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: service brakes
34 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 4, 2022
Recalls for my model
Service brakes, Sep 15, 2021
The ABS and Master Cylinder both had a pressure leak which caused the brakes to not engage. The sensor light also never activated to indicate a problem. While driving down the road my brakes would not engage unless I began to pump them, and even then they were unpredictable. We do not currently have the old parts as it was disposed of by the mechanic we went to. The independent mechanic was able to replicate the problem when the car was at a standstill in the shop. It was not inspected by anyone but the independent mechanic. There was no warning prior to this issue occurring. It started out small and I reported it to my mechanic but they could not replicate it. However within a time frame of 3 weeks, it was very severe and deemed unsafe to drive. P
Structure, Service brakes, Engine, May 23, 2019, crash
HIGHWAY, BRIDGE, FOLLOWING SIGNIFICANTLY FAR BACK. CAR STOPS AHEAD AND I BRAKE IN PLENTY OF TIME (MY SON WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND CAN ATTEST TO THAT). CAR BRAKES BUT VERY SLOWLY, NOT IN TIME SO WE HIT THE STATIONARY CAR AND THEN WE WERE HIT MUCH HARDER FROM BEHIND. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY FILLED WITH SMOKE WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO THE AIR BAGS BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW ANY BETTER. VERY SCARED, I SCREAMED FOR THE KIDS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. SMOKE WAS GONE BY THE TIME POLICE ARRIVED. WE WERE OK, MY SON AND I HAD SORE RIBS AND WHILE TALKING WITH POLICE MY LEFT HAND WAS BURNING FROM SOMETHING. NOTHING WAS VISIBLE SO I SAW KNOW POINT IN TELLING ANYONE. IT LEFT A RASH AND WITHIN TIME IT PEELED AND NOW IS BACK TO NORMAL. A FEW DAYS LATER, HAD SOME HEADACHES. WENT TO THE ATHLETIC TRAINER AT OUR SCHOOL (I AM A TEACHER) AND WAS PUT ON CONCUSSION PROTOCOL. CAR WAS TOTALED. THE FRONT LOOKED LIKE AN ACCORDION AS WE WERE PUSHED SIGNIFICANTLY INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT BY THE CAR WHO HIT US FROM BEHIND. I WAS SO RELIEVED THAT EVERYONE WAS OK THAT I REALLY DID NOT THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL RECALL NOTICE CAME FOR THE CAR WHICH OF COURSE WAS ALREADY GONE. ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH "OIL LEAKS AND POSSIBLE SPONTANEOUS FIRES, INCREASING RISK FOR ACCIDENT" IS THE WORDING ON THE RECALL.
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, 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
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Mar 28, 2013
COMMENT: I HAVE BROUGHT IN MY TUCSON FOR THE CLUNKING TRANSMISSION ISSUE 5 TIMES NOW. EACH RETURN TO THE SERVICE CENTER RESULTS IN A CANNOT DUPLICATE RESPONSE. 1. ON THE MORNING OF 28 MARCH 2013, APPROXIMATELY 20 SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, A LOUD MECHANICAL CLUNK WAS HEARD AND FELT FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT RESPOND, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AND THE P,R,N,D INDICATOR IN THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY WENT BLANK. THE CAR WAS SHIFTED INTO P, A LOUD MECHANICAL CLUNK' WAS HEARD AND FELT FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CRUNCH'. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP. 2. RECALL SERVICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE COUPLING PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXIBITING THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGE AND REENGAGE SYMPTOM WHILE DRIVING UNDER ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A DAY UNDER ANY INCLINE OR FLAT CONDITION WHILE ACCELERATING. 3. WHILE ACCELERATING UP HILL, SPECIFICALLY UP HILL WHILE ACCELERATING UP TO 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL DOWN SHIFT TO CLIMB THE HILL. UNDER 2 CONDITIONS 1. CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, 2. CONSTANT ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPLICATION.THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RE-UPSHIFT ONCE THE HILL HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND KEEPS AN ELEVATED RPM RANGE OF APPROXIMATELY 3000 RPM EVEN WHILE ON LEVEL GROUND WHILE PASSING TAX AND REVENUE. THE RPMS DO NOT LOWER AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UP SHIFT UNTIL EITHER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL), OR THE ACCELERATOR IS LIFTED. NOTE: THE ENTIRE TIME THIS SITUATION IS OCCURRING THE ECON GREEN LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHILE DEPARTING INTERSECTION. THE TRANSMISSION ROBLEM HAS CONTINUED AND GROWN WORSE WITH EXAPNDING PROBLEMS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 29, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 5 MPH OVER ROAD BUMPS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY LOSE BRAKING POWER FOR ONE TO TWO SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,700.
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