2012 Hyundai Tucson Reliability
The 2012 Hyundai Tucson has 255 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and service brakes. Compared with other Tucson model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Tucson's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
255
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
12
Complaints citing a crash
13
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Hyundai Tucson 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 | 160 | 63% |
| Service brakes | 35 | 14% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 26 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 17 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 5% |
| Engine & cooling | 10 | 4% |
| Body structure | 9 | 4% |
| Speed control / throttle | 9 | 4% |
2012 Hyundai Tucson recalls
3 recall campaigns 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V245000 | May 13, 2014 | Air bags | 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… |
| 19V063000 | Feb 5, 2019 | Engine & cooling — engine | 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. |
| 23V651000 | Sep 22, 2023 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Tucson years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Tucson analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 59 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Better year |
| 2011 | 124 | 5 | Engine | Solid |
| 2012 (this page) | 255 | 3 | Engine | Caution |
| 2013 | 266 | 3 | Engine | Caution |
| 2014 | 203 | 2 | Engine | Solid |
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 Tucson
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns 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 Tucson 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 Tucson reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Hyundai Tucson reliable?
The 2012 Hyundai Tucson has 255 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and service brakes. Compared with other Tucson model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Tucson's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Hyundai Tucson problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson are engine (160), service brakes (35), powertrain / transmission (26), electrical system (17). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Hyundai Tucson have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, including 14V245000 (air bags) and 19V063000 (engine & cooling — engine). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Hyundai Tucson compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 124 complaints and 5 recalls (solid); the 2013 has 266 complaints and 3 recalls (caution). The 2012 has 255 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
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 Tucson research
Other Hyundai Tucson model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Tucson, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.