2018 Hyundai Tucson Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tucson years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 399 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Tucson. That ranks 3rd out of 22 Tucson model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (244 complaints, 61%), typically at around 60,000 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 9 fires, 10 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
_Facelift_IMG_2344.jpg){kind=link}
- 399owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Hyundai Tucson problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 244 | 61% | 60,000 | “oil consumption” (14%) | $7,350 |
| Power Train problems | 101 | 25% | 15,800 | “dual clutch” (17%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 44 | 11% | 36,273 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 29 | 7% | 38,900 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 22 | 6% | 1,980 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 5% | 18,250 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 5% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 | 4% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 3% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 2% | 79,282 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 2% | 26,825 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 1% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 1% | 92,622 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 12,750 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 23,299 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Hyundai Tucson recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: 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 (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
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 free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Issues: 1. Stop lights failure light turns on and off. 2. Engine light failure notification turns on and off. 3. Headlights low bims failure notification turns on and off. Actions taken: 1. Headlights low bims bulbs were changed. 2. Engine light codes reviewed and updated as report showed; however…
While driving to work, the vehicle abruptly shut down in the middle of the highway. There were no signs or warning given. The vehicle was towed almost 100 miles home. The vehicle was later jump started and the alternator and battery were tested and it passed all tests.
Engine stalls jurks lose of power engine light blinking excessive oil use
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…
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle started shaking aggressively. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed, and the…
Other Hyundai Tucson years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tucson | 63 | 5 |
| 2025 Tucson | 289 | 6 |
| 2024 Tucson | 99 | 4 |
| 2023 Tucson | 135 | 2 |
| 2022 Tucson | 386 | 3 |
| 2021 Tucson | 80 | 1 |
| 2020 Tucson | 178 | 1 |
| 2019 Tucson | 384 | 1 |
| 2018 | 399 | 1 |
| 2017 Tucson | 1,092 | 3 |
| 2016 Tucson | 1,624 | 5 |
| 2015 Tucson | 229 | 1 |
| 2014 Tucson | 202 | 2 |
| 2013 Tucson | 266 | 3 |
| 2012 Tucson | 255 | 3 |
| 2011 Tucson | 124 | 5 |
| 2010 Tucson | 59 | 4 |
| 2009 Tucson | 18 | 1 |
| 2008 Tucson | 43 | 1 |
| 2007 Tucson | 65 | 5 |
| 2006 Tucson | 135 | 5 |
| 2005 Tucson | 185 | 8 |
See all Hyundai Tucson problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
Embed this 2018 Hyundai Tucson badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
Owners most often report engine, power train, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 244 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Hyundai Tucson a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tucson model years, the 2018 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.