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, Feb 25, 2025
I reported the vehicle to Dealer for above oil consumption, which they confirmed with service check of oil level. Vehicle often stammered and failed to accelerate upon purchase. This vehicle stammered and Engine began to smoke. Vehicle could started first, turned unit off. Vehicle is being towed to shop for diagnostic results.
Engine, Feb 6, 2025
The exhaust manifold and turbocharger assembly have cracked, causing exhaust gases—including carbon monoxide—to leak into the cabin. This issue was confirmed by diagnostic testing at Burns Hyundai. The defective component is still installed on the vehicle and has been inspected upon request, costing me over $200 without any suggested reimbursement after I already told them the problem before testing. The cracked exhaust manifold allows carbon monoxide to enter the vehicle’s interior, posing a serious risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to both the driver and passengers. Additionally, the vehicle’s engine performance has been negatively affected, which could lead to unexpected failures while driving. Yes. Burns Hyundai conducted diagnostic testing and confirmed the issue, identifying cracks in both the exhaust manifold and turbocharger assembly. Despite this confirmation, Hyundai corporate has refused to cover the repair under warranty. The vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by a Hyundai dealership service center (Burns Hyundai), and the issue has been reported to Hyundai corporate for review. No inspections have been conducted by law enforcement or insurance representatives at this time. Yes. Prior to the diagnosis, I experienced engine performance issues, including reduced power and inefficiencies, which I reported to Burlington Hyundai in 2021, when the vehicle was still under warranty. At that time, the exact cause was not properly addressed. The problem has since worsened, leading to the recent discovery of the cracked manifold. No specific dashboard warning lights were illuminated for this issue.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 4, 2025
Vehicle has shown signs of engine failure for the past two years, all indicating impending need for engine replacement in alignment with engine recall that was issued for vehicle (customer case # [XXX]). Vehicle has been seen for diagnostics related to this problem where both Hyundai in Fredericksburg as well as Springfield Virginia confirmed that the engine was failing. Both dealerships refused to service car (which was under full warranty) because they were prioritizing cars who had already experienced full engine failure. Dealership advised that they could do nothing per the manufacturer until the vehicle experienced full engine failure. They acknowledged that it was a safety risk to myself, passengers & other drivers. The engine has now completely failed, leaving me stranded on [XXX] in the cold winter months & having to pay to have the vehicle towed. It is apparent from my service history report that I took all due diligence in attempting to have Hyundai attend to the engine of this vehicle while under warranty and they flat out refused, citing multiple different reasons. I am requesting a safety inspector come to investigate both the dealerships, the service report history, and the vehicle itself. My legal team is at this point just waiting for me to be offered engine replacement (out of pocket per Hyundai) and once that transaction is complete we are fully prepared to file suit for negligence. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Structure, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 14, 2024
All my doors stick and sometimes I have to fight with my car to even get a door open. Also, when trying to accelerate sometimes my throttle response is slow and i will not move for a few seconds.
Engine, Dec 9, 2024, fire
On [XXX], I purchased a 2016 Hyundai Tucson Sport, at the Landover-Jaguar South Hills dealer in Canonsburg, PA. On [XXX] the “check engine” light came on. Since I was 2 hours from home, I purchased a code reader to assess the issue. It read “A P0420 code”. I researched potential reasons for this code but returned the car to the dealer who performed additional checks and gave the car a “clean bill of health”. On [XXX], I was driving home from about 16 miles away and lost power. A slew of dash lights came on, and I was forced to pull over. I smelled something burning. As I stopped, the smoke from the engine became apparent. The car right behind me pulled up and asked if I knew my car was on fire. Another bystander pulled over and extinguished the fire in my engine. This happened on one of the busier roads in the area and if the vehicle exploded it could have been much worse for all of us. This vehicle is currently sitting at Bowser Hyundai in Pittsburgh and is available for inspection. This engine fire and fail is not a maintenance issue but is clearly a result of a manufacture issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Nov 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 139,994.
