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: air bags
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Mar 15, 2006, crash
WE WERE IN A HUYUNDAI 2005 TUCSON. WE WERE T-BONED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE POLICE ESTIMATED HER SPEED AT APPROX. 45 MPH. SHE HIT US JUST AHEAD OF THE REAR WHEEL TO APPROX THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE SIDE AIR BAGS NOR THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*JB
Air bags, Feb 21, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB
Air bags, Nov 11, 2005
THERE HAS BEEN TWO PROBLEMS INVOLVING MY 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS IN REGARDS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT. THE LIGHT WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF WITH AN ADULT FEMALE OF OVER FIVE FEET IN HEIGHT AND OVER 100 LBS, BUT LESS THAN 115LBS. ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL THE FLICKERING LIGHT MEANS THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE AIRBAG IS MALFUNCTIONING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD CHECKED IT AND IT WAS WORKING FINE. THEY SAID IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTED THAT THEY COULD ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY OF THE SENSOR. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT HYUNDAI DEALER A COUPLE OF TOWNS AWAY. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE SENSOR WAS OPERATING CORRECTLY AND TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY. THE PROBLEM AGAIN PERSISTED AND THE SECOND HYUNDAI, UPON A THIRD VISIT, SAID THAT THERE IS NO WEIGHT LIMIT FOR THE SENSOR TO WORK AT, BUT LIKE THE MANUAL STATES, THE PERSON NEEDS TO SIT CORRECTLY IN THE SEAT. THEY TOOK A LOOK AT THE SENSOR AND SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN LESS ISSUES IN REGARDS TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT. HOWEVER, THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON OCCASIONALLY FOR THIS PASSENGER AND THE SIZE, SHAPE, AND WAY OF SITTING IN THE SEAT HAS NOT CHANGED. *JB
Air bags, Sep 9, 2005
DT: 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON - THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE WEIGHT WAS THAT CAUSED PASSENGER'S AIR BAG LIGHT TO TURN ON AND OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER , AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID CHECK FOR ANY DEFECT IN THE AIR BAG SENSORS AND FOUND NONE. THIS HAPPENED ALMOST EVERY TIME THAT CONSUMER RODE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IF THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER CAN GET THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO GO OFF IF SHE MOVES AROUND IN THE SEAT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION SENSOR WAS DESIGN TO WORK IF A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT IS LESS THAN 75 POUNDS. THE CONSUMER WEIGHS 120 POUNDS BUT WHEN SHE SIT IN THE SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. THE CONSUMER HAS TO SIT A CERTAIN WAY IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. *NM
Air bags, Jun 14, 2005
AIRBAG SAFETY: IN DECEMBER 2004, I BOUGHT TWO 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON LX SUV 2WD ADVERTISED WITH SIX STANDARD AIRBAGS. WARMER WEATHER ARRIVED, COATS SHED AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT WENT OUT WHEN HER POCKETBOOK WAS IN HER LAP AND ON WHEN NOT, WEIGHT SENSITIVE. SHE FEELS UPSET AND UNSAFE. HYUNDAI EXPLAINED THE ADVANCED SRS TAKES MANY READINGS INCLUDING WEIGHT. THEY EXPLAINED THE PASSENGER NEEDED TO BE 110 LBS FOR THE AIRBAG ACTIVATE TO PROTECT FRONT SEAT CHILDREN. MY WIFE IS NOT A CHILD (WE''RE IN OUR 50''S), EXERCISES AND EATS RIGHT. HER WEIGHT VARIES FROM 107-110 LBS. AND IS 5''2''. IRONICALLY, MY WIFE HAS FULL AIRBAG PROTECTION IN HER CAR AS A DRIVER BUT NOT AS A PASSENGER IN THE ''DEATH SEAT OF OWN CAR. MANY WOMEN FIT THIS PROFILE. NO-WHERE IN HYUNDAI''S OWNER''S MANUAL OR AIRBAG BROCHURE ARE SPECIFIC WEIGHT LIMITS REFERRED TO. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER, THEN TO HYUNDAI AMERICA GOT NOWHERE. MY WIFE RIDES WITH HER POCKETBOOK IN HER LAP TO FAKE OUT THE WEIGHT SENSOR. ALL I WANT IS TO WEIGH DOWN SEAT (2 LBS) OR RE-PROGRAM THE WEIGHT LIMITS, AND NOT TO RETURN THE CARS. HYUNDAI''S LIABILITY COULD BE HUGE IF A LIFE IS LOST WHEN THE AIRBAG COULD HAVE/SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACTIVE. ACCORDING TO NHTSA AND THE NEW YORK STATE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY CODE, MY WIFE IS OVER 12 YEARS OLD AND MORE THAN 5 FEET TALL AND QUALIFIES TO RIDE UP FRONT ON BOTH ACCOUNTS. WITH ADVANCED OR SMART AIRBAG TECHNOLOGY SHE SHOULD BE PROTECTED, EVEN AT A REDUCED DEPLOYMENT RATE? WITH RESPECT TO ''WARNING LABELS, CONSUMER INFORMATION AND TELLTALE SIGNS:'' PROPER USE OF AND AIR BAG WARNING LABELS ARE IMPORTANT BUT THERE IS NO DISCLAIMER THAT IF YOU ARE AN ADULT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND FALL INTO A SPECIFIC BODY WEIGHT CATEGORY YOU WILL NOT HAVE AIR BAG PROTECTION. NEITHER IS IT STATED IN THE OWNER''S USER MANUAL OR ANY OTHER HYUNDAI DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER PRIOR TO THE POINT OF SALE].
Air bags, May 17, 2005
DT: PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WEIGHED 105 POUNDS WHEN SHE SAT IN THE SEAT THE SENSOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF SOMETIMES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE SENSORS FOR A LIGHTER WEIGHT BUT IT IS STILL NOT WORKING. THEY DID RAN A CODE CHECK BUT DID NOT SHOW ANY CODES. *JB