There are 47 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Sonatain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
When I start the vehicle in the morning I leave the neighborhood going around 15mph and the car loses power. I have to let off the gas completely then reapply but it still continues to studder. I applied the slapstick sift mode and noticed it does this in first and fourth gear. In automatic you can’t see it
Driving on a freeway when check brake warning appeared. Car speed dropped down to drastically. Alarm was chirping and brakes made a bad grinding noise
The car starts alarming out of nowhere while driving at 70 mph on the interstate and the Hybrid System Warning - Safely Stop and Do Not Drive along with the wrench, battery light and engine light all appearing on the dashboard to pull over and do not drive when this occurred I lost total control of the vehicle. The brake peddle goes all the way to the floor enabling me to stop and I lost the ability to steer the vehicle as the power steering went out as well while this was happening. I almost got killed as I was on the highway driving at 70 mph. I immediately put on my hazards lights to signal to other drivers that I was having mechanical problems. Thank GOD I was able to pull over without anyone hitting me from behind. I have had major major issues with this car since I purchased it the engine seized up on me in the same manner back in 2020 and the engine was replaced. Then there was an issue with the transmission and that was also replaced. Then the brake booster also failed and had to be replaced as well. Hyundai aught to be ashamed of the production of this vehicle as it is truly a severe risk to the lives of the consumers not just the person who is driving this vehicle but also to those who may be behind someone driving as this could cause a major accident and people could be killed. These cars need to be recalled and they need to get down to what is causing these issues in order to fix the problem. I pray that you all make Hyundai do a recall on this vehicle as I have googled and see that there has been many others that have encountered these same issues. I am filing this complaint in hopes of you all getting involved to do something about this. Any help with this will be greatly appreciated.
Approx july 2022 My sonata began to malfunction, first the steering wheel buttons stopped working intermittently off and on unable to turn on and set cruise control, unable to use hands free phone options as well as unable to navigate cluster features, as the time goes on the problem gets worse and eventually do not function ever. I replaced the steering wheel buttons which fixed the issue temporarily only now the vehicle will engage cruise control, accelerate dramatically and continue to gain speed. I am unable to disengage cruise control via the brake pedal, or cancel option or steering wheel. If I depress the brake pedal it will begin to decelerate but once I let off the brake pedal the engine will revv high and gain speed again. Buttons begin to function in a reverse order meaning press cancel, cruise turns on, press set button, cruise will set, press set button cruise will disengage etc. The only way to disengage cruise and rapid acceleration in this dangerous scenario is to Press the on off cruise control button. Immediately stopped vehicle had it towed to dealership, they stated that they could not replicate the problem, however their diagnosis for the problem was due to incorrect brake fluid put in the vehicle and suggested to completely replace the entire brake system of the vehicle I declined as I felt that was not the problem in fact bizarre diagnosis. Only hyundai dealership has ever put any brake fluid in my vehicle... this is completely dangerous as when vehicle suddenly accelerated I was unable to turn it off I almost rear ended a vehicle on the freeway going 70 mph. I no longer feel safe in the vehicle and it sits collecting dust while I make monthly payments.
After the recent recall repairs, the car started to intermittently getting a message on the dashboard saying ‘Hybrid System Warning - Safely stop and do not drive’ and ‘Check brakes’ and the brake lights came on with a loud chiming beep, the car would stop accelerating and would not go beyond 10 mph, also the breaks would fail to apply correctly and made a loud screeching sound when applied. It used to do have this issue without any warning, while driving or stopped at the light, without any distinguishing pattern. However, it used to go away when the car was restarted multiple times. However now the message is on continuously and doesn’t go away with the restarting the car. After taking to the dealership, they said that the repairs would cost $3000 as the Hydraulic Power Assembly unit has failed. After looking for the issue online, I have found that a lot of the 2011-14 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid have this same issue and seems to be a manufacturing defect. This is a huge life risk for the owners of this car since it can happen while on the freeway and pose a life threatening risk to their life. It is also a huge financial burden for the owners for a manufacturing defect. I would like you to investigate these issues and provide us with a appropriate solution.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle decelerated independently with the Electronic Stability Control warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V759000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
Driving in traffic in town and accelerator pedal quit working. Deceleration happened until I went from 40 mph to 2mph. Then able to accelerate back up to 30mph and happened again until I coasted to a stop. Traction control light came on after second incident. Car was in park and still on. Turned car off, took key outside vehicle and exited vehicle. Car locked itself and brake lights came on and stayed on. This is a danger!!! Can cause an accident, driver has no control over vehicle at random times. Traumatic and scared to drive vehicle now.
