2018 Hyundai Tucson Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 61,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

2018 Hyundai Tucson catastrophic engine failure consistent with known Hyundai Nu engine defect pattern documented across 141 prior owner-filed NHTSA complaints for this same vehicle. OBD codes P0326, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 documented July 19, 25, 2026. Independent licensed mechanic confirmed in writing that engine requires…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I own a Hyundai Tucson 2018 SEL Plus. My problem is my vehicle is coming to the end of it's 100,000 mile warranty. This vehicle started burning oil about 30,000 miles and it got worse. I checked on recalls and there was no recalls for my VIN number for this vehicle. My Hyundai vehicle is burning a quart of oil every 300 miles and this is…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 16,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

There is a definite KNOWN problem with the transmissions in all 2018 Hyundai Tucsons and maybe other model years as well. This is well documented via the Internet by the number of articles concerning this ongoing problem! This problem seems to have been unresolved over a pretty long period of time now! It is most definitely a safety…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The transmission system failed. The vehicle had previously been serviced at a Hyundai dealership for a transmission-related issue and was returned to me as repaired; however, the problem persisted. Shortly after the repair, the transmission failed again, indicating that the issue was not properly resolved. The vehicle is currently…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 32,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

My daughter‘s car was in park and still running and she got out of the car and went to the back of the car opened up the hatch cleaned her window went to the side of the car passenger side went to go get out her lunchbox and the car ran over my daughter And crushed her left side and tore off part of her face. The car came out of park on…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V543000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. There was no further information provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 39,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Parked subject car in garage at approximately 11:15 am after turning off ventilation fan and cutting engine off, which displayed "off" at dash button. At approximately 7 pm (same day) went into garage to retrieve item and heard this loud noise similar to an electric clothes dryer running - wasn't dryer. As I got close to car, heard this…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The headlight and taillight/break lights burn out constantly. Turns out taillights are melting in socket. My car is not uniquely affected. Many are having same problems. Suddenly losing lights while driving on freezing dark roads. Incredibly unsafe. Not isolated to my car. Very dangerous. The company should replace these sockets and…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 2,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

After starting my car there is a strong smell of gasoline, at different times, but not consistently. The smell of gas is very strong in the cabin area even while driving. Sometimes, once the vehicle has been started there is a strong smell of fuel coming from the exhaust pipe area. I have reported this to the dealership, was told nothing…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 15,000 miles

This vehicle had a engine replaced by the dealership Nov 2024.Has not run the same since.Getting worse and seems like transmission issues.I was told The first and the 2nd owner which I'm the 2nd owner has a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty.It's been 4 years and since I've had the vehicle I've driven round off 60,OOO miles .The vehicle had…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 7,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 hyundai tucson. On several occasions, while driving approximately 1 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was pumped 5-6 times before the vehicle responded. The vehicle was taken to faulkner…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 300 miles

The vehicle is experiencing severe intermittent failures to accelerate. Failures occurr from a stop and while in motion. All gear levels appear to be affected. Failures were first noticed at approximately 7000 miles.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 7,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

In the beginning of December 2024, the low headlight warning light started coming on for the right light, intermittently. I took the car to the dealership to get the light fixed, I was told there were some loose wires and they fixed it. 2 weeks later it started happening again, I returned with the car and got another appointment, before…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the headlights intermittently failed to operate as needed. The headlight bulbs detached from the headlight socket with the headlight message displayed on the instrument panel. The headlights were replaced multiple times by an independent mechanic. Due to the failure, the…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 30,000 miles

Parts named most: Body (8).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The paint on my 2018 Hyundai Tucson began peeling off the side mirrors and the shark-fin antenna on the roof. I have found that many other Hyundai owners are experiencing the same issue. It appears to be a widespread manufacturing defect related to improper paint adhesion, and I believe it should be addressed even though my vehicle is…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The white paint on the hood began to flake off. Currently, the missing paint is about 3 inches in diameter. There is an appearance of paint bubbling on the roof of the vehicle and in the hood. The vehicle was taken to dealership, but a member of their service department conveyed nothing to be done because no current warranty on it. No…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 hyundai tucson. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at 30 MPH, she was struck from the front passenger side by another vehicle that was traveling 40 MPH. The contact stated that all the air bags deploy except the driver side curtain air bag. The driver sustained broken sternum, broken ribs broken…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 15,000 miles

On October 13th 2025, we were involved in a serious collision while driving our 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The vehicle was struck from behind and spun into a semi-truck, totalling the vehicle. Despite the forward and lateral collision to the semi-truck, no airbags deployed at all during the accident. This resulted in the Tucson driver striking…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

56310-D3050 Steering Column Assembly 56400-D3000 Steering Joint Assembly Steering wheel would jerk hard enough to lose grasp of it. Hyundai dealer confirmed Steering Column Assembly was "Faulty". "Faulty" Steering Column Assembly was replaced by Hyundai dealership. No warning lights.Owner complaint, filed 2025

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…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 92,622 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

I received a safety recall that the ABS modules may corrode and possibly cause fire. I took car to dealer immediately and was told parts are on order and they gave me an appointment for april 26..7 weeks away..I was told to park my car outside of its secured garage until part comes in. I think this is [VIN] & now I may have to spend…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Bought car [XXX] blew up 2 weeks later knock censor was not put on by first dealership so engine blew on interstate car was possible on fire due to as much smoke was coming from vehicle could of been rear ended engine failure due to that no warning of engine failure tucson knows all these problem and is currently in a class action…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Drivers seat seat does not go up it stays in reclined position No it has not been inspected by the manufacturer No warnings was put in recline position and could not lift up happened a week ago I have to drive to work and it is unsafe driving in this position. I did take it to an autoshop and they said that it could be electrical which…Owner complaint, filed 2025

My automatic seat recliner is stuck and hasn’t worked for quiet sometime now. Also The motor stopped working as I was driving home, So I took it to a mechanic to assess the situation and was told the motor was the issueOwner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Hello, I hope your day is going well. Recently I’ve been having an issue with the car “jerking rapidly” when in traffic and rolling slowly and when climbing relatively small hills, it began about 3 months ago but have become progressively worse over the last month. I was told by someone with a similar vehicle that it is the “lower arm…Owner complaint, filed 2022

This vehicle had a engine replaced by the dealership Nov 2024.Has not run the same since.Getting worse and seems like transmission issues.I was told The first and the 2nd owner which I'm the 2nd owner has a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty.It's been 4 years and since I've had the vehicle I've driven round off 60,OOO miles .The vehicle had…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The situation I’m about to explain has happened twice, once in December 2025 and again on January 22, 2026. In December, the roads were very icy, but there was no snow on the ground. As I made a right turn into a Walmart parking lot, I heard a loud metal-breaking sound while turning. I immediately got out and looked underneath my 2018…Owner complaint, filed 2026