Showing the 2012 Genesis GL. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
19–24 mpgcombined; city 16–21, highway 25–30; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,760–$21,180U.S. average; Ohio $13,190–$19,960 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's VIN data lists these trims for the 2012 Genesis. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 271 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Genesis. 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
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
71
1
1
2
Electrical system
49
0
0
1
Power train
39
0
0
1
Unknown or other
34
1
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
33
1
0
0
Service brakes
32
1
0
0
Exterior lighting
25
0
0
0
Steering
15
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
14
1
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
10
0
0
0
Air bags
9
4
0
3
Visibility/wiper
9
0
0
0
14 more parts
Suspension
8
0
0
0
Wheels
6
1
0
1
Seat belts
5
0
0
0
Seats
5
1
0
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
2
0
0
1
Structure
2
1
0
1
Visibility
2
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
1
0
0
0
Parking brake
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
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.
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Genesis 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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Genesis Coupe vehicles. A return spring in the ignition lock switch may fracture, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the vehicle is started in gear, without the parking brake applied.
Risk: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition lock switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 266.
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2010-2016 Genesis Coupe vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, to June 11, 2016. The electrical harness connector for the front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) may dislodge when the seat is moved.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, the disconnected OCS would, by default, cause the first stage, and only the first stage, of the air bag to deploy, whether there is a child seat in the front seat and the bag should not deploy or if the crash is severe and both stages should deploy. Either scenario increases the risk of injury to the front seat occupant.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will secure the OCS connector to prevent it from disconnecting, free of charge. Parts are not currently available and a second letter will be sent to owners when parts are available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 151.
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.
Risk: Inoperative wipers during inclement weather can decrease driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
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).
Risk: If the module corrodes, reduced brake effectiveness may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 113 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2012 Genesis, the latest on Oct 7, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (30), power train (26), electrical system (22), visibility (9), service brakes (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.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Audit query AQ23002 Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · covers 3 makes
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 Genesis.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: large cars. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Genesis Rear-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
21 / 30 / 24
Genesis Rear-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic 5-spd
Premium Gasoline
20 / 29 / 23
Genesis Rear-Wheel Drive
3.8 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 28 / 22
Genesis Rear-Wheel Drive
3.8 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
17 / 27 / 20
Genesis Rear-Wheel Drive
3.8 L, 6 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
17 / 26 / 20
Genesis Rear-Wheel Drive
5.0 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Premium Gasoline
17 / 25 / 20
Genesis Rear-Wheel Drive
4.6 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Premium Gasoline
16 / 25 / 19
Genesis R-Spec Rear-Wheel Drive
5.0 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Premium Gasoline
16 / 25 / 19
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
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