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
396 reports, newest first.
Engine, Sep 28, 2021
The Engine check engine light activated and within a few miles while accelerating from a stop sign the engine had very little power, just missed a colision by cross traffic. Upon inspection the engine had very little engine oil. There was no indication of low oil pressure, and the oil was changed at regular intervals as recommended by Hyundai. This vehicle HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THERE IS NO INDICATION WHEN IT IS GETTING VERY LOW UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILS TO RESPOND.
Power train, Sep 27, 2021
My 2018 Hyundai Tuscon has been having major issues with the dual clutch transmission, which has put myself, my family, and others in very dangerous situations. Everyday when I start my Tuscon and accelerate, it stutters/jerks like it’s going to stall and will not accelerate/shift. It eventually starts going, but I have to pull out onto a street, which has been unsafe when cars are speeding up behind me. It does not go up hills well at all. I turned onto a road where there was a decent sized hill, but nothing major, and nothing an SUV should have a problem with. My previous CAR could drive it just fine. You’d think an SUV could as well. Nope. Very scary moment. My Tuscon made it not even half way, and just stopped. I was pressing the gas, and it just revved it up with no motion. I braked and tried it again, and it still would not go. I had to roll backwards down the hill. This was the only way to my destination. I rolled down, and put it in sport mode to try that. It still would not go, and did the same thing. I tried again in regular mode, and it still would not go, only this time I had a car behind me. The car had to back down, and I rolled back a little bit, then hit the gas in drive and it eventually made it, but definitely very scary and unsafe, and it put others in danger as well. I was going to church one morning, and the speed limit on the main road is 60, which is what I was driving. I had to slow down to turn, and had to stop to oncoming traffic. I had to brake for maybe 10 seconds, and when I went to accelerate, it was like it wasn’t shifting, and it just revved up, rolled slightly, and would not go. At this point there are more cars coming. I am in the road right In their path due to it rolling, and once again I am put in a very scary situation. I kept trying, and it FINALLY went. This was also on flat level ground. I have had many moments (every day) where it does not shift properly, and it also stutters every single day when I start it. Please fix this
Power train, Sep 10, 2021
Vehicle has judder at slow speeds or hesitation in shifting gears. Has almost stalled while making a left turn at intersection into oncoming traffic or accelerating after stop sign . Dealer updated TCU ECM software, problem got worse. Appears to be a dual clutch transmission defect.
Other or unspecified, Aug 20, 2021
On 18 August 2021, I had a recall fixed on my Hyundai Tucson. The recall is now fixed, however Hyundai has not removed the recall record against the VIN. I have been trying ever since to speak to someone from Hyundai USA to get the recall cleared, however they refuse to escalate the issue internally and give no answers regarding how it can be fixed. I'd like to lodge a complaint because I am selling the vehicle shortly and need the recall to be cleared ASAP so that I can register and sell it.
Power train, Aug 16, 2021, crash
Car not shifting properly. Took to dealership and kept getting a response of the car have a dual clutch.
Electrical system, Jul 31, 2021
RECALL HAS BE OPEN FOR 5 MONTHS DEALER HAS NOT FIXED CALLED NATIONAL HYUNDAI AND TOLD I HAVE TO CHASE DOWN THE CORRECT PART NUMBER TO FIX THEIR RECALL
Power train, Jul 29, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while at a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact called the manufacturer and the dealer and was informed that the Vin was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 8, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 35-40 mph and making a turn, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The passenger engaged the parking brakes to stop the vehicle. The engine, battery, and oil warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, while driving the engine ceased. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V543000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Engine, Jul 6, 2021
On the way to taking my son to the hospital, the car stopped working, delaying the medical care I needed for my son after being attacked by a pitbull. It was then towed to the dealership who regularly services the car. They stated it was the motor. Stated I need a new one. Stated it failed due to missing the oil change by two weeks. There were no warning signs/signals or anything coming from the car that would have caused me to bring the car in sooner.
Engine, Jul 5, 2021
44,000 miles on car. While driving on highway noticed an 18 wheeler three feet behind me, tried to accelerate and nothing happened. Right before the car started making a noise, luckily no one was in the right lane so I coasted to the median. I was just informed the car needs an engine. Two days before I heard a fluttering sound and the car seemed to have trouble accelerating.
Power train, Jul 3, 2021
My vehicle bucks when first pulling out. like a manual transmission.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 2, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V543000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2021
Lag and than quick acceleration upon take off. RPM revs to2000, but power serge comes a few seconds later. Just bought this car, have not returned it for testing yet, but now understand Hyundai knows about this problem, but has no solution. Could be a hugh safety hazzard.