Engine, Nov 21, 2024
9/11/24 the 2016 Hyundai Tucson had a knock in the engine, the car was towed to beaverton Hyundai for inspection and I was told that it was Rod Bearing failure that caused engine failure and that this was a known issue for Hyundais Theta II engines and it would be $18k repair. Hyundai just settled a billion dollar class action lawsuit for rod bearing failure where check engine and oil lights failed to illuminate. I asked for a PA to be submitted to Hyundai motors America, as suggested by my usual shop Dick’s Hillsboro Hyundai(whom didn’t have availability soon enough). The PA was denied stating “this is normal wear for a vehicle at 70k miles and it’s out of warranty.” This repair is not a cause my the consumer, but by a manufacturer defect. And I should not be expected to replace the engine at $15k after paying $20k 3 years ago when I bought the car. Hyundai is being negligent.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Nov 15, 2024
Three weeks ago my dash board lit up like an orange Christmas Tree, with "ABS failure" warnings. I found the Hyundai recall notice in our car file. It said that when the dash warnings appeared, the danger of an engine fire was imminent and that should contact the Dealer that I bought the car from (Hyundai Motors- Naples, Florida-USA). I did so. personally. An appt. was scheduled. This morning (Fri. 11/15/24)upon arrival, a pleasant young woman informed me that Hyundai sent out lots of notices like this, but they didn't apply to my vehicle. I showed her the recall notice with my car's Vin number printed on it. She went back to her boss who told her "We fixed that for him three years ago," Now, I am not certain of anything, but I NEVER brought the car in for an ABS system fix three years ago. I didn't know that I even had an "ABS" system until three weeks back, when the dash board lit up. Politely, I asked the young woman to bring my car back out, as we were done. She offered to make another appointment to "look" at the dash indicators." I said" No, we are done." So, now what do I do? Is the car safe to drive or not? I own and operate an older Hyundai Santa Fe as well. I would be appreciative of your advice. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. The Tucson is a good car. I just don't want it to blow up on me. [XXX] , Florida-USA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Nov 7, 2024
While stopped at a traffic light trying to make a left turn. I pressed the gas pedal and I did not move. The engine revved up then kicked into second gear. The delay in shifting gears almost caused a crash. This has been an ongoing issue since I purchased the vehicle and surprisingly has not caused an accident yet. It always seems to happen when I am waiting to make a left turn, stopped at a traffic light or stopped at a stop sign. There has to be a underlying issue with this type of engine. I am not the only one that complains about this issue. I feel like it is only a matter of time until this causes an accident. I do anticipate this happening while I am driving and try to give myself enough time when making a left turn for a slight delay in shifting into first gear.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 1, 2024
When accelerating, like taking off from a red light or through a turn, my car begins to shake like it’s unable to change gears correctly, and sometimes leads to the car stalling in the middle of the street and intersection putting my in danger of being hit from other drivers. It’s also happened that when I press the gas after being stopped at a light, my car RPM goes up but I don’t move and then the car jolts forward quickly. This has been happening for years and when I take it to Hyundai they tell me “that’s just how the car runs” which seems incredibly unsafe.
Engine, Oct 24, 2024
There two incidents where I was driving in the highway and my car died mid driving. It put my life on risk twice. Took it to the mechanic and was told that my car was leaking oil and caused my car to have an engine misfire. My car is un drivable. There were no engine or oil lights that appeared prior to the incident and I always got my regular oil changes and had put in more oil myself. Hyundai refused to pay to the engine replacement even through this is a known issue. I’ve only had the car for two years and it’s under 100k miles.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 3, 2024
My backup, my reverse is not working after 30 minutes the car is running.
Engine, Oct 1, 2024
Random engine failure. Our safety was put at risk because our car randomly stopped working while going 70 miles per hour on the interstate. The problem was confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent service center. Our check engine light came on and within 10 minutes our car was completely broke down on the side of the road.
Engine, Sep 27, 2024
Ongoing engine problems with an oil consumption issue for the duration of first having the car (2021-2024). That is common with this year of Hyundai. Hyundai Dealership won’t replace engine until warranty is up and you are left with a car that doesn’t run and a quote for a $14k engine.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 26, 2024
I had my top engine block (not sure why not a full engine replacement) replaced under warranty June 2023. Shortly after the fix my AC unit stopped working. Once I got my AC unit fixed, about 1.5 months after my engine was not performing. My car would not turn over and when it did, it was in limp mode and would not run properly. I had it towed to dealership who could not find the issue until after they took out of the bay and went to move it, it wouldn't start. They replaced the crankshaft positioning sensor and it wasn't covered under the extended warranty. The top engine block only has 10k warranty which is fast approaching. Took car home and when accelerated past 60 car shakes and when i brake car shakes. Now car cabin smells of gas. All cars with KM are having multiple issues. Dealership not calling back regarding gas issue and has not responded to if they touched my tires. Local Mechanic said all my wheels were unbalanced.
