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
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 10, 2022
I’ve been having an issue with the car “jerking rapidly” when in traffic and rolling slowly and when climbing relatively small hills, it began about 2 months ago but have become progressively worse over the last month. I was told by someone with a similar vehicle that it is the “lower arm control. Need help with is or if there is a recall
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 3, 2022
The oil fuel tank has been burning oil too fast in the GDI Engine & the oil has burnt through my alternator and spark plugs that I recently fixed only three weeks ago. This caused the engine to lock up completely while I was driving several times & I lost control while driving - having to restart the car multiple times to move it to a safe area. Now, the engine has locked permanently and I am unable to start the car at all despite replacing several parts and getting an oil change every 3-5000 miles (which continues to leak too quickly and harm other parts in the car).
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 8, 2022
Knock sensor recall was done in May 2022. Brought vehicle into service for Ac problem and oil change, which was completed. Was on highway going home 65 mph speed limit hit a hill, my engine light started flashing, my transmission downshifted and I lost all accelaration while on hill, speed wouldn’t go any higher then 50 at that point. Got to closest gas station and had car towed back to dealership, I just want to point out that the knock sensor is going to put people in danger in certain situations like myself, I am not to happy.
Engine, Oct 4, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 70 MPH, she started to hear a loud pinging noise coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that her daughter stated that the check engine warning light illuminated and she steered the vehicle to a highway off ramp as the vehicle began to lose motive power. The contact said her daughter saw that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle then stalled. The contact stated that her daughter called for a tow truck and had the vehicle taken to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and found metal shavings inside the oil pan and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Engine, Sep 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, she heard a noise coming from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine services and the mechanic was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that while the mechanic was test driving the vehicle at 40 MPH, the engine blew out. The vehicle was towed back to the facility. The contact was made aware of Service Campaign: 966 (Engine Monitoring Logic Update). The manufacturer was not made aware of failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.
Engine, Sep 22, 2022, fire
The engine caught on fire, it was considered totaled loss. I settled with the insurance and not sure if the car is still available for inspection. My safety was put at risk because I was driving the car when it happened. I did not get injured because I was able to get out of the car. There was no recall from what I know. The car was inspected by GEICO which is why it was considered totaled loss. There was no warning before the fire. The car was in great condition.
Engine, Sep 8, 2022
ENGINE LIGHTS continues to turn on every other day or so I took my car to get its regular Oil change and expressed this to one of the service reps about this issue they told me They couldn’t do anything about it because once they turned on the vehicle the light came off. A few days ago my engine started Blinking and I started panicking since I was on a highway from a road trip my car started making this awful cackling noise and I had To call a tow to then get told That this can take WEEKS TO FIX and NO RENTALS CAN BE PROVIDED WHEN I AM CLEARLY IN A DIFFERENT STATE THEN WHERE I LIVE! Hyundai IS ONCE OF THE WORST AUTO I HAVE EVER DELT WITH! Absolutely not Help I was practically stranded on an issue that Had nothing to do with me! The engine light came Out of no where
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 27, 2022
check engine light comes on bout 25 times a week i plug my scanner into it and it reads knock sensor faulty I seen a RECALL for these cars why doesn't my car have a recall of this on going issue?
Engine, Aug 25, 2022
Aug 9, 2022 ~1pm. Driving ~60 mph south on highway 18, 30 miles north of Lusk, WY. Heard 30 seconds of slapping noise from engine, follow by oil pressure low light. Accelerator also ceased to function. Pulled to side of road and waited for tow. Towed to Ken Garff Hyundai in Cheyanne, WY. Inspected on Aug 25, 2022 by technician at Ken Garff two weeks after incident. Hyundai authorized engine replacement. Hyundai also stated twice that there was a recall on the car. No recall appears in the NHTSA database. Problem is very similar to Part 573 Safety Recall Report 21V-727, which includes the 2017 Hyundai Tucson.
Engine, Jul 7, 2022
The vehicle has 81,000 miles with regular oil changes. We purchased as a certified pre owned with 45,000 miles on the vehicle. The car had been running perfectly. Last weekend the car was making an awful noise. Today the mechanic tells us the lower unit is knocking and the motor will need replaced. There is no way this should be happening at this mileage especially since the car has been regularly serviced. Hyundai is not even interested in repairing the vehicle, went straight to trying to get me to trade it in. We could have been stranded or killed on the highway and with all of the other complaints about this motor, I can’t believe there hasn’t been a recall.
Engine, Jul 6, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated. Additionally, the vehicle was making a ticking sound which became a loud knocking sound. Additionally, the engine was revving however, the vehicle was decelerating. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled off the highway safely and then drove the vehicle to her residence. The contact's husband then drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that water had entered the engine cylinders and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed by the independent mechanic that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V727000 (Engine). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 1, 2022
I have a Hyundai 2018. I bought it in 2019 with about 64,000 miles on it. I keep up with all the maintenance on my SUV. I noticed once I moved from Illinois to Florida, after having the car for a year, it started consuming a lot of oil. I've never had an oil leak anywhere on the car. In November of 2020 I went to Take 5 to get my oil changed and the mechanic said make sure to check my oil often because my truck burns a lot of oil. I'm find myself putting oil in my truck once a week. Every 500 miles it needs oil. The crazy thing is, is that the oil light never once came on. The engine light will come on. I went to a recall appointment 2 weeks ago, which was the same day I got my oil changed June 11, 2022, and I told them about this issue and they did nothing. By June 23rd I needed more oil! I see California has a lawsuit about this issue. I want to trade in my truck because this is costing too much money feeding this truck gas and now oil!
