10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,531 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #55

Nov 012018

Tucson

  • 111,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V063000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the check engine and malfunction indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Ontario Hyundai (1307 kettering dr a, Ontario, ca 91761, (909) 443-6100) who stated that the remedy was not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 111,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #54

May 072016

Tucson

  • 46,000 miles
High speed engine stall travelling at 90mph on the interstate. A piston had blown out of the side of the engine. Car repair was completed on the 1st November 2016, the engine was replaced.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #53

Apr 082019

Tucson

  • 115 miles
I was driving home in my 2012 Hyundai Tucson when out of nowhere my car started to make an almost boiling sound and began to stall and smell of smoke. I pulled over and a safety truck pulled over behind me and asked if I needed assistance. I explained to him what had just happened and he offered to take a look under the hood. The mechanic told me that I couldn't drive the car because it was a fire risk. He said that it looks like oil is leaking onto my engine somehow but he couldn't tell how. It was leaking into my engine and you can see it leaking everywhere, some even spilled out onto my tire. I had to have it towed to a repair shop. Apparently there was a recall on my car and I didn't receive any notice of any issues until the day after it almost caught on fire and I had it towed. I called Hyundai but they said they don't have a remedy for this yet. My car has been at the shop waiting for a remedy to the recall.

- West Warwick, RI, USA

problem #52

Apr 092019

Tucson

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V063000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Cape cod Hyundai (556 yarmouth rd, hyannis, MA 02601, (508) 778-0500) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Nantuckit, MA, USA

problem #51

Mar 012018

Tucson

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to new holland Ford (508 w. main St, new holland, pa) where it was diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- New Holland, PA, USA

problem #50

Jan 222019

Tucson

  • 145,848 miles
The vehicle developed a rattling noise from the lower half of the engine while driving on the freeway with my family. I managed to get home and then quickly took it to my local mechanic; who informed me it sounded like a spun bearing. He stated he would not know for sure until he took apart the motor. The mechanic advised that I take it to the dealer since I purchased the vehicle brand new. I called my two local dealers who informed me the car was out of warranty and also not part of the theta II engine recall campaign. Since the car was not built in the Alabama plant; it also did not qualify for the extended warranty given to vehicles built here with that engine. I was quoted an estimated $10,000 by the dealer in regards to putting in a remanufactured engine on the vehicle. After receiving these responses I notified Hyundai's warranty dispute resolution. They too informed me the vehicle was out of warranty. They informed they needed to take apart the engine to see what the issue was. However, the gamble was that I would most likely have to pay for the labor of this. I was without transportation and gave up resolving this through Hyundai. My mechanic was able to find me a used engine with low miles (70K) to put in my vehicle. The total cost for the engine was shy of $5,000 which wasn't too far from what the car is worth now.

- 1735 Margaret St., CA, USA

problem #49

Mar 052019

Tucson

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. Hyundai of kennesaw (2878 barrett lakes blvd, kennesaw, ga 30144, (678) 809-6990) indicated that there were no recall repairs needed before the vehicle was purchased. The contact was not informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19V063000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was towed to a facility. An independent mechanic informed the contact to check with the manufacturer for a recall campaign because they did not have the tools to repair the vehicle. The contact also heard a ticking noise, which could indicate that a rod may have fractured and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to peacock Hyundai brunswick (5400 altama ave #1, brunswick, ga 31525, (912) 304-0461) for further diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #48

Mar 282019

Tucson

  • 100,000 miles
Daughter driving down road. Vehicle started slowing down and warning lights came on. Vehicle died in middle of highway. Had to be towed and the shop believes it is the engine. Oil level was good and had been changed. Appears to be exactly what others are reporting.

- Tupelo, MS, USA

problem #47

Mar 282019

Tucson

  • 0 miles
This vehicle is in recall181. I have called Hyundai and they will not fix my vehicle until the have the parts to do... I rely on this vehicle to get me to dr appointments. I am disable veteran. I have changed several times over the last few months. Why cannt get my vehicle fix befoe one day it catch on fire.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #46

Mar 082019

Tucson

  • 83,000 miles
Engine went off-time and lost all compression in each cylinder. Check engine light came on 3/8/19, car ran ok through 3/11/19, then had power issues. It would not start on 3/12/19 and has not been run since. Both a private mechanic and the local dealership confirmed the timing issue and the loss of compression. The car has 83K miles.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

problem #45

Mar 032019

Tucson

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to rancho grande motors (1404 auto park way, san luis obispo, ca 93405, (805) 543-4745) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing the same failure as listed in NHTSA campaign number: 19V063000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Lososos, CA, USA

problem #44

Feb 132019

Tucson

  • miles
I was driving my Hyundai small SUV leaving the gym and the vehicle started to not want to pull. I then started to make a click sound then died. Its been to 2 shops the first one laughed at me. Telling me a engine would be 4 to 6 thousand and he would not work on it. The second one asked has there been a recall because of how it stop working and due to the fact the web is full of stories of them breaking down. The mileage is 101000

