2012 Hyundai Tucson problems and recalls

63% of owner complaints on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson related to the Engine (160 of 255).

255
Complaints
3
Recalls
12
Crash reports
13
Fire reports
9
Injuries
72.9
Severity index

Severity index 72.9 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 72.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 46 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 65% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 160 complaints (62.7%)160 63%Service BrakesService Brakes: 36 complaints (14.1%)36 14%HydraulicHydraulic: 27 complaints (10.6%)27 11%Power TrainPower Train: 26 complaints (10.2%)26 10%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 17 complaints (6.7%)17 7%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 12 complaints (4.7%)12 5%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 10 complaints (3.9%)10 4%StructureStructure: 9 complaints (3.5%)9 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE16062.7%
SERVICE BRAKES3614.1%
HYDRAULIC2710.6%
POWER TRAIN2610.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM176.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER124.7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING103.9%
STRUCTURE93.5%

Complaints filed per year

041822011: 32012: 52013: 92014: 102015: 32016: 92017: 152018: 182019: 822020: 232021: 162022: 102023: 182024: 282025: 32026: 3 (partial year)1112131415161718198220212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20113
20125
20139
201410
20153
20169
201715
201818
201982
202023
202116
202210
202318
202428
20253
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (49 against 49).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V06300005/02/2019ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEHyundai 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.
14V24500013/05/2014AIR BAGSHyundai 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.
23V65100022/09/2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEHyundai 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 vehicl

Other Hyundai Tucson model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.