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: structure
227 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Nov 12, 2023
Back driver side door does not open at all and the passenger door only opens from the inside. If in an accident they may not be able to access me or my passengers in the vehicle. I am unaware of the cause of this issue and have not gotten it looked at by a professional.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Oct 17, 2023
Three out of four window regulators failed in my vehicle over the span of 3 months. The windows could not go down nor stay up. This became a safety hazard as I was unable to retain cool air in my vehicle during the summer months and driving at higher speeds on the highway was difficult due to the outside air siphoning into the vehicle from a small window opening. It also would have prevented me from utilizing my two front windows during an emergency situation. The failure of three regulators was unusual as my vehicle has less than 50K miles, was bought brand new in 2016, and has never been involved in an accident. It appears the regulators are faulty/defective.
Electrical system, Structure, Oct 8, 2023
Body: my vehicle has experienced a malfunction in the front passenger side door. This door does not open from the outside, regardless of it being unlocked. The failure occurs 99% of attempts to open said door. A repair was made by the dealer I purchased it from, yet the issue returned within a month. First incident: February 2022. Electrical: My vehicle has also experienced malfunctions in all four windows. The initial malfunction occurred in July 2023, when the front driver side window would not go down. Within a week of having the window regulator and motor replaced professionally, the window regulator failed again (would not go back up after being let down)-- with an additional failure in the front passenger side window regulator. The part was replaced for the second time by a different independent service provider. This time, the failure occurred when I inspected the service providers work. The part was reordered and replaced yet again. However; the service provider made me aware that the issue had occured again, shortly after they repaired it and began testing it. The window was blocked off to keep it from sliding down. The issue is now present in all four windows. Each time it is repaired, the window regulator drum gears are stripped within 3-4 uses. - Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. - failure/malfunction was inspected and confirmed by two different independent service providers. - there were no warning lights or signals aside from the initial failure leading to a failure in all four windows.
Electrical system, Structure, Aug 21, 2023
The right driver side door does not open from the outside after the car has been locked then unlocked using the key fob. Removing the key manually from the fob does not get the door to open. The only way to open the door from the outside is to leave the vehicle unlocked or to open it from the inside after going through another door.
Structure, Aug 17, 2023
The passenger rear door won't open and hasn't done so an unknown period of time. 1. In July, 2023 I brought it to Shaker Hyundai in Watertown, CT when there was a recall to update the electrical system in this vehicle. I requested they try to fix the door after the recall was complete. When I left the dealership, the door opened. I stopped approximately five miles down the road on the way back home; I was unable to open it then and it hasn't opened since. The car hasn't been inspected by the police or the insurance company, but it has been inspected by the Watertown, CT dealership. Yes, it's available for inspection. No lights. No messages, other than oil change light. Others have registered this issue here, and I want to add my voice to theirs. Clearly your organization knows how VERY dangerous it is for passengers to lack egress from the car. If this happens randomly, is it possible the remaining three of my doors will latch permanently, and what then? Please do something! In the past, I owned a DIFFERENT car whose axle broke at an odd angle because of a defective part; the mandatory recall didn't take place for an additional two years. Please don't make me and others wait. Finally, I want my the dealership from whom I purchased to take a stab at fixing it properly and permanently. Unfortunately, Danbury won't look at it since Watertown tried/failed. HELP!
Structure, Aug 14, 2023
3 of the doors on this vehicle are hard to open from the outside. The cable that runs from the outside door handle to the door latch mechanism is stretched. You must yank hard on the outside door handle several times before the door latch will release opening the door. Replacing the inner door cable system for the door latch corrects this problem. This is a very well known problem on the internet with many youtube video's showing how to replace this cable system. If this vehicle is involved in a crash it may become difficult to get the occupants out in a timely manner.
Structure, Engine, Aug 7, 2023
1.6 Turbo engine failure while on freeway. Towed to mechanic, then informed needs new engine. This vehicle seized on the freeway
Structure, Aug 2, 2023
The passenger doors have an issue where the door CANNOT be opened from the inside (or outside). This seems to be a common problem with this car since it can be found very easily on the internet. I was traveling with visitors from overseas and sometimes I was unable to open the door from the outside for them. I was lucky that only one door was affected. I think this matter should be considered a very serious defect as persons needing to exit the vehicle in an emergency would be trapped. Please consider a recall for this issue since there are many Hyundai's with this problem. Thank you for your consideration. John Sommo, Jr.