VEHICLE IN MOTION, LESS THAN 40 MPH ON A CITY STREET WITH A SLIGHT INCLINE, LESS THAN THREE MILES FROM HOME. VEHICLE STARTED TO OPERATE SLUGGISHLY WITHOUT WARNING, WITH LACK OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, ACCELERATION SEVERELY DECREASED AND WAS UNABLE TO GO OVER 20 MPH (CAR WAS PLACED IN LIMP/ENGINE PROTECTION MODE). I SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR HOME AND WAS ABLE TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ISSUE. CONNECTED ON OBD2 SCANNER AND IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED A DTC P1326; INDICATING THE KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM PLACED THE CAR IN LIMP MODE DUE TO A DETECTED KNOCK/VIBRATION IN THE MOTOR. FURTHER RESEARCH PROVED SERVICE CAMPAIGN 953 (TSB 19-01-002H-1) WAS ALREADY OPENED IN LATE 2018 TO HELP RESOLVE THE P1326 ISSUE AND MANY 2011-2018 SONATAS WERE RECALLED TO GET A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE KSDS; AS AN EARLY PREVENTIVE MEASURE FOR POSSIBLE FAULTY BEARINGS/RODS IN THE MOTOR. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO GET THE KSDS SOFTWARE UPDATE AFTER RECEIVING THE P1326 DTC. THE SERVICE TECH SAID MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN AND CHARGED ME $173 TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE AND CLEAR LIMP MODE. THE HYUNDAI TSB CLEARLY STATES THIS UPDATE IS FREE TO THE CUSTOMER AND APPLIES TO ALL SONATAS FROM 2011-2018; REGARDLESS IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN MY CAR AND I'M JUST TRYING TO BE SAFER WHILE DRIVING SO IF I CAN GET ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS THAT WOULD BE GREAT
I HAD A VERY SCARY INCIDENT FRIDAY NIGHT, 12/18/20 ABOUT 8:30PM. I WAS ABOUT TO MERGE ONTO THE 5 FWY NORTH TO GO HOME, AND AS I AM COMING OUT OF THE TURN, AND ACCELERATING TO ANTICIPATE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, I SEE A BIG RIG IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR IN THE DISTANCE. NATURALLY, I STEP ON THE GAS TO PUNCH IT, TO GIVE MYSELF AND THE RIG PLENTY OF DISTANCE AS TO NOT COLLIDE. MY CAR REVVED UP AND DECELERATES TO ABOUT 2MPH . I PANICKED AND MANAGED TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AS FAR RIGHT AS I COULD AND THE RIG BARRELS DOWN PAST ME. I WAS AFRAID TO COMPLETELY STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE FWY, AND THE CAR LASTED LONG ENOUGH TO COAST TO THE NEXT EXIT. I AM ABLE TO CONTINUE STEERING MY CAR CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER AT A CRAWLING PACE, AND TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. I HAD PEOPLE MAD BEHIND ME, BUT I COULD NOT SPEED UP. I MANAGED TO COAST TO THE NEAREST EXIT, COME DOWN THE RAMP, AND STOP BRIEFLY WITH JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO STEER LEFT ONTO TELEGRAPH IN COMMERCE, AND MY CAR COMPLETELY DIES IN THE FIRST LANE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY CAR JUST DIES ON ME WHILE I AM DRIVING! FIRST TIME WAS THREE YEARS AGO IN DECEMBER 2017 . THE CAR HAD INITIALLY DIED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. HOWEVER, AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND DRIVE NO MORE THAN 30 MPH TO THE SAME DOWNEY HYUNDAI. THE ISSUE WAS UNDER FULL WARRANTY AND REPAIRED, BUT NOW A SECOND TIME? WORSE YET, THIS HAPPENED WHILE EXCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY. I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE AROUND IN A CAR THAT HAS REPEATED RECALLS FOR VARIOUS ISSUES. I ALSO DON'T WANT TO WORRY OF MY CAR DYING ON ME A THIRD TIME. MY SONATA IS CURRENTLY AT DOWNEY HYUNDAI AND THEY HAVE STARTED DIAGNOSTICS AND WILL HAVE A BETTER READING AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF ANY PASSENGERS I MAY HAVE WITH ME.
AFTER HAVING TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO MY CRANK SHAFT GETTING CLOGGED WITH METAL PIECES ON THE HIGHWAY AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE FEELING LIKE IT'S STALLING OUT OR LOSING THROTTLE EITHER DURING A TURN OR SHORTLY AFTER. IT'S NEVER POPPED AND ERROR CODE AND ONLY HAPPENS NOW AND THEN. *TR
LAST NIGHT AFTER PARKING, MY BREAK LIGHTS REMAINED LIT. MY FATHER AND I BOTH CHECKED EITHER ANYTHING INSIDE WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS NOT ENGAGED. I DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING (LIGHTS STILL ON). PARKED AT WORK, LIGHTS STAYED ON. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE AROUND 50 MPH. CAR BRAKED/DECELERATED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. I EXITED HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY AND PULLED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM ABLE TO PULL THE LEVER TO CHANGE INTO R/N/D WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE DOWN (YOU SHOULD HAVE TO PRESS BREAK FIRST BEFORE SWITCHING). I KNOW THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE FOR ELANTRAS AND SONATAS AT SOME POINT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT INCLUDED MY CARS YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY RECALL THINGS, IT SEEMS MAYBE HYUNDAI JUST MAKES FAULTY PRODUCTS. 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. 78,000 MILES. TRACTION LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING THIS AM, BUT PERHAPS UNRELATED AS IT WAS FOGGY AND SO MAYBE SLIPPERY?
