Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Hyundai Tucson
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Hyundai Tucson has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 255 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V651000 ABS Unit May Cause Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V063000 Engine Oil Leak May Cause Stall or Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V245000 Air Bag Assembly May Loosen in the Steering Wheel NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 160 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 27 complaints
- Power Train 26 complaints
- Electrical System 17 complaints
- Unknown or Other 12 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 10 complaints
Of the 255 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 13 a fire; across all 255 complaints, owners report 9 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 Tucson has a below-average reliability rating due to significant engine-related issues, evidenced by numerous complaints and a relevant recall. While the complaint data shows limited information for other systems, and there's a moderate number of total complaints and recalls, the engine concerns are serious enough to warrant caution.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 80,000–120,000 miles | $2,000–$5,000 | common |
| ABS module | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
| airbag assembly | Unknown | $300–$900 | occasional |
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 change every 5,000 miles
- Brake pads and rotors inspection
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Coolant flush every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Oil leaks under vehicle
- Unusual brake sounds
- Airbag warning light on
- Engine overheating
- ABS warning light on
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.