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: engine
429 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Jan 11, 2022
The Engine block overheated and seized causing a connecting rod to break and eject from the bottom of the vehicle. I was driving down a highway when this happened with no indication or check light of the problem on the dashboard. I heard a snapping noise which was the connecting rod breaking and then ejecting out of the engine and then the engine smoked, and the car immediately lost acceleration on a packed highway and had I not responded quickly - I would have caused a serious accident. I had the car towed to a repair shop initially and they diagnosed it as engine seizure with massive engine failure and they told me to send it to Hyundai dealer in Algonquin IL, which was where they confirmed the diagnosis - it seemed suspicious to me as I have had all maintenance done with Hyundai besides my tires. They told me the engine overheated and seized which caused the connecting rods to snap, I had visited my dealership recently the prior month for an oil change and they did not indicate any major problems with my vehicle. The car had to be towed to my local dealership McGrath City Hyundai as I have no way to drive to the other dealership as it was so far way. I'm waiting now almost half a year for an engine replacement and no word from the manufacturer or dealership on this matter.
Engine, Jan 6, 2022, fire
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 65 - 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and there was smoke coming from the bottom of the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle made abnormal sounds. Upon the vehicle being placed onto the tow truck, there was oil leaking from underneath the vehicle onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with rod bearing failure in the lower part of the engine, which caused a hole in the engine block. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Latches/locks/linkages, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 6, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 55-60 mph, she heard an abnormal noise. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she was able to park on the side of the road before the vehicle was seized. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, started to experience failure with the brakes. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that the VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V543000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics). The dealer completed the recall repair however, the failure with the brakes recurred. Additionally, the rear driver’s side door failed to open. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,055.
Engine, Jan 3, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while his daughter was driving 25 MPH, she heard an abnormal noise. The contact stated multiple unknown warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to another daughters' apartment. The contact spoke to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The dealer had the vehicle towed to their location to be diagnosed which was still pending. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,933.
Engine, Dec 28, 2021
At the end of November 2021, my oil change light came on, which was odd because I was not due for an oil change. Brought the car in, they changed my oil and the light was gone. Barely a week later, the oil light came on again. I had some guys at work check it and they said I barely had any oil. I scheduled another appointment but never made it. I was driving on the highway when my car starting shaking uncontrollably and dropped down to barely 20mph. I almost created a pileup as cars behind me were swerving out of the way. I was almost hit multiple times and could barely get my car over to the breakdown lane. My check engine light also came on as my speed dropped. I had it towed to a nearby independent garage where the mechanic told me the diagnostic codes showed that I had misfired cylinders. He suggested I bring it to a Hyundai dealership to submit a claim as he knew that those type of engines were having issues. I had it towed again to the nearest Hyundai dealership, where they confirmed that 2 of the cylinders had failed. Hyundai confirmed with me that they had every record of me coming in to the dealership to get any required maintenance done on the car, yet the engine dies when it barely goes over 100,000 miles. And to top it off, when I asked for an estimate for repair, they quoted me $17,000 to fix it!
Engine, Dec 22, 2021
I was at a stoplight waiting to turn right. When there was a safe break in traffic I began the right turn, but the engine made a clunking noise and stopped accelerating in the middle of the road. At this point, cars were getting close to me and my car wasn't speeding up, so I turned on my hazard lights and managed to inch onto the shoulder. I had my 5 month old baby in the car with me, so his safety, my safety, and the safety of others on the road were at risk. We took the car to our local Hyundai dealership and they said they couldn't diagnose the issue unless they took the engine apart. They checked all of the fluid levels and electrical connections, the battery, all of that was normal but we didn't have the $500+ they wanted to take the engine apart, so that did not get checked. This car had less than 100,000 miles on it and was in great shape. We had it for less than a year and did not even drive it every day. There were no warning lights or messages or anything to let me know that there was a problem. The engine starting making that clunking noise about five minutes before it died. I was on the highway and got off the nearest exit to check for problems but the car stopped moving before I could get someplace safe to take a look. Other than that, there was no indication of any issue, and no issues spotted during any routine maintenance/oil changes.
