Hyundai Tucson 2010–2015
2nd generation (LM / ix35)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,433 complaints, 789 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 37,500 and 104,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 8 complaints (1.0%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 8,900
- 25%
- 37,500
- Median
- 73,000
- 75%
- 104,000
- 90%
- 135,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 88 | 11.2% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 47 | 6.0% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 25 | 3.2% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 49 | 6.2% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 44 | 5.6% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 35 | 4.4% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 64 | 8.1% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 92 | 11.7% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 62 | 7.9% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 47 | 6.0% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 62 | 7.9% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 49 | 6.2% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 31 | 3.9% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 24 | 3.0% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 21 | 2.7% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 17 | 2.2% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 7 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 4 | 0.5% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 8 | 1.0% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 5 | 0.6% |
| 200,000+ | 8 | 1.0% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,433 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2015 Hyundai Tucson, and 789 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 37,500 and 104,000 miles. The median is 73,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (41.1% of complaints, typically around 87,000 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (12.4% of complaints, typically around 96,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (8.1% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
8 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine87,000median 86,722 miles, middle half 70,000 to 112,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit96,000median 96,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 140,000
- Transmission and driveline60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 90,000
- Problems owners could not categorise70,000median 69,900 miles, middle half 62,000 to 102,000
- Electrical system37,000median 37,125 miles, middle half 15,000 to 86,000
- Brakes47,000median 47,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 71,000
- Throttle and speed control54,000median 54,500 miles, middle half 19,000 to 99,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 589 | 41.1% | 87,000 | 70,000–112,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 177 | 12.4% | 96,000 | 55,000–140,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 116 | 8.1% | 60,000 | 20,000–90,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 102 | 7.1% | 70,000 | 62,000–102,000 |
| Electrical system | 92 | 6.4% | 37,000 | 15,000–86,000 |
| Brakes | 68 | 4.7% | 47,000 | 10,000–71,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 31 | 2.2% | 54,000 | 19,000–99,000 |
| Body structure | 31 | 2.2% | 75,000 | 34,000–106,000 |
| Airbag system | 29 | 2.0% | 42,000 | 18,000–70,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 25 | 1.7% | 65,000 | 30,000–97,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 73,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 41.1% of complaints (589 reports, 367 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,722 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 69,671 and 112,000 miles.
A single system taking 41.1% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 12.4% of complaints (177 reports, 35 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 140,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.1% of complaints (116 reports, 87 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 90,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.1% of complaints (102 reports, 28 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,900 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 62,000 and 102,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.4% of complaints (92 reports, 47 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 37,125 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 86,000 miles.
The brakes account for 4.7% of complaints (68 reports, 23 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 47,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,500 and 71,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 319 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 78. The median year sits at 273.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 8 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the hydraulic brake circuit (2), the airbag system (2), the exterior lighting (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 1,433 complaints filed against this generation, 67 reported a crash; 74 reported a fire; 65 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 4.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 37,500 and 104,000 miles, with a median of 73,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the hydraulic brake circuit are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 86,722, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine (2.0l/2.4l Theta Ii Gdi) 2011–2015
Connecting-rod bearing wear and seizure caused by machining debris left in the crankshaft oil passages restricting oil flow; presents as a knocking noise escalating to engine failure or stall while driving. Covered by Hyundai's Theta II engine settlement and the KSDS knock-sensor detection software campaign, with extended engine warranty coverage.
Brake Lights 2010–2013
Stop lamp switch failure causing brake lights not to illuminate, cruise control not to cancel, and push-button start / shifter interlock faults; subject of a broad Hyundai recall.
Transmission 2010–2015
6-speed automatic harsh shifting and torque-converter shudder complaints.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 78 | 55 |
| 2011 | 174 | 105 |
| 2012 | 315 | 210 |
| 2013 | 319 | 183 |
| 2014 | 238 | 111 |
| 2015 | 309 | 125 |
Recalls (8)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V651000 | 2024-04-10 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module |
| 22V056000 | 2022-05-31 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module |
| 19V063000 | 2019-08-19 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine |
| 16V057000 | 2016-03-17 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit and Lines |
| 14V245000 | 2014-05-09 | Air Bags |
| 13V113000 | 2013-04-22 | Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch |
| 11V259000 | 2011-05-20 | Exterior Lighting |
| 10V061000 | 2010-03-05 | Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive |
What owners reported
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Tucson. While driving 15 MPH and making a turn the gear shifted into the neutral position without warning in addition, while depressing the accelerator pedal after a complete stop the failure recurred. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.…
2010 · 300 miles · Transmission and driveline
Sudden downshifting with loud clunk and lurching of vehicle at 35 MPH. Felt as if i had been hit from behind by another vehicle. Instinctively hit the brakes and pulled over to check for exterior damage, and found none. Continued down the road and experienced unusual increases in rpms. When i arrived at my…
2010 · 500 miles · Transmission and driveline
No accident yet, but worrisome. Have a 2010 Hyundai Tucson limited AWD. On several occasions now. When slowing down (such as a highway on or off ramp), without foot on the gas. Car violently downshifts. To the point feels like someone slammed on the brakes. Actually slowed the car down enough that i pushed forward…
2010 · 3,500 miles · Transmission and driveline
Purchased my 2010 Hyundai Tucson in may 2010. I have had three instances of transmission lockup at 50 MPH. As described by others it feels like you hit something in the road. The car lurches and there is a loud noise. I am very afraid to drive this car, it feels like i will lose control of it one of these times when…
2010 · 6,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 789 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page