Your vehicle report
2016 Hyundai Tucson
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 1,626
- Received Dec 2015 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Rear door latch fails to open or close457 complaints · 28% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Unintended acceleration despite braking148 complaints · 9.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips120 complaints · 7.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #20V543000Park outsideHyundai 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.
- Recall #16V842000Hyundai 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."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Rear door latch fails to open or closeFirst signal: Mar 2019
- Power window regulator fails and window dropsFirst signal: Nov 2019
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Aug 2016
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 14 crashes, 26 fires, 7 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Engine stalls and loses power while driving
8 more problems
- Engine burns excessive oil between changes
- Transmission will not engage reverse gear
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
- Transmission fails or loses power while driving
- Engine knocking from rod or main bearings
- Manual clutch wears out or fails early
- Check engine light comes on repeatedly
- Transmission shudders during acceleration at low speeds
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 260 |
| 2017 | 115 |
| 2018 | 73 |
| 2019 | 112 |
| 2020 | 142 |
| 2021 | 318 |
| 2022 | 171 |
| 2023 | 176 |
| 2024 | 121 |
| 2025 | 76 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 61 |
| Total | 1,626 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 457 | 28% | 8.4× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Mar 2019 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.4% |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 148 | 9.1% | 2.7× | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 120 | 7.4% | 0.9× | |
| Power window regulator fails and window drops | 105 | 6.5% | 95.7× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Nov 2019 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.9% |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 85 | 5.2% | 6.9× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2016 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.4% |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 84 | 5.2% | 9.4× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Mar 2021 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.2% |
| Transmission will not engage reverse gear | 35 | 2.1% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 28 | 1.7% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 23 | 1.4% | 1.5× | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 23 | 1.4% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 21 | 1.3% | 2.4× | |
| Manual clutch wears out or fails early | 21 | 1.3% | 12.2× | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 14 | 0.9% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 13 | 0.8% | 1.8× | |
| Transmission shudders during acceleration at low speeds | 13 | 0.8% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 12 | 0.7% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 10 | 0.6% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 9 | 0.5% | – | |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 9 | 0.5% | – | |
| Brake lights fail or stay on | 9 | 0.5% | – | NHTSA recall #16V842000 |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #20V543000September 4, 2020652,024 vehicles affected
Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V842000November 21, 20166,172 vehicles affected
electrical system: wiring; 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."
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.
NHTSA recall #16V628000August 30, 201641,000 vehicles affected
electrical system: software; 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.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V348000May 24, 201681,000 vehicles affected
latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V147000March 10, 20162,263 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: tail lights
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."
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2016 Hyundai Tucson.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN