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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Engine complaints

243 reports
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15,800 miles · Mar 19, 2021
EnginePower TrainCrash

CAR WAS SLOWLY ENTERING GARAGE AND CAME TO A FULL STOP WITH BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED IN GEAR. CAR WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE REVVED UP TO FULL POWER AND CRASHED IN GARAGE. I AM ALLEGING CONDITION KNOWN AS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I HAVE HAD THE DAMAGE REPAIRED AND THE COST OF REPAIR WAS OVER $4,000.00. PICTURES AVAILABLE UPON R…

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CAR WAS SLOWLY ENTERING GARAGE AND CAME TO A FULL STOP WITH BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED IN GEAR. CAR WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE REVVED UP TO FULL POWER AND CRASHED IN GARAGE. I AM ALLEGING CONDITION KNOWN AS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I HAVE HAD THE DAMAGE REPAIRED AND THE COST OF REPAIR WAS OVER $4,000.00. PICTURES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. HYUNDAI PERFORMED AN INSPECTION ON VEHICLE UPON MY DEMAND TO DO SO. WHEN REPORT CAME IN, I WAS REFUSED A COPY OF EXACT REPORT BY INSPECTOR AND ONLY GIVEN A SUMMARY BY COMPANY AGENT. WHEN I ASKED FOR THE EXACT INSPECTOR REPORT TO BE READ TO ME OVER THE PHONE, THAT REQUEST WAS DENIED AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11403850

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE, OIL AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS U…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE, OIL AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11403646

20,500 miles · Feb 16, 2021
Engine

THE VEHICLE WHEN TEMP IS SET TO HIGH HEAT THEN SWITCHED TO 75 DEGREES THERE IS A STRONG COOLANT SMELL THAT COMES FROM THE HVAC SYSTEM. IT MAKES ME NAUSEOUS WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY CALLED ONCE AND I MISSED IT AND EMAILED THEM AND CALLED …

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THE VEHICLE WHEN TEMP IS SET TO HIGH HEAT THEN SWITCHED TO 75 DEGREES THERE IS A STRONG COOLANT SMELL THAT COMES FROM THE HVAC SYSTEM. IT MAKES ME NAUSEOUS WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY CALLED ONCE AND I MISSED IT AND EMAILED THEM AND CALLED AND NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME BACK. COOLANT IS HAZARDOUS TO BREATH IN AND THEY DON'T TAKE IT AS A SERIOUS MATTER

NHTSA ODI #11396560

67,000 miles · Feb 11, 2021
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING ON A INTERSTATE GOT OFF ON A EXIT AND MY CAR STARTED DOING A LOUD TICKING NOISE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. I DROVE THE CAR TO GET THE CAR TESTED TO SEE THE PROBLEM .THE CODE READ KNOCK SENSOR.GOT THE KNOCK SENSOR REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CAR DROVE THE SAY WAY BEFORE I TOOK IT TO HIS SHOP.THE …

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I WAS DRIVING ON A INTERSTATE GOT OFF ON A EXIT AND MY CAR STARTED DOING A LOUD TICKING NOISE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. I DROVE THE CAR TO GET THE CAR TESTED TO SEE THE PROBLEM .THE CODE READ KNOCK SENSOR.GOT THE KNOCK SENSOR REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CAR DROVE THE SAY WAY BEFORE I TOOK IT TO HIS SHOP.THE CAR ONLY HAS 67,00 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11395855

72,000 miles · Feb 8, 2021
Engine

AT 72000 MILES ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND LOSS POWER. TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD THE # 3 CYLINDER HAD AN PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF 13,700 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THAT THE COST OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11395294

28,000 miles · Feb 3, 2021
Engine

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT VERY SLOW SPEED THE ENGINE SPUTTERS CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE AND NEARLY DIE. LIKE WHEN SOMEONE IS FIRST LEARNING TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT. IT MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS LOOKING FOR A SPACE. HOWEVER IT HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT. MY WIFE DOESN'…

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WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT VERY SLOW SPEED THE ENGINE SPUTTERS CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE AND NEARLY DIE. LIKE WHEN SOMEONE IS FIRST LEARNING TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT. IT MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS LOOKING FOR A SPACE. HOWEVER IT HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT. MY WIFE DOESN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. MANY HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE WE TOOK POSSESSION JULY 2018 AND HAS WORSENED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL DENY THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. NO PROBLEM WITH HIGHWAY DRIVING .

