IllustrationWHEN HYUNDAI SANTA FE PASS OR NEAR BY 2018 TUCSON, BLIND SPOT SENSOR SUDDENLY TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY FOR WHILE. THEN SOME TIME PASS(MAYBE MORE THAN 30MIN), IT TURNS BACK ON. IT ONLY EFFECTS CERTAIN YEARS OF SANTA FE.
2018 Hyundai Tucson
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Tucson years
Owner complaints for the 2018 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
470–25K
2125–50K
1750–75K
1375–100K
12100–150K
2150K+
112 reports with mileage · 283 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.
- Engine. Review the 243 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports9 fire reports8 injury reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
2 reportsONCE MY BRAND NEW TUCSON HIT 500 MILES ON IT, IT SUDDENLY UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATES WHILE MY FOOT IS ALREADY PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BREAK PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME, IT HAPPENED AS I WAS APPROACHING THE PEAK OF A HILL. I WAS GOING 25 MPH. MY FOOT WAS ALREADY PRESSING ON THE BREAKS, ANTICIPATING THE DECLINE, WHEN MY CAR JOLTED FO…
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ONCE MY BRAND NEW TUCSON HIT 500 MILES ON IT, IT SUDDENLY UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATES WHILE MY FOOT IS ALREADY PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BREAK PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME, IT HAPPENED AS I WAS APPROACHING THE PEAK OF A HILL. I WAS GOING 25 MPH. MY FOOT WAS ALREADY PRESSING ON THE BREAKS, ANTICIPATING THE DECLINE, WHEN MY CAR JOLTED FORWARD AND TOOK OFF. MY FOOT SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS EVEN HARDER, HOWEVER I WATCHED MY SPEEDOMETER HIT 40 MPH WHILE SIMALTANEOUSLY, MY RPM DECREASED TO 1... (YES, DOWN A HILL.) FOR ABOUT 5-7 SECONDS THE RPM AND SEPPDOMETER WOULD NOT INCREASE OR DECREASE ONCE HITTING 40 MPH AND 1 RPM. I HAD TO LEAN OVER THE WHEEL AND SLAM MY BREAKS TO THE FLOOR BEFORE I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THIS OCCURRED, THE CAR LAGGED, STRUGGLING TO ACCELERATE THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE DRIVE (ALL FLAT ROADS). IT IS NOW DAY 5 OF EXPERIENCING THIS, AND IT NOW OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WHETHER BREAKS ARE BEING APPLIED PRIOR, OR NOT, REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF ROAD I AM ON (FLAT, HILL ETC.) I WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE THAT HAD A MEDIOCRE RAMP TO EXIT THE GARAGE. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING 12 MPH WHEN I TURNED RIGHT TO PROCEED DOWN THE RAMP. MY FOOT SLOWLY PRESSED THE BREAK PEDAL, AND MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 28 MPH, AND MAINTAINED THAT SPEED FOR 3 SECONDS, BEFORE RESPONDING TO MY BREAKS. YES, MY FOOT HAD THE BREAKS PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN. ANOTHER EXAMPLE, YESTERDAY I WAS ON A FLAT ROAD DRIVING AT 27 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 45 MPH, AND THE RPM DROPPING SUDDENLY FROM 2, TO 1. AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF MY FOOT SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS I REGAINED CONTROL AND PULLED THE CAR OVER. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, AND BEGAN DRIVING (3 MINUTES LEFT IN MY DRIVE), THE CAR CONTINUED TO LAG, LUNGE FORWARD, AND COULD NOT REACH SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 30 MPH. THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW.
Official recalls
120V543000 · 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.
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.