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Car · Hyundai problems

2012 Hyundai Tucson problems

255 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The most reported area is engine and engine cooling (66% of them). NHTSA also lists 63 service bulletins and 3 recall campaigns.

255owner complaints
12say a crash was involved
13say a fire was involved
9injuries and deaths reported

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 9. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 255 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

11 smaller areas not shown (31 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 63 repair bulletins from Hyundai for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson. 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-GI-004HReceived October 28, 2026

    Backup camera and sensors

    Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the PDW...

  2. 26-EM-016HReceived October 14, 2026

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

  3. 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...

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 24-AT-002HReceived April 16, 2024

    Power train (transmission and drive)

    A procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2.

  7. 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...

  8. 24-01-012HReceived March 5, 2024

    Body and structure

    In certain areas, a vehicle's underbody may exhibit corrosion due to road salt usage.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson. Recall repairs are free at a Hyundai dealer.

  1. 19V063000February 5, 2019

    Engine and engine cooling

    The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.

  2. 23V651000September 22, 2023Do not drive notice

    Service brakes, hydraulic

    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.

  3. 14V245000May 13, 2014

    Air bags

    In the affected vehicles, the air bag assembly installed in the steering wheel may come loose from its mounting.

See all 3 recalls for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, 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 Tucson 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

Engine and engine cooling 168 complaints · 66%

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

Service brakes 35 complaints · 14%

Power train (transmission and drive) 26 complaints · 10%

Electrical system 17 complaints · 7%

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Check your VIN

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

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2012 Hyundai Tucson: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson?

Of the 255 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, 168 (66%) name engine and engine cooling, and 35 (14%) name service brakes. 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 Tucson 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 12 of the 255 complaints as involving a crash and 13 as involving a fire. They also reported 9 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 Tucson have?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson. 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 63 repair bulletins for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson.

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Sources

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