OF SPRAYING WATER,WHICH IS DISTRACTING DURING DRIVING ESPECIALLY DURING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNING. PASSENGER EXPERIENCED A NEAR SLIP AND FALL AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE ON A SLICK SURFACE, NOT REALIZING HER SHOES WERE WET FROM THE DRENCHED CARPET ON THAT SIDE OF THE CABIN.THERE IS ALSO A NOTICEABLE STENCH IN THE CABIN THAT HAS MADE ME NAUSEOUSLY SICK. I WAS DISTRACTED BY THE SOUND OF SPRAYING WATER TO THE POINT OF TRYING TO LOCATE IT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN THE CITY OR HIGHWAYS. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHILE DRIVING.
THE PAINT IS CHIPPING AWAY IN THE EXTERIOR BY THE DOOR HANDLES AND THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO THE DRIVER SEAT MATERIAL IS STARTING TO FALL APART AS WELL AS THE DOOR TRIM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.
I JUST ARRIVED TO MY DESTINATION PARKED THE CAR AND WAS SITITING IN THE DRIVER SEAT, WITHIN MINUTES I HEARD THIS REALLY LOUD NOISE, I FROZE, I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD RAN INTO THE BACK OF ME THE BANG WAS EXTREMELY LOUD. I SAW GLASS PARTICLES COMING DOWN MY WINSHEILD GOT OUT THE CAR TO LOOK AROUND THE VEHICLE WHEN I OBSERVED THE BROKEN GLASS HAD COME FROM THE SUNROOF - IT SHATTERED AND CREATED A LARGE HOLE.
OUR CAR ACCELERATED WITH OUT CONTACT OF THE GASPEDAL CAUSING COLLISION WITH 3 PARKED VEHICLES. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR SONATA.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WITH A LOUD SOUND, AND GLASS CAME SHOWERING INTO THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME WITNESSED THE EVENT AND SOME OF THE GLASS HIT HIS VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED. WE BOTH PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND EXCHANGED CONTACT INFORMATION. HE WITNESSED THAT NO OBJECT HIT MY SUNROOF, IT SIMPLY SHATTERED.
SONATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 3DAYS NOW AND WON'T SHUT OFF NO MATTER WHAT I DO AND I'M SCARED IT WILL DEPLOY. BACK IN MAY I NOTICED THE PAINT IN MY CAR SHIPPING AFTER I TOOK IT TO GET WASHED, NOW MY CAR LOOKS UGLY.
RECALL CAMPAIGN 132. VEHICLE STALLED/LOCKED UP CAUSING A COLLISION WITH HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE GOING AROUND 60-65MPH. I HEARD A LOUD BOOM THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, AS SOON AS I HAD A SAFE MOMENT TO PULL OVER I THEN REALIZED IT WAS MY SUNROOF THAT HAS BUSTED. I THEN WAS ABLE TO STEP OUT OF MY CAR AND REALIZED MY SUNROOF HAD BUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO STAY CALM, COOL, AND COLLECTIVE. I COULDN'T IMAGINE IF THE PULL OF MY SUNROOF FROM INSIDE THE CALL HAD BEEN OPENED. IT WOULD HAVE DEFIANTLY CAUSED A HAZARD NOT ONLY TO MYSELF BUT TO OTHER PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND BACKED UP TO LEAVE, ACCIDENTALLY HITTING A STORAGE CONTAINER WITH MY REAR BUMPER. I PUT CAR IN DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL BY ITSELF TRAVELING FAST ABOUT 30 FEET. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. WE HIT A FENCE, MOVING THE FENCE ABOUT 5 FEET AND HIT THE CAR PARKED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FENCE, SMASHING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. WE HAD OUR SEAT BELTS ON AND WERE NOT INJURED BUT WITHOUT SEAT BELTS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. *TR
CAR PUT IN PARK TO CALL A PERSONS HOUSE WAS AT HIS NEIGHBORS HOUSE NEXT DOOR FOR DIRECTIONS RAN OFF IN DITCH THOUGHT AT TIME I MIGHT HAVE LEFT CAR IN DRIVE .WENT DOWN BANK WHEN MY DOG AND I STOPPED CAR IN PARK DID NOT THINK NOTHING ELSE ABOUT IT UNTIL TODAY. WENT TO STORE CAME BACK PARKED 2012 SONATA IN DRIVEWAY LEFT CAR ON TO RUN IN HOUSE RIGHT QUICK SO DOG WOULD BE COOL. I PUT LEGS OUTSIDE CAR 2012 SONATA TOOK OFF LIKE A BAT OUT OF [XXX] THREW ME OUT ON THE GROUND. I HURT MY BACK AND REAR END VERY PAINFUL AND 2012 SONATA RAN INTO MY 2004 ANNIVERSARY EDITION COLLECTORS CAR WHICH WAS AS CLOSE TO NEW AS THEY GET. THEY HAVE A RECALL ON LINE THAT SAY THE DATE HAS NOT BEEN MADE TO SEND OUT NOTICES ABOUT A PIN BREAKING IN...
