HyundaiGenesis2012Overview/hyundai/genesis/2012/base/

2012 Hyundai Genesis

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Genesis.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2012 Hyundai Genesis is a passenger car that takes 5.5 quarts of 5W-20 or 5W-30 API oil. It logged 269 owner complaints with the engine as the top complaint area and five recalls. Across the 2008–2018 model run, the 2012 sits well below the peak of 305 complaints seen in 2015 but far above the single complaint recorded for the 2008 debut year, placing it in the middle of the model's reliability spectrum.

Model year20162015201420132012201120102009

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 740 CCA battery, OE oil filter 263193F300. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 49 · 740 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnONOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-55R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter263193F300
Spark plug1885111070
Battery371103M200
Cabin air filter087903M000A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.3 in
Overall width73.2 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight3303 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Genesis of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.8–5.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.80 sec — 2012 5.0 R-Spec Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
20125.0 R-Spec Sedan 5.0L V84.80 sec13.30 sec429 hpRWD
20125.0 R-Spec Sedan 5.0L V85.10 sec13.70 sec429 hpRWD
20125.0 R-Spec Sedan 5.0L V85.10 sec13.50 sec429 hpRWD
20113.8 R-Spec Coupe 3.8L V65.50 sec13.50 sec306 hpRWD
20113.8 Track Coupe 3.8L V65.80 sec14.20 sec306 hpRWD
20114.6 Sedan 4.6L V85.80 sec14.20 sec385 hpRWD
20133.8 R-Spec Coupe 3.8L V65.20 sec13.80 sec348 hpRWD
20133.8 R-Spec Coupe 3.8L V65.20 sec13.90 sec348 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-IV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10
Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-IV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.6
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7-9 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs10-11 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs10-11 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts209-224 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts290-296 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts290-297 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts56 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts79 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub145-203 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)600 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)600 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)550 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.27 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.04-3.75 oz
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance740 cca
Standard BCI Group Number124

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH BREMBO BRAKES / WITH O BREMBO BRAKES
Torque to Knuckle65-76 ft-lbs / 58-72 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH O BREMBO BRAKES
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
116-19 ft. lbs., Step 2: 98-10216–19 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
117-19 ft. lbs., Step 2: 95-10017–19 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts. Apply Loctite 5900H or equivalent on the front edge of the cylinder head gasket. Both the upside and the down side. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

127.5-30.4 ft. lbs.27.5–30.4 ft. lbs
2118 degrees-122 degrees118 degrees
388 degrees-92 degrees; External head bolts 14.0-17.0 ft. lbs.88 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Apply a 3.50-4.50 mm bead of Hyundai sealant or equivalent RTV to the front cylinder head corners of the upper and lower head gasket. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

1Bolts 1-1024–27 ft. lbs
2Bolts 1-10 88 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
3Bolts 1-14118 degrees
411-1224.7–26.8 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1a-h3–4 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
14-6 ft. lbs., step 2: 15-204–6 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
Every 37,500 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Filter (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Across this generation, federal records show a fluctuating trend of complaints and technical service bulletins, with a notable surge in activity between 2009 and 2013. The 2012 model year sits at a local peak in this arc, recording 269 complaints and 112 TSBs, which is a sharp increase over the 144 complaints and 81 TSBs seen in 2011. Top complaint areas for the 2012 model include the engine (36) and hydraulic service brakes (33), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. Safety records for 2012 include 5 recalls, 1 investigation, 8 crash complaints, and 1 fire complaint. This volume of reports is higher than any year between 2009 and 2013 and is only exceeded by the 2015 model. Because this year represents a high point for complaints and TSBs, it is not a recommended year to buy.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
112
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
269
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 269 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine36
Service Brakes, Hydraulic33
Unknown Or Other23
Power Train20
Service Brakes17
Exterior Lighting17
Electrical System15
Electrical System,Engine7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V117000Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:MotorReported 29/02/2016

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… 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…

13V489000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:FluidReported 29/10/2013

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 112 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
25-BD-012H TSB2025-11-05Exterior LightingThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
24-01-009H-12024-05-10Electrical SystemA class settlement against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) that had alleged that certain…
24-01-009H-12024-05-09Electrical SystemA class settlement against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) that had alleged that certain…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Genesis. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Genesis take?

5.5 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Genesis have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.