This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Hyundai Tucson brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Hyundai Tucson have filed 31 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Tucson | 5 |
| 2010 Tucson | 8 |
| 2011 Tucson | 24 |
| 2012 Tucson (this page) | 31 |
| 2013 Tucson | 37 |
| 2014 Tucson | 52 |
| 2015 Tucson | 57 |
| 2016 Tucson | 27 |
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 31 brakes complaints filed for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 31 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake caliper area.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The bulk of complaints center on NHTSA Campaign 23V651000, a hydraulic brake system recall affecting these Tucsons. The failure pattern is consistent: brake fluid leaks internally from the system, drains the reservoir, and leaves owners with no braking pressure. One owner's brake fluid reservoir was bone dry; he refilled it and by the next morning it was empty again with no visible leak underneath. Another pushed the brake pedal all the way to the floor and the truck wouldn't stop until he'd jammed it repeatedly. One vehicle actually caught fire under the hood while the owner was driving—the insurance company paid the claim.
The critical problem for owners is that Hyundai issued the recall notice but didn't have replacement parts available for months, sometimes six or more. Dealers confirmed parts were not in stock. Owners complained the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable timeframe for the fix, especially after being warned in the recall letter not to park the vehicle in a garage due to fire risk.
Separately, one owner reported loud brake noise and poor stopping power on hills. Multiple dealer visits and a rotor replacement didn't cure it. Another reported abnormal squeaking when braking that an independent mechanic couldn't reproduce.
Same Hyundai Tucson brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Brake fluid leak (internal) and loss of braking pressure
Brake fluid reservoir drains internally without visible leak; brake pedal becomes inoperable and depresses fully to the floor without stopping the vehicle. Owners refill reservoir; it empties again overnight with no external leak visible.
When: 150,375 miles (one documented case); recall 23V651000 issued for affected vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to the floor; Vehicle fails to stop despite braking; Brake fluid reservoir empty without visible leak; Brake pedal inoperable on next startup after refilling; Brakes not functioning; vehicle smoked and caught fire under hood
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; recall parts not available at time of complaint. One case resulted in vehicle fire damage paid by insurance carrier.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) recall issued. Recall parts not available for extended period. Owners instructed not to park vehicle in garage due to fire risk.
Brake noise and poor braking performance on inclines
Brakes produce loud noise during braking. Vehicle requires excessive pedal pressure (pushing to the floor) to stop, especially on hills or inclines. Multiple dealer visits and rotor replacement did not resolve the issue.
When: No specific mileage documented
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise when braking; Excessive braking distance, especially on hills/inclines; Brake pedal must be pushed to the floor to stop
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors replaced at original dealership. Second dealer found missing screws on rotors and recommended cutting rotors but refused to perform work because rotors were installed by another dealer. Problem persisted after rotor replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships claimed noise was normal braking sound. No recall or TSB mentioned.
Abnormal squeaking during braking
Owner heard abnormal squeaking sound when depressing the brake pedal while driving. Failure could not be duplicated by independent mechanic.
When: Approximately 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal squeaking sound when brake pedal depressed
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic)
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired. Independent mechanic could not duplicate failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V651000 issued. Recall parts not available at time of complaint.
Brake fluid leak in engine compartment
Brake fluid leak detected in engine compartment during oil change service. Owner received recall notice 23V651000 but parts were not available.
When: Approximately 180,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake fluid leak visible in engine compartment; No warning lights illuminated
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic)
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; recall parts not available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V651000 issued. Recall parts not available at time of complaint.
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while having an oil change by an independent mechanic, the contact was informed there was a leak in the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Had brakes trouble with your 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
It's a meaningful issue. 31 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 31 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 96,695 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Hyundai/Tucson.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.