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2012 Hyundai Genesis problems

The most common problem on the 2012 Hyundai Genesis is engine and cooling, typically around 62,000 miles. It has 2.1 times the complaints of a typical Genesis model year.

Year to avoid2.1x the typical complaints
Year score
48/100
Owner complaints
260
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
103
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
19-22mpg

The worst 2012 Hyundai Genesis problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2012 Hyundai Genesis

Stalling 50Headlights 22Brake failure 19ABS 16Loss of power 14Check engine light 11Engine failure 8Jerking 8Power steering loss 8Warning lights 7Wipers 7Slipping 6Spongy pedal 6Adaptive cruise 5Backup camera 5Fuel smell 5Hesitation 5Steering lock-up 5Sudden acceleration 5

Recalls 2

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motorReported February 29, 2016 · 18,700 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2012 Genesis vehicles manufactured August 1, 2011, to April 30, 2012, and 2011-2013 Equus vehicles manufactured July 10, 2011, to June 12, 2012. The windshield wiper motor cover seal on the affected vehicles may degrade allowing corrosion on the wiper motor's circuit board. The corrosion can cause intermittent or total loss of wiper function.
Risk
Inoperative wipers during inclement weather can decrease driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor cover and seal, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑800‑633‑5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 140.

Recall number 16V117000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: fluidReported October 29, 2013 · 43,500 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Genesis vehicles manufactured April 30, 2008, through March 28, 2012. The vehicles may contain brake fluid which does not protect against corrosion of the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU).
Risk
If the module corrodes, reduced brake effectiveness may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners and instruct them to bring their vehicle to a dealer for service. Hyundai will inspect the HECU module for proper operation, and will replace the modules as necessary. Hyundai will replace the factory brake fluid in those vehicles that have not previously had the factory brake fluid replaced. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on December 24, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1‑800‑633‑5151 or by email at [email protected]. Hyundai's recall number is 114.

Recall number 13V489000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 2012 Hyundai Genesis

Defect investigations

Brake hydraulic control module failureOpened October 17, 2013, closed April 4, 2014

On October 28, 2013, Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to the federal safety agency describing a safety defect in the braking system of approximately 43,500 model year (MY) 2009 through 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedans (the federal safety agency Recall No. 13V‑489).The Hyundai report indicates that the recalled vehicles may contain brake fluid that does not sufficiently inhibit corrosion on the zinc plating of control valve armatures in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module. The DIR indicated that, over time, the build-up of corrosion products may affect operation of HECU control valves, resulting in a low/soft brake pedal with reduced brake effectiveness, which may increase the risk of a crash.In October 2011, the HECU supplier notified Hyundai that the brake fluid used in production plants was causing corrosion of valve armatures in the control module.The supplier changed the coating of the valve armatures in late March 2012 to correct the problem in production vehicles.Hyundai's recall includes Genesis vehicles produced prior to the implementation of the HECU change.In March 2013, Hyundai initiated a Service Campaign (TL6) to replace brake fluid in the subject vehicles with brake fluid with better corrosion resistance properties.According to Hyundai's DIR letter, after PE13-033 was opened, the company noted that some of the vehicles serviced in the TL6 campaign subsequently required HECU replacement.This was an indication that internal corrosion had progressed enough to affect valve operation and brake performance, prompting Hyundai to conduct a safety recall.Hyundai's repair procedures for 13V‑489 require brake system flushing and replacement in all recalled vehicles with a new fluid containing the necessary corrosion inhibitor.In addition, for vehicles produced prior to June 1, 2010, dealers will perform an inspection procedure to verify that the HECU is functioning properly and replace units that do not meet the test requirements.Hyundai indicated that, based on analysis of claim data, only vehicles produced prior to June 1, 2010 have been in service long enough to require the additional inspection/replacement of the HECU. Analysis of failure data reported to the federal safety agency and provided by Hyundai in response to ODI's information request letter for PE13-033 identified 756 complaints and 1,683 warranty claims for 30,114 subject vehicles produced prior to June 1, 2010, resulting in a complaint rate of 25.1 incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV) and a claim rate of 5.6 percent.The MY 2009 vehicles, with the longest exposure times, experienced the highest complaint (33.5 IPTV) and warranty (7.0 percent) rates.For the 45,639 subject vehicles produced after June 1, 2010, ODI identified 13 complaints and 34 warranty claims, resulting in a complaint rate of 0.3 IPTV and a warranty claim rate of 0.1 percent, indicating that the brake fluid corrosion concern had not progressed far enough to result in significant rates of brake system performance symptoms in those vehicles.This investigation is closed.ODI will continue to monitor complaints to evaluate the effectiveness of Hyundai's recall.The VOQs noted in the Failure Report are: 10569231, 10560898, 10560495, 10559360, 10558279, 10558264, 10556964, 10556631, 10556577, 10556322, 10554988, 10554802, 10554122, 10552958, 10551817, 10551157, 10551110, 10551092, 10550791, 10550773, 10550431, 10549750, 10549634, 10549629, 10549567, 10549402, 10549376, 10549270, 10549228, 10549186, 10549021, 10548903, 10548823, 10548791, 10548737, 10548722, 10548716, 10548705, 10546565, 10544803, 10543663, 10542962, 10541959, 10541741, 10538208, 10537934, 10536652, 105354

