2012 Hyundai EQUUS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
41,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data updated: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 8 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 37.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Power Train: 4; Engine: 3; Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2020: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10618296 · 2014-08-01 (August 1, 2014)
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 PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10676847 · 2015-01-20 (January 20, 2015)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692893 · 2015-03-09 (March 9, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318847 · 2020-03-20 (March 20, 2020)
FROM THE DESK OF LMI'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: [XXX] 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 ([XXX]) AND HE ASSURED ME EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER AND HE EVEN SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE MIRROR. WHILE I W…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,516 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11326655 · 2020-05-31 (May 31, 2020)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11326655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11748611 · 2026-07-06 (July 6, 2026)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11748611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11749120 · 2026-07-08 (July 8, 2026)
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 approximately 18,000 miles of…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11749120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11749721 · 2026-07-11 (July 11, 2026)
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 high-velocity metallic shrapn…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11749721 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V117000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Reported: 2016-02-29 (February 29, 2016)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
8 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 1145.8%ODI 10468861 · 21,000 miTHIS WAS THE DATE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED THREE MONTHS LATER. WE WERE JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED AND THE WHOLE CAR, MOSTLY THE FRONT DROPPED A NUMBER OF INCHES, WE COULD BARELY DRIVE HOME AND HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED, SEEMS TO BE A VERY UNSAFE ITEM. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE, SECOND TIME IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE.I CONTACTED HYUNDAI, AND WANTED THEM TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE, AS I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER SMALL ISSUES GO WRONG, BUT THIS SUSPENSION PROBLEM FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND ACTU… | 225.0%ODI 10676847 · 31,000 miMY 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 | 220.0%ODI 10557865 · 18 miTEST DRIVE BEFORE PURCHASING WAS STOPPED AFTER A 1/4 OF MILE BECAUSE OF HEAVY FRONT END SHAKING. DEALERSHIP CHANGED TIRES SAYING THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN IT HAS ALSO FIXED FRONT END ALIGNMENT TWICE, CHANGED THE DRIVESHAFT AND TWO REAR AXLES. VEHICLE STILL SHAKES. VEHICLE IS PERILOUS TO DRIVE ON BUMPY SURFACES WHEN DRIVER HAS DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING FRONT END. *TR | 719.4%ODI 11277697 · 80,000 miTHE STRUTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER IT WENT OUT THE, TIRES WOULD TOUCH THE FENDER OF THE CAR. IT DAMAGED THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE OF MY FRONT FENDER. IT ALSO RUBBED THE TREAD AWAY FROM THE TIRE DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST THE FENDER. IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT I ALMOST TORE THE FRONT FENDER OFF. | 111.1%ODI 11525381 · 35,000 miThe contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that while driving into the driveway, the front air suspension suddenly failed causing the front-end of the vehicle to collapse onto the front tires, making the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two previous occasions with the driver’s and passenger’s side rear air suspensions, and the front passenger’s side air suspension. Th… | 111.1%ODI 11622368Suspension air Block and airbags failing, even after being replaced by dealership 2 months ago. Most recently happened on the interstate at 70 mph. Fixed by dealership only to happen again!! Known problem by Hyundai dealership yet keep replacing with same defective part number. Twice have had new parts fail during test drive. Very expensive to repair $10,000 so far and just had the rear airbag go burst. Not safe to drive vehicle!! Never know when it will go out again. Last one just lasted two months!! Will never get money back from selli… |
