2012 Hyundai Azera

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
23 mpgcombined; city 20, highway 28; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,120U.S. average; Ohio $12,620 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Recall campaigns
2over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
74filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Azera. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering38000
Engine10000
Service brakes, hydraulic8000
Air bags7201
Service brakes4000
Suspension3000
Unknown or other3000
Power train2001
Seats2000
Engine and engine cooling1000
Structure1100
Tires1100
2 more parts
Vehicle speed control1100
Wheels1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006188
  2. 2007132
  3. 200869
  4. 200926
  5. 20108
  6. 201120
  7. 201274
  8. 2013112
  9. 201448
  10. 20159
  11. 201615
  12. 201712

Every Azera year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Azera over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

NHTSA campaign 23V651000 · reported Sep 22, 2023 · 1,649,478 vehicles potentially affected

Park outside

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: frontal

NHTSA campaign 13V264000 · reported Jun 25, 2013 · 5,200 vehicles potentially affected

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Azera vehicles manufactured May 22, 2012, through November 23, 2012. The occupant detection system may fail to properly differentiate whether the front passenger seat occupant is an adult, a child or a child restraint seat.

Risk: If the occupant is incorrectly classified, in the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, the airbag may deploy with greater or lesser force than appropriate, resulting in an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the airbag system. The recall beagan on August 13, 2013. Hyundai's recall number is "Campaign 111." Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 83 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2012 Azera, the latest on Oct 7, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (26), power train (23), electrical system (11), equipment adaptive/mobility (9), steering (8).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Audit query AQ23002
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · covers 3 makes
Service brakes, hydraulicNov 17, 2023Open
NHTSA's summary names recall 20V520000, 20V543000, 21V161000, 21V160000, 21V303000, 22V056000, 22V810000, 23V651000, 16V815000, 20V518000, 20V519000, 21V137000, 21V331000, 22V051000, 22V800000, 23V652000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2012 Azera.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: large cars. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Azera
Front-Wheel Drive
3.3 L, 6 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline20 / 28 / 23

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data