PE13033

Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Hyundai Genesis 103

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 103 bulletins for the 2012 Hyundai Genesis

2012 Hyundai Genesis fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.8L 6‑cylRWD182822
5.0L 8‑cylRWD16-172519-20
4.6L 8‑cylRWD162519

What 2012 Hyundai Genesis owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 18, 2026 · Engine · OK · 1 injury

See attached document for complaint.

Filed Jul 8, 2026 · Brakes · CA

Brake pedal has been intermittently low/spongy and has progressively gotten worse. During these events, the brake pedal goes nearly to the floorboard, and braking power is weak but will typically function after pumping the pedal repeatedly. Stopping or slowing in an emergency situation may not be possible. There is no manual emergency brake. No trouble codes found, and no warning lamps illuminated related to the braking system. Dealer diagnosed faulty antilock braking system (ABS) hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU). This exact defect is addressed in Warranty Extension TXXP: Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) [XXX] Hyundai rejected this under the warranty coverage because the vehicle build date is approximately 2 weeks beyond the date range in the TSB. Subsequent web searches revealed replacement parts were available for production in late XXX. The TSB's affected date range ends on XXX. This vehicle was produced on XXX and was not included in the recall notifications. It is not known if a complete stock purge was performed on the production line or if parts were continued to be installed until old stock was depleted. Other vehicles outside of the TSB stated production date range may also have this latent critical safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 6, 2026 · Brakes · FL

I am submitting this letter as a formal safety defect complaint regarding my 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 sedan, which is experiencing braking system behavior that directly mirrors the defect described in Hyundai Recall Campaign 114 (the federal safety agency Campaign 13V489000), despite my vehicle not being included by VIN. Although excluded by VIN, the functional failure mode matches recalled vehicles, indicating the defect population may extend beyond the original VIN range. The vehicle exhibits the following symptoms: 1.Excessive and inconsistent brake pedal travel 2. Soft and spongy brake pedal feel 3. Highly variable brake biting point 4. Requirement to pump the brake pedal to obtain normal braking 5. Unpredictable brake engagement during normal driving These symptoms are intermittent and occur without warning, significantly increasing stopping distance and reducing driver confidence. The behavior is consistent with internal hydraulic or HECU malfunction, which the original recall attributes to corrosion caused by improper brake fluid formulation. I am particularly concerned because I am a disabled driver, and any reduction in braking reliability presents an elevated safety risk. Unpredictable brake response materially affects my ability to operate the vehicle safely and to respond to emergency conditions. While Hyundai has limited the recall to certain VIN ranges, Model Years Affected: 2009–2012 Hyundai Genesis sedans built April 30, 2008 – March 28, 2012. The braking behavior is functionally identical to recalled vehicles. This suggests the defect may not be limited to the originally identified production range and warrants further investigation. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency: 1. Review this complaint in the context of the existing recall 2. Evaluate whether the defect population should be expanded 3. Initiate further inquiry into VIN-excluded vehicles exhibiting identical symptoms 4. This issue represents a clear safety concern with potential for serious injury

