Hyundai Tucson problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 2,402 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls for the Hyundai Tucson. That averages 75.3 complaints per year on the road — more complaints than typical (index 1.87 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact SUVs segment it ranks #9 of 12 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 60.3.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 55% above the 2018 and 2019 models (91 early complaints per model year versus 62).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (243.9 complaints per year) and the 2021 model year the lowest (13.8). The 2025 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 75.3 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2020 and 2021 run at least 40% below this model's average of 75.3 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (33.3% of complaints), followed by Electrical (12.9%) and Brakes (12.5%). 188 complaints (7.8%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 142 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 802 complaints versus 482 in the previous 12 months — up 66%. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (281). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 23 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 15 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2026 (4), 3 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 3 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires” (audit query, opened 2023-11-17, still open).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan and Jeep Compass, but fewer than Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape and Honda CR-V.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 398 | 45.3 | 1.12 | 60 | 1 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 383 | 49.2 | 1.22 | 55 | 1 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 178 | 26.2 | 0.65 | 45 | 1 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2021 Fewest complaints | 80 | 13.8 | 0.34 | 34 | 1 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 506 | 105.7 | 2.62 | 113 | 3 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 180 | 47.5 | 1.18 | 53 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 148 | 53.0 | 1.31 | 68 | 4 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 ▲50%+ | 436 | 243.9 | 6.04 | 281 | 7 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 93 | 93.0 | 2.3 | 93 | 5 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 802 · Previous 12 months: 482 Rising
Problem areas
Engine ›
800 · 33.3% · 1.49 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
309 · 12.9% · 0.82 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Brakes ›
300 · 12.5% · 2.07 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Driver-assist systems ›
256 · 10.7% · 1.86 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
202 · 8.4% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Transmission / powertrain ›
163 · 6.8% · 0.58 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Fuel system ›
114 · 4.7% · 1.09 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Body & structure ›
86 · 3.6% · 0.39 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Other
50 · 2.1% · 1.13 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Airbags & seat belts ›
47 · 2.0% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Lighting
39 · 1.6% · 1.05 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
20 · 0.8% · 0.33 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
16 · 0.7% · 0.1 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 23 months
What owners report
I was in an accident back in March that I think is related to a recall announced in June. I asked that Hyundai refund my insurance deductible and they rejected my claim. I'm hoping regulatory support will be able to help.
Safety of anyone, including a service dog in the car, is at risk from accident. 10-01-2026 5:30 am accident. -I was Struck on drivers side (t-bone) both driverside doors, -NO airbag or seatbelt tensioning.
While driving at highway speeds, my 2019 Hyundai Tucson SE suddenly loses acceleration and drops into a 30 mph 'limp mode' while the engine overheats. This creates an immediate highway safety hazard with an imminent risk of a rear-end collision.
The fuel door doesn't work. My safety is at risk because I cannot put gas in my car. If i can't put gas in my car then it will stop working. If it starts working, the car becomes useless. There were no warning lights or anything.
This relates to emergency key. Key is not attached to FOB. It is separate. The key has a plastic sheath which comes off easily, allowing key to bend at hinge, and weakening hinge. Key then can separate from key ring and be lost ( I lost one of mine like this).
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-5 | 862 | 18.6 | 0.46 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 3 | Engine |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 1,017 | 29.7 | 0.74 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 3 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 1,267 | 29.7 | 0.74 | Improving | Rising | 28 | Engine |
| 4 | Jeep Compass | 1,853 | 31.4 | 0.78 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Engine |
| 5 | Subaru Forester | 2,453 | 45.0 | 1.11 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Body & structure |
| 6 | Jeep Cherokee | 2,906 | 55.5 | 1.38 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Chevrolet Equinox | 2,068 | 64.8 | 1.61 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 23 | Engine |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | 3,158 | 67.2 | 1.67 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Engine |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson | 2,402 | 75.3 | 1.87 | Worsening | Rising | 15 | Engine |
| 10 | Nissan Rogue | 3,149 | 79.1 | 1.96 | Improving | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Ford Escape | 5,254 | 87.3 | 2.16 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 50 | Engine |
| 12 | Honda CR-V | 6,037 | 139.4 | 3.46 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 15
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 3
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (1) · 2019 (1) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (1) · 2022 (3) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (4) · 2025 (7) · 2026 (5)
Investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…