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
1,620 reports, newest first.
Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 4, 2022
My 2016 Hyundai Tucson has repeatedly had a major safety issue when one of the doors will suddenly completely stop working. One day a door will work fine, and after no accidents, impact, or any other known factor, the door is completely unable to be opened. The handle operates as intended, but the door itself does open. In the 4 years I have owned my car, I have had to repair 6 instances of this problem (2 of the doors having this issue again after initial repair). This issue includes my driver side door, where I have had to crawl through the car to get out. Apparently this is a known issue impacting a large amount of Hyundai Tucsons. This is obviously a major safety issue. If these doors cease operation for seemingly no reason due to some poorly designed / manufactured component, I can’t imagine they could withstand any sort of vehicle collision / accident. I hesitate to imagine a situation where someone is in some sort of collision and need to escape a burning vehicle / pull a child out of a vehicle and their doors do not work.
Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 1, 2022
Driver Side door no longer opens from the outside after it has been locked. Rear Driver Side door no longer opens from the inside or outside handle. Seen numerous reports and accounts online report this same issue. I have a 6 month old child and cannot have the doors on my car not opening.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 30, 2022
Both back doors will not open from inside or outside. Very dangerous safety concern
Electrical system, May 28, 2022
Driver side window will not go down. It’s stuck.
Structure, May 26, 2022
Rear right door stopped opening from inside and outside just over a month ago. Two weeks ago front passenger door started to not be able to be opened. To not be able to safely exit a vehicle is a tremendous safety concern....in an accident , in another emergency situation, if vehicle caught fire, etc. Which door will not be operable next? How can my elderly, disabled family member safely ride in this vehicle and get safely out? Will I need to drive to a fire department to get doors cut open? (this actually is my go-to safety plan at this point) We took to our Auto repair, they also could not open these doors. There are no dash warnings of doors being compromised. The vehicle was not in any accident incident. Internet searching reveals this to be a widespread problem with the Hyundai vehicles
Other or unspecified, May 24, 2022
The driver door makes clicking sound but does not unlock with the rest of the car doors using my automated lock/unlock feature on my key. In searching online, this is a huge/broad issue among Hyundai Tucson 2016/17 owners.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 22, 2022
2016 Tucson rear doors wouldn’t open
Electrical system, May 19, 2022
When I unlock all doors from the driver side inside you cannot enter the vehicle on the passenger side front door from the outside handle, you have to manually reach over and pull from the inside
Other or unspecified, May 19, 2022
Passenger door wont open when unlocked using the key fob. If opened from the inside and left unlock the door will open.
Other or unspecified, May 19, 2022
3 out of the 4 windows do not go down or up with window button. The windows now move down on their own when driving that can cause a distraction if in bad weather like with heavy rain, wind, or sand storm. If I hit a bump in the road the window come down some much distracting my driving ability. I'm having to stop the card and pull up the windows with my hands now which anyone could go to my car now and just slide the windows down with their hand and break in to the suv. This happen just during my warranty but was unable to take it in due to covid restrictions at the time for myself before the time expired on the warranty. This seems like a know issue for the make and model from many in the hyundai tucson community.
Other or unspecified, May 17, 2022
The passenger doors, front and back, have stopped opening. The handles from inside and from outside will not open the doors. This is a tremendous safety issue as in the event of a fire, accident, etc people would not be able to exit the vehicle. There is no warning when the doors will not open...it just happens. It has caused a big panic and fear for use of vehicle in the event that soon no doors may operate. This problem is a n issue across the board with Hyundai. Hyundai should be recalling and fixing this before someone is killed because they cannot open a door.
Other or unspecified, May 16, 2022
All of the window motors in my doors have broken all at once. The windows will not go down because the motors are broken. There are no warning lights for this. It is is a dangerous risk because if there was an emergency where the windows would need to come down they wouldn’t. I do not see how this isn’t a recall when all FOUR window motors have broken at once.
Visibility, May 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the front and rear driver’s side and front passenger’s side windows fell down inside the door panel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the window regulators needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,683.
