This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Hyundai Tucson engine problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Hyundai Tucson have filed 140 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 99,450 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
140
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Tucson | 8 |
| 2010 Tucson | 4 |
| 2011 Tucson | 34 |
| 2012 Tucson (this page) | 140 |
| 2013 Tucson | 144 |
| 2014 Tucson | 94 |
| 2015 Tucson | 82 |
| 2016 Tucson | 236 |
1crash
8fires
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 140 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Hyundai Tucson, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Engine accounts for 55% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 140 engine 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 engine 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 TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Hyundai is conducting a campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs. If abnormal engine bearing noise is detected, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) will blink continuously, and the vehicle will be placed in Engine Protection Mode allowing the customer to drive to the nearest Hyundai dealer for diagnosis and repair. In addition, DTC P132600 will be recorded in the ECM. The vehicle can continue to be operated for a limited time in Engine Protection Mode, but it will accelerate slower and have a reduced maximum speed. Engine RPMs will be limited to approximately 1800-2000 RPM.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗A class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America (âHMAâ) alleges that certain Hyundai vehicles (âClass Vehiclesâ) were manufactured, marketed, sold, and/or leased with an engine defect that can result in sudden engine seizure, stalling, engine failure, and in some circumstances, engine fire, and that some owners and lessees of Class Vehicles have been improperly denied repairs under warranty. Neither HMA nor Hyundai Motor Company have been found liable for any of the claims alleged in the lawsuit. The parties have instead reached a voluntary settlement (the âSettlementâ) to avoid lengthy litigation and to provide owners of Class Vehicles certain benefits.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2012 Hyundai Tucsons describe sudden, catastrophic engine failure with the 2.4L Theta II engine. The most common failure mode is spun or seized connecting rod bearings, which generate loud knocking, clanking, or rattling noises—often with zero warning lights beforehand. Engine seizure typically forces the vehicle to lose power, stall, and become immobile within seconds or minutes of the noise starting, often on highways at 60–80 mph.
Metal shavings consistently appear in the oil pan after bearing failure, indicating metal-to-metal contact inside the engine. Many owners report having performed regular oil changes with full documentation, yet the bearings fail anyway. The second major issue is oil pan leaks that starve the bearings of lubrication; NHTSA issued recall 19V063000 in June 2019 to address oil leaks, but parts became unavailable for months or years, and dealers initially told owners no remedy existed.
Engine fires have occurred in at least two reported cases—one owner had to manually extinguish the blaze with a water bottle and sustained injuries from falling while retrieving water.
Repair costs are severe: full engine replacement ranges from $5,000–$12,000 in parts and labor. Owners consistently report Hyundai denying warranty claims on the grounds of second ownership, mileage over extended-warranty limits, or claims the vehicle was not covered by any recall. Loaner vehicles were rarely provided during multi-month repair delays. The 2.4L engine appears in Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe models, which were recalled for the same bearing-failure defect—but the 2012 Tucson was excluded from that recall despite identical engine design.
Same Hyundai Tucson engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Connecting rod bearing failure with catastrophic engine damage
Spun, seized, or failed connecting rod bearings lead to metal shavings in oil, severe engine knock, loss of power, and complete engine failure. Owners report the bearing failure occurs without warning and forces engine replacement.
When: Typically 50K–180K miles; some occur within weeks of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking, clanking, or rattling noise from engine; Severe engine shake or vibration; Loss of power or inability to accelerate; Engine light illumination; Metal shavings in oil pan; Sudden engine stall or seizure
Codes mentioned: P0016, P0017, P0018
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required; owners report costs of $5,000–$12,000. OEM replacements often unavailable; used or remanufactured engines used as alternatives. Labor and parts can exceed vehicle value.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 19V063000 (oil pan leak recall) issued June 2019 for some model years, but 2012 Tucson not universally included. Hyundai offered partial cost-sharing (80% of engine replacement) in some cases; others denied claims citing second ownership, mileage over warranty, or lack of recall applicability. No loaner vehicles provided in most cases.
Engine oil pan leak with insufficient oil supply to bearings
Oil pan develops leak (sometimes slow, sometimes catastrophic), causing oil starvation to rod bearings. Loss of lubrication leads to bearing wear, metal-to-metal contact, and engine seizure.
