What 1,551 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hev

Based on what I experienced, the fire appears to have resulted from an internal mechanical or electrical failure that occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion. No prior issues or dashboard alerts were present at the time, and there was no external impact or damage that could explain the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11701989

Driving came to a stop ,light turned green made a U-turn to go to the gas station heard a pop noise smoke came from inside the car tried stopping it but the brake pedal sunk into the ground pressed my emergency brake it was seized wouldn’t go down (never had that issue my brakes always work ) I smelled brake fluid and seen the abs light on the dash then the power started to go out and my girlfriend almost got trapped in the car

NHTSA ODI 11691470

I was driving I seen smoke then full flames on my windshield and I tried to stop and put my car in park to get out but my brakes stopped working and I couldn’t get the gear in park so I opened the driver door and had to jump out of the car .I had an engine replacement a year before for it being recalled and police and firefighters were on scene after incident

NHTSA ODI 11680813

Unknown Cought fire under the hood was engulfed within minutes

NHTSA ODI 11652424

On July 29, 2024, my 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was parked in our driveway. About 10 minutes later an engine fire started that consumed the car. The local Fire Departmemt put out the fire but the car was totaled. The fire also destroyed a storage shed and some windows were damaged. The car was taken to the Hyundai Dealer for servicing when the engine light came on on March of 2024. The car was left for a few days with the dealer. The NHTSA Recall Number 23V651000 was not repaired during that service call.

NHTSA ODI 11606002

I noticed a clicking noise when pressing and releasing the brake pedal that had not been there before. I started hearing that sound 3-5 days ago. After driving to pick up food I noticed smoke coming from the engine area then the car burst into flames. The fire depress called a they put out the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11561959

On March 19th I was involved in wreck where the other driver was at fault. The lady t-boned me on my driver's side. Airbags never deployed so my head smashed Into the window leaving me with a concussionand spinal injury. My usually working horn failed as well. I would also like to mention that I have only had this car a year. I was also told it was never in a wreck and had 1 owner. Nope. A week after I got it, I was driving and my engine seized while I was doing 70mph. The steering stopped working, but somehow managed to pull off to the side. i had to stay in my car because of the busy highway. It was 100+ weather and my windows wouldn't work. I sat there for 2 hours. Took the car to a shop just to find out about the engine recall that I believe my car wasn't apart of, but should have been. Fought with Hyundai for them to fix it then lost my job because I was denied a loaner car while waiting. 2 months later they finally fix it. Now the breaks do a weird grinding thing a lot, my shifter slips out of place, the steering column wobbles, the engine is constantly making a disturbing noise and is sluggish, it has trouble shifting when accelerating. I have had the car rapidly accelerate instead of slow down when stopping at a stop sign or light. I only got it to stop after stomping the breaks repeatedly while throwing it in park and turning the car off all at the same time. Emergency break and traction control light come on a lot. It's throwing a high speed can bus code, but only sometimes. My gas mileage has went down to 16-18 mpg. Oil changes are necessary every month. AND my taillights burn out every 1 to 2 months. Now I have 4 traffic tickets. And that was all BEFORE the wreck. Hyundai refuses to call me back after they reluctantly fixed the first recall.

NHTSA ODI 11463181

DRIVING HOME ON NOVEMBER 24TH 2018 I WAS ON A GRAM TO MARKET ROAD AND A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE AND THE CAR MADE A HIGH SCREETCH AND DIDN'T STOP. WHEN I HIT THE DEER NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IT HAD JUST BEEN RETURNED TO ME FROM THE PREVIOUS ENGINE RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11386665

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD JUST ENTERED THE THE EXIT RAMP LANE. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DE-ACCELERATING BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE TO THE EXIT RAMP. I HAD AMPLE SPACE IN BETWEEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MYSELF. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME RAPIDLY STOPPED AND I HIT MY BRAKES HARD TO PREVENT CRASHING. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES HARD, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT FELT LIKE I WAS SLIDING ON ICE. SINCE I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP, I SKIDDED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY CAR. MY CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY INSURANCE. IF MY BRAKES WERE WORKING CORRECTLY, THERE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SO MUCH DAMAGE BECAUSE I DID HAVE AMPLE TIME TO STOP. IN ADDITION, I HAD JUST HAD ALL NEW BRAKE AND ROTORS PUT ON MY BRAKES WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE ACCIDENT. MY FRONT BRAKES WERE DONE WITHIN THE YEAR OF THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11220409

THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED A STALLED ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CAR COASTED, DESPITE REPEATED BRAKING ATTEMPTS, AND JUMPED A CURB AND STOPPED WHEN IT RAN OVER ONTO A PERSON'S LAWN. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO STEER AND STOP MULTIPLE TIMES. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE TWO DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CAR WILL BE TOWED TO A DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 11175828

