Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On April 5, 2021 at about 7 am. I was driving my daughter's 2012 Hyundai Sonata limited edition with a panorama sunroof to a casino call cache creek casino in california. I was driving and she was the passenger that morning. I was going around 70 MPH on interstate 80, eastbound when all of sudden the center sunroof exploded and glass flew everywhere. It sounded like someone shot a gun at us and we almost lost control and barely avoided a major collision with the vehicle in next to us. We pulled of the next exit in hercules,ca. To the first gas station we saw. I call the california highway patrol so they could come and make out a report. It really scared us ,because it sounded like someone shot at us with a shotgun. ,,,,,,,,,,,
I was driving down the highway at approximately 60, 65 MPH. Heard a loud noise that startled me, then saw broken glass falling down my windshield. Pulled over, and observed that the sunroof shattered. I called the police. The ga state trooper filed a report (c000392882). He also took two pictures of the sunroof with my phone because each time I shut my car door, the glass continued to shatter and fall more. I took an additional picture at a gas station, where I pulled over to remove some of the shattered glass from the fabric at the top of my car. It began to enter my vehicle after leaving the scene. My insurance company claimed the damage was lower than my $500 deductible, and Hyundai wouldn't cover it under my warranty. Hyundai claimed that something must have hit the glass, and that my insurance company is liable, not them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that after the front and rear passenger doors were closed, the rear window shattered. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
Seatbelt stopped locking on drivers side, not able to use and wipers now only work on high.
While driving on the parkway at approximately 60 MPH, the sunroof of my 2012 Hyundai Sonata shattered. I heard the glass fall onto the thankfully closed sunshade as well as run down the back of my car, scratching the roof and trunk. I pulled over at the next exit and called the police. A state trooper came and stated that he did not feel that there was any evidence of an impact to cause the damage. I feel that this simply was a failure of the sunroof due to a manufacturing defect. I know there is a recall of another Hyundai model of the same year. I have also read reports in automobile forums of other Sonata experiencing the same issue. Including this one documented by nbc news. Http://www.wkyc.com/news/investigative/article/288566/230/investigator-exploding-sunroof-sounds-like-gun-shot to date, Hyundai has refused to cover this, stating that it is not a warrantied part.
While visiting my parents, my father pointed out that part of my sunroof was shattered. I did not believe him as I had not been involved in any sort of collision nor had I heard anything hit my car while driving. Upon inspection I was surprised to see that indeed a piece of my sunroof was shattered. There was no point of impact, the glass was intact but completely shattered. I immediately contacted my local Hyundai dealership, but since it was a Saturday they were unaware if this was something that would be covered by my warranty. I am taking my car in Monday morning and hope to hear good news. I am extremely fortunate that this did not occur while my sunroof was open with my children in the passenger seat.
While driving on the interstate, the sunroof of my 2012 Hyundai Sonata spontaneously exploded. No vehicles were within 300 feet ahead of me and I was in the far right lane of the six lane divided interstate. Skies were overcast but no hail or lightning. I was not near any overpasses, and I did not witness any flying foreign objects. The service department at the dealership claim to have found an "impact site" on the front edge of the sunroof, but the insurance adjuster reported that it was inconclusive. The explosion left a basketball sized hole in the sunroof glass above the driver side. No injuries were experienced. The sunshade was closed at that time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the windshield would continuously become foggy from the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer six times and the contact was informed that the residue was caused by the out-gassing from the materials in the vehicle, such as the solvent from the plastic when the vehicle became hot. The dealer tried to repair the problem but the smells and vapors would not diminish. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a claim was filed on the contact's behalf. The failure mileage was 5,000 and the current mileage was 20,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the driver's side rearview mirror could not be positioned to where the driver was able to see vehicles coming from the left side of the vehicle. The contact attempted moving the mirror in every position available without success. The contact stated that he would have to completely turn around and look over his shoulder in order to see approaching vehicles. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 10 and the current mileage was 6,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the windshield was distorted and obscured his visibility of the roadway. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the windshield was replaced under warranty. The failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the windshield was again replaced under warranty. The manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 5. Updated 9/17/19/12 updated 09/20/2012
Window & Wiper complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2012 Hyundai Sonata, 1% of the model year's 1,558 complaints. The component named most often is sun/moon roof assembly (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Hyundai Sonata window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Hyundai Sonata window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles, and 63% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.