AI Damage2012 Hyundai Azera: common problems
Owners of the 2012 Hyundai Azera filed 74 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 74
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 51% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 16% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 4% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 3% of all complaints
- 7 Seats 3% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 1% of all complaints
- Steering: 38 complaints (51% of all).
- Service brakes: 12 complaints (16% of all).
- Engine: 10 complaints (14% of all).
- Air bags: 7 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 3 complaints (4% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 74 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai azera equipped with hankook tires optima h426, size p245-40r19. The contact stated that four tires failed on two different occasions, the first failure occurred when the contact crashed into a curb while driving 20 mph.
The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The low oil warning was illuminated. The contact had to leave the vehicle at the side of the road. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired.
Recall for my 2012 hyundai azera number 251 Anti-Brake System (ABS) module that could leak and cause an electrical short that could result in a fire. They want to change a fuse from 40 to 30 amp so when the problem occurs fuse will blow. They should fix the problem replace ABS module.
In 2023, Hyundai approved to pay for repairs of vehicles that suffer premature engine failures due to issues such as low oil, metal debris and/or fire in the engine. These issues were predominately found in the GDI engines in Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
This recall on the anti-lock brake system was initiated 11 months ago. I brought the Azera into the dealer 2 months ago and they said they had to order parts. I called today and spoke to the parts department. He said he is restricted from ordering the correct part and has no idea when he will be able to order it.
My engine failed after only 104k miles. I took my car in to get an oil change and it had rod knock which randomly started when I had oil already in the engine. This was just a random failure because it was completely find the day before and then the next day it started when I knew i was going to put more oil in in…
The contact stated that the passengerâs side air bag warning light indicated that the air bag was off with a passenger seated in the passengerâs seat. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the air bag sensor had failed and needed to be replaced.
On January 19,2023 my air bag light and check engine light came on in my Azera 2012 I took my car to [dealer] Salisbury Maryland they said after doing the diagnostic my car was going to need seat cushion for airbag light and for the door latch and will cost me with having a warranty 3265.00 dollars .
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,291 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Azera has 59 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 74, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Azera?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, service brakes, engine. Total complaints: 74. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (24%), vibration (12%), stalls while driving (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 Hyundai Azera?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2012 Hyundai Azera from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2012 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.