Home · 2013 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell · Complaints

What 266 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 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 (266)Crash / fire / injury (31)Engine (156)Brakes (41)Electrical system (22)Transmission & drivetrain (16)Airbags (11)Visibility & wipers (8)Body & structure (6)Fuel system (6)Steering (6)Tires (5)

156 of 266 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 6 of 7

Oct 13, 2018Engine

HELLO, I AM PART OF A GROUP ON FACEBOOK FOR THIS MATTER CONCERNING HYUANDAI TUCSON ENGINE FAILURE WHICH HAS OVER 200 PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE THETHA II ENGINE IN THE HYUANDAI TUCSON.. MY 2013 HYUNDAI TUCSON ENGINE FAILED JULY 4, 2018 WITH APPROXIMATELY 54 THOUSAND MILES. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH MY DAUGHTER WHEN THE CAR JUST LOST POWER ON A BUSY ROAD WITH NO WARNING. IT JUST WOULD NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OVER TO THE SIDE SAFELY AND A NICE GENTLEMAN HELPED PUSH THE CAR FURTHER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO SIT IN OVER 90 DEGREES WITH MY DAUGHTER FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING OR ANYTHING BECAUSE THE CAR SIMPLY WOULDN'T START BACK UP. HYUNDAI OF CENTEREACH IT'S THE DEALERSHIP I AM DEALING WITH. THEY SAID THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE SOON SO THEY WOULD REPLACE IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN WHICH IS NOT COMFORTING AT ALL SINCE THEY'RE PUTTING THE SAME MODEL ENGINE INTO MY CAR. I'VE BEEN WAITING OVER 3 MONTHS NOW AND THEY HAVE SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THE ENGINE WILL ARRIVE AND I HAVE BEEN PAYING CAR PAYMENTS AND ENSURANCE ON A DEAD CAR FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS. THEY ARE SUPPLYING ME A RENTAL HOWEVER I DON'T FEEL THIS IS ENOUGH COMPENSATION FOR THE HEADACHE I AM DEALING WITH. I AM A STRUGGLING SINGLE MOTHER WHO NOW HAS A CAR I WILL NEVER TRUST TO DRIVE MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AROUND IN. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT I AM LOSING HOPE. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT ACTIONS I CAN TAKE. I'VE ALREADY SPOKE TO HYUNDAI MOTOR FINANCE AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP ME OUT AT ALL WITH EVEN POSTPONING PAYMENT UNTIL I RECEIVE MY VEHICLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11140112

Sep 27, 2018Engine

A WEEK BEFORE GOING ON VACATION, I JUST HAD AN INSPECTION AND OIL CHANGE DONE. THE CAR PASSED INSPECTION WITHOUT ISSUE. I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED ON TIME SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2015. I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS. I WAS REACHING THE END OF AN 8 HOUR DRIVE WITH THE CAR. WE JUST CROSSED THE PA STATE LINE. I WAS DRIVING IN THE PASSING LANE ON THE INTERSTATE, GETTING UP TO SPEED, AND I JUST HIT 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR MADE A RATTLING NOISE AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE PAST 60 MPH. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE PROCEEDED TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND CHECK THE OIL WHICH WAS FINE. THERE WAS NO SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR BUT THE ENGINE JUST KEPT TURNING OVER. WE WAITED AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK AND DURING THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL US THE CAR ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO EXISTING REFURBISHED ENGINES IN THE COUNTY WE WERE IN OR WHERE WE LIVE. MY CAR NOW CONTINUES TO SIT AT THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS AWAITING TILL I HAVE THE MEANS TO TOW IT UP TO WHERE I LIVE. NOW I AM STUCK WITH NO CAR AND STILL MONEY TO OWE ON THE LOAN.

