2020 Hyundai Tucson: Recalls, Complaints and Vehicle Data
Records last imported Oct 31, 2026 · Published · By CarTold Editorial Team
Before you buy a 2020 Tucson
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Open investigation
NHTSA has one open investigation covering this year: AQ23002 (audit query into the service brakes, hydraulic since Nov 2023). An open investigation is a question NHTSA is asking, not a finding of a defect.
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Recalls vs. other years
Its single recall campaign ties for the fewest of the six model years we cover (2016–2021); the busiest has 5.
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Where complaints cluster
Complaints concentrate on the engine: 32% of the 179 on file. The top components are engine (58), service brakes (33) and electrical system (16). Across all 179 reports, 5 describe a crash, 2 a fire and 4 at least one injury.
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Recent reports
42 complaints (23% of the total) were filed in the last 12 months, so owners are still reporting problems, most often about the engine (23).
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Changes from 2019
The best combined rating for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder falls from 26 to 25 mpg.
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Fuel economy and running cost
Its most efficient version (2-litre 4-cylinder) is rated 25 mpg combined, close to the median for the 2020 SUVs we cover (median 27 mpg across 42 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 $2,570 a year in the most efficient version and about $2,790 in the thirstiest.
Complaint trends
179 complaints on file with NHTSA, by category.
Top components as NHTSA logged them:
- Engine — 56 complaints (31%)
- Service brakes, hydraulic — 16 complaints (9%)
- Unknown or other — 15 complaints (8%)
- Service brakes — 12 complaints (7%)
- Electrical system — 6 complaints (3%)
- Unknown or other,back over prevention — 6 complaints (3%)
What owners told NHTSA
Short excerpts from owner reports submitted to NHTSA. They are unverified and describe one vehicle each.
“Engine has defect that causes oil to heat at an unusual levels there for damaging other vehicle components such as The exhaust system parts clogging up and Triggering check engine warning lights for emissions.”
“At times, this vehicle will refuse to go. You will get an alert in the dash that the emergency braking system has engaged. It may be a door is not completely shut, or sometimes it's just that I don't have my seat belt on.”
“While driving on the expressway my car hit a bump and all the power from the vehicle was lost. I’ve been having issues with my car and have taking it to Hyundai dealership. Everytime I take it they are saying my car is fixed.”
Recalls
1 campaign on file. Check a specific car with our VIN recall check.
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.
Investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Opened 2023-11-17
NHTSA summary
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 (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543,…
Manufacturer communications
Service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer filed with NHTSA. They are not recalls.
Electrical system 18 documents (2020-01-16 – 2024-05-10)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-10 | general service procedure | Electrical system |
| 2024-05-09 | general service procedure | Electrical system |
| 2024-02-12 | service bulletin | Electrical system, electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module |
| 2024-02-01 | service bulletin | Electrical system, equipment:electrical:anti-theft devices |
| 2024-02-01 | service bulletin | Electrical system, equipment:electrical:anti-theft devices |
| 2024-01-22 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
| 2023-12-19 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
| 2023-11-10 | service bulletin | Electrical system, electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:… |
| 2023-08-17 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
| 2023-07-10 | service bulletin | Electrical system, equipment:electrical:anti-theft devices |
| 2023-07-10 | service bulletin | Electrical system, electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:… |
| 2023-05-12 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
| 2023-04-13 | service bulletin | Electrical system, electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:… |
| 2020-12-21 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
| 2020-10-09 | service bulletin | Electrical system, equipment |
| 2020-03-18 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
| 2020-02-20 | service bulletin | Electrical system, equipment adaptive/mobility, power train, equipment |
| 2020-01-16 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
Engine and engine cooling 12 documents (2021-03-10 – 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 |
| 2022-07-28 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2022-04-28 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2022-04-28 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2022-04-28 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2022-04-28 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2022-04-28 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2021-06-08 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2021-03-30 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling, equipment |
| 2021-03-10 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling, equipment |
Equipment 7 documents (2019-12-17 – 2021-03-16)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-03-16 | service bulletin | Equipment, electrical system |
| 2020-09-09 | service bulletin | Equipment, steering |
| 2020-07-14 | service bulletin | Equipment, exterior lighting, equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2020-05-01 | service bulletin | Equipment |
| 2020-04-23 | service bulletin | Equipment, electrical system |
| 2020-02-20 | service bulletin | Equipment, electrical system, power train |
| 2019-12-17 | service bulletin | Equipment |
Power train 6 documents (2019-12-17 – 2024-04-09)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-09 | service bulletin | Power train |
| 2023-08-17 | service bulletin | Power train, electrical system |
| 2020-05-21 | service bulletin | Power train |
| 2020-05-21 | service bulletin | Power train |
| 2020-01-02 | service bulletin | Power train |
| 2019-12-17 | service bulletin | Power train, equipment |
Service brakes 4 documents (2020-03-25 – 2021-03-23)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-03-23 | service bulletin | Service brakes, equipment, equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2020-11-30 | service bulletin | Service brakes |
| 2020-03-25 | service bulletin | Service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor |
| 2020-03-25 | service bulletin | Service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor |
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module 3 documents (2023-06-08 – 2023-11-10)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-11-10 | service bulletin | Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module, electrical system |
| 2023-10-26 | service bulletin | Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module, electrical system |
| 2023-06-08 | service bulletin | Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module, electrical system |
Visibility 2 documents (2023-01-30 – 2024-02-14)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-14 | service bulletin | Visibility, visibility/wiper |
| 2023-01-30 | service bulletin | Visibility |
Engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ecm):software 2 documents (2022-11-03)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-11-03 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ecm):software, engi… |
| 2022-11-03 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ecm):software, engi… |
Show all 19 categories
Tires 2 documents (2020-05-06 – 2022-07-14)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-14 | service bulletin | Tires |
| 2020-05-06 | service bulletin | Tires, wheels |
Engine 1 document (2024-08-19)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-19 | general service procedure | Engine |
Structure:body 1 document (2023-04-24)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-24 | service bulletin | Structure:body |
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:sensor 1 document (2023-04-13)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-13 | service bulletin | Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:sensor, electrical … |
Visibility:power window devices and controls 1 document (2023-04-06)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-06 | service bulletin | Visibility:power window devices and controls, electrical system |
Wheels 1 document (2020-11-19)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-11-19 | service bulletin | Wheels, tires |
Steering:column 1 document (2020-08-10)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-08-10 | service bulletin | Steering:column, steering:automated/adaptive steering:motor/actuator, electrica… |
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual 1 document (2020-04-17)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-17 | service bulletin | Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual, equipment adaptive/mobility, power… |
Equipment adaptive/mobility 1 document (2020-03-23)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-23 | service bulletin | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
Suspension 1 document (2020-02-05)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-05 | service bulletin | Suspension |
Steering 1 document (2020-01-03)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-03 | service bulletin | Steering |
66 communications on file, grouped into 19 categories.
Fuel economy
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson FWD | 2.0L 4cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 28 | 25 |
| Tucson FWD | 2.4L 4cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 25 |
| Tucson AWD | 2.0L 4cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 25 | 23 |
| Tucson AWD | 2.4L 4cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 26 | 23 |
Safety ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Hyundai Tucson SUV AWD | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2020 Hyundai Tucson SUV FWD | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
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