2012 Hyundai Santa FE Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 352 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE overview page.
What owners report
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS…”NHTSA complaint 10778673 — filed 09/30/2015
“HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 55MPH, COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSS OF DRIVE TRAIN AND ENGINE POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. NO THROTTLE CAPABILITY. ENGINE REDUCES TO IDLING…”NHTSA complaint 10614449 — filed 07/16/2014
“WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND THEN STOPPED ON ITS OWN, I PRESSED THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED, I…”NHTSA complaint 10609029 — filed 07/08/2014
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE: 24 of 352 complaints on file (6.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE have in total?
352 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 25 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, 7 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
