What is a Carchieve vehicle history report?

A Carchieve report is a complete safety and records check on any U.S. vehicle. Enter the 17-character VIN and you get the decoded vehicle identity and full specifications, every open safety recall, owner-reported complaints by system, official NHTSA crash-test ratings, and a buyer action plan, in one clean report and a downloadable PDF.

How is Carchieve different from a typical VIN lookup?

Carchieve doesn't just dump raw data. It authenticates the VIN, organizes every federal safety record into a buyer-ready dossier, scores the vehicle, and tells you exactly what to inspect, ask and verify before you pay, the way a careful mechanic would read the car.

How fast will I get my report?

Reports are generated in under a minute. As soon as your VIN is checked against the recall, complaint, ratings and identity databases, your report and PDF are ready to view and download.

Can I buy more than one report?

Yes. A single report is $24.99. If you're comparing several cars, the 3- and 5-report bundles save you money per report and the extra credits stay in your account until you use them.

What information do I need to run a report?

Only the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is on the lower-left corner of the windshield, the driver-side door jamb, and the vehicle title or registration.

Where does the data come from?

Every report is built from authoritative U.S. vehicle databases, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall, complaint and 5-Star safety-rating programs and the federal VIN product information catalog. Carchieve authenticates the VIN check digit so you know the identity is genuine.

Can I share the report with a seller or mechanic?

Yes. Every report includes a professionally formatted PDF you can download, print, or forward to a private seller, dealer, or mechanic to support your buying decision.

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Recalls, Complaints & Safety Ratings

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Ratings

1Safety recalls

351Owner complaints

3★NHTSA overall

Quick answer

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has 1 NHTSA safety recall campaign and 351 owner complaints on file, with an overall 3-star NHTSA crash-test rating. Check a specific VIN to confirm whether recalls apply, whether repairs were completed, and what to verify before you buy.

Check the exact car

Run a full report for this Santa Fe

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe pages show model-level safety data. A Carchieve VIN report checks the exact car before you buy.

Safety record reviewed June 2026 · sourced from NHTSA

The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has 1 safety recall campaign and 351 owner complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it earned an overall 3-star NHTSA crash-test rating. Below is the public model-level safety record. To see whether a specific Santa Fe had applicable recalls repaired and what its decoded VIN says, run that car's VIN.

Safety recalls

ENGINE

Campaign 20V746000 · 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 over time can result in engine damage.

RiskA damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

RemedyHyundai 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 new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.

What owners complain about

The systems 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe owners report most often to federal regulators:

Engine227

Electrical System43

Vehicle Speed Control40

Service Brakes28

Power Train24

Unknown Or Other16

NHTSA crash-test ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★

Side crash★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Overall★★★★★

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?

Yes. The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe has 1 NHTSA recall campaign associated with this model year. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer when the exact VIN is affected. Check your specific VIN to confirm applicability and completion.

What problems do 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe owners report?

Owners have filed 351 complaints with the NHTSA for the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, most often about the engine, electrical system, vehicle speed control.

How do I check a specific Santa Fe's history?

Enter the 17-character VIN into Carchieve. You get the recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings shown here for that exact vehicle, plus full decoded specifications and a guided title and odometer check.

Check a specific 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

This page covers the model. For one exact car, run its 17-character VIN to confirm recalls, decoded specifications and buyer checks.

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