Hyundai Tucson Reliability
Quick answer
The Hyundai Tucson has 4.51 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 26 SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Tucson places 21st: a higher complaint rate than most. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 6,369 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and the transmission, and NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2016–2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025 as years to avoid and rates 2008–2010 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
4.51
Complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022)
6,369
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
29
Recall campaigns
7
Years to avoid
Most-reported Hyundai Tucson problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2008–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,419 | 38% | 23 | 89 | 17 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 1,245 | 20% | 30 | 9 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 801 | 13% | 26 | 33 | 16 |
| Service brakes | 727 | 11% | 58 | 22 | 30 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 434 | 7% | 68 | 0 | 29 |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 418 | 7% | 9 | 12 | 3 |
| Speed control / throttle | 384 | 6% | 31 | 2 | 14 |
| Body structure | 355 | 6% | 15 | 5 | 11 |
Of all 6,369 complaints, 246 (4%) report a crash, 137 (2%) a fire and 142 (2%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (1,666 complaints), the most-reported areas are automatic emergency braking (407), the engine (347), the electrical system (324), the brakes (216).
Hyundai Tucson complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each Tucson model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 43 | 1 | Service brakes | Better year |
| 2009 | 18 | 1 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2010 | 59 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Better year |
| 2011 | 124 | 5 | Engine | — |
| 2012 | 255 | 3 | Engine | — |
| 2013 | 266 | 3 | Engine | — |
| 2014 | 203 | 2 | Engine | — |
| 2015 | 229 | 2 | Engine | — |
| 2016 | 1,626 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2017 | 1,097 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2018 | 398 | 1 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2019 | 385 | 1 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2020 | 179 | 1 | Engine | — |
| 2021 | 80 | 1 | Engine | — |
| 2022 | 511 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2023 | 182 | 2 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2024(new) | 157 | 4 | Forward collision avoidance | — |
| 2025(new) | 456 | 7 | Forward collision avoidance | Avoid |
| 2026(new) | 101 | 6 | Forward collision avoidance | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Hyundai Tucson recalls
NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns across Hyundai Tucson model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V543000Sep 4, 2020 | 2016–2021 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 23V651000Sep 22, 2023 | 2010–2013 and 2015 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 25V893000Dec 19, 2025 | 2022–2024 | Trailer hitch | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tucson vehicles equipped with an optional Mobis tow hitch wiring harness. The wiring harness may have been installed incorrectly, allowing water into the control module.…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 23V526000Jul 27, 2023 | 2023 and 2024 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / fluid/lubricant / pump | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 22V056000Feb 3, 2022 | 2014 and 2015 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short,…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
Best and worst Tucson years
- Years to avoid: 2016–2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025.
- Better years: 2008–2010.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Hyundai Tucson years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Hyundai Tucson
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Driver aids: ask about false automatic-braking events and check for warning messages on the dash.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Hyundai Tucson can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Hyundai Tucson reliability FAQ
Is the Hyundai Tucson reliable?
The Hyundai Tucson has 4.51 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 26 SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Tucson places 21st: a higher complaint rate than most. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 6,369 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and the transmission, and NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2016–2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025 as years to avoid and rates 2008–2010 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Hyundai Tucson problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are the engine (2,419), the transmission (1,245), the electrical system (801) and the brakes (727). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are automatic emergency braking, the engine and the electrical system. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Hyundai Tucson should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2016–2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025 as years to avoid and rates 2008–2010 as better years. Each model year is compared only with other Tucson years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Hyundai Tucson last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 0.3% of 26,904 used Tucson listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 1.9% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 2.7% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Tucson have?
NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns covering Hyundai Tucson model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 20V543000 (service brakes, 2016–2021). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Hyundai Tucson?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure Tucson reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Hyundai Tucson, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Complaints per 1,000 sold divides the 4,505 complaints for the 2015–2022 model years by 998,897 vehicles sold in the US in those calendar years (published sales figures), times 1,000.
- The SUVs ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 26 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each Tucson model year only with other Tucson years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the Tucson compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.
More Hyundai Tucson research
Hyundai Tucson reliability by model year: