Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

Owners filed 355 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA between Nov 2011 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (228).

Complaints
355
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
17
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine228
  2. Electrical system43
  3. Vehicle speed control40
  4. Service brakes26
  5. Power train24
  6. Steering16
  7. Exterior lighting14
  8. Suspension14
  9. Structure8
  10. Fuel/propulsion system8
  11. Wheels7
  12. Engine and engine cooling6
  13. Air bags6
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20112
201224
201335
201442
201510
20169
201733
201833
201937
202032
202143
202214
202317
20249
20258
20267

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

228 reports6 crashes14 fires1 related recall
“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. When I attempted to follow up by phone I was unable to reach anyone in the service department. Upon calling Hyundai corporate customer service I was informed that the dealership had a name discrepancy in my paperwork and my owner profile was not linked to my VIN in their system. The recall work has not begun. I was given a corporate case number but was told to call back the following day to check in rather than receiving a callback. The burden of all follow up has been entirely on me. This is my only vehicle. I have been without transportation for over a week affecting my ability to get to work. No loaner or rental vehicle has been offered or provided. My vehicle was brought in specifically for a federal safety recall involving a known engine defect that can cause fire or engine stall. The dealer’s handling of this recall has been completely…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2026EngineODI 11745765

Electrical system

43 reports3 crashes3 fires
“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 mileage on the title 43,655 and the DMV informed her after their research was tempered with and they stated the mileage should be 143,655.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2026Electrical systemODI 11737143

Vehicle speed control

40 reports11 crashes
“STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. STEPPED ON GAS TO MOVE AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND IT JUST TOOK OFF. HAD TO USE BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR. GOING ABOUT 1 MPH AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND WOULDN'T STOP. NEARLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. MAY BE COMPUTER OR THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATER. SAME DAY. GOING STRAIGHT, UP A HILL ABOUT 2MPH AND ONCE AGAIN THE ENGINE SPED UP AND THE CAR TOOK OFF. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2020Vehicle speed controlODI 11348479

Service brakes

26 reports7 crashes
“THIS CAR IS MADE TO HAVE WATER GO INTO THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS,THEN KEEPS SHORTING OUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH 0 BRAKE LIGHTS, EXCEPT FOR THE TOP BAR ONE. WHEN I REPLACED THEM, IT SHORTED THEM OUT AGAIN AND HAS BEEN THIS WAY THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO HAVE WATER GO DIRECTLY INTO THE TAIL LIGHT WHEN THE TRUNK DOOR IS LIFTED, YOU CAN SEE IT AND GOES INTO THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT BUT THEN SHORTED BOTH OF THEM OUT. I CANNOT KEEP REPLACING MY TAIL LIGHTS NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO! IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO HAVE TO DRIVE WITH 0 BRAKE/TAIL LIGHTS. THIS CAR WAS MADE INCORRECTLY AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE I GET REARENDED AND HURT! DRILLING HOLES IN BOTTOM OF TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT WORK OR SOLVE ISSUE EITHER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Exterior lighting, Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11772847

Power train

24 reports2 crashes
“MY 2012 HYUNDI SANTA FE STALLED ON ME AS I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT 3 WEEKS AGO.. LAST WEEK MY CHECK ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A REAR CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARING SEAL. HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE REGARDING HYUNDAI ENGINE PROBLEMS AS WELL AS WITH THE KIA BRAND. I LEARNED THAT THERE WILL BE A RECALL FOR MY CAR BUT IT WILL NOT BEGIN UNTIL 1/22/21. MY VEHICLE IS NOT LISTED WITH THIS RECALL, YET I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I NEED HYUNDAI TO AD MY VIN NUMBER TO THIS RECALL LIST.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11383028

Steering

16 reports1 crash
“ALL THREE LIGHTS ABS, ESC, AND DBC ON DASH CAME ON SAME TIME AFTER REPLACING DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT BULB. WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND TRACTION CONTROL IMPACTING THE DRIVEABILITY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11383449
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.