HyundaiSanta Fe2012Overview/hyundai/santa-fe/2012/base/

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Santa Fe.

Body SUV

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is an SUV requiring 5.0 quarts of 5W-20 or 5W-30 API engine oil. This model year is marked by one recall and 352 total owner complaints, with the engine serving as the top complaint area. Across the model's 2001-2026 history, this volume of complaints sits between the high of 941 in 2017 and the low of 28 in 2026.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-65R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.3 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height70.9 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3975 lb
Track (front / rear)63.8 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Santa Fe of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.1–10.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 2010 Limited 3.5L V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011Limited 3.5L V67.40 sec15.70 sec276 hpFWD
2011GLS 2.4L I-410.60 sec17.70 sec175 hpAWD
2010Limited 3.5L V67.10 sec15.40 sec276 hpAWD
2008Limited 3.3L V68.40 sec16.50 sec242 hpAWD
2007Limited 3.3L V68.00 sec16.40 sec242 hpAWD
2007Limited 3.3L V68.30 sec16.40 sec242 hpAWD
2007Limited 3.3L V69.40 sec17.30 sec242 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.3-32.5 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-IV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.5
Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-IV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts210-224 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts55 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-33 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.3-32.5 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15-17 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)580 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)580 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.27 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.04-3.75 oz
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number124R

Service checks

Pressure Test12-16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief12-16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)55.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)47.0-53.0 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0012 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.46 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.46 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1M6 Bolts8–9 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 88-9213–16 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1tighten bolts in sequence 2, 1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 8, 72.9–4.3 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 12511 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Filter (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Santa Fe represents a transitional year in this generation, sitting between two major complaint spikes in 2007 (681 complaints) and 2013 (604 complaints). While complaints rose sharply from 181 in 2011 to 352 in 2012, recalls dropped to just 1—the lowest count across the entire dataset—yet investigations surged to 6, indicating elevated regulatory scrutiny. The complaint profile is notably engine-dominated, with 172 of 352 complaints citing engine problems, accompanied by 25 crash-related complaints and 17 fire complaints. Notably, 2013 then experienced a dramatic escalation to 604 complaints and 8 investigations, suggesting the 2012 model may have carried forward unresolved issues that fully surfaced the following year. The combination of high complaint volume, minimal recall activity, and rising investigations makes 2012 a less favorable candidate compared to surrounding model years.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
99
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
352
Owner complaints
25 involved a crash · 17 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 352 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine172
Vehicle Speed Control19
Electrical System15
Electrical System,Engine10
Suspension10
Exterior Lighting8
Unknown Or Other7
Power Train7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V746000EngineReported 01/12/2020

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 99 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
26-01-033H TSB2026-03-26EngineThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based…
26-01-033H DN2026-03-26EngineThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based…
25-BD-012H TSB2025-11-05Exterior LightingThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Santa Fe. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Santa Fe take?

5.0 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Santa Fe have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.