2021 Hyundai Tucson: Recalls, Complaints and Vehicle Data
Records last imported Oct 31, 2026 · Published · By CarTold Editorial Team
Before you buy a 2021 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: 38% of the 80 on file. The top components are engine (30, of which 2 a fire and 1 an injury), electrical system (10) and service brakes (9). Across all 80 reports, 2 describe a crash, 3 a fire and 6 at least one injury.
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Recent reports
33 complaints (41% of the total) were filed in the last 12 months, so owners are still reporting problems, most often about the engine (18).
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Changes from 2020
On the public record the 2021 matches the 2020: EPA lists the same engines, transmissions and drive types, and the same recall campaigns cover both years.
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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 2021 SUVs we cover (median 27 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 $2,570 a year in the most efficient version and about $2,790 in the thirstiest.
Complaint trends
80 complaints on file with NHTSA, by category.
Top components as NHTSA logged them:
- Engine — 29 complaints (36%)
- Unknown or other — 4 complaints (5%)
- Forward collision avoidance — 4 complaints (5%)
- Service brakes — 4 complaints (5%)
- Service brakes, hydraulic — 3 complaints (4%)
- Electrical system,engine — 2 complaints (3%)
What owners told NHTSA
Short excerpts from owner reports submitted to NHTSA. They are unverified and describe one vehicle each.
“I took my car in to Allen Samuals Hyundai dealership to have the 9C2 recall update completed on May 15th 2026. Ever since then my vehicle has had a rough hesitation or sputtering when driving.”
“loss of info system loss of all dash lights when I turn the engine off most of the time I loose all electrical systems (will not start for at least 15 minutes) if doors lock I can only unlock the drivers door with the auxiliary key.”
“The issue started just before my vehicle had 60,000 miles on it and only occurred every once and a while but, now it happens more often. When braking at low speeds my car makes a hissing/buzzing noise and the pedal goes soft.”
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.
Engine and engine cooling 15 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 |
| 2023-06-09 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2023-03-23 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2022-11-03 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling, engine and engine cooling:engine:crank/camshaft posi… |
| 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 |
Electrical system 11 documents (2020-12-21 – 2024-05-10)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-10 | general service procedure | Electrical system |
| 2024-05-09 | general service procedure | Electrical system |
| 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:control module |
| 2023-08-17 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
| 2023-07-10 | service bulletin | Electrical system, equipment:electrical:anti-theft devices |
| 2023-06-08 | service bulletin | Electrical system, electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module |
| 2023-05-12 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
| 2023-04-06 | service bulletin | Electrical system, visibility:power window devices and controls |
| 2020-12-21 | service bulletin | Electrical system |
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:sensor 4 documents (2023-04-13 – 2023-11-10)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-11-10 | service bulletin | Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:sensor, electrical … |
| 2023-07-10 | service bulletin | Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:sensor, electrical … |
| 2023-04-13 | service bulletin | Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:sensor, electrical … |
| 2023-04-13 | service bulletin | Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:immobilizer/proximity:sensor, electrical … |
Power train 3 documents (2021-10-11 – 2024-04-09)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-09 | service bulletin | Power train |
| 2023-08-17 | service bulletin | Power train, electrical system |
| 2021-10-11 | service bulletin | Power train |
Equipment 3 documents (2020-09-09 – 2021-03-19)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-03-19 | service bulletin | Equipment, electrical system |
| 2020-10-09 | service bulletin | Equipment, electrical system |
| 2020-09-09 | service bulletin | Equipment, steering |
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 |
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module 2 documents (2023-10-26 – 2024-02-12)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-12 | 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 |
Equipment:electrical:anti-theft devices 2 documents (2024-02-01)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-01 | service bulletin | Equipment:electrical:anti-theft devices, electrical system |
| 2024-02-01 | service bulletin | Equipment:electrical:anti-theft devices, electrical system |
Show all 14 categories
Service brakes 2 documents (2020-11-30 – 2021-03-23)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-03-23 | service bulletin | Service brakes, equipment adaptive/mobility, equipment |
| 2020-11-30 | service bulletin | Service brakes |
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 |
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical 1 document (2022-11-03)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-11-03 | service bulletin | Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical, engine and eng… |
Tires 1 document (2022-07-14)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-14 | service bulletin | Tires |
Wheels 1 document (2020-11-19)
| Date | Type | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-11-19 | service bulletin | Wheels, tires |
49 communications on file, grouped into 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Hyundai Tucson SUV AWD | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 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