2012 Hyundai Santa Fe: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2012 / hyundai / santa-fe
known issues5 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-07)
complaints353 on file (2011-11-02 → 2026-08-17)
recalls1
investigations6
fars45 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Electrical faults in windows, locks, and battery circuitsELECTRICAL SYSTEM25 complaints2019-08 → 2025-01santa-fe-2012-electrical-faults
  • 11637269 The first time the driver side front window would occasionally go up then automatically down when I tried to raise the window
  • 11618052 The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures. The contact stated that the 12 Volts battery was replaced several times
  • 11504390 The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle, all four doors and tailgate would lock independently
Front coil spring and subframe corrosionSUSPENSION14 complaints2018-05 → 2026-03santa-fe-2012-subframe-corrosion
  • 11727316 Rear subframe suddenly collapsed and broke due to extreme corrosion
  • 11466979 Front coil spring rotted and broke while driving vehicle
  • 11535158 During the vehicle safety inspection, the mechanic noted the subframe and front suspension components were failing due to excessive corrosion and the Santa Fe was not safe to drive
Tail and brake light failures from water intrusionEXTERIOR LIGHTING6 complaints2018-01 → 2023-10santa-fe-2012-taillight-condensation
  • 11061000 DRIVER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS COLLECTING CONDENSATION IN IT, CAUSING TAIL LIGHT BULBS TO CRACK AND BLOW OUT
  • 11221930 RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY LEAKS WATER SHORTING OUT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT, THIS SHOULD BE A PRODUCT RECALL
  • 11529887 Brake lights keep failing. Have replaced wiring harness, bulbs and brake switch twice now
Engine stall and seizure from connecting rod bearing failureENGINE143 complaints2017-12 → 2026-06santa-fe-2012-engine-stall-recall
  • 11722965 The engine rod broke creating a big whole in the engine which caused the engine and underneath of car to start on fire
  • 11502154 The contact stated that after NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) was completed and driving at approximately 70 mph, there was a loud abnormal noise under the vehicle and the steering wheel began to shake
  • 11432565 Fast forward to August, my husband and I were driving down to my parents on I-95 going 70 miles an hour when we suddenly heard a loud strange noise, then within seconds a loud bang
Airbags failing to deploy in frontal collisionsAIR BAGS3 complaints2018-04 → 2021-10santa-fe-2012-airbag-non-deployment
  • 11082503 WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY CROSSED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE. AS A RESULT, A HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY
  • 11362832 NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT, BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS AFFECTED DURING THE WRECK
  • 11437031 Airbags for the ENTIRE car did not deploy in a car accident that rendered the car inoperable

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
3532011-11-022026-08-172517ENGINE:228; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:43; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:40; SERVICE BRAKES:28; POWER TRAIN:24

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
20V74600001/12/2020ENGINEHyundai 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.A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.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 (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
DP18003closedNon-crash Vehicle FiresELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES2018-08-212019-05-1018V907000In a letter dated June 11, 2018, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles. In a letter dated July 24, 2018, CAS requested that MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles be added to the petition. CAS stated that there is a higher number of complaints to NHTSA regarding non-crash fires on these vehicles compared to other similar vehicles. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
DP21003closedThrottle control system vulnerabilitiesVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE2021-11-122023-06-20·The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can b
DP22003closedLoss of Motive PowerENGINE2022-09-122023-12-12·The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complain
EA21003closedEngine FiresENGINE2021-12-222024-02-0523V877On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.  During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.  The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine
PE19003closedNon-crash Vehicle FiresELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES2019-03-292021-12-2220V061000During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles equipped with Theta II and Lambda II engines (approximately 1.3 million vehicles). ODI also reviewed field data of other Hyundai vehicles equipped with Theta II, Gamma, Nu and Lambda engines (approximately 4.8 million). As a result of this PE, Hyundai has issued NHTSA Rec
RQ17004closedScope and TimelinessENGINE2017-05-182021-12-2217V226000NHTSA opened Recall Query (RQ) 17-004 to investigate the timeliness and scope of Hyundai?s Theta II GDI engine recalls (Recall Nos. 15V-568 and 17V-226), and Hyundai?s compliance with reporting requirements. On November 23, 2020, the Agency entered into a Consent Order with Hyundai to administratively resolve NHTSA?s assertions of violations of law in connection with RQ17-004. NHTSA?s assertions included that Hyundai may be liable for civil penalties on multiple grounds, including the untimeliness of Recall Nos. 15V-568 and 17V-226, inaccuracies in Hyundai?s recall reports, and that a required

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202445legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/hyundai/santa-fe
@misc{wrenchpro_2012_hyundai_santa_fe_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/hyundai/santa-fe}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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