2012 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and complaints
Owners have filed 353 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most-reported areas: Engine (228), Electrical System (43), Vehicle Speed Control (40).
Key takeaways
- 353 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 25 involve a crash, 17 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 228 | 65% |
| Electrical System | 43 | 12% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 28 | 8% |
| Power Train | 24 | 7% |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 | 5% |
| Steering | 16 | 5% |
| Suspension | 14 | 4% |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 3% |
| Structure | 8 | 2% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 | 2% |
| Wheels | 7 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD | 3/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD | 3/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Structure - filed 2026-08-17
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the underbody of the vehicle was rusted from living in an area where anti-icing agents were heavily used. The contact associated the failure with Hyundai Service Campaign 947. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was previously repaired u...
Engine - filed 2026-06-22
On June 16, 2025, I dropped my 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS (VIN: [XXX]) off at Larry H. Miller Southwest in Albuquerque, NM for NHTSA safety recall #20V746000 (Theta II engine connecting rod bearing failure). It has now been over one week with zero communication from the dealership regarding the status of my vehicle. Wh...
Electrical System - filed 2026-05-11
The contact purchased a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 71,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mil...
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More for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.