2012 Hyundai Genesis problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (41) · Power Train (29) · Service Brakes (21)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Genesis model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
210 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor 2016-02-29 · campaign 16V117000 · 18,700 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid 2013-10-29 · campaign 13V489000 · 43,500 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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 consumeraffairs@hmausa.com. Hyun
Service bulletins (101)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-10-22 · 26-BD-011G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly.
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Power Train 2024-04-09 · 24-AT-002H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this tsb provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with incorrect ratio dtc (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on page 2.
Showing the 6 most recent of 101 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-18 · Engine And Engine Cooling“see attached document for complaint.…”
2026-07-08 · Service Brakes“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 tro…”
2026-02-06 · Service Brakes“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 (nhtsa campaign 13v489000), despite my vehicle not being included by vin. although excluded by vin, the functional failur…”
2026-01-31 · Service Brakes“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 cam…”
2025-05-06 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“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 mentio…”
2025-02-05 · Visibility · 150,000 mi“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 …”
2024-11-08 · Engine · 🔥 fire“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 seri…”
2024-11-08 · Engine“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 i…”
2024-07-28 · Power Train“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 du…”
2024-05-02 · Engine · 85,000 mi“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 wa…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.