Home · 2011 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell · Complaints

What 124 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (124)Crash / fire / injury (8)Engine (40)Brakes (33)Transmission & drivetrain (20)Electrical system (12)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (9)Engine & cooling (5)Suspension (5)Body & structure (4)Speed control (4)Tires (4)

Newest first · 124 complaints · page 5 of 5

Nov 7, 2013Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON MANUAL STICK SHIFT ON THE FREEWAY IN 5TH GEAR, THE CLUTCH CAME APART. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECH, THE CLUTCH HAD NO SIGNIFICANT OWNER WEAR AND TEAR. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT IT FELL APART WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE A PIECE FELL OUT, WHICH, ACCORDING TO HIM, SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. PICTURES OF DEFECTIVE CLUTCH AVAILABLE. *FOUR MONTHS PRIOR, THE CLUTCH SENSOR WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY SENSOR, AGAIN DUE TO PRODUCT DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10551444

Aug 19, 2013Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

THE DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL (DBC) INDICATOR AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) LIGHTS COME ON WHILE CAR IS IN OPERATION FOR NO APPARENT REASON - DRIVING NORMAL SPEED - ABOUT 45 MPH, IN NORMAL DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. WHEN I GO TO STOP THE CAR, THE SHIFT LEVER GETS STUCK AND CANNOT PUT IN PARK. IT TAKES A FEW TRIES AT JIGGLING THE SHIFT LEVER AND JIGGLING KEY IN IGNITION TO GET IT TO GO INTO PARK. AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE, RESTART IS NORMAL WITH THE DBC AND ESC LIGHTS NO LONGER ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE ORIGINAL TIME I NOTICED IT A FEW MONTHS AGO. DUE TO DEATH IN THE FAMILY AND OTHER ISSUES, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT INTO TO DEALER SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I NOTICED IN MARCH. I'M TAKING IT IN TOMORROW AND WILL ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10536100

Aug 16, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 45 MPH, I NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON AND THE DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL INDICATOR (RED) WAS ON. I RETURNED HOME, SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, RESTARTED IT, AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. UPON RETURNING HOME THE NEXT DAY FROM A TRIP, WHILE PARKING THE CAR, BOTH INDICATORS CAME ON, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. I LEFT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. I THEN TURNED THE KEY ON, PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL (TO THE FLOOR) FOR 3 SECONDS, TURNED THE KEY ON, AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE....FOR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10535757

Aug 14, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

INCLINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASH, SIGNALING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. DISCOVERED THAT EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE UPON DEPRESSION OF BRAKE PEDDLE, OR WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO DISCOVERED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THIS CONDITION, THE CAR WOULD NOT ALLOW THE GEAR SHIFT TO GO INTO PARK. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR THIS VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO THE INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10535287

Jul 14, 2013Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK (AM/PM) THE DBC (DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL) AND ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL I STOP AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10524735

Jun 7, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK (AM/PM) THE DBC (DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL) AND ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL I STOP AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I STOP, I AM UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK. WHILE IN A PANIC, I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND EACH ATTEMPT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SO I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED IT AND PUT IT IN PARK IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY. I MAY HAVE TO TRY THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I AM ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE FIRST DATE. ALSO, WHEN I SHIFT GEARS A LOUD MECHANICAL CLUNK SOUNDS WHICH JERKS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THIS EVEN HAPPENS WHEN I START OFF DRIVING AND IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND SCARY. I HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY STOP. THEN AFTER ABOUT THREE DAYS IT START ALL OVER AGAIN. I SEE THIS AS A DANGER BECAUSE I COMMUTE 56 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND I THOUGHT I WAS PURCHASING A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE BUT APPARENTLY NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10515768

May 11, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC TO AND FROM WORK (AM/PM) THE DBC (DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL) AND ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND REMAIN ON UNTIL I STOP AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, WHEN I STOP, I AM UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK. I AM FORCED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN START THE CAR AND PUT IT IN PARK IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY. I MAY HAVE TO TRY THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I AM ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE DAYS IN A ROW. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID TELL ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH FOR SOME MODELS BUT MY VIN# IS NOT SHOWING A RECALL. I WILL NEED TO BRING IN THE CAR WHEN IT ACTUAL LOCKS IN GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10511497