Engine, Dec 13, 2021
I had the same problem over and over again. Did not show any used oil at that time. Between oil changes, the car was 2.5 quarts low again. There is no evidence of leaks and no smell or smoke from the exhaust no lights indicating the is a problem. My engine is beyond repairs and must be replaced. The car is housed in my daughter's garage because I am unable to pay for a rebuilt or new engine.
Engine, Dec 12, 2021
Started having issues with acceleration after getting gas. Thought it may have been bad gas. Took to independent mechanic who changed all spark plugs, coil packs, catalytic converter. Next month during regular oil change (every 3000 miles), tech told me that I was low on oil and that it looked as if the engine was burning oil. He stated that he had seen multiple engines from Tuscons burning oil and to get in touch with dealer.
Engine, Dec 2, 2021
While driving on the freeway in high traffic, my vehicle suddenly shut off. I re-started it and exited the freeway and drove to a mechanic. Mechanic said vehicle was almost completely out of oil , but there was no visible oil leak. He heard a engine knock and after investigating, found the engine was consuming large amounts of oil and caused damage to the engine. There were no warning indications.
Engine, Nov 12, 2021
I need to let you know my 2016 Hyundai Tucson is using oil so bad it's getting out of control. No matter what we do it continues to happen. It has been using more has then it use to also. Its getting ridiculous. I love my car but I'm ready to go back to a different make all together if they don't do something to fix these issues. My Tucson is not the only one that does it. I have a family member who has to put a new engine in here due to this. I can not afford to buy my car and then turn around and have to put a new engine in it. Something needs done asap. I'm contacting a lawyer due to the many other issues not listed. Like it trying to die going down the highway. This has been going on since around June 2021
Engine, Nov 12, 2021
Purchased the car new. A year or so into ownership the car began to bog down upon acceleration for a dead stop (stop lights, etc). I voiced my concern multiple times when I took the car to the dealership for regular services. I was told this is just the way this turbo performs. No reason to be concerned. I almost got his a few times due to this issue. again voiced my concerns was told the same thing over and over again. The next issue was when i would turn the oil light would flicker on and off. Still was told probably nothing but a short somewhere. Then we checked the oil and it was down a quart. took it in to the dealership they changed the oil and said to just "keep an eye on it". 3 weeks later the engine completely failed and seized. Had to have the car towed, paid that out of pocket. That was in July. Still no repairs done, they say they do not have a loaner car to give me and if I want a rental I would have to pay for it out of pocket and once the repairs are done and I have my car back I could contact Hyundai to possibly be reimbursed. This is so ridiculous! This engine should have been a recall as far back as 2017! So all summer we had to drive our old backup vehicle which has no ac and is not a great commuter vehicle. Someone should have to pay for all this inconvenience and cost. The date the engine completely failed is the date I have proved as the incident date.
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 11, 2021
While I was driving on the highway my check engine light started blinking. I immediately pulled off on the next exit 1/4 mile from when the light started blinking. After stopping completely off the exit the engine stalled and both the oil light and battery light popped on. I was not able to accelerate or drive it from there. An independent mechanic who towed it to their shop said there was no oil in the engine. This is impossible because I had plenty of time left before the next oil change. A week prior to this incident we took the car to the Hyundai dealership to fix a recall problem. There was no indication anything was wrong with the engine or car at the time they fixed the recall issue. Somehow the oil in the engine disappeared and there was no indication from any low oil lights, engine lights, or any other notification that there was an issue. It currently has been towed to the Hyundai dealership and awaiting their diagnostic and solution. A claim has been opened with Hyundai corporate since there is a recall opened for 2016 Hyundai Tuscons.
