NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
The paint on my 2018 Hyundai Tucson began peeling off the side mirrors and the shark-fin antenna on the roof. I have found that many other Hyundai owners are experiencing the same issue. It appears to be a widespread manufacturing defect related to improper paint adhesion, and I believe it should be addressed even though my vehicle is out of warranty.
While on the highway going 70mph the check engine light flashed on the immediately off out of nowhere and car started aggressively shaking before loosing temporary power. My wife and toddler were in the car and we were all pretty shaken up. Luckily I was able to gain control of the car but I'm concerned that another issue may occur. I immediately took my car in to the shop and they were unable to replicate the issue. Spark plugs, oil, transmission fluid and coolant fluids were all as regular maintenance but no real issue was addressed. My car has also had issues with struggling to accelerate from stop, causing jerking motion and my oil seems to be burning faster than usual.
Car had been burning oil very quickly. I took it for an oil change, before it was due, and they said it was very low. They changed it, and I was leaving to visit my parents in Florida the next day. I checked the oil when getting there, and it was good, and I also checked it prior to heading back home, and it was still good. I was in a really bad/unsafe area at 10pm, on my way home from visiting my parents, and my car began to stall. Engine light came on. It would stall really bad when going slow, and almost died a couple times at lights when stopped, but we made it home. We got it to a mechanic, and they stated it was the engine, and it needed to be taken to the dealership. I have read that Hyundai/Kia are notorious for engine issues. My car was towed to the dealership, and they supposedly requested to see if Hyundai would cover for a replacement engine. My car is unfortunately 10,000 over the warranty mileage (100,000), but 110,000 is still not enough to be already having engine problems. Supposedly, according to the dealership, Hyundai declined, and the quote for a new engine is $7,693, which I cannot afford, especially on top of my car payment, which I still owe a good chunk on.
Timing Chain/ Engine failure. Alert/Dashboard failure. The car ran out of oil from the leaking oil pan. Car failed to notified the driver of low oil. Engine failure due to low oil while driving on interstate. Causing to low all power in the middle of the road. Vehicle was inspected by a mechanic and Tow company. Both said it was the timing chain and that the engine was not good anymore. No warning lamps or messages or any other symptoms prior to the incident.
There is a known issue with this particular engine burning oil. I’ve had to replace three catalytic converters, among other parts in the exhaust. I am 3000 miles away from an oil change and my engine is flashing lights and stalling while running. Something needs to be done as it can cause the engine to fully fail
Spun bearing in motor at only 32000 miles poor oiling. Same as other years and models of Hyundai. 2.0L engine
My car was parked under the parking lot of my apartment. on Thursday morning 11am some one came in without any special took just with screwdriver within in 10 second they broke in my driver side door lock and damaged my door lock cylinder. and no alarm system turn on. this is completely unacceptable that the door lock is so fragile that anyone without any special equipment or tool can break in my car in 10 seconds.and if car is opened without the original key how come the alarm system dosent go on. it cost me 550 to fix the door lock cylinder and the central lock system plus i bought manual wheel lock and steering wheel lock because i dont trust security of hyundai.
KSDS engine software update was performed by Hyundai dealer on January 22, 2024. On or about February 11, 2024, the vehicle began stalling, intermittently, and would not restart for several minutes. On March 4, 2024, the vehicle stalled and, upon restarting, after nearly a 30 minute wait, it would not exceed 35 mph. The vehicle registered, nor recorded, any diagnostic codes at any time, during these events. The vehicle was taken to Edwards Hyundai service center for diagnosis and repair. No diagnostic codes were recorded in the vehicle history. Upon inspection, Edwards changed a loose timing chain and exhaust camshaft. The vehicle was picked up on 3/13/2024 and presented with the same issue on 3/14/2024, with the engine stalling and failing to restart for several minutes. When the vehicle did restart, it would not exceed 35 mph. It was then returned to Edwards Hyundai on 3/15/2024, where it duplicated the issue for Service Writers, failed to restart, and had to be pushed out of the service garage. The vehicle has since, without further diagnosis or repair, started and ran for technicians, who have since supposedly driven, approximately, 200 miles, in an effort to determine the issue. Edwards Hyundai then demanded the return of a loaner vehicle, in an effort to force us to retake possession of the vehicle, having failed to properly diagnose or repair the issue. A complaint has been filed with Hyundai corporate, which resulted only in them also trying to convince us to accept return of the vehicle in said state of disrepair. It has since become very clear, as evidenced by numerous reports of Hyundai vehicles experiencing the same effects and mechanical issues, after receiving the KSDS software update, that Hyundai, both at the corporate and service level, have been dishonest, as to being unaware of the cause of the issue and what must be done to resolve it. Given that the potential end result of the customer retaking possession of the vehicle in its
