Hyundai Tucson Reliability: Best and Worst Years

The Hyundai Tucson is a compact crossover SUV that Hyundai introduced to the U.S. for the 2005 model year. It sits between the Kona and the Santa Fe and is offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Powertrains have ranged from four-cylinder and V6 engines in the first generation to turbocharged, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions in the current generation. Below, each Hyundai Tucson model year from 2010 to 2024 sits on the same scale, which makes the noisy years and the quiet years easy to spot.

Why these years stand out

2016: most complaints. The 2016 Hyundai Tucson scored 1812 complaints per 100,000 sold, 5.2 times the model average. Of its 1,626 complaints, 948 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are power train (515), engine (424) and body (221). NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this model year and 1 defect investigation.

2017: most complaints. The 2017 Hyundai Tucson scored 954 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.7 times the model average. Of its 1,095 complaints, 911 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are engine (603), power train (289) and vehicle speed control (85). NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this model year and 2 defect investigations.

2020, 2021 and 2023: fewest complaints. The 2020 drew 179 complaints, or 145 per 100,000 sold; The 2021 drew 80 complaints, or 53 per 100,000 sold; The 2023 drew 182 complaints, or 87 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.

What Hyundai Tucson owners report most

Engine complaints lead for the Hyundai Tucson, at 43% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 64%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.

When problems are reported: mileage

2,249 Hyundai Tucson complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 56% were reported before 50,000 miles and 14% after 100,000. The reports are spread across the mileage range rather than bunched at one point.

Hyundai Tucson compared with other compact suvs

In 6 of 15 model years the Hyundai Tucson drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average compact suv we track for the same year. For 2024, the Hyundai Tucson scored 74 against a class average of 65. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.

Hyundai Tucson generations

• 2005-2009
  First generation

  2.0L four; 2.7L V6 · 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic

  This was the first Tucson and offered an optional V6.

• 2010-2015
  Second generation

  2.4L four; 2.0L four (from 2011) · 5-speed or 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic

  The V6 was dropped, and a 2.0L four was added as the base engine for 2011.

• 2016-2021
  Third generation

  2.0L four; 1.6L turbo four (2016-2018); 2.4L four (2019-2021) · 6-speed automatic; 7-speed dual-clutch (1.6L turbo)

  The 2019 refresh dropped the 1.6L turbo and dual-clutch in favor of a 2.4L four.

• 2022-2024
  Fourth generation

  2.5L four; 1.6L turbo four hybrid; 1.6L turbo four plug-in hybrid · 8-speed automatic; 6-speed automatic (hybrid and plug-in hybrid)

  U.S. models use the long-wheelbase version, and hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions were added.

Fourth-generation Tucsons for the U.S. are built in Montgomery, Alabama. The 2019 refresh also dropped the manual and dual-clutch transmissions, leaving a 6-speed automatic. The fourth generation is the first Tucson sold in the U.S. with hybrid power.

Hyundai Tucson fuel economy

The 2026 Hyundai Tucson is rated at 26 to 38 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.

Crash test stars

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Hyundai Tucson these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2012: 4, 2013: 4, 2014: 4, 2015: 4, 2016: 5, 2017: 5, 2018: 5, 2019: 5, 2020: 5, 2021: 5, 2022: 4-5, 2023: 4-5, 2024: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.

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