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #43

Sep 232018

Tucson

  • 67,444 miles
The theta II engine is full of metal shavings. There are acceleration problems and there is a loud sputtering rattle noise. The check engine light came on reading a code P0014, exhaust (B) camshaft position timing over-advanced (bank 1). The car was not driven until January 28 when taken to car care clinic in bakersfield, ca. When we could afford to take it in. The mechanic checked the solenoids, which were both good. One was removed, which revealed metal shavings clogging the solenoid. The mileage is 67,444. I was driving on the I5 when the engine first started making the noise. The next day the check engine light came on and acceleration was affected while driving on a city street.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #42

Jan 312019

Tucson

  • 130,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway when I suddenly lost power to my steering and accelerator. The car had quit running but was still receiving power from the battery. It was a severely dangerous situation as I was not able to get completely off of the freeway onto the shoulder before my vehicle stopped moving. Wsdot and Washington state patrol assisted getting me off of the freeway to a safe location. I had it towed to a repair shop. They diagnosed catastrophic engine failure and that the car needs a new engine. It is a 2012 Hyundai Tucson with a 2.4L engine. Additionally, at 75,000 the transmission failed in this vehicle, and was replaced at that time. This was covered by my extended warranty at the time.

- Orting, WA, USA

problem #41

Jan 252019

Tucson

  • 102,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. While driving, the rpms took longer than normal to engage during acceleration. Occasionally, the RPM dial would not move at all. Also, the ABS indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and code: "P3018" and "shift delay" were located. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact planned to schedule an appointment at fuccilo Hyundai of syracuse (2601 erie blvd E, syracuse, NY 13224, (315) 445-7900) this week. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #40

Jan 172019

Tucson

  • 83,000 miles
When driving the vehicle on a five hour trip, the engine suddenly became very noisy. Following evaluation by the dealership it was determined that the engine has a failed rod bearing. The engine was not torn down for a detailed analysis to make this determination. The only avenue offered to repair the vehicle was to install a junk yard engine as parts and engine components are not available through the manufacturer.

- Millerton, PA, USA

problem #39

Jan 242019

Tucson

  • 132,000 miles
"takata recall" as my 2012 Hyundai Tucson reached 100,000 miles my transmission went out and left me stranded. I had a rebuilt transmission put in, that was purchased from the dealership. Now I am at 132,000 miles and my engine is knocking. The knocking gets loud during acceleration, and has quickly gone from a ticking sound on the front passenger side of the vehicle to a loud knock. My mechanic is saying that there is no coming back from this, the engine will need to be replaced. Oil changes are done on time, there is oil in the car now but a rod is knocking loudly. This car will have been purchased twice once I have put all the repairs into it that really shouldn't need to be put into a car at this stage of it's life.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #38

Oct 202018

Tucson

  • 80,579 miles
Engine failed in Oct.2018 in big bear, California. After driving for several hours up the mountain, a loud rattling sound occurred driving at low speeds in the city. Independent local mechanic determined it was the pistons not working properly causing complete engine failure. Mechanic confirmed the vehicle could not be driven much further, it would not have made it down the mountain, and I was lucky it didn't fail on the mountain. Since engine still under warranty, I had to tow it down the mountain to nearest dealership in loma linda, ca. At dealership, determined and confirmed engine failed and under warranty. No parts available (perhaps due to other model recall?). given smaller dealer loaner vehicle - insufficient for my needs. It is now January 2019 and no part potentially available until late February. (is this the same engine as the sante fe and sonata recall?) dealership referred to Hyundai customer care center in December. Case filed. Case manager contacted mid-December with little information and offer of monetary compensation for time w/O vehicle. No other contact from case manager for over a month now. Hyundai customer care center indicates there is no one else other than non-responsive case manager that I can contact. If there are no replacement engines available - this must be a part of a larger problem. I want my 2012 Tucson repaired or replaced. And, I believe the 2012 Tucson should be added to the Hyundai engine recall issue.

- Playa Del Rey, CA, USA

problem #37

Dec 162018

Tucson

  • 86,722 miles
Purchased car used on 10/24/18. "catastrophic engine failure" occurred 53 days after purchase. Entering highway, accelerated above 45mph, had trouble changing shifts (automatic), "sputtering" sound from the engine and could no longer accelerate, engine cut off suddenly, all dash lights came on. Was able to coast safely to the shoulder. Was not able to turn engine back on. Took to auto shop - was first told it was a bad starter, starter was replaced but still not fixed. Next diagnosis: It was a bad battery, battery was replaced but still not fixed. Next diagnosis: Bad wiring from battery to starter but still not fixed. More investigating by auto shop and reported that timing chain was presumed broken and caused engine to "lock up". "engine rebuild" not recommended, but 2.4L engines are no longer manufactured, the only option is to get a used one. My mileage was 86,722 at time of incident.

- Crestview, FL, USA

problem #36

Nov 222018

Tucson

  • 109,000 miles
I purchased this vehicle in August, 2018 as a used unit. Starting the next month I would be driving down the road and doing the same speed with no acceleration on my part and the motor would rev up by itself to 6000-8000 RPM and the vehicle does not gain any speed. This has happened intermittently described to my mechanic when I took in for an oil change and he couldn't figure out what could have happened. Thanksgiving day traveling about 95 miles to my brother's house and did the revving 3X's. since thanksgiving the same problem has happened approximately 4 more times. This happens when the vehicle is in motion and maintaining the same speed. The speeds have been between 40 to 65 mph, so there isn't one set speed that it happens. Since it doesn't gain/lose speed it hasn't been a problem yet.

- Scotland, MD, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »