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2020 Hyundai Tucson: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
47%
77 of 164 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

47% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Hyundai Tucson are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 59% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 44%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
77
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
176
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
5 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE71 · 40%
SERVICE BRAKES44 · 25%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER28 · 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19 · 11%
HYDRAULIC17 · 10%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE12 · 7%

The years either side

2010
58%
29 of 58
2011
52%
64 of 124
2012
74%
184 of 255
2013
67%
172 of 266
2014
61%
121 of 202
2015
58%
128 of 226
2016
54%
860 of 1,617
2017
79%
840 of 1,084
2018
80%
305 of 393
2019
58%
214 of 378
2020
47%
77 of 176
2021
63%
47 of 78
2022
65%
234 of 381
2023
35%
44 of 132

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Other compact SUVs with no elevated signal in 2020

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS02/24/2022CRASH1 INJURED
Proceeding with flow of traffic, Southbound on a 2 lane st, I was in the curb lane. A truck exiting interstate ran through, at approx 50-60 MPH, a red light. Initial contact was made on passenger side front and rear door. He continued to push my car, and I turned the wheel to the right to avoid left lane traffic (as th…
ENGINE08/20/2026
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while the vehicle was receiving a routine oil change, the contact was informed that the oil pan was empty. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The contact was informed about a possible oil consumption test. The contact was informed t…
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM08/09/2026
Dealer completed update 9C2 Theta 2 emissions update. After update, the car sputters slightly and increased noise is heard from the tailpipe. Customer returned to dealer after driving the car in different temps and noted the above complaint. Dealer verified the complaint but continues to take no responsibility for the …

Three of 77 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (1)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: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 …

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2020 Hyundai Tucson

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.