Hyundai Tucson Engine Problems
Owners have filed 2,381 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Hyundai Tucson across 22 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (601). The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (10% of reports).
- 2,381engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 23mention a crash
- 17mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $7,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 237 of 2,381 complaints (10%)
- Engine started: mentioned in 125 of 2,381 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Hyundai Tucson at $7,100, and half of them between $2,200 and $10,000.
Based on 81 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2018–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 888 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,381 complaints, 23 mention a crash, 89 a fire, 17 an injury.
Hyundai Tucson engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tucson | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2025 Tucson | 12 | 4% | — |
| 2024 Tucson | 14 | 14% | 17,500 |
| 2023 Tucson | 23 | 17% | 22,871 |
| 2022 Tucson | 115 | 30% | 34,219 |
| 2021 Tucson | 39 | 49% | 34,904 |
| 2020 Tucson | 73 | 41% | 80,000 |
| 2019 Tucson | 200 | 52% | 41,580 |
| 2018 Tucson | 244 | 61% | 60,000 |
| 2017 Tucson | 601 | 55% | 56,117 |
| 2016 Tucson | 424 | 26% | 56,000 |
| 2015 Tucson | 120 | 52% | 69,700 |
| 2014 Tucson | 110 | 54% | 92,000 |
| 2013 Tucson | 156 | 59% | 86,993 |
| 2012 Tucson | 160 | 63% | 98,500 |
| 2011 Tucson | 40 | 32% | 100,000 |
| 2010 Tucson | 7 | 12% | 140,000 |
| 2009 Tucson | 1 | 6% | 106,000 |
| 2008 Tucson | 5 | 12% | 91,273 |
| 2007 Tucson | 5 | 8% | 115,000 |
| 2006 Tucson | 12 | 9% | 130,000 |
| 2005 Tucson | 18 | 10% | 81,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling:critical fasteners
Model years: 2025, 2026
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.
Engine
Model years: 2017
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Tucson and Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners were notified of the defect on November 16, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed January 15, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 209.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Tucson vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai has notified owners, and dealers will inspect for an oil pan leak, replacing it if necessary, and install an updated oil pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 181.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Excessive oil consumption. Mileage is 116.7K miles. Over 4 quarts used in approximately 3,500 miles. Car went into "limp" mode with no power. Top speed on level ground was 45 mph, on a hill 25 mph. Had to pull over to the side of the road so that other cars could pass. Drove to mechanic who saw…
engine failure even though this car has always had oil changes at 110,000 miles. I would like the company to fix this since i am not the first to complain about this. I still have the car parked.
Warning lamp included oil for several months prior. I added oil often. No oil was ever seen under car or leaking in any way. Car had been serviced several times during the oil warning lamp warning. Nothing was ever found. I continued adding oil on a regular basis. Engine completely stopped in the…
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled and was unable to exceed 30 MPH. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where…
While driving on the highway 65 mph in our 2019 Hyundai Tucson AWD, the vehicle suddenly experienced a severe power loss, loud engine knocking, engine light flashing, and the car in limp mode. This caused a terrifying hazard. We exited to safety, the car was towed and is at a Hyundai dealership. It…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Tucsons have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,381 owner complaints about engine for the Hyundai Tucson. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Tucson engine?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Hyundai Tucson?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,100 (half paid between $2,200 and $10,000), from 81 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Hyundai Tucson?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 237 of 2,381 complaints, followed by “engine started” (125).
Other Hyundai Tucson problems
See all Hyundai Tucson problems.