2005 Hyundai Tucson
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 185 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 21 Tucson model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 12 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 18 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lightingJul 21, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.
Campaign 09V280000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 15, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 09V122000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleMay 8, 2007
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, STATIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TESTING CONDUCTED BY NHTSA USING FIFTH PERCENTILE FEMALE DUMMIES INDICATED THAT A SMALL STATURE ADULT DRIVER NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AND INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL OR NEAR FRONTAL CRASH, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY NOT OCCUR.
THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE WITH ONE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN OF COMPLIANCE FOR LOW RISK DEPLOYMENT FOR SMALL STATURE ADULTS WHO ARE NOT PROPERLY WEARING THE SEAT BELTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2007, AND WILL BE PERFORMED IN TWO MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
Campaign 07V197000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleNov 22, 2006
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DURING STATIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TESTING CONDUCTED BY NHTSA USING FIFTH PERCENTILE FEMALE DUMMIES INDICATED IF A SMALL STATURED ADULT DRIVER, NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL OR NEAR FRONTAL CRASH, DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY RESULT IN AN INSUFFICIENT MARGIN OF COMPLIANCE AS MEASURED BY THE TEST DUMMY USED IN THE NHTSA TEST.
THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 29, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 06V445000 on NHTSA.gov
Parking brakeJul 27, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PARKING LEVER RATCHET PAWL WAS NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND MAY DAMAGE THE TEETH OF THE PARKING LEVER RATCHET. DAMAGED PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET TEETH MAY PREVENT THE PARKING BRAKE FROM ENGAGING OR MAY ALLOW THE PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE AFTER IT HAS BEEN ENGAGED.
THE INABILITY TO ENGAGE OR THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER, MAY ALLOW YOUR VEHICLE TO ROLL WHILE IT IS PARKED AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
Campaign 05V342000 on NHTSA.gov
Parking brakeJul 7, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET PAWL WAS NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND MY DAMAGE THE TEETH OF THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET. DAMAGED PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET TEETH MAY PREVENT THE PARKING BRAKE FROM ENGAGING OR MAY ALLOW THE PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE AFTER IT HAS BEEN ENGAGED.
THE INABILITY TO ENGAGE, OR THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER MAY ALLOW YOUR VEHICLE TO ROLL WHILE IT IS PARKED AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 05V315000 on NHTSA.gov
Electronic stability control, automatic (asc)Apr 27, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP), THE YAW RATE SENSOR MAY BECOME TOO SENSITIVE AND MAY RECALIBRATE INACCURATELY. WHILE DRIVING THE ESP PROGRAM MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REDUCE POWER AND MAY CAUSE A BRAKE AT ONE OF THE WHEELS TO BE INAPPROPRIATELY.
BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESP HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
Campaign 05V177000 on NHTSA.gov
Electronic stability control, automatic (asc)Mar 25, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP), THE YAW RATE SENSOR MAY BECOME TOO SENSITIVE AND MAY RECALIBRATE INACCURATELY. WHILE DRIVING THE ESP PROGRAM MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REDUCE POWER AND MAY CAUSE A BRAKE AT ONE OF THE WHEELS TO BE INAPPROPRIATELY.
BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESP HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 05V119000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
185 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2023, fire
Caught on fire. Started under passager floor board. Burnt completely up
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2023
I acquired my vehicle as a used car. Although, to my knowledge my vehicle air bags have not deployed, the air bag light is illuminated on my dash panel and this issue is preventing me from obtaining an updated vehicle registration in my state of residence (Delaware). Since the year make and model are listed under the "recall" section of the NHTSA website, specifically for an airbag issue, I am requesting information regarding what nest-steps I nay take to have this problem repaired by Hyundai without any cost to me.
Air bags, Jul 19, 2023
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the front passenger side air bag wiring harness; however, the part was discontinued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 75,880.
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 1, 2023
This car accelerates while unattended. Most likely due to an ECM malfunction and unable to properly respond/send signals to the motor. On 4 occasions, the car has accelerated, even if in park. It will go 25mph on its own and to stop I had to put it in neutral. I’ve seen that my car isn’t the only one experiencing this. Considering it’s an ECM issue there should be a recall because that is not a part you change during the life of a car.
