2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

67Engine complaints

43.8%Of all 153 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE67 · 43.8%

POWER TRAIN28 · 18.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22 · 14.4%

Unspecified / other15 · 9.8%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL13 · 8.5%

Share of the 153 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid overview page.

What owners report

“ENGINE BLEW A ROD SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. GOING 75 MILES AN HOUR AND HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND THAT RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE…”NHTSA complaint 11173828 — filed 02/03/2019

“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY REV VERY HIGH IT STARTED ABOUT 3 WEEKA AGO WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND AN AVERAGE OF 45MPH IN CITY…”NHTSA complaint 11169886 — filed 01/14/2019

“THE CAR BEGAN LURCHING FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65+ MPH) WHEN TRAVELLING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A FLAT HIGHWAY ON DAY 1, AFTER…”NHTSA complaint 11165369 — filed 01/05/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: 67 of 153 complaints on file (43.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have in total?

153 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 2 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 2 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.