Common problems

Hyundai Tucson Common Problems

We grouped the top NHTSA owner-complaint categories across 9 Hyundai Tucson model years, then counted how often each issue recurs. The result shows patterns worth inspecting without pretending every vehicle will have them.

Data updated June 2026

Owner complaints
1,838

9 model years

Top recurring issue
Electrical System

8 affected years

Crash reports
105

Owner-reported severity signal

Fire reports
30

116 injuries · 0 deaths

Pattern overview

Most reported Hyundai Tucson problem categories

#1

Electrical System

231complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 8 model years; highest in 2025.

#2

Unknown Or Other

210complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 8 model years; highest in 2022.

#3

Service Brakes

116complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 8 model years; highest in 2019.

#4

Power Train

256complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 7 model years; highest in 2018.

#5

Engine

379complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 5 model years; highest in 2018.

#6

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

99complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 4 model years; highest in 2019.

#7

Forward Collision Avoidance

85complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 3 model years; highest in 2025.

#8

Vehicle Speed Control

39complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 3 model years; highest in 2025.

#9

Fuel Propulsion System

85complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 2 model years; highest in 2022.

#10

Air Bags

3complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 1 model year; highest in 2024.

What owners reported

Issue summaries by Hyundai Tucson model year

ENGINE

Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Tucson frequently report excessive oil consumption, with some indicating the vehicle burns multiple quarts of oil per 1,000 miles. Complaints often describe engine stalling, loss of power, and knocking sounds, with several owners noting that these issues occur without warning lights until the problems become severe. Many reports involve engine failures due to connecting rod bearing issues, with some occurring as early as 32,000 miles. There are also mentions of metal shavings in the oil, which can lead to engine damage. Safety implications are significant, with five complaints involving fires and one injury reported, highlighting potential risks for used car buyers considering this model.

Severity signals: 0 crash, 5 fire, 1 injury reports

ENGINE

Owners of the 2019 Hyundai Tucson frequently report excessive oil consumption, often without accompanying warning lights, leading to engine damage and failure. Typical symptoms include engine knocking, loss of power, and stalling, with many complaints noting the issue arises around 60,000 miles or shortly after purchase. Some reports indicate that despite regular maintenance, oil levels drop significantly between changes, requiring frequent top-offs. Safety implications include risks of engine seizure and fires, with at least one complaint involving a crash. This pattern of oil consumption and engine failure is consistent across multiple reports, suggesting potential challenges for used car buyers seeking reliability.

Severity signals: 1 crash, 2 fire, 0 injury reports

SERVICE BRAKES

Owners of the 2019 Hyundai Tucson frequently report issues related to the service brakes, with common symptoms including brake pedal failure to respond, the brake pedal going to the floor, and unexpected braking issues. Many complaints mention a lack of available parts for a recall addressing these brake problems, leading to delays in repairs. Crashes and fires are reported in a few cases, with some incidents occurring at mileage as low as 8,600 miles. The safety implications are significant, as some owners describe total brake failure leading to crashes and, in a few instances, fires. Potential buyers should be aware of these reported issues and the associated safety risks.

Severity signals: 4 crash, 3 fire, 1 injury reports

POWER TRAIN

Owners report frequent issues with the 2018 Hyundai Tucson's power train, particularly involving engine and transmission problems. Common symptoms include excessive oil consumption, engine knocking, stalling, and failure to accelerate, often occurring around 79,000 to 122,000 miles. Multiple complaints describe incidents of sudden loss of power while driving, with some leading to crashes and fires. The vehicle's engine and transmission issues sometimes result in the need for major repairs, such as engine or transmission replacements, which are not always covered under warranty. These patterns suggest potential safety risks, such as loss of control and increased collision likelihood, which prospective buyers should consider.

Severity signals: 3 crash, 2 fire, 0 injury reports

POWER TRAIN

Owners of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson frequently report issues related to the powertrain, particularly involving fuel injector failures and transmission problems. Complaints often describe sudden loss of power, difficulty accelerating, and vehicles entering limp mode, with several incidents occurring at highway speeds or during merging, presenting significant safety risks. Some reports involve the vehicle failing to restart or requiring towing, typically around 30,000 miles. Two crashes are noted, one due to unintended acceleration and another involving a child inadvertently shifting gears. These issues, combined with repeated repair attempts and unresolved problems, suggest potential reliability concerns for prospective buyers.

Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Owners report frequent failures of fuel injectors in the 2022 Hyundai Tucson, often resulting in misfiring, engine stalling, and loss of power. Complaints frequently mention symptoms such as the check engine light activating, rough idling, and sudden decreases in speed, sometimes occurring at highway speeds. These issues are typically reported around 20,000 to 30,000 miles, with some instances leading to systemic failures affecting other fuel system components. A few reports describe safety risks, including near-crash situations due to sudden deceleration and one confirmed crash. Additionally, some owners experience issues with the fuel door actuator, preventing refueling, which adds to the inconvenience and potential safety risks of running out of fuel.

Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Owners of the 2025 Hyundai Tucson frequently report issues with the Forward Collision Avoidance system, which tends to engage the brakes unexpectedly and without apparent danger. Typical symptoms include sudden, hard braking while driving at various speeds, often leading to near rear-end collisions as following vehicles struggle to react. Some complaints highlight that the system cannot be permanently disabled, requiring manual deactivation each time the vehicle is started. Incidents of this nature have occurred at mileages as low as 5,380 and have led to crashes and minor injuries. These patterns suggest potential safety risks for drivers and surrounding traffic, especially in scenarios involving close-following vehicles.

Severity signals: 11 crash, 0 fire, 4 injury reports

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Owners report frequent issues with the electrical system in the 2025 Hyundai Tucson, particularly involving the instrument cluster and heads-up display (HUD) going blank or flickering intermittently. Typical symptoms include loss of speedometer visibility, all warning lights illuminating, and messages like "No Signal" appearing. These issues often occur at low mileage, with some owners experiencing problems as early as 168 miles. Safety implications are noted, with one complaint involving a crash and another involving a fire linked to a lithium battery failure. Buyers should be aware of potential unresolved issues with the digital displays and HUD, as well as the possibility of significant delays in obtaining replacement parts like wiring harnesses.

Severity signals: 1 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports

Pre-purchase inspection

What to check on a used Hyundai Tucson

When problems are reported to begin

  • Electrical system failures — 0–5,000 miles on the 2025 model-year record
  • Transmission failures — 0–2,000 miles on the 2025 model-year record
  • Forward collision avoidance braking — 0–5,000 miles on the 2025 model-year record
  • Forward collision avoidance braking — 4,000–8,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
  • Airbag system failures — 6,000–8,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
  • Acceleration delay — 17,000–18,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
  • Fuel injector failures — 14,000–31,000 miles on the 2023 model-year record
  • Transmission issues — 23,000–24,000 miles on the 2023 model-year record

Buyer red flags

  • Verify fuel economy matches advertised MPG during test drive
  • Check if forward collision avoidance system can be disabled or adjusted
  • Test lane departure warning system for any non-disableable alerts
  • Inspect brake system for responsiveness and sensitivity
  • Test infotainment system for screen flickering or going blank
  • Check for any transmission warning lights or error messages
  • Test forward collision avoidance system for false activations
  • Inspect for any signs of sunroof damage or previous repairs

How to interpret the counts

Complaint totals are not failure rates

A popular or older model can accumulate more complaints simply because more vehicles exist and have spent longer on the road. The categories above aggregate the counts embedded in each model year's leading issues. Use recurrence across years and severity signals to decide what to inspect; use the VIN and a mechanical inspection to judge one car.

Source trail

Where this Hyundai Tucson data comes from

VinExposed combines model-level research with the vehicle-specific history you get from a VIN. Reliability scores and complaint patterns come from Auto Reliability Index's Hyundai Tucson research, which analyzes NHTSA records and independent repair data.

Recall counts describe a model year, not the repair status of one car. Confirm the exact VIN with the official NHTSA recall lookup and a vehicle-history report before buying.

Buyer questions

Hyundai Tucson research FAQ

What is the most common Hyundai Tucson problem?

Electrical System is the broadest recurring complaint category in the available model-year records, appearing among the top issues for 8 years with 231 complaints represented.

Which Hyundai Tucson year has the most reported problems?

The 2025 has the largest electrical system count among the years where that category appears. Compare the full year record because a different year may lead on another problem category.

Do NHTSA complaints prove a Hyundai Tucson has a defect?

No. Owner complaints are unverified reports and can be duplicated or influenced by sales volume and vehicle age. They are useful patterns to investigate alongside recalls, service records, inspection results and the exact VIN.

Check the actual car

Model research narrows the list. The VIN confirms the car.

Check title brands, accidents, odometer history, auction records and recall status for the specific Hyundai Tucson you are considering.