2012 Hyundai TUCSON
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Hyundai TUCSON has 314 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (54% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai tucson. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start, even after the fuel tank was filled to capacity. she had to apply pressure to the brake and accelerator pedals in order to start the vehicle. the dealer made three attempts to duplicate the failure. t. ⚠️ 20 fire reports filed.
314
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
3.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
168 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, EVEN AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY. SHE HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. T
- • 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 GETTI
- • I SHOULD START BY STATING THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I GOT IT LAST YEAR. AT RANDOM TIMES, WHILE DRIVING, MY VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO GO ABOVE 2500K RPMS, EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. THIS MAY HAPPEN WHILE I AM ON A SLOW ROAD OR, AS TODAY, WHEN I A
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, EVEN AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY. SHE HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
36 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO DRIVE 1 INDEPENDENTLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND I
- • WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOT OF NOISE AND WHEN GOING DOWN A INCLINE/HILL I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER SHIP CLOSE TO MY HOME AND WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH THEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH
- • WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOT OF NOISE AND WHEN GOING DOWN A INCLINE/HILL I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER SHIP CLOSE TO MY HOME AND WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH THEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO DRIVE 1 INDEPENDENTLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND I”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
26 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLACING HER VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUS. NO POLICE WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE
- • 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 GETTI
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO DRIVE 1 INDEPENDENTLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND I
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLACING HER VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUS. NO POLICE WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
17 complaints- • 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 GETTI
- • 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 TH
- • 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 VEH
“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 GETTI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
14 complaints- • I WAS HAVING MY CAR CLEANED AFTER A WEEK AT THE BEACH AND THE LITTLE PLASTIC CIRCLE THAT HOLD THE FLOOR MATS IN PLACE CAME OFF OF THE FLOOR MAT. NOW WHEN I DRIVE THE FLOOR MAT IS CONSTANTLY RIDING UP ONTO THE GAS PEDAL. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND I'D HAVE TO
- • TODAY, MY 2012 TUCSON NEEDED A TIRE PUT BACK ON, AFTER USING A SPARE. ON ASPHALT, LEVEL GROUND, I USED THE JACK THAT CAME WITH MY VEHICLE ALIGNED AS DIRECTED, AND SLOWLY LIFTED THE CAR, DRIVER FRONT. THE SPARE TIRE CAME OFF EASILY, WITHOUT PROBLEMS. AS I ALIGNED THE TIRE TO PUT ON, THE JACK FAILE
- • MY BACK CAMERA STOPS WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME SCREEN JUST BLACK WHEN IN REAR JUST USELESS.
“I WAS HAVING MY CAR CLEANED AFTER A WEEK AT THE BEACH AND THE LITTLE PLASTIC CIRCLE THAT HOLD THE FLOOR MATS IN PLACE CAME OFF OF THE FLOOR MAT. NOW WHEN I DRIVE THE FLOOR MAT IS CONSTANTLY RIDING UP ONTO THE GAS PEDAL. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND I'D HAVE TO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 314 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, EVEN AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY. SHE HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO DRIVE 1 INDEPENDENTLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLACING HER VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUS. NO POLICE WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: 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 GETTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Hyundai TUCSON — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 314
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 20
- Crash reports
- 12
- Injury reports
- 10
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Hyundai TUCSON