YearToAvoid

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 11th of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA logged 353 complaints, mostly engine-related (75%), with 25 crashes, 17 fires, and one recall for connecting rod bearing wear.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
50/100
#11 of 21 Santa Fe years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
353
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
25
reported in complaints
Fires
17
Injuries
7
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2011
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
3 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
20 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0

Top 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine264 (75%)
  2. Electrical System53 (15%)
  3. Brakes30 (8%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain24 (7%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (6%)
  6. Other17 (5%)
  7. Steering16 (5%)
  8. Fuel System12 (3%)
  9. Structure & Body10 (3%)
  10. Airbags6 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or lunging forward while parking at low speeds, sometimes crashing through fences or bushes.
  • Some report the engine catching fire while driving, including one case with visible flames and black smoke leading to a crash.
  • Multiple owners say the brake pedal went to the floor with little or no stopping power, causing rear-end or curb collisions.
  • One owner reported the vehicle would not shift out of low gear after a sudden surge incident.
  • A fuel system complaint describes an electrical motor catching fire under the hood after the owner smelled smoke while driving.
  • One owner reported the driver's air bag failed to deploy during a crash after losing control of the vehicle.
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per quarter192011 Q42013 Q42016 Q12018 Q22020 Q22022 Q22024 Q32026 Q3
353 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q1 (19).

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V746000Dec 1, 2020Engine128,948 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: 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 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 (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Santa Fe years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Good35258223
2011Best15181222
2012Caution50353122
2013Avoid80605320.5
2014Caution70493320

All Hyundai Santa Fe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
It ranks 11th out of 21 Santa Fe model years with a complaint index of 50, giving it a Caution verdict. Engine complaints make up 75% of all reports for this year.
What problems does the 2012 Santa Fe have?
NHTSA data shows 264 engine complaints (75% share), 53 electrical system complaints, and 30 brake complaints, with a median failure mileage of 71,348 miles for the engine category overall.
Does the 2012 Santa Fe have a recall?
Yes, one recall (20V746000) covers premature wear of connecting rod bearings inside the engine, which can lead to engine damage; Hyundai will inspect and replace the engine if bearing damage is found.
How does the 2012 Santa Fe compare to other years?
It's better than 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2017, which all carry Avoid verdicts with higher complaint indexes, but worse than 2011, which is rated Best with a complaint index of 15.
Were there fires or crashes reported for the 2012 Santa Fe?
NHTSA lists 25 crashes and 17 fires tied to 2012 Santa Fe complaints, with 7 reported injuries and no deaths.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.