2012 Hyundai SANTA FE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
353 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
71,348 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 279 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 228 of 353 complaints (64.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 64 | 18.1% |
| Braking behavior | 56 | 15.9% |
| Steering behavior | 38 | 10.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 228 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 |
| Electrical System | 39 |
| Service Brakes | 25 |
| Power Train | 24 |
| Steering | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Suspension | 14 |
Engine: 228; Vehicle Speed Control: 40; Electrical System: 39; Service Brakes: 25; Power Train: 24; Steering: 16; Unknown Or Other: 16; Suspension: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 87 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 80 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 87; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 80; 150,000 and above: 20
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (87). 74 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 35 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 33 |
| 2019 | 37 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 43 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2011: 2; 2012: 24; 2013: 35; 2014: 42; 2015: 10; 2016: 9; 2017: 33; 2018: 33; 2019: 37; 2020: 32; 2021: 43; 2022: 14; 2023: 17; 2024: 9; 2025: 8; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 64 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10433996 · 2011-11-02 (November 2, 2011)
DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN SANTA FE SUDDENLY SURGED OR LUNGED FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT CAUSING CAR TO JUMP OVER A CONCRETE BUMPER AND INTO ANOTHER CAR PARKED AT A 90-DEGREE ANGLE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION WAS CLEARED DRIVER PROCEEDED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. ENROUTE THE SANTA FE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR. DEALER CLAIMED THE EVENTS COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10438540 · 2011-12-05 (December 5, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED; THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE AND SHE ALSO HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR ABRUPTLY AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE DEFECT WAS A COMMON ISSUE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION ASSOC…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452900 · 2012-03-25 (March 25, 2012)
ON THURSDAY MAR 22 2012 I WAS DRIVING MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE SE AWD WITH 2400 MILES ON IT IN TWO WAY DOWN HILL ROAD WITH A SPEED OF 20 TO 25 MILES PER HOUR THAN ALL OF SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR ANY SIGN THE CAR JUST DIE ON ME I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT DID TURN ON SO NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO HYUNDAI DELEAR IN SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA THEEY CHECKED IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH SO I AM KIND OF CONCERN ABOUT MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY IF THIS DOES HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460952 · 2012-06-07 (June 7, 2012)
WHILE CHANGING LANES, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LACK OF RESPONSE WHILE I WAS PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS ONLY LASTED A MILLISECOND BUT WAS ENOUGH THAT I STARTED TO PRESS DOWN TO COMPLETE THE CHANGE WHEN THROTTLE RESPONSE RETURNED. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES IN THE 3 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASING THIS AUTO. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463140 · 2012-06-26 (June 26, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE DOWN A HILL, SHE STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDED LIMITED VIEW. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE ILLUMINATED IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO SPECIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467753 · 2012-07-26 (July 26, 2012)
I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, IN FRONT OF A BAKERY, AND STOPPED TO ALLOW A CAR TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO THE VACANT PARKING SPOT AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ACTUALLY GUNNING INTO A HIGHER GEAR, AND AS I WAS PUSHING HARDER DOWN ON THE BRAKE WITH MY RIGHT FOOT THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE BAKERY. I PROCEEDED TO APPLY BOTH MY FEET TO THE BRAKES IN HOPES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP, AND IT DID. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED BEFORE ENTERING THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,323 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10469577 · 2012-08-07 (August 7, 2012)
THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED RANDOMLY DURING DRIVING, TOTAL 4 TIMES, ALMOST CAUSING 4 ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEREFORE WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT, LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN A STATUS WITH TREMENDOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10470030 · 2012-08-09 (August 9, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND NOTICED A TICKING SOUND. OVER 2 MILES IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL IT WAS A LOUD KNOCKING. I HAD TO EXIT ONE FREEWAY, AND MERGE TO ANOTHER, BEFORE I COULD GET TO AN ACTUAL EXIT. UPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO SPEED TO MERGE, THE KNOCK BECAME SEVERE, I LOST COMPRESSION, AND THE SUV DIED. THERE WAS A PUFF OF SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST AND I ROLLED TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND OUT THAT THE #4 ROCKER ARM HAD SHOT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,041 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470030 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V746000 · Engine
Reported: 2020-12-01 (December 1, 2020)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
Consequence: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
NHTSA campaign record ↗