2012 Hyundai Veracruz Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Veracruz most often describe an engine oil leak from the front valve cover gasket that drips onto the alternator, leading to battery and charging warnings, loss of power and stalling — and many complaints are about recall repairs that were unavailable or that did not stop the leak from returning. A second, quieter cluster involves the ABS recall on the brake control module and its unavailable parts. Most reports arrive between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Oil leak onto alternator causing charging loss and stalling

   • 46 complaints (71%)
   • median 97,085 mi at 8.8 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe engine oil weeping from the front valve cover gasket area and dripping onto the alternator, often visible as oil residue on the back of the alternator. Owners report battery and charging warning lights, slow or failed starts, loss of motive power and stalling at speed, with the alternator replaced in many cases. Some say the leak came back months or years after a gasket repair, and several note dealers told them the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. Reported from around 17,000 miles up to about 180,000 miles, with many between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles.

   Recall 20V705000Recall 14V415000

   What to check: Look for oil residue on and below the alternator and around the front valve cover, and ask whether the gasket recall work (20V705000 / 14V415000) was completed and when. A charging-system voltage check and a battery light history are worth asking about.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The fix for recall NHTSA campaign number: 14v415000 failed in less than two years. The head gasket leak apparently returned and created an alternator failure that LED to a loss of power and acceleration on the highway and eventual stall out. The vehicle was repaired, but I incurred costs associated with a new battery and the deductible on my service contract. The resolution of the recall needs to be investigated for failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #11003712, filed 2017-07, 80,000 miles

   “This recall only replaces the front cylinder bank cover gasket, but there's oil leaking on to my engine from the other valve gasket cover too. Hyundai wants to charge me $600 to replace that. The car has stopped on the road in the middle of me driving it twice (both in March 2021) - luckily no crash as it was in a residential area. I've paid over $1000 in repairs as Hyundai didn't have a recall 'solution' despite the car not working. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11457165, filed 2022-03
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Recall repair parts unavailable for long periods

   • 19 complaints (29%)
   • median 117,500 mi at 9.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Many complaints are not about a new failure but about the recall process itself: owners say they received notice of the oil-leak recall and were told by the dealer and the manufacturer that parts were not yet available, sometimes for months. Some describe being turned away or told the dealer was not taking recall repairs, and several report paying out of pocket for an alternator or gasket in the meantime. Filed largely from 2020 through 2024, at mileages ranging from about 60,000 to nearly 190,000 miles, plus many with no mileage stated.

   Recall 20V705000Recall 14V415000

   What to check: Ask for written proof that open recalls were performed, not just that a notice was received, and confirm with a dealer whether any campaign is still outstanding for the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Veracruz. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V705000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact's wife was able to restart the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11441953, filed 2021-11, 135,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Veracruz. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V415000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was an engine oil leak; however, the parts for recall repair were not yet available. Additionally, the contact stated that the dealer failed to install a relay kit as a temporary repair. The contact stated that the parts had not been available for six months. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11498223, filed 2022-12, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS warning light and brake control module recall

   • 11 complaints (17%)
   • median 186,000 mi at 12.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the ABS warning light coming on and, in some cases, other dash warnings along with a stall. Most reports reference recall 23V651000 for the ABS module and state that the remedy parts were not available, with the dealer and manufacturer confirming the delay. One owner describes smoke from a rear wheel area in connection with related brake and speed sensor work. Filed between 2020 and 2026, with stated mileages from about 129,000 to 239,000 miles; many reports give no mileage.

   Recall 23V6510003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 23V651000 was completed, and watch for an ABS light on the test drive. A service bulletin covers the rear wheel speed sensor as a separate part on front-wheel-drive models, so ask whether that has been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was making a right hand turn onto a 2 lane divided highway. As I was turning I lost steering power and my brake light indicator came on. I was eventually able to regain steering after crossing both lanes of on coming traffic. The alternator belt was replaced. The very next day the exact same thing occurred except there was a loud squeal that happened following the loss of steering and the battery light coming on.this is a significant safety concern to lose steering while driving the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11311721, filed 2020-02, 129,000 miles

   “Bought car, it was a recall on the vehicle got it fixed then the ESC code came on, stops the car while driving & smoking from rear driver wheel, took to Hyundai was told I needed to get wheel speed sensor, CV axle & valve cover gasket replaced, got it done then it was the starter, radiator , got it fixed , then it started slowing down while driving putting the car in limp mode now I need a new engine .”

   NHTSA complaint #11729426, filed 2026-04
4. 4
   Electrical system

   No-start and battery drain complaints after recall work

   • 19 complaints (29%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Some owners report the vehicle failing to start, occasionally after sitting overnight, and batteries that drain or need repeated jump starts. A few say this began after recall repairs, with dealers finding the alternator and ignition system functional, and one describes the starter motor being replaced. Others connect it to repeated charging-system trouble rather than a single cause. Scattered from very low mileage up to about 186,000 miles, with several reports filed between 2021 and 2024.

   Recall 20V7050002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery and alternator have been replaced and when, and have the charging system and parasitic draw checked. Cold-start behavior after an overnight sit is worth testing before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car will not start. Ignition switch does not activate. This happens mostly after sitting over night and on long trips. A few times it started after having the battery charged from another car. Sometimes it starts after 10 minutes of trying to start it. It happened routinely on a 2000 mile road trip. 3 Hyundai dealers could not find an answer. It happened rarely for 4 months until the return 2000 mile road trip.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415098, filed 2021-05

   “The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Veracruz. The contact stated that after picking up the vehicle from the dealer, the contact became aware that the battery warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the battery warning light disappeared when the A/C was turned on. The local dealer where the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was contacted, and stated that the failure was not related to the repair recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11590375, filed 2024-05, 186,000 miles

Buying note. The main thing to verify on a used 2012 Veracruz is the status of the oil-leak and ABS recalls and whether the alternator or gasket have already been replaced, since several owners report repeat leaks. A pre-purchase inspection that includes the charging system, the underside of the alternator and any stored ABS codes will tell you more than service records alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.