- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Inoperative wipers during inclement weather can decrease driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The 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.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Hyundai Equus Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Equus with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (4) and the engine & cooling (3). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 1 injury. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in February 2016 for the motor. For comparison, the 2011 has 24 and the 2013 has 10.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Equus year, for its age
#212 most complained-about 2012 vehicle
- Complaints
- 8
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 Hyundai Equus problems
Share of all 8 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2012 Hyundai Equus recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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8 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Equus
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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 initiated a high-level Tier-2 supervisor review to investigate the severe powertrain safety hazard currently present on my vehicle - specifically, a catastrophic internal rupture of the transmission fluid cooler loop that has cross-contaminated and flooded my engine block infrastructure and main radiator with...
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high-velocity metallic shrapnel. However, today, Saturday, July 11, 2026, the servicing franchise dealership, Patrick Hyundai, issued an immediate verbal denial of all goodwill repair or safety inspection coverage. This premature weekend denial represents a blatant, bad-faith attempt by a localized franchise to circumvent an active manufacturer safety audit. By issuing a verbal denial while corporate offices are closed, the dealership is attempting to apply high pressure to force me to immediately tow this severely compromised, non-driveable vehicle off their property. This action is designed solely to force the removal and destruction of critical, un-tampered physical fluid evidence before a qualified Federal Safety Engineer or a Hyundai Field Product Engineer can mandate a teardown or structural inspection. The manufacturer's franchise is actively evading its product liability and safety screening protocols for an integrated, multi-system thermal failure. I am requesting that federal safety auditors expedite an intervention, freeze any attempt to eject the vehicle from the facility, and order a formal manufacturer field safety audit. Case number 11749120
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 replaced the transmission under a factory warranty event. Rather than replacing the transmission oil cooler assembly - which was contaminated with heavy metal shrapnel from the original mechanical breakdown - the servicing dealer chose to only flush the lines, creating a latent fluid restriction. After...
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approximately 18,000 miles of operation, this restriction completely choked the transmission fluid pressure loop. The extreme thermal stress and back-pressure caused the internal walls of the transmission cooler to suffer a catastrophic structural rupture. This caused the transmission to suddenly overheat and fail while driving, creating an immediate highway safety risk and a total loss of vehicle control. Furthermore, the internal rupture of the cooler walls has caused direct fluid cross-contamination ('SMOD'), forcing transmission fluid and metallic shrapnel directly into the engine's main radiator and cooling passages. This metal shrapnel is currently circulating through the engine's cooling network, creating a severe secondary hazard of catastrophic engine seizure and thermal runaway while traveling at highway speeds. The manufacturer has been notified but has formally refused in writing to dispatch a field engineer or authorize a safety inspection of this cross-contaminated powertrain network.
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 fluid unknown to me because of a clogged transmission cooler line improperly flushed instead of replaced by the Patrick Hyundai dealership there could've been and electrical fire or a crash due to these things.
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 me serious injury. Why the airbags are not triggered ?? The car made several rotations and suffered irreversible damage and despite everything the airbags were not triggered.
From the desk of lmi's executive director: [[redacted]] 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 mirror replaced and to discuss the suspension problem. It?S been over a week and today them after a 45 minute drive I was told they had the wrong mirror...Even though I spoke with the service person ([[redacted]]) and he assured me everything was in order and he even scheduled an...
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appointment for them to replace the mirror. While I was there I showed [[redacted]] the suspension and I was referred to the sales manager. Talk to the sales manager and he showed no concern...The sales manager gave me a look like, so what do you want me to do about it. I stated my concern and that I've only driven this vehicle 590 miles (to work and home) since I purchased it and the suspension should not be acting up already. I could see if I had the vehicle for some months but I had it roughly for about two weeks. Again, he showed no concern and restated the "as is" policy. I understand the "as is" part and I admit I did sign the document but the vehicle seemed fine at the time of purchase. My concern is the dealerships attitude after the sale. No one should treat customers that way. I understand why they have good reviews...It is because most of them come from people who purchased new cars or cars under warranty (my fault for not doing so) however a business should be able to work with or attempt to try help out a customer (it's called maintaining repeat business and developing customer loyalty). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai equus. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle jolted continuously and shifted independently into another gear. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000.
My vehicle sways like a boat side to side no matter my speed, but on the highway it almost feels like I'm losing control. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership and after having it for 4 weeks they returned my vehicle back to me not repaired and no answers to why the issue started. I was told they were requesting an hyundai field engineer to come out to inspect the vehicle but I have not heard from them in almost 2 months. *Tr
After a few months of purchasing car the ecs light started illuminating which in return gave car a spongy, bouncy ride etc., Height function would not work. After repairs were done 1st time around june-august of 2013 seem like every few months problem would occur again and again, latest being july 2014,car was placed in shop july 7th and car was just returned july 31st it has been an ongoing problem that I think will continue from my experience since purchasing car, I am no tech or engineer but for a fairly new car that's not that old this problem should not be happening, it is mind boggling. *Tr
Hyundai Equus: every year compared
All Equus years2012 Hyundai Equus vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Hyundai Equus | 8 | 1 | C | |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata | 1,559 | 8 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Hyundai Elantra | 676 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring | 655 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Hyundai Santa FE | 355 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Hyundai Veloster | 296 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Hyundai Genesis | 270 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Hyundai Tucson | 255 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | 155 | 6 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2012 Hyundai Equus
Does the 2012 Hyundai Equus have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Hyundai Equus: motor (February 2016). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Equus?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (4), engine & cooling (3), suspension (2).
How many complaints has the 2012 Hyundai Equus had?
8 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on August 1, 2014 and the latest on July 11, 2026. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.
Is the 2012 Hyundai Equus a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 52 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Hyundai Equus year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Hyundai Equus years have the most complaints?
2014 (37), 2011 (24), 2013 (10). See every Hyundai Equus year compared.
What should I do if my 2012 Hyundai Equus has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data