Hyundai
Hyundai Tucson years to avoid
Years to avoid: 2016, 2017 and 2022. Best years: 2021.
The 2016, 2017 and 2022 Hyundai Tucson draw the most owner complaints for their age: 2016 has 1,620 complaints (147 for each year on the road), 2017 has 1,087 complaints (109 for each year on the road) and 2022 has 382 complaints (76 for each year on the road), against a median of 33 a year across the 11 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2016 is transmission shudder (213 reports).
- 5,121complaints
- 22recall campaigns
- 13model years with a page
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Pick your model year
Owner complaints on file for each year.
Years to avoid
2016
Most reported: transmission shudder (213 reports, median 13,000 miles) and door latch (198 reports, median 60,000 miles).
2017
Most reported: engine failure (265 reports, median 69,600 miles) and stalling (248 reports, median 47,000 miles).
2022
Most reported: misfire (91 reports, median 25,000 miles) and stalling (81 reports, median 20,000 miles).
Best years
2021
Most reported: engine failure (22 reports, median 60,000 miles) and misfire (13 reports).
Complaints for each year on the road
Each model year's NHTSA complaints divided by the calendar years it has been on sale, counting this one (a 2018 model has had 9). Older cars have had longer to collect complaints, so raw totals flatter the new ones. Blue bars are the years to avoid. Too new to judge: 2025 and 2026.
Within one model, sales change less from year to year than they do between models, so a jump here is mostly a jump in problems. The call: the years to avoid are the (up to three) highest at 1.5 times the model's median rate or more, and the best are the (up to three) lowest at two thirds of it or less, from 2016 on.
Guide How much should a years-to-avoid list decide? What these lists get wrong
At a glance
- Where the complaints sit
- The 2016 has the most complaints of any Hyundai Tucson year here: 1,620 of 5,121 (32%).
- Problem across the years
- The top problem moves around from year to year. Engine failure leads in 4 of the 13 model years and has the most reports overall, 835. Pooled across the years, half of the 416 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure were under about 75,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 6% of Hyundai Tucson complaints report a crash, a fire or an injury, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The highest share is on the 2025, 41 of its 285 complaints.
- Recalls on the top problem
- 1 of the 9 model years where owners report engine failure have a recall on the same system: 2017. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2021 at 720 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 655. So far in 2026, 642 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
Photo: HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Third generation (TL)
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 avoid | 1,620 | 147 | 5 | Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (213) | 37,000 |
| 2017 avoid | 1,087 | 109 | 3 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (265) | 40,000 |
| 2018 | 397 | 44 | 1 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (116) | 47,000 |
| 2019 | 380 | 48 | 1 | Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (118) | 27,000 |
Photo: HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Fourth generation (NX4, LWB, US, spec)
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 178 | 25 | 1 | Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (44) | 24,000 |
| 2021 best | 79 | 13 | 1 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (22) | 44,807 |
| 2022 avoid | 382 | 76 | 3 | Check engine light or misfire (91) | 26,000 |
| 2023 | 133 | 33 | 2 | Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) (19) | 19,241 |
| 2024 | 97 | 32 | 4 | Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) (16) | 14,612 |
| 2025 | 285 | new | 6 | Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) (81) | 6,000 |
| 2026 | 61 | new | 5 | Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) (20) | 3,700 |
Year by year
2026 Hyundai Tucson
61 owner complaints so far; too new to call. Most reported: phantom braking (20 reports), false collision warning (18 reports) and brake wear (15 reports). 14 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. 5 recalls, including 26V-316 on collision avoidance and 26V-400 on the electrical system.
2025 Hyundai Tucson
285 owner complaints so far; too new to call. Most reported: phantom braking (81 reports, median 5,000 miles), false collision warning (80 reports) and infotainment (52 reports, median 7,500 miles). 32 reports involved a crash and 19 people were hurt. 6 recalls, including 26V-316 on collision avoidance and 26V-400 on the electrical system.
2024 Hyundai Tucson
97 owner complaints, 32 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: phantom braking (16 reports), brake wear (16 reports) and stalling (11 reports). 12 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. 4 recalls, including 25V-893 on the trailer hitches and 24V-412 on the steering system.
2023 Hyundai Tucson
133 owner complaints, 33 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: phantom braking (19 reports), brake wear (18 reports) and misfire (12 reports). 12 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. 2 recalls, including 25V-893 on the trailer hitches and 23V-526 on the transmission and drivetrain.
2022 Hyundai Tucson avoid
382 owner complaints, 76 for each year on the road (2.3 times the model median). Most reported: misfire (91 reports, median 25,000 miles), stalling (81 reports, median 20,000 miles) and brake wear (33 reports). 25 reports involved a crash and 54 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 21V-938 on the electrical system and 25V-893 on the trailer hitches.
2021 Hyundai Tucson best
79 owner complaints, 13 for each year on the road (0.4 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (22 reports, median 60,000 miles), misfire (13 reports) and brake wear (12 reports). 2 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. 1 recall: 20V-543 on the brakes.
2020 Hyundai Tucson
178 owner complaints, 25 for each year on the road (0.8 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (44 reports, median 24,000 miles), engine failure (27 reports, median 79,384 miles) and oil consumption (24 reports, median 50,000 miles). 5 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. 1 recall: 20V-543 on the brakes.
2019 Hyundai Tucson
380 owner complaints, 48 for each year on the road (1.4 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (118 reports, median 20,000 miles), engine failure (92 reports, median 60,059 miles) and misfire (73 reports, median 55,000 miles). 15 reports involved a crash and 10 people were hurt. 1 recall: 20V-543 on the brakes.
2018 Hyundai Tucson
397 owner complaints, 44 for each year on the road (1.3 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (116 reports, median 74,600 miles), stalling (80 reports, median 65,000 miles) and oil consumption (63 reports, median 60,000 miles). 13 reports involved a crash and 10 people were hurt. 1 recall: 20V-543 on the brakes.
2017 Hyundai Tucson avoid
1,087 owner complaints, 109 for each year on the road (3.3 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (265 reports, median 69,600 miles), stalling (248 reports, median 47,000 miles) and misfire (169 reports, median 69,600 miles). 13 reports involved a crash and 14 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 21V-727 on the engine and 20V-543 on the brakes.
2016 Hyundai Tucson avoid
1,620 owner complaints, 147 for each year on the road (4.4 times the model median). Most reported: transmission shudder (213 reports, median 13,000 miles), door latch (198 reports, median 60,000 miles) and stalling (190 reports, median 23,025 miles). 14 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. 5 recalls, including 16V-628 on the transmission and drivetrain and 20V-543 on the brakes.
2015 Hyundai Tucson
227 owner complaints, 19 for each year on the road (0.6 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (66 reports, median 73,500 miles), engine failure (64 reports, median 69,700 miles) and stalling (41 reports, median 69,671 miles). 7 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. 1 recall: 22V-056 on the brakes.
2014 Hyundai Tucson
195 owner complaints, 15 for each year on the road (0.5 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (71 reports, median 93,000 miles), brake wear (56 reports, median 66,252 miles) and stalling (36 reports, median 96,000 miles). 4 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. 2 recalls, including 22V-056 on the brakes and 14V-245 on the airbags.
Recalls that cover several model years
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 wiring harness may have been installed incorrectly, allowing water into the control module. Moisture accumulation may cause the trailer lighting to fail or an electrical short circuit.
Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.
Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
Compare the Tucson with its rivals
Side by side over the model years both have on file: what owners complain about, the mileage problems start at, recalls, investigations and crash reports.
- Tucson vs Toyota RAV42014 to 2025
- Tucson vs Honda CR-V2014 to 2026
- Tucson vs Kia Sportage2014 to 2026
- Tucson vs Nissan Rogue2014 to 2026
- Tucson vs Chevrolet Equinox2014 to 2026
Questions
What Hyundai Tucson years should you avoid?
The 2016, 2017 and 2022 Hyundai Tucson draw the most owner complaints for their age: 2016 has 1,620 complaints (147 for each year on the road), 2017 has 1,087 complaints (109 for each year on the road) and 2022 has 382 complaints (76 for each year on the road), against a median of 33 a year across the 11 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2016 is transmission shudder (213 reports).
What are the best years for the Hyundai Tucson?
The 2021 draws the fewest complaints for its age: 79, or 13 for each year on the road. Model years before 2016 aren't called best, because complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads and their counts run short.
What is the most common problem on the Hyundai Tucson?
Engine failure, with 835 reports across the 13 model years that have a page here. It's the single most reported problem on the 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2021.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Tucson have?
22 recall campaigns cover the Hyundai Tucson model years 2014 to 2026 on this site. The widest, 20V-543 on the brakes, covers 6 model years.
How many Hyundai Tucson complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
6% of them, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The 2025 has the highest share.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the Hyundai Tucson?
On 1 of the 9 model years where owners report it: 2017.