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: suspension
15 reports, newest first. Show all
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
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
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.
Suspension, Structure, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 19, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME AND SUSPENSION WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE OIL PAN, FUEL TANK, FUEL TANK CLAMPS, REAR CHASSIS CRADLE, AND FRONT END SUSPENSION (INCLUDING THE STRUTS, SWAY BARS, SWAY BAR CLAMP, SWAY BUSHINGS) WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. GARBER HYUNDAI (5450 BAY RD, SAGINAW, MI) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED FRONT END VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Suspension, Feb 10, 2019
REAR SUBFRAME OF THE CAR IS VERY ROTTEN .
Suspension, Oct 29, 2018
ON MY 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON GLS (94.5K MILES, SINGLE OWNER, GARAGE KEPT AND REGULARLY CAR WASHED), LOWER LEFT CONTROL ARM WAS SO RUSTED (HOLES) TO A POINT THAT IT CAN BE BENT WITH LITTLE PRESSURE WHEN PUSHED AGAINST HARDWARE SURFACE. MY YOUNG ADULT SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STARTED PULLING TO SIDE ON LOCAL STATE HIGHWAY. VERY VERY DANGEROUS!! THANK GOD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN A MAJOR CRASH DUE TO THIS. THE LOWER RIGHT CONTROL WAS RUSTED AS WELL TO A POINT IT MAY NEED A REPLACEMENT IN NEXT YEAR OR TWO. REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AT MY EXPENSE AS I FIGURED HYUNDAI WILL NOT COVER THIS. THERE IS JUST SO MUCH AMOUNT OF RUST UNDER THIS CAR THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE. IN APRIL 2018, LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER VOLUNTARILY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK BANDS (TSB#18-01-015) UNDER A RECALL #952 (NO RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED FROM HYUNDAI) WHEN I WENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE, HOWEVER THEY MADE NO MENTION ABOUT RUSTED LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND OTHER RUST. I FEEL THAT HYUNDAI AND IT'S DEALERS ARE AWARE OF SEVER RUSTING ON 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON, BUT KEEPING THEIR CUSTOMERS IN DARK AND RISKING THEIR CUSTOMERS LIVES!! BTW, I OWN 2006 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L WITH 130K MILES HAS SOLID CONTROL ARMS WITH MINIMAL TO NO RUST. I THINK HYUNDAI MAY HAVE USE A LOWER QUALITY AND LOW COST MATERIAL!!
Suspension, Structure, Jul 31, 2018
I HAVE A HYUNDAI THAT HAS A SEVERE SUBFRAME RUST. THE DEALER STATES IT WILL ONLY REPLACE THE PART AND NOTHING MORE. THE SUBFRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT THE PART CANNOT BE ATTACHED. THEY NEED TO REPLACE MORE THAN THE PART ON RECAP TO FIX IT. THEY HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 3.5 WEEKS OF NOTHING BUT THE RUNAROUND. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO GET THIS SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE FIXED. THERE WILL BE A CRASH IF THEY DON'T FIX IT
Suspension, Feb 15, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE "FISHTAILED" AND ALMOST CRASHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.
Suspension, Sep 27, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CROSS MEMBER WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. TWO YEARS PRIOR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED FOR CORROSION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,036.
Steering, Suspension, Jul 21, 2015
2005 HYUNDAI TUSCON, REAR SUB-FRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT. THE GARAGE WAS SHOCKED TO SEE WHERE THE 4 BOLTS ARE TO HOLD THE CROSSBAR COMPLETED BROKE OFF! WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, AND CHANGING LANES THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE A DELAYED REACTION OR LIKE IT WAS "FISH-TAILING". THE INCIDENT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, HOWEVER WHEN TURNING A CORNER ON MY STREET, SUDDENLY A LOUD RUBBING SOUND AND GRINDING SOUND HAPPENED AND THE VEHICLE WAVED SIDE TO SIDE WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE IT UP THE STREET. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON THE CURB. THERE WAS RUBBER FROM THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE WHEEL WELL ON THE PIECE THAT COVERED THE SHOCKS. HYUNDAI REPLACEMENT PARTS IS ALMOST $1000!!!.....UPDATED 10/01/15*BF
Suspension, Apr 18, 2007, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE SITTING STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND WAS REAR ENDED. THE AXLE BROKE IN HALF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE AXLE BREAKING IT RUSTED IN HALF. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. PRIOR TO THE CRASH THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 30,123.
Suspension, May 18, 2006
I HAVE A 2005 HYUNDAI TUSCON GLS 4WD. ALTHOUGH MY DEALER HAD THE RECALL REPAIR ON THE SUSPENSION, THIS SUV STILL HAS SQUEAKING NOISE OR ABRASION NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY WHILE I DRIVE ABOVE 80 MPH ON HIGHWAY. NOT EVERYTIME, BUT MOST TIME. THIS NOISE, FOLLOWED BY SOME SORT OF BRAKING REALLY SCARED ME ON HIGHWAY. I HAD THIS SUV BACK TO DEALER TWICE BUT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. *NM