Your vehicle report
2018 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
- 399
- Received Jun 2018 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine burns excessive oil between changes55 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine stalls and loses power while driving31 complaints · 7.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Unintended acceleration despite braking27 complaints · 6.8% 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Engine burns excessive oil between changesFirst signal: Jan 2022
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Sep 2022
- Engine knocking from rod or main bearingsFirst signal: Jan 2021
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 13 crashes, 9 fires, 10 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
- Engine burns excessive oil between changes
- Engine stalls and loses power while driving
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
10 more problems
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Engine knocking from rod or main bearings
- Check engine light comes on repeatedly
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engine
- Manual clutch wears out or fails early
- Transmission will not engage reverse gear
- Transmission fails or loses power while driving
- Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline
- Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
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
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 73 |
| 2022 | 44 |
| 2023 | 57 |
| 2024 | 55 |
| 2025 | 61 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 45 |
| Total | 399 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 55 | 14% | 17.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.6% |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 31 | 7.8% | 6.7× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.5% |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 27 | 6.8% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 20 | 5.0% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 19 | 4.8% | 3.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2021 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.1% |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 17 | 4.3% | 2.6× | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 14 | 3.5% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 11 | 2.8% | 2× | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 11 | 2.8% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 9 | 2.3% | 1.5× | |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 6 | 1.5% | 5.6× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jul 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.2% |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Manual clutch wears out or fails early | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Transmission will not engage reverse gear | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 5 | 1.3% | 1.3× | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 4 | 1.0% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration | 3 | 0.8% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 3 | 0.8% | – |
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.
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 2018 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