2012 Hyundai Tucson Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tucson years
- More complaints than other years 8th of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 255 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Tucson. That ranks 8th out of 22 Tucson model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (160 complaints, 63%), typically at around 98,500 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 13 fires, 9 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 255owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Hyundai Tucson problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 160 | 63% | 98,500 | “engine cooling” (19%) | $8,450 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 27 | 11% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 26 | 10% | 68,384 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 17 | 7% | 37,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | 5% | 85,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 4% | 139,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 4% | 3,100 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 4% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 4% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 2% | 30,868 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 2% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 2% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 1% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 16,728 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 6,825 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 89,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 25,618 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 0% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Hyundai Tucson recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Tucson vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai has notified owners, and dealers will inspect for an oil pan leak, replacing it if necessary, and install an updated oil pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 181.
Air bags
Problem: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured January 3, 2011, through December 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the air bag assembly installed in the steering wheel may come loose from its mounting.
Risk: An air bag assembly that is not properly mounted may result in an increased risk of injury to the driver in the event of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts that secure the driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 118.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Engine Fires (EA21003) — opened Dec 22, 2021, closed Feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V877.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I bought my 2012 Hyundai Tucson from a used car dealership back in November of 2024 . When I bought the vehicle it only had 55,000 miles on it and came with a 2 year unlimited mile warranty on the drive train and a full Carfax history in which everything came back clean , regular oil changes with…
Vehicle suddenly slipped into limp mode. Vehicle was then immediately taken to have code read. Code came back P1326. Was advised due to previous recall campaign(s) to contact Hyundai of America for guidance. Was told that vehicle needed to be confirmed per the BCT at any Hyundai dealership to which…
Engine started knocking luckily I was right by my mechanics place. They said needs new engine. Not to drive as a rod might go right through the engine. Only 98000 miles on it. Maintenance always done on time.
got vehicle registration notice and recall notice was on the form regarding a possible electrical fire while parked or driving. I just got this car about 9 months ago, dmv is still showing nothing has been done.
Airbag located in the steering wheel partially deployed during a moderate/serious accident. It came out of the front of the steering wheel but never inflated. I have pictures available of the partially deployed airbag. No other airbags were deployed during this front end crash. The seatbelt…
Other Hyundai Tucson years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tucson | 63 | 5 |
| 2025 Tucson | 288 | 6 |
| 2024 Tucson | 98 | 4 |
| 2023 Tucson | 135 | 2 |
| 2022 Tucson | 386 | 3 |
| 2021 Tucson | 80 | 1 |
| 2020 Tucson | 178 | 1 |
| 2019 Tucson | 383 | 1 |
| 2018 Tucson | 399 | 1 |
| 2017 Tucson | 1,090 | 3 |
| 2016 Tucson | 1,622 | 5 |
| 2015 Tucson | 228 | 1 |
| 2014 Tucson | 202 | 2 |
| 2013 Tucson | 266 | 3 |
| 2012 | 255 | 3 |
| 2011 Tucson | 124 | 5 |
| 2010 Tucson | 59 | 4 |
| 2009 Tucson | 18 | 1 |
| 2008 Tucson | 43 | 1 |
| 2007 Tucson | 65 | 5 |
| 2006 Tucson | 135 | 5 |
| 2005 Tucson | 185 | 8 |
See all Hyundai Tucson problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
Owners most often report engine, service brakes, hydraulic, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 160 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Hyundai Tucson a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tucson model years, the 2012 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.