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U.S. public vehicle records

2018 Hyundai TUCSON problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

394 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

31,623 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 111 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 242 of 394 complaints (61.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting5814.7%
Engine operation5814.7%
Braking behavior4912.4%
Electrical and battery issues184.6%
Steering behavior82.0%
Fuel system concerns41.0%

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
242
Power Train
100
Unknown Or Other
43
Electrical System
27
Fuel/Propulsion System
22
Service Brakes
21
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
19
Vehicle Speed Control
14
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine242
Power Train100
Unknown Or Other43
Electrical System27
Fuel/Propulsion System22
Service Brakes21
Service Brakes, Hydraulic19
Vehicle Speed Control14

Engine: 242; Power Train: 100; Unknown Or Other: 43; Electrical System: 27; Fuel/Propulsion System: 22; Service Brakes: 21; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
47
25,000 to 49,999
21
50,000 to 74,999
17
75,000 to 99,999
13
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00047
25,000 to 49,99921
50,000 to 74,99917
75,000 to 99,99913
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 47; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 283 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.

2018
13
2019
26
2020
25
2021
73
2022
44
2023
57
2024
55
2025
61
2026
40
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201813
201926
202025
202173
202244
202357
202455
202561
202640

2018: 13; 2019: 26; 2020: 25; 2021: 73; 2022: 44; 2023: 57; 2024: 55; 2025: 61; 2026: 40

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 58 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 58 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 49 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 11124241 · 2018-09-04 (September 4, 2018)

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 END ME OR ME HITTING SOMEONE ELSE. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HALF WAY THRU THE TURN THE CAR TOOK OFF ON ME BUT I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL. I CANT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR AND THAT IS A SHAME BECAUSE…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124241 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11141712 · 2018-10-21 (October 21, 2018)

AROUND 1500 ,ILES THE CAR STARTED TO EITHER STALL COMPLETELY OR "JUMP" FORWARD IN AL DRIVEMODES, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP , THEY SAID IT HAS TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION BEING ESSENTIALLY A STANDARD. THEY TOLD US THEY RESET THE COMPUTER AND IT NEEDS THIS OCCASIONALLY. REALLY NEVER HEARD OF THAT. OUR GASMILEAGE IS ALSO CONSTANLTY GOING DOWN. NOT HAPPY WITH THE CONSTANT SUDDEN ACCELERTION ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING ONTO INTERSTATES. BOUGHT THIS THING BRAND NEW FEB 2018.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141712 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11152212 · 2018-11-17 (November 17, 2018)

WHILE DRIVING AND THEN COMING TO A TEMPORARY STOP SUCH AS WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT TO TURN GREEN OR RIGHT ON RED OR MAKING A LEFT TURN; THEN I STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO DRIVE, THEN ABOUT 20 YARDS OR SO INTO THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR, THE CAR STOPS MOVING BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. IT DELAYS FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2 AND 5 SECONDS, JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR CARS TO BE COMING RIGHT AT YOU. IT HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE WEEK, ONCE THE WEEK BEFORE AND ONCE RECENTLY, THE SAME DAY I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. IT HAS HAPPENED H…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11152212 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11157092 · 2018-12-09 (December 9, 2018)

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 LAGUNA NIGUEL CA 92677 [phone removed] ( STEVE PACHECO ) SERVICE ADVISOR

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11157092 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11241629 · 2019-08-04 (August 4, 2019)

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 THE BRAKES 3 TIMES. I HAVE COMPLAINED AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME UNTIL I HAVE READ MORE COMPLAINTS. THIS CAR NEEDS RECALLED OR YOU NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE THEIR MONEY BACK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORM…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11241629 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11244698 · 2019-08-17 (August 17, 2019)

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 SAFETY RECALL,

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11244698 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11324657 · 2020-05-15 (May 15, 2020)

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. IRREGULAR SHIFTING, SLIGHT TICKING IN ENGINE BLOCK, NO LATER I HAD ISSUES WITH BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON ( THE CAR SHUT OFF) WHILE I'M MOTION ON MAIN ROAD. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT'S A TOTAL LOSS, THIS 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324657 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11361471 · 2020-09-28 (September 28, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IDLE ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH CRASHED INTO THEIR VEHICLE FROM THE REAR CAUSING THEM TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HIT HIS FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SHOULDER INJURIES. OTHERS INVOLVED DID NOT RECEIVED INJURIES. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DEEMED TOTALE…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361471 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11482189 · 2022-08-31 (August 31, 2022)

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that if the steering wheel was not exactly positioned at 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock, the vehicle would fail to start. The steering wheel would lock-up and the vehicle would lose power. The contact stated that when turning off the vehicle, the steering wheel had to be positioned at the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position or the vehicle would not start-up. The contact would tow the vehicle whenever the failure would occur. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not b…

Owner-reported narrative. 92,622 miles reported. Look up ODI 11482189 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11492202 · 2022-11-03 (November 3, 2022)

The oil fuel tank has been burning oil too fast in the GDI Engine & the oil has burnt through my alternator and spark plugs that I recently fixed only three weeks ago. This caused the engine to lock up completely while I was driving several times & I lost control while driving - having to restart the car multiple times to move it to a safe area. Now, the engine has locked permanently and I am unable to start the car at all despite replacing several parts and getting an oil change every 3-5000 miles (which continues to leak too quickly and harm …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11492202 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11526158 · 2023-06-09 (June 9, 2023)

In the last 3 months I have had my vehicle go into Limp Mode due to a faulty engine. All 3 times while I was on the highway and I was almost seriously injured due to traffic. Ever since I got the Knock Sensor update, I have had nothing but problems. I have had a new catalytic convertor, new spark plugs, oil change, air filter and fuel injector replaced in Dec 2022. The spark plugs are dripping in oil only after 8,000 miles. All of those parts have now failed and I am burning oil at an increased rate. I have contacted Hyundai multiple times…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11526158 at NHTSA ↗