2008 Hyundai Tucson
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 43 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 21 Tucson model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 5 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Campaign 13V113000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
7 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Wheels, Service brakes, Jul 21, 2023, fire
#1. The airbag light comes on saying the passenger airbag is not connected (something like that). #2. Braking lights did stop working and stayed on while the car was turned off. I never received any recall notice of this and we fixed it ourselves. #3. And most important and dangerous! The back driver's side wheel froze up and started to catch on fire. We had the Caliper, and several other surrounding parts changed and the master cylinder when it almost caught fire again. A mechanic could not figure it out. I did a lot of research and discovered the problems with the ABS, which I strongly believe this is the problem. I cannot drive it at all. The emergency brake is like mush and does not work at all. I have now read of these cars catching fire from the ABS and people have died! My car is a 2008 and not the year of the car that has been recalled. But my 2008 is doing the same thing. My special needs son and I could have been killed! Flaming red inside the tire area. We threw bottles of water on it so it wouldn't catch on fire and catch all the other cars and buildings on fire. Please help! Also, the ECS light comes on for no reason. I'm afraid of this car and I'm afraid to sell it to someone who may be killed by it. We thought we fixed this problem in 2020 but it started catching on fire again in 2022 and had not been driven since Aug. 2022 since the last fire flames and stinky smoke that comes out from the back tire area.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jun 30, 2023
I took the car to my mechanic to get brake pads because car was pulling to the left upon braking and he informed me the ABS module was bad and was not distributing brake fluid to the right front wheel. I called Customer Care Center for Hyundai and they informed me Tuscan models are not included in the ABS module recall event. Yet the information printed on all hyundai ABS recalls threaten a possible fire safety concern. I want to file a complaint because the ABS brake systems are all the same on all hyundai models. Please address my safety issue asap.
Service brakes, Dec 13, 2017
ON 18 OCTOBER 2017 BRAKES FAILED ON A HILL IN TRAFFIC WITH RED LIGHT AHEAD. 43903 MILES ON THE CAR. MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER AS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SOMEHOW I CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE AND GOT IT TO STOP. DIAGNOSED AS BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES RUPTURED. ALL 5 BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAUSE WAS CORROSION. STEERING GEAR ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Steering, Service brakes, Nov 21, 2017
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. BRAKE LIGHT AND EMERGENCY BREAK LIGTH WENT ON - ON DASHBOARD. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 3 DAYS. AT 5 MPH, 10MPH AND 25MPH. LUCKILY THESE WERE ON CITY SIDE STREETS AND 1X WHILE PARKING. TYPICALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN WHILE BEGINNING OR POST BRAKE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 26, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AT APPROXIMATELY 5 -10 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY DIAGNOSED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 14, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUSCON. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND THE STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATED. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DEACTIVATE THE ESC BUT TO NO AVAIL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SHE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,100.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 18, 2010
DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW IN DECEMBER 2009 AND TWICE IN JANUARY 2010. I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT STOP THE CAR WITHIN 20 TO 30 FEET OF THE CAR AHEAD. I HAVE TO DIVERT OFF ROAD TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND INCIDENTS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS PERFORMING FINE. *TR