3 recall campaigns put the 2017 Tucson 2nd of the six model years we cover (2016–2021), well above the model's typical year (1).
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Where complaints cluster
Complaints concentrate on the engine: 39% of the 1,095 on file. The top components are engine (429, of which 1 mentions a crash, 11 a fire and 4 an injury), power train (288, of which 5 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 3 an injury) and electrical system (66, of which 2 mention a crash, 5 a fire and 1 an injury). Across all 1,095 reports, 13 describe a crash, 26 a fire, 12 at least one injury and 1 a death.
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Complaints vs. other years
Owners have filed 1,095 complaints about the 2017 Tucson, about 2.8 times the typical year for this model (391). Older years have had longer to collect reports, so the gap is not explained by age alone.
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Recent reports
82 complaints (7% of the total) were filed in the last 12 months, a slow but steady flow of new reports, most often about the engine (47).
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Changes from 2016
EPA lists the same engines, transmissions and drive types as 2016; four recall campaigns name one of the two years and not the other (engine, exterior lighting, latches/locks/linkages and others).
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Fuel economy and running cost
Its most efficient version (1.6-litre 4-cylinder) is rated 28 mpg combined, better than most for the 2017 SUVs we cover (median 24 mpg across 46 other EPA listings); the thirstiest version is rated 23 mpg. At 15,000 miles a year and the national average regular gasoline price of $4.28 (EIA, week of Oct 19, 2026), fuel would cost about $2,290 a year in the most efficient version and about $2,790 in the thirstiest.
Body class
SUV
Drive types
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Complaint trends
1,095 complaints on file with NHTSA, by category.
Engine503 (46%)
Drivetrain288 (26%)
Other169 (15%)
Electrical66 (6%)
Brakes38 (3%)
Visibility & lighting14 (1%)
Airbag8 (1%)
Steering7 (1%)
Fuel system2 (0%)
Top components as NHTSA logged them:
Engine — 411 complaints (38%)
Power train — 165 complaints (15%)
Unknown or other — 72 complaints (7%)
Power train,engine — 41 complaints (4%)
Structure — 31 complaints (3%)
Power train,vehicle speed control — 21 complaints (2%)
What owners told NHTSA
Short excerpts from owner reports submitted to NHTSA. They are unverified and describe one vehicle each.
“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.”
“The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended.”
“While going down the highway at around 72 mph , my car went into limp mode. I was unable to accelerate, the brake and wheel locked. And then the engine light began flashing.”
Recalls
3 campaigns on file. Check a specific car with our VIN recall check.
Engine· 21V727000 · 2021-09-17
A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Consequence: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module· 20V543000 · 2020-09-04
An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020.
Electrical system:wiring· 16V842000 · 2016-11-21
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017.
Investigations
DP22003 (DP)Closed
Engine
Opened 2022-09-12 · Closed 2023-12-12
NHTSA summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complai…
EA21003 (EA)Closed
Engine
Opened 2021-12-22 · Closed 2024-02-05
NHTSA summary
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine…
Manufacturer communications
Service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer filed with NHTSA. They are not recalls.
Engine and engine cooling25 documents(2019-04-19 – 2024-03-08)
Date
Type
Component
2024-03-08
service bulletin
Engine and engine cooling
2023-10-13
service bulletin
Engine and engine cooling
2023-07-11
service bulletin
Engine and engine cooling
2022-11-03
service bulletin
Engine and engine cooling, engine and engine cooling:engine:crank/camshaft posi…
2022-11-03
service bulletin
Engine and engine cooling, engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control modu…
Built from NHTSA, EPA (fueleconomy.gov) and EIA records with fixed rules; complaint counts reflect reporting, not defect rates. How we make CarTold · Methodology · Buyer guides
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