NHTSA ODI 11132037

Sep 21, 2018Engine

MY CAR STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION AT AROUND 75,000 MILES. TOOK IT IN JUNE 11, 2018 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, AND IT IS ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HYUNDAI IS COVERING THE REPAIR, BUT STILL, AS OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 DOES NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE AND HAS NO ETA. AT LEAST HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ON THE INTERNET ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR, AND SOME HAVE BEEN WAITING ON PARTS FOR 4 MONTHS OR LONGER. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 11130628

Aug 27, 2018Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (AT HIGHWAY SPEED), THE ENGINE SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY LOSE ACCELERATION AND OPERATION. THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WAS INSTANT; NO CRANK OR RESPONSE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PROFESSIONAL AUTO GARAGE, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS PROMPT: COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO BACK DESIGN. THE OIL WAS GOOD, AND ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE IN GREAT SHAPE ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS 72,000, AND I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE SINCE JUNE 2013. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED FROM THIS AUTO GARAGE TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER, WHERE THE SAME DIAGNOSIS WAS CONFIRMED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL TO INCLUDE THE HYUNDAI TUCSON MODELS FROM THIS SAME YEAR, SINCE THE KIA SPORTAGE, SORENTO, AND HYUNDAI SANTA FE ARE ALREADY PROMPTED AS 'RECALL ELIGIBLE' VEHICLES. THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT PLAGUE THESE OTHER MODELS APPLY TO THE TUCSON AS WELL. THIS ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE, AND MY CONFIDENCE IN THIS AUTO MAKER IS COMPLETELY ABSENT AFTER THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11122472

Aug 25, 2018Engine

GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M SENDING THIS E-MAIL IN REFERENCE TO MY 2013 HYUNDAI TUCSON. ON THURSDAY THE 23TH OF AUGUST , I WAS IN MY VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILY COMING HOME FROM DINNER IN ATLANTIC CITY NEW JERSEY. WE WERE TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE NJ PARKWAY IN THE OUTSIDE LANE. AT APPROX.9:15 PM AT MILE MARKER 48, I HEARD A SMALL POP , MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND STOPPED RUNNING. THE MOMENTUM CARRIED ME OFF TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO GET TOWED HOME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND HE SAW OIL LEAKING AND PIECES ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. HE ADVISED THAT I POPPED A ROD ON THE ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME INQUIRES ON THE NET , I FOUND THAT HYUNDAI HAD RECALLS ON THEIR SONATAS FOR ENGINE PROBLEMS.... ALSO TUCSON OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I CHECKED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF ENGINE I HAD. I DID SO BY VIN NUMBER. ON THE VIN NUMBER POSITION 8 IS THE CODE FOR ENGINE. I HAVE CODE C . THIS ENGINE WAS USED IN SONATAS . IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY ENGINE WAS ONE OF THE RECALLED ONES. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 122,000. MAINTENANCE WAS DONE. THERE WAS NO WARNINGS '.ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME OR OIL PRESSURE LIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER.....

NHTSA ODI 11122320

Aug 13, 2018Engine

MY ENGINE SUFFERED A COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70+ MPH. IN THE MIDDLE OF A 300 MILE ROAD TRIP, I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD HOLD SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, BUT NOT ACCELERATE TO PASS ON THE HIGHWAY. WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF NOTICING, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP, AS I WAS ON A LONG STRETCH OF INTERSTATE WITH NO GAS STATIONS, ETC. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE REVVED TO ABOUT 6000 RPM, THE CAR SHOOK, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED 40 MILES TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS BLOWN, MOST LIKELY TO A BEARING FAILURE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT OVER 70 MILES PER HOUR.

NHTSA ODI 11119709

Aug 13, 2018Engine

. ON JUNE 17, 2018 MY ENGINE BLEW ON MY 2013 TUCSON, LESS THAN 75000 MILES. WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEEDS OF 75 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK THEN LOOSE SPEED. TRAFFIC ALL AROUND US WAS TRAVELING AT 75-80 MILES PER HOUR, VERY SCARY AS WE WERE GOING 10-15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN WE MANAGED TO PULL OFF ON AN EXIT AND THE ENGINE SIMPLY DIED AND NEVER WOULD RESTART. WE HAD TO PUSH IT THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION TO A GAS STATION. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE IT STILL SITS 2 MONTHS LATER WAITING ON AN ENGINE TO BE DELIVERED. THESE ENGINES HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN THE SONATA'S AND THE SANTA FE'S BUT NOT IN THE TUCSON'S.

