Reliable Auto DB

2012 Hyundai Equus reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Equus over 15 years — 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Equus years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Motor.

2012 Hyundai Equus
Photo by Navigator84, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

8

Per year

0

Recalls

1

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (4 of 8), then Engine (3) and Suspension (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Equus has 10 complaints, 1 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Hyundai Equus. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall visibility, windshield wiper, motor 2016-02-29 · NHTSA campaign 16V117000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (8 total)

Powertrain
4
Engine
3
Suspension
2
Air bags
1
Electrical system
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12014220152202032026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I am writing to log an immediate emergency update to my vehicle safety report regarding my 2012 Hyundai Equus Signature 5.0L. On Friday afternoon, July 10, 2026, Hyundai Motor America’s corporate office formally…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-07-11
  • "I am reporting a severe vehicle safety hazard involving a sudden loss of motive power and extreme thermal failure on my 2012 Hyundai Equus Signature 5.0L. In July 2022, at 88,845 miles, an authorized Hyundai dealership…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-07-08
  • "I was driving on the highway and my transmission due to a failed transmission service done to my vehicle caused my vehicle’s transmission to overheat a blowout my transmission cooler and mix coolant and transmission…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2026-07-06
  • "FOLLOWING A SLIP ON THE ROAD I AM THE VICTIM OF AN ACCIDENT ON THE EDGE OF A HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CAR STRUCK THE MOUNTAIN, BUT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO ACTIVATE IN THE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN A FRONTAL IMPACT, WHICH CAUSED…"
    Air bags · filed 2020-05-31
  • "FROM THE DESK OF LMI'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: [XXX] I PURCHASED 2012 EQUUS ON MARCH 7, 2012 WITH 108,216 MILES. THE CARS SUSPENSION STARTED GOING BAD AS OF LAST WEEK. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK ON MARCH 20, 2020 TO HAVE A…"
    Suspension · filed 2020-03-20

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Hyundai Equus 4 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Equus 5L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 23 18 MPG $4450

Specs and fitment

VI generation (US), 2012–2016
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 (all temps); 10W-30 above -18°C (5.0L V8) , 7.6 qt capacity
Tire size 245/45R19, 275/40R19 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 23V-651 covers certain 2014-2015 Equus vehicles (among many other Hyundai models listed in the campaign): the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may experience an electrical short, which can increase the risk of an engine-compartment fire. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the repair is complete; dealers replace the ABS fuse.

Compare

Next year 2013 Hyundai Equus See every Hyundai Equus model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Hyundai Equus reliable?

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Equus over 15 years — 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Equus years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Motor.

What are common problems with a 2012 Hyundai Equus?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (4 of 8), then Engine (3) and Suspension (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2012 Hyundai Equus more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Equus has 10 complaints, 1 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Hyundai Equus been recalled?

The 2012 Hyundai Equus has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Hyundai Equus?

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Equus with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Hyundai Equus get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Hyundai Equus is 18 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US Hyundai Equus use?

5W-20 or 5W-30 (all temps); 10W-30 above -18°C (5.0L V8) With filter, about 7.6 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US Hyundai Equus?

Published US specs commonly list front 245/45R19, 275/40R19 (trim-dependent) and rear 245/45R19, 275/40R19 (trim-dependent); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US Hyundai Equus?

Recall 23V-651 covers certain 2014-2015 Equus vehicles (among many other Hyundai models listed in the campaign): the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may experience an electrical short, which can increase the risk of an engine-compartment fire. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the repair is complete; dealers replace the ABS fuse.