ON 6/16/18 MY CAR BRAKE LIGHT CAUGHT ON FIRE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT WE GOT A TICKET FOR THE LIGHTS STAYING ON. THE LIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF OR NOT TURN ON. THEN THE CAR SEEM TO BE WORKING GREAT AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR 3 MONTHS AGO HOPING THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT ON GAS, LAST ME AT LEAST 20 YEARS, AND THAT IT WAS A GREAT CAR TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE. NEXT, THING I KNOW PEOPLE ARE FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AND BEEPING THEIR HORNS AND ACTING STRANGE TRYING TO GET ME AND MY FIANC'S ATTENTION. WHEN WE BOTH LOOKED BACK WE SAW THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE WHILE WE WERE MOVING 45 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. WE PULLED OVER ALL OF THE BYSTANDERS HELPED US PUT OUT THE FIRE. WHEN IT WAS FINALLY OUT THE LIGHT HAD MELTED OFF AND THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HANGING WAS WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT ATTACHED ONCE WAS THE LIGHT BULB.

NHTSA ODI 11102708

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I CAME TO A SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, MY CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE. I PULL OVER TO FIND SMOKE COMING FROM TRUNK ARE AND BEHIND THE BACK SEATS. OPEN THE TRUNK TO FIND FLAMES NEAR DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT. CAR WENT INTO FLAMES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11060659

SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION ON A HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. SAW BRAKE LIGHTS ON VEHICLES AND STARTED BRAKING. SUDDENLY, MY VEHICLE SPED UP, CATCHING UP TO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BOBBING UP AND DOWN, BUT NOT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING WHEN I FINALLY HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. WE BOTH GOT OUT OF OUR VEHICLES AND TO MY SURPRISE, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE ON EITHER VEHICLE. (MIRACLE) THERE WAS NO POLICE OR TOW TRUCKS CALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR HOME SAFELY. MY CAR WILL PROBABLY BE SOLD BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS. ALSO, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I WAS SO NERVOUS I DID NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE I HIT OR IF THERE WERE OTHER PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI 11048498

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE 2014 IT WAS USED AND HAD 38,940 MILES. I'VE HAD TO BUY THREE 3 STARTERS & 1 BATTERY SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE MECHANIC IN FLORIDA STATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH WAS SHORTING OUT MY STARTER/BATTERY. I TOOK THE CAR TO RICK CASE HYUNDAI IN PLANTATION, FL, AFTER THE FIRST STARTER DIED, I DO NOT RECALL THE EXACT DATE AND THEY TOLD ME TO GET A REFUND FROM HYUNDAI AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETWEEN SEPT.-DEC. 2014. I HAVE ONLY BEEN REIMBURSED $310.00 FROM HYUNDAI TO DATE FOR THE FIRST STARTER. I GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000-5,000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR TO LITHIA HYUNDAI IN FRESNO TWICE, JAN. 2016 FOR RECALL 132 ' THEY CLAIMED NOTHING IS WRONG. SEVEN MONTHS LATER I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. FIRST COMPLAINT, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HOME LAST NIGHT THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING; I HAD TO TAP THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CAR TOOK OFF. THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD WITH CARS AROUND. WHEN BACKING THE CAR, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE. THIS MORNING, THE CAR DID THE SAME THING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE IT WOULD SLOW DOWN WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL ' IT WAS LIKE I AM RUNNING OUT OF GAS AND I HAVE THE TANK ALMOST FULL. IT WOULD TAKE OFF AGAIN AFTER TAPPING THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. THIS WAS ON A VERY BUSY ROAD WITH A LOT OF CARS. MY FIANC TOOK THE CAR AUGUST 2016 TO VISALIA HYUNDAI AND THEY TRIED TO CLAIM MY CAR/VIN # DOES NOT SHOW IT AS BEING UNDER RECALL. I HAD TO PAY $81.00 TO GET THAT FIXED AND THAT ISSUE WAS PART OF A RECALL AS WELL BUT I WAS TOLD MY VIN # DID NOT SHOW UP FOR IT. I HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND ENGINE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2014 & HYUNDAI HAS DONE NOTHING. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY FAILED TO DO ANYTHING. I'VE PAID A LOT OF $$$ MONTHLY FOR THIS CAR & ON REPAIRS FOR A CAR THAT ISN'T SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10953840

MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING TOWED BY MY MOTORHOME IN SOUTH MIAMI, FL ON ROUTE TO KEY WEST, FL. A SOUTH MIAMI, FL HYUNDAI DEALER REPAIRED MY CAR BUT DID NOT REPLACE ALL THE PARTS PAID FOR BY MY AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. THE REPAIR SHOP DID NOT KEEP THE BURNED PARTS AS REQUESTED BY ME AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE. LATER, ANOTHER HYUNDAI DEALER COMPLETED THE REPAIRS AS AUTHORIZED BY HYUNDAI USA AFTER NUMEROUS COMMUNICATIONS WITH ME, BUT THE HYUNDAI DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH THE BURNED PARTS AS REQUESTED. HYUNDAI DID NOT REPORT THAT A FIRE HAD CAUSED THE DAMAGE. NOT SURE IF HYUNDAI USA OR ITS DEALERS HAVE REQUIREMENTS TO REPORT FIRES IN THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE NAMES OF CONTACTS WITH HYUNDAI USA IN CA. I HAVE THE BURNED TPMS SENSOR NOT REPLACED BY HYUNDAI, BUT PAID FOR AT MY EXPENSE TO A TIRE STORE IN MY HOME TOWN. I HAVE PICTURES OF MY CAR ON FIRE; PICTURES OF THE BURNED PARTS ON CAR IN POSSESSION OF MY INSURANCE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE; I HAVE RECEIPTS FROM THE SOUTH MIAMI HYUNDAI REPAIRS, AND I HAVE RECEIPTS FROM THE OTHER HYUNDAI DEALER FOR PARTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT BUT NOT REPLACED BY THE SOUTH MIAMI HYUNDAI DEALER BUT PAID FOR BY MY AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. I ALSO HAVE A RECEIPT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BURNED TPMS SENSOR BY A TIRE STORE IN MY HOME TOWN. I FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SOUTH MIAMI HYUNDAI DEALER WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR LICENSING AUTO REPAIR SHOPS IN THAT COUNTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10693248

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRAIN AND BACK INJURIES AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HANDS AND SHOULDER, WHO BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 10618696

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE IN HER RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT FELL WHICH CAUSED HER TO SCRAPE HER CHIN NEEDING 10 STITCHES. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE AND THE POLICE ATTEMPTED TO PIECE TOGETHER THE SCENARIO, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK, WHEN SHE TURNED IT OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COULD BE PUT INTO ANY GEAR, AND IT COULD ROLL, WHETHER IT WAS ON A FLAT OF HILLY SURFACE. UPDATED 08/20/14 UPDATED 8/27/14*CN

NHTSA ODI 10605525

THERE ARE ACTUALLY 2 ISSUES GOING ON. FIRST OFF, I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2011 (TO REPLACE A GM LEMON) AND EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE, IT HAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT. SECOND ISSUE, I LEFT WORK PULLING ONTO THE ROAD, DROVE A COUPLE OF BLOCKS WHEN TRAFFIC HAD STOPPED AT THE UPCOMING LIGHT; THEREFORE I HAD NOT COMPLETELY BUILT UP SPEED TO THE SPEED LIMIT (40) WHEN I HAD TO STOP. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP BEFORE HITTING THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER IN FRONT OF ME, I FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING ON ICE. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, THE CAR STARTED TO STOP BUT THE BRAKES KEPT GOING FURTHER DOWN TO THE FLOOR, WITH NO FEELING OF STOPPING. THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY( GM) SAID THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES SO I TOOK IT TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER, WHO DID FIND THAT MY BRAKE LINES HAD AIR IN THEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW SINCE I HAD NEVER HAD THEM WORKED ON AND IT'S A SEALED SYSTEM. AFTER THE TECHNICIAN CALLED HYUNDAI, THEY ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER. WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED, I MENTIONED THAT THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT SO THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT ON IT, SINCE IT WAS A FRONT END CRASH. THEY DID NOTICE THE PULLING BUT THE ALIGNMENT DID NOT HELP AND THOUGHT I MAY HAVE A BAD TIRE, BUT WITH 21,000 MILES, WOULD NOT REPLACE IT. I GET MY TIRES ROTATED FAITHFULLY AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD THEY ARE WEARING OUT. THIS IS THE FIRST FOREIGN CAR I'VE OWNED AND (AS PREV. NOTED) GOT IT TO REPLACE A GM LEMON, NOW I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AND I HAVE TO USE IT TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE STATE. BETWEEN THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. DID I GET ANOTHER LEMON? SINCE I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY SATISFACTION,I'M CONTACTING YOU, I'M TIRED OF CALLING THE HYUNDAI DEALER SINCE THEY SAY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I DON'T WANT TO GET SATISFACTION, ONLY AFTER MY FAMILY IS WRITING MY OBITUARY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10507430

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A LOUD, ABNORMAL BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITIES AS THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOUD BANG WAS A RESULT OF EITHER A TIRE BLOWING OR A DEFECTIVE STRUT THAT CAUSED THE TIRE BLOW. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10482077