Reliable Auto DB

2012 Hyundai Genesis reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Hyundai Genesis holds 270 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 14 per year. Genesis years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 13 complaints per year. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Motor and Hydraulic brakes, fluid.

2012 Hyundai Genesis
Photo by MercurySable99, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

270

Per year

14

Recalls

2

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (71 of 270), then Electrical system (49) and Powertrain (39). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Genesis has 195 complaints, 18 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 Genesis. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

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.
Recall hydraulic brakes, fluid 2013-10-29 · NHTSA campaign 13V489000
Summary 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).
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 consumeraffairs@hmausa.com. Hyundai's recall number is 114.

Complaints by component (270 total)

Engine
71
Electrical system
49
Powertrain
39
Hydraulic brakes
33
Service brakes
32
Exterior lighting
25
Steering
15
Speed control
14
Fuel and propulsion system
10
Visibility and wipers
9
Air bags
8
Suspension
8
Wheels
6
Seat belts
4
Seats
4
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
Engine and engine cooling
2
Structure
2
Visibility
2
Back-over prevention
1
Equipment
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel system, other
1
Parking brake
1
Tires
1
Show 17 more Show less
Crash-flagged

8

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

6

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

42011820121720131320142020153120164620173920183120191220201220211020221020231120242202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "See attached document for complaint."
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-09-18
  • "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…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-07-08
  • "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…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-02-06
  • "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…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-01-31
  • "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,…"
    Air bags · filed 2025-05-06

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Hyundai Genesis 2 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars
2012 Hyundai Genesis 4 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars

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
Genesis 3.8L, 6-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 18 28 22 MPG $2950
Genesis 4.6L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 25 19 MPG $4200
Genesis 5L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 17 25 20 MPG $4000
Genesis Coupe 3.8L, 6-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 17 26 20 MPG $3250
Genesis Coupe 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 5-speed Rear-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $3450
Genesis Coupe 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 21 30 24 MPG $3300
Genesis Coupe 3.8L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 17 27 20 MPG $3250
Genesis R-Spec 5L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 25 19 MPG $4200

Specs and fitment

1st generation (BH), 2012–2014
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-30 (3.8L all temps); 5W-20/5W-30 (5.0L)
Tire size 235/50R18 (3.8), 235/45R19 (5.0 R-Spec)

Compare

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Hyundai Genesis reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Hyundai Genesis holds 270 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 14 per year. Genesis years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 13 complaints per year. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Motor and Hydraulic brakes, fluid.

What are common problems with a 2012 Hyundai Genesis?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (71 of 270), then Electrical system (49) and Powertrain (39). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

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

The 2013 Genesis has 195 complaints, 18 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Hyundai Genesis been recalled?

The 2012 Hyundai Genesis has 2 recalls 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 Genesis?

Owners have filed 270 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Genesis with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Hyundai Genesis get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Hyundai Genesis is 20.9 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Hyundai Genesis take?

Viscosity and capacity depend on engine and model year; use the generation specs here and confirm in the owner's manual.

What generation is the 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan?

2nd generation / DH (2015-2016) for this nameplate before Genesis became a separate brand.

What tire sizes does a Hyundai Genesis sedan use?

First-gen examples include 235/50R18 and 235/45R19; second-gen trims list 225/45R18 through 245/40R19.