2012 Hyundai Tucson Engine Problems
Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, 63% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 98,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine cooling” (19% of reports).
- 160engine complaints
- 98,500median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $8,450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 63%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine cooling: mentioned in 30 of 160 complaints (19%)
- Oil pan: mentioned in 12 of 160 complaints (8%)
- Started making: mentioned in 9 of 160 complaints (6%)
- Metal shavings: mentioned in 8 of 160 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson at $8,450, and half of them between $7,700 and $11,050.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2019–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 117 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 160 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 12 a fire, 2 an injury.
Hyundai Tucson engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tucson | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2025 Tucson | 12 | 4% | — |
| 2024 Tucson | 14 | 14% | 17,500 |
| 2023 Tucson | 23 | 17% | 22,871 |
| 2022 Tucson | 115 | 30% | 34,219 |
| 2021 Tucson | 39 | 49% | 34,904 |
| 2020 Tucson | 73 | 41% | 80,000 |
| 2019 Tucson | 199 | 52% | 41,580 |
| 2018 Tucson | 244 | 61% | 60,000 |
| 2017 Tucson | 599 | 55% | 56,000 |
| 2016 Tucson | 423 | 26% | 56,000 |
| 2015 Tucson | 119 | 52% | 69,700 |
| 2014 Tucson | 110 | 54% | 92,000 |
| 2013 Tucson | 156 | 59% | 86,993 |
| 2012 Tucson | 160 | 63% | 98,500 |
| 2011 Tucson | 40 | 32% | 100,000 |
| 2010 Tucson | 7 | 12% | 140,000 |
| 2009 Tucson | 1 | 6% | 106,000 |
| 2008 Tucson | 5 | 12% | 91,273 |
| 2007 Tucson | 5 | 8% | 115,000 |
| 2006 Tucson | 12 | 9% | 130,000 |
| 2005 Tucson | 18 | 10% | 81,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Hyundai Tucsons have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 160 owner complaints about engine for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson (63% of the 255 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 98,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,450 (half paid between $7,700 and $11,050), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
The most frequent phrase is “engine cooling”, in 30 of 160 complaints, followed by “oil pan” (12).
See all 2012 Hyundai Tucson problems or engine problems across all Tucson years.