Home · 2012 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Hev · Complaints

What 253 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (253)Crash / fire / injury (28)Engine (158)Brakes (35)Transmission & drivetrain (26)Electrical system (17)Engine & cooling (10)Body & structure (9)Speed control (9)Airbags (6)Steering (6)Wheels (5)

4 of 253 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Sep 7, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngineFire

I was driving down the interstate, going approximately 70mph, and my 2012 Hyundai Tucson started having difficulty maintaining speed. The engine started revving up while the car was still slowing down. Suddenly, I felt a knock and smoke started bellowing out of the engine bay. I pulled over immediately, opened the hood to inspect, and was almost burnt by the flames. There was a fire near the back of the engine block which I was able to put out with some water. I had my vehicle towed to the Hyundai of West Allis in Wisconsin. The dealership and a corporate Hyundai inspector determined that the cause of the fire was a thrown engine rod. There were no signs of issues or engine lights prior to this event. My Tucson has been at the dealership for nearly two months. After tens of hours dealing with Hyundai customer service and the dealership, both entities decided that they will do nothing to remedy the situation. My Hyundai vehicle has the 2.4L Theta II engine which is clearly implicated in the recent class action lawsuit against Hyundai for faulty engines. There is a recall for the rod bearing which was the direct cause of my engine throwing a rod and causing the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11483215

Jul 25, 2012Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemCrash

THIS CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT PULLS OUT OF PARK VERY EASILY WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION OR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS LED TO MY CAR ROLLING DOWN A HILL AND HITTING A TREE WITH NO ONE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TRIED THIS ON ANOTHER CAR IN THE LOT AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY HYUNDAI CORPORATE OFFICES THAT THIS IS A "CAMPAIGN" ITEM. I CAN NOT FIND THIS PROBLEM LISTED AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT LEADS TO INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10467728

May 22, 2012Transmission & drivetrainBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO DRIVE 1 INDEPENDENTLY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND IMPACTED THE INTERIOR WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE UNTIL THE OTHER DAMAGES HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 950.

NHTSA ODI 10459275

Dec 6, 2011Transmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLACING HER VEHICLE IN PARK AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUS. NO POLICE WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10438750

Working with the data? Download all 253 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Hev verdict →