2012 Hyundai Santa FE Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

228Engine complaints

64.8%Of all 352 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE228 · 64.8%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL40 · 11.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM39 · 11.1%

SERVICE BRAKES25 · 7.1%

POWER TRAIN24 · 6.8%

Share of the 352 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS…”NHTSA complaint 10778673 — filed 09/30/2015

“ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STALLED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, WHEEL CONTROL, AND BRAKES. ON THE FIRST…”NHTSA complaint 10637929 — filed 09/21/2014

“WE EXPERIENCE A FEELING OF LOSS OF POWER AND ALMOST STALLS WHILE TRYING TO MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT…”NHTSA complaint 10619533 — filed 08/07/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE: 228 of 352 complaints on file (64.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE have in total?

352 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 25 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, 7 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.