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2012 Hyundai TUCSON: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

255 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

83,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 169 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 160 of 255 complaints (62.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation4216.5%
Braking behavior4116.1%
Transmission and shifting135.1%
Electrical and battery issues103.9%
Steering behavior83.1%
Fuel system concerns20.8%

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.

Engine
160
Power Train
26
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
25
Electrical System
15
Unknown Or Other
12
Engine And Engine Cooling
10
Service Brakes
9
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine160
Power Train26
Service Brakes, Hydraulic25
Electrical System15
Unknown Or Other12
Engine And Engine Cooling10
Service Brakes9
Vehicle Speed Control9

Engine: 160; Power Train: 26; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 25; Electrical System: 15; Unknown Or Other: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Service Brakes: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
20
25,000 to 49,999
16
50,000 to 74,999
30
75,000 to 99,999
33
100,000 to 149,999
55
150,000 and above
15
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00020
25,000 to 49,99916
50,000 to 74,99930
75,000 to 99,99933
100,000 to 149,99955
150,000 and above15

Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 55; 150,000 and above: 15

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (55). 86 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.

2011
3
2012
5
2013
9
2014
10
2015
3
2016
9
2017
15
2018
18
2019
82
2020
23
2021
16
2022
10
2023
18
2024
28
2025
3
2026
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20113
20125
20139
201410
20153
20169
201715
201818
201982
202023
202116
202210
202318
202428
20253
20263

2011: 3; 2012: 5; 2013: 9; 2014: 10; 2015: 3; 2016: 9; 2017: 15; 2018: 18; 2019: 82; 2020: 23; 2021: 16; 2022: 10; 2023: 18; 2024: 28; 2025: 3; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 42 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 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 10423888 · 2011-09-06 (September 6, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, EVEN AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY. SHE HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,304. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 1,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423888 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10438750 · 2011-12-06 (December 6, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLACING HER VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUS. NO POLICE WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438750 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10440922 · 2011-12-21 (December 21, 2011)

BRAND NEW CAR- A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING AND DRIVING THE CAR, NOTICED CAR WAS NOT DRIVING RIGHT. SEVERAL SYMPTOMS BECAME NOTICEABLE. CAR WOULD JERK WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. CARS PICK UP WAS DELAYED AND HAD A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE VIBRATION, WHILE IN IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING, TO THE POINT OF GETTING NAUSEOUS WHILE DRIVING IN THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO HYUNDAI SERVICE AND TOLD THEM OF SYMPTOMS AND MY CONCERNS OF SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH THE CAR. THE MECHANICS FELT THE PROBLEMS I EXPLAINED ABOVE AND SAID SOMETHING WAS WRONG, NOW HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440922 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10448236 · 2012-02-16 (February 16, 2012)

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FEELS STUCK,VAGUE,HARD,LACKS OF MANEUVERABILITY AND FEEDBACK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FEELING THE SENSATION THAT YOU WILL LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE GOES TO EITHER WAYS (RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE) GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CRASH.ALSO IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE ALIGN ON THE ROAD LANE AND IT HAS TO BE CORRECTED CONSTANTLY REQUIRING MORE PHYSICAL EFFORT THAN NORMAL DRIVING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 455 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448236 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10458831 · 2012-05-17 (May 17, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 TO 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458831 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459275 · 2012-05-22 (May 22, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO DRIVE 1 INDEPENDENTLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND IMPACTED THE INTERIOR WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE UNTIL THE OTHER DAMAGES HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE W…

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459275 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10467728 · 2012-07-25 (July 25, 2012)

THIS CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT PULLS OUT OF PARK VERY EASILY WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION OR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS LED TO MY CAR ROLLING DOWN A HILL AND HITTING A TREE WITH NO ONE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TRIED THIS ON ANOTHER CAR IN THE LOT AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY HYUNDAI CORPORATE OFFICES THAT THIS IS A "CAMPAIGN" ITEM. I CAN NOT FIND THIS PROBLEM LISTED AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT LEADS TO INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467728 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10478083 · 2012-10-01 (October 1, 2012)

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOT OF NOISE AND WHEN GOING DOWN A INCLINE/HILL I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER SHIP CLOSE TO MY HOME AND WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH THEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (1 HR FROM WHERE I LIVE), THEY WENT ON A TEST DRIVE HEARD THE NOISE, CHECKED THE BRAKES, AND SAID THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK AFTER …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478083 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

14V245000 · Air Bags

Reported: 2014-05-13 (May 13, 2014)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V063000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Reported: 2019-02-05 (February 5, 2019)

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.

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 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
23V651000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module

Reported: 2023-09-22 (September 22, 2023)

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.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