2021 Hyundai Tucson

No clear pattern

23.9% of complaints about the 2021 Hyundai Tucson arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2021 vehicle, but with only 109 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is engine (38 complaints), typically at 4.5 yr or about 44,807 miles.

Complaints: 109
Median age at failure: 3.9 yr
Median mileage: 9,000 n=18
Crash / fire / tow: 11.9% of reports
Safety recalls: 1 1 do not drive

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V543000 2020-09-04 Do not drive

Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

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.

An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.

In owners’ own words

Engine 10 mi 3 mo in service

SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. CAR DOES NOT MOVE, REQUIRES SVERAL ATTEMPTS TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR BEFORE THE CAR RESPONDS, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING AN ON RAMP, MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY, OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED , HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.

Engine mileage not reported 1.7 yr in service

Recall Code 966 22-01-028H-1 Think and investigation is needed on these recalls. Apparently the engine can catch fire while the motorist is driving. I'm scheduled to drop my car off on the 9th and was told they may need to keep for 3-5 days. Thes vehicles should not be on the road at all and rental cars should be provided free of charge until the manufacturer works out all the problems

Engine mileage not reported 2.1 yr in service

Check engine light comes on flashing for a knock sensor. This has happened four times. Since it is flashing, car goes into limp mode and wonât go over 2000 rpm, low speeds and slow/no acceleration. It is dangerous due to happening on highways and going from cruising speeds to a crawl, with minimal ability to accelerate, very quickly. Sensor has been updated once and sensor has been replaced twice. Currently dealing with corporate after the fourth time of this issue happening. I am still fighting this issue and itâs looking like I will need an attorney.

Other Tucson model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2021 Hyundai Tucson

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other Tucson model years

How to read this