Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · model years 2014 to 2026

Honda CR-V vs Hyundai Tucson: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tucson looks better on 4 and the CR-V on 1, with 2 too close to call.

Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V

8,804 complaints · 21 recalls

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

5,110 complaints · 22 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2026CR-VTucson
Complaints that report a crash4.0%3.3%
Complaints that report a fire0.4%1.8%
Complaints that report an injury2.7%1.8%
Median miles when problems are reported20,00037,000
Recall campaigns per model year1.61.7
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations63

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system CR-V owners complain about most is engine, and it is the same for the Tucson. Complaints citing steering make up 17% of all CR-V complaints, against 1.3% on the Tucson. The Tucson leans the other way on engine: 38% of its complaints, against 21% for the CR-V.

Honda CR-VHyundai Tucson

Engine21%38%
Transmission and drivetrain6.6%21%
Electrical14%12%
Collision avoidance15%6.1%
Fuel and propulsion13%7.1%
Steering17%1.3%
Brakes7.8%6.2%
Speed control3.2%5.9%
Structure2.6%6.2%
Fuel system4.9%0.2%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the CR-V is sticky steering (9.5% of its complaints). On the Tucson it is engine failure (16% of its complaints), against 1.9% on the CR-V.

ProblemCR-VTucson
Engine stalls or loses power while driving8.6% 754most in 2018 · 26k mi16% 798most in 2017 · 40k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early8.1% 709most in 2018 · 16k mi11% 556most in 2019 · 29k mi
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing1.9% 171most in 2017 · 38k mi16% 833most in 2017 · 74k mi
Check engine light or misfire5.0% 443most in 2017 · 56k mi11% 583most in 2017 · 70k mi
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)9.3% 819most in 2018 · 22k mi3.1% 160most in 2025 · 6k mi
Burns oil or oil level rises3.6% 318most in 2017 · 9k mi7.9% 404most in 2017 · 65k mi
Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks9.5% 839most in 2023 · 34k mi0
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard0.7% 62most in 2015 · 18k mi8.1% 415most in 2016 · 13k mi

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

CR-V owners report problems earlier. Half the CR-V complaints that give a mileage come before 20,000 miles; for the Tucson the halfway point is 37,000. 78% of CR-V reports and 57% of Tucson reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Honda CR-VHyundai Tucson

Under 25k56%41%
25k to 50k22%16%
50k to 75k11%20%
75k to 100k5.6%12%
100k to 150k4.0%10%
Over 150k1.2%0.8%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 3,869 for the CR-V and 2,259 for the Tucson.

Worst and best years

The 2018 CR-V draws 4.3 times the complaints of a typical CR-V year for its age. The 2016 Tucson draws 4.4 times the complaints of a typical Tucson year for its age.

Honda CR-V

Every CR-V model year

Hyundai Tucson

Every Tucson model year

Honda CR-VHyundai Tucson

Each model year against its own model's median. CR-V: 2014 0.7, 2015 1.0, 2016 0.6, 2017 3.2, 2018 4.3, 2019 2.5, 2020 0.9, 2021 1.0, 2022 0.9, 2023 2.3, 2024 2.4. Tucson: 2014 0.4, 2015 0.6, 2016 4.4, 2017 3.3, 2018 1.3, 2019 1.4, 2020 0.8, 2021 0.4, 2022 2.3, 2023 1.0, 2024 1.0.2014 CR-V: 0.7 times its median2014 Tucson: 0.4 times its median'142015 CR-V: 1.0 times its median2015 Tucson: 0.6 times its median'152016 CR-V: 0.6 times its median2016 Tucson: 4.4 times its median'162017 CR-V: 3.2 times its median2017 Tucson: 3.3 times its median'172018 CR-V: 4.3 times its median2018 Tucson: 1.3 times its median'182019 CR-V: 2.5 times its median2019 Tucson: 1.4 times its median'192020 CR-V: 0.9 times its median2020 Tucson: 0.8 times its median'202021 CR-V: 1.0 times its median2021 Tucson: 0.4 times its median'212022 CR-V: 0.9 times its median2022 Tucson: 2.3 times its median'222023 CR-V: 2.3 times its median2023 Tucson: 1.0 times its median'232024 CR-V: 2.4 times its median2024 Tucson: 1.0 times its median'241x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 1.6 campaigns per model year for the CR-V and 1.7 for the Tucson. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Honda CR-V

21 recall campaigns and 6 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (5), airbags (4) and equipment (3).

  • 23V-858 (fuel system) covers 10 model years
  • 26V-332 (airbags) covers 6 model years

Investigations

  • EA24002: Inadvertent automatic emergency braking (open)
  • EA23003: Momentary increased steering effort (closed, led to a recall)
  • PE22011: Rear differential seizure (closed)

Hyundai Tucson

22 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (5), airbags (3) and service brakes, hydraulic (2).

  • 20V-543 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 6 model years
  • 25V-893 (trailer hitches) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds (closed, led to a recall)
  • DP22003: Loss of motive power (closed)
  • EA21003: Engine fires (closed, led to a recall)

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of CR-V complaints report a crash: 4.0%, against 3.3% for the Tucson. Fire reports: 36 for the CR-V and 93 for the Tucson. Complaints on file report 5 deaths in the CR-V and 1 in the Tucson for these model years.

Honda CR-VHyundai Tucson

Report a crash4.0%3.3%
Report a fire0.4%1.8%
Report someone hurt2.7%1.8%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Honda CR-V or the Hyundai Tucson more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tucson looks better on 4 and the CR-V on 1, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the CR-V has 8,804 complaints and the Tucson 5,110 for model years 2014 to 2026, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the Tucson?

The CR-V has 21 recall campaigns and the Tucson 22 across model years 2014 to 2026. The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 1.6 campaigns per model year for the CR-V and 1.7 for the Tucson.

What are the most common problems on the CR-V and the Tucson?

The most reported problem on the CR-V is sticky steering (9.5% of its complaints). On the Tucson it is engine failure (16% of its complaints), against 1.9% on the CR-V.

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