2012 Hyundai Santa FE Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE, and owners have filed 353 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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1 safety recall for the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System…
353 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE have filed 353 complaints with NHTSA; 25 describe a crash and 17 describe a fire. Reports cite 7 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,468 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 43 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the underbody of the vehicle was rusted from living in an area where anti-icing agents were heavily used. The contact associated the f”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 17, 2026 · Structure
“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 fai”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 22, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe (Santa Fe 2WD, Santa Fe 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–20 / 25–27 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Hyundai Santa FE model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Hyundai Santa FE model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2012 Hyundai Santa FE
How do I know if my 2012 Hyundai Santa FE has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Hyundai dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 20V746000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Hyundai models
- Sonata16,085 complaints
- Elantra8,715 complaints
- Tucson6,287 complaints
- Palisade2,447 complaints
- Accent2,032 complaints
- Ioniq 51,339 complaints
- Veloster1,292 complaints
- Genesis1,244 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.