| Electrical System | 416.7%ODI 10467989 · 6,000 miSINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR, IT RANDOMLY OPENS THE TRUNK BY ITSELF WITHOUT PUSHING ANY BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD OR ON THE REMOTE CONTROL. ONE TIME, I ALMOST DROVE BACK INTO A CAR PASSING BY, BECAUSE MY REAR VIEW WAS BLOCKED BY OPENED TRUNK. I AM AFRAID THAT MY TRUNK MAY OPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING BY ITSELF OR RUN INTO ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MY VIEW WAS BLOCKED BY THIS TRUNK. I HAVE FOUR VIDEOS OF MY TRUNK BEING OPENED BY ITSELF, BUT HYUNDAI'S DISTRIC PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER IS REFUSING TO FIX MY PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=WQUDGHGOZUG HTT… | 112.5%ODI 11748611I 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. | 110.0%ODI 11587098Tilt/telescopic functions just stopped working. Replaced switch, and module and still not working. Dealer now wants $10k for a new dash wiring harnesses. Found TSB for similar issue on sister vehicle (Genesis). Not sure if that needs to be expanded to this vehicle. | 616.7%ODI 10568446THIS IS THE E-MAIL THAT I SENT TO HYUNDAI TO NOTIFY THEM OF A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE W. THEIR NEW EQUUS: I WANTED TO ALERT YOU ABOUT A POTENTIALLY SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAPPENED TO OCCUR WHILE MY 13 YR OLD SON & I WERE EXAMINING THE EQUUS AT THE CHARLOTTE AUTOSHOW. I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT, MY SON WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT & ANOTHER COUPLE, WHO WE DID NOT KNOW, WERE IN THE BACK SEAT CHECKING OUT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. SUDDENLY, THE PASSENGER SEAT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD & AT THE SAME TIME THE SEAT BACK BEGAN TO FOLD FORWAR… | 222.2%ODI 11206172 · 65,259 miMAY 4TH 2019 VEHICLE FOUND DEAD AND WOULD NOT START. NO SIGNS OF ANY BATTERY ISSUES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT EMPIRE HYUNDAI LOCATED IN FALL RIVER, MA. VEHICLE CONFIRMED BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TURN OVER, HOWEVER NO LIGHTS OR CLOCK AND NO POWER. THEN ALL WENT DEAD FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUE, AND THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. THE SOLUTION THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS TO INSTALL A NEW… | 111.1%ODI 11363292 · 48,200 miDRIVING AT 75 MPH AND WENT TO PASS SOMEONE. THE ENGINE KICKED DOWN A FEW YEARS AND THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT OFF. NO POWER BRAKES AND NO STEERING AND STEERING LOCKED UP FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO. DURING THE TIME IT WAS OFF THE VEHICLE JERKED HARD LIKE IF THE TIRES HAD LOCKED UP. AFTER THE COUPLE SECONDS THE VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-80 HEADING TO RENO |
| Service Brakes | 625.0%ODI 10616518 · 14,948 miDRIVER BEHIND ME ALERTED THAT MY BRAKES WORKED BUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. HE INDICATED THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE NATION'S HIGHWAYS. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE HARNESS DIODE Z06. AGAIN ON 20MAY2014, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME, DEALER REPLACED DIODE Z01. THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE OR VISUAL WARNING ON THE DASH ALTHOUGH VEHICLE PERFORMS A "SYSTEM CHECK" AT STARTUP AND WARNS OF MINOR ALERTS LIKE LOW TIRE PRESSURE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS I AM A RETIRED PERSON AND I MUST DEPEND ON THE SAFETY FEATURES OF MY CAR. … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 220.0%ODI 11503913When I press my brakes sometime I have to pump the pedal. | 25.6%ODI 11558345I am unable. To drive my car anywhere. Each time I start my car. All warning lights flash like a Christmas light. It causes the car to suddenly be slowed down. Or not to go full speed? I got the recall notice in the mail 4 weeks ago. My car has been parked in the garage for four months and has been there ever since. I need my car to go to work and I don't know what else to do. I can only do so much by using the cars of families and friends, but I need my car back because it's inconveniencing them too as well. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 11363292 · 48,200 miDRIVING AT 75 MPH AND WENT TO PASS SOMEONE. THE ENGINE KICKED DOWN A FEW YEARS AND THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT OFF. NO POWER BRAKES AND NO STEERING AND STEERING LOCKED UP FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO. DURING THE TIME IT WAS OFF THE VEHICLE JERKED HARD LIKE IF THE TIRES HAD LOCKED UP. AFTER THE COUPLE SECONDS THE VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-80 HEADING TO RENO |