Structure, Jul 13, 2023
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP ON 7/05/23. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND WHILE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS PULLING CAR OUT HE PUT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT ROLL UP. I HAD THIS WINDOW DOWN 2 HOURS PRIOR AND HAD NO ISSUES WITH IT GOING UP. HYUNDAI OF ORANGE PARK SAID MOTOR AND WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY STRIPPED DUE TO ASSEMBLY BEING CHEAP PLASTIC. COST TO REPLACE AND GET WINDOW BACK UP IS $1400.00. HAD TO HAVE DEALERSHIP PUT UP WINDOW AND SHORE IT UP DUE TO IT BEING COST PROHIBITIVE TO REPAIR. SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY IF DOOR MECHANISM FAILS AND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. ON 1/24/23, HYUNDAI ST AUGUSTINE REPLACED DRIVE SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY AT THE COST OF 737.27 DUE TO WINDOW NOT BEING ABLE TO GO DOWN. A SEPARATE COMPLAINT WAS FILED FOR THIS OCCURENCE.
Structure, Jul 13, 2023
FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY BROKE IN WHICH WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN. REPAIRED ON 1/24/23 AT HYUNDAI OF ST AUGUSTINE FOR $737.27. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT WINDOW DOWN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY AND DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.
Structure, Jul 4, 2023
Rear passenger door will not open from inside or outside
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 3, 2023
Rear driver door does not open from the outside or inside. The doors are unlocked but will not open at all.
Structure, Jun 27, 2023
Door latch suddenly stopped working, making it impossible to open the door from either inside or outside the vehicle. Had this occurred in an emergency situation passengers could have been trapped inside. Hyundai is aware of this defect and has issued a Technical Service Bulletin and purportedly extended the warranty but there is a shortage of parts to make repairs and so they cannot effectively honor that warranty or make needed repairs. NHTSA should require a recall on this problem to inform owners of this potential hazard and force Hyundai to put more resources into correcting the defective latches and possibly avoid unnecessary loss of life.
Structure, Jun 13, 2023
About a year ago, the driver's side door stopped opening. Since the vehicle was out of warrantee, I had it repaired but do not have the invoice any longer. I didn't expect it to happen to another door. A couple of months ago, the rear passenger door stopped opening. I have had it fixed. There was no warning, the doors just stopped opening, trapping whoever was inside at the time. Of course another door could be used, but that's assuming it didn't just stop working at the same time.
Electrical system, Structure, Jun 8, 2023
Passenger doors do not physically open when unlocked from outside and inside. Known stretched cable problems, with hundreds of complaints when doing a Google search. Elderly parents cannot yank hard enough to get them open by brute force. God forbid if there was an accident, you would not be able to open to door from inside to get out and others from outside would not be able to open either to assist. Rolling death trap. Hyundai Korea knows about the door cable problem and fixes it for free. USA wants you to pay $400 per door to fix. Shame on you Hyundai USA!!!
Structure, Jun 7, 2023
Rear passenger door would not open after door is locked from inside the vehicle or outside the vehicle. Was stuck in the vehicle. Had to crawl out via other side door. Due to my size this would be a great hazard in an emergency exit situation. Have not take it to the dealer police or insurance but internet search leads to a faulty actuator. No warnings.
Structure, May 23, 2023
In the last 2 years, 3 of our 4 doors locks have failed to open the door from inside and outside. The dealer has made me bring it in to prove its broken. This is a saftey issue, now my driver's door is not working from outside and they want me to bring it it BEFORE ordering and waiting on parts. I am 70 years old and cannot climb over seats to get out. Someone is going to get trapped, and I hope it's not me. This should be a recall as they know they are failing but are waiting till it does to fix it. Any help in this would be appreciated. Thank you for your help.
