IllustrationRear passenger door won’t open from inside or outside. Safety concern
2016 Hyundai Tucson
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tucson years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Tucson are substantially higher than the model-year median of 180.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tucson years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
3990–25K
12925–50K
16050–75K
8375–100K
56100–150K
5150K+
832 reports with mileage · 785 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 516 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 423 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 227 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports24 fire reports6 injury reports
Structure complaints
227 reportsAll my doors stick and sometimes I have to fight with my car to even get a door open. Also, when trying to accelerate sometimes my throttle response is slow and i will not move for a few seconds.
In December 2023 I purchased my first car, a 2016 Hyundai Tucsan Limited Edition. The car had approx. 70k miles. After only 9 months, I noticed I was unable to gain access into the rear passenger side door. I quickly ruled out child locks, faulty fuses, and any other issues as directed in the owners manual. The window is still …
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In December 2023 I purchased my first car, a 2016 Hyundai Tucsan Limited Edition. The car had approx. 70k miles. After only 9 months, I noticed I was unable to gain access into the rear passenger side door. I quickly ruled out child locks, faulty fuses, and any other issues as directed in the owners manual. The window is still functional. As of today, 10/10/24 Ive had no luck being able to open the door. The mechanic stated it was an issue with the locking mechanism and quoted us for over $1400/$4000. He stated this is a common occurrence with this model. I find this issue with my newly purchased car, that I keep serviced and in perfect condition to be unacceptable. It is a major safety issue for me and my family. I am in school and work full time and I can not afford this type of repair. This type of issue should be recalled.
Have had to replace the regulator in all four windows. Seems to be a pretty common problem online. Reporting this so hopefully enough people say something that Hyundai has a recall and reimburses us for the repairs. Thanks
I have a 2016 Hyundai Tucson Limited. I have had both front windows Regulators break within the past year. I had the drivers side repaired but, was hoping there would be a recall before I spent $800 to repair the other one. But Hyundai should own up to this issue and have a recall, If they want return customers. Time to step up …
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I have a 2016 Hyundai Tucson Limited. I have had both front windows Regulators break within the past year. I had the drivers side repaired but, was hoping there would be a recall before I spent $800 to repair the other one. But Hyundai should own up to this issue and have a recall, If they want return customers. Time to step up Hyundai
The driver's side back door will not open from the inside or outside. There was no warning or damage down to cause this, just one day it would not open. From research on the internet this is a common problem with a 2016 Tucson and is due from the lock actuator and is not being recalled. This is a huge safety risk if someone need…
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The driver's side back door will not open from the inside or outside. There was no warning or damage down to cause this, just one day it would not open. From research on the internet this is a common problem with a 2016 Tucson and is due from the lock actuator and is not being recalled. This is a huge safety risk if someone needed to exit the backseat quickly.
I own a 2016 Hyundai Tucson and have noticed that NONE of the doors other than the driver door will open either from the inside or outside. I have small children that I drive to and from school, activities. If we were to get into a wreck or were to run off rode into a body of water my children could drown or die due to doors not…
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I own a 2016 Hyundai Tucson and have noticed that NONE of the doors other than the driver door will open either from the inside or outside. I have small children that I drive to and from school, activities. If we were to get into a wreck or were to run off rode into a body of water my children could drown or die due to doors not opening. This seems to be a very common issue with Hyundai and needs to be addressed and recalled and fixed by dealership immediately!
Both rear doors will not open from inside or outside. This began 3 years ago, with intermittent opening issues. For the last six months, neither rear door will open from inside, or outside. With the THOUSANDS of complaints I have seen online, one would THINK our GOVERNMENT would DO SOMETHING!!!
