2012 Hyundai Equus problems
The Hyundai Equus (Korean: 현대 에쿠스; RR: Hyundai Equus) was manufactured and marketed by Hyundai Motor Company from 1999 to 2016 over two generations, as a full-size car, four-door, five passenger luxury sedan with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The nameplate deriving from the Latin, equus, meaning "horse."
In 2009, Hyundai released the second generation with a rear-wheel drive platform. As of August 2014, the second generation is sold in South Korea, Russia, China, United States, Canada, Central America, and South America — as well as in the Middle East under the Hyundai Centennial nameplate.
On November 4, 2015, Hyundai officially announced it would move the Genesis model to Hyundai's new luxury vehicle division, Genesis Motor. The 2016 successor to the Hyundai Equus was rebranded as Genesis G90 (EQ900 in Korea until 2018).
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Common 2012 Hyundai Equus problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2012 Hyundai Equus, several common problems have been reported:
- Leather Dashboard Warping: Another common problem with the 2012 Equus is related to the leather dashboard. The leather dashboard is prone to warping, peeling, or separating, especially due to heat and sun exposure. While this issue is not a deal-breaker, it can be quite annoying for owners.
- Suspension Issues: Complaints have been made about the suspension system of the 2012 Equus. Some owners have experienced a rough ride due to suspension problems, with reports of the car's front suspension unexpectedly failing. This can lead to the front of the car sinking, causing stability issues and scraping against the ground, particularly on hilly terrain.
- Brake Problems: Owners have reported issues with the brakes of the 2012 Equus. Some complaints include the brake pedal going all the way to the floor when applied, and in some cases, outright brake failure has been reported. These brake issues can pose serious safety concerns for drivers.
These common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Equus highlight various reliability issues that owners have faced, ranging from suspension and brake problems to issues with the struts and leather dashboard. Addressing these issues promptly is crucial to ensure the safety and performance of the vehicle.
Is The Hyundai Equus a reliable car?
For example, according to repairpal.com, the average reliability of the Hyundai Equus is only two out of five. It is ranked 21st out of 30 full-size luxury cars. In other words, it is a very unreliable vehicle prone to mechanical mishaps and maintenance requirements.
Is the Hyundai Equus expensive to maintain?
The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Hyundai Equus is $976, compared to an average of $976 for luxury fullsize cars and $652 for all vehicle models. The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of a vehicle.
Why will my Hyundai Equus not start?
The most common reasons a Hyundai Equus won't start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
How many miles can you put on a Hyundai Equus?
On average, they have a life expectancy of 100,000 to 200,000 miles. However, a well-maintained Hyundai can easily exceed the 200,000-mile mark.
2012 Hyundai Equus car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Hyundai Equus problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Suspension problems
- Air bags problems
- Power train problems
- Electronic stability control (esc) problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2012 Hyundai Equus vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2012 Hyundai Equus complaints
The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2012 Hyundai Equus.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-05-28
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: KMHSHB1X8CU
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: 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.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-03-10
- VIN: KMHGH4JHXCU
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: 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 WAS THERE I SHOWED [XXX] 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
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-01-03
- VIN: KMHGH4JH1CU
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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.
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-06-02
- VIN: KMHGH4JH1CU
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: 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
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-07-05
- VIN: KMHGH4JH2CU
- Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
- Summary: 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
2012 Hyundai Equus recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2012 Hyundai Equus.
- Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
- Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
- Summary: 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.
Negative 2012 Hyundai Equus car reviews
Positive 2012 Hyundai Equus car reviews
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This is definitely the nicest car I have ever owned! It's also the largest vehicle I've ever owned, a giant luxurious monster. My 6'6
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I have been driving BMW 7 series for the last twenty years and now have a new Equus Ultimate model and cannot imagine a better value. It has the same features as any of the available flagships for 30-40k less. As Hyundai gains market share, it will certainly appreciate in value. Opportunities like this rarely come along. I am in love with this car! Thank you, Hyundai.
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This is a very luxurious vehicle with a solid, smooth ride. It feels like you're floating on the highway, encapsulated from the noisy world. From the moment you step inside, you'll feel extremely pampered. The car is also very quick for a big sedan and has great displays, comfy seats, and an intuitive navigation system. All the luxury features found in competing car manufacturers are here, but for less money. While $60K is still a lot of money, it's important to remember that nice things cost money. However, the value for dollar is stronger in this product than in others, and there is some exclusivity to it. While most people are still eyeing the Equus, everyone (and their mother) has a BMW or something similar. Be different, stand out, and enjoy the ride!
