2016 Hyundai Tucson
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,620 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 21 Tucson model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 14 involved a crash and 26 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 4, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.
Campaign 20V543000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringNov 21, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Campaign 16V842000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)Aug 30, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 20, 2015 through May 31, 2016 and equipped with a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission. Certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the vehicle to not move if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released repeatedly.
Inability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 149.
Campaign 16V628000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchMay 24, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015 to March 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, if the primary hood latch has been released, and the vehicle is driven, the secondary hood latch may not hold adequately secure the hood to prevent it from opening while the vehicle is in motion.
If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch cannot secure the hood, the hood may unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 145.
Campaign 16V348000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, tail lightsMar 10, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured May 26, 2015 to January 15, 2016 and equipped with an accessory trailer hitch harness either included with the accessory trailer hitch or sold as a service part. In the affected vehicles, when the vehicle's engine is running and the brake lights are illuminated, if the turn signal is activated, the trailer turn signal lights will either turn off or remain continuously illuminated (not flash). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Failure to illuminate the trailer's turn signal lights would prevent the communication of the driver's intent, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9640. Hyundai's number for this recall is 142.
Campaign 16V147000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
216 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 22, 2016
VEHICLE CONTNUES UNDER IN MOTION CITY STREEET DRIVING CONDITIONS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO NOT MOVE IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED AND RELEASED REPEATEDLY.EXACTLY AS RECALLED FOR OTHER 2016 TUSCON BUT THIS DOES NOT MATCH VIN DATABASE. DEALER DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND STATES THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN WRONG QUOTING THE DRIVERS HAND BOOK WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THE VEHICLE NOT USABLE IN STOP AND GO CONDITIONS.THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMULAR COMPLAINTS OF 2016 TUSCON THAT DID NOT FIT IN VIN NHTSA OR HYUNDAI DATABASE, OR CONTINUED TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM AFTER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED OR DEALERS DENYING THERE WAS ANY RECALL.
Power train, Electrical system, Oct 27, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE RPMS INCREASED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V628000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.
Power train, Electrical system, Oct 13, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V628000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,291.
Power train, Electrical system, Oct 9, 2016
THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO TAKE OFF IN THIRD GEAR, SHAKING EVERY TIME AND STALLING SOMETIME. IT HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AT RED LIGHTS AND HAS STALLED PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DONE 4 UPDATES TRYING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE BUT IT STILL OCCURS. ALL MANAGEMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AND AGREE THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AS A DEMONSTRATION TO ME AND THE VEHICLE DIES OUT EVERY TIME. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE RECALL DUE OUT ON OCTOBER 28, 2016 WAS ALREADY DONE ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 AND DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE.
Power train, Electrical system, Oct 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V628000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,366.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED DECELERATION AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V628000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,300.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V628000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2016
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN NORMAL AROUND TOWN TRAFFIC, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE AN ALARM BEGAN SOUNDING, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED "TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE IS HIGH! STOP". WE'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE DEALER INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY FIND NOTHING, CAN'T DUPLICATE IT, AND NO INDICATION THAT IT EVEN DISPLAYED THE WARNING. THEY SAID IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THE DCT TRANSMISSION ON THE HYUNDAI TUCSON. I'VE CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND TRIED TO ASK IF THE DEALER MAY BE CORRECT, BUT THEY SAID THEY CAN ONLY REFER ME BACK TO THE DEALER. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE TO FIND A PLACE TO "STOP SAFELY" AT THE DROP OF A HAT AS IT DEMANDS.
Electrical system, Sep 20, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 615.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 16, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V628000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 16, 2016
I PURCHESED MY NEW 2016 HYUNDAI TUSCON TURBO IN FEB. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SLUGGISH ON ACCELARTION AND AT TIMES WON'T MOVE AT ALL AFTER A STOP. IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS "UPDATES" FOR THE TRANSMISION WITH NO SUCCESS. AT TIMES IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN IN DRIVE AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHILE AT DRIVE THRUS OR ON AN INCLINE . IT REMAINED IN THE SHOP FOR ONE OF THE TIMES FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS. A HYUNDAI ENGINEER HAS INSPECTED MY CAR AND SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IT. ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD ARE NOT NORMAL, AND THEY AGREE BUT STATE THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE SERVICE DEPT HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR AND AGREE THAT IT STILL HAS THE HESITATION, BUT SAY THEIR HANDS ARE TIED UNTIL HYUNDAI HAS A SOLUTION. IT DOESN'T THROW A CODE ON ANY OF THE ISSUES. IT HAS EVEN DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP REPEATEDLY FOR THE SAME ISSUES. NOW, THIS LAST TIME, I AM GETTING A BATTERY DISCHARGE WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP FOR THAT ISSUE ALONG WITH THE SAME SLUGGISH DELAYED ACCELEARTION. I AM 100% UNHAPPY WITH THIS PURCHASE. I SEE WHERE HUNDAI IS MAKING A RECALL, BUT I AM UNSURE IF THIS NEW UPDATE IS ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER TWO MY SUV HAS ALREADY HAD. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND CERTAINLY HAS MAJOR ISSUES.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 15, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO MOVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES BECOME STUCK BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. A MONTH LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND KEPT FOR 40 DAYS BECAUSE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN ECO-MODE, WHICH WOULD HINDER THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE TO SAVE FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V628000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25.