NHTSA ODI 11119738

Aug 8, 2018EngineFire

AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER THEN LOUD "CLUNK" AND LOST POWER. SMALL ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEVELOPED BUT THEN THANKFULLY WENT OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST SHOP WHICH INFORMED US THAT VEHICLE HAD THROWN A ROD AND WILL REQUIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS NOW BEEN TOWED TO NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER THAT "WILL GO TO BAT TO TRY AND GET HYUNDAI TO FIX". WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF VEHICLE SO APPARENTLY THE 10/100 DOES NOT APPLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY. NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO OR WHO TO COMMUNICATE WITH TO GET HYUNDAI TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11118639

Aug 6, 2018Engine

2013 HYUNDAI TUCSON ENGINE FAILURE. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE SEIZED. ONLY 53,000 MILES ON CAR. CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED BY DEALER. DEALER TO REPLACE ENGINE. ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER HAS HAD CAR FOR 4 MONTHS. DEALER STATES CAN'T GET A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. NEED HELP IN GETTING HYUNDAI TO PROVIDE /INSTALL REPLACEMENT ENGINE..

NHTSA ODI 11118056

Jul 18, 2018Engine

DRIVING 80 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING, WITHIN 90 SECONDS THE VEHICLE WAS DEAD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED 5 YEARS OLD 77K MILES. WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE OIL CHANGES REGULARLY.

NHTSA ODI 11112094

Jul 11, 2018Engine

THE HYUNDAI TUCSON HAS THE THETA 2 ENGINE. THIS ENGINE HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED 4 METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE A DEBURRING PROCESS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO HAVE OIL DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE FOR EXAMPLE A THROWN ROD. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY 2013 HYUNDAI TUCSON WITH ONLY 42000 PLUS MILES ON IT. SO WHY HASN'T THE TUCSON BEEN ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST ALONG WITH THE SONATA AND SANTA FE, THEY BOTH HAD THE SAME EXACT ENGINE IN THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. NOW I AM STUCK WITHOUT A VEHICLE STILL HAVING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON, AND BATTLING HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP OF LITHONIA GEORGIA, BECAUSE THEY AREN'T WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO AN EXPIRED WARRANTY OF 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. WARRANTY IS NOT AN ISSUE AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RECALLED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY DUE TO NOT HAVING EVIDENCE OF OIL CHANGES. THE VEHICLE HAD NO OIL UPON INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD A HOLE IN IT CAUSING THE OIL TO DRAIN OUT. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11110732

Jul 9, 2018Engine

DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ON VACATION, WHEN HEARD CLACKING NOISE. BECAME WORSE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. TOLD US THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOT SURE IF TRUE, BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE THAT WAS RECALLED IN THE SONATAS (WE ALSO HAVE A SONATA THAT HAD THE RECALL). QUESTIONING WHY THE MOTORS ON ALL VEHICLES WITH THAT ENGINE WERE NOT RECALLED. SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MOTOR, NOT THE ENGINE?!?!

