Most common 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Share of the 354 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Santa Fe complaints by model year
Best Santa Fe years: 2018, 2011. Years to avoid: 2017, 2025, 2023, 2013, 2024. Compare all years →
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls (1)
Engine
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.
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe:
Scope and Timeliness
NHTSA opened Recall Query (RQ) 17-004 to investigate the timeliness and scope of Hyundai?s Theta II GDI engine recalls (Recall Nos. 15V-568 and 17V-226), and Hyundai?s compliance with reporting requirements. On November 23, 2020, the Agency entered into a Consent Order with Hyundai to administratively resolve NHTSA?s assertions of violations of law in connection with RQ17-004.
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles equipped with Theta II and Lambda II engines (approximately 1.3 million vehicles).
Engine Fires
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
In a letter dated June 11, 2018, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles. In a letter dated July 24, 2018, CAS requested that MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles be added to the petition.
What 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe owners say
Engine & cooling all 234 →
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at 40-45 MPH, she heard an abnormal ticking sound, and the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated she saw black smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether a warning light illuminated. The contact and her husband exited the vehicle. The contact stated as they walked back to the vehicle, they notice that the smoke has stopped. The contact and her husband did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle had been waiting to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (ENGINE) for five months as the parts for recall repair were not yet available. …
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle began to shake. The vehicle merged to the shoulder of the roadway and suddenly another vehicle crashed into the entire driver's side of the vehicle while the contact was still in the vehicle. The driver who crashed into the contact did not stop at the scene and continued to drive after the crash. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to her neck and chest area that did not require medical attention. The vehicle failed to start after the incident and was towed to the contact's residence where it currently remained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) and had scheduled an appointment with the dealer prior to the crash. …
Electrical system all 43 →
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle, all four doors and tailgate would lock independently. The contact stated that over some time, all four doors failed to unlock while outside the vehicle with the key fob. The contact was only able to unlock the driver's side door with the key. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to a dealer where she was informed that the door actuator needed to be replaced; however, after the repair, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures. The contact stated that the 12 Volts battery was replaced several times. Additionally, the contact stated the battery terminals were corroded only few weeks after the battery replacement. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, where the cause of the battery failures could not be determined. The battery was replaced; however the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. No further information was provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Speed control & acceleration all 40 →
As early as last summer, my 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe started to (intermittently) accelerate when I stepped on the brake. Frankly, I thought it was related to the sandals I was wearing. I thought I was occasionally stepping on the gas and the brake at the same time (I have very big feet -- size fifteen). The problem stopped when I switched shoes (which also corresponded to the end of summer). The problem came back intermittently this summer and is now repeatable. When I am going down a steep hill at speeds over about 20 MPH, the engine RPM's increase when I step on the brake. It does that while in gear and while in neutral. Obviously, if the drive train is in gear, the engine "fights against" the brake; if the drive train is in neutral, the engine revs. If the engine is in neutral or is shifted into neutral after the acceleration starts, the engine races until I let off the brake. …
I was turning into a parking lot doing about 5mph when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to a high rate of speed, took me over a cement barrier, a curb, went airborne, landed in a bush which it tore in half and took with me, across the sidewalk and spun in the middle of a busy intersection before the tire blew off the rim and I got it to stop. It was towed to the dealership where it has been for one month as Hyundai dragged their heels until I got angry and emailed them. Two days after I emailed them I got the following leaving me with the repairs as well as paying for the rental for a month. Thank you for your recent correspondence. We have thoroughly reviewed your comments and regret the circumstances you have experienced. We have reviewed the materials provided and inspected your Santa Fe. …
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 25 / 22 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe a good car?
Based on 354 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Santa Fe rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Santa Fe at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The engine & cooling — 234 complaints, 66% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (43) and speed control & acceleration (40).
How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, the most recent from December 1, 2020 (engine). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Santa Fe?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2025, 2023, 2013 and 2024. See the full Hyundai Santa Fe years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 42% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.