2018 Hyundai TUCSON

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Hyundai TUCSON has 525 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (46% of all complaints), specifically: delayed acceleration from stop. very unsafe when making a left hand turn as it will take up to 10 seconds for the car to accelerate. this happens often but not always. i do not feel safe driving this car.. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 15 crash reports 7 injuries

525

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

239 complaints

46%

• DELAYED ACCELERATION FROM STOP. VERY UNSAFE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN BUT NOT ALWAYS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.
• THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP.
• AFTER ACQUIRING A LITTLE OVER A MONTH (1167 MILES ON IT) THIS CAR FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD TO NAVIGATE OVER 4 LANES FROM JUST MOMENTUM - COULD NOT USE MY CELLPHONE AS IT WAS TRYING TO SYNC TO THE CAR WHICH WAS NOW COMPLETELY DEAD. TOWED TO PURCHASING DEALER AND WAS DIAG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“DELAYED ACCELERATION FROM STOP. VERY UNSAFE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN BUT NOT ALWAYS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

99 complaints

19%

• DELAYED ACCELERATION FROM STOP. VERY UNSAFE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN BUT NOT ALWAYS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.
• VEHICLE SEVERELY HESITATES TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP WHILE IN TRAFFIC (GEAR SHIFT IS IN DRIVE POSITION). FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. PROBLEM PERSISTS REGARDLESS OF DRIVING MODE SELECTION.
• THIS TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE CAR TO NOT ACCELERATE WHEN IT SHOULD, AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION KICKS IS THE CAR TAKES OFF TO FAST LIKE IT IS OUT OF CONTROL. SOME TIMES THE TRANSMISSION MAKES THE CAR JERK THREE TO FOR TIMES IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THIS IS UNSAFE AND I'M WEIGHTING FOR SOME ONE TO REAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

41 complaints

• ONCE MY BRAND NEW TUCSON HIT 500 MILES ON IT, IT SUDDENLY UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATES WHILE MY FOOT IS ALREADY PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BREAK PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME, IT HAPPENED AS I WAS APPROACHING THE PEAK OF A HILL. I WAS GOING 25 MPH. MY FOOT WAS ALREADY PRESSING ON THE BREAKS, ANTICIPATING THE
• I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING PARKING LOT AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR KEPT GOING AND WOULD NOT STOP, ULTIMATELY ROLLING UP OVER THE CURB ONTO THE GRASS AREA AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE LIGHT POST. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER IN
• I HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR. THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHEN I TAKE OFF AFTER I HAVE STARTED THE CAR AND GO. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE GEAR SHIFTER. [XXX]. THIS CAR HAS NO POWER WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AND THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE DAY 2.I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND THEY HAVE SCRAPED TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“ONCE MY BRAND NEW TUCSON HIT 500 MILES ON IT, IT SUDDENLY UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATES WHILE MY FOOT IS ALREADY PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BREAK PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME, IT HAPPENED AS I WAS APPROACHING THE PEAK OF A HILL. I WAS GOING 25 MPH. MY FOOT WAS ALREADY PRESSING ON THE BREAKS, ANTICIPATING THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

40 complaints

• I HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR. THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHEN I TAKE OFF AFTER I HAVE STARTED THE CAR AND GO. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE GEAR SHIFTER. [XXX]. THIS CAR HAS NO POWER WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AND THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE DAY 2.I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND THEY HAVE SCRAPED TH
• THE 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON SEL HAS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE ENGINE WILL REV UP, BUT IDLE FORWARD FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS, UNTIL THE VEHICLE GOES. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN CONSISTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS RESET THE PROGRAMMING ON THE TRANSMISSION 2X. THERE ARE OTHER
• ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT WHILE REACHING SPEEDS OF UP TO 50MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO BE TOLD THERE IS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON 8/25/3020 IT STALLED AGAIN AND CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED. I AM TERRIFIED TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR. THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHEN I TAKE OFF AFTER I HAVE STARTED THE CAR AND GO. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE GEAR SHIFTER. [XXX]. THIS CAR HAS NO POWER WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AND THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE DAY 2.I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND THEY HAVE SCRAPED TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

26 complaints

• AFTER ACQUIRING A LITTLE OVER A MONTH (1167 MILES ON IT) THIS CAR FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD TO NAVIGATE OVER 4 LANES FROM JUST MOMENTUM - COULD NOT USE MY CELLPHONE AS IT WAS TRYING TO SYNC TO THE CAR WHICH WAS NOW COMPLETELY DEAD. TOWED TO PURCHASING DEALER AND WAS DIAG
• A MONTH AGO MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND DEALER SAID RODENTS HAD EATEN ELECTRICAL WIRES AND INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD COST OVER $600. TO FIX. TODAY SAME THING AND I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA LITTERED WITH CHEWED WIRES AND INSULATION . THE SOY BASED WIRING COATING NEEDS A SA
• HELLO EVERYONE, 2018 HYUNDAI TUSCON PROBLEM: ENGINE/AIR BAG CAUSE: UNKNOWN * AFTER A COLLISION WITH 2 LARGE DEER ON A MAIN HIGHWAY EARLY MORNING, IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO A SHOP. THE BODY WORK WAS FINISHED AND I HAD THE CAR BACK, UNFORTUNATELY AFTER THAT MY ENGINE WAS VERY VERY SLUGGISH. IRREGU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“AFTER ACQUIRING A LITTLE OVER A MONTH (1167 MILES ON IT) THIS CAR FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD TO NAVIGATE OVER 4 LANES FROM JUST MOMENTUM - COULD NOT USE MY CELLPHONE AS IT WAS TRYING TO SYNC TO THE CAR WHICH WAS NOW COMPLETELY DEAD. TOWED TO PURCHASING DEALER AND WAS DIAG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 525 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: DELAYED ACCELERATION FROM STOP. VERY UNSAFE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN BUT NOT ALWAYS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: DELAYED ACCELERATION FROM STOP. VERY UNSAFE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN BUT NOT ALWAYS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: ONCE MY BRAND NEW TUCSON HIT 500 MILES ON IT, IT SUDDENLY UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATES WHILE MY FOOT IS ALREADY PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BREAK PEDAL. THE FIRST TIME, IT HAPPENED AS I WAS APPROACHING THE PEAK OF A HILL. I WAS GOING 25 MPH. MY FOOT WAS ALREADY PRESSING ON THE BREAKS, ANTICIPATING THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR. THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHEN I TAKE OFF AFTER I HAVE STARTED THE CAR AND GO. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE GEAR SHIFTER. [XXX]. THIS CAR HAS NO POWER WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AND THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE DAY 2.I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND THEY HAVE SCRAPED TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)