Other or unspecified, May 20, 2021
My car will excelerate with no warning
Service brakes, Air, May 18, 2021
2018 Hyundai Tucson. Consumer writes in regard to NHTSA Safety Recall 20V-543. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH AN UNREPAIRED OPENED RECALL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Service brakes, May 12, 2021
THE PARTS TO FIX THIS RECALL ARE BACKORDERED. THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND OWNERS DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE RISK HAVING OUR CARS START A FIRE WHICH CAN LEAD TO SEVERE DAMAGE AND/OR DEATH. SEP 04,2020 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER195 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER20V543000 RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA (HYUNDAI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2016-2021 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. SAFETY RISK THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ("ABS") MODULES THAT COULD MALFUNCTION INTERNALLY AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OVER TIME, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT OVERCURRENT IN THE ABS MODULE, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Engine, May 11, 2021
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE 10 SECONDS THEN A LOUD BOOM AND BLEW DARK SMOKE OUT THE BACK AND ENGINE STOPPED. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED OFF THE FREEWAY. REAR WINDSHIELD AND TAILGATE WERE COVERED IN OIL, AT LEAST IT WAS CLEAN, I HAD CHANGED IT A FEW DAYS PRIOR. TOWED TO SHOP AND ONCE ON THE LIFT THE ROD STICKING OUT THROUGH THE BLOCK WAS A SHOCK TO SAY THE LEAST. 14 MONTHS AGO I REPLACED THE ENGINE AFTER SEVERE OIL LEAKS LED TO THE BLOCK WARPING. THAT WAS $6000 THAT HYUNDAI DECLINED TO COVER. PUT A USED THETA ENGINE IN AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD UNTIL THIS. OBVIOUSLY HYUNDAI ISN'T GOING TO COVER THIS EITHER. HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND STILL OWE OVER $10K ON LOAN. I'M ABOUT TO PAY FOR ANOTHER THETA ENGINE THAT IS COMING FROM THE SAME MODEL YEAR AS THE PREVIOUS TWO. I FEEL INSANE DOING THIS, LIKE I'M ASKING FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN BUT NO OTHER OPTIONS.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Engine, May 7, 2021
I HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO AUTO NATION WHERE I PURCHASED MY 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A SWISHING NOISE AND SPUTTERING THE CAR JUST STOPPED I WAS HOWEVER ABLE TO GET ON THE OFF RAMP THE CAR WAS TOWED WHICH COST ME 528.00 TO GET OUT HAD HE RE-TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE ENGINE ROD BLEW OUT AND UP MAKING A GOOD SIZE HOLE IN THE OIL PAN NOW I HAVE TO PAY 120.00 DIAGNOSTICS CHARGES BUT THEY DO NOT THINK HYUNDAI WILL PAY FOR REPAIRS SO I'M PAYING FOR A CAR THAT IS COMPLETELY INCAPACITATED. I WAS READING ON YOUR REPORTS CONCERNING HYUNDAI AND KIA THE LAW SUIT FOR THEIR SLOW RESPONSE BUT TO THIS DAY I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND REPORT ON THE ENGINE PROBLEM AND ROD IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY HYUNDAI EXCEPT IT HASN'T CAUGHT ON FIRE AS OF YET MY UNDERSTANDING IS PARK IT AWAY FROM EVERYTHING AS JUST BEING PARKED IT CAN STILL CATCH ON FIRE. I NEED HELP ON THIS MATTER... THANK YOU I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS RESOLVED SINCE MARCH 2021
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V543000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRIENDSHIP HYUNDAI OF JOHNSON CITY (3408 N ROAN ST, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37601) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 3, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V543000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED BUD CLARY FORD (700 7TH AVE, LONGVIEW, WA 98632, (360) 423-4321) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Engine, Apr 30, 2021
I HAVE A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON WITH LESS THEN 75000 MILES THAT I HAVE JUST HAD FOR A YEAR THAT SUDDENLY STARTED KNOCKING AFTER HAVING IT CHECK AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS BEARING MATERIAL IN MY OIL AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY REFUSED TO COVER AS I WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR THE LAST YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO LOCATE A NEW OR REFURBISHED ENGINE AND CANNOT PROVIDE A PREDICTED DATE ONE WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I REACHED OUT TO AUTOZONE TO SEE IF I CAN PURCHASE AN ENGINE FROM THEM AND THEY STATED IT SAYS NA WHEN THEY ENTERED MY VIN SO THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ENGINE AT ALL. SO I AM PAYING FOR A VEHICLE THAT I CAN'T DRIVE BECAUSE IT NEEDS AN ENGINE BUT I ALSO CAN'T BUY AN ENGINE?!
Engine, Apr 30, 2021
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED KNOCKING LOUDLY THEN A LOUD BOOM AND ALL THIS BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE BACK END. THE VEHICLE ENGINE SEIZED AND I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI TRUCK TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AS THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE ROD BLEW A HUGE HOLE IN MY ENGINE AND IT WAS NO GOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 61K MILES PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW. OPENED A CASE WITH HYUNDAI AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME I HAD NO WARRANTY. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. ALSO THERE ARE TWO OTHER SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR THAT WERE ALSO UP AT THE SERVICE STATION FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND WITH LOW MILES AND HYUNDAI REFUSED TO MAKE THE MATTER RIGHT BY REPLACING THE MOTORS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND RIPPING OFF THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. 7300$ FOR A REPLACEMENT MOTOR AND THE VEHICLE IS PRACTICALLY NEW WITH THE LOW MILES I HAVE.
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Apr 24, 2021
WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD BOARD GOES ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY INDICATING REAR BRAKE LIGHT NEEDS ATTENTION. WHEN WARNING LIGHT IS ON, BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. WHEN WARNING LIGHT TURNS OFF, BRAKE LIGHT WORKS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS ON AND CONSTANTLY AT RANDOM TIMES EVEN WHEN I'M STATIONARY. ALSO, WHEN I'M STOPPED, CAR TUGS LIKE IT WANTS TO ACCELERATE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 16, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V543000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOYALTY USED CAR SUPER CENTER (2833 S CRATER RD, PETERSBURG, VA 23805) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 16, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V543000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. GREG MAY HYUNDAI (1501 TX-340 LOOP, WACO, TX 76712) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.