10.0

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

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Hyundai Tucson engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Hyundai Tucson Owner Comments (Page 8 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

Aug 102017

Tucson

  • 121,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Noticing knocking sound after starting engine, parked stationary. Dealer diagnosed engine failure. Engine has low miles, only 121,000

- Gilroy, CA, USA

problem #14

Aug 282017

Tucson

  • 59,092 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle hesitated to shift to a higher gear. The contact stated that the eps, oil, and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to exit the highway. The engine started skipping and all power was lost. The vehicle was towed to danbury Hyundai (102 federal rd, danbury, ct 06810 (203) 730-4700) where it was diagnosed that the engine seized and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 59,092.

- Monroe, CT, USA

problem #13

Jun 162017

Tucson

  • 80,263 miles
Just had car services at Hyundai dealership two weeks ago with oil change and rust recall along with multipoint inspection. Friday 6/10/2017 was driving home turning left in a busy intersection and hear a loud ping ping from under the hood, and I can no longer accelerate. Cars are hooking behind me as I turn on my hazards and am able to finally coast to the side street and turn off the car. I was almost rear ended twice. Took the car into the dealer. They broke down the engine and said that they engine seized up and the bearings had metal shaving all over down to the oil pan. They said this looked to be consistent with what they have been seeing in the recalled 2.4 L engines. They filed a claim with Hyundai since I am the second owner the are declining the repair request because I am the second owner and have 80,000 miles. So much for helping your customer that was almost kills because of engine failure

- Evergreen Park, IL, USA

problem #12

Jun 102017

Tucson

  • 123,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving vehicle when engine lost power, engine began to make pinging noise under the hood, vibrations began and then proceed with knocking. Engine seized up.

- Cumberland, MD, USA

problem #11

May 122017

Tucson

  • 112,000 miles
Last week, while driving on a highway in rural Nevada, in a passing zone, on a shallow uphill curve, attempted to pass a trash truck, accelerated to about 65 mph, and just as we more or less abeam the truck, the engine suddenly quit. We had enough momentum was able to complete pass and immediately pull over to side. Had there been oncoming traffic, that was judged to be far enough distance to safely pass, it is possible that with the engine quitting, could have resulted in a head on collision. The battery and alternator both tested ok. The oil level was full. All factory recommended maintenance had been complied with. The vehicle was towed back to carson city( about 80 miles). The dealer said the engine 'seized', cause unknown, without a teardown,

- Carson City, NV, USA

problem #10

Apr 122017

Tucson

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. While driving 30 mph, a popping sound emitted from underneath the vehicle and it stalled without warning. The contact coasted over to the side of the road and was informed that the vehicle was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

- Freeport, NY, USA

problem #9

Apr 052017

Tucson

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving --loud knocking noise in the engine. Was diagnosed by dealer as having worn rod/crankshaft;metal debris in oil pan -- if continuing to drive, then warned to cause engine failure and shutdown. This same problem received a recall in sonatas, but now is happening with the Tucsons.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #8

Dec 192016

Tucson 4-cyl

  • 39,000 miles
Engine failure while driving on high way. Sudden power loss, jerking, and loud knocking noises. Luckily we managed to get off of the highway. Car had to be towed to the dealership. There was faint cyclic noise beforehand, but no engine check light or other warning. The engine has very low miles (less than 40K miles) and was maintained per recommended schedule. Symptoms are identical to the theta II engine failure but does not appear to be included in the sonata engine recall.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #7

Oct 232016

Tucson 4WD 4-cyl

  • 104 miles
I was driving the vehicle on the garden state parkway at approximately 70 mph. I heard a bang come from the engine area and the car lost all power. All warning lights came on and smoke was coming out from front of car. I coasted to the shoulder. Fortunately this was early Sunday morning with very little traffic on the highway. T could have been rear ended. I got out of car and noticed a puddle of oil under the car. I had the car towed home. The engine has failed. The car had regular oil changes with synthetic oil. 104K mileage. This car uses the 2.4 theta engine. After researching the failure, I have found this is the same engine used in the sonata and Kia sportage that also have a problem with engine failures.

- Bayville, NJ, USA

problem #6

Sep 232016

Tucson

  • 70,776 miles
Traveling straight on interstate, spontaneously lost all power to vehicle after a loud metal crunching sound. Hardly was able to drift out of interstate traffic on to shoulder of road. I was unable to turn ignition over, oil and engine caution lights were on. No visible issues or leaks from engine. One owner vehicle, traveled mostly highway miles, had regular maintenance from dealer ship where purchased from, and only had 70776 miles on a 2012 model.

- Shamokin, PA, USA

problem #5

May 072016

Tucson

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on the I90 through snoqualmie pass in Washington, moved to overtake another vehicle in the overtaking lane. As I moved into the lane and accelerated, the engine dropped down a gear and a whining noise was heard. At this point I had total loss of power and was travelling at ~70mph. I was able to safely pull over onto the side of the road and the car was towed. There was medium traffic at the time however I was on a slight downhill so didn't rapidly lose speed. Hyundai carpros in renton reported that the piston had failed and had punctured the engine casing.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #4

Jun 052014

Tucson 4-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
I pushed on the gas to accelerate and nothing happened except the rpms spiked to around 5-6K and the engine sounded as if I were in neutral and revving it up aggressively. This has subsequently happened dozens of times when traveling between 30 and 65 mph. It is scary, especially when I need to accelerate, say in a passing situation or when traveling to get out of the way. I've taken the vehicle to Hyundai (sheppard in eugene/springfield, or) twice for this issue. Both times, they kept it overnight and returned it to me without fixing anything saying: 1) I was the only one in the world who reported this problem, 2) they couldn't replicate the problem, and 3) there is nothing wrong with my vehicle.

- Oakridge, OR, USA

problem #3

Dec 202014

Tucson

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. While parked in a driveway, the vehicle caught fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police and a fire report were filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

- Glenpool, OK, USA

problem #2

Mar 012013

Tucson

  • miles
2012 Hyundai Tucson. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle failure to get the fuel economy as advertised. The consumer stated subsequently, he began having trouble with the vehicle; on intermittent starts. The car would idle below 1000 RPM, shudder and misfire. The dealer was unable to locate a problem.

- Patrick Afb, FL, USA

problem #1

Jan 242013

Tucson 4-cyl

  • 13,700 miles
I should start by stating that this has been an ongoing issue with this vehicle since I got it last year. At random times, while driving, my vehicle will not allow me to go above 2500K rpms, even with the gas pedal fully depressed. This may happen while I am on a slow road or, as today, when I am on the highway. It is a safety concern because I will need to merge onto the highway or speed up for some other reason and suddenly I have no power. I will be going 30mph and entering a 70mph roadway. The only way to stop this is to pull over, turn the vehicle off, and then turn it back on. I have taken it to my Hyundai dealer multiple times and they have been unable to fix it or address it in any way whatsoever. It is a huge safety issue that they will not address.

- Belton, TX, USA

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