Vehicle Data Hub

2012 Hyundai Santa FE engine problems

Owners reported engine problems in 234 complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE, 49% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
234 49% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
89,000 miles 186 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
6 and 14
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2012 Hyundai Santa FE Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 89,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 42 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 14 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 10 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 20 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 19 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 36 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 22 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 13 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 5 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 3 complaints 200k+ miles: 2 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 89,000 miles
Based on 186 complaints that include mileage. 35% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles42
20k to 40k miles14
40k to 60k miles10
60k to 80k miles20
80k to 100k miles19
100k to 120k miles36
120k to 140k miles22
140k to 160k miles13
160k to 180k miles5
180k to 200k miles3
200k+ miles2

What the data shows

Of the 186 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 89,000 miles, and 35% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 6 crashes, 14 fires, 3 injuries.

What owners wrote

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 hyundai santa fe. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the contact was alerted of flames under the vehicle as black smoke poured from the engine. The contact crashed into a pole. The air bags deployed. The contact received bruises on the face and chest and experienced trouble breathing. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was towed and destroyed.

Reported at 70,000 miles, April 2016 CrashFireInjury

My 2012 hyundai santa fe I was driving home on the freeway, all of a sudden the oil light went on. So I immediately changed lanes to get off the freeway. I thought I need to get oil, than the engine light came on! I realized that I was losing power so got to the side of the road out of harms way. I tried to turn on the engine. There was nothing. I got towed to a auto repair shop. And left the car over night. It was so late to look at car.

Reported at 138,110 miles, December 2020

Other problems reported for the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Hyundai models