Suspension, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 13, 2023
ESP off ligh comes on and off have to turn suv off to ture light off Had report it to nhtsa twice but no one replied 2/28/22 # 05V119000 2/14/22 #11454471
Engine, Power train, Nov 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving 65 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the RPM failed to raise, and the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 17, 2022
Air bag light on dashboard Esp light comes on and off
Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) warning light was illuminated. The contact parked on the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the warning light disappeared. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 18, 2022
Brake light no coming on when brake pedal is being push
Power train, Engine, May 8, 2021
INITIAL ISSUES ON VEHICLE PRESENTED IN JANUARY 2021 WITH VARIOUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODES INCLUDING P0133. ALTHOUGH VEHICLE PASSED EMISSIONS IN 2020, VARIOUS CHECK ENGINE CODES FOR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSORS, MISFIRE FOR VARIOUS CYLINDERS. AFTER REPLACING INDICATED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSORS INDICATED VIA OBD II TOOL, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR (MORE THAN ONCE), BOTH FRONT CV BOOTS, HEAD GASKET SEALS FOR BOTH CYLINDER BANKS, MORE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES APPEAR ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY ANOTHER CYLINDER MISFIRE CHECK ENGINE CODE HAS APPEARED AFTER ALL SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM RECOMMENDED BRAND REPLACEMENTS (NKG PRE-GAPPED SPARK PLUGS). THE MISFIRE CODE HAS CLEARED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT CHECK ENGINE CODE FROM THE OBD II TOOL IS ERROR CODE FOR DRIVE TRAIN DRIVEABILITY P0420 REGARDING CATALYST SYSTEM OPERATING BELOW THRESHOLD AT BANK 1. I HAVE UTILIZED LOCAL STORE CATALYTIC CLEANER LIQUIDS TO CLEAN THE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2021, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST LOCAL DEALSHIP FOR A LARGE MAJORITY OF THESE REPAIRS INCLUDING A $150 DEALERSHIP FEE JUST TO HAVE THESE CODES REVIEWED AND ADDITIONAL FEES FOR THE LABOR TO ADDRESS FOR EACH ISSUE FOR EACH REPAIR.
Engine, Apr 21, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE NOX, PURGE VALVE, FUEL TRIM AND CAMSHAFT SENSORS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, TEN DAYS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. LAUREL HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 998 EISENHOWER BLVD, JOHNSTOWN, PA 15904 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Power train, Apr 16, 2021
VEHICLE WILL START MOVING IF ON AN INCLINE WHILE IN PARK. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED SHIFTER CABLE SEVERAL TIMES AND KEEPS RETURNING TO THE BEING ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR WHILE IN PARK CONDITION 9-12 MONTHS LATER. THEIR APPEARS TO BE NO FIX.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Jan 25, 2021
DRIVER AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ON WILL NOT TURN OFF HEAD LIGHT SLIVER MELTED
Suspension, Aug 24, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VISION HYUNDAI WEBSTER (755 RIDGE RD, WEBSTER, NY 14580, (585) 787-2111) FOR AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN FOR CORROSION ON THE REAR SUBFRAME. THE DEALER TOOK PHOTOS TO SUBMIT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR REPAIR APPROVAL. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN 80% CHANCE THAT THE SUBFRAME COULD FRACTURE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE UNDRIVABLE. THE DEALER OFFERED NO GUARANTEES THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE CONTACT IF THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED BEYOND REPAIR AND WOULD CHARGE THE CONTACT FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER AND CASE MANAGER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT CALLED BACK AND THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY UNREPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
Suspension, Structure, Jul 16, 2020, crash
REAR SUBFRAME IS ROTTED. MY 17 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SHE LOST CONTROL, IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC.THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED AND SITTING IN A PARKING LOT FOR 2 MONTHS AS I CAN NOT FIND THIS PART! MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A RECALL WITH THESE CARS.
Suspension, Jun 12, 2020
FRONT RIGHT CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH, CAR SWERVED OFF THE ROAD. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. MECHANIC STATED IT BROKE DUE TO RUST AND ROT. BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. CAR HAS 115K MILES. OTHER COMPLAINTS FOUND FOR SAME ISSUE. APPEARS TO BE NO RECALL FOR THIS. IF TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, IT COULD OF BEEN A MUCH WORSE ACCIDENT. *TR
Air bags, Jan 29, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,842.
Suspension, Nov 24, 2019
SEVERELY RUSTED REAR SUB-FRAME. NYS INSPECTION STATION ADVISED THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY NOT PASS THE NYS SAFETY INSPECTION IN 2020.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Nov 5, 2019
I WANT TO HAVE A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT SERVICE COMPLETED. THE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN INVITED ME BACK TO VIEW THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. WHAT I SAW WAS VERY DISTURBING. THE WHOLE REAR LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE IS RUSTED SOMETHING AWFUL. THIS SUBFRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH AND THROUGH. I ALSO RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE RUSTED OUT LOWER CONTROL ARMS.
Power train, Sep 27, 2019
WELL TRANMISSION ITS SHAKING WHEN I GO OVER 65MPH AND THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE PRECEDING VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKES UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR END THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT WRIST AND CHEST PAIN. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE INJURIES TO THE OTHER DRIVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,942.
Exterior lighting, Jul 10, 2019
HEAD LIGHT INSIDE BOTH SLIVER AREA ARE BURN ?? CAN'T FIND WHAT CAUSES IT NEED HELP PICTURE ATTACHE
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 29, 2019
MY ESC LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. CAN YOU TELL ME IF AND WHEN THAT RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY CAR?
Air bags, Jun 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2019
CAR TAKES 6 TIMES TO START CAR LOSSES POWER ON EXPRESSWAY ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT CODES COME UP AND FIX PROBLEM BUT ISSUE ALWAYS COMES BACK WAS TOLD WIRING PROBLEM SPENT OVER 1000.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NO MENTION PRICELESS IF NOT SAFE TO DRIVE