2011 Hyundai Tucson
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 124 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 21 Tucson model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 5 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineFeb 5, 2019
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Tucson vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.
A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai has notified owners, and dealers will inspect for an oil pan leak, replacing it if necessary, and install an updated oil pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 181.
Campaign 19V063000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, cooling unit and linesJan 28, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured July 22, 2010, to October 31, 2010. The affected vehicles have a transmission fluid cooler hose that may have been improperly manufactured, resulting in a transmission fluid leak.
If enough transmission fluid leaks out, the transmission may not function properly and the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission fluid cooler hose, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 25, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 139.
Campaign 16V057000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsMay 13, 2014
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured January 3, 2011, through December 23, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the air bag assembly installed in the steering wheel may come loose from its mounting.
An air bag assembly that is not properly mounted may result in an increased risk of injury to the driver in the event of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts that secure the driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 118.
Campaign 14V245000 on NHTSA.gov
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: electronic stability control (esc)
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 21, 2014
BOTH THE DOWNHILL BRAKE LIGHT AND STABILITY TRACK CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. MY CAR WOULDN'T GET OUT OF PARK, OR WHEN I GOT IT IN DRIVE, IT WOULDN'T GO BACK INTO PARK. TAKING IT TO THE SHOP TODAY, NOTICED IT MIGHT BE FROM A BRAKE SWITCH. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 19, 2013
THE DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL (DBC) INDICATOR AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) LIGHTS COME ON WHILE CAR IS IN OPERATION FOR NO APPARENT REASON - DRIVING NORMAL SPEED - ABOUT 45 MPH, IN NORMAL DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. WHEN I GO TO STOP THE CAR, THE SHIFT LEVER GETS STUCK AND CANNOT PUT IN PARK. IT TAKES A FEW TRIES AT JIGGLING THE SHIFT LEVER AND JIGGLING KEY IN IGNITION TO GET IT TO GO INTO PARK. AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE, RESTART IS NORMAL WITH THE DBC AND ESC LIGHTS NO LONGER ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE ORIGINAL TIME I NOTICED IT A FEW MONTHS AGO. DUE TO DEATH IN THE FAMILY AND OTHER ISSUES, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT INTO TO DEALER SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I NOTICED IN MARCH. I'M TAKING IT IN TOMORROW AND WILL ADVISE. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 16, 2013
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 45 MPH, I NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON AND THE DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL INDICATOR (RED) WAS ON. I RETURNED HOME, SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, RESTARTED IT, AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. UPON RETURNING HOME THE NEXT DAY FROM A TRIP, WHILE PARKING THE CAR, BOTH INDICATORS CAME ON, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. I LEFT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. I THEN TURNED THE KEY ON, PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL (TO THE FLOOR) FOR 3 SECONDS, TURNED THE KEY ON, AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE....FOR NOW. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 14, 2013
INCLINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASH, SIGNALING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. DISCOVERED THAT EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE UPON DEPRESSION OF BRAKE PEDDLE, OR WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO DISCOVERED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THIS CONDITION, THE CAR WOULD NOT ALLOW THE GEAR SHIFT TO GO INTO PARK. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR THIS VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO THE INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATORS. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 14, 2013
WHEN DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK (AM/PM) THE DBC (DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL) AND ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL I STOP AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 7, 2013
WHEN DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK (AM/PM) THE DBC (DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL) AND ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL I STOP AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I STOP, I AM UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK. WHILE IN A PANIC, I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND EACH ATTEMPT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SO I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED IT AND PUT IT IN PARK IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY. I MAY HAVE TO TRY THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I AM ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE FIRST DATE. ALSO, WHEN I SHIFT GEARS A LOUD MECHANICAL CLUNK SOUNDS WHICH JERKS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THIS EVEN HAPPENS WHEN I START OFF DRIVING AND IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND SCARY. I HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY STOP. THEN AFTER ABOUT THREE DAYS IT START ALL OVER AGAIN. I SEE THIS AS A DANGER BECAUSE I COMMUTE 56 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND I THOUGHT I WAS PURCHASING A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE BUT APPARENTLY NOT. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 11, 2013
WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC TO AND FROM WORK (AM/PM) THE DBC (DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL) AND ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL I STOP AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, WHEN I STOP, I AM UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK. I AM FORCED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN START THE CAR AND PUT IT IN PARK IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY. I MAY HAVE TO TRY THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I AM ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE DAYS IN A ROW. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID TELL ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH FOR SOME MODELS BUT MY VIN# IS NOT SHOWING A RECALL. I WILL NEED TO BRING IN THE CAR WHEN IT ACTUAL LOCKS IN GEAR. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 7, 2011
TODAY I WAS OUT IN MY 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON. TWO OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH, ONE IS FOR TRACTION CONTROL AND THE OTHER HAD TO DO WITH HILLS(SORRY MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER AND I DON'T HAVE THE BOOK TO TELL YOU THE EXACT LIGHT DESCRIPTION; ONE IS ORANGE WITH A VEHICLE AND LITTLE SKID MARKS AFTER IT THE OTHER IS RED WITH A VEHICLE GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL). I WENT TO STOP AT A STORE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK FROM DRIVE, THE FARTHEST I COULD GET IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AFTER MESSING WITH IT FOR 5 MINUTES I FINALLY GOT THE CAR INTO PARK. AFTER LEAVING THAT STORE I WENT TO GO TO ANOTHER AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND TOOK MY VEHICLE THERE. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHING ONLINE AND SEE THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE WITH TUCSONS AS PEOPLE WITH OLDER MODELS(2010 AND BACK) HAVE ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND SOME OF THEM REPORT IT'S DUE TO A BAD BRAKE SWITCH AND ONCE IT WAS REPLACED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN FEB OF 2011 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 6600 MILES. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Electric, Electronic stability control (ESC), Traction control system, Feb 17, 2011
2011 HYUNDAI TUSCON SPEED SENSOR WIRES LOCATED BEHIND TIRES. WIRE IS FULLY EXPOSED TO ANY ROAD DEBRIS, EASILY SEVERED WHICH EFFECTS ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. WIRE STICKS OUT 3 INCHES IN OPEN AIR OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE, ALSO LOCATED CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE TIRES THAT IF THEY KICK UP ANY DEBRIS IT IS IN THE DIRECT PATH OF THE WIRE. NOT HEAVY DUTY RAP OVER THE WIRE AND COULD BE BROKEN BY GRIPPING BY HAND AND PULLING ON IT. *TR