WALKED OUT OF STORE I HAD BEEN SHOPPING IN FOR OVER AN HOUR AND CAR WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR EXPLAINED IT AS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT STARTED AT THE MAIN ENGINE WIRE HARNESS AND MELTED THE TUBING/WIRING ALL THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DOWN NEAR PASSENGER HEADLIGHT AND THE MELTING WIRES/TUBING/RUBBER DRIPPED AND IGNITED ON A PILE OF LEAVES UNDERNEATH THE CAR IN THE PARKING SPACE. THE RESULTING FIRE AND ELECTRICAL BURN MELTED ALL RUBBER PLASTIC,EXTERNAL BELTS, WIRE HARNESS, FRONT BUMPER, INTAKE MANIFOLD AND ANY PLASTIC RUBBER,FLUID LIDS, EXTERIOR PARTS SURROUNDING OR ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE. *TR
WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A CRASH AND REALIZED THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY REAR BUMPER COVER FELL OFF. THIS WAS COMPLETELY RANDOM, AS I HAVE NEVER BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND AND THERE WERE NO DENTS, SCRATCHES, CRACKS OR OTHER VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER COVER WHEN IT FELL OFF. THE BUMPER AND BUMPER COVER SEEMED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION, BUT THE PLASTIC CLIPS HOLDING THE BUMPER COVER TO MY BUMPER APPEARED SEVERELY DEGRADED AND DAMAGED. WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT, THE MAN WHO TOWED MY TRUCK BROKE OFF THE REMAINING CLIPS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUMPER. THE NEXT DAY, I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE, AND MY BUMPER AND BUMPER COVER NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS SHOCKED, CONSIDERING THE BUMPER FELL OFF, AND BELIEVE THERE IS NO REASON WHY I SHOULD...
ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA, I NOTICED A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM REAR SUSPENSION/SUB-FRAME AREA WHEN THE ENTERING AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY OR NON-UNIFORM ROADWAY. THIS STARTED AT AROUND THE 700-MILE MARK ON MY VEHICLE ODOMETER. THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO HYUNDAI NORTH AMERICA CORPORATE APPROXIMATELY 3-MONTHS AGO, IN AUGUST 2012. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP I VISITED IN MY AREA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE EXISTS, BUT HAS DISMISSED IT AS "NORMAL BODY CREAK FLEX, SONATAS MAKE THIS NOISE." I PUSHED THE ISSUE TO HYUNDAI NORTH AMERICA CORPORATE AND THEY HAD ORIGINALLY AGREED TO HAVE THE DISTRICT PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER EXAMINE THE VEHICLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, HYUNDAI NORTH AMERICA CORPORATE HAS JUST INFORMED ME THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP DOESN'T WANT TO LOOK AT MY VEHICLE ANYMORE AND TO CONSIDER BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. ADDITIONALLY, THEY ARE NOW STATING THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF EVER...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A BUILD-UP OF A DEWY SUBSTANCE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEWY RESIDUE WAS CAUSED BY THE SUN HEATING THE DASHBOARD AND VAPORS EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD AS A RESULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,400.
THREE PROBLEMS CROPPED UP IMMEDIATELY OR SHORTLY AFTER INITIAL OWNERSHIP. THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE TURNED TO THE LEFT OF CENTER TO COMPENSATE WHEN DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE. SECOND, THE SUNROOF AREA DEVELOPED A LOUD CREAKING SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN THROUGH A TURN OR OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THIRD, AND MOST ALARMINGLY, THE CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO DISENGAGE WHEN THE CANCEL BUTTON IS PRESSED. IT ALSO INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO ENGAGE WHEN THE SET BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS FAILED TO DISENGAGE, TAPPING THE BRAKE OR PRESSING THE MAIN ON/OFF BUTTON WILL CAUSE IT TO DISENGAGE. HOWEVER, THE CONFUSION THAT COMES FROM THE CANCEL BUTTON FAILURE MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM DURING A SHORT TEST DRIVE AND REFUSES TO REPLACE OR TEST THE ELECTRONIC MODULES. *TR
Other 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA Problem Areas
Engine
552 complaints
Steering
298 complaints
Electrical System
226 complaints
Air Bags
165 complaints
Service Brakes
151 complaints
Exterior Lighting
120 complaints
Unknown Or Other
119 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
97 complaints
Power Train
93 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
79 complaints
Seat Belts
69 complaints
Suspension
36 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
35 complaints
Wheels
27 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
12 complaints
Exterior Lightingbrake Lights
9 complaints
Tires
9 complaints
Visibilitywiper
9 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
7 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
7 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
7 complaints
Exterior Lightingtail Lights
6 complaints
Structure
6 complaints
Equipment Adaptivemobility
5 complaints
Seats
5 complaints
Visibility
5 complaints
Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly
5 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
4 complaints
Hybrid Propulsion System
3 complaints
Seat Beltspretensioner
3 complaints
Tirespressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
3 complaints
Traction Control System
3 complaints
Electrical Systemwiring
2 complaints
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingbrake Lightsbulbs
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlights
2 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings
2 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
2 complaints
Steeringcolumn
2 complaints
Structureinterior Panelsdashboard
2 complaints
Visibilityglass Siderear
2 complaints
Visibilitywindshield
2 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
1 complaint
Air Bagsfrontalpassenger Sideinflator Module
1 complaint
Back Over Prevention Rearview System Braking
1 complaint
Electrical Systemignitionanti Theftimmobilizerproximitykeysender
1 complaint
Electrical Systeminstrument Panelspeedometerodometer
1 complaint
Electrical Systemwiringconnectorsplugsreceptacles
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingengineengine Control Module Ecuecm
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingengineoillubrication
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingengineoillubricationsumptankdrain Plug
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingbrake Lightsswitch
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingheadlightsbulbs
1 complaint
Firerelated
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control
1 complaint
Fuel System Diesel
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection System
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkages
1 complaint
Parking Brake
1 complaint
Steeringrack And Pinionrack
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
1 complaint