MY CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSING. THE CODE P1326 CAME UP AND NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. MY CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND TAKE A MINUTE TO SHIFT GEARS AND DRIVE PROPERLY. THERE HAS BEEN OPEN COMMUNICATION ON THE ISSUE BY OTHER PEOPLE.
WHILE DRIVING AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR IT ACTS AS IF ITS NOT GETTING ANY GAS, SO WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT AND REPRESS IT, IT MOVES RIGHT ALONG. IT HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. NOW, I EXITED THE CAR AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITH THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT DOES THE SAME THING WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL BE DRIVING 50MPH AND I'LL HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND MY RPM AND SPEED WILL DROP. IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS THEN RE PRESS IT, IT RE ENGAGES AND ACCELERATES AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE, THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE AND DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL QUICKLY. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. VICTORVILLE HYUNDAI (14821 PALMADALE RD A, VICTORVILLE, CA 92392) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
HAD MOTOR REPLACED FROM A PREVIOUS RECALL, 4DAYS AFTER THIS FIX I NOTICED A ROUGH IDLE. WENT TO NUMEROUS SHOPS INCLD DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT RECALL WAS DONE AND ANY OTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED FROM ROUGH IDLE AND ENGINE NOISE TO POOR ACCELERATION AND MISTIMED BOOSTS. AS IN WHEN ENTERING HIGHWAY CAR DOESNT ACCELERATE VERY FAST VERY LONG DELAY BEFORE BOOST INTIATES. ONCE AT DESIRED SPEED WHEN SLOWING DOWN CAR BOOSTS WITHOUT PRESSURE TO ACCELERTATOR!!! NOW THAT WINTER HAS ARRIVED, SPORADICALLY ON COLD START CAR IDLES EVEN ROUGHER AND SOUNDS AS IF IT WITH SHUT OFF. WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC CAR IDLES ROUGH THEN SHUTS OFF!! NO POWER STEERING! NO LIGHTS ! NO POWER! THIS HAPPENED WHILST CAR IS IN DRIVE AND IN MOTION! I TRY TO AVOID HWYS AND NIGHT TIME DRIVING WHEN I CAN AS IM SCARED TO DEATH OF THIS CAR. I PURCHASED IT USED IN DEC2017 11 DAYS LATER INTIAL ISSUES BEGAN WITH CAR LOOSING POWER. NOW AFTER ISSUE WAS "FIXED" BY REPLACEMENT MOTOR SAME INTERMEDIATE LOST OF POWER ISSUES AGAIN BUT WITH THE ADDED BOOSTING ISSUE AS WELL NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A CURB AND A HANDICAP SIGN. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN REVERSE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FAIRFAX HYUNDAI (10925 FAIRFAX BLVD, FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA 22030, (703) 352-0444) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND REQUESTED THAT A TEST DRIVE BE CONDUCTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY REPAIR SHOP TO BE EVALUATED FOR THE DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.
AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES ON HIGHWAY, MY 2012 SONATA HYBRID WILL START TO JUMP AND BUCK. IT SLOWLY LOSES POWER AND WHEN IT REACHES LOWER SPEEDS (UNDER 40 MPH) AS I TRY TO ACCELERATE IT WILL FEEL LIKE IT'S TRYING TO CATCH THE NEXT GEAR BUT WON'T. I WILL CONTINUE TO LOSE POWER SO I HAVE TO TRY TO LEAVE HIGHWAY OR PULL OVER, WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE AUGUST 2018. JUST TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP BUT FIRST TWO TIMES THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM WHILE TEST DRIVING IT AND ALL DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THE CAR IS FINE. I SEE IN SOME WEB SITES THAT OTHER USERS NATION-WIDE HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEM BUT WITH NO RESOLUTION AT HAND. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST RUN INTO ME AS MY CAR LOST POWER AND SPEED RAPIDLY AND STARTED TO BUCK/STUTTER.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INITIATE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY ONLY THE ON/OFF BUTTON WILL WORK, SHOW WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CRUISE LIGHT ON THE DASH CONSOLE. THE SET AND RESUME BUTTONS WILL ONLY WORK APPROXIMATELY 30% OF THE TIME AND THE CANCEL BUTTON NEVER WORKS. WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ALLOWING ME TO SET IT THE ONLY WAY TO DISENGAGE IT IS VIA THE BRAKE.
Showing 1–20 of 47 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026