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2018 Hyundai Tucson

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Tucson years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson are substantially higher than the model-year median of 180.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

112 reports with mileage · 283 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 243 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports9 fire reports8 injury reports

Power Train complaints

100 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2023
EnginePower Train

As I was pulling out of a bank driveway onto a busy access road my car just died. Lost all power. NO warning bells, no lights on the dash, no warning at all. This could have potentially caused an accident. I could have been hit by another vehicle as my car was dead. Pushed it out of the way of traffic, checked oil and there was …

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As I was pulling out of a bank driveway onto a busy access road my car just died. Lost all power. NO warning bells, no lights on the dash, no warning at all. This could have potentially caused an accident. I could have been hit by another vehicle as my car was dead. Pushed it out of the way of traffic, checked oil and there was none. Ended up having it towed to the dealership. The dealership told me that my engine had failed and would need to be replaced due to cylinder 3 rod bearing failure due to oil consumption (a known problem from this manufacturer).

NHTSA ODI #11550788

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2023
Power Train

CVT Transmission failed under 70,000 miles. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk due to no warning light or indication of this failure from Dick Smith Hyundai in Greenville, SC during a routine maintenance check. The problem has been confirmed by Dick Smith Service Center. The vehicle h…

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CVT Transmission failed under 70,000 miles. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk due to no warning light or indication of this failure from Dick Smith Hyundai in Greenville, SC during a routine maintenance check. The problem has been confirmed by Dick Smith Service Center. The vehicle has been inspected by Dick Smith Hyundai. There were no warning lamps prior to failure. The characteristics of the CVT appeared in 2018 however; the jerking accelerated over time. Dick Smith Service Center stated not to worry the transmission was okay. October 16, 2023 with less than 70k miles I’m being told I need transmission, starter, & fly wheel.

NHTSA ODI #11550334

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2023
EnginePower Train

When I accelerate from a stop sign or yield it Jerks and hesitates to accelerate. I have to release the gas and push again sometimes doing this multiple times when this happens daily. I've taken it to Hyundi shops and they say it's a normal chararistic if a Tuscan. It also uses an excessive amount of oil. I am told this is becau…

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When I accelerate from a stop sign or yield it Jerks and hesitates to accelerate. I have to release the gas and push again sometimes doing this multiple times when this happens daily. I've taken it to Hyundi shops and they say it's a normal chararistic if a Tuscan. It also uses an excessive amount of oil. I am told this is because of the engine. If I go change my oil right at every 3k miles my oil level is well below the minimum line so I have been changing it every 1500 miles.

NHTSA ODI #11546535

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2023
Power TrainService Brakes

Transmission is jerking when driving. Brakes are squeaking.

NHTSA ODI #11540530

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2023
EnginePower Train

This very low mileage vehicle recently had the same incident for I believe the fifth time since I've owned the car. In a very dangerous situation the car exibited the car going almost dead after normal acceleration. It regains power after 3-5 seconds and rapidly returning to acceleration. It happened to my wife soon after purc…

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This very low mileage vehicle recently had the same incident for I believe the fifth time since I've owned the car. In a very dangerous situation the car exibited the car going almost dead after normal acceleration. It regains power after 3-5 seconds and rapidly returning to acceleration. It happened to my wife soon after purchase and she has refused to drive it since. Last week while I attempted to make a left turn at a yellow light it again went dead and traffic was forced to slow while the car behind me almost rea ended me. Recently the engine seems to run rough at times. Never have I seen any engine trouble lights since I've owned it. Three separate Hyundai dealers have looked at and seemed to be aware of what's causing it, but chose their words carefully. My neighbor owns one of the largest new cars dealerships in the Midwest. I spoke with him about this problem and he said his used car manager would NEVER purchase one with this engine/transmission for resale! A Hyundai service manager told me to get rid of it soon. When told I was planning on gifting it to my daughter, he said he wouldn't... The car only has 33,000 miles and looks new. Always garaged, never driven in snow.

