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.
Power train, Jun 20, 2005
DT: CONSUMER STATED: SHIFT LEVER CABLE ASSEMBLY BROKE WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE HAD LESS 400 MILES. WAS SLOWING DOWN, CHANGING GEARS AND BROKE OFF INSIDE. VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN CENTER LANE, AND NO FOR WARNING. *AK
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].
Power train, Jun 3, 2005
NEW HYUNDAI TUCSON 5 SPEED MANUAL 4 WHEEL DRIVE(2005) WITH LESS THAN 400 MILES DRIVEN, THE SHIFT LIVE BROKE OFF INSIDE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS LIFE THREATINING. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE EAST BOUND ON THE CROSS BRONX EXP. CAR COULD NOT MOVE. I WAS ABOUT ONE MILE EAST OF THE G.W. BRIDGE. THE PROBLEM WAS THE SHIFT LEVER CABLE ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE. IT WAS REPLACED.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 2, 2005
2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED WITHOUT THE CONSUMER TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE AND SLOW. (THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE) *SC *JB
Power train, May 29, 2005
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SOUND A ROUGHLY JERKED FORWARD AND CONTINUED TO DO SO AS THE CAR GRADUALLY DOWNSHIFTED. THE CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THIS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD APPROX 5900 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. RECIEVED THE VEHILE 9 DAYS LATER AND HAD THE CAR FOR 1 DAY WHEN IT CONTINUED TO HAVE MORE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM, THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY AND THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD. I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING SIMILIAR TO THIS IN THE HYUNDAI SANTE FE
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
Electronic stability control, May 2, 2005
RECALL CAMPAIGN : 05V119000. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE ESP ACTIVATATION.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 25, 2005
I BOUGHT HYUNDAI TUCSON 2005 (SUV, 2.0 GL, 4 CYLINDERS, SHIFTRONIC) ON 4/9/05. I TOOK THIS CAR BACK AND LEFT IT AT A DEALER ON 4/16/05 BECAUSE 1). THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. ). I DROVE THAT CAR TO LA. ON HWY 5 WITH THE SAME SPEED AS 80 MPH. AS THE OTHERS. WHEN I DROVE UP TO THE HILLS, THE SPEEDING WAS DROPPED TO 60 MPH. (20 MPH.DIFFERENCE) AND COULDN'T SPEED UP UNTIL DOWN FROM THE HILLS. I'VE TRIED TO CHANGE TO LOWER GEAR ... IT WAS STILL STRUGGLED. I GOT HONK AND ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE CARS BEHIND. EVERYONE (SALES, FINANCIAL, SERVICE DEPARTMENT) WHOM CONCERN THIS CASE TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL FIX EVERYTHING FOR US. ON 4/22/05 `JAYSON` CALLED ME TO PICK UP THAT CAR. HE TOLD ME THAT `THERE WERE 2 TECHNICIANS CHECKED MY CAR AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, CRUISE CONTROL WORKS, THIS CAR IS A NORMAL AS 2.0 GL AND ONLY 4 CYLINDERS. FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM. I TRIED TO DRIVE AND CHECK IT WITH IT. FINALLY, HE FOUND OUT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL'S CHIP WAS LOOSEN AND FIXED IT. WHAT DID HIS 2 TECHNICIANS CHECK? FOR THE SECOND PROBLEM. HE SAID IT'S A NORMAL CAR, HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING... JUST THE WAY THAT CAR IS. BUT FOR ME, IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE EVEN THE HILLS IN THE CITY (I USUALLY GO TO SAN FRANCISCO, AND TRAVEL AROUND ESPECIALLY LAKE TAHOE, YOSEMITE). THIS CAR IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION !!! E SUGGESTED ME TO CHANGE TO LOWER GEAR. I'VE DONE BUT IT NEVER WORKED !! THESE WORDS `WE'LL HELP YOU`. RESULT; THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE DONE. I'M NOT SATISFIED, FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND UNFAIR FROM THIS DEALER. I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT. PLEASE CHECK HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/RECALLS/RESULTS.CFM HTTP://WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/TESTING/NCAP/INDEX2.CFM. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 17, 2005
THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPLACED THE ESP MODULE TWICE. THE BRAKES WERE AFFECTED BY THIS MODULE, WHICH CAUSED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO COME ON, MAKING THE VEHICLE SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CAME OUT THREE TIMES AND THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE THAT THEY PROVIDED.*AK
Visibility, Mar 13, 2005
WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE RAIN/SNOW FROM WASH, DC; NOTICE UNUSUAL LOUD WINDSHIELD WIPERS; SUDDENLY NOTICE THAT LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS WIPING OFF OF THE WINDOW AS IF WERE GOING TO FLY OFF..IT DISTRACTED ME TO POINT OF ALMOST HAVING A COLLISION; CALLED ALEXANDRIA HYUANDAI FROM MY JOB IN FREDERICK, MD AND WAS REFERRED TO IDEAL HYUANDAI WHERE THE SRV REP DIAGNOSED THE VRH AS HAVING A DEFECTIVE W/S TRANSMISSION...SAID IT WOULD TAKE SIX WKS, THEN TWO WKS O GET THE PART FOR THIS NEW SUV...I REALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE, AND WANT TO RETURN IT!*AK