Vehicle Data Hub

2012 Hyundai Tucson engine problems

Owners reported engine problems in 170 complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, 54% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
170 54% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
100,000 miles 125 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 13
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2012 Hyundai Tucson Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 100,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 5 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 2 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 10 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 21 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 24 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 28 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 18 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 11 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 3 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 3 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 100,000 miles
Based on 125 complaints that include mileage. 14% 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 miles5
20k to 40k miles2
40k to 60k miles10
60k to 80k miles21
80k to 100k miles24
100k to 120k miles28
120k to 140k miles18
140k to 160k miles11
160k to 180k miles3
180k to 200k miles3
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 125 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 100,000 miles, and 14% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 13 fires, 3 injuries.

What owners wrote

I bought a new car. 3 1/2 months later , I was rear-ended. I took car to dealership to get tailgate and pan and bumper repaired. When we picked up vehicle, strong toxic fumes from repair were so strong that we could not drive car. Instant headache, upper respiratory aggravation, sore throat, burning eyes. Car has been to repair shop numerous times and months later still causes illness in family. At one time that I drove car I almost lost consciousness. I have informed hyundai dealership several times.

Reported at 14,440 miles, November 2012 CrashInjury

Catastrophic engine failure on a 2012 tucson with only 80k miles. The vehicle was regularly serviced. Heard a faint ticking coming from the engine while driving, and later that day, the engine blew. Apparently the theta 2 engine the vehicle uses is known for failure, but the hyundai dealership I took the vehicle to claimed only about 2% of these cars were affected, and I was just "unlucky". No warning lights, nothing.

Reported at 80,000 miles, May 2018

Other problems reported for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Hyundai models