NHTSA ODI 11110257

Jul 9, 2018Engine

CORRECTION TO COMPLAINT NUMBER:11110257 DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ON VACATION, WHEN HEARD CLACKING NOISE. BECAME WORSE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. TOLD US THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. NOT SURE IF TRUE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE THAT WAS RECALLED IN THE SONATAS (WE HAVE A SONATA THAT HAD THE RECALL). QUESTIONING WHY THE MOTORS ON ALL VEHICLES WITH THAT ENGINE WERE NOT RECALLED. SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ENGINE, NOT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11110275

Jul 7, 2018Engine

DRIVING DOWN A STREET 35 MPH, ENGINE MADE LOUD SOUND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR SHUDDERED AND WOULD NOT DRIVE. MOVED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THETA-II ENGINE SEIZED. NOT REPAIRABLE. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURE REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY DESPITE KNOWN PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY TRADED IN AS COST TO REPLACE ENGINE WITH USED ENGINE(NO NEW ONES AVAILABLE) WAS PROHIBITIVE. RECEIVED TRADE IN OF $3500 BLUE BOOK VALUE $9000.

NHTSA ODI 11110058

Jun 27, 2018Engine

ENGINE BLOWN AT MILEAGE 129653. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN PENNSYLVANIA, ENGINE SEEMED TO LOSE POWER AT 60 MPH, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. STARTED TO SHUTTER AND ENGINE MADE A LOT OF NOISE, BAD RATTLE SOUND. ENGINE LOCKED UP. I COASTED TO STOP ON SIDE OF ROAD. ON JUNE 30,2017. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CIOCCA HYUNDAI IN QUAKERTOWN PA, WHERE I WAS TOLD ENGINE HAD BLOWN. HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED$5237.34 COST. TOOK MONTH TO FIND GOOD REPLACEMENT ENGINE AS THIS WAS SAME ENGINE TYPE I WAS TOLD AS SANTE FE AND ACCORDS ON RECALL. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THE TUCSONS ENGINE SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11104251

Jun 27, 2018Engine

ON JUNE 13, 2017, THE ENGINE IN THE TUCSON COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AFTER WORK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IN CANYON, TEXAS. THE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN A HOLE IN IT DUE TO NO FAULT OF SYDNEE PARKHURST AND WOULD NEED A COMPLETE REBUILD. RESEARCH WAS DONE AS TO WHAT OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE. [XXX] CONTACTED THE VANDERGRIFF HYUNDAI IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HYUNDAI MOTORS AMERICA FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. RESEARCH HAD SHOWN THE SAME ENGINE WAS PUT INTO SEVERAL MODELS OF HYUNDAI VEHICLES. THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE MODEL WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN A CLASS ACTION REGARDING THE 2011-2013 MODELS (BUT NOT THE 2013 TUCSON). THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE ENGINE AND SOME PARTS THREE (3) TIMES DUE TO MANUFACTURER ISSUES WITH THE PARTS FOR $8,751.28. AFTER MORE THAN SEVEN PHONE CALLS TO EACH VANDERGRIFF HYUNDAI AND HYUNDAI MOTORS AMERICA, IT WAS LEARNED THAT NEITHER WAS WILLING TO HELP OR OFFER ANY AID OR ASSISTANCE CLAIMING THAT BECAUSE IT WAS SOLD TO A SECOND OWNER, THEY COULD NOT CONFIRM WHETHER THE PRIOR OWNER HAD BEEN NEGLIGENT IN THEIR CARE OF THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SOLD AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. HYUNDAI BLAMED THE OWNER FOR THE DEFECT. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED VANDERGRIFF CONTACTED THE OWNER ATTEMPTING TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK FOR LESS THAN THE PURCHASE PRICE AND EXCLUDING THE COST OF THE ENGINE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11104263

Jun 24, 2018Engine

THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING AND BEGAN SHAKING WITHIN MINUTES THE ENGINE BLEW UP

NHTSA ODI 11103628

Apr 16, 2018Engine

PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO TALK ON MY PHONE AND AFTER I PULLED AWAY THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL ON TIME EVERY TIME AND MOST OF ALL THE MILES ON IT ARE HIGHWAY MILES. I HAVE ISSUE THAT HYUNDAI RECALLED THE SONATA AND SANTA FE OF THE SAME YEAR AND ALSO KIA RECALLED THE SPORTAGE FOR ENGINE KNOCKING. THE ENGINE IS THE SAME EXACT ENGINE IN THE 2013 HYUNDAI TUSCON BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL. THIS MAKE ZERO SENSE.