Mar 28, 2013Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakes

COMMENT: I HAVE BROUGHT IN MY TUCSON FOR THE CLUNKING TRANSMISSION ISSUE 5 TIMES NOW. EACH RETURN TO THE SERVICE CENTER RESULTS IN A CANNOT DUPLICATE RESPONSE. 1. ON THE MORNING OF 28 MARCH 2013, APPROXIMATELY 20 SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, A LOUD MECHANICAL CLUNK WAS HEARD AND FELT FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT RESPOND, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AND THE P,R,N,D INDICATOR IN THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY WENT BLANK. THE CAR WAS SHIFTED INTO P, A LOUD MECHANICAL CLUNK' WAS HEARD AND FELT FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CRUNCH'. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP. 2. RECALL SERVICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE COUPLING PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXIBITING THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGE AND REENGAGE SYMPTOM WHILE DRIVING UNDER ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A DAY UNDER ANY INCLINE OR FLAT CONDITION WHILE ACCELERATING. 3. WHILE ACCELERATING UP HILL, SPECIFICALLY UP HILL WHILE ACCELERATING UP TO 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL DOWN SHIFT TO CLIMB THE HILL. UNDER 2 CONDITIONS 1. CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, 2. CONSTANT ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPLICATION.THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RE-UPSHIFT ONCE THE HILL HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND KEEPS AN ELEVATED RPM RANGE OF APPROXIMATELY 3000 RPM EVEN WHILE ON LEVEL GROUND WHILE PASSING TAX AND REVENUE. THE RPMS DO NOT LOWER AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UP SHIFT UNTIL EITHER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL), OR THE ACCELERATOR IS LIFTED. NOTE: THE ENTIRE TIME THIS SITUATION IS OCCURRING THE ECON GREEN LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHILE DEPARTING INTERSECTION. THE TRANSMISSION ROBLEM HAS CONTINUED AND GROWN WORSE WITH EXAPNDING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504783

Sep 25, 2012Transmission & drivetrainLights

2011 HYUNDAI TUSCAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COOLING LINES, TRANSMISSIONS AND BRAKE SWITCHES REPLACEMENTS MORE THAN ONCE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BUCK AND BANG WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE DEALER FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS WORN INTERNALLY AND THE COOLER HOSE WAS CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. THE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE SWITCH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS SEVEN TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10477689

Sep 19, 2012TiresWheels

WE WERE HEADING OUT ON VACATION FROM AKRON, OHIO WHEN THE DASHBOARD LOW AIR PRESSURE TIRE LIGHT CAME ON DURING OUR TRIP. WE EXITED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT FOR GAS AND TO ADD AIR TO THE REAR TIRE. WE HEARD AIR LEAKING FROM THE TIRE TREAD AREA AND HAD TO GO TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IN SISSONVILLE, WV FOR THE REPAIR. THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTED THAT WE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND THAT THE STEEL BELT MADE A HOLE IN THE TIRE. HE CHANGED OUR TIRE WITH A USED ONE TO GET US TO OUR DESTINATION IN NORTH CAROLINA. IN BOONE N.C. WE HAD OUR TIRES LOOKED AT AND THEY SHOWED US THE WE HAD ANOTHER TIRE WITH A 4 INCH SLIT IN THE TREAD AREA AND WAS CUPPED ( A BROKEN BELT); THIS ALSO WAS THE REAR TIRE. THEY REMAINING TWO TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF TIRE SEPARATION. ALL FOUR (4) TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES. OUR VEHICLE IS A ALL WHEEL DRIVE 2011 HYUNDAI TUSCON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10476493

Sep 8, 2012Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN RETURNING HOME FROM STORE I COULDN'T PUT THE CAR IN PARK. ONLY COULD GET TO NEUTRAL. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND IT MOVED INTO PARK. THIS HAS HAPPEN NOW THREE(3) TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. I HAVE CALLED TO GET IT LOOKED AT NEXT WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10474313

Aug 6, 2012Traction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ODI 10469424

Jul 21, 2012Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION/GEARS GETS STUCK WHEN I WANT TO PUT IT IN REVERSE. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. I BROUGHT THE CAR AND COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT COULD BE A BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE AND COULD NOT FIX IT UNLESS THEY SEE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT HAPPENS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS RANDOMLY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LAST WEEK SO I SCHEDULED TO BRING IT IN TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10466849

