2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Reliability
The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has 355 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Santa Fe model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Santa Fe's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
355
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
25
Complaints citing a crash
17
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 228 | 64% |
| Electrical system | 43 | 12% |
| Speed control / throttle | 40 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 29 | 8% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 24 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 17 | 5% |
| Steering | 16 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 14 | 4% |
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V746000 | Dec 1, 2020 | Engine | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage. |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Santa Fe years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Santa Fe analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 260 | 3 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2011 | 181 | 3 | Engine | Solid |
| 2012 (this page) | 355 | 1 | Engine | Caution |
| 2013 | 605 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 | 494 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has 355 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Santa Fe model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Santa Fe's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe are engine (228), electrical system (43), speed control / throttle (40), service brakes (29). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, including 20V746000 (engine). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 181 complaints and 3 recalls (solid); the 2013 has 605 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 355 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Hyundai Santa Fe research
Other Hyundai Santa Fe model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Santa Fe, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.