NHTSA ODI 11088370

Apr 13, 2018Engine

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND FELT AS THOUGH I HAD A TIRE ISSUE. I SLOWED DOWN, AND THE VIBRATION ESCALATED SO I PULLED OVER. ONCE I WAS AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD KNOCKING NOISES. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AT THIS POINT AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY DID A CASE REVIEW. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR, WHICH IS 5 YRS OLD AND HAS 87,900 MILES, IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. I QUESTIONED THE RECALL ON OTHER CARS WITH THE THETA II ENGINE SUCH AS THE SANTA FE AND THE SONATA AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO BE INCLUDED. APPARENTLY, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME ENGINE, THE TUSCON ENGINE IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER SO DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. THE SAME ISSUES APPLY WITH THE RECALLED ENGINE THAT MY ENGINE HAS WHICH IS METAL SHAVINGS AROUND THE CRANKSHAFT. THE METAL SHAVINGS HAVE CAUSED INSUFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF OIL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11084864

Mar 27, 2018Engine

I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH MY 2013 TUCSON. IT IS CURRENTLY SITTING (BECAUSE IT IS UNABLE TO START) AT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD FROM HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE TO HAVE IT TOWED THERE DUE TO THE ENGINE TROUBLE I AM HAVING WITH THE CAR, AND DID SO ON MARCH 16, 2018. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE IS DUE TO ANY NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR INCLUDING OIL CHANGES. I CHOSE TO PURCHASE A HYUNDAI BECAUSE OF THEIR KNOWN RELIABILITY AND SAFETY. THESE ARE MOST IMPORTANT WHEN CHOOSING A VEHICLE TO OWN, AND I FELT HYNDAI WAS TOP IN BOTH THOSE CATEGORIES. I HAVE TWO YOUNG GIRLS TO KEEP SAFE. HOWEVER HYNDAI HAS PROVEN TO NOT BE. ONE MOMENT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY TUSCON AND THEN THE NEXT MOMENT I AM UNABLE TO START IT AND AM LOOKING AT A COST TO FIX IT AT WELL OVER $5000.00.AUTO NATION HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR AS HAS STATED THAT THERE ARE COMPLICATIONS WITH THE CVVT GEAR AND THE TIMING CHAIN. HENCE THE REASON THE CAR NO LONGER CAN START AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I FEEL THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND PAID FOR BY HYUNDAI DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S ERROR. I HAVE TRIED TO FACILITATE THESE ISSUES BY SPEAKING DIRECTLY WITH HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE. EVERY TIME I HAVE CALLED, I HAVE SPOKEN TO A DIFFERENT CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND GIVEN A DIFFERENT CASE NUMBER. DESPITE EXPLAINING TO A NEW PERSON THE DETAILS OF THE PROCESS I AM GOING THROUGH, EACH REPRESENTATIVES HAS HAD A DIFFERENT EXCUSE AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN REPAIRING MY CAR. THERE HAS BEEN NO CONSISTENCY ON YOUR END. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN LOYAL CUSTOMERS OF HYUNDAI FOR YEARS. IN RETURN, I WOULD EXPECT HYUNDAI TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 11081445

Feb 25, 2018Engine

WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 40-50 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THEN THE ENGINE OF THE CAR JUST STOPPED. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT AND THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED. WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC WAITING FOR A TOW, WE CHECKED THE OIL IN THE ENGINE AND THERE WAS PLENTY. WE DID REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON THIS CAR. WE ARE THE 2ND OWNER AND THE CAR HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT, SO IT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11074709

Nov 3, 2017Engine

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AROUND 65-70 MPH, THE CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LEVEL LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT ALL CAME ON AND THE CAR POWERED DOWN AND LOST ALL SPEED WITHIN A .5 MILE DISTANCE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED, THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW ENGINE ENTIRELY DUE TO FAULTY BEARINGS THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11043106