| Engine | 14.2%ODI 11654706 · 120,000 miThe contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the rod bearings had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. | 337.5%ODI 11748611I 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 25.6%ODI 11110780 · 32,000 miENGINE FAILURE - CAR HAS 32K MILES; NEVER HAD ANY WARNING LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASH; OUT OF NO WHERE DEVELOPED A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CAR WAS SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AND ONCE STARTED AND DRIVING A KNOCKING NOISE STARTED APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE; THEREFORE I BROUGHT IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER. NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED DUE TO EXCESSIVE SLUDGE BUILD UP AND OIL BLEEDING INTO THE ENGINE AND TIMING CHAIN. MANUFACTURER STATED IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP TOLD ME THIS HAS BEEN NOTED IN A COUPLE OTHER SAME… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2%ODI 11291674 · 36,000 miVEHICLE PRODUCES EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SOOT AT ALL TIMES. THE SOOT ADHERES TO THE REAR TAIL PIPE, REAR BUMPER, AND TRUNK LID CAUSING STAINING THAT LEADS TO PITTING OF CHROME PIECES. THE SOOT IS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AFTER A FEW DAYS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT CLEANING. THIS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE AIR QUALITY AND DAMAGE OR STAIN OTHER VEHICLES AND PROPERTY NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING WALLS AND OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. EFFECTS ON LUNGS SHOULD BE STUDIED TO DETERMINE IF PERMANENT DAMAGE COULD RESULT FROM ACCUMULATION OF SOOT. ENOUGH SMALL PARTI… |
| Exterior Lighting | 14.2%ODI 10894091 · 92,000 miWHEN APPLYING CAR BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. IF I TURN ON CAR HEAD LIGHTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. BUT IF THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE OFF THEY DON'T WORK. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 411.1%ODI 11163381 · 26,750 miHEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR WILL GO TOTALLY OFF FOR TWO/THREE SECONDS. IT DOES NOT OCCUR EVERYTIME I DRIVE AT NIGHT BUT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIX IT UNLESS IT HAPPENS WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING THE CAR. LUCKILY IT HAS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ONLY AT 30 MPH ON A LOW VOLUME ROAD. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN WHEN I MIGHT BE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH. I SEE FROM FORUMS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS AND WANT TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO REMEDY TH… | 111.1%ODI 11615717Within last two years I've been dealing with random and intermittent headlight flickering/turning off when the light stalk switch is in AUTO mode. Also, the cabin lights flicker and turn off at the same time when headlights do. It is very dangerous when it happens during night driving. Luckily problem can be overridden by switching the stalk to ON modes and the interior cluster lights and headlights come back on again. Problem seems to be happening only when in AUTO mode. I talked to dealer, they tried to replicate the problem without success. … | 222.2%ODI 11554007There are actually 3 problems that my dealer has not been able to fix/diagnose. The first is the headlights, when set to the auto position, they will often turn off and on while driving at night. Service says that they were unable to duplicate the problem, but it keeps happening. The second is the Navigation system updates, that they claim they cannot provide any updates to my 2016 Equus (just about all other years and models are available). The third is the voice recognition system, which only recognizes my voice for phone calls, but not for d… |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 450.0%ODI 10692893 · 41,000 miTL* 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. | 220.0%ODI 10557865 · 18 miTEST DRIVE BEFORE PURCHASING WAS STOPPED AFTER A 1/4 OF MILE BECAUSE OF HEAVY FRONT END SHAKING. DEALERSHIP CHANGED TIRES SAYING THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN IT HAS ALSO FIXED FRONT END ALIGNMENT TWICE, CHANGED THE DRIVESHAFT AND TWO REAR AXLES. VEHICLE STILL SHAKES. VEHICLE IS PERILOUS TO DRIVE ON BUMPY SURFACES WHEN DRIVER HAS DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING FRONT END. *TR | 25.6%ODI 11547515Engine failure/thrown rod in engine while drive. 90k miles. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 14.2%ODI 11279163 · 30 miMALFUNCTION OF SUSPENSION AND NO DEALERSHIP CAN RESET. WE BEEN TO MERIDIAN AND HATTIESBURG DEALERSHIP AND EITHER THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT WORKING OR HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. ALWAYS TRIED TO SELL US ANOTHER VEHICLE. YOU | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 616.7%ODI 11074892 · 20,000 miTHE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS OF THIS CAR HAVE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE THEY WILL NOT OPEN, THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED. THE DOORS ARE UNLOCKED YET WHEN PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLE OF THE EFFECTED DOORS THE DOORS DO NOT OPEN AND APPEAR TO BE LOCKED HOWEVER THEY ARE NOT. THIS AFFECTS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOORS BUT THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT . THE SAME DOORS WHEN TRYING TO CLOSE THEM BOUNCE RIGHT BACK OPEN THE WILL NOT LATCH; EVENTUALLY THE DOOR WILL CLOSE BUT IT COULD TAKE AN HOUR OF TRYING TO SLAM THE DOOR. THERE … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 11289370 · 28,000 mi2016 HYUNDAI EQUUS - BLACK SOOT BEING EMITTED FROM ENGINE THROUGH EXHAUST SYSTEM. VERY HEAVY DEPOSITS ON REAR OF VEHICLE, SUFFICIENT TO BLACKEN CLOTHES, DISCOLOR THE VEHICLE, DOES NOT WIPE OFF AFTER A FEW DAYS AND CHEMICALS MUST BE USED TO REMOVE. MANUFACTURER SAYS: "THIS IS A NORMAL BYPRODUCT OF THE GDI ENGINE". SEE (PICS) MULTIPLYING THE NUMBER OF HYUNDAI VEHICLES IN THE U.S. BY WHAT I AM SEEING ON MY CAR, THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS AIR POLLUTION ISSUE. |
| Seats | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 513.9%ODI 10568446THIS IS THE E-MAIL THAT I SENT TO HYUNDAI TO NOTIFY THEM OF A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE W. THEIR NEW EQUUS: I WANTED TO ALERT YOU ABOUT A POTENTIALLY SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAPPENED TO OCCUR WHILE MY 13 YR OLD SON & I WERE EXAMINING THE EQUUS AT THE CHARLOTTE AUTOSHOW. I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT, MY SON WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT & ANOTHER COUPLE, WHO WE DID NOT KNOW, WERE IN THE BACK SEAT CHECKING OUT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. SUDDENLY, THE PASSENGER SEAT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD & AT THE SAME TIME THE SEAT BACK BEGAN TO FOLD FORWAR… | 222.2%ODI 11397049 · 65,000 miWHENEVER IT GETS HOT IN THIS AREA, MY VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS. FIRST THE DASH BUBBLED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVER DOOR BUBBLES UP AND HAS BEEN REPLACED.. IT IS BUBBLING AGAIN ON THE DRIVER DOOR BUT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. BOTH HEADRESTS HAVE POPPED OPEN. ONE HAPPEN WHILE AT THE CAR WASH AND THE OTHER HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN THE GROCERY STORE. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS AT REST AND WINDOWS UP.. IT COSTS $1600 TO REPLACE. THE DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH DOES NOT WORK WHEN HOT OUTSIDE. HAD IT CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | Too few reports for a range | 41,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10692893 · 41,000 miTL* 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. |
| Suspension | Too few reports for a range | 69,758 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10676847 · 31,000 miMY 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 ODI 11318847 · 108,516 miFROM THE DESK OF LMI'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: [XXX] 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 ([XXX]) AND HE ASSURED ME EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER AND HE EVEN SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE MIRROR. WHILE I W… |
| Air Bags | Too few reports for a range | 75,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11326655 · 75,000 miFOLLOWING 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. |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | Too few reports for a range | 8,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10618296 · 8,000 miAFTER 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 PRO… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 3 | None | ODI 11748611I 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. ODI 11749120I 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 approximately 18,000 miles of… ODI 11749721I 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 high-velocity metallic shrapn… |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2015: 1 complaints · 2016: 3 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Power Train | Engine | Suspension | Air Bags | Electrical System | Electronic Stability Control (Esc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | — | 3ODI 11748611I 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. ODI 11749120I 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 approximately 18,000 miles of… ODI 11749721I 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 high-velocity metallic shrapn… | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 11748611I 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. | 0 |
| Engine | 3ODI 11748611I 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. ODI 11749120I 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 approximately 18,000 miles of… ODI 11749721I 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 high-velocity metallic shrapn… | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 11748611I 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. | 0 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1ODI 11748611I 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. | 1ODI 11748611I 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. | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.