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Congratulations on your new 2012 Equus! It's great to hear that you're enjoying it so far and finding it to be a good value. I understand your skepticism towards reviewers who received the car earlier, but I'm glad to hear that you were able to get your hands on one of the first ones off the boat from Korea. The car's powerful engine and long list of features are definitely impressive, and it's wonderful to hear that it's also quiet, roomy, and comfortable. I hope that the promised support lives up to your expectations. Overall, it sounds like you made a smart choice for a luxurious ride that doesn't break the bank. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
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I have a 2011 Ultimate and it still performs just as well as the day I bought it. I think it's a beautiful car and I had no hesitation in paying that amount for a Hyundai. What really matters to me is the car's performance and quality. In my opinion, Mercedes and BMWs are overpriced. I do wish they hadn't changed the body style, though. Over the years, I've received many inquiries and compliments on the car's style. It was definitely a great investment.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2012 Hyundai Equus problems:
What's Wrong with the Hyundai Equus?
Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 12th in overall reliability out of 25 Hyundai models , with real electrical and engine concerns. 2 Common Hyundai ...
2012 Hyundai Equus Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2012 Hyundai Equus? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
Questions about 2012 genesis coupe 2.0t common issues, reliability ...
Nov 1, 2015 ... from car complaints 2012 Hyundai Genesis Problems, Defects & Complaints main issue appears to be the car engine stalling out from jd power
Problems to expect in a Hyundai Genesis (2012 sedan) : r/Hyundai
Feb 4, 2022 ... This was due to a fouled evaporator canister which was restricting air flow as the gas tank was filling. Gasoline wouldn't flow properly into ...
The Hyundai Equus Years To Avoid - CoPilot
Jul 11, 2023 ... According to CarComplaints, the 2012 Hyundai Equus has received 15 complaints and one recall. One user reported that their Equus' struts failed ...
Other years of Hyundai Equus
Are you having problems with your 2012 Hyundai Equus?
Giovanni Fritsch 2024-09-25
Before signing any paperwork, make sure to turn on every light and check every single sensor. Pay special attention to the TPMS sensors and rear vanity reading lights, as I missed the rear reading light and they wanted to charge me $500 to replace it. If I hadn't test driven the car and noticed the TPMS sensor light, it could have cost me a small fortune. Luckily, I caught it in time. However, they keep saying that the part is on back order, so we will have to wait and see what happens...
Devin Sauer 2024-09-14
The comfort of the front seats in the Equus was a serious concern for me during long distance trips. After purchasing the car and taking a 900 mile trip a day later, I experienced significant discomfort and pain in my back, legs, and arms. However, after showing the Hyundai Dealer articles on Autoblog about the seats, I was able to convince them to buy the car back. I then traded up for a Lexus LS460 with 14,000 miles and just completed a 600 mile trip with no pain or discomfort. While I tried to modify the seats in the Equus, they were poorly designed and could not be improved.
Thaddeus King 2024-08-02
Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with my Equus, which I bought brand new in May 2011 in Toronto, Canada. Overall, I was really happy with it, but unfortunately, I experienced some sudden acceleration issues in August 2014. I took it back to the dealership to get it checked out, but they couldn't find anything wrong. It happened again twice in the evening of April 2, 2015, and even the engineer and technician from Hyundai Canada couldn't find anything wrong. I didn't feel safe driving it anymore, so I decided to trade it in for a Genesis Ultimate. I only put about 52,000KM on the Equus, but unfortunately, the trade-in value wasn't as good as I had hoped. I didn't have much of a choice, though, as the trade-in amount would have been even lower if I had gone to a different dealership. Thanks for listening to my story!
Orrin Ernser 2024-01-16
While Hyundai has some great inside features that rival those of top luxury brands, it may not yet be considered a true luxury car. Some may find the external appearance to be less appealing, but this is subjective. Personally, I traded mine in for a Lexus LS 460 and I am very happy with it, although it does come at a higher price point. The Lexus offers both a superior exterior and interior. However, I do believe that Hyundai is on the right track towards becoming a luxury car brand.