Power train, Engine, Oct 2, 2021
Reduced engine power that caused car to suddenly stall. Check engine light and engine oil pressure light both came on. Auto shop is stating a new engine is required. Similar recall have been issued in other Hyundai Tucson
Power train, Engine, Oct 1, 2021
Engine Burns excessive oil, We change our oil every 3k miles since owning it sept 2019. I had taken it to the dealer for a repair on a separate issue and asked them to look at the engine and transmission due to noise and intermittent issues taking off. was told there was no issue and i did not need an oil change until I reach 5 k miles ( i was at 3k) and that the transmission has had the update and this is how the car operates noise and all, a week and a half later engine stalled while turning through a light at an intersection and the oil light came onfor a split second then off, no oil lights ever indicated low oil until that moment, I checked the oil and it was dry, I did an oil change, next time I reached 3k miles I took it to a shop, not the dealer and oil was dry at 3k miles, have had to refill the oil at 1500 miles since finding this out and have made multiple complaints to the dealer, they will not inspect it for what is a widely known issue unless i pay the money to do an oil consumption test that i cannot afford i have made numerous calls and have been unable to reach corporate after my first contact and delaer will not assist due to me being out of warranty even though this could have been prevented while i was in warranty and informed them i was having concerns, this company is aware of the issues these cars have and is knowing selling them when they can cause injury or death, as well none of my door handles will open the car upon first try(though this part is now under an extended warranty due to this issue) this company is knownly selling and doing everything not to recall dangerous vehicles
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 30, 2021
I'm mid may-end of may I took it in to Fort mill Hyundai the first time because it was starting to crank hard, sounded funny and my dashboard lights would come on saying I needed oil and there was an engine issue. When I idled too long the car would just die, I'd have to shift into park actually turn the car off and let it sit 1-3 mins turn it back on and all the lights would be off and it would drive like it did before it died, loud. They did testing on it and said these repairs (crankshaft sensor, spark plugs and I think an oil change) should fix it. This was less than a month after my previous oil change. Got the car back 3-4 days later and it sounded better but I still felt like it didn't drive and smooth as it should. 2-3 weeks goes by and my oil light again comes on only with sharp turns. The car over the next couple of days would do the loud cranking noise, didn't drive well over 60 and the engine light came on and gauges would go down but would be fine again once the car was turned off for a couple min like 5 . I set up an appt to hVe them look it over again because of the lights coming back on. Not even 2 days later twice going to and from work it completely died out on me (like the first time) but this time it would turn over once it was out in park and turned off correctly. First time I was in the middle of traffic at a red light waited 10 mins multiple times trying to turn the car on to move to the side and it wouldn't. I let it sit for 5 mins without trying to turn it on and it started the gauges didn't work and it was VERY loud stuck in like first gear wouldn't go above 20 mph. Pulled into a neighborhood turned it off to let it cool off again thinking it was over heating. It would crank but again lights still all on and the gear gauge didn't work (down at 0 liek the car was off). I waiting like 20 mins it still had the lights on but the gauges worked, when I tried to drive home it wouldn't go about 45mph or out of 2nd gear.
Engine, Sep 30, 2021
My Hyundai Tuscon is currently at 104,552 miles with a dead engine. I also have had to bring my car in for oil changes at 2000 miles instead of 3000, because it started eating through oil fast. The morning of my last oil change, 8/17, my engine started making loud clunking noise. After the oil change, on the way home to call my dealer, Key Hyundai of Milford, my engine shut off while in Drive on a busy street and started smoking. Luckily, I was able to move to the small shoulder and put my hazards on and force the car into park to wait for a tow. If I was not at a safe place to force my car into park the day it died, I could have been seriously injured. No engine lights or any warning lights went on on the dash at all. I had it towed to my auto shop and they said it was leaking oil all over the place, not anywhere an oil changer could access, and could not get it started. They suggested it was a faulty engine and to call Hyundai Corporate, start a case and get it fixed because at just over 100,000 miles it was still considered a young car. I bought this car at 82,000 miles used and was given no warranty on the engine. Hyundai Corporate would only open a case if I had it towed to a Hyundai dealer, and had to fight to get them to tow it themselves to Meriden Hyundai, where it currently sits. This engine failure and the problems leading up to it match exactly that of the large class action suit that is currently going on with Hyundai/Nissan/Kia motors, yet my VIN doesn't match any recalls. Back in March, I had a check engine light that lead to me paying out of pocket for a misfiring cylinder and having to replace the ignition coil and all my spark plugs. I have only had this car since October 2019, and have kept it well maintained. I have been going back and forth with Hyundai Customer Care, and they are sending me in circles and refusing to fix the problem or even attempt to help me solve it.