Electrical system, Aug 20, 2016
THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL QUIT WORKING AND JUST BLOW WARM AIR. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 5 TIMES. USUALLY JUST TURNING THE SYSTEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON AFTER A FEW SECONDS WILL RESTART THE SYSTEM. ONE TIME OVER THE TIME OF THREE HOURS THE SYSTEM WOULD GO OFF AND NOT RESTART AFTER 30 MINUTES.
Electrical system, Jul 28, 2016
AFTER INSTALLING A NEW HOOD LATCH UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED THE DASHBOARD SOFTWARE UPGRADE. THE INCORRECT SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE DASH ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED. IT SEEMS THAT THE COMPANY HYUNDAI PUT IN CHARGE FOR THE SOFTWARE, FAILED TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE AND IT COULD NOT TELL THE DIFF. BETWEEN THE 2 DIFF. STYLES OF DASH ASSEMBLIES. AS OF THE 27TH OF JULY, THE DASH WILL NOT DISPLAY ANYTHING.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 24, 2016
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, THE CAR DOES NOT TRANSMIT POWER TO THE WHEELS AFTER STOPPING OR SLOWING TO A NEAR STOP - E.G. AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, MERGING INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC, OR, GOD FORBID, TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION. I WILL PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE RPMS CAN ROAR INTO THE 6000 RANGE WHILE MY CAR INCHES FORWARD AT 1-5 MPH INTO TRAFFIC. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. MOST RECENTLY THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO SUNSET BLVD IN LOS ANGELES. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFE LEFT TURN BECAME A HARROWING EXPERIENCE AS MY CAR ENTERED SUNSET AT ABOUT 1-2 MPH AS TRAFFIC CLOSED IN FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS, WITH A 6 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, NO LESS! NOT MY VIDEO, BUT A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE FROM ANOTHER TUCSON DRIVER IS HERE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=TCVTR_ZCYRS AND ANOTHER: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=TCVTR_ZCYRS PLENTY OF REPORTS OF THIS AT HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM *HTTP://WWW.HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM/2016-TUCSON-IX35-MODELS/454074-DANGEROUS-HORRIBLE-DCT-36.HTML AND YET NO ACTION FROM HYUNDAI. DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE RESPONDING VARIOUSLY WITH "WE CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM" (IT'S INTERMITTENT AND DANGEROUSLY UNPREDICTABLE), TO "SOUNDS LIKE NORMAL DCT BEHAVIOR TO ME!", TO AS MY DEALER TOLD ME, "UNTIL THE MALFUNCTIONING PART FAILS COMPLETELY, WE CAN'T ID THE PROBLEM SO CAN'T FIX IT." LETTING THAT PART FAIL MAY, LITERALLY, BE THE LAST THING I DO! STILL WORKING ON A RESOLUTION WITH HYUNDAI, BUT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND HYNUDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT AS SUCH.
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 9, 2016, fire
PURCHASED JANUARY 2016 - LIMITED AWD WITH FACTORY INSTALLED TOW HITCH. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED FLICKERING INTERIOR LIGHTS AND BOTH HEAD LIGHTS LEAKED, ONE SIDE HAS BEEN REPLACED. LATER ON DEVELOPED HARD START UPS, SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. ALONG WITH INTERMITTING FRONT SAFETY SENSORS AND A GLITCHING CENTER CONSOLE/BACK UP CAMERA. 7,500 MILES IN THE AC STOPPED WORKING FROM FREEZING OVER. TOOK TO DEALER WHILE ON VACATION AND DISCOVERED A MELTED FUSE BOX COVER AND BURNT TOW HITCH/ECU WIRES WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF CORROSION. DEALERS COULD NO CONFIRM RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TOW HITCH HARNESS, CLAIMED IT WAS NOT FACTORY INSTALLED WHEN IT WAS FACTORY INSTALLED AND EVEN ON THE ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER. WE CALLED HYUNDAI CORPORATE EVERYDAY FOR OVER A WEEK BEGGING FOR HELP WITH NO CALL BACKS. ROADSIDE WOULD NOT COVER A TOW TO THE SELLING DEALER. ENDED UP DRIVING OURSELVES AN HOUR SOUTH TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAITS FOR A HYUNDAI ENGINEER TO FLY IN AND LOOK AT IT. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS WIRING HARNESS IN OTHER MODELS, THE DEALER WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART BECAUSE IT WAS DISCONTINUED. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS CURRENTLY OUT FOR OUR CAR. WE CONSIDER THIS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE AS THE MELTING WIRES ARE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD ALONG WITH THE UNRELIABLE TRANSMISSION AND SAFETY SENSORS.