Power train, Engine, May 14, 2022
Hyundai dealership just gave me my vehicle back after having it for 3 months replacing the engine due to engine failure which a class action law suite was filed about. While having my vehicle they also replaced all the ignition coils and spark plugs, 1 day after receiving my vehicle back my car throws the following codes and has to go back to the dealership. P0353- ignition coils C primary control circuit/open P0354- ignition coils D primary control circuit/open P0420- Catalyst system efficiency bele9 threshold bank 1
Latches/locks/linkages, May 13, 2022
The front driver side door does not open when unlocked. It seems to me a known issue that the lock actuator tends to fail on these doors. This is a huge safety concern.
Power train, Other or unspecified, May 9, 2022
No or reduced acceleration after stopping, no shifting at all into gear, vehicle hesitating, especially in low gears at speeds less then 10 MPH while idling in traffic. Issues shifting into gear and accelerating when pushing accelerator especially when going downhill. Issue happens nearly every time the vehicle is driven. Rear driver's side door will not open from inside or outside of car. Seems to be an issue with the cable/pulley system. Could definitely be a safety hazard in an emergency situation.
Power train, May 6, 2022
Transmission slips when trying to accelerate any. No leaks etc. Almost had a wreck trying to merge onto the interstate with my family in the car.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 5, 2022
My passenger door and back drivers side door won’t open when unlocked. You have to open the door from the inside
Latches/locks/linkages, May 5, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that both front and rear passenger’s side doors failed to open from inside or outside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with an actuator failure. Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Engine, May 5, 2022
I was driving on interstate and my vehicle felt like it was losing power. It felt like the engine was failing. My car started squeaking and flutter when I tried to accelerate pass 65 mph. I took it to delearship and they told me my engine needed replaced. It only had like 89k miles on it. They replaced engine. I picked up SUV, and as I am driving home on interstate my car started to shake and squeal again when I accelerated to 65 mph. It seemed I had to floor the accelerator to get to 65 mph. I took suv back and this time they told me it was the transmission. It is currently in shop getting transmission fixed. Hyundai has had my car now for 4.5 months replacing motor and now transmission. I bought this car brand new, and had issues with this SUV in the past. It would consume a lot oil way before it time for oil change, but dealership did oil consumption test and said it was fine. It lost complete power at traffic stop. Every time I took it to delearshop they would say everything look good. My model Vin number isn’t on the recall list, but I wouldn’t purchase a used 2016 Hyundai, Tucson do to safety concerns.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 4, 2022
Door latch failure. The door latches do not work, and become un-openable. 11/2020 & 04/2022. Yes it is currently available for inspection with a non-operational door. Safety issue, cannot exit the car. Cannot get kids out of the car. I cannot get out of the car. No one can open the car door that is affected when unlocked from the inside or the outside of the car. Yes, there are articles, fixes and my personal mechanic and Hyundai mechanics have addressed the previous same issue in 11/2020. The car was inspected by a Hyundai dealer 10/2020 who gave me a quote to replace the door latches and locks. The car was inspected by my mechanic at a Chevrolet dealership as well, who installed part #Hyundai actuator motor Front door lock 81310D3010. The car has not been inspected by police or insurance. The car has had same failure in drivers door that was fixed by a different car manufacturer. The car currently has a different door latch failure. There are no warning lamp indicators. The door simply will not open at all when unlocked causing a problem for anyone to exit the vehicle in an emergency.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 3, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated the passenger’s side failed to open from the inside or the outside. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,995.
Latches/locks/linkages, May 2, 2022
There appears to be a dangerously common malfunction on my 2016 Hyundai Tucson. Without any warning or indication of failure I am unable to open either of my rear passenger doors. Neither from inside, nor outside. The door locks appear to lock and unlock, manually and/or electrically, but the none of the door handles work. First the rear right side, followed by the rear left side a day later. It would be impossible in an emergency for someone to exit or be removed from the vehicle. God forbid there was a fire, or child stuck in a car seat. Vehicle is available for inspection. Though have not been able to have a dealer inspect it yet...Hyundai is not returning my calls. How can this not be a recall yet!! Do innocent people have to die first? There's no reason to have "tombstone legislation". Be proactive.
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 29, 2022
Passenger rear door will no longer open on first try after locking and unlocking vehicle
Engine, Apr 26, 2022, fire
The engine caught fire while driving. The entire vehicle was engulfed in flames as a result. Total loss of vehicle.