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, Apr 13, 2021
WHEN TRYING TO GET INTO MY CAR, I UNLOCK MY DOORS. WITH ALL DOORS UNLOCKED I TRY TO ENTER THE DRIVER DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT TAKES MULTIPLE POOLS ON THE HANDLE FOR THE DRIVE DOOR TO GET THE LATCH INSIDE THE DOOR TO RELEASE AND OPEN THE DOOR. MY DOOR BECOMES STUCK AND I AM UNABLE TO GET INSIDE MY VEHICLE. THIS CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, IN DARK PARKING LOTS, UNSAFE LOCATIONS, PREVENTING ME FROM GETTING IN MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI DEALER. THEY STATES NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY DOOR AND IT WORKS FINE. THIS WAS APPROX APR IN 2020. BEGINNING THIS WEEK MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOW ALSO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, EVEN IF MY DOOR IS UNLOCKED. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I PULL THE HANDLE THE PASSENGER DOOR WONT RELEASE FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE.
Structure, Apr 6, 2021
REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN EVEN WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED. WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE OR FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE.
Structure, Apr 6, 2021
THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OF MY 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON NO LONGER OPENS AT ALL, FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. AS I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD AND NEPHEWS WHO ARE REGULARLY IN MY CAR IN CAR SEATS, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. APPARENTLY, HYUNDAI IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT, WHICH I HAVE FOUND IS A PROBLEM ACROSS MANY HYUNDAI YEARS AND MODELS. THE COST OF A DEALERSHIP TO FIX IS UPWARDS OF $1000, WHICH IS PROHIBITIVE AND UNREALISTIC.
Structure, Lane departure, Apr 5, 2021
THREE OF THE FOUR DOORS HAVE DEFECTS WHICH PREVENT THEM FROM OPENING FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE DOOR LOCK ACUATOR IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR WAS REPLACED IN 2018. ONE OF THE BACK DOORS WAS REPLACED IN 2020, AND NOW THE OTHER BACK DOOR WON'T OPEN DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. I OFTEN TRANSPORT CHILDREN AND AN ELDERLY GRANDPARENT, ALL OF WHOM SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. IF I HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO GET THEM OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE, I'M NOW CONCERNED THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL STOP WORKING SOON, MEANING I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SUPPORT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS 1,000 MILES OVER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO (CONVERSATION 4/5/21). FIVE STAR HYUNDAI OF MACON REFUSED TO PUT IN A REQUEST TO OVER-RIDE THE WARRANTY TO GET IT FIXED, SINCE CLEARLY IT IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS ISSUE AND HYUNDAI IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AS IT FREQUENTLY OCCURS WITH TUCSONS AND ELANTRAS (PER CONVERSATION WITH FIVE STAR HYUNDAI), YET REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NOW AT 61,000 MILES THEY ARE SAYING IT IS NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND ARE NOT OFFERING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. THE BLIND SPOT DETECTOR IS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING, NOT NOTIFYING WHEN A VEHICLE IS NEXT TO MINE AND OCCASIONALLY GOING OFF WHEN THERE IS NO VEHICLE AT ALL. FIVE STAR MACON SAID THIS IS ALSO NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE AND SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM BUT WOULD REQUIRE THEM REMOVING MY BUMPER AND DOING EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC WORK BEFORE THEY'D KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Apr 3, 2021
DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN BACK DOOR, AND FRONT DOOR HANDLE DRIVER SIDE MUST BE PULLED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE OPENING. REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. LATCH MECHANISM NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
Structure, Apr 2, 2021
DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE. DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT. OCCUPANTS COULD BE TRAPPED. 4 MOS OUTSIDE OF 5 YR WARRANTY. 200 MILES REMAINING ON 60,000 MI WARRANTY. $800 REPAIR AT WWW.HYUNDAIOFORANGEPARK.COM/. HYUNDAI MESSAGE BOARD SAY TO EXPECT PASSENGER SIDE TO FAIL SOON AS WELL.
Structure, Apr 1, 2021
DRIVER'S REAR DOOR NO LONGER OPENS RELIABLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE FIRST STEP TO A COMMON PROBLEM OF THE DOORS BECOMING COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. HYUNDAI SEEMS UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.
