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, Jun 30, 2021
The back doors will not open from the inside or the outside. I have seem multiple people complain about this and yet still not recall issued. This is a HUGE safety problem. I can't use half of my car because if I somehow get passengers back there and we get in an accident.. they are stuck. If my dog rides back there and we get in an accident and God forbid he can't jump to the front, he is stuck. This needs to be recalled ASAP. There is no reason for these door handles to just stop working. My front door handle also has to be pulled twice for me to be able to open it.
Structure, Jun 29, 2021
Several doors are unable to be opened from both the inside and outside. This is very concerning to me, as in the event of an emergency passengers (including children in car seats) will be able to evacuate the car. After some research it appears many people have this issue with different models of Hyundai vehicles from that time period and yet no recall has been put out. I have never been in an accident in this vehicle and the doors are not dented or otherwise damaged. This problem started slowly, with the door handle not opening on the first try but opening after a few pulls. Over time it got the point where it will not open at all, inside or outside. And over time this has happened with all 4 doors. The two rear doors will not open at all. The front two doors are finicky and take several tries before opening.
Structure, Jun 29, 2021
In my 2016 Tucson, the issue started with the front passenger door not opening even though you can hear the car unlocking when clicking the key fob. This issue has now started on the drivers side door, with both the key fob not opening the door as well as manually trying to open the door with the key. This is a serious safely issue and should not be happening. This issue runs the risk of someone being stuck in the car, with no way of getting to them. There was no pre warning of the issue starting. It just happened one day and from that point forward has been progressing to each door. Getting in and out of the car in the event of an accident or emergency poses an issue if the doors do not open. This is made worse by not being able to manually open the door with a key.
Structure, May 26, 2021
My rear passenger side door does not open from the inside of the car and also from the outside of the car when unlocked. This is a huge safety concern as anyone sitting in the back seat would be trapped inside the car in an emergency especially if my grandson were strapped in his car seat in the back and I had to get him out of the car as quickly as possible in an emergency. I called the dealership where I bought the car and they acted surprised even though this is clearly a known issue as I discovered while researching this problem on various blogs. I haven't taken my car to the dealership yet, I'm trying to determine if this will be covered under my 5 years/60,000 mile warranty as my car is right on the edge with my car having 55,000 miles and being 5 years and 2 months old. This problem happened very suddenly and we had no warning at all. The door worked when we left home for a trip and when we reached our first stop 60 miles later, the door would not open from inside or outside.
Structure, May 22, 2021
PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, FRONT & REAR, FAIL TO UNLOCK OR OPEN WITH THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. USING THE LOCK/UNLOCK ON THE KEY FOB DOES NOT WORK, EITHER. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.
Structure, May 18, 2021
The passenger side front and rear doors can no longer be opened either from the inside or outside even when th vehicle is unlocked. The mechanism that activates the latches seems to be working as it can be heard on both doors, but the latches themselves seem to fail frequently. This results in a safety hazard since exiting the vehicle in case of an accident where the the only side that's not blocked is the right one becomes impossible except by crawling through the door windows which may not fit the occupant(s).
Structure, May 14, 2021
BOTH REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN NEITHER FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE, THE DOOR ACTUATORS FAILED 3 MONTHS APART. I'M VERY CONCERN CHILDERN ARE INVOLVED, AND I AM NOT SAFETY CONFIDENT WITH THE OTHER TWO FRONT DOORS! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER - HYUNDAI HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE EXCEPT REPLACE THE ACTUATORS WITH THE SAME STYLE FAULTY ACTUATORS THAT WILL FAIL AGAIN - THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR SAFETY OF MY FAMILY
Structure, May 13, 2021
DOORS WON'T OPEN. DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IS FAULTY. CURRENT REPLACEMENT DOES NOT FIX... AND PROBLEM REPEATS. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO FIX AND RECALL. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR AND A CRAZY SAFETY ISSUE!
Structure, May 8, 2021
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE CHILD LOCK WAS DISENGAGED, AND NO AMOUNT OF LOCKING/UNLOCKING WOULD FIX IT. WE WERE IN THE CAR AND IT WORKED NORMALLY, THEN WHEN WE ARRIVED TO OUR DESTINATION COULD NOT GET MY KIDS OUT. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. IT HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AS NOT ONLY COULD I BIT GET MY KIDS OUT QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY, I ALSO CAN'T LET THEM OUT CURBSIDE, AND AM FORCED TO PULL THEM OUT OF THE BACK SEAT WITH CARS FLYING BY. I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS WITH ALL OF THE REMAINING DOORS FAILING, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A CHRONIC WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES, AND TUCSONS IN PARTICULAR. I'M FEARFUL THAT THE DOORS WILL JUST SEIZE UP AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.
Power train, Structure, May 5, 2021
REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES PAUSES WHEN YOU START TO PULL OFF.
Structure, May 4, 2021
REAR PASSENGER DOORS FAIL TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PRECIPITATING EVENTS TO BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HAND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. LOCKING MECHANISM, ACTUATOR, ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.
Structure, May 2, 2021
REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. IT LOCKS/UNLOCKS WITHOUT AN ISSUE, BUT THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES DO NOT WORK. MY CHILD COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Structure, Apr 30, 2021
THE DOOR ACTUATORS STOP WORKING AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR USING THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. YOU CAN HEAR THEM UNLOCK, BUT THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF THERE WERE TO BE AN EMERGENCY WHERE THE CAR NEEDED TO BE EVACUATED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, WHETHER IT IS OFF OR THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.
Structure, Apr 28, 2021
REAR VEHICLE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE, PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS. AT THE TIME OF REPAIR, THE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN. MY ELDERLY MOTHER WITH LIMITED MOBILITY WAS STUCK IN THE BACK OF THE CAR FOR OVER AN HOUR UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR DOOR OPEN. IF MY MOTHER WAS IN AN EMERGENT MEDICAL SITUATION, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HER OUT. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF A MOTHER WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND CAR SEATS WOULD MANAGE IN A SAFETY SITUATION. THIS COULD BE A SITUATION BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS ONLY MINIMALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO PAY $898.23 TO BE ABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOORS ON A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY SITUATION THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN ACROSS MANY CAR WEBSITES. WE HAVE BEEN A LONGTIME HYUNDAI CUSTOMER, AND FIND THE LACK OF RECALL FOR SUCH A GLARING SAFETY SITUATION UNACCEPTABLE. AT SOME POINT, SOMEONE WILL LOSE THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS. I STRONGLY URGE THAT THIS MATTER BE LOOKED INTO IN DEPTH, AND THAT THIS WOULD RESULT IN A SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIR TO THE DOORS THAT SPECIFICALLY STATE THEIR CONCERNS FOR THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. BEING ABLE TO GET INTO AND OUT OF A CAR SAFELY IS NOT A LUXURY, IT IS A NECESSITY. TO PAY NEARLY 1,000 DOLLARS TO DO SO IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND A PROBLEM TRUST WITH HYUNDAI PRODUCTS. I STRONGLY URGE YOUR ORGANIZATION TO LOOK INTO THE HUGE AND GROWING NUMBER OF HYUNDAI TUSCON SUVS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL.
Structure, Apr 26, 2021
NEITHER BACK DOOR WILL OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. MY DRIVER DOOR HANDLE TAKES TWO PULLS TO OPEN AFTER BEING UNLOCKED. MY SECOND ROW IS ESSENTIALLY NON-USABLE. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI'S YET HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL FOR THEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD.
Structure, Apr 26, 2021
DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT OPEN WAS UNLOCK IT IS A SAFETY MATTER YOU CAN NOT GET INTO YOUR CAR IF YOUR LIFE IS THREATENED OR CHILD IS SIDE YOU CAN NOT GET DOOR OPEN . YOU CAN HERE IT U LOCK BUT JUST PULLING HANDLE WITH OUT ENTER. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND COMPANY WANT FIX THIS SAFETY MATTER A RECALL NEED TO BE DONE
Structure, Apr 24, 2021
THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN POSING A SAFETY CONCERN. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF HYUNDAI TUCSON OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. HYUNDAI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE.
