U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Hyundai TUCSON problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

43 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

44,952 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 43 complaints (11.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	10	23.3%
Steering behavior	6	14.0%
Transmission and shifting	3	7.0%
Engine operation	3	7.0%
Fuel system concerns	2	4.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine

Vehicle Speed Control

Air Bags

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Engine And Engine Cooling

Service Brakes

Steering

Unknown Or Other

Engine: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Air Bags: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Steering: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2019

2020

2021

2023

2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 6; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2023: 4

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10311922 · 2010-02-18 (February 18, 2010)

DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW IN DECEMBER 2009 AND TWICE IN JANUARY 2010. I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT STOP THE CAR WITHIN 20 TO 30 FEET OF THE CAR AHEAD. I HAVE TO DIVERT OFF ROAD TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND INCIDENTS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS PERFORMING FINE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311922 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10321508 · 2010-03-23 (March 23, 2010)

ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI TUSCON, PURCHASED AT FITZGERALD'S, WHICH YOU HAVE SERVICED IN THE PAST. YESTERDAY (3/21/10) WHEN ON A SHORT ROAD TRIP I STOPPED FOR GAS. ON STARTING, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN (WITHOUT ACCELERATOR PRESSURE) TO AN IDLE RPM OF 5000 WHILE IN "PARK". IT DID THIS REPEATEDLY. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN GEAR ONLY BY SHIFTING IT RAPIDLY INTO DRIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING, BEFORE THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. THE CAR WOULD THEN MAINTAIN A ROAD SPEED OF AROUND 60 MPH ON ITS OWN WITH…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321508 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10277003 · 2009-07-16 (July 16, 2009)

UPON REACHING A SPEED OF 65 AND HIGHER, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE AS THOUGH THE TIRES ARE UNBALANCED. 4 SETS OF TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED AND INSTALLED, AND THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL. TIRES FROM A DIFFERENT CAR WERE INSTALLED, TO NO AVAIL. HYUNDAI TECHNICIANS TO DATE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REPAIR FOR THIS DEFECT. 2008 TUCSON LIMITED. NEW. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277003 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10448966 · 2012-02-22 (February 22, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED UPON STARTING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TURNS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448966 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10322340 · 2010-03-26 (March 26, 2010)

ON 3/23/2010 WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON (MILEAGE 17372 )ON A RAINY DAY, MY FRONT WIPERS STOPPED IN THE 1:00 POSITION (APPROX) RESTRICTING MY VISUAL SIGHT OF OTHER VEHICLES AND OBJECTS ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGH TRAFFIC ROAD THRU TOWN. I WAS TERRIFIED SINCE I COULD NOT JUST STOP THE CAR AND HAD TO DRIVE APPROX 100' WITH POOR VISIBILITY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE INCIDENT & TO GET SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD DRIVING WITH NO WIPERS AND TO GET IT IN. I EXPLAINED THAT I LIVED 50 MINUTES AWAY…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322340 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10419823 · 2011-08-17 (August 17, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SITTING IN IDLE THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10419823 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10430074 · 2011-10-13 (October 13, 2011)

MY 2008 V6 TUCSON HAS STALLED WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC NUMEROUS TIMES.IT USUALLY STARTED RIGHT BACK UP BUT THE LAST TIME IT WOULD START BUT NOT STAY RUNNING. THE CAR ALSO CHUGS WHEN I RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL AT AROUND 45 MPH AND IT DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY DURING REGULAR DRIVING. I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS UNRELIABLE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TAKING IT ON LONG TRIPS. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER TWICE AS IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE MASS AIR SENSOR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10430074 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10422557 · 2011-08-30 (August 30, 2011)

OWNER (HYUNDAI TUCSON 2008 GLS) HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPRESENTATIVE IS THE WORSE. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN CUTTING OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIME INDICATING THE CAR CUT-OFFS WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER IN 2009 COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CUT-OFF AND NOT PICKING UP SPEED. THE DEALER OURISMAN HYUNDAI (LAUREL) SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THERE IS A VALUE THAT ALLOWS THE AIR FLOW INTAKE FOR THE VEHICLE NOT OPENING UP PROPERLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY; THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. AG…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422557 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10457568 · 2012-05-05 (May 5, 2012)

THE RUBBER FUEL LINE WAS ROUTED SUCH THAT IT RUBBED THE METAL CLIP SECURING THE AIR FILTER, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. THE REPLACEMENT FUEL LINE INSTALLED BY THE DEALER ALSO WILL REACH THIS METAL CLIP. THERE IS NO RESTRAINT ON THE FUEL LINE TO PREVENT THE RUBBING AND IT REPRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457568 at NHTSA ↗