2012 Hyundai Tucson
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 255 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 21 Tucson model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 12 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023
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.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineFeb 5, 2019
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Tucson vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.
A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai has notified owners, and dealers will inspect for an oil pan leak, replacing it if necessary, and install an updated oil pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 181.
Campaign 19V063000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsMay 13, 2014
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured January 3, 2011, through December 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the air bag assembly installed in the steering wheel may come loose from its mounting.
An air bag assembly that is not properly mounted may result in an increased risk of injury to the driver in the event of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts that secure the driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 118.
Campaign 14V245000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
17 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Oct 9, 2025
got vehicle registration notice and recall notice was on the form regarding a possible electrical fire while parked or driving. I just got this car about 9 months ago, dmv is still showing nothing has been done.
Electrical system, Seats, Service brakes, Feb 28, 2024
Campaign #[XXX] I was notified and contacted Hyundai multiple times - 11/14, 15 and 16.There were multiple other times as well. I contacted both Broadway and Bergstrom Hyundai in both Appleton and Green Bay on multiple occasions as well to ask for a rental while awaiting the remedy as you are advised not to park near structures and outside. I live in an area where this is not possible and rent a duplex with a shared driveway-meaning that if a fire would occur, an explosion would most likely occur and lives would be lost. This also means that going to run errands while parked near other vehicles could cause multiple fatalities, as an explosion would most likely occur and more lives would be lost. If I were at any location and the vehicle started on fire, there would certainly be fatalities. To date, I have contacted Hyundai again and the representative was extremely unhelpful and unfriendly. At one point I was promised a rental but then was turned away. No warning lights came on but if there is a fluid leak, who is to say that the wires that would transmit a signal to turn on an ABS light would not be disabled as well?Brake fluid has certain components that could render wires useless. I have not had my vehicle inspected by a dealer because the recall was sent to me by Hyundai. I also have had other problems with this vehicle including seats not being stable and seatbelt indicators not working which questions whether I need to worry about the passengers safety. This campaign has been ongoing since I received this letter in November of 2023. Hyundai has yet to do a thing about this recall. I am asking for a complete refund for this vehicle due to multiple recalls. Today-[XXX] I was on hold for 50 minutes, without an agent-so I am also questioning how seriously you are taking these issues. I have always looked on your website prior to purchasing vehicles, but now I am uncertain as to how much I should take your websites advice. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 2, 2024
On [XXX], Gas pedal failed to accelerate car while transitioning from [XXX\ on-ramp to the highway lane. Was able to steer car to shoulder before momentum dissipated. Warning lights for oil and motor were illuminated on dash. No power steering. Turned off motor. Restarted car eventually. Warning lights not illuminated. Gas pedal worked. Drove about 30 minutes to dealer. Hyundai did agree to replace motor and I paid a fraction of the cost ([XXX]). Since then, they have agreed to reimburse me for my cost. However, an oil leak was detected at the dealer two months ([XXX]) after receiving the car + rebuilt motor. Dealer has tried 4 more times to fix the VERY slow oil leak. Leak is still not fixed. Service dept now not returning my call (2/2/2023). Have called Hyundai customer care 800# and obtained a case number. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 26, 2024, fire
Our [XXX] daughter was driving the vehicle from our home to work in Richmond Heights (approx. 19 miles) on [XXX] on {XXX]. At approximately [XXX] and before the [XXX] exit ([XXX] area), the vehicle made a load bang/popping noise, began to lose power, and the interior began to fill with smoke. She was driving in one of the center lanes and luckily made it over to the right shoulder without incident despite traffic and the smoke impairing her view and use of the rear and side mirrors. She immediately got out and called 911. Luckily there was no accident involved and she was not trapped in the vehicle. She was not injured, just very shaken. The vehicle was on fire under the hood and eventually burst into flames. The Kirkwood City Police Officer called the Kirkwood Fire Department and Terry's Towing. The fire was put out, but not before causing the vehicle to be totaled (see photos). Terry's Towing towed the vehicle to its lot, where it is currently stored. The vehicle is a total loss. As we purchased the vehicle from a family member earlier in 2023 as a spare car for our 16yo son and 20yo daughter (when she's home on break from college) for local and short drives, we only carried liability insurance on it with Progressive. We were not aware of Hyundai Recall 251 / NHTSA Recall # 23V651000 until after this happened to our daughter. We have filed a case with Hyundai. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by them or anyone else. The vehicle was running fine. The ABS light had come on sometime prior to this incident. The vehicle was going in for an oil change and system check after the holidays. In the process of obtaining the fire department report. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 9, 2023
While driving my vehicle I accidentally knocked it out of gear and into neutral when I did the car died I was able to pull off of the interstate onto the shoulder where it was scary there were cars passing me at 70 mph, with very little room the car will not start the engine will crank a half of a crank and then freeze up. It had to be towed home where it remains broken down. I don't know if it's the engine I don't know if it's electrical but it will not start the battery is fine the alternator is fine I reported it to Hyundai's consumer hotline and was told to take it to a dealer and have it looked at but the car is not drivable I cannot afford another tow bill to have it taken to a Hyundai mechanic
Electrical system, Apr 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while using the key fob, the alarm engaged. The contact was concerned about the vehicle being vulnerable to theft. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 23, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated the all-wheel drive (AWD) warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Fuel system, Diesel, Electrical system, May 14, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED THREE BARS AND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THERE WERE SOME UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATED AND THEN UNILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO ARRIVE WITH FUEL AND ADDED FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN ABLE TO START. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Jul 28, 2018, fire
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY - IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR EVEN STARTED IN OVER 28 HOURS. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DID FULL BRAKE WORK 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE OCCURRING.
