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: other or unspecified
261 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, May 23, 2026
The power window motor and regulator on the drivers side failed to roll up the window. It was raining and made it stessful driving home . The window was stuck down and the rain was soaking the inside of the car. Very distracting while driving.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 13, 2026
Oil drains very fast even with regular oil changes and maintenance. The vehicle began shaking and then completely stopped with very little warning. Check engine light flashed for under 60 seconds then vehicle would not move forward on the highway creating a major safety hazard. Engine smelled hot and like burning rubber.
Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2026
Both rear doors actuators will not allow to open from inside or outside, the passenger will open from inside and the driver door intermittently is the same and I have to juggle the handle or smack above the handle to get it to open on driver side. The passenger is only opening from inside and have to smack above the handle or put pressure to door to have the actuator release....both rear doors do not open at all. This is a safety egress issue. I have minor children and they cannot get out of the vehicle and if an emergency, the first responders cannot get into it.
Other or unspecified, Apr 20, 2026
I have had 3 window motors go out in the last 7 months.
Other or unspecified, Apr 12, 2026
Driver side door lock actuator failure yesterday. 4/10/26 Purchased this car 8/15/25 was not told there was a problem and recall
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 25, 2026
Hyundai Tucson Sport 2016 GDI engine. I am the original owner of this truck I have taken care of this truck so much it being my first brand new purchase. No oil leaks NOTHING! When I first purchased the vehicle I noticed that it would stall when I would accelerate but did not think too much of it since it was brand new. A few years passed started to notice frequent oil changes were supposed to be made. Another few years turbocharger went out had to get it replaced. The engine consumes so much oil at first I thought it was because the turbocharger was out so when I got it fixed I thought that would fix that issue and it didn’t. I got an oil change March 2, 2026 and on March 21, 2026 I was on the highway and the truck started to shake really bad I exited the highway went straight to the oil place they said I had no oil on the dipstick I got ANOTHER oil change (expensive) and when I turned on the car to leave the car shook again and the engine light was flickering on and off and finally stayed on the dash board. Barely made it home. Got a tow truck to tow it to Hyundai dealership they told me they will not see it unless I pay the diagnostic fee of $200 and even then they think it’s the engine with everything I described to them. They said since there are no recalls on the Tucson that Hyundai will not do anything for me I would have to pay out of pocket for everything. Had to pay the tow truck again to tow it to my house ($250). My car has all the symptoms all the other cars have that they have recalled. This is a huge safety issue because i drive on the highway a lot and everyone knows a car with no oil is extremely dangerous.
Other or unspecified, Mar 18, 2026
Three window regulators have failed, leaving the windows completely useless. The first occurring in heavy rain and making it impossible to close. This is an issue reported countless times online.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 11, 2026
The transmission began slipping and hesitating within days of purchase. The vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate when pressing the gas pedal, especially when pulling into traffic or crossing intersections. This creates a serious safety risk because the vehicle does not respond when needed, leaving me exposed to oncoming traffic. The issue is intermittent and does not always trigger warning lamps or fault codes. The problem has been reproduced multiple times by me while driving under normal conditions. The selling dealer performed only a brief test drive and stated they could not duplicate the issue, but the hesitation and failure‑to‑accelerate continue to occur. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Hyundai, but the symptoms match known issues with the 2016 Tucson’s dual‑clutch transmission and TCM logic. There were no warning lights prior to the failure, and the symptoms first appeared within the first week of ownership. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2026, fire
No check engine lights came on! The entire car caught fire and was engulfed in flames!!! Driver could have been killed!
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 19, 2026
I am filing this complaint regarding my 2016 Hyundai Tucson due to excessive oil consumption. The vehicle burns oil at an abnormal rate, requiring me to add approximately one quart of engine oil every one to two weeks, even though the vehicle is driven very infrequently. This condition poses a serious safety risk because the engine could run low or completely out of oil while the vehicle is in operation, potentially causing sudden engine failure. This vehicle is used to transport my family, including children, which puts their safety at risk. I have taken the vehicle to Hyundai dealerships multiple times for full ispection , but no defect, warning, or solution was ever identified or communicated to me. There have been no warning lights or messages on the dashboard to alert me of low oil levels or engine problems, increasing the risk of failure without warning. The problem is ongoing and repeatable, and the vehicle and engine are available for inspection upon request.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Dec 16, 2025, crash
Drove into a parking space, with the foot pressing on the brake pedal, the car suddenly and without warning rapidly accelerated uncontrolled causing the vehicle to accelerate past the end of the parking space causing property damage.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 21, 2025
Part(s) Affected: Engine / Engine Control / Stall / Loss of Power Summary: My 2016 Hyundai Tucson (VIN: [XXX] ) has an active P1326 – Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) code, which indicates rod bearing wear and imminent engine failure. The vehicle experiences: •loss of power •inability to accelerate •engine hesitation •risk of stalling while driving These are serious safety risks. This issue is part of the Hyundai/Kia engine defect settlement XXX), yet Hyundai refuses to provide towing or address the safety risk despite the P1326 code being a known precursor to engine seizure. The vehicle is currently unsafe to drive, and Hyundai Customer Care has refused to escalate my case according to settlement requirements. This is a safety hazard that can cause engine seizure and sudden loss of power while driving. Details: •Hyundai Case #: XXX •Engine settlement code P1326 confirmed •Hyundai refusing proper support •Vehicle should not be driven NHTSA intervention is needed due to Hyundai’s failure to address a known safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2025
Oil consumption is uneven, unpredictable, and has been a problem for at least 30,000 miles and since 2020. The car has ~74k miles on it and I carry a case of oil in the trunk. A couple years ago our catalytic converter clogged (I suspect from burning oil) and we were stuck on the roadside. Dealer replaced the catalytic converter under the power train warranty, but has not addressed the oil beyond a few consumption tests. They say it's "within normal parameters" but last night at a rest stop I had to add oil AGAIN. I feel like they're trying to wait until the warranty is up and then tell me it's not their problem.
