2018 Hyundai Tucson

I took my Tucson to my local Hyundai dealership on Friday, August 28, 2026. It was there for a standard oil change and tire rotation. When I scheduled the appointment online the system also said there was a recall. I always stay on top of that so I let them take care of that as well. The recall didn’t seem like anything major, it was something to do with emissions. Ok, when I left the dealership that day the engine was warm so there was no noticeable difference. I didn’t use my vehicle at all for the next few days. When I got into it Monday morning for work I noticed immediately after starting the car and taking off the engine was hesitating and bucking. This lasted a few minutes. The problem seems to improve once the engine is warm but others are reporting online that they’re having issues with engines stalling as well. There’s something wrong with the software update that’s being used and no one seems to have a fix. I reached out to Hyundai with my concern and they recommended I take it back to the dealership to be diagnosed and see if my warranty would cover any repairs. My vehicle was free of problems before that update and now it’s falling back on me to pay for a potential problem they caused. There has been no accidents for me personally with this but it’s most definitely a safety hazard.

My 2018 Hyundai Tucson Limited equipped with the 1.6T engine and 7-speed EcoShift Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) is suffering from severe, dangerous clutch judder, slippage, and sudden acceleration hesitation. This vehicle matches the exact manufacturing defects and symptoms outlined in Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin TSB 21-AT-014H, but the defect has never been properly resolved by the manufacturer.The primary safety defect occurs when accelerating from a complete stop or during low-speed maneuvers (such as yielding at a roundabout or turning at an intersection). When pressing the gas pedal, the transmission violently shudders, hesitates, and fails to properly engage the clutch pack. This creates a severe, unpredictable time lag where the engine revs but the vehicle experiences a total loss of motive power and fails to move forward.This unexpected loss of propulsion has caused multiple near-miss situations where oncoming traffic had to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting my vehicle because it stalled or lagged while pulling out. It is an immediate physical safety hazard to myself, my passengers, and other drivers on the road. The failure is completely unpredictable and significantly worsens in warm weather or during stop-and-go driving conditions.I previously presented this vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealership to complain about this exact transmission hesitation and shuddering while the vehicle was still covered under the factory warranty window. The service department failed to properly log, diagnose, or repair the failing double clutch pack at that time. Because the defect was reported within the warranty period and never corrected, the safety hazard has persisted and deteriorated to the point where the vehicle is now unsafe to operate in normal traffic. Hyundai is currently refusing to cover the full cost of this safety-related transmission failure.

January 9, 2026, driver was on I25, when driver heard a loud thud and the RPMs kept rising but the vehicle would not accelerate. Was very dangerous and barely avoided a collision with other drivers on the road. Barely got it home and shut it off. Tried to drive again but would not get out of reverse. Car was towed to Hyundai dealership for inspection. EGO4 Check Engine Light Diagnostic. 120883. Transmission and rear coupler/differential replaced. Test driven and dealership said it drove as designed and shifted as designed. Cost $10,955.29.

UNKNOWN -A catalytic converter clogged after being installed - only 14 months following installation, causing rough and unsafe acceleration, inability to shift gears properly, and need to drive with hazards on. It is clear that there is an issue with the engine/exhaust and system in this vehicle. Additionally, the car needs oil added regularly and seems to be burning it, as indicated by low level.

Approximately one month ago I had a high pressure fuel pump installed in my 2018 Hyundai Tucson. While driving on the highway, about ten minutes from home, my car suddenly burst into flames. There were no warning lights in the cockpit. There was no smoke in the cabin. Another motorist flagged me down. I got out of the vehicle just in time for it to become fully engulfed in flame. It burned down on the highway. Police and fire responded. Insurance is investigating. If I was inside the vehicle, I would have certainly died.

The situation I’m about to explain has happened twice—once in December 2025 and again on January 22, 2026. In December, the roads were very icy, but there was no snow on the ground. As I made a right turn into a Walmart parking lot, I heard a loud metal-breaking sound while turning. I immediately got out and looked underneath my 2018 Hyundai Tucson SEL but didn’t see anything unusual. After finishing my shopping, I started the SUV to pull out of the parking space. The car was trying to move, but the rear tires were not moving at all. A man waiting for my parking spot noticed this and told me one of the tires wasn’t turning. As I drove home, I heard extremely loud metal noises coming from the back of the vehicle—sounds like metal twisting, breaking, and falling to the ground. At no point did any warning lights come on. I took the car to a highly rated mechanic, Premier Car Care, where they did a thorough inspection and found nothing wrong. After being reassured that the vehicle was safe, I continued driving it. Then on January 22, 2026, the same issue happened again. I was driving to my internship, and the roads were slushy. Suddenly, the Tucson became unstable, slid unexpectedly, and I heard the same metal twisting and breaking noises. This time, the ABS light came on briefly and then went off. The vehicle felt unsafe and unstable, even though I was driving very slowly—around 15 miles per hour. I was terrified and nearly hit someone. I had the car towed through Triple A back to the mechanic, but once again, they were unable to find the cause after inspecting it, and it is sitting in my driveway. I am reaching out because I am on disability, I have three children with autism, and I am also currently in school. I rely on this vehicle, and I truly need help investigating what is happening so this issue can be properly identified and fixed before someone gets seriously hurt.

Evidence package for dealer fraud: demand letter, SMS threats, sales contract, diagnostic report. Catalytic converter failure caused by chronic oil overfill (2+ quarts excess). Symptoms: - Loud whistling noise from exhaust - Severe power loss (unable to reach 60 mph) - Check engine light activation (codes P0011/P000A) Safety risks: 1. Stalling hazard at highway speeds 2. Fire risk from clogged converter 3. Engine seizure due to oil contamination Confirmed by Hyundai dealer (Evansville, IN) on [XXX] - ONE DAY AFTER PURCHASE. Defect existed pre-sale: - Dealer admitted exhaust issue in writing: "probably will be in the exhaust" - Formal demand letter documented hidden defects on 04/28/2025 - Vehicle returned to dealer on 04/24/2025 where it remains Evidence confirms fraud: - Diagnostic report shows pre-existing conditions - Dealer demanded $300 to release vehicle, then $900 for repairs - "As-is" claim invalid due to defect concealment Warning signs appeared immediately post-purchase. Vehicle available for inspection. Legal violations: - Clean Air Act (emissions warranty breach) - KRS 367.110 (deceptive acts) - FTC Used Car Rule (undisclosed defects) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)