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: vehicle speed control
5 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Dec 30, 2021, crash
In October of 2020 I was pulling into a parking space and my car accelerated and crashed into a light pole resulting in injury to both my husband and myself. He is 91 years old and shattered his upper arm. We had the vehicle fixed and checked out and was told all was fine. About June of 2021 I took the car in for a recall on the brake lights to the Hyundai dealership and told them of the first incident and asked them to check and was told that all was fine. On December 23rd 2021, the same thing happened when I was pulling into my parking space at home. When it accelerated, I had both feet on the brake and ended up hitting a wall damaging the car again. Fortunately, this time injuries were minor. There were no warning lights, messages or symptoms before these two incidents happened. I am concerned that others will be put at risk if this happens again or to anyone else with one of these vehicles. I might add that with these accidents, the airbags did not deploy. The first was a significant crash which should have deployed the airbags.
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Oct 13, 2011
MY 2008 V6 TUCSON HAS STALLED WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC NUMEROUS TIMES.IT USUALLY STARTED RIGHT BACK UP BUT THE LAST TIME IT WOULD START BUT NOT STAY RUNNING. THE CAR ALSO CHUGS WHEN I RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL AT AROUND 45 MPH AND IT DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY DURING REGULAR DRIVING. I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS UNRELIABLE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TAKING IT ON LONG TRIPS. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER TWICE AS IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE MASS AIR SENSOR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY TOLD ME THEY FOUND WIRES THAT WERE LOOSE AND THAT THEY CLEANED A GROUND. THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING ANY BETTER AND I EXPECT THE STALLING PROBLEM TO START AT ANY TIME. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THE FACT THAT HYUNDAI CANNOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY OR SAFELY. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Aug 30, 2011
OWNER (HYUNDAI TUCSON 2008 GLS) HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPRESENTATIVE IS THE WORSE. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN CUTTING OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIME INDICATING THE CAR CUT-OFFS WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER IN 2009 COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CUT-OFF AND NOT PICKING UP SPEED. THE DEALER OURISMAN HYUNDAI (LAUREL) SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THERE IS A VALUE THAT ALLOWS THE AIR FLOW INTAKE FOR THE VEHICLE NOT OPENING UP PROPERLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY; THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. AGAIN THE VEHICLE WENT BACK IN FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CUTOFF. THEIR EXPLANATION, THE GAS TANK WAS NOT TIGHT. IN 2010 THE VEHICLE CUTOFF WITH WARNING AND NOW IS CUTTING OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TO DATE THE VEHICLE HAS CUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING MORE THAN 10 TIMES TO INCLUDE AUGUST 16, 2011 (SPEED 10 MPH), AUGUST 17, 2011 (SPEED 15 MPH), AUGUST 23, 2011 (SPEED 20 MPH) AND AUGUST 29, 2011, (SPEED 60 MPH) WITHOUT WARNING. EACH TIME, I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AS I MENTIONED TO THEM, THE VEHICLE CUT-OFFS WHEN IT WANTS TO WITHOUT WARNING. THE CUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE AUGUST 29, 2011(AT 60 MPH) 7:45AM CUT-OFF WAS FORTUNATE THE VEHICLE IN THE BACK DID NOT REAR END ME. THE VEHICLE CUTOFF, AGAIN ON AUGUST 29, 2011 AT 5:45 PM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH THE DEALER EACH TIME, HOWEVER THEY CANNOT DUPLICATION OF LOCATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WITH MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM. THE JULY INCIDENT WAS THE FIRST TIME. THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALER TRYING TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 09/08/11*LJ *TR UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Mar 23, 2010
ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI TUSCON, PURCHASED AT FITZGERALD'S, WHICH YOU HAVE SERVICED IN THE PAST. YESTERDAY (3/21/10) WHEN ON A SHORT ROAD TRIP I STOPPED FOR GAS. ON STARTING, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN (WITHOUT ACCELERATOR PRESSURE) TO AN IDLE RPM OF 5000 WHILE IN "PARK". IT DID THIS REPEATEDLY. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN GEAR ONLY BY SHIFTING IT RAPIDLY INTO DRIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING, BEFORE THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. THE CAR WOULD THEN MAINTAIN A ROAD SPEED OF AROUND 60 MPH ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ACCELERATOR PRESSURE IF THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED. THANKFULLY, THE BRAKES WOULD SLOW THE CAR, BUT AT A STOP (WHILE IN DRIVE) THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE AT 2000 RPM REQUIRING MARKED BRAKE PRESSURE TO KEEP IT FROM ACCELERATING FORWARD. IF PLACED IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE TO AROUND 5000 RPM. IT DID THIS CONTINUOUSLY AND REPEATEDLY OVER A 6 HOUR PERIOD OF TIME. THIS AM (THE FOLLOWING MORNING) THE CAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY! I AM IN SYRACUSE FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS AND WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED IN THE DC AREA, IF IT CONTINUES TO FUNCTION SATISFACTORY IN THE INTERIM. OBVIOUSLY, THIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS AND RINGS OF THE TOYOTA FIASCO. I CALLED HYUNDAI MOTOR CONSUMER ASSISTANCE (800-633-5151) TO REGISTER THE CONCERN, BUT WAS PLACED ON HOLD INTERMINABLY AND NEVER GOT THROUGH. I WILL FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO THEM VIA LAND MAIL AS WELL AS TO THE NATIONAL SAFETY TRANSPORTATION BOARD. PLEASE REGISTER THIS CONCERN IN YOUR RECORDS. I PLAN TO BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE WHEN I RETURN TO MARYLAND. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Tires, Jun 6, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE AS IF IT WERE ON ICE WHILE DRIVING ON DRY LAND. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SURGE FROM APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH TO 35 MPH. THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHERE THE WHEEL WOULD SLIDE, WOULD DROP AND BANG AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STRUCK. A SECOND VEHICLE THAT SHE TEST DROVE AT THE DEALER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT NO FAILURES COULD BE FOUND. THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. ON MAY 24, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR TIRE LOCKED AND WAS DRAGGED ALONG BY THE REMAINING THREE TIRES. THE VEHICLE ALSO SURGED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,436 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 330.