When: Failure often occurs shortly after recall service or coincides with recall notification
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pressure warning light; Low oil level; Oil leak visible under vehicle; Burning smell; Engine ticking or knocking after oil loss
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pan replacement per recall remedy (NHTSA 19V063000); however, if bearings already damaged, full engine replacement required. Owners report dealerships initially refused repair claiming no remedy available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 19V063000 addresses oil pan leak. Remedy delayed; parts unavailable for extended periods (owners waited 6–8 months). Some owners received recall notice only after failure occurred. Hyundai disputed causation between oil leak and subsequent bearing failure in warranty claims.
Timing chain or internal engine component failure
Timing chain breaks or other internal components fail, causing engine to lock up or lose synchronization. Some owners report timing chain damage; others report rod or piston failure.
When: 43K–170K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Slow cranking or extended time to start; Loss of power on acceleration; Check engine light; Clunking or loud knocking noise; Sudden engine stall
Codes mentioned: P0018
Repairs/costs cited: Engine rebuild not feasible; full replacement required. 2.4L engines no longer manufactured; only used or remanufactured units available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall for timing chain failure on 2012 Tucson. Warranty claims denied if vehicle is second owner or exceeds mileage limits.
Engine fire due to oil leak onto hot surfaces
Oil leaks from pan or other sources onto engine block or exhaust components, causing fire while vehicle is in operation or immediately after shutdown.
When: 80K–134K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil smell before or during fire; Smoke from engine compartment; Visible flames under hood or from front of vehicle; Oil dripping onto engine or undercarriage
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle often totaled; fire damage extensive. One owner extinguished fire manually with water bottle and sustained injuries (bruises from falling while searching for water).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fire incidents reported to NHTSA. Hyundai provided loaner vehicle in one case after fire; manufacturer initiated investigation. No preventive recall issued prior to fires.
Throttle assembly or sensor malfunction (early model)
Throttle assembly fails or sensor malfunctions in brand-new vehicle, causing jerking during acceleration/braking, delayed pickup, and uncomfortable vibration.
When: Days to weeks after purchase (brand-new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking when accelerating or braking; Delayed pickup; Uncomfortable vibration at idle and while driving; Nausea in occupants from vibration
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle assembly replacement required. Repair took over 2 weeks with involvement of remote technician from California.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership eventually diagnosed and replaced throttle assembly after multiple tests. No initial warning systems caught defect despite factory inspection before sale.
Intermittent high-RPM revving with no load increase
Engine randomly revs to 6,000–8,000 RPM without driver input while vehicle maintains steady speed, causing loss of control risk and safety concern.
When: Months after used purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended engine revving at high RPM; No corresponding speed increase; Intermittent occurrence at 40–65 MPH
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed in initial mechanic inspection; condition unresolved as of report date.
Synthesized from 140 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Driving on highway engine cuts shuts off. I let the car roll to the first off ramp in which I could not start the car again. Stuck in middle lane of exit until I got help to push car to side of the road.
Brand new car- a few days after purchasing and driving the car, noticed car was not driving right. Several symptoms became noticeable. Car would jerk when accelerating and braking. Cars pick up was delayed and had a very uncomfortable vibration, while in idle and while driving, to the point of getting nauseous while driving in the car. Took car to Hyundai service and told them of symptoms and my…
The engine started making noise and caught on fire. It was running.
While traveling on the highway my husband and I started to hear a loud clanking noise under our hood. We barely made it off the next exit, with vehicles having to quickly go around us because our speed was slowing down and then vehicle died, we were stranded in the heat on the side of the road with our dogs. After speaking with Hyundai corporate they told us to have it towed to the nearest…
I received a safety recall on nov. 27th on the vehicle. I made an appt with a hyudai dealer for service. On dec. 2 I was driving to the dealership on a city road, after accelerating from a stoplight stop, the engine blew. Luckily we were all at a low speed as the light had just gone green. Dealership says it threw a rod through block and sent me a picture. This car has the theta ii engine.…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle made abnormal knocking sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was referred to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact received a notification for Hyundai Campaign Number: 966. Additionally, the contact received an…
Three months ago, I was driving my car when the engine shut down while I was driving on the highway. I was able to pull over safely, however, I could have been in a fatal accident as my engine could no longer accelerate while I was on the highway. My car has been sitting in the Hyundai dealership since September 9 when the incident occurred, with Hyundai stating it can take 6-8 months. This has…
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Hyundai tucson. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle shook abnormally. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and flames emitted from the engine compartment, which spread throughout the vehicle. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2012 Hyundai Tucson?
It's a meaningful issue. 140 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 106 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 77,500 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 99,450. A quarter of owners report trouble before 77,500; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.