Summary
The Hyundai Tucson has 48 recalls spanning 2005 through 2026, with the most serious recent issue affecting 2025-2026 models where connecting rod bolts in the engine can work loose, causing sudden loss of drive power and oil leaks that can ignite against hot engine components.
Also on 2025 models, a software fault can cause the instrument panel cluster to reboot while driving, blanking out the speedometer, fuel gauge, tire pressure warnings, and other tell-tales. The 2024 model year has a power steering circuit board that can short circuit and cause sudden loss of steering assist, plus a mislabeled tire information label that incorrectly references a spare tire the vehicle does not carry.
On 2022-2024 models equipped with an optional tow hitch wiring harness, water can enter the control module, disabling trailer lights or creating a short circuit and fire risk. The 2022 model year also has roof moldings that can detach and become road debris, a software mismatch that can cause headlights and taillights to stop working, and a hybrid-specific compliance issue where daytime running lamps do not activate during remote parking assist.
The 2016-2021 model years carry the heaviest fire-related recall load. The anti-lock brake hydraulic control unit on 2016-2021 vehicles can corrode internally, short circuit, and start an engine compartment fire even while the vehicle is parked and off. The 2016 model year separately has a hood secondary latch that may not hold the hood closed if the primary latch releases while driving. Also on 2016 models with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the transmission can fail to respond when the accelerator is pressed repeatedly, and trailer hitch harness wiring can keep brake lights illuminated, confusing following drivers. The 2017 model year with the 2.0L direct-injection engine has connecting rod bearings that can wear prematurely, producing engine knock and eventually causing engine failure with an oil fire risk.
Going back to the 2014-2015 model years, the anti-lock brake module can short circuit and cause an under-hood fire, a recall that also covered certain Santa Fe vehicles of that era. On 2011-2014 models, the driver airbag assembly can come loose from its steering wheel mount, disrupting deployment in a crash. The 2011 model year also has an engine oil pan seal that can leak, leading to oil starvation and engine failure with fire risk, and a transmission fluid cooler hose that can leak and cause the transmission to stop functioning. The 2010 model year has a brake fluid intrusion issue where fluid can seep into the anti-lock brake module and cause a short circuit fire risk, along with a passenger seat sensor that can misread heavier adult occupants and keep the airbag warning lamp lit, which would prevent the system from deactivating the passenger airbag when a child is present.
The 2005 model year, the first for this nameplate, has several issues: an electronic stability program yaw rate sensor that can become oversensitive and apply a single wheel's brake without driver input, causing unexpected swerving; a parking brake ratchet pawl that can strip and allow the brake to slip or fail to hold the vehicle on a slope; airbag deployment behavior that may not adequately protect a small-statured unbelted driver in a frontal crash; and a stop lamp switch that may have been installed incorrectly, preventing brake lights from illuminating when braking.
