Hyundai Tucson Years to Avoid — the 2016–2017 drew the most complaints.
The 2016 (1,626) and 2017 (1,097) Tucson drew more NHTSA complaints than any other years: 487 on the 2016 name the transmission or describe hesitation, and 259 on the 2017 describe engine failure or knocking. Recalls cover the 2016's dual-clutch transmission and the 2017's connecting-rod bearings.
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Quick Answer
- What Hyundai Tucson years should you avoid?
- The 2016 and 2017 first. The 2016 drew 1,626 complaints, 487 about the transmission or hesitation, and recall 16V628000 covers its dual-clutch gearbox. The 2017 drew 1,097, 259 about engine failure or knocking, and recall 21V727000 covers worn connecting-rod bearings. On the 2012–2015 the engine is the component owners name most.
- What is the best year for a used Tucson?
- Leaving out the thin 2009 and years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints, 2008 (43), 2010 (59), 2007 (65) drew the fewest from 2005 to 2021. Of the 2016 and later, the 2020 drew the fewest (179).
- Did Hyundai recall the Tucson engine?
- For some years: recall 21V727000 covers connecting-rod bearings on the 2017, 19V063000 oil-pan leaks that can starve the engine on the 2011–2013, and 25V549000 connecting-rod bolts on the 2025–2026. NHTSA's list has no engine recall for the 2014–2016 or 2018–2021, which drew 528 complaints about engine failure or knocking.
Five checks for a used Tucson, by year
The Tucson's weak spots move from the engine to the gearbox to the brakes, depending on the year.
- 1Read the year and plant from the VINCharacter 10 is the model year; KM8 at the start means built in South Korea, 5NM in Alabama.
- 22016–2018: drive it in trafficHesitation or a lurch from a stop is the most common complaint on the 2016.
- 32012–2019: listen to the engineKnocking, low oil and a check-engine light are what owners describe before failures; ask for oil-change records.
- 42014–2021: ABS module recallsRecalls 22V056000 and 20V543000 cover ABS modules that can short and start a fire; confirm they were done.
- 5Check title and mileage recordsA salvage brand or a mileage gap shows up by VIN; a worn engine does not.
Avoid: the 2016–2017 Tucson
The 2016 and 2017 drew 2,723 complaints between them, more than every Tucson from 2005 to 2015 combined (1,582).
On the 2016 the transmission leads: 487 of 1,626 complaints name it or describe hesitation. Recall 16V628000 covers 2016s with the seven-speed dual-clutch, which in heat and repeated stop-and-go may not move when you press the accelerator.
On the 2017 the engine takes over: 259 describe engine failure or knocking and 233 stalling or a loss of power. Recall 21V727000 covers connecting-rod bearings that can wear early.
The 2016–2017 by the numbers
- 1,626 · 1,097 complaints on the 2016 and 2017.
- 487 2016 complaints about the transmission or hesitation.
- 259 2017 complaints about engine failure or knocking.
- 94 2017 complaints mention fire, smoke or melting.
Every Hyundai Tucson Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Tucson from 2005 to 2026, read on 13 November 2026.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1st | 185 | 12 · 3 | 8 | Air Bags |
| 2006 | 1st | 135 | 15 · 3 | 5 | Air Bags |
| 2007 | 1st | 65 | 7 · 2 | 5 | Air Bags |
| 2008 | 1st | 43 | 5 · 5 | 1 | Service Brakes |
| 2009 | 1st | 18 | 3 · 0 | 1 | Air Bags |
| 2010 | 2nd | 59 | 3 · 2 | 4 | Power Train |
| 2011 | 2nd | 124 | 5 · 3 | 5 | Engine |
| 2012 | 2nd | 255 | 12 · 13 | 3 | Engine |
| 2013 | 2nd | 266 | 16 · 18 | 3 | Engine |
| 2014 | 2nd | 203 | 4 · 3 | 2 | Engine |
| 2015 | 2nd | 229 | 7 · 8 | 1 | Engine |
| 2016 | 3rd | 1,626 | 14 · 26 | 5 | Power Train |
| 2017 | 3rd | 1,097 | 13 · 26 | 3 | Engine |
| 2018 | 3rd | 398 | 13 · 9 | 1 | Engine |
| 2019 | 3rd | 386 | 15 · 11 | 1 | Engine |
| 2020 | 3rd | 179 | 5 · 2 | 1 | Engine |
| 2021 | 3rd | 84 | 2 · 3 | 1 | Engine |
| 2022 | 4th | 389 | 25 · 4 | 3 | Fuel/Propulsion System |
| 2023 | 4th | 138 | 12 · 1 | 2 | Electrical System |
| 2024 | 4th | 103 | 13 · 0 | 4 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 2025 | 4th | 298 | 34 · 1 | 6 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 2026 | 4th | 67 | 15 · 0 | 5 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales. The Tucson Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid are filed under their own names and are not included.
Other Tucson Years With a Known Weak Spot
Smaller clusters in NHTSA's records, and the recalls behind them.
