2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
20 City / 26 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
276
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Katie G
Great functioning, affordable car!
This is my second Hyundai. I think they are great, reliable cars. They are the perfect size for my family. Hyundai's are also very affordable cars, I do not care to be paying a ridiculous amount of money for a car and they are very reasonable and great cars. The features of the car depend on the style, whether it is the limited version, sport version etc.
accountCircle Jeanne H
It is a good car and I love the heated seats!
This is my second Hyundai Santa Fe and I love it. I am short and the seat is adjustable to where I am comfortable. Seats are heated for winter and is good because I do not like the cold. This one now has 144, 000 and has had only minor things do not to it. The biggest complaint I have is that in both of the Hyundai’s lights burn out like crazy. But the rest is awesome.
accountCircle stephanie b
You get great gas mileage for such a spacious car. There is room for everything.
This car can almost drive itself. She accelerates and brakes very smoothly. The engines eco feature makes it great on gas too.
accountCircle Becky C
Santa Fe the bronze color is very sporty and fun to drive.
We like the Santa Fe. The ride is smooth. It is a good size without being too big. Spacious on the inside with enough leg room in the front and back. Plenty of space in the back compartment for groceries and extra items. The car gets very good gas mileage. We have had no problems other than a tire sensor coming loose. We purchased the Santa Fe in October of 2018 and have been very pleased with the purchase. We would definitely consider another Santa Fe as a future purchase.
accountCircle Lisa L
All around air bags, and it is AWD.
I like that it is what I haven't driven it in the snow yet though. Decent on gas also it eco fuel also. I dislike that it is not 3rd row seating.
accountCircle Sherry H
Spacious and good for a family. It gets good gas mileage. It has plenty of storage space and leg room. The radio and air/heat are great. It is safe vehicle.
I really like my vehicle. I have not had any problems since we have had it actually. It is reliable
accountCircle Mitchell B
The Sirius XM radio in the car was too spotty for continuous service.
The Bluetooth has been malfunctioning on different levels. The mic can go out, phone disconnect, or speakers have a fuzz to them. Other than that, the storage space is fantastic, and it handles like a dream. Maybe a better jack for the car since it is a small SUV. Would make it easier to change the tire.
accountCircle Julie D
It's my second Santa Fe and I got 200,000 miles on my first one!!!
It's the best SUV in the snow. I love the interior, navigation system, and satellite system. The sunroof is an added touch!

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Taylor C
The gas mileage does very well for an SUV though, that is a quality I do like.
Reliability, price, and parts. I feel like what I have paid for the reliability does not match the price. The parts are very cheaply made and it seems like something is always breaking down on it. I have had so many issues with reliability with this car and it has been a major headache.
accountCircle Kevin
Too many costly repairs...
I've bought this used and have owned it for about a year and have already sunk close to $5000 in repairs already. Two alternators, AWD issues, oil pressure sensor, front suspension issues.
accountCircle Christina R
Small car, perfect for errands.
It's quite small. It's perfect for an everyday car to run errands in. It only holds five people. If you have car seats in the back it gets even tighter. The trunk area is spacious though. It gets good gas mileage. I wouldn't recommend taking it long car rides. It takes awhile to get up those steep hills on road trips. Plus it's not very comfortable for long car rides. It drives like a regular car but one that sits higher.
accountCircle John K
Only good for the first 100k miles. After that might as well get a new car
The Hyundai Santa Fe when brand new is great. However after the 100k mile marker everything seems to fall apart. Repair after repair.
accountCircle M.Faust
STAY AWAY FROM THE SANTE FE
I would not recommend this vehicle..Stay away, had to replace the motor at 90,000!!!
accountCircle Nicole J
Not the best, wouldn't recommend Hyundai to friends and family.
After having the car for a little under 2 years, I have put almost 5 grand into it. Anything from small wear and tear parts and tires, to larger issues involving my rear differential. It also does not shift gears very smooth and the transmission does not seem to be the best.
accountCircle Karen
Clunking issue
Just bought a 2012 Santa Fe. Was great for the test drive. Very clean. Everything looked great. However when it warmed up on the way home, we noticed a clunk when slowing down and turning. It has been very noticeable when turning from a stop and going slow. Also when starting off slowly from a start. Sometimes it clunks so hard it feels like you hit something. Wondering if anyone else has had these issues.
accountCircle Chris S
Feedback on My 2012 Santa Fe
My car is a good size. It runs a bit rough. I wish it had an updated suspension. It's not something I would purchase again even though it has been reliable.

Hyundai Santa Fe Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
GLS
276 HP 22 MPG 5 Seats
car
SE
276 HP 22 MPG 5 Seats
car
Limited
276 HP 22 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Reviews

4.27
277 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 48%
4 stars 35%
3 stars 13%
2 stars 3%
1 star 1%
accountCircle Leslie C on June 25, 2021
Just the right size inside and out.
The car does not start readily every time I buy gas. I have to pump the gas and start it several times before it will stay running. The car handles well and drives smoothly. I appreciate the size, not too big or too small. The cargo area is roomy, especially when the seats are down.
accountCircle Jen H on June 25, 2021
Reliable, durable and great value!
I have owned this vehicle for 7 years and cannot say enough good things about the quality and durability of this car. It is comfortable inside, has a roomy back seat and a very large trunk space. This car has held up to the demands of many long road trips and has maintained the comfort and reliability that it had when it was new. I will certainly purchase another Santa Fe as my next car in the future.
View All Reviews (277) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Shawn L.