Structure, Apr 23, 2021
BOTH MY FRONT AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAVE BEEN FAILING TO OPEN ON MY 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. RECENTLY MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAS COMPLETLY FAILED TO OPEN (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE) LEAVING ME WITH ONE DOOR TO ACCESS MY CHILD IN THE BACKSEAT. I HAVE TO PULL MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO "CATCH" AND OPEN. I TOOK THE CAR TO LITHIA HYUNDAI OF FRESNO AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT I NEED TO REPAIR BOTH ACTUATORS AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A "SAFETY ISSUE" MORE OF A "WEAR AND TEAR" ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND NEED TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY.
Structure, Apr 22, 2021
BACK PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ISSUE. DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE THE CAR OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I COULD NOT GET MY GRANDDAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR. THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.
Structure, Apr 20, 2021
PASSENGER FRONT AND DRIVER REAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN TO GET IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE. YOU GET STUCK IN THE CAR AND CANNOT EXIT OUT THESE DOORS! REAL SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU GET STUCK IN THE CAR.
Structure, Apr 17, 2021
OUT OF NOWHERE, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR REFUSES TO OPEN. THE REMOTE CAN LOCK/UNLOCK THE LOCKING KNOB, BUT THE DOOR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN A STATIONARY STATE. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM AMONGST 2016 TUCSON OWNERS. PLEASE REFER TO TWO ONLINE FORUMS. HTTPS://WWW.HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM/THREADS/REAR-PASSENGER-DOOR-WONT-OPEN.603329/ HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T57988_DS1084478 ALSO, IN KOREA, THE SAME VEHICLE IS ON RECALL FOR THE DOOR LATCH PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE DOOR DOES NOT OPERATE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, HOW CAN SOMEBODY EXIT FROM THE CAR TO SAFETY?
Structure, Apr 16, 2021
THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. IT STARTED OUT AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN ON THE FIRST OR SECOND TRY BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY OPEN. IT QUICKLY BECAME A PERMANENT PROBLEM WHERE THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO OPEN BOTH REAR DOORS TO GET THEM IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE.
Structure, Apr 14, 2021
OUR CAR FRONT DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE REMOTE FOB OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS TO USE THE HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. THIS HAPPENS CONTINUALLY NOW & STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO FOR NO IDENTIFIABLE REASON. WHEN APPROACHING THE CAR TO GO FOR A DRIVE, WE HAVE TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FIRST & REACH ACROSS TO THE DRIVER SIDE & UNLOCK FROM THE INTERIOR. NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT. WE SEARCHED ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI SUVS, WITH OTHER INSTANCES OF DOORS NOT EVEN BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR EITHER. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A MALFUNCTIONING DOOR "ACTUATOR". SOME CASES HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY DESTROY THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE MECHANISMS OF THE DOOR TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR. SINCE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND A SAFETY ISSUE IF PEOPLE CANNOT OPEN DOORS FROM INSIDE OR OUT, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. REALLY THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU CANNOT OPEN YOUR DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. PLEASE EVALUATE THIS ASAP & HAVE HYUNDAI ISSUE A RECALL.
Structure, Apr 14, 2021
THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN EITHER FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND MUST BE ON A RECALL LIST. HYUNDAI TUCSON PRODUCED BETWEEN 2015 AND 2016 HAVE THIS ISSUE AND IN KOREA, HYUNDAI KOREA HAS BEEN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. (SEE BELOW KOREAN SITE) HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERWIDE.COM/NEWS/ARTICLEVIEW.HTML?IDXNO=37459 HYUNDAI USA SHOULD DO THE SAME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!
Structure, Apr 13, 2021
THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED, AND AFTER WORKING CORRECTLY JUST MINUTES BEFORE, NOW IT WON'T OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR, IT IS STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE AS THAT IS THE SIDEWALK FACING DOOR WHICH WON'T OPEN FORCING PEOPLE TO EXIT ON THE STREET SIDE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AFFECTING MANY 2016 TUCSON CUSTOMERS. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T57988_DS1084478