Model research hub
Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson is a compact crossover made since 2004, and the 2016 is its clear problem year: 1,616 complaints that guides tie to its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, plus 5 recalls, followed by the 2017 with 1,083. The 2026 Tucson starts at $31,050, and the latest generation is offered as a hybrid and plug-in rated up to 38 mpg combined.
What the Hyundai Tucson is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Tucson as a compact crossover SUV made by Hyundai since 2004, named after the city of Tucson, Arizona, and sold in some markets as the ix35 from 2009 to 2015. CarGurus (opens in a new tab) covers four generations, and says the current fourth-generation Tucson debuted for the 2022 model year. The 2026 Tucson offers a 2.5L four-cylinder, a 1.6L hybrid and a 1.6L plug-in hybrid, rated 26 to 38 mpg combined by the EPA, about $1,650 to $2,400 a year in fuel. Kelley Blue Book base prices start at $31,050 for the SE and reach $35,400 for the SEL Premium.
Best and worst Tucson model years
Federal data makes 2016 stand out. It has 1,616 complaints, the most of any year, and 5 recalls covering the powertrain, electrical system, exterior lighting and door latches, and the 2017 has 1,083 complaints and 3 recalls including the engine. Every year from 2018 to 2021 has just 1 recall, for brakes, and complaints fall from 391 to 78. The 2022 has 3 recalls and 379 complaints, the 2023 has 2, the 2024 has 4, and the 2025 has 6 recalls and 278 complaints, covering the electrical system, engine cooling and air bags.
Guides agree on the reason. MotorJury (opens in a new tab) says the third-generation Tucson launched for 2016 with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission on the 1.6-liter turbo, and that transmission is the reason the 2016 carries 1,616 complaints: hesitation from a standstill, jerking and loss of drive. It scores the 2016 at 37 out of 100 and the 2021 at 89. REREV (opens in a new tab) says the worst years are 2016 and 2017 and that Hyundai recalled 2016 Tucsons with the 7-speed DCT. CarMerit (opens in a new tab) recommends the 2019 to 2021 six-speed automatic range as a simpler starting point because it avoids the earlier DCT, and flags the 2017 2.0 GDI without recall 209. Open the 2016 Tucson page for that year's recalls.
Older years
Daily Car Tips (opens in a new tab) says to avoid 2011, 2012 and 2013 for Theta II engine failures and 2016 and 2017 for the transmission problems, and says the 2017 also got caught in another Theta II engine recall. Check the exact engine, transmission and VIN recall status for any Tucson from 2010 to 2021.
Questions buyers ask
Which Hyundai Tucson years should I avoid?
REREV (opens in a new tab) says the worst years are 2016 and 2017, and MotorJury ties the 2016's 1,616 complaints to the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Does the Hyundai Tucson come as a hybrid?
Yes. The 2026 Tucson offers a 1.6L hybrid and a 1.6L plug-in hybrid alongside the 2.5L gas engine.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The gas model has 187 horsepower, the hybrid has 231 combined horsepower and the plug-in hybrid has 268 combined horsepower.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 7 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityHyundai lists 2,750 pounds with trailer brakes and 1,650 pounds without trailer brakes for the gas model.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2026 Tucson.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Hyundai Tucson
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson family includes gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations. The gas model uses a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter engine with an eight-speed automatic. The hybrid produces 231 combined horsepower, while the plug-in hybrid produces 268 combined horsepower. Drivetrain and towing vary by powertrain.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
5 indexed Hyundai Tucson model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson | 2025 record → | |
| 2023 Hyundai Tucson | 2023 record → | |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson | 2022 record → | |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson | 2017 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Hyundai Tucson.
The Hyundai Tucson is a compact crossover SUV produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. It is named after the city of Tucson, Arizona, U.S. The second-generation model was marketed as the Hyundai ix35 in several markets, including Europe, Australia and China, before reverting to Tucson for the third-generation.
- Safety
- There are dual-stage frontal impact airbags, torso side-impact airbags built into the front seats, and curtain airbags for side-impact protection for front and rear passengers. The 2009 Hyundai Tucson was rated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Frontal Rating (Driver): Frontal Rating (Passenger): Side Rating (Driver): Side Rating (Passenger):
- Powertrain
- The Hyundai Tucson received accolades from Canadian Car of the Year Best New Crossover award for 2005. It was named as one of the most reliable vehicles from the 2009 Consumer Reports reliability survey.
Source: Hyundai Tucson (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Hyundai Tucson at a glance
- Production
- 2004–present
- Model years
- 2005–present
- Class
- Compact crossover SUV (C)
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front engine, front-wheel-drive, Front engine, all-wheel-drive
- Also called
- Hyundai ix35 (2009–2015)
NHTSA rated the 2025 Hyundai Tucson overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (12 campaigns across the latest model years)
- June 2026, Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle… Consequence: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- May 2026, Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes. Consequence: Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
- April 2026, Air Bags:Sensor:Side Impact. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment. Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Owners filed 283 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Hyundai Tucson, most often about forward collision avoidance (148), electrical system (63), unknown or other (57).
Year by year
The Hyundai Tucson across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 26–38 | $1,700–$2,500 | 5 | 5 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson | 26–38 | $1,650–$2,400 | 5 | 6 | 278 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Hyundai Tucson | 25–38 | $1,650–$2,500 | 5 | 4 | 94 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Hyundai Tucson | 25–38 | $1,650–$2,500 | 5 | 2 | 131 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson | 26–38 | $1,650–$2,400 | 5 | 3 | 379 | 4 stars |
| 2021 Hyundai Tucson | 23–25 | $2,500–$2,700 | 4 | 1 | 78 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Hyundai Tucson | 23–25 | $2,500–$2,700 | 4 | 1 | 176 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Hyundai Tucson | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 4 | 1 | 375 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Hyundai Tucson | 22–27 | $2,300–$2,850 | 6 | 1 | 391 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson | 23–50 | $2,250–$2,700 | 7 | 3 | 1,083 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Hyundai Tucson | 23–50 | $2,250–$2,700 | 7 | 5 | 1,616 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Hyundai Tucson | 22–50 | $2,500–$2,850 | 5 | 1 | 226 | 4 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Hyundai Tucson, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 31.5 to 32.0 | 33 to 32 | Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV | Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 32.0 to 31.5 | Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl | Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV | ||
| 2021 to 2022 | 4 to 5 | 24.0 to 32.0 | first listed: 33 | Labels: Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Hybrid Blue, Tucson Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid, 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (S8); Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (S6) |
| 2019 to 2020 | 24.5 to 24.0 | ||||
| 2018 to 2019 | 6 to 4 | Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM7) | |||
| 2017 to 2018 | 7 to 6 | 36.5 to 24.5 | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI | Labels: Tucson Eco AWD, Tucson Eco FWD, Tucson Fuel Cell; Engines: PEM; Transmissions: Automatic (A1); Fuels: Hydrogen | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 5 to 7 | 36.0 to 36.5 | Labels: Tucson Eco AWD, Tucson Eco FWD, Tucson FWD; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM7), Automatic (S6) | Labels: Tucson 2WD; Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic 6-spd |
Buying used
What the Hyundai Tucson recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | engine and engine cooling (critical fasteners); electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); air bags (sensor); 1 more | None |
| 2025 | 6 | equipment (other); electrical system (wiring); engine and engine cooling (critical fasteners); 3 more | None |
| 2024 | 4 | power train (automatic transmission); equipment (other); steering (electric power assist system); 1 more | 2 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2023 | 2 | power train (automatic transmission); trailer hitches | 2 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2022 | 3 | electrical system (software); structure (body); trailer hitches | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2021 | 1 | service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2020 | 1 | service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2019 | 1 | service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2018 | 1 | service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2017 | 3 | electrical system (wiring); service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip); engine | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2016 | 5 | exterior lighting (tail lights); latches/locks/linkages (hood); power train (automatic transmission); 2 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2015 | 1 | service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2015, campaign 22V-056 (Feb 2022): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- 2016, campaign 20V-543 (Sep 2020): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
- 2017, campaign 20V-543 (Sep 2020): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
- 2018, campaign 20V-543 (Sep 2020): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
- 2019, campaign 20V-543 (Sep 2020): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
- 2020, campaign 20V-543 (Sep 2020): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
6 more campaigns carry the same warning; each is on its model year's page.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 1,834 | 38% | 2017 (594) |
| power train | 1,076 | 22% | 2016 (516) |
| unknown or other | 700 | 14% | 2016 (261) |
| electrical system | 580 | 12% | 2016 (215) |
| service brakes | 436 | 9% | 2019 (118) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 352 | 7% | 2022 (131) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Hyundai Tucson trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 178 | 3,572 | 2,700 | 26 | $31,050 |
| SEL | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 178 | 3,638 | 2,700 | 26 | $32,400 |
| SEL Plus | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 178 | – | 2,700 | 26 | $32,900 |
| XRT | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 178 | 3,713 | 2,700 | 26 | $35,075 |
| SEL Premium | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 178 | 3,676 | 2,700 | 26 | $35,400 |
| Limited | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 178 | 3,800 | 2,700 | 26 | $41,025 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Hyundai Tucson model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 3,572–3,800 | 2,700 | 14.3 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 3,572–3,801 | 2,000 | 14.3 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 3,346–3,578 | 2,000 | 14.3 |
| 2023 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 3,341–3,548 | 2,000 | 14.3 |
| 2022 | 5 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 187 | 3,329–3,523 | 2,000 | 14.3 |
| 2021 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 161–181 | 3,309–3,593 | 1,500 | 16.4 |
| 2020 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder | 161–181 | 3,309–3,593 | 1,500 | 16.4 |
| 2019 | 7 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder | 161–181 | 3,300–3,627 | 1,500 | 16.4 |
| 2018 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 164–181 | 3,300–3,369 | 1,500 | 16.4 |
| 2017 | 7 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 164–175 | 3,300–3,500 | 1,500 | 16.4 |
| 2016 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 1.6-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 164–175 | 3,325–3,499 | 1,500 | 16.4 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder | 164–182 | 3,232–3,294 | 2,000 | 15.3 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Hyundai Tucson.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0W-20 | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2025 | 0W-20 | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2024 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2023 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Hyundai Tucson: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Hyundai Tucson : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system and engine cooling.
- 2025 Hyundai Tucson : 6 recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system and equipment.
- 2016 Hyundai Tucson : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting powertrain and electrical system.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | not available | electrical system, engine cooling, airbags, forward collision system |
| 2025 | 6 | 278 | electrical system, equipment, engine cooling, airbags |
| 2024 | 4 | 94 | equipment, powertrain, steering, trailer hitch |
| 2023 | 2 | 131 | powertrain, trailer hitch |
| 2022 | 3 | 379 | electrical system, structure, trailer hitch |
| 2021 | 1 | 78 | brakes |
| 2020 | 1 | 176 | brakes |
| 2019 | 1 | 375 | brakes |
| 2018 | 1 | 391 | brakes |
| 2017 | 3 | 1083 | electrical system, engine, brakes |
| 2016 | 5 | 1616 | powertrain, electrical system, exterior lighting, door latches |
| 2015 | 1 | 226 | brakes |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Hyundai Tucson model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Hyundai Tucson?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026, 2025, 2016 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Hyundai Tucson model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system, engine cooling, airbags; The 2025 Hyundai Tucson has 6 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system, equipment, engine cooling; The 2016 Hyundai Tucson has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting powertrain, electrical system, exterior lighting. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Hyundai Tucson by model year?
2026: electrical system, engine cooling, airbags, forward collision system. 2025: electrical system, equipment, engine cooling, airbags. 2024: equipment, powertrain, steering, trailer hitch. 2023: powertrain, trailer hitch. 2022: electrical system, structure, trailer hitch. 2021: brakes.
Q04Why do some Hyundai Tucson model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Hyundai Tucson model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Brakes, tires and steering, Transmission and drivetrain, Climate and electrical, Buying, records and recalls, Engine and cooling.
2026 Hyundai Tucson owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Engine and cooling and Buying, records and recalls.
2025 Hyundai Tucson owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls and Engine and cooling.
2016 Hyundai Tucson owners specifically: see Transmission and drivetrain and Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this Hyundai Tucson is most often compared with.
Nearest Hyundai models
Other Hyundai models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How much horsepower does the 2026 Tucson have?
The gas model has 187 horsepower, the hybrid has 231 combined horsepower and the plug-in hybrid has 268 combined horsepower.
Q02Is AWD standard on the 2026 Tucson?
Not across the family. HTRAC AWD is available on gasoline trims; its status varies across hybrid trims and is standard on the plug-in hybrid.
Q03How much can the gas Tucson tow?
Hyundai lists 2,750 pounds with trailer brakes and 1,650 pounds without trailer brakes for the gas model.
Q04How much can Tucson Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid tow?
Hyundai lists 2,000 pounds with trailer brakes and 1,650 pounds without for both electrified families.
Q05How many gas Tucson trims are listed?
Hyundai lists six gas trims: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, XRT, SEL Premium and Limited.