YearToAvoid

2012 Hyundai Veracruz Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#3 most-complained of 3 Veracruz years

The 2012 Hyundai Veracruz has 65 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, and 4 reported fires, with Engine issues making up 54% of complaints. Among the 3 model years with data, it ranks 3rd worst, meaning it has fewer reported complaints than the 2010 and 2011 model years.

Complaints
65
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 4
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 21.5 hwy

Top 2012 Hyundai Veracruz problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine35 (54%)
  2. Electrical System24 (37%)
  3. Brakes8 (12%)
  4. Other3 (5%)
  5. Airbags2 (3%)
  6. Structure & Body2 (3%)
  7. Steering1 (2%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (2%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Oil leaks from the front engine cover gasket onto the alternator, producing smoke and in some cases fire under the hood.
  • Engine oil leaking created a fire risk even after recall repairs were attempted, with one owner reporting the replacement part was unavailable at 180,000 miles.
  • Vehicles have caught fire while parked and unattended, requiring fire department response.
  • Headlights briefly cut out when the turn signal is used, sometimes for one to two seconds.
  • Brake lights malfunctioned while parked, causing the gear shift lever to lock even after the brake switch was replaced twice.
  • A loud abnormal noise came from the rear suspension at low mileage (2,000 miles) that the dealer could not duplicate or repair.
2012 Hyundai Veracruz complaints: complaints filed per month6Sep 2014Jul 2017Oct 2018Jun 2020Jun 2021Aug 2022Nov 2023Nov 2024
77 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2014 to Aug 2026; peak May 2021 (6).

2012 Hyundai Veracruz recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V651000Sep 22, 2023Brakes1,649,478 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Hyundai 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 vehicles. 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.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

  2. NHTSA 20V705000Nov 13, 2020Engine60,097 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:seals/gaskets

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2012 Veracruz vehicles that were previously recalled under recall number 14V-415. Oil may leak from the front cylinder bank cover gasket, potentially dripping onto the alternator and causing the charging system to become inoperative.

    Risk: An inoperative charging system can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the valve cover gasket and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 7, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 197.

  3. NHTSA 14V415000Jul 8, 2014Engine61,122 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Veracruz vehicles manufactured from December 26, 2006, through July 24, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an oil leak from the front cylinder bank valve cover gasket. If there is a sufficient amount of oil dropped onto the alternator, the alternator will be damaged causing the charging system to become inoperative.

    Risk: If the alternator is damaged, the charging system warning lamp in the instrument cluster will illuminate, and the engine will lose power and the vehicle will eventually stop operating while being driven. An unexpected failure of motive power while driving increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect/repair or replace the alternator and the front valve cover gasket, free of charge. Hyundai sent out an interim letter to owners on September 3, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 121.

2012 Hyundai Veracruz fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
21.5 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
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 Veracruz years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict5091418.5
2011No verdict100106418.5
2012No verdict065318.5

All Hyundai Veracruz years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

What problems does the 2012 Hyundai Veracruz have?
NHTSA lists 65 complaints for the 2012 Veracruz, with Engine issues accounting for 54% of them and Electrical System issues 37%. There have been 4 reported fires and 3 recalls, mostly tied to oil leaking from the engine's front cylinder cover gasket.
Does the 2012 Hyundai Veracruz have a recall?
Yes, three recalls affect it: two engine recalls (14V415000 and 20V705000) covering oil leaks from the valve cover gasket, and one brake-related recall (23V651000) advising owners to park outside due to fire risk.
How does the 2012 Veracruz compare to other years?
Among the 3 Veracruz model years with data, 2012 ranks 3rd worst with a complaint index of 0, while 2010 has an index of 50 and 2011 has an index of 100, making 2012 comparatively better within this model.
At what mileage do 2012 Veracruz engine problems occur?
The median mileage at failure for Engine complaints is 97,085 miles, and the overall median mileage at failure across all complaint types is 95,000 miles.

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.