Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Hyundai Santa FE
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Hyundai Santa FE has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 355 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V746000 Engine Damage May Cause Stall or Fire NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 228 complaints
- Electrical System 43 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 40 complaints
- Service Brakes 26 complaints
- Power Train 24 complaints
- Unknown or Other 17 complaints
Of the 355 complaints on file, 25 report a crash and 17 a fire; across all 355 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has significant issues with engine failures due to premature wear of connecting rod bearings. This is reflected in a high number of engine complaints and a relevant recall, impacting overall reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 60,000–90,000 miles | $3,000–$6,000 | very common |
| electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $200–$800 | common |
| brakes | 40,000–70,000 miles | $250–$500 | occasional |
| suspension | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | occasional |
| steering | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$750 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil and filter changes
- tire rotations
- brake pad replacements
- transmission fluid changes
- coolant flushes
- spark plug replacements
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- engine knocking noises
- fluctuating engine temperatures
- unusual brake noises
- flickering dashboard lights
- difficulty steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.