Other or unspecified, Sep 25, 2025
The rear doors cannot be opened from the inside or outside after the door is locked then unlocked. This is very dangerous for rear seat passengers. There are a lot of complaints online of this problem.
Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2025
The rear doors stopped opening. Could be a failed lock actuator or the lock is sticking. This is a safety hazard, especially when traveling with a child in the car
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2025
i bought the car used, i took it in for diagnostics on my transmission. they claimed i needed a new one, not claiming i need a new clutch. my car’s model and year match the DCT recall problems. but not the vin. when my car was in the heat or accelerating it had the same issues listed. i believe this is a manufacturing issue.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 6, 2025
original owner. Car shook badly and hesitated losing speed at 61k. dealership replaced all or four ignition coils and spark plugs. Car started and burning oil at 61,000 despite regular oil changes at 3500. Mostly done by the dealership. Car has been burning oil uses 1 quart every 500 miles. All four window regulators have stopped working. I replaced one.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 3, 2025
The reason of this complain is due to excessive oil consumption which now damaged my catalytic converter against Hyundai Motors America. The complained started 2021 where we noticed that the low oil engine light up after only 1500 miles from last oil change. We submitted the complained with dealer (Carlsbad and Escondido CA) and my car failed 3 consecutive oil consumption test and Hyundai performed an engine cleaning, claiming it was going to fix the problem. This happened when the vehicle was still under warranty. At the time they said that if this did not fix the problem, they were still going to fix the car since the issue happened under warranty. The engine cleaning DID NOT fixed the problem, my car no longer has warranty and my catalytic converter fails and makes the vehicle inoperable in highway (engine ceases to accelerate) . We submitted a complain with Hyundai corporate and they denied fixing our car since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. I would like to ask for them to fix the engine and catalytic converter make the car operable again.
Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2025
All Windows regulators failed one after another. They make sound when trying to close but nothing happens. The windows get stucked.
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2025
Door latch - after a few attempts of trying to open my rear passenger door. The handle does not seem to function properly and I’ve seen that a lot of 2016s Tuscon have this issue with their doors
Other or unspecified, Jul 16, 2025
-Power window failures of all 4 windows. -Windows will not open and close which creates a safety issue in case of an accident that renders the doors inoperable and escape is needed via windows. Also, if the driver is pulled over, the car windows do not work which makes the driver have to open the door which puts both the driver and police officer at risk. -Both a dealer service center and an independent service center has confirmed the problem. -Component was inspected by both a dealer maintenance shop and an independent repair shop. -There were no warnings.
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2025
Acceleration issues especially after coming stop. When proceeding to accelerate you can push pedal multiple times before the car jerks into movement.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 11, 2025
My 2016 tuscon has been giving be problems. I went to the dealership awhile back and told them that the oil has been burning having and that there's a perk when I start my car. They did an oil change and told me that I needed to lube the gears up first before running it. I assumed it was because my warranty was ending and because I was a girl, that was a quick go away problem. Well eastward today. I put oil in the engine at least once a week or more. The car is in the shop, and the machanics at pep boys are saying this is a reoccurring problem for this type of car. Also that all 2016 are made with the same engine pretty much so they should all be recalled. They quoted me 10 grand for a used engine. I'm taking it to hyundai, the pep boys told me that it's the same issues as the other recalls
Other or unspecified, May 6, 2025
The window regulator for 3 of the 4 windows have failed, the first at approx. 80,000 miles, the second two at 113,000 miles. The windows were not being operated when the component failed and just randomly opened while driving and could not be closed via the switch. This caused distraction and difficulty driving as it was raining for the second incident. When observed, the plastic window regulators were degraded to the point that the plastic was a powder.
Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2025
One of the back doors Will not open. Lock is stuck on. This is VERY Dangerous if need to get a child strapped IN/ OUT!!!! I googled this and see it's been a problem for many years on this make/model. HIGH FEES from dealers per door for their manufacturing Defect! Easy fit for a husband who will pull the door apart to fix the issue! Which MINE IS NOT!