1.What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine is failing/malfunctioning. Yes it is available upon request 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? No oil can cause an engine to overheat and/or catch fire. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the issue was confirmed by Hyundai of Medford. Oil consumption test was completed. Preauth was submitted for a new engine and was denied. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, inspected by manufacturer (Hyundai of Medford). No leaks or other issues that could cause this were found. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, no warning lamps or messages were shown or sent. Even when low on oil. Consuming oil extremely quickly. Oil change was completed and I was only able to drive 700 miles before I was low on oil. I have history of oil changes and top offs every 1000 miles for about a year. It has only gotten progressively worse. Hyundai of Medford Confirmed the issue and confirmed there were no oil leaks or other issues that could cause this. They recommended I request a new engine for Hyundai. I submitted the Pre-Authorization and it was denied. After more research I have found that thousands of people have had the same exact issue with the same year, make and model of my care. There is even an entire Facebook group dedicated to this issue. The manufacture needs to be held accountable for these faulty engines. Thousands of cars should not need a new engine before they reach 100k miles. I am writing hoping to shine some light on this issue that is effecting thousands of Hyundai owners.
Excessive oil consumption (failed 3 tests) now adding two quarts a week.... Transmission shifting issues (already had a replacement at 65,000 miles. Hesitation with acceleration. AWD and can barely make it up my driveway. Rpms rev when trying to go slow. Already needed a moonroof replaced because the motor died. USB randomly disconnects and reconnects for GPS.
My wife was picking up our daughter from school. The car shutdown as my wife was getting into the left hand turn lane to go onto our main street. The warning dash lights turned on, but she could not turn on the car. She called me and I left work early to help her out. She called me a few minutes later telling me she was able to get the car started but that it sounded as though "rocks were in the engine." When I got home, I opened the hood and checked the dip stick and noticed metal flecks and shavings on the end. I tested the dipstick 3 more times and each time I inspected it noticed the flecks and shavings. I then called a tow truck to have the car transported to Hyundai. The sudden engine failure led me down a rabbit hole online and realized this is a widespread issue with a lot of Hyundai vehicles. Luckily, the dealership is replacing the engine since it is still under warranty. I plan on getting rid of the vehicle as soon as possible. The quality of their engines is awful. Despite taking the car for regular maintenance it still failed. It's also telling that the dealership I'm at has several other Hyundai's they're servicing FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE! I was also informed it can take up to a month for the engine to be replaced. Stay away from Hyundai and Kia. There's a reason why they have the types of warranty's for their vehicles. They know they're unreliable and faulty.
The engine in my 2018 Hyundai Tucson is burning oil at an excessive rate. I have to change my oil every 2000 miles or less due to engine knocking if I don't. Due to the excessive oil consumption, I now have to replace all 4 engine coils for over $1500. There have been multiple codes given to me every time I take the car in, including 3 times for the knock sensor which was replaced under a nationwide recall. Hyundai settled a class action case with some consumers, under the radar, for excessive oil consumption and is leaving every other consumer unaware unless they start digging for information. One of the times my engine light came on, I was on a very busy California highway and my car went into limp mode. This is unacceptable and a major safety hazard. My car is currently at the dealership for the third time and not drivable until I spend $1500 to repair a problem that their faulty engine has caused.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that an emissions leak was present causing the engine light to illuminate; however, the cause of the emissions leak was not yet identified. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.
Check engine light stayed on vehicle transmission unable to shift in reverse and lower power when car is driven in a low speed.
I was driving on the highway at 60mph. I had driven for 30 miles. My car began to shake and would not accelerate. I made my way to the shoulder on the highway and was able to coast down an exit. My engine had died. Right before this occurred the check engine light went on. I still was able to steer and brake. I did get off the highway only because I could tell the car was losing power. By the time I stopped it was dead. I have had my car checked out because of the way it drives. It burns oil at a rate which should not occur. I keep it maintained and in good condition. As I said I have had concerns about the way my engine runs yet have been told "its like a truck" and this model "burns oil" I did not get hurt as I am an experienced driver. I could tell that the engine was failing and was able to get to the shoulder. Had I not i would have been killed as i was on a highway and engine failed. My car is currently at the dealer. It has 107000 miles. It is just 7,000 miles over warranty. There is no reason a car that is taken care of should have engine failure with no signs or symptoms. From what I've read looks like this is a newer problem with 2018 vehicles. I am prepared to supply any maintenance receipts or work done on the vehicle. Clearly there is a safety risk. It also appears its happening once the car has high miles. This is very disturbing, scary and sad that it appears another person actually tried to fight this, and Hyundai won.