Structure, May 17, 2023
Driver's side door will not open from outside even when vehicle is unlocked. It will not open with the key in the door either. I had no warning that this was going to occur, I left work at 9pm and my door would not open. Thankfully, my other 3 doors are still in working order but what happens if those fail as well? My car has 104k miles but I have only had it for 5 years and this is a part that should not fail in that time span. I have not yet taken the car to the dealer for this issue as I know the car is out of warranty and I will have to cover the cost of repair, but I believe it should be a recall with the amount of people who have posted online about having the same issue on their Hyundai Tucsons.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, May 3, 2023
-Driver side and passenger side back doors do not open from the inside or outside. They just stopped opening one day, months apart. Nothing hit them or could have caused a jam. It is available for inspection upon request. -The doors don’t open, and I could not get my dog or child from out of the backseat. -This is a recurring problem based on what I have read online. The issue has been confirmed by a mechanic. -The doors were inspected by Caliber Collision and I got a quote from them. -There were no lights or warnings to inform me this was going to happen and still none now that it has happened. -
Structure, Other or unspecified, Apr 2, 2023
The passenger read doors lock up and become unoperable. So the doors cannot be opened from the outside or the inside. This creates a massive potentially tragic situation. If your children or a senior is in the back seat and a fire or an accident occurs they will not be able to leave the car from the rear doors. Let me make this very clear. The doors jam up and will NOT open from the inside or outside no matter what the lock position is in. Also, I see evidence online of this happening to a number of people. Hyundai did not issue a recall, but the indicated that they would fix it under "extended" warranty but when i brought it in (the door was frozen shut) they said this was something else and proceeded to charge me about $500 for the repair; $250 for the part and the same for the labor. This is a common problem and because of the seriousness involving injury and potential death this should have been recalled. How frightening is it to be locked in your car after an accident or fire?
Structure, Mar 31, 2023
THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN REGARDLESS OF THE LOCK/UNLOCK FUNCTION. IT IS THE MAIN DOOR THAT MY CHILDREN USE TO GET IN/OUT OF THE CAR FOR SCHOOL, ETC. I REPORTED THIS TO HYUNDAI AND THEY JUST SAID THEY THINK IT IS A LATCH DEFECT. NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR.
Electrical system, Structure, Mar 26, 2023
When doors are unlocked, driver door outside handle will not open the door. It can be opened from the inside. No safety concern currently. Problem was reproducible by dealer technician and he stated he has a similar issue and showed me to hit below the handle with my fist. This is not a fix! When we took our Tucson for a warranty issue regarding the engine, we notified the technician of the problem and they failed to address the issue. This issue happened out of number-to-bumper warranty. I have read many forum articles by many owners that Hyundai will charge between &100 and $200 to diagnose the problem before fixing them charge for the component and labor to fix the issue. No warnings have appeared regarding the problem.
Structure, Mar 6, 2023
Passenger rear doors fail to un-lock completely , so unable to open using outside handles and inside handles. Passenger rear door completely unusable , drivers side rear door works 50% of the time after several pulls on door handles. Will not fully unlock with any switches or key fob. Safety risk in case of accident with children in the back seats.
Structure, Engine, Jan 17, 2023
Engine failure while going 70mph on the highway - huge safety issue! Spark plugs totally covered in oil and the engine has major known oil consumption issues. Also 3 of our 4 door actuators broke - huge safety issues as we have kids in our back seats in car seats. This form doesn't have enough room for the letter I have composed about the specifics of the situations. Hyundai has known issues with their engines and some are under recall. We were told ours is not under recall and they will not fix it or help at all to fix it even though many of their engines have/had the same issues as ours and those engines are under recall.
Structure, Oct 24, 2022
Driver-side rear door fails to open from the inside or the outside. Currently, the passenger seated on that side of the vehicle has to enter and exit the vehicle using the door on the opposite side, which can easily be a safety issue. Thankfully, we have not been in an emergency incident or car accident where someone has had to use that door to get out of the car in a hurry. The failure to unlock the door and open seems to stem from an actuator mechanism that is faulty. (The same issue/complaint has been mentioned by other owners, including failure of more than one door latch, e.g. https://www.hyundai-forums.com/threads/help-16-tucson-limited-intermittent-door-unlock-fob-issue.690557/#post-6162832; https://www.carproblemzoo.com/hyundai/tucson/door-latch-problems.php, ) I contacted the local Hyundai dealer about this issue and was only able to get an appointment two months out (which will be tomorrow)! I will have more details regarding the repair associated with this issue after my appointment. But it seems like this should be a safety related recall given the potential danger of being trapped in a vehicle in the event of an emergency or an accident.