2018 Hyundai Tucson
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 396 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 21 Tucson model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 13 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 10 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
Representative owner complaints: engine
249 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Nov 20, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDIA TUSCON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. MOMENTS LATER SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER LEN STOLER LOCATED AT 11275 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,400.
Power train, Engine, Oct 19, 2020
CAR CONSTANTLY HESITATES WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN YOU BEGIN TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR HESITATES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE BEGINNING TO MOVE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING TURNS AT STOP LIGHTS OR IN INTERSECTIONS. GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CAR RUNS FINE AND ACCELERATES WITHOUT ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS OR AT A STOP AND YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE. ALSO, WHEN GOING SLOW OR SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, THE CAR SEES LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL AND THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO JERK AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL. WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT SLOW SPEEDS WITH SOME QUICK ON/OFF BREAKING, THE CAR HESITATES AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL.
Power train, Engine, Sep 22, 2020
THE TRANSMISSION SEVERELY LAGS IN THE INITIAL TRANSITION INTO FIRST GEAR, AS WELL AS FROM FIRST TO SECOND. WHEN INITIALLY ENGAGING INTO FIRST GEAR FROM REVERSE, THE CAR RUMBLES AND CHOPS INTO FIRST GEAR. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A DUAL CLUTCH CAR, IT SEVERELY LAGS INTO ACCELERATION, CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT THEY HIDE BEHIND THE EXCUSE THAT THIS IS A DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. THE ISSUE FIRST OCCURRED AT AROUND 500 MILES. IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 15, 2020
SO I PURCHASED MY CAR MARCH OF 2019. IT FIRST STARTED OFF REALLY GOOD BUT THAN A FEW MONTHS LATER THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING A ISSUE WITH KEEPING OIL I HAD IT CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES AND NO ONE SEEMS TO FIND THE ISSUE. I COULD LITERALLY GET OIL CHANGED AND WITHIN THREE FOUR WEEKS MY ENGINE IS EMPTY AND SOUND REALLY ROUGH. THE CAR STALLS AND MY RPM GOES UP OUT OF THE BLUE AS IF I HIT THE GAS. I'M EVEN HAVING A ISSUE WITH TAKE OFF FOR IT TO BE A BRAND NEW CAR MY CAR TAKE FOREVER TO PICK UP SPEED AND SOME TIMES IT ACT AS IF IT DON'T WANT TO MOVE.
Engine, Sep 13, 2020
THE ENGINE FEEL AS IF IT'S GOING TO TURN OFF WHEN COMING TO A BRAKE OR BRAKING SOFTLY AFTER THE CAR'S BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I'VE TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND NOONE FINDS WHATS WRONG WITH IT. NO CHECK ENGINE SIGNS SHOW OR REPAIR CODES SHOW WHEN CHECKED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 27, 2020, crash
ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT WHILE REACHING SPEEDS OF UP TO 50MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO BE TOLD THERE IS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON 8/25/3020 IT STALLED AGAIN AND CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED. I AM TERRIFIED TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE ON PUBLIC ROAD WAYS NOW.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 26, 2020, fire
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Aug 2, 2020
I PURCHASED MY 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED 1.6L FORWARD DRIVE NEW IN NOVEMBER 2018. I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS A FEW WEEKS AFTER MY PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE IS SLOW TO ACCELERATE AT TIMES AND OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE LURCHES/ACCELERATES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. FOR INSTANCE, I WAS AT A DRIVE THRU WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY TUCSON BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. I WAS SO AFRAID THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IT HAS LURCHED/ACCELERATED FORWARD WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. OTHER TIMES WHEN I BEGIN TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE JUST HESITATES TO MOVE AT ALL. IT IS VERY SLOW TO ACCELERATE FOR A TURBO VEHICLE. CONCERNING MY BRAKES, MY BRAKES ARE MAKING A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING SOUND. I HAVE TAKEN MY TUCSON IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE BRAKE ISSUE, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT IS THE NOISE THAT TUCSON BRAKES MAKE. BRAKES DO NOT MAKE A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING NOISE FOR NO REASON AT ALL. ALSO, I TOOK MY TUCSON TO BE SERVICED FOR THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS SUV IS A DEATHTRAP. THE 2018 TUCSON 1.6L NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND THE ENGINE REPLACED WITH A 2.4L ENGINE AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED.
