Research · Large Cars

2010 Hyundai AzeraRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 8 owner complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Azera. Most complaints involve service brakes (2) and engine (2). The EPA rates it 20–21 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
20–21mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jan 2018
Owner complaints
8
Top: service brakes
Fuel cost / yr
$2,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Service brakes

Free remedy

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2006-2011 Hyundai Azera and 2006 Hyundai Sonata vehicles. Water may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short .

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Jan 9, 2018NHTSA 18V026000

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 1, 2005, through January 21, 2010; and model year 2006-2011 Azera vehicles manufactured September 27, 2005, through November 22, 2010 originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms.

SuspensionReported Aug 12, 2013NHTSA 13V354000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 1, 2013NHTSA 13V113000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

8 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2013 – Aug 2021
  1. Service brakes2
  2. Engine2
  3. Wheels2
  4. Air bags2
  5. Power train1
  6. Steering1
  7. Tires1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Azera model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2006188
2007132
200869
200926
20108
201120
201274
2013112
201449
20159
201615
201712
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes

2 reports
“WHILE RETURNING FROM TOWN AND DRIVING IN MY DRIVEWAY, HERD STRANGE NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PARKING IN GARAGE NOTICED THAT A BRAKE FLUID TRAIL WAS LEFT BEHIND IN THE DRIVEWAY. CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY, SO ADDED NEW BRAKE FLUID TO THE PROPER LEVEL AND REMOVED THE FUSE FOR THE THE THE ABS UNIT SO IT COULD NOT SHORT OUT AGAIN AND LOSE BREAK FLUID WHILE DRIVING. IF IT HAD HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY COULD BE DEAD I KNOW THE CAR HAD A RECALL FOR ABS UNIT SHORTING OUT AND FIRES WHILE PARKED, AND A RELAY KIT WAS ADDED TO KILL POWER TO THE ABS WHILE PARKED BUT WHAT ABOUT A SHORT IN THE ABS UNIT WHILE DRIVING, SEAMS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS. DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED BY RECALL, HOW CAN THIS BE? PLEASE HELP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2020Service brakesODI 11383962

Engine

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI AZERA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THOMPSON HYUNDAI (1000 MERRITT BOULEVARD, DUNDALK, MD 21222, (410)-288-5700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500. *TT THE ISSUE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THESE LAMBDA V6 3.3 LITER AND 3.8 LITER ENGINES ALL HAVE THESE SAME ISSUES, REGARDLESS OF WHAT VEHICLE THEY ARE IN. VERACRUZ, AZERA, SONATA, SEDONA, ENTOURAGE, AND SO ON. THE VALVE COVER'S LEAK OIL ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND CAUSE THEM TO FAIL, CAUSING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. SUPER UNSAFE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY BY ROUTE 1 HERE IN MARYLAND AND NOT ON 95, 495 OR SOMEWHERE LIKE THE BAY BRIDGE. I HAVE PICS TAKEN THAT AFTERNOON AT THE GAS STATION I SWUNG INTO IN JESSUP TO SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED. THESE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THIS ISSUE ACROSS THIS TYPE OF…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2019EngineODI 11240632

Wheels

2 reports
“WALKING PAST OUR VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT MY LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE SIDE WALL AND THREAD I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ROAD DAMAGE,BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I SEE THE SAME PROBLEM ON TWO OTHER TIRES(MICHELIN ENERGY MVX4+ P235/55 R17). ON VARIOUS WEB SITES I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES BUT THERE IS NO PRODUCT RECALL AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS AS I KNOW I HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AFTER ONLY 18,210 MILES. THANK YOU. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2015WheelsODI 10700648
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Large Cars
Engines
3.3L 6-cyl · 3.8L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Azera
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$2,950423
Azera
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172620$3,100444
  • Azera
    Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Azera
    Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.8 L
    17 city · 26 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Hyundai Azera as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 5755
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2010 Azera questions

How many recalls does the 2010 Hyundai Azera have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2010 Hyundai Azera problems?

Owners filed 8 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes (2), engine (2), wheels (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2010 Hyundai Azera get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Hyundai Azera at 20–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026