Oil is burning VERY quickly. Less than 1qt draining when performing oil change.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while in a drive-through line and turning the steering wheel, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle was violently shaking and lunging forward. The contact stated that the vehicle felt like it was running out of fuel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent, who stated there was no engine light illuminated, but the mechanic replaced the coils, oil, and spark plugs. The contact called the local dealer and left a message. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
We had previously been to Allen Samuels Hyundai in Jackson, TN for an oil consumption test. We received a call the following week telling us that the mileage was too high for warranty or to continue the consumption test. I was adding a quart of oil once a week. I never had any lights appear for any problems due to low oil or overheating. On a Sunday evening we were returning home on [XXX]. We had the cruise set at 70 mph. We started to lose power and the engine started to shake. The car quit and would not restart. We called for a wrecker to tow us to the nearest shop. We were informed the following Friday that we had low compression and needed to replace the engine. Something should be done due to numerous engine failures. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My car was working fine since I bought it in April 2023. I passed inspection in November 2023. On January 24, after driving for about 15mins, my check engine light began flashing. The car would not accelerate over 25mph. I brought it to a dealership where it has been for 3 days. All communication about this problem was initiated by me, and the only answers I get are vague comments about testing.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle was not accelerating beyond 40 MPH. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that an engine knock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was returned to the dealer who determined that the knock sensor needed to be replaced a second time. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact had not taken the vehicle back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
The car stopped mid-drive with no warning light or anything in the middle of the road. When we took the car to the nearby mechanic they had told us that it was an oil consumption issue with our engine. He refilled the oil and the car was operational again (the oil was changed <2 months prior and <1.5k miles). The first time this happened the engine was making unusual noises several months ago and we refilled the oil at that time and it resolved. In other words, despite being diligent in routine oil changes according to usual maintenance standards the car is burning through it and more importantly not even alerting us about the issue before causing dangerous complete engine shut down mid-drive.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk failed to open from the inside or the outside using the key fob. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the latch was jammed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V619000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,299.
Vehicle is experiencing engine failure. Hyundai has been no help in the situation. Vehicle has loss of power and speed but no illuminating check engine light has ever came on.
my mechanic and I noticed that motor oil engine is running out too fast that is normal. I take my suv to do oil change every 5,000 miles, I can't even wait the 5,000 miles because the oil level is low, he double check for any dripping of oil. my mechanic told me that it is not safe drive the car in low level of oil because it can cause a fire in the engine. I went to the hyundai dealer to explian them the problem and they told me there is nothing they can do to fix the issue because my manufacture guarantee is over, I don't feel safe to dive my car in that condition so thats why I'm here making this request to hopefully you guys can help me. the most important thing is the safe of my family.
Engine started Knocking took to Hyundai dealer and was informed that the Motor has to be replaced, due to know issues with them. Month goes by was informed that the motors are on back order and that its going to be 6 months or more before they can get my car fixed. No recalls on the motor were sent to me and non are listed on the web site. Was informed that I'm not able to drive it anymore as the motor could freeze up and cause issues.
This is the 2nd time I have had a sensor indicator. The first was a knock sensor where my car barely made it across the road. Now another code for intake issues. If my car dies and I get hit Hyundai is liable. I know many people that have issues with their Hyundai dying and are without their cars waiting for repairs for. months and months, but the fact that I have a grandson and my car could die is incomprehensible. These cars need to be pulled off the market.
Excessive oil consumption due to piston ring failure. Clogged catalytic converter due to metal shavings from piston ring failure. This put my safety and the safety of others at risk due to potential engine failure which disables all other safety features of the vehicle. confirmed by a hyundai dealership. inspected by a hyundai certified dealership. No warning lamps but oil consumption has been an ongoing issue.
