2012 Hyundai Sonata Body & structure Problems

Painting chipping on front top car... Seatbelt don't fasten all the time...Lights are dim.

NHTSA ID

11722537

Incident

Mar 13, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11701056

Incident

Nov 23, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11621902

Incident

Sep 15, 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.

NHTSA ID

11494128

Incident

Feb 21, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11404189

Incident

Mar 19, 2021

Mileage

122,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11359803

Incident

Sep 4, 2020

Mileage

133,573 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11353895

Incident

Sep 8, 2020

Mileage

149,346 mi

THE EXTERIOR PAINT IS PEELING

NHTSA ID

11338435

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

THE DASH BOARD BROKEN IN SEVERALLPARTS

NHTSA ID

11338433

Incident

Jul 21, 2019

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

NHTSA ID

11325020

Incident

May 14, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11292096

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

Mileage

74,000 mi

DRIVER DOOR, UNABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. ABSOLUTELY NO DAMAGE TO CAR, EVER, ORIGINAL OWNER, CAR IN MINT CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

11180546

Incident

Feb 15, 2019

Mileage

30,000 mi

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 I WILL EMAIL IT.

NHTSA ID

11142780

Incident

Jun 8, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11141024

Incident

Oct 13, 2018

Mileage

110,397 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11131691

Incident

Jul 15, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11121653

Incident

Jun 2, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11115234

Incident

Jul 28, 2018

Mileage

79,040 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11102449

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

47,200 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11093921

Incident

Sep 4, 2017

Mileage

57,189 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11076328

Incident

Mar 5, 2018

OUR CAR ACCELERATED WITH OUT CONTACT OF THE GASPEDAL CAUSING COLLISION WITH 3 PARKED VEHICLES. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR SONATA.

NHTSA ID

11016347

Incident

Aug 19, 2017

Mileage

100,250 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10954613

Incident

Feb 12, 2017

Mileage

39,400 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10884947

Incident

Jul 11, 2016

Mileage

109,300 mi

RECALL CAMPAIGN 132. VEHICLE STALLED/LOCKED UP CAUSING A COLLISION WITH HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

10862089

Incident

Apr 24, 2016

Mileage

47,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10671663

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

Mileage

52,000 mi