NHTSA ODI #11538496

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2023
Power Train

Immediately after purchasing the car I stopped for gas. When pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road, the transmission stalled. The car did not move, the rpms jumped to 5-6 and the lurched and jerked forward then stopped and lurched forward again with the rpms jumping high. This had happened numerous times to various de…

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Immediately after purchasing the car I stopped for gas. When pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road, the transmission stalled. The car did not move, the rpms jumped to 5-6 and the lurched and jerked forward then stopped and lurched forward again with the rpms jumping high. This had happened numerous times to various deplgrees since purchasing the car 48 hours ago. There were and continue to be no warning lamps or messages on the dash. I have an appointment with the dealer to have it assessed in a week. This is dangerous because it causes the vehicle to not pull into or cross traffic in a smooth, sage and predictable manner, potentially causing a collision.

NHTSA ODI #11535609

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2023
Power Train

Back in January of 2023, car would not go into reverse. While out driving the engine light came on and went into safety mode. I had no power to merge onto highway and make it up hills to get to Hyundai service repair. They said the gear actuator failed. They repaired, but within a week the car was not going into reverse and engi…

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Back in January of 2023, car would not go into reverse. While out driving the engine light came on and went into safety mode. I had no power to merge onto highway and make it up hills to get to Hyundai service repair. They said the gear actuator failed. They repaired, but within a week the car was not going into reverse and engine light came back on. They had my car for over a month with no loaner car. They replaced transmission. Car only had 32,000 miles on it. Yesterday, July 28, car started losing power in traffic. Sometimes car would lurch. Engine light on so I pulled into grocery store parking lot. Turned car off and when I turned back on a loud clunking noise. Called Hyundai and drove to service. The entire time the car struggled to merge or go up hills. They ran test and said the gear actuator failed. So this is a trend. It is under warranty but that is not the point, this is dangerous and you can get stranded or the car can lurch or loose power at any time. I complained to Hyundai the first time and they did nothing except repair under warranty guidelines.

NHTSA ODI #11535220

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2023
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

The car has acceleration issues and when you try to press down on the gas it sputters and loses power, it is becoming a safety hazard when driving 45 mph or higher. If you try to pass another vehicle it slows down and almost stops, we have had to pull to the side of the road to avoid being in an accident. This is NOT normal for …

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The car has acceleration issues and when you try to press down on the gas it sputters and loses power, it is becoming a safety hazard when driving 45 mph or higher. If you try to pass another vehicle it slows down and almost stops, we have had to pull to the side of the road to avoid being in an accident. This is NOT normal for a vehicle to do this and something needs to be done before we end up dead.

NHTSA ODI #11534921

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2023
Power Train

Tucson 2.0L hesitation at acceleration particularly from a rolling stop: This intermittent problem was checked initially by Marhofer Hyundai in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, their findings were negative. We then took it to Great Lakes Hyundai in Streetsboro and they said they were aware of the problem and reset the computer, but it did n…

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Tucson 2.0L hesitation at acceleration particularly from a rolling stop: This intermittent problem was checked initially by Marhofer Hyundai in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, their findings were negative. We then took it to Great Lakes Hyundai in Streetsboro and they said they were aware of the problem and reset the computer, but it did not resolve the problem. This problem has put my family in harm's way many times, making a turn from a rolling stop the car lags into ongoing traffic. Our last visit to dealership we were told car was out of warranty 19,000 miles but the problem was never fixed. This vehicle was a certified pre-owned and have an extended warranty. I have attached a technical service bulletin.

NHTSA ODI #11531995

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2023
EnginePower Train

i received a letter in the mail stating the nock sensor has been replaced i dont know howlong ago but my 2018 tucan is stuck in false sage mode saying the nock senor was bad! if it is a on going issue and there is has been a recall on the part why does it show no recalls for my mode car?

NHTSA ODI #11529603

Official recalls

1

20V543000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Sep 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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