NHTSA ODI #11394582

74,000 miles · Jan 27, 2021
Engine

I HAVE A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WE HEARD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THEN THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE. WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CRASHING. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THE SHOP SAYS THAT THE ENGINE HAD KNOCKING NOISE WERE ROD BEARINGS AND THERE WAS COOLANT/ANTIFREEZE IN THE ENGI…

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I HAVE A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WE HEARD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THEN THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE. WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CRASHING. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THE SHOP SAYS THAT THE ENGINE HAD KNOCKING NOISE WERE ROD BEARINGS AND THERE WAS COOLANT/ANTIFREEZE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK.

NHTSA ODI #11390398

67,000 miles · Jan 25, 2021
Engine

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAS AFRAID TO KEEP DRIVING IT SINCE I DIDNT KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. MY CAR WAS TOWED BACK HOME. I HAD A TECHNICIAN CHECK MY CAR AND I WAS TOLD THE MOTOR HAD BLOWN UP. MY CAR ONLY HAS AROUND 67,000 MILES ON IT. I…

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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAS AFRAID TO KEEP DRIVING IT SINCE I DIDNT KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. MY CAR WAS TOWED BACK HOME. I HAD A TECHNICIAN CHECK MY CAR AND I WAS TOLD THE MOTOR HAD BLOWN UP. MY CAR ONLY HAS AROUND 67,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE TOW COMPANY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE THAT I HAVE. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALLS BUT DID FIND THAT A PREVIOUS MODEL WAS BURNING OIL AND DAMAGED THE MOTOR.

NHTSA ODI #11389755

25,000 miles · Nov 20, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE TRANSIMISSION. AFTER 3 DEALERSHIP VISITS, PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED AT BOB MAYBERRY HYUNDAI-MONROE, NC. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND "FIX/PART" WAS COMING IN MARCH/APRIL 2020. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL FINALLY GOT FED UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT TO OT…

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ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE TRANSIMISSION. AFTER 3 DEALERSHIP VISITS, PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED AT BOB MAYBERRY HYUNDAI-MONROE, NC. WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND "FIX/PART" WAS COMING IN MARCH/APRIL 2020. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL FINALLY GOT FED UP WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT TO OTHER DEALERSHIP (KEFFER HYUNDAI-CHARLOTTE, NC.). WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO REPLICATE BUT TECH COULD NOT. (REPAIR INVOICE STATES THEY DROVE THE CAR 1 MILE!) (THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN INTERMITENT PROBLEM). THE PROBLEM IS WHEN DRIVING VERY SLOW IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC, THE CAR JUMPS SIMILAR TO SOMEONE LEARNING TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH. I WAS AT A STOP SIGN ONE DAY...AT A COMPLETE STOP. I PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE CAR STOPPED ABOUT 3 FEET AFTER MOVING. HAD I PULLED OUT IF THERE WAS ALOT OF TRAFFIC, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TIME TO MOVE IN THE ROAD. I DO NOT HAVE ALL INVOICES FROM FIRST DEALERSHIP (BOB MAYBERRY HYUNDAI-MONROE,NC), BUT THEY WILL HAVE EVERYTHING IN THEIR SYSTEM. I CAN REQUEST THIS DOCUMENTATION IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI #11375641

34,400 miles · Nov 20, 2020
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDIA TUSCON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. MOMENTS LATER SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDIA TUSCON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. MOMENTS LATER SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER LEN STOLER LOCATED AT 11275 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,400.

NHTSA ODI #11375561

Official recalls

1

20V543000 · 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

1

DP22003 · 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.

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