Power train, Engine, Sep 20, 2021
The vehicle issue began with needing an engine check light. Searched for a recall but there wasn't any engine recalls online for my VIN number. Took the car to the dealer for a recall and they did the recall on some electrical wire that was separate from the engine issue but they just overlooked the engine check light on my dashboard and made no mention of it. They actually bypassed it and so I thought maybe they fixed the issue since the light isn't present anymore. However the engine light came and the problem developed into a transmission failure. Upon pressing the gas pedal, the vehicle wouldn't run over 30 miles per hour and could only go up to 4 rpms.. I took the car to the mechanic and he replaced the transmission and he said that the root cause was a result of a burnt gasket. So we had that replace also.. After spending $5000 in repairs, the motor or the engine completely overheated and now the car is just a potato. Another issue is the doors on my car and not opening anymore. I have to manually ply them open by pulling on some mechanical wiring inside the door. Why do I have to pay for bad engineering? This is an obvious risk.
Engine, Sep 8, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 30, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate over 20 MPH while driving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with a dirty catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
Latches/locks/linkages, Engine, Aug 13, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and attempting to accelerate, there was a grinding noise coming from the vehicle. Additionally, if the accelerator pedal was not depressed a certain way, the vehicle would stall. The oil light would illuminate upon starting the vehicle and would disappear after a while. The contact would restart the vehicle 3-4 times before the vehicle would regain proper functionality. The failure occurred again while driving 50 mph. The doors failed to open from the inside or the outside except for the driver side door. However, for the driver’s door the contact had to lift the handle twice before the door would open. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 6, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle experienced slow acceleration. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter, sparks plugs, and ignition coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The local dealer requested additionally testing on the engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 28, 2021
All dashboard lights turned on and speedometer stopped working while driving. Vehicle accelerated and braked without driver input.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 20, 2021
On May 17th my engine locked up as I was pulling out of a driveway. Check Oil light came on a split second before the car locked up. It was not even enough time for me to safely turn off the engine. Upon my own inspection there was no oil on my oil stick even though car receives regular maintenance. Car is now at the closest dealership for TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. Problem was confirmed to be an issue with the bearings. Communication with the dealership has been poor but I believe inspection is available. They have not completed the repair as they are waiting on a back ordered part. I was about 1.5 hours away from home about to head over a very dangerous 2 lane bridge with no shoulder. I think I would have lost it if I broke down on the bridge.
Engine, Jul 7, 2021
When the vehicles at a complete stop and you go to press on the gas To accelerate the car moving forward, the car stutters. It happens at stop signs, stoplights, anywhere that the car is at a complete stop. This happens every single time. The car has been taken into the dealership and they say everything is fine and nothing is wrong. However I’ve taking it to a local mechanic and he said that he can definitely feel the stutter in the vehicle.
Engine, Jun 9, 2021
Oil consume really fast, or Oil burn really quick (it supposed to works 5000 miles after oil change, but its burn about 1500-2000 miles). Because of that problem engine get heat really quick and their is maximum possibility for fire (due to heat), fire may cause lack of engine oil. Power (pick up) of car is really low, it is really slow when stop and go on the road, either FREEWAY or on the Street way. If a car could not pick up or drive forward as normal standard their is great possibility for accident, in freeway more possible and street way as well. I made web based research about these problems, most of the 2016 Hyundai Tucson facing this problem, means this is not my personal problem but THERE IS PROBLEM ALL OF HYUNDAI TUSCON of THIS MODEL. So, Hyundai must solve this problem. Because they know car was defective while they sold us, but defect broke out after long time. There are several 2016 Hyundai Tucson facing typically same problem. This fact proved that car was defective while they sold it to their customers. Most of the time I change oil and do servicing at Hyundai Dealer, but they never tell me about this problem. But When I realized it my warranty was expired. I went to inspect my vehicle with Hyundai Dealer but they want to charge to cure this problem, but, if their is manufacturing defect they have to take care free of cost. Because while they sale the car they did not revealed this problem it is misrepresentation. Police, Insurance Representatives or other did not inspected my vehicle. Their were not any warning lamps message or other symptoms of the problem until now, but when we drive we can feel it. Please do the web based short research to confirm my issues, and help us to solve this problem. In addition, they did not notice me about 2020 break recall, I know this form this web site today.