Hyundai Tucson 2016–2021 problems by year and mileage
3rd generation (TL)
NHTSA data through 18 October 20263,760 complaints, 1,525 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2016 Hyundai Tucson
Close- Median failure report
- 30,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,625
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2016
- Transmission and driveline518 reports · median 7,500 mi
- Engine424 reports · median 56,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise263 reports · median 39,000 mi
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Trailer hitches · Electrical system — software
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2017 Hyundai Tucson
Close- Median failure report
- 26,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,092
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2017
- Engine601 reports · median 56,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline291 reports · median 8,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise138 reports · median 14,000 mi
Recall areas Engine · Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Trailer hitches
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson
Close- Median failure report
- 32,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 399
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2018
- Engine244 reports · median 60,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline101 reports · median 16,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise44 reports
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2019 Hyundai Tucson
Close- Median failure report
- 21,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 385
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2019
- Engine201 reports · median 42,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit62 reports
- Brakes53 reports
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2020 Hyundai Tucson
Close- Median failure report
- 8,500 mi
- Complaints filed
- 179
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2020
- Engine73 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise28 reports
- Brakes26 reports
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2021 Hyundai Tucson
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 80
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2021
- Engine39 reports
- Electrical system12 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise10 reports
Recall areas Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. † Median likely runs low (complaints filed after 2020). Latest: the 2018; earliest: the 2020, and the 2018 is 2 years older (part of the gap is age). 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2016–2021 Hyundai Tucson reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 28,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 94,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,525
- Recalls
- 6
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints came after 2020, so its median likely runs low (why).
Most reported
- Engine42.1% of complaints · median 56,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline25.8% of complaints · median 8,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise13.5% of complaints · median 27,000 mi
Documented problems
- Transmission (7-speed DCT)2016–2018
- Engine (2.4L Theta II GDI)2016–2019
- Brakes / ABS (HECU)2019–2021
Owners filed 3,760 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016–2021 Hyundai Tucson; the engine leads with 42.1% of them, and half of the 1,525 that record an odometer reading came by 28,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
37% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 10.1 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2016–2021 Hyundai Tucson last?
On the 2016–2021 Hyundai Tucson, half of the 1,525 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 28,000 miles and 90% by 94,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
9 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 2 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Tucson reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Hyundai Tucson 2016–2021 · 1,525 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
5,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 349 complaints
- First 12,000 miles — 37% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 957
- 25%
- 5,500
- Median
- 28,000
- 75%
- 65,000
- 90%
- 94,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 349 | 22.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 160 | 10.5% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 84 | 5.5% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 74 | 4.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 67 | 4.4% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 50 | 3.3% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 71 | 4.7% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 32 | 2.1% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 47 | 3.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 52 | 3.4% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 34 | 2.2% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 48 | 3.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 70 | 4.6% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 64 | 4.2% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 47 | 3.1% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 25 | 1.6% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 35 | 2.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 29 | 1.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 42 | 2.8% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 23 | 1.5% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 39 | 2.6% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 17 | 1.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 14 | 0.9% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 10 | 0.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 11 | 0.7% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 2 | 0.1% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Tucson problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Hyundai Tucson 2016–2021
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Fuel and propulsion system194 reportsmedian 7,500middle half 2,000–25,000
- Transmission and driveline969 reportsmedian 8,000middle half 2,000–22,000
- Throttle and speed control239 reportsmedian 9,500middle half 2,000–29,000
- Problems owners could not categorise509 reportsmedian 27,000middle half 5,500–60,000
- Electrical system408 reportsmedian 40,000middle half 8,500–70,000
- Engine1,582 reportsmedian 56,000middle half 16,000–87,000
- Body structure289 reportsmedian 58,000middle half 40,000–70,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,582 | 42.1% | 56,000 | 16,000–87,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 969 | 25.8% | 8,000 | 2,000–22,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 509 | 13.5% | 27,000 | 5,500–60,000 |
| Electrical system | 408 | 10.9% | 40,000 | 8,500–70,000 |
| Body structure | 289 | 7.7% | 58,000 | 40,000–70,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 239 | 6.4% | 9,500 | 2,000–29,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 194 | 5.2% | 7,500 | 2,000–25,000 |
| Latches and locks | 175 | 4.7% | 64,000 | 45,000–85,000 |
| Brakes | 173 | 4.6% | 24,000 | 7,000–49,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 136 | 3.6% | 49,000 | 28,000–90,000 |
Known problems with the 2016–2021 Tucson
Transmission (7-speed DCT) 2016–2018
Clutch application logic causes delayed engagement, hesitation and jerking at low speed, and repeated accelerator pedal cycling in high ambient temperatures can leave the vehicle unable to accelerate at all; owners also report loss of power and stalling. NHTSA recall 16V-628 covered 2016 Tucsons with the 7-speed DCT built 20 May 2015 to 31 May 2016; a class action settled for $41.2 million with a warranty extension and repair reimbursement, and MY2017 cars required a TCM software update.