Sep 29, 2017Engine

ON SEPT. 9TH 2017 WE WERE EVACUATING FROM HURRICANE IRMA. WE HEADED NORTH FROM GA. ON I-77 IN N.C ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR SLOWED DOWN. WE PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. WHEN TURNING IT BACK ON A LOUD HORRIBLE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT. WE WERE ABLE TO SLOWLY GET OFF THE EXIT. WE FOUND A MECHANIC SHOP AND TOOK IT THERE TO SEE IF THEY COULD TELL US WHAT IT WAS. THE CAR NEVER GAVE US ANY WARNINGS OR LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THIS. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2016, WE HAD TAKEN IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM DUE TO A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. WE TOOK IT ABOUT 3 TIMES AND TO NO AVAIL THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. WE PURCHASED THE CAR WITH ALMOST 35,000 MILES AND IT WAS AT 78,000 MILES WHEN IT LEFT US STRANDED IN NC. ON MONDAY 9/11/17 THE MECHANIC CALLED US AND TOLD US HE FOUND OIL AND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN AND THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. WE'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 1 1/2 YRS. NOW NOT ONLY WE WERE OUT OF POCKET FOR 4 NIGHTS AT A HOTEL, WE HAD TO RENT A UHAUL TO TRANSPORT THE CAR BACK TO GA. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI ON 9/16/17. THEY GOT BACK TO ME ON 9/28 AND 9/29. I WAS TOLD THE SAVANNAH HYUNDAI DEALER WANTS US TO TOW THE CAR TO THEIR SERVICE DEPT. AT OUR EXPENSE PLUS WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEM $400 SO THEY CAN DO A FULL INSPECTION ON OUR CAR. THE SAME CAR I WAS BRINGING TO THEM WITH ISSUES BEFORE WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM AWARE OF A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THESE ENGINES AND THEY NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11030582

Aug 4, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAINED MAINTENANCE ON MY SUV, BUT OUT THE BLUE, LAST WEEKEND 7/29-30 I WAS AT A LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND SOMETHING BROKE IN THE ENGINE AREA, I HEARD A SNAP, IT SOUNDED LIKE A BELT. WELL, I FLAT BED TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO MY AMAZEMENT, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE? THE COST WOULD BE AROUND $8,000.00. I RELIGIOUSLY HAD EVERY WARRANTY SERVICE DONE AND THEY CAME BACK WITH MY CRANK SHANK PINS AND PISTONS WERE WORN OUT AND ROD KNOCKING WAS TAKEN PLACE, PLUS NO MORE ROD BEARINGS. I ASKED WHAT COULD OF CAUSED THIS AND HE STATED, "LACK OF OIL?". I NEVER MISSED AN OIL CHANGE ON THE SUV, SO HOW COULD THIS BE?? ALSO, METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL PAIN AND CYLINDER 2 AND 3 GONE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SANTA FE SUV 2011-2013, KIA 2011-2014 WHEREBY THE SAME THING CRANKPINS, METAL SHAVINGS FOUND, THE EXACT WORDING FROM THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT (FOUND ONLINE) IS "DURING MACHINING OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE, CRANKSHAFT AND CRANKPINS, METAL SHAVINGS MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHIN THE CRANKSHAFT OIL PASSAGES, OIL MAY BE BLOCKED AND CAUSE THE CONNECTING RODS TO WEAR, WHICH WOULD THEN CAUSE HEM TO FAIL AND SEIZE THE ENGINE. NOW, THEY DIDN'T LIST MY VEHICLE, BUT IT'S THE EXACT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED SINCE MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ENGINE! ALSO, THIS OCCURRED AT EXACTLY 100,000 MILES WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NOW, THE SERVICE ADVISORS ARE BEING HORRID AND HEATED EXCHANGES ARE GOING ON WITH THE CAR DEALERSHIP TEