Hyundai Azera Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2007 draws 6.32 complaints per run and the 2009 1.5, a 4.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 69.3% land after the 5-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 140 complaints, typically at 6.1 years.

Hyundai Azera years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Hyundai Azera — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2017	1.71	12	7	yes
2016	1.4	14	10	yes
2015	1	8	8	yes
2014	2.47	47	19	yes
2013	5.1	107	21	yes
2012	3.43	72	21	yes
2011	1.42	17	12	yes
2010	1.17	7	6	yes
2009	1.5	21	14	yes
2008	4.36	61	14	yes
2007	6.32	120	19	yes
2006	12.77	166	13	yes

ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Among the 6 Hyundai Azera years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2007, 2013, 2008; the three worth hunting are 2009, 2014, 2012.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Hyundai Azera — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	43	6.7%	covered
1 year	39	12.8%	covered
2 years	34	18.1%	covered
3 years	40	24.3%	covered
4 years	41	30.7%	covered
5 years	55	39.3%	you pay
6 years	60	48.6%	you pay
7 years	86	62%	you pay
8 years	41	68.4%	you pay
9 years	49	76%	you pay
10 years	61	85.5%	you pay
11 years	50	93.3%	you pay
12 years	23	96.9%	you pay
13 years	12	98.8%	you pay
14 years	4	99.4%	you pay
15 years	4	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 5 years / 60,000 miles. Only 30.7% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 69.3% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (10 years / 100,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 10% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Hyundai Azera, the early trouble is Exterior Lighting — reported at around 3.7 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Air Bags at 6.1 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Hyundai Azera — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Air Bags	140	6.1 yrs	13	—
Service Brakes	114	8.9 yrs	5	8
Steering	100	6.1 yrs	3	—
Electrical System	93	6.8 yrs	3	10
Engine	66	8.4 yrs	—	7
Seats	65	6.1 yrs	2	1
Hydraulic	51	9.3 yrs	2	3
Exterior Lighting	46	3.7 yrs	1	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Azera's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 4.13 for the Azera.

FIG.05·Hyundai Azera — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Azera	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Dodge Charger	5,784	133	1983–2026
Chrysler 300	6,171	86	1999–2026
Kia K5	486	21	2021–2026
Hyundai Sonata	16,220	152	1989–2026
Chevrolet Impala	10,373	98	1981–2026
Lincoln Continental	2,687	80	1981–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Hyundai Azera

Recalls41 campaigns Fuel economy23 mpg best Common problems714 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space17 cu ft Used prices228 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2006–2018

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hyundai Azera reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.13 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Azera years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2007, 2013, 2008. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2009, 2014, 2012. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Azera problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 6.1 years, followed by Service Brakes.

Will the warranty cover Azera problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 5 years / 60,000 miles, and only 30.7% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 10% of the complaints here.

Is the Azera more reliable than the Dodge Charger?

Yes: 4.13 complaints per production run for the Azera against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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