I was driving home from a family get together with my husband and daughter in my car. We smelled something burning, and suddenly smoke was coming out of my center console. I pulled over and flames were coming out of the driver side. As soon as we evacuated the vehicle, it burst into flames. There was no warning, nothing lit up on the dashboard to warn me of this hazard. A witness was driving behind us and called 911 when he noticed flames underneath my vehicle right before I pulled over. A police report was filed and it was reported to my insurance agent, it is currently still under investigation since it just happened 2 days ago during a Holiday weekend. My safety and my family's safety was put at risk due to no warning, how fast the vehicle went up in flames, etc. The car was a total loss.
The car experienced a red, blinking check engine light. We had the car towed to the local Hyundai dealership. Please see attached document for the work that was done. This was in November 2023, and we just now had to have the car towed to the dealership again (April 2024).
Catalytic converter failure. Driving and vehicle slowed down while attempting to pass another vehicle in spite of foot being on accelerator. We were nearly hit head on by a semi trailer. Vehicle unable to increase speed over 50 mph. Taken to dealership. Diagnosed with problem with catalytic converter failure. The vehicle has 82,000 miles. Failure occurred suddenly. Vehicle has also been burning oil since June 2022. Dealership and Hyundai have covered nothing and offered no solutions other than to replace catalytic converter at cost of $3,693.35. There are multiple other complaints of exact same issue online and the safety of this vehicle is questionable as vehicle will refuse to accelerate suddenly which results in a dangerous situation for vehicle's occupants.
My automatic seat recliner is stuck and hasn’t worked for quiet sometime now. Also The motor stopped working as I was driving home, So I took it to a mechanic to assess the situation and was told the motor was the issue
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, and slowing down to make a right turn, the vehicle almost stalled and lost power. The contact stated that the check oil warning light was flashing on and off. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact was able to pull over and shift into park(P). The contact had not turned the vehicle off. The contact called her father. The father arrived, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that her father checked the oil dipstick and saw that the oil level was extremely low. The contact stated that two quarts of oil were added. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed and determined that a gasket on the oil filler tube was not correctly seated, and the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact stated that prior to the recent failure with the catalytic converter, the catalytic converter had been replaced approximately 1 year and 8 months prior. The dealer also recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
CVT Transmission failed under 70,000 miles. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk due to no warning light or indication of this failure from Dick Smith Hyundai in Greenville, SC during a routine maintenance check. The problem has been confirmed by Dick Smith Service Center. The vehicle has been inspected by Dick Smith Hyundai. There were no warning lamps prior to failure. The characteristics of the CVT appeared in 2018 however; the jerking accelerated over time. Dick Smith Service Center stated not to worry the transmission was okay. October 16, 2023 with less than 70k miles I’m being told I need transmission, starter, & fly wheel.
As I was pulling out of a bank driveway onto a busy access road my car just died. Lost all power. NO warning bells, no lights on the dash, no warning at all. This could have potentially caused an accident. I could have been hit by another vehicle as my car was dead. Pushed it out of the way of traffic, checked oil and there was none. Ended up having it towed to the dealership. The dealership told me that my engine had failed and would need to be replaced due to cylinder 3 rod bearing failure due to oil consumption (a known problem from this manufacturer).
The engine has failed in my 2018 Hyundai Tuscon. I was driving the car daily since purchasing in July of 2023. Everything was fine until the first week of October, I had just picked up my son and was getting on the interstate when my check engine light came on and my oil light would flash on and off occasionally not persistently. I had the car checked immediately and there was no oil in the car at all. I added oil to the car, but it was too late the engine had already blown. I drove my son to school the next morning and the car sounded like a lawn mower and was knocking continuously. The dealership has the car now and this is a known problem with this model car. The car could've locked up while I was on the interstate with my child and we or others could have been severely hurt in an accident or car fire if the engine caught fire. The dealership is not offering to remedy the situation even knowing this is a known problem for their cars. There is already a recall for most of these cars but for my engine the cut off stops at year 2017, I think this should be reconsidered and 2018 should also be included in the recall as I have read many testimonials regarding people having the same problem I had, there was no indication anything was wrong with the oil or engine until it was too late.
