2021 Hyundai Tucson Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tucson years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 17th of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Tucson. That ranks 17th out of 22 Tucson model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (39 complaints, 49%), typically at around 34,904 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 80owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 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 | 39 | 49% | 34,904 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 15% | 8,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 11% | 4,800 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 10% | 10 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 10% | 4,505 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 8% | 69,493 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 4% | 58,972 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 4,844 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 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
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
loss of info system loss of all dash lights when I turn the engine off most of the time I loose all electrical systems (will not start for at least 15 minutes) if doors lock I can only unlock the drivers door with the auxiliary key. Has tried to shift in to park while driving (one time) Lost all…
I took my car in to Allen Samuals Hyundai dealership to have the 9C2 recall update completed on May 15th 2026. Ever since then my vehicle has had a rough hesitation or sputtering when driving. On May 18th Hyundai released a statement stating there was an issue with the update completed on the 9C2…
Engine knock sensor went off and now the engine needs replacement due to faulty cylinder rod.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine blew. No warning lights were illuminated. There was white smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or…
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 | 80 | 1 |
| 2020 Tucson | 178 | 1 |
| 2019 Tucson | 384 | 1 |
| 2018 Tucson | 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
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Tucson?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 39 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Hyundai Tucson?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 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 2021 has far fewer 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.