Recalled components: brakes, engine and cooling, and air bags. Most-described problem: engine failure or replacement (74 complaints, 29%). Most-reported area: engine (160 complaints, 63%; median mileage when it happened: 98,500).
Fewer complaints than a typical Tucson year
The 2012 drew 27 owner complaints in its first three years, against 146 for a typical Tucson year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2016 and 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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 engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Tucson vehicles.
In the affected vehicles, the air bag assembly installed in the steering wheel may come loose from its mounting.
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured January 3, 2011, through December 23, 2013.
NHTSA listing: TUCSON. Hyundai campaign 118.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, not counting audit queries; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Engine fires
Engineering analysis EA21003Closed Feb 5, 2024 (opened Dec 22, 2021)
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… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: TUCSON. Component: Engine.
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 255 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Tucson. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Engine failure or replacement74 · 29%
Median 98,000 miles at failure, from 61 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off43 · 17%
Median 90,000 miles at failure, from 33 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode27 · 11%
Median 82,000 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
Check engine light25 · 10%
Median 98,500 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
Median 98,500 miles at failure, from 117 reports with mileage
Brakes35 · 14%
Powertrain26 · 10%
Median 68,400 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Electrical system17 · 7%
Engine and cooling10 · 4%
Body structure9 · 4%
Most named: body (6)
Speed control9 · 4%
Unknown or other12 · 5%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Hyundai Tucson recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2012 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2016 Tucson drew the most (449) and the 2012 drew 27.
Owner complaints
2012: 255 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Tucson
Model year
Complaints
2010
59
2011
124
2012
255
2013
266
2014
202
2015
227
2016
1,620
2017
1,088
2018
397
2019
380
2020
178
2021
79
2022
502
2023
178
2024
146
2025
428
2026
89
Safety recalls
2012: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Tucson
Model year
Recalls
2010
4
2011
5
2012
3
2013
3
2014
2
2015
2
2016
5
2017
3
2018
1
2019
1
2020
1
2021
1
2022
3
2023
2
2024
4
2025
7
2026
5
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 255 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, the problems described most are engine failure or replacement (74), stalling or shutting off (43), and loss of power or limp mode (27). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2012 Hyundai Tucson safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2012 Hyundai Tucson earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, not counting audit queries. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Feb 5, 2024.
How do I check if my Tucson has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: TUCSON.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.