I just purchased this car and I can't insure it in nys all of the insurance company's are claiming they black listed this car and can't insure it I'm not really sure how it's legal to sell somebody a 21000 car and you can't drive it because you need insurance in nys
Was told Hyundai is having a problem with motors and it’s burning oil quickly. There are recalls for it but not for my model and year. And my mechanic told me I have the same problem. Hyundai should extend the recall for 2018 Tucsons
issues with the 2018 Tucson- Transmission has always sputtered, had numerous updates and resets for it. still an issue. also it doesn't want to go into gear sometimes and bob when going into drive, or reverse. slow pick up from a complete stop, the other morning it became a safety concern when I had my daughter in the car. The car start to move when I stepped on the gas, then stopped in the middle of the intersection of [XXX] four way. The RPM's as I was stepping on the gas was shifting between 5-7 and the car it wasn't moving. Engine- in September I noticed my oil pressure light flashing on and off, this pointed me to check the oil. the oil was very low, added oil to the vehicle. since then I have had the dealer involved due to high oil burning . in [XX] I had an oil change done and no oil was found in the engine after I had placed oil in it prior. they did the oil change and I went back at the end of October and they had noticed my oil burnt off again. they did the combustion cleaning and returned the vehicle back to me [XXX]. Since then I drove 950 miles on the vehicle, Last Saturday the oil pressure light was flashing as I took my daughter to her dance class, I checked the oil and the oil was reading below the low mark on the dipstick. I returned to the dealer that morning for the oil consumption test, in which they said it was only a quart low which seemed odd to me since it was low on the dipstick. I have had corporate involved as well and all my concerns have gone as this is normal for your car. Hyundai has had issues with my Year Tucson, from my research since I started having the issues they have settled a lawsuit for the problems with the engine and transmission which I have in it.my research, as the vehicle ages, the engine burns large amounts of oil and transmission failure, stopping while driving. I would like them to replace the engine and transmission before my warranty is up. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am the second owner of this vehicle. Ever since my car had around 60,000 miles on it, at which time I still had extended warranty purchased, I've been having issues with the oil consumption. I started the oil consumption tests, after the first part of the test it was proven that my car was consuming too much oil. During the 2nd part of the oil consumption testing, the dealer ship did an engine combustion cleaning, which supposedly helped with the consumption of the oil. I was back to having the same issue with the engine consuming my oil only 4 months later. So now I am currently doing my second oil consumption testing. At both tests, I was assured that if my engine fail these tests, I will be getting a new engine for my car at no expense to me, and that Hyundai would cover all the costs. I currently failed both parts of the test and got approved for a new engine, but I will be responsible for covering 20% of the cost of the engine (around $1800). It was obvious that my car was having oil consumption issues when I still had my extended warranty (it expired at 72,000) and maybe my extended warranty wouldn't have an issue with covering the cost of the engine just like Hyundai is having issues. I hear and read about so many people having this issue and complaining about Hyundai this is ridiculous. I purchased this vehicle and gave me trust to Hyundai and all I've been having is issues with this vehicle. Also, before starting my second oil consumption testing, my catalytic converter got so clogged up from the engine oil that my vehicle lost power. I drive my car with my child in it, and being on the highway while the car loses power was very dangerous for us. Hyundai should be ashamed for selling people these cars that don't last
Engine failure from spun rod bearings, confirmed by a Hyundai dealership. The 1.6 motor in this vehicle has the same excessive oil consumption issue just like the 2.0 and 2.4 motors, but is not covered under any recall or class action law suit. That oil consumption i believe contributed to engine failure. There were no warning lights or anything until the damage occured.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine made an abnormal rattling sound. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a piston failure in a cylinder which caused the engine to seize. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to cover 60% of the cost for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.
The car is having problems excellating when you push the gas it take it a moment to realize the gas is push and it needs to go
While driving on the highway going up a 6% grade incline, the car stopped accelerating and car engine stalled out. There were no previous warning signs or indications of engine problems prior to this incident. There was no light that alarmed any defect to the car. The car had always driven smoothly. I maintained proper maintenance and regular oil changes.The car only had 65,000 miles on it. The safety of my passengers were at risk due to stalling out on the highway, luckily there was no harm to myself or others on the road. The dealership confirmed that the engine will need to be replaced. The engine has not been inspected by the manufacture. Unfortunately, due to a rebuilt title was declined warranty coverage. The title was rebuilt due to hail damage, no crash or flood damage.
The engine, rod bearing failure, constantly ABS Kits, Engine monitoring system (car is available for inspection). Our safety and others put at risk because the auto stopped dead on Interstate during rush hour traffic barely escaped death and seriously injuries to all travelers close to us. Towed it to a dealer for diagnostic testing who confirmed it's the engine and rod bearing system on report of inspection and estimate invoice. Manufacture told us to take it to a dealership and we took it to Wallace Hyundai of Stuart Florida. The warning was a knocking sound and oil light flickering just before auto began to sliw down to final stop. All took place on August 8, 2023. I have 7 photos to upload but your site is not allowing more than 10 documents. I tried to delete some documents but it did not have a delete function once I uploaded the documents.