Power train, Engine, May 26, 2020
THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *TR
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 21, 2020
AS STATED IN MANY FORUMS BY MANY OWNERS,IN MY CASE THE 2.0 WITH AUTOMATIC. I HAVE A 2014 KIA SOUL AND THE 2018 TUSCON. BOTH VEHICLES ACT THE SAME,HESITATE WHEN THEY WANT TO. BOTH HAVE DONE THIS SINCE BRAND NEW AND NEITHER DEALERSHIP HAS MADE AN EFFORT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL VERY CLOSE CALLS HESITATING LIKE THIS IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC.ALSO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT ON 2018 TUCSON. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, May 15, 2020, crash
HELLO EVERYONE, 2018 HYUNDAI TUSCON PROBLEM: ENGINE/AIR BAG CAUSE: UNKNOWN * AFTER A COLLISION WITH 2 LARGE DEER ON A MAIN HIGHWAY EARLY MORNING, IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO A SHOP. THE BODY WORK WAS FINISHED AND I HAD THE CAR BACK, UNFORTUNATELY AFTER THAT MY ENGINE WAS VERY VERY SLUGGISH. IRREGULAR SHIFTING, SLIGHT TICKING IN ENGINE BLOCK, NO LATER I HAD ISSUES WITH BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON ( THE CAR SHUT OFF) WHILE I'M MOTION ON MAIN ROAD. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT'S A TOTAL LOSS, THIS 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES HAD A BLOWN ENGINE DUE TO UNKNOWN CAUSES. I NEED SOME EXPLAINING FROM SOMEONE WHY THIS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE OWNERS. *TR
Engine, Apr 9, 2020
I HAVE A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON AND IT CUT OFF ON ME WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM OUT OF TOWN ON 4/5/2020 ON 495 CAPITAL BELTWAY. WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE TAILPIPE SO I PULLED OVER AND CUT THE TRUCK OFF, I TRIED TO RESTART AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER, ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS LIT UP, I HAD TO CALL AAA TO TOW ME HOME, THE TOW DRIVER NOTICED OIL UNDER THE TRUCK AND EVEN AFTER HE TOWED ME AND PUT MY TRUCK ON THE STREET THERE WAS OIL ON HIS FLATBED. THIS TRUCK HAS A DEFAULT WITH THE OIL PLUG OR SOMETHING, I KEEP UP ON MY OIL CHANGES EVERY 3 MONTHS, THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE DASH ABOUT LOW OIL OR ANYTHING BEFORE IT STARTED SMOKING. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HOW THIS TRUCK BURNS OIL AND IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK SITTING THAT I CAN;T DRIVE AND STILL HAVE TO PAY A CAR NOTE ON. *TR
Engine, Dec 17, 2019
MOTOR KNOCKING WITH ONLY 65,000 MILES. NOT GETTING POWER
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 17, 2019
THIS IS MY 2ND ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE I HAVE ALWAYS NOTICED THAT WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP (AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN) AND I GO TO PRESS ON THE GAS THE CAR DOESN'T GO. IT'S LIKE IT HESITATED BEFORE IT STARTS TO PICK UP SPEED. I ALWAYS CHALKED IT UP TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS A 4 CYLINDER BUT AFTER SPEAKING TO MY MECHANIC I FIND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND CAN BE THE SIGN OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FIX FOR THIS.
Engine, Dec 17, 2019
I GET OIL CHANGES QUITE FREQUENTLY DUE TO THE MILEAGE I PUT IN A VEHICLE. I HAVE 7 OIL CHANGES/TIRE ROTATIONS BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2018 AND NOVEMBER 2019. ON NOVEMBER 13TH 2019 MY CHECK ENGINE LIKE CAME ON AND AT THE SAME TIME MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. PRIOR TO THIS I HAD NO INDICATORS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. AND THAT IT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT $10,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE WHICH INCLUDES LABOR. DID I MISS SOMETHING HERE. MY CAR IS MY LIVELIHOOD AND I HAVE GOTTEN EVERY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. THEY SAID MY CAR IS BURNING THROUGH OIL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THERE WERE ZERO SIGNS OF AN OIL LEAK AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FIND OTHER THAN THE VEHICLE HAD NO OIL. WHY DIDN'T MY VEHICLE ALERT ME OF THIS. WHY WASN'T THERE ANY INDICATION UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. WHERE THE HELL DID ALL THE OIL GO?? NOW I'M STUCK WITH A HIGH CAR PAYMENT FOR A VEHICLE I CAN NOT EVEN DRIVE PLUS BECAUSE I NEED MY CAR FOR MY WORK I HAD TO BE LET GO FROM MY JOB. CAN'T WORK WITHOUT A VEHICLE CAN PAY FOR $10,000 IN REPAIRS WITHOUT A JOB AND CAN'T PAY MY CAR PAYMENT WITHOUT WORKING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING HYUNDAI SUGGESTS AS FAR AS MAINTENCE (FREQUENT OIL CHANGES AND SYSTEMS CHECKS ON A REGULAR BASIS. HYUNDAI SAYS 'SORRY THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU, YOU HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.'.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 17, 2019
SAME DUAL CLUTCH PROBLEM AS ON 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. HESITATES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS PRIOR TO ENGAGING WHICH CAUSES SIGNIFICANT DANGER IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2016 AND HYUNDAI CONTINUED TO DENY ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS. NOW THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I TRADED MY 2016 IN FOR THE 2018 TO GET AWAY FROM THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED. NOW I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NEW CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING. ALSO I WAS COASTING WITH FOOT NOT ON THE PEDAL AND NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL AND THE RPM'S SHOT UP TO 4200 THEN DOWN TO NORMAL, THEN BACK UP TO 2200 AND THEN BACK TO NORMAL. VERY SCARY. HAD CLUTCH ENGAGED CAR WOULD HAVE SHOT FORWARD INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED TROUBLE WITH BOTH PROBLEMS AND INFORMED ME THAT HYUNDAI HAS SWITCHED CLUTCH MANUFACTURERS.