Engine, Sep 9, 2024
-FIRST DIAGNOSED AS ROD BEARING FAILURE BY INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER. SECOND DIAGNOSIS OF ROD BEARING FAILURE MADE BY HYUNDIA DEALERSHIP. -COULD NOT ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, COULD NOT MOVE MY CAR TO SAFETY, TOW TRUCK HAD TO BE CALLED TO MOVE VEHICLE TO SAFETY, FURTHER TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. WAS REQUIRED TO PUT MYSELF IN DANGER (IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC) TO GET HELP. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND NO LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON. -CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. -MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO HELP SINCE NO RECALL LISTED FOR MY VEHICLE AND SINCE OUTSIDE WARRANTY PERIOD, THOUGH ALMOST ALL OTHER ENGINE MODELS FOR MY VEHICLE HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME DIAGNOSIS (ROD BEARING FAILURE). -NO WARNING LAMPS WHATSOEVER TO NOTIFY ME OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG-BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER MY CAR LOST ACCELERATION.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the low oil and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle had been taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the engine oil had been totally consumed. The contact was made aware of coolant intrusion into the engine and that the pistons were misfiring. The mechanic stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the Extended Warranty on the vehicle did not cover excessive oil consumption. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Engine, Jul 30, 2024
I was driving in the main road with my grandkids and the vehicle just shut down . I bought it in November of 2023. I brought it back to carmax because it was hesitating and not acting properly and it was within my 90 day warranty and they said nothing was wrong . Motor seized and turbo no good a few months later and I owe 19000 on this car and they refuse to replace the motor since I’m second owner without a warranty they were suppose to give me . I had to get people to push my car to the side and wait 2 hours for a tow and now the garage says it’s 10-11000for a motor . Carmax just said they would pay for labor charges but that still leaves me with a hefty bill on top of what I owe . I told them to just take the car and give me another or pay for the motor and they refuse . My cars now sitting at my house because I can’t afford a motor . It’s a 1.6L motor with turbo . That price is a used motor :(
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 9, 2024
Oil consumption is excessive it has caused the engine to have a knocking noise even though routine oil changes have been up to date. Yes available for inspection. This may cause the engine to seize at any given point while in motion. No, I have not been able to take the vehicle to a dealership yet. No, vehicle has not been inspected. No, no check engine/warning light has turned on. Knocking noise began June 28th 2024.
Engine, Jun 26, 2024
The car started making noises. There were no warning lights and we drove to the Hyundai dealership in South Charleston, WV, where we were told it needs a new engine. The car is under warranty and Hyundai has denied the claim. Luckily we made it to the dealership before the car stopped. We had no indication there was a problem. We were traveling from out of state when this happened. An engine should not suddenly die with no warning. We have all the maintenance records.
Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 19, 2024
Passenger door lock-right rear door will not unlock from outside or inside
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 1, 2024
Ever since I bought my vehicle off the lot, my oil has been burning and/or leaking from the engine. I have been having to put oil in every 2-3 weeks. Also as a result of the oil problem, the oil gets on the spark plugs and coils and erodes them causing them to burn out every 6 months. The first instance I had with this problem was on a road trip to Texas from Tennessee alone. All four spark plugs began faltering on the highway where the speed limit was 75mph, easily a dangerous situation for a malfunctioning engine. I had to pay to repair my vehicle the next day and it totaled to a little under $600. I have been checking for recalls on my specific vehicle for months but have seen none, despite there being similar recalls on other Hyundai vehicles. The electrical problem I’ve been experiencing is the windows start falling in to the doors or don’t roll down at all. Currently I have three windows with this problem, one of which I have had repaired.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, May 28, 2024
Internal engine failure; no compression cylinder. My vehicle was affected by the Tucson Dual Clutch Transmission Reprogramming recall. In higher ambient temperatures and specific operating conditions, the transmission clutch application logic can result in a delayed engagement when accelerating from a stop, and the vehicle would not accelerate. Inability to move the vehicle in traffic. The car is well maintained and in excellent shape. They estimated the cost to replace the engine at $14,000! and Hyundai Dealer Larry Miller denied any help with the repair cost.
Engine, May 16, 2024
Engine is being replaced due to excessive oil consumption. First sign was engine knocking in November 2022, which resolved with oil change. July 2023, engine knocking was heard again, Hyundai dealer said car came in with no oil. Had oil changed / filled, was advised to bring car back in 1000 miles. December 2023, brought car back to dealer after ~1000 miles, no knocking but oil was 2 quarts below spec. Ladder frame was resealed and ladder frame o-ring replaced. Oil was refilled, oil pan and oil dip stick both sealed for oil consumption test. Feb 2024, car brought back to dealer after ~1000 miles, no knocking but oil was 1.8 quarts low. Combustion chamber cleaning was performed and oil refilled. Oil pan and oil dip stick both sealed for another oil consumption test. Early May 2024, car brought back to dealer after ~1000 miles, oil still apparently quite low (no details provided by dealer). Engine replacement approved by Hyundai corporate in mid-May 2024.
Engine, May 13, 2024
I was driving to work Tuesday and noticed that my car wasn't accelerating and losing speed, pulled over and as soon as I came to a stop, it dies. I got it towed to my mechanic, they said I was out of oil and throwing a p1326 code for the ksds. I'm not sure how that is possible, cause I changed the oil a month prior on April 6, this happened May 7. Mechanic put more oil in and I was taking it home. I noticed a funny noise and took it back to my mechanic; got there and it started knocking and cut off as soon as I stopped again. Mechanic did another diagnostic and it threw the code again. Got it towed to the dealership and I'm now waiting on them. Apparently it's the engine, they have been having lots of issues with them.