In May 2023 while on family vacation my tucson oil light came on and went what I believe in limp mode. Oil has always been changed on time, checking oil, was full and clean. Had to tow back from TN to PA. Called hyundai and they stated that the engine has a known problem and a campaign is on them. I then had it towed to a hyundai dealership for a June 9th 2023 appointment. The dealership didn't even know why they let me make it. They had 9 tucsons with same problem in front of me. Now Aug 6th 2023 still waiting at dealership to be even looked at. Unreal
This very low mileage vehicle recently had the same incident for I believe the fifth time since I've owned the car. In a very dangerous situation the car exibited the car going almost dead after normal acceleration. It regains power after 3-5 seconds and rapidly returning to acceleration. It happened to my wife soon after purchase and she has refused to drive it since. Last week while I attempted to make a left turn at a yellow light it again went dead and traffic was forced to slow while the car behind me almost rea ended me. Recently the engine seems to run rough at times. Never have I seen any engine trouble lights since I've owned it. Three separate Hyundai dealers have looked at and seemed to be aware of what's causing it, but chose their words carefully. My neighbor owns one of the largest new cars dealerships in the Midwest. I spoke with him about this problem and he said his used car manager would NEVER purchase one with this engine/transmission for resale! A Hyundai service manager told me to get rid of it soon. When told I was planning on gifting it to my daughter, he said he wouldn't... The car only has 33,000 miles and looks new. Always garaged, never driven in snow.
Back in January of 2023, car would not go into reverse. While out driving the engine light came on and went into safety mode. I had no power to merge onto highway and make it up hills to get to Hyundai service repair. They said the gear actuator failed. They repaired, but within a week the car was not going into reverse and engine light came back on. They had my car for over a month with no loaner car. They replaced transmission. Car only had 32,000 miles on it. Yesterday, July 28, car started losing power in traffic. Sometimes car would lurch. Engine light on so I pulled into grocery store parking lot. Turned car off and when I turned back on a loud clunking noise. Called Hyundai and drove to service. The entire time the car struggled to merge or go up hills. They ran test and said the gear actuator failed. So this is a trend. It is under warranty but that is not the point, this is dangerous and you can get stranded or the car can lurch or loose power at any time. I complained to Hyundai the first time and they did nothing except repair under warranty guidelines.
Immediately after purchasing the car I stopped for gas. When pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road, the transmission stalled. The car did not move, the rpms jumped to 5-6 and the lurched and jerked forward then stopped and lurched forward again with the rpms jumping high. This had happened numerous times to various deplgrees since purchasing the car 48 hours ago. There were and continue to be no warning lamps or messages on the dash. I have an appointment with the dealer to have it assessed in a week. This is dangerous because it causes the vehicle to not pull into or cross traffic in a smooth, sage and predictable manner, potentially causing a collision.
The car has acceleration issues and when you try to press down on the gas it sputters and loses power, it is becoming a safety hazard when driving 45 mph or higher. If you try to pass another vehicle it slows down and almost stops, we have had to pull to the side of the road to avoid being in an accident. This is NOT normal for a vehicle to do this and something needs to be done before we end up dead.
Vehicle purchased Jan 2023. Vehicle began making suspect noises in June 2023 and was taken to Ford dealership where the car and extended warranty were purchased in January. We were told that the noise was believed to be due to low oil. Oil was changed as part of maintenance covered under the extended warranty. About 5000 miles had been driven since last known oil change that was done prior to our purchase of the car in January. On Jul 19, 2023, vehicle began to make loud noises again and had difficulty accelerating. The same day, engine stopped while exiting highway. Car was found to have little to no oil in it even though it had been serviced 6 weeks prior and had only been driven ~3000 miles. Engine was knocking badly but did not seem to be overheating. Three quarts of oil were added, but the car cut off when put into drive. Vehicle was towed to Ford dealership where it and extended warranty were purchased. Ford dealership declined to work on the car and stated it should go to Hyundai because the engine needed to be replaced. Due to long wait for Hyundai appointment, the vehicle is currently being assessed by a certified mechanic. I am looking to Hyundai or Class action lawsuits to see if this vehicle and situation will be covered by the manufacturer. We do not know the exact cause of the failure yet and if it will be covered. My mechanic is working with Easy Care warranty company. There were no warning lights, no check engine light, no gauges indicating it was overheating or low on oil.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026