Engine, Jun 1, 2022
An oil change was done and part of the transmission pan overflowed and then engine failed.
Engine, May 3, 2022
Powertrain issue. Multiple times the after stopping the engine revs for a few seconds and then the vehicle will lurch forward. It acts like the CVT transmission has a delayed response to the accelerator. The condition comes and goes and sometimes it happens multiple times in the same trip.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 30, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving up a hill, the vehicle lost motive power. While driving the vehicle at undisclosed speeds and turning, the vehicle hesitated and then accelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Engine, Mar 22, 2022
Driving down the road, accelerated to speed limit, but the car slowed down and the RPM's stayed at 2000. The car just stopped running and I was able to pull over into the middle lane. Towed to dealership, 6 weeks min. to diagnose until we know what happened . DANGEROUS!!!
Power train, Engine, Mar 4, 2022
my 2018 Hyundai Tucson starting having lurching issues on when first started. i have to back into my driveway so i dont have to go in reverse then go forward. it jerks back and forth so hard. It finally took its toll on the transfer case and it exploded internally. the Dealership said they had never seen this before. i was hoping that was the cause of the issue but it wasnt. Still doing it and am afraid it will do it again. i was under warranty when it happened, so teh $2000 replair was covered. i'm concerned it will happen again. teh problem goes away after it's been completely warmed up. but like many others, its a scary issue when first started. it also will also shift hard when it firsts get's going (after the initial hard lurching back and forth). i dont know what to do. Love the car otherwise, but concerned with ever buying a Hyundai again.
Power train, Engine, Mar 3, 2022
very bad acceleration from a stop position, engine revs but does not move, in slow traffic it hesitates and lunges forward like it’s not sure what it’s suppose to do, when trying to merge or pass another car, you have to give yourself time, it’s very dangerous, took it to the dealer 2 times, was told that’s how the car is made, there is no way this is suppose to be the way the car was built. also a smell of antifreeze but no leaks detected,
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 1, 2022
Electric media screen (navigation, radio and etc) died. Screen went black and would not turn on. Car wouldn’t start on first attempt this morning. Mild Southern California conditions, garage parked. Car shakes / rattles when starting and powering down
Engine, Feb 24, 2022, fire
The contact owned a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving up a hill at 30 MPH, she heard an abnormal popping noise emitting from underneath the vehicle without warning. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact saw that a fire had started from underneath the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle in front of hers witnessed the fire and assisted with calling the authorities to the scene. Both the fire and the police department arrived as the fire department extinguished the fire. Both a police and fire report were filed; no injuries were reported. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. Upon investigation, the contact linked her failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V543000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the cause of the fire had yet to be determined. Both the dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle had been destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 17, 2022
As I Was Driving my 2018 Hyundai Tucson Down The Highway No Lights No Warnings Nothin My Car Just Shut Off In The middle of the road and would not even crank or turn over and had a burnt smell which could have got myself and others killed So Had Help Getting It To The Side of the road until the tow driver came Took it to the shop to realize the engine is seized How could this happen on a new vehicle without no warning signs it’s had regular oil changes and very well kept car i have talked to many repair shops that have said that have said my car is not the first one they have seen with this year with these problems you guys really need to put out a recall before someone gets killed because of Hyundais engines I could have got myself and my kids killed without WARNING ! I will never buy a Hyundai again a new car and the motor is seized it’s ridiculous and has put my life and kids in danger
Engine, Jan 27, 2022
Catastrophic engine failure due to loss of oil pressure without warning at highway speeds. Traveling approximately 70mph on the freeway. Engine develops a rapid knock in sync with engine RPM's and immediate loss of power. At the same moment, I exited the freeway. As I left off the accelerator to apply the brake, the engine stalls completely. Once stopped, I checked the engine oil, which was within specifications. Had vehicle towed to a mechanic and diagnosed as engine failure due to loss of oil pressure. Before this, the engine regularly consumed 2-3 quarts of oil per oil change starting at approximately 45,000 miles. Catalytic convertor has been replaced once due to being plugged by consumed oil. Hyundai fails to remedy.
Engine, Jan 7, 2022
My engine has locked up on me and stalled because of water in the oil. I was never informed about this “knock sensor” update for Hyundai that would have prevented all this in the first place. I’ve had to come out of pocket for 2 tow trips and loaner car all while my vehicle is under 5 year/ or 60,000 mile warranty!! Now this apparent “America’s best warranty” local dealership is trying to tell me that my repairs are not covered under the warranty and I would have to pay $10,000 out of pocket for the repairs! This is going on 3 months now and still no one has contacted me and no one is helping me. That vehicle is my ONLY source of transportation to and from work an hour away! I am unsatisfied with my Hyundai Tucson and the false advertisement for claiming to be “America’s best warranty” and for not providing a safe reliable vehicle like Hyundai promises!
Engine, Dec 28, 2021
A connecting rod bearing was thrown through the engine block causing it to stall out on the freeway. This is exactly what is occurring with vehicles in the Theta Class Action Settlement but the company states my VIN number is not included.
Power train, Engine, Dec 26, 2021
Rod bearing failure. Sounded like a tractor all of a sudden and stalled every time I’d come to a stop. Had it towed to the dealership. Awaiting word from Hyundai as to whether the warranty will cover this. Checked oil and wasn’t low. No check engine lights or oil lights or anything ever came on. No noises prior to this happening. Kept up on routine maintenance.