2012 Hyundai Tucson Problems and Complaints

Users Opinions on 2012 Hyundai Tucson

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Disliked by Users

K
Kay
• 19/11/2019
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
I just bought a '12 Tuscon trusting that after glowing reviews. 2 days later the engine seized with no notice except dash light indicating it was running hot. After bing towed to dealership found out it needs a new engine. Carfax only indicated an open recall for oil pan. I madeRead More
Source: edmunds
S
steve
• 15/02/2019
Rating:
(2 Out Of 5 stars)
They have had problems with these motors, know about it, but have not taken any action. Our engine "blew-up" with less than 70,000 miles on it and if not for the extended warranty we purchased it would have cost us over $6,000 to replace the engine. Would never buy another as they have a problem, yet have not done anything to help the consumer. They have recalled andRead More
Source: edmunds
E
ebie
• 02/03/2017
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
... religious experience. The ignition often doesn't want to release the key, resulting in the epic "man vs machine" battle. The bolt holding the driver's seat in place on its track has come out on its own several times, leaving the seat at the lowest position, which is lovely if you are tall or don't mind sitting on the floor. This car has a rough buckboard ride. Driving in the rain with the standard tires is rather unnerving as the car feels asRead More
Source: edmunds

Nathan Dyer

Senior Editor,

Updated on August 26, 2024

After gaining a solid experience and success from the Santa Fe, Hyundai introduced the Tucson below the former as a slightly smaller and more affordable option. Furthermore, Tucson went on to become the best-selling SUV from the South Korean brand as well. However, it did face a higher number of complaints than the previous year’s model. The 2012 Tucson received 199 official complaints along with 2 recalls to date. The recalls cover an engine oil leak issue and an airbag issue as reported by the affected users.

On the part of the complaint, the powertrain has seen the highest numbers of reports among all other areas of the SUV too. In its class, the Tucson rivals the Kia Sportage, the Honda CR-V, and the Toyota RAV4. The 2012 Tucson reliability rating of 80/100 positions it in the middle of the pack against its rivals. Check out the video below by "Cars.com" where they focus on all that which is negative in this Hyundai and read ahead to find out if this family crossover is worth the buy for you.

Hyundai Tucson user complaints and problems

Engine problems

Sudden engine stall: Several owners have faced sudden engine stalling issues with their 2012 Hyundai Tucson SUVs. According to reports, the engines stopped suddenly while driving at various speeds. Several reasons were conveyed to the owners by the concerned dealerships. In some cases, the alternators were replaced.
Engine failure: A lot of cases of engine failures were reported against the 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The engine failure issue has been quite common with the 2012 model of the vehicle according to the owners. The failures occurred suddenly such as after covering a few thousand miles to covering several thousand miles. Before the failures, the owners experienced several symptoms such as a clicking noise from the engine, sudden power loss, failure to start, and oil leakages among a few others. Some owners received a replacement unit of the engine while the vehicles that were out of warranty were denied the replacement while the dealerships stated that the concerned engine was out of production.
Transmission malfunction: Apart from the engine failures, there are several cases of transmission failures too. Before the failures, the symptoms experienced by the owners included failure to shift, engine stalls, and rising engine rpm without any increase in speed. In a few cases, the transmissions were replaced.

Safety problems

Brake failure: A few owners faced brake failures while driving. As a result of the failures, the vehicles crashed. In one instance, the braking pressure was too low and the owner had to press the pedal all the way to the floor to stop the vehicle.
Airbag failure: Some cases of airbag failures were also reported in the 2012 Tucson. In one case, upon impact all the airbags of the vehicle deployed except the driver’s airbag while only the driver was present inside the vehicle and there were no occupants on the passenger’s seats. In some other cases, the airbags failed completely to deploy upon impacts resulting in injuries.

Miscellaneous problems

Faulty steering system: In one case, the owner states that he experienced malfunctions in the steering of his vehicle. As a result, the steering vibrated and made it hard to keep the vehicle properly aligned while driving.

2012 Hyundai Tucson recalls

S.No.	Recall Date	NHTSA Campaign ID	Issues noticed	Additional remarks	Remedy
1	May 13, 2014	14V245000	Airbag Assembly May Loosen in the Steering Wheel	An airbag assembly that is not properly mounted may result in an increased risk of injury to the driver in the event of a crash.	Hyundai will notify the owners, and the dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts that secure the driver's airbag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2014.
2	February 5, 2019	19V063000	Engine Oil Leak May Cause Stall or Fire	A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.	Hyundai has notified the owners, and the dealers will inspect for an oil pan leak, replacing it if necessary, and install an updated oil pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2019.

Should you buy a used Hyundai Tucson?

The Hyundai Tucson has been a trustworthy companion for a lot of buyers since its launch. Moreover, the impressive value it offers at the price combined with the improved fuel economy for the current model, makes the 2012 Tucson a compelling option in its class. However, the ongoing powertrain issues with the SUV’s powertrain have been troublesome for several owners, and denied resolutions from the dealerships have made the issue worse further. However, the issues are limited to a certain number of models only when compared to the total sales volume of the SUV. Getting a used Tucson would require an extensive inspection of the vehicle, especially for the known powertrain issues.