Electrical system, Oct 18, 2016
THE HORN ON THE 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER-POWERED TO THE POINT OF BEING DANGEROUSLY INEFFECTIVE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. WHILE IT TECHNICALLY WORKS, THE SOUND PRODUCED BY THE HORN IS TOO WEAK RELATIVE TO TYPICAL NOISE LEVELS IN MODERN URBAN AREAS AND WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE HORN, FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES, IS INAUDIBLE WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHERE THE NOISE OF THE PASSING WIND AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN CARS NECESSITATES THAT THE HORN'S VOLUME EXCEED A CERTAIN MINIMUM THRESHOLD TO BE HEARD BY OTHER DRIVERS. THE HORN IS SO WEAK THAT EVEN AT A STOP LIGHT THE DRIVER OF A CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME COULDN'T HEAR THE HORN. WHEN THE STOP LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME DIDN'T NOTICE IT. EVEN AFTER BLOWING MY HORN 2 - 3 TIMES, THE DRIVER WAS STILL UNAWARE OF THE LIGHT CHANGE. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE DRIVER BEHIND ME BLEW HIS HORN THAT THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME BECAME AWARE OF THE LIGHT CHANGE. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A HORN IS TO WARN OTHER NEARBY DRIVERS IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPENDING EMERGENCY. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, THE 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON'S HORN FAILED TO FULFILL ITS PURPOSE. FORTUNATELY, NO SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAS RESULTED UP TO THIS POINT. HOPEFULLY, THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A CASE IN WHICH SOMEONE SUFFERS AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THE ISSUE IS FIXED. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD WERE EATEN BY RODENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES WERE SOY BASED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INITIALLY STATED THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED NOT TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,884. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 24, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Electrical system, Dec 14, 2014
WENT TO CHRISTMAS PARADE, GOING TO CAR PRESSED REMOTE TO UNLOCK CAR AND WOULD NOT WORK. GOT IN CAR BY KEY AND FOUND THE HEADLIGHTS & WINDOWS & FLASHERS DON'T WORK. HAD TO GET RIDE HOME AND PICKED UP CAR IN MORNING. ALL ELSE IS FINE DRIVES OK. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 19, 2014
SHIFT DOES NOT APPEAR ON DASHBOARD, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN IN REVERSE, THE CAMERA DOES NOT WORK. HAVE TO SHUT CAR OFF THEN TRANSMISSION WORKS. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Jun 17, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE, SHE ALWAYS RECEIVED AN ELECTRIC SHOCK WHEN TOUCHING THE DOORS. THE VECHILE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 25, 2012, crash
THIS CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT PULLS OUT OF PARK VERY EASILY WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION OR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS LED TO MY CAR ROLLING DOWN A HILL AND HITTING A TREE WITH NO ONE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TRIED THIS ON ANOTHER CAR IN THE LOT AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY HYUNDAI CORPORATE OFFICES THAT THIS IS A "CAMPAIGN" ITEM. I CAN NOT FIND THIS PROBLEM LISTED AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT LEADS TO INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Dec 21, 2011
BRAND NEW CAR- A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING AND DRIVING THE CAR, NOTICED CAR WAS NOT DRIVING RIGHT. SEVERAL SYMPTOMS BECAME NOTICEABLE. CAR WOULD JERK WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. CARS PICK UP WAS DELAYED AND HAD A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE VIBRATION, WHILE IN IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING, TO THE POINT OF GETTING NAUSEOUS WHILE DRIVING IN THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO HYUNDAI SERVICE AND TOLD THEM OF SYMPTOMS AND MY CONCERNS OF SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH THE CAR. THE MECHANICS FELT THE PROBLEMS I EXPLAINED ABOVE AND SAID SOMETHING WAS WRONG, NOW HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY. SEVERAL TESTS WERE DONE ON THE CAR BUT NOTHING SHOWED UP ON ELECTRICAL GRID. SERVICE HAD TO CALL A HIGHER TECH OUT IN CALIFORNIA TO SEE WHAT TO DO NEXT. CALIFORNIA TECH MADE THEM RUN SEVERAL TESTS, ALL THIS TOOK MORE THEN 2 WEEKS UNTIL THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THE ENGINES THROTTLE ASSY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEY SAID THAT THIS ALSO CAUSED THE SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE ASSY AND CLAIM THE CAR IS REPAIRED. NO LONGER TRUST CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE DEFECTS THAT WHERE FOUND AFTER THE ORIGINAL INSPECTIONS BY THE MANUFACTURE AND THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO FIND THESE DEFECTS WITH THE CAR AND SOLD IT. *TR