I have three doors on my Tucson affected. Back passenger door will not open at all from the inside or outside. The driver’s will open if I lock and unlock three or four times and pull the handle three or four times. The back drivers door is now doing the same thing as the drivers door. I have looked into the cost of having it re…
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I have three doors on my Tucson affected. Back passenger door will not open at all from the inside or outside. The driver’s will open if I lock and unlock three or four times and pull the handle three or four times. The back drivers door is now doing the same thing as the drivers door. I have looked into the cost of having it repaired and Hyundai wants over $1500 per door to fix the issue. If I pay the close to $5000 to fix these doors, which I most definitely don’t have and don’t know anybody who does, I will have paid more than half the value of the car just to fix the doors. I’ve looked online and there are hundreds and thousands of people having the same problem - multiple years of Tucson models and other Hyundai models such as the ELANTRA. My car only has 62,000 miles on it. It has only had two owners. In the six years that I have owned the car I have only had people in the backseat three or four times. This is definitely not a wear problem. It is most definitely a safety issue. If I am in an accident and unconscious and the emergency workers can’t get the door open to get to me, it’s a safety issue. If I’m in an accident and can’t get the door open to escape the car, it is a safety issue. If I am going to my car late at night by myself and can’t get into the car it’s a safety issue. I am divorced and live alone, and drive across country occasionally. If I’m stopped at a rest stop or gas station and can’t get into my car this is a safety issue. If there are children in the backseat of the car and the door can’t be opened to get to the children this is a safety issue. The back passenger door stopped working entirely about 6 to 8 months ago - it can’t be opened from the inside or outside at all. The driver’s door started having issues about 3 to 4 months ago. The back drivers door just started having the issue three days ago. I do not understand why a safety recall has not yet been issued for this problem considering the huge number of affected cars out there.
The driver side door fails to open from the outside. I'm not sure if it is available for inspection, as I've tried to contact the Hyundai dealership I got it from, and they haven't gotten back to me. This is a safety issue because it causes me to have to walk around to the passenger side door and either climb over, or reach over…
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The driver side door fails to open from the outside. I'm not sure if it is available for inspection, as I've tried to contact the Hyundai dealership I got it from, and they haven't gotten back to me. This is a safety issue because it causes me to have to walk around to the passenger side door and either climb over, or reach over and partially open the driver door then get back out and walk over to the other side again. I live in a big city and as a woman I don't always feel safe having to take extra time to get into my vehicle. It's also a safety issue because if something goes wrong, someone can't open the door to get to me. A dealer friend of a friend looked at the door and confirmed something is wrong with the latch cable, and also said that it would cost up to $1500 to repair. This is the only person who has inspected it so far. It looks like I'm not the only person who has had door issues with Tuscons which is why I'm here. There was no warning at all. I drove the vehicle to work with no incident and then when I left work I found I could not open the door anymore even after locking and unlocking a few times. This was back at the beginning of March 2024.
Official recalls
520V543000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Sep 4, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.
16V842000 · Electrical System:wiring; Trailer Hitches
Nov 21, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Trailer Hitches
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Electrical System:wiring
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
16V628000 · Electrical System:software; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Aug 30, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 20, 2015 through May 31, 2016 and equipped with a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission. Certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the vehicle to not move if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released repeatedly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Inability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 149.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 20, 2015 through May 31, 2016 and equipped with a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission. Certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the vehicle to not move if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released repeatedly.
Consequence: Inability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 149.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 20, 2015 through May 31, 2016 and equipped with a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission. Certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the vehicle to not move if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released repeatedly.
Consequence: Inability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 149.
16V348000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
May 24, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015 to March 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, if the primary hood latch has been released, and the vehicle is driven, the secondary hood latch may not hold adequately secure the hood to prevent it from opening while the vehicle is in motion.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch cannot secure the hood, the hood may unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 145.
16V147000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
Mar 10, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured May 26, 2015 to January 15, 2016 and equipped with an accessory trailer hitch harness either included with the accessory trailer hitch or sold as a service part. In the affected vehicles, when the vehicle's engine is running and the brake lights are illuminated, if the turn signal is activated, the trailer turn signal lights will either turn off or remain continuously illuminated (not flash). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the trailer's turn signal lights would prevent the communication of the driver's intent, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9640. Hyundai's number for this recall is 142.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
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 indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.