Hyundai Tucson Years to Avoid — and the Years to Buy
Every Hyundai Tucson model year from 2005 to 2026, benchmarked against each other with 8,579 federal complaints, 36 recall campaigns, and the odometer readings owners put in their reports.
Avoid: 2016–2017. These years top the Tucson's complaint rankings by volume and severity.
Safer bets: 2005–2008, 2010–2012, 2014–2015, 2020–2021 — the quietest years with at least four years on the road.
The method in one line: every NHTSA complaint for this model is counted, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, and deaths, and each year is measured against the Tucson's own worst year — full methodology.
Under investigation. Federal regulators currently have an open defect investigation on the Hyundai Tucson.
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units…
Model years named: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021
An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
The trouble strip
One cell per model year. The whole answer in one glance — click any year for the full report.
The defining problem
Engine tops the Hyundai Tucson file with 2,442 complaints, concentrated in the 2016–2017 model years, most often reported around 67,500 miles. The year pages break down what fails and when.
Every year, ranked
| Year | Verdict | Complaints | Recalls | Top problem | Trouble index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Too early to call | 84 | 5 | Driver assistance | 8 |
| 2025 | Too early to call | 446 | 6 | Driver assistance | 29 |
| 2024 | Too early to call | 146 | 4 | Driver assistance | 9 |
| 2023 | Typical | 220 | 2 | Driver assistance | 13 |
| 2022 | Typical | 579 | 3 | Fuel system | 31 |
| 2021 | Better year | 107 | 1 | Engine | 6 |
| 2020 | Better year | 233 | 1 | Engine | 12 |
| 2019 | Typical | 519 | 1 | Engine | 27 |
| 2018 | Typical | 537 | 1 | Engine | 28 |
| 2017 | Avoid | 1,456 | 3 | Engine | 72 |
| 2016 | Avoid | 2,168 | 5 | Transmission & drivetrain | 100 |
| 2015 | Better year | 309 | 1 | Engine | 18 |
| 2014 | Better year | 238 | 2 | Engine | 11 |
| 2013 | Typical | 319 | 3 | Engine | 21 |
| 2012 | Better year | 316 | 3 | Engine | 20 |
| 2011 | Better year | 174 | 5 | Engine | 10 |
| 2010 | Better year | 78 | 4 | Transmission & drivetrain | 4 |
| 2009 | Few reports | 24 | 1 | — | 2 |
| 2008 | Better year | 66 | 1 | — | 5 |
| 2007 | Better year | 85 | 5 | Airbags | 6 |
| 2006 | Better year | 202 | 5 | Airbags | 14 |
| 2005 | Better year | 273 | 8 | Electrical | 16 |
Technical service bulletins
Beyond complaints and recalls, 2,109 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, service campaigns, warranty extensions — are on file for the Hyundai Tucson. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Browse the Hyundai Tucson TSB list by year →
Questions buyers ask
What Hyundai Tucson years should I avoid?
Federal complaint records point to 2016–2017 as the Hyundai Tucson years to avoid — they drew the highest volume of serious complaints relative to the model's other years.
What is the most common Hyundai Tucson problem?
Engine tops the Hyundai Tucson file with 2,442 complaints, concentrated in the 2016–2017 model years, most often reported around 67,500 miles.
What are the best Hyundai Tucson years to buy used?
The quietest Hyundai Tucson years in federal records are 2005–2008, 2010–2012, 2014–2015, 2020–2021 — each with at least four years on the road and well-below-average complaint volume for this model.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Counts cover the Hyundai Tucson only, scored against this model's own worst year — not against other models. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.