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Hyundai Tucson: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Hyundai Tucson problems by model year, from 5,392 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2018 (80%, 308 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (79%, 844 drivetrain complaints) and 2012 (74%, 184 drivetrain complaints). 14 of the 14 Hyundai Tucson years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 7 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Hyundai Tucson year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2023 (36%).
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (861 of 3,335 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Hyundai Tucson year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Tucson | high | 57% | 29 | 59 | 10/14 | 4 |
| 2011 Tucson | high | 52% | 64 | 124 | 12/14 | 5 |
| 2012 Tucson | very high | 74% | 184 | 255 | 3/14 | 3 |
| 2013 Tucson | very high | 67% | 172 | 266 | 4/14 | 3 |
| 2014 Tucson | very high | 61% | 122 | 203 | 7/14 | 2 |
| 2015 Tucson | high | 58% | 129 | 227 | 8/14 | 1 |
| 2016 Tucson | high | 54% | 861 | 1,620 | 11/14 | 5 |
| 2017 Tucson | very high | 79% | 844 | 1,088 | 2/14 | 3 |
| 2018 Tucson | very high | 80% | 308 | 396 | 1/14 | 1 |
| 2019 Tucson | high | 57% | 214 | 380 | 9/14 | 1 |
| 2020 Tucson | high | 48% | 79 | 178 | 13/14 | 1 |
| 2021 Tucson | very high | 63% | 48 | 79 | 6/14 | 1 |
| 2022 Tucson | very high | 65% | 236 | 383 | 5/14 | 3 |
| 2023 Tucson | elevated | 36% | 45 | 134 | 14/14 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Hyundai Tucson years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Hyundai Tucson engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Hyundai Tucson involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 18 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2016 | 16V057000 | power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines | 2011 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V628000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2016 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V063000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2011–2013 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V727000 | engine | 2017 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V526000 | power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump | 2023 |
13 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2010 | 10V061000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010 |
| Apr 2011 | 11V259000 | exterior lighting | 2010 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V113000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2010–2011 |
| May 2014 | 14V245000 | air bags | 2011–2014 |
| Mar 2016 | 16V147000 | exterior lighting: tail lights | 2016 |
| May 2016 | 16V348000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2016 |
| Nov 2016 | 16V842000 | electrical system: wiring | 2016–2017 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V543000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2016–2021 |
| Dec 2021 | 21V938000 | electrical system: software | 2022 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V056000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2014–2015 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V038000 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2022 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V651000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2010–2013 |
| Dec 2025 | 25V893000 | trailer hitches | 2022–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Hyundai Tucson
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Hyundai Tucson
What are the worst years for the Hyundai Tucson?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Hyundai Tucson years are the 2018 (80% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2017 (79% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2012 (74% of relevant complaints, very high). 14 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Hyundai Tucson?
No Hyundai Tucson year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2023 (36%).
Does the Hyundai Tucson have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 3,335 of 5,312 relevant NHTSA complaints (63%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Hyundai Tucson reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 14 of 14 Hyundai Tucson years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 63% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Hyundai Tucson?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Hyundai Tucson years we track, out of 18 in total: 19V063000 (Feb 2019, 2011–2013), 21V727000 (Sep 2021, 2017), 23V526000 (Jul 2023, 2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.