Jun 29, 2012Tires

2 OF MY 4 KUMHO TIRES WENT FLAT AT THE SAME TIME WITH TREAD COMING OFF OF ONE. THEY HAD 25,433 MILES ON THEM. THIS APPEARS SUSPICIOUS AND DANGEROUS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE RE-IMBURSED FOR THE 4 REPLACEMENT TIRES I HAD TO BUY AS MY VEHICLE IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10463624

Jun 22, 2012Tires

I HAD BOTH REAR TIRES GO FLAT WITHIN 10 MINUTES AND ONE OF THE TREADS CAME OFF. MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE KUMHO TIRES AND NOT GETTING ANY ANSWERS FROM THEIR COMPANY. BOTH TIRES WENT FLAT. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10462793

Nov 29, 2011TiresCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO SOLUS KL21 TIRES, SIZE: 225/60R17. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE FAILED AND BLEW FROM THE SIDEWALL. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPLACE BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 585.

NHTSA ODI 10437733

Nov 7, 2011Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TODAY I WAS OUT IN MY 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON. TWO OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH, ONE IS FOR TRACTION CONTROL AND THE OTHER HAD TO DO WITH HILLS(SORRY MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER AND I DON'T HAVE THE BOOK TO TELL YOU THE EXACT LIGHT DESCRIPTION; ONE IS ORANGE WITH A VEHICLE AND LITTLE SKID MARKS AFTER IT THE OTHER IS RED WITH A VEHICLE GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL). I WENT TO STOP AT A STORE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK FROM DRIVE, THE FARTHEST I COULD GET IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AFTER MESSING WITH IT FOR 5 MINUTES I FINALLY GOT THE CAR INTO PARK. AFTER LEAVING THAT STORE I WENT TO GO TO ANOTHER AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND TOOK MY VEHICLE THERE. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHING ONLINE AND SEE THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE WITH TUCSONS AS PEOPLE WITH OLDER MODELS(2010 AND BACK) HAVE ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND SOME OF THEM REPORT IT'S DUE TO A BAD BRAKE SWITCH AND ONCE IT WAS REPLACED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN FEB OF 2011 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 6600 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10434810

Jun 29, 2011Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 5 MPH OVER ROAD BUMPS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY LOSE BRAKING POWER FOR ONE TO TWO SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,700.

NHTSA ODI 10409333

May 31, 2011Visibility & wipers

REAR WINDOW OF 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10403751

May 23, 2011Speed control

2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED, OUR VEHICLE HAS AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSTATE I HAVE NOTICED WHEN I NEED TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE TO MERGE THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND THEN DECELERATES WITH THE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. THE TECHNICIANS AT THE HYUNDAI COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT THE DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10402480

Feb 17, 2011Speed controlService Brakes, ElectricElectronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

2011 HYUNDAI TUSCON SPEED SENSOR WIRES LOCATED BEHIND TIRES. WIRE IS FULLY EXPOSED TO ANY ROAD DEBRIS, EASILY SEVERED WHICH EFFECTS ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. WIRE STICKS OUT 3 INCHES IN OPEN AIR OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE, ALSO LOCATED CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE TIRES THAT IF THEY KICK UP ANY DEBRIS IT IS IN THE DIRECT PATH OF THE WIRE. NOT HEAVY DUTY RAP OVER THE WIRE AND COULD BE BROKEN BY GRIPPING BY HAND AND PULLING ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10383168

Jan 31, 2011Steering

ELECTRIC STEERING FEELS VAGUE, LACKS FEEDBACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GIVING YOU A FEELING THAT YOU HAVE MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL AND GOING TO CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10379631

Jan 26, 2011Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON GLS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, AND HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD ROAD NOISE EMITTING INSIDE THE CABIN. THE CLANGING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA AND WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED REGARDING THE FAILURE AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200.

NHTSA ODI 10378766

Sep 29, 2010Engine & cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI TUCSON. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FORWARD FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT OUT A DISTRICT MANAGER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 600.

NHTSA ODI 10358198

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Working with the data? Download all 124 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell verdict →