Engine (2.4L Theta II GDI) 2016–2019
Connecting-rod bearing wear and seizure from oil-passage debris — the same Theta II mechanism as the LM, covered by the engine settlement and KSDS software campaign.
Brakes / ABS (HECU) 2019–2021
Electrical short in the ABS hydraulic electronic control unit can ignite even with the vehicle parked and off; Hyundai issued recalls with a park-outside advisory covering 2019-2021 Tucsons among other models.
Before you buy a 2016–2021 Tucson: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,525 mileage-tagged complaints, 6 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 6 campaigns cover this generation.
- Ask for transmission and driveline repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 8,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Ask for throttle and speed control repair records. Same question here: a median of 9,500 miles.
- Check transmission (7-speed DCT) on 2016–2018 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check engine (2.4L theta II GDI) on 2016–2019 cars.
- Check brakes / ABS (HECU) on 2019–2021 cars.
- Years differ here: from 80 to 1,625 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Tucson problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi70% below | At 90k mi88% below | At 120k mi97% below | At 150k mi99% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 16,000–87,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 2,000–22,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 5,500–60,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 8,500–70,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 40,000–70,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 2,000–29,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 2,000–25,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Hyundai Tucson 2016–2021 · 1,525 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 70% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 88% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2016–2021 Hyundai Tucson recalls (6)
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
1 of these carry a severe advisory — do not drive or park outside; check those first by VIN.
Sep 2021 · 2017 · EngineA damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Tucson and Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.
What can happen. A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs…
Sep 2020 · 2016–2021 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideAn engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
The defect. 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 certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit…
What can happen. An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed…
Nov 2016 · 2016–2017 · Trailer HitchesIf the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the…
The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped…
What can happen. If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact…
Aug 2016 · 2016 · Electrical SystemInability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 20, 2015 through May 31, 2016 and equipped with a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission. Certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the…
What can happen. Inability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer…
May 2016 · 2016 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesIf the primary hood latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch cannot secure the hood, the hood…
The defect. Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015 to March 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, if the primary hood latch has been released, and the vehicle is driven, the secondary hood latch may…
What can happen. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch cannot secure the hood, the hood may unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.…
Mar 2016 · 2016 · Exterior LightingFailure to illuminate the trailer's turn signal lights would prevent the communication of the driver's…
The defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured May 26, 2015 to January 15, 2016 and equipped with an accessory trailer hitch harness either included with the accessory trailer hitch or sold as a…
What can happen. Failure to illuminate the trailer's turn signal lights would prevent the communication of the driver's intent, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9640. Hyundai's…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 3,760 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 62 (1.6%)
- Fires
- 77
- Injury reports
- 43
- Fatality reports
- 1
Tucson problems by model year
The 2016 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,625, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2021 the fewest, 80. A typical year drew about 392.
That makes the 2016 stand out at roughly 4.1 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,625 | 834 | 30,000† | Transmission and driveline (518) | 5 |
| 2017 | 1,092 | 438 | 26,000† | Engine (601) | 3 |
| 2018 | 399 | 112 | 32,000† | Engine (244) | 1 |
| 2019 | 385 | 95 | 21,000† | Engine (201) | 1 |
| 2020 | 179 | 32 | 8,500 | Engine (73) | 1 |
| 2021 | 80 | 14 | under 30 reports | Engine (39) | 1 |
What Tucson owners reported
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine, master general, and forward collision warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the multifunction camera had failed and…
2020 · 44,000 miles · Forward collision avoidance
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was pressed and released repeatedly at 1,200 RPM. The transmission warning light illuminated. Additionally, the rear driver's and rear passenger's side doors failed to…
2016 · 95,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled and was unable to exceed 30 MPH. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that…
2017 · 91,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, there was a burning odor coming from the vents, with the battery warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the service center, where it was diagnosed with alternator failure. The contact was informed that the alternator…
2019 · 61,000 miles · Electrical system
Built from 1,525 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Tucson generations
- Tucson 2005–2009 345 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Tucson 2010–2015 619 reports with mileage, most about the engine
- Tucson 2022–2025 146 reports with mileage, most about forward collision avoidance