The car is very spacious and comfortable. Great for taking the family around town or on trips. Plenty of power and smooth driving. The all wheel drive is a plus but the gas mileage is not the best. Overall I really enjoy the car. Have been driving mine for a year with no troubles.

likeFilled Tom V.

It has a lot of power in its v6 makes it easy to merge in traffic or to pass. A large quiet interior with loads of room and nimble handling like a much smaller vehicle. It has been trouble free with only a few recalls that the dealer handled easily.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Shawn L.

The gas mileage is not the greatest. The all time all wheel drive definitely wears on the front tires. Make sure you keep your tires rotated.,Sometimes I have trouble pairing my phone using the card Bluetooth. I am not the biggest fan of the sound system in the car. I have also need to replace a speaker. My key fob is breaking and does not have a very long range.

dislikeFilled Tom V.

There really are not any but the only thing they could do to improve the cargo loading would be to make the tailgate opening a little more square. I guess they could add a turbocharger to improve highway ability to pass on a two lane road.

Ranks #15 Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has an average owner rating of 4.36 out of 5 which ranks it #15 of 22 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
4.88
2
car
2012 Toyota 4Runner
4.69
15
car
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
4.27

Ranks #3 Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has a combined MPG of 30 which ranks it #3 of 22 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
2012 Subaru Outback
29 MPG
2
Tie
car
2012 Mazda CX-7
27 MPG
3
Tie
car
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
26 MPG

Is The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe A Good Car?

Yes. It is so easy to handle I can park it anywhere. It is also very comfortable. The 4 wheel drive is very easy to use. I have driven in snow and it is great. Good for car camping too!
Marcy S.
Yes, I has decent fuel efficiency and has the comfort of an SUV in a smaller package. It drives well and requires little maintenance.
Abigail I.
Yes it is. The only issue though is my crankshaft sensor keeps going on it. So I almost stalls at times.
Steve H.
Yes. It is good on gas, it is stylish and a safe and reliable SUV. It is a nice size as well, not too small, not too big.
Veronica V.
Yes, good for small - med. Size family. We primarily drive in California suburbs 'in-town, and short freeway drives. Seating is comfortable & all passengers enjoy multi air/heating vents. We also... Read More
Mickey J.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe?

No problems. I just do routine maintenance and have never had to do anything unusual. There have never been any recall notices either.
Marcy S.
Yes it is reliable, I would recommend getting the six cylinder over a four cylinder as it is a bigger car.
Abigail I.
Yes but with the crankshaft sensor it does get me nervous sometimes that the car will falter. Looks nice though.
Steve H.
Yes. I have had one for 7 years now and nothing major has gone on it, Just maintenance like tires, batteries, brakes. etc.
Cynthia M.
We maintain the car per manufacturer specifications with routine checks as required. Have had a few minor issues with front lights & fuses, but overall satisfied.
Tom Y.

Is The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe A Good Value?

I paid about $35,000. So much cheaper than a Toyota or Honda if similar size. Better quality than a Kia. Great warranty program.
Marcy S.
I paid 21,000 in 2015. It is a cheaper option if you want a good reliable SUV but do not want the outrageous price tag.
Abigail I.
I bought it used for 8,400. I think if I bought it new it would cost probably 20,000 or so. Not sure.
Steve H.
Mine was about 21,000. A good value as it is still running great! I think other mid size SUVs run a lot higher, especially now in 2019 but I would definitely buy another one!
Haley D.

Related Articles for 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

From the Vehicle History blog

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Hyundai Santa Fe Problems Include Faulty Motors, Fracturing Axles, and a Leaky Fuel Pipe that May Catch Fire

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe camshaft position sensor location?

Answer: You can find the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe camshaft position sensor on the right hand side of the cylinder head. The purpose of a camshaft position sensor is to determine the position of the camshaft as it relates...

Does the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: All 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe models have a timing chain. Timing chains are housed within the engine and receive lubrication from engine oil and can last a long time, while timing belts are located outside of the...

What are some of the 2012 hyundai santa fe radio problems?

Answer: The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe radio problems are randomly turns on or static sounds. You will come into issues with the sound. The source could be from the stereo's speakers or a phone that is connected to the...

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe: What is the size of the trunk and cargo space?

Answer: Want to know what the trunkk or cargo space is on the 2012 Huundai Santa Fe is The trunk space on this vehicle iS34.2 ft and 78.2 ft with the seating area. The cargo space on the Santa Fe happens to be very...

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe comes with a default tire size of 17 inches, with a tire specification of 235/65R17, which uses a psi of 33 and will be for all tires in both the front and rear. Additionally, You can...
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Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety