Car · Hyundai problems

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

355 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most reported area is engine and engine cooling (66% of them). NHTSA also lists 60 service bulletins and 1 recall campaign.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 7. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 355 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Engine and engine cooling234 · 66%
• Electrical system43 · 12%
• Speed control and throttle40 · 11%
• Service brakes29 · 8%
• Power train (transmission and drive)24 · 7%
• Other or unknown17 · 5%
• Steering16 · 5%
• Exterior lighting14 · 4%

13 smaller areas not shown (61 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 60 repair bulletins from Hyundai for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. 26-EM-016HReceived October 14, 2026

   Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption.

2. 26-01-033HReceived March 31, 2026

   This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle's inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 - Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine...

3. 25-BD-012HReceived November 12, 2025

   Information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp.

4. 24-01-068HReceived September 3, 2024

   Engine and engine cooling

   Hyundai is conducting a campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs.

5. 24-01-009HReceived March 5, 2024

   Electrical system

   Hyundai has launched an anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign (Campaign 993), combined with an anti-theft steering wheel lock campaign (Campaign P32), and anti-theft ignition...

6. 24-01-007HReceived February 5, 2024

   Electrical system

   Certain Hyundai vehicles may not be equipped with an immobilizer.

7. 23-EM-005HReceived December 15, 2023

   Engine and engine cooling

   Important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.

8. 23-01-055H-1Received November 7, 2023

   Steering

   Hyundai Motor America is offering steering wheel locks to owners of certain 2011 - 2017MY vehicles that are not eligible for Service Campaign 993 anti-theft software.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recall repairs are free at a Hyundai dealer.

1. 20V746000December 1, 2020

   Engine

   The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.

See all 1 recall for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Santa Fe will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Engine and engine cooling 234 complaints · 66%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Electrical system 43 complaints · 12%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Speed control and throttle 40 complaints · 11%

• Throttle body cleaning$75 to $180
• Throttle body replacement$290 to $900

Service brakes 29 complaints · 8%

• Brake pad replacement (front)$190 to $400
• Brake rotors and pads (front)$320 to $790
• Brake pad replacement (rear)$180 to $420
• Brake caliper replacement (one wheel)$240 to $590
• Brake fluid flush$75 to $180

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2012 Hyundai Santa Fe: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Of the 355 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, 234 (66%) name engine and engine cooling, and 43 (12%) name electrical system. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 25 of the 355 complaints as involving a crash and 17 as involving a fire. They also reported 7 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recall repairs are free at a Hyundai dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 60 repair bulletins for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe.

More

• 2023 Santa Fe problems
• 2022 Santa Fe problems
• 2020 Santa Fe problems
• 2019 Santa Fe problems
• 2017 Santa Fe problems
• 2016 Santa Fe problems
• 2015 Santa Fe problems
• 2014 Santa Fe problems
• 2013 Santa Fe problems
• 2010 Santa Fe problems
• 2012 recalls
• All Hyundai recalls
• Hyundai problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.