Engine, Dec 4, 2019
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION.
Engine, Oct 15, 2019, fire
THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE MY OIL LAMP LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, AFTER I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT I ACCELERATED THEN MY ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR DIED. WITHIN SECONDS MY CAR STARTED SMOKING A WHITE COLOR LIGHTLY AND THEN WITHIN MINUTES THE SMOKE TURNED BLACK AND HEAVY THEN CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE.
Engine, Aug 1, 2019
MY CAR HAS 20,000 MILES ON IT. 2 MONTHS AGO AROUND 18,000 MILES MY CAR STARTED TO HESITATE DURING ACCELERATION. IT STARTED AS ONLY SOMETIMES. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT . WHEN IT IS STOPPED AND I PUSH ON THE GAS TO GO IT HESITATES. THE RPMS SHOOT UP TO 5-6 THEN IT GOES. THIS IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE CROSSING SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC. ALSO WHEN IN MOTION AND YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE IT WILL HESITATE AS WELL. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT'S UNDER WARRANT AND WAS TOLD IT'S THE DCT AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED. AND IT'S NORMAL. I DISAGREE BECAUSE IF IT WAS NORMAL THEN IT WOULD HAVE DONE THIS WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR.
Engine, Jul 22, 2019
HYUNDAI 2018 HAD A OIL LEAK ISSUE DUE TO A FAULTY OIL PAN. THE OIL PAN WAS SEALED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS DID NOT SEEM TO FIX THE ISSUE CAUSING THE OIL TO DRAIN ON THE FREEWAY AND SEIZE THE ENGINE. I WAS COASTING ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO POWER FROM THE ENGINE. WE WERE SCARED FOR OUR DEAR LIVES.
Engine, Nov 3, 2018
AT TIMES, WHILE DRIVING WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO ACCELERATE AFTER BEING STOPPED, AS AT A RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR WILL START THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD 'VERY' SLOWLY FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS, THEN IT WILL TAKE OFF WITH FULL POWER UNTIL ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS LET OFF. WHEN THIS HESITATION OCCURS, THE ENGINE DOES NOT SOUND OR FEEL LIKE IT IS STRAINING, OR MISFIRING AT ALL, IT SEEMS MORE LIKE THE COMPUTER IS NOT SENDING THE ENGINE THE SIGNAL TO REV UP AND GO, HENCE HAVING TO FLOOR IT TO GET IT TO MOVE. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, TO THE POINT I AVOID HAVING TO MAKE LEFT TURNS AT TRAFFIC LIGHT INTERSECTIONS, BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO EXHIBIT THIS BEHAVIOR, BUT THIS CAN HAPPEN WHETHER GOING STRAIGHT, OR MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 1,253 MILES AT PRESENT, BUT THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE IT WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT NEW.
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 23, 2018
AFTER ACQUIRING A LITTLE OVER A MONTH (1167 MILES ON IT) THIS CAR FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD TO NAVIGATE OVER 4 LANES FROM JUST MOMENTUM - COULD NOT USE MY CELLPHONE AS IT WAS TRYING TO SYNC TO THE CAR WHICH WAS NOW COMPLETELY DEAD. TOWED TO PURCHASING DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS BAD GROUND WIRE. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN, MY PASSENGER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR WORSE.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 4, 2018
THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP.
Power train, Engine, Jun 1, 2018
DELAYED ACCELERATION FROM STOP. VERY UNSAFE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN BUT NOT ALWAYS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.