2012–2015: engines
293 complaints describe engine failure or knocking; recall 19V063000 covers oil-pan leaks on the 2011–2013.
2014–2015: ABS module fire
Recall 22V056000: the ABS module can short and start an engine-compartment fire.
2016–2021: ABS module fire
Recall 20V543000 covers a corroding ABS control unit; 94 complaints on the 2019 name it, most from owners waiting for parts.
2022: fuel injectors
125 of the 2022's 389 complaints name the fuel injectors. No recall on NHTSA's list covers them.
2025–2026: emergency braking
88 of the 2025's 298 complaints; recall 26V316000 covers camera software that can brake unexpectedly.
2025–2026: rod bolts
Recall 25V549000: connecting-rod bolts that may not have been tightened properly, which can cost drive power.
What Tucson Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
Tucson owners split along engine lines: plenty report trouble-free years with oil changes done on time, others an engine that failed early.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/HyundaiTucson: an owner says they learned that 2022 and older Tucsons have some issues, but theirs has had zero problems in two and a half years.
- r/Hyundai, 2018 at 53,000 miles: no trouble with maintenance kept up, though reading about engine problems has the owner wondering whether to sell.
- YouTube, 2015: the engine died at under 98,900 miles for no reason the owner was given.
- YouTube, 2014 Limited: still loved at 187,000 miles, after the engine was replaced with a remanufactured one at 168,500.
- YouTube, 2018 1.6 turbo: fine after eight years and 88,000 miles, though hard on brakes and tires.
- YouTube, 2016 with a manual gearbox: the owner says the American complaints are about the automatic, and theirs has had none.
Checking a Tucson for Sale?
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Fewest vs. Most Tucson Complaints
Fewest is limited to 2005–2021 and leaves out years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints (2012–2018 and 2021). It also leaves out the 2009: its 18 complaints are far below the 2008 (43) and 2010 (59), which looks like a thin record rather than a better SUV.
Fewest complaints
- 2008: 43 complaints, 1 recall
- 2010: 59 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2007: 65 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2011: 124 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2006: 135 complaints, 5 recalls
Most complaints
- 2016: 1,626 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2017: 1,097 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2018: 398 complaints, 1 recall
- 2022: 389 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2019: 386 complaints, 1 recall
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
The Tucsons Our Visitors Check, and Where They Were Built
Between 11 June 2026 and 11 November 2026, visitors ran 735 different Hyundai Tucson VINs through our free preview. By the first three characters, 522 (71%) were built in South Korea and 213 (29%) in Alabama, all of those 2022 or newer.
121 (16%) were 2016 or 2017 models, the most-complained years, and 333 (45%) 2022 or newer. The single most-checked year was the 2026, at 86 VINs.
Tucson Complaints by Generation
The third generation (2016–2021) carries 3,770 complaints, more than the first (446), second (1,136) and fourth (995) combined; 2,723 of them are on the 2016 and 2017.
What to Check on a Used Tucson
By year, the faults to look for.
2012–2019: oil records
Ask how often the oil was changed; check the level and listen for a knock at idle.
2016–2018: transmission
Drive in stop-and-go traffic; watch for hesitation or a lurch from a stop.
2014–2021: ABS recalls
Confirm recall 22V056000 or 20V543000, whichever applies.
2022: injectors
A rough idle or a check-engine light can point to the injectors owners describe.
2025–2026: braking
Confirm recall 26V316000; watch for false collision warnings on the test drive.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Tucson Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales. Many of the engine complaints describe failures with no recall to cover them: 528 on the 2014–2016 and 2018–2021.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used, so they are a minimum. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints: the 2026 has 67 so far, 22 of them about emergency braking.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Tucson's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 13 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Hyundai.
Hyundai Tucson Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
Engines, the dual-clutch and the newest Tucsons.
What is the worst year for the Hyundai Tucson?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2016 (1,626), then the 2017 (1,097) and the 2018 (398).
Which Tucson years have engine problems?+
The 2012–2019 most of all; the engine is the component named most on the 2012–2015 and the 2017–2019. The 2017 peaks at 259 complaints about engine failure or knocking.
Is the 2016 Tucson's dual-clutch transmission bad?+
It drew the most transmission complaints of any Tucson: 487 of the 2016's 1,626, more than half describing hesitation or a lurch from a stop. Recall 16V628000 updated its software; confirm it was done.
What about the 2025 Tucson?+
88 of its 298 complaints describe the emergency braking, and recall 26V316000 covers it. Recall 25V549000 covers connecting-rod bolts on some 2025–2026s.
Is a high-mileage Tucson worth buying?+
It can be: owners report a 2014 at 187,000 miles and a 2018 doing fine at 88,000. Oil-change records matter more than the odometer.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can tell you an engine is about to fail. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
Ask for the Oil Records, Then Check the Title
On a 2012–2019 Tucson, the oil-change history tells you more than the mileage. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 13 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Hyundai. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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