Structure, Apr 1, 2021
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS UNLOCKING MECHANISMS STOP WORKING. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL WORK BUT THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR WILL NOT FUNCTION COMPLETELY AND KEEPS YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO GET INTO YOUR CAR.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Mar 29, 2021
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM OPENING UP MY DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR SENSE SUMMER OF 2020 SO I'VE TAKEN THE BACK DOOR PANEL OFF AND I PULL ON THE WIRE FROM THE INSIDE TO OPEN IT UP. I'VE DEALT WITH THAT JUST FINE IT'S IRRITATING BUT NOW MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT IS NOT WANTING TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE DO I HAVE TO READ ACROSS AND OPEN UP THE DOOR IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO BE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAS STARTED DOING IT. SO NOW I'M EXPECTED TO CLIMB IN TRUE THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR AND UP INTO THE FRONT SEAT OR OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE AND THEN WALK BACK AROUND MY CAR. THAT IS UNTIL THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR DECIDES TO START DOING THE SAME THING AND THEN I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE TRUNK? OR MAYBE THAT'LL BE THE NEXT ONE TO GO? ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH IS THE FRONT INTERIOR DOME OR THE CONSOLE THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT DOESN'T LIKE TO COME ON MOST OF THE TIME, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT DOES. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS. SO THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN NEEDING TO BE REPLACED MORE OFTEN THAN I EVER HEARD OF ANYBODY REPLACING THEM, LESS THAN 6 MONTH SOMETIMES. OTHER TIMES THAT HAD LIKE JUST GOES OUT AND THEN I HAVE TO GET UNDER THE HOOD AND HOPEFULLY GET THE CAP OFF SO THAT I CAN PLAY WITH THE FITTING AND HOPE THAT IT WILL COME BACK ON. BECAUSE I ACTUALLY DO MOST OF MY DRIVING IN THE DARK WHEN IT'S NIGHT TIME SO I KIND OF NEED MY LIGHTS. SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK BUT THE NEXT MORNING I WILL TURN ON THE VEHICLE THE LIGHT IS WORKING AGAIN?... I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THAT ISSUE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AS WELL. JUST RECENTLY WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS BEE TAIL LIGHT OR BRAKE LIGHT HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. SPECIFICALLY THE PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT SO FAR. I COULD SENSE THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE COMING ON BUT WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED ALL OF THIS, BACK TO BACK AT THE SAME TIME.
Structure, Mar 29, 2021
WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AFTER BEING UNLOCKED WITH REMOTE OR WITH BUTTON ON HANDLE. DRIVER DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN WHEN OPENED FROM THE INSIDE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WILL UNLOCK BUT DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AFTER IT HAS BEEN LOCKED.
Structure, Mar 28, 2021
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DOORS NOT OPENING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR OUTSIDE. ALREADY REPAIRED ONE AT DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY, OTHER 2 DOORS REPAIRED AND NEEDING REPAIR AGAIN. FRONT DRIVERS DOOR AND REAR DRIVER DOOR CURRENTLY EFFECTED. EXTREMELY UNSAFE IF IN AN ACCIDENT AND TWO WORKING DOORS ARE DAMAGED AND UNOPERATIONAL. HYUNDAI SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM BUT COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ARE HUGE IN NUMBERS.
Electrical system, Structure, Mar 27, 2021
ALL DOORS LOCKED AND WON'T OPEN WITH KEY/FOB. IF A CHILD IS LOCKED IN THERE AND I CAN'T GET INSIDE THIS ISSUE COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO FIX.
Structure, Mar 23, 2021
THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OF MY VEHICLE WILL NOT OPEN. I CANNOT OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE DOOR NOT UNLOCKING EVEN THOUGH THE UNLOCK TAB IS FLIPPING. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
Electrical system, Structure, Mar 22, 2021
MY CHILD OR ANYONE IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CAN NOT GET OUT OF THEIR DOOR BECAUSE THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL EVEN WHEN UNLOCKED THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR 4 DAYS NO MATTER WHAT I TRY THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THIS IS NOT A MALFUCTION THIS IS ACUTALLY A SAFELY HAZZARD. MY CHILD IS TRAUMATIZED AND HAS NIGHTMARES BECAUSE HE FEARS HE WILL DIE IF THERE IS A FIRE IN THE CAR HE IS AUTISTIC.
Structure, Mar 19, 2021
THE LOCK ACTUATORS IN THE DRIVER DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAVE FAILED. THEY VEHICLE WILL UNLOCK BUT THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE ONE COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR DUE TO THE FAULTY LATCHES. HYUNDAI WILL NOT REPAIR THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUES REPORTED ON SEVERAL AUTO FORUMS AS WELL.
Structure, Mar 18, 2021
REAR RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR WAS GETTING STUCK INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT OPENING FOR COUPLE WEEKS. AFTER THAT IT HAS BEEN STUCK PERMANENTLY. THIS ISSUE STARTED OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS 60 MONTHS OLD.TOOK IT DEALER, WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT AT THE DEALER PLACE. IT BECAME A PERMANENT ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS 61 MONTHS OLD,AM BEING TOLD THAT NOW THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I NEED TO PAY TO FIX THIS. ITS BEEN 3 MONTHS NOW, THE DOOR IS STILL STUCK.
Structure, Mar 14, 2021
REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AT ALL. LOCKING MECHANISM MUST BE BROKEN OR JAMMED. DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN LOCKED OR UNLOCKED. NO EVENT OCCURRED THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2021
THIS HAPPENED LAST MONTH AS WELL. DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WHILE IT IS PARKED AND ON, IT LOCKS AND UNLOCKS BUT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WHILE IT'S UNLOCKED. LAST TIME IT FIXED AFTER PULLING ON IT APPROXIMATELY 25 TIMES TOTAL. I HAVE TRIED MANUALLY AND AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING AND TRYING TO OPEN BUT NOTHING WORKS. THIS TIME IS IS NOT WORKING AND BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN.
Structure, Mar 13, 2021
BOTH RIGHT SIDE DOORS DO NOT CONSISTENTLY OPEN WHEN FIRST UNLOCKED. THIS HAPPENS IN A STATIONARY POSITION RIGHT AFTER UNLOCKING DOORS. ONCE OPEN, THEY ARE FINE UNTIL THE CAR IS LOCKED AGAIN. THEY WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER EXTERIOR HANDLE OR INTERIOR HANDLE. THIS HAPPENED A WHILE AGO, BUT RECENTLY TRIED TO GET IT FIXED AND FOUND OUT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. WHEN I LOOKED UP HOW TO REPAIR IT, I WAS SHOCKED BY HOW WIDESPREAD THE ISSUE IS.
Structure, Mar 11, 2021
THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE NOR FROM THE OUTSIDE WHICH I FEEL CAUSES A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO SOMEONE IN THE REAR SEAT.
Structure, Mar 9, 2021
DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. I SEE FROM READING ONLINR THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. THIS HAS TO BE A BIG SAFTY ISSUE. I HAVE A BACJ DOOR THAT WILL.NOT OPEN AT ALL.AND NOW MY FRONT DOOR CAN NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE.
Structure, Mar 9, 2021
THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE, EVEN THOUGH THE HANDLE WAS NOT STUCK. SPRINGFIELD HYUNDAI IN SPRINGFIELD, PA INSPECTED AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT FIX BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ANOTHER SHOP REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR.
Structure, Mar 7, 2021
REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR ACTUATOR NO LONGER WORKS. UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR AT ALL. CAR WAS PARKED.
Structure, Mar 3, 2021
REAR DRIVER DOOR STOPPED OPENING FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE EVEN THOUGH THE HANDLE MOVES FREELY AND THE LOCKS ARE FUNCTIONING (CHILD SAFETY IS NOT ENGAGED). A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT DOOR STOPPED WORKING THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OUTSIDE HANDLE FAILS TO OPEN 9 TIMES OUT OF 10 BUT LOCKS STILL FUNCTION. EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE DOORS WORK FINE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO TRAUMA TO THE VEHICLE.
Steering, Structure, Mar 2, 2021
THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND I WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT CLICKS WHEN EVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I WAS TOLD IT IS FINE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I GET IT REPAIRED BUT AFTER READING WHAT COULD HAPPEN THAT DOESN'T SEEM TRUE. I HAVE HAD THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR LATCH REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. NOW TO OPEN MY FROM PASSENGER DOOR YOU HAVE TO PULL THE DOOR HANDLE 3 TIMES TO GET IT TO OPEN. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL GO UP AND DOWN WHEN TRYING TO PUT JUST UP OR DOWN.*DT*JB