Filed Jan 31, 2026 · Brakes · VA

Brake line on driver rear rusted and leaking above brake hose. Cannot drive vehicle safely with this leak. Would leak brake fluid each time I step on brake pedal. Problem magnified when car is on and brake booster is working. Vehicle not at dealer or mechanic yet, but link to video of driver rear brake line leaking on 1-31-2026: [XXX] Service Campaign 991 [XXX] ) was completed less than two years ago on Feb 19, 2024 (today is 1/31/2026). See note about "dealer will apply an anti-corrosion treatment to certain parts, and *replace the brake lines if necessary*" Not told about any rust, nor any parts replaced. Link to service campaign quote: [XXX] No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms of the problem. Assumed wheel liner covered brake line from salt. Vehicle is located in [XXX] and I suspect other brake lines are also rusted out. Would like manufacturer to replace all brake lines under warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 6, 2025 · Airbags · GA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, she collided with another vehicle on the front driver's side. No air bags deployed. BM Automotive towed the vehicle, then the vehicle was towed to her local dealership. The contact stated that she sustained head and back injuries. The contact mentioned they informed her that she sustained whiplash as well. Medical attention was required. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact mentioned that the seat belt did retract during the impact. The contact stated that the failure was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 5, 2025 · Visibility · 150,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The contact had engaged the windshield wipers during a light rainstorm and noticed that the intermittent wiper function was not working as designed. The contact stated that gradually the wiper speeds were no longer functional, and only the high-speed option was operable. The contact had taken the vehicle to the local dealer who diagnosed that the gasket around the wiper motor had failed, and that water had entered the wiper motor and determined that the wiper motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred; however, the contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was advised that the vehicle was no longer under warranty and had to be repaired out-of-pocket. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the gasket around the wiper motor had deteriorated, and water was leaking into the wiper motor's electrical circuits. The contact was advised by the mechanic that there was a recall, the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V117000 (Visibility); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2024 · Engine · TN

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound emanating from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred a week later. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic, who again diagnosed a failure with the engine and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced a second time. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred three additional times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Nov 8, 2024 · Engine · TN · fire · 1 injury

These cars has some serious engine issues they are literally defective I've had 5 different engines installed in my car I keep the maintenance up on my car but its still no luck with the engines I've risked my life from almost having accidents due to engine failure I have proof that these calls have been engines and I honestly feel like it's a serious issue that needs to be adjusted

Filed Jul 28, 2024 · Transmission · IL

During normal driving conditions, the 8 speed automatic transmission will randomly hesitate to upshift from 2nd to 3rd and from 4th to 5th, causing an unpredictable loss of power. Symptoms will show up intermittently, and do not seem to be caused by certain events. This is unsafe because the unpredictability of the problem could cause power loss during moments where acceleration is needed to avoid an accident (moments which would otherwise be completely safe, i.e. merging onto a freeway, turning across incoming traffic, right turns into the direction of traffic, etc.) This problem already has a TSB issued by Hyundai. Problem has been reproduce by a technician. Component has been checked by a technician. There are no warning lights or other symptoms before failure.

Filed May 2, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · 85,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact shifted into park(P) and pressed the Push to Start button, and the vehicle restarted. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that an OBD scanner was unable to retrieve any diagnostic trouble codes for the failure. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. The contact is requesting to be contacted via telephone in reference to this inquiry.

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2012 Hyundai Genesis

Is the 2012 Hyundai Genesis reliable?

Owners have filed 260 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Genesis, 2.1 times a typical Genesis model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.

What is the 2012 Hyundai Genesis year score?

The 2012 Hyundai Genesis scores 48 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Hyundai Genesis: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Hyundai Genesis?

Engine and cooling, with 70 complaints, typically around 62,000 miles. Next is brakes (61).

How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Genesis have?

2 recalls, covering visibility and service brakes, hydraulic.

What year does the Hyundai Genesis have bad engine?

The Hyundai Genesis model years with the most engine complaints are 2012 (70 complaints), 2015 (43 complaints) and 2013 (41 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Hyundai Genesis get?

Official estimates for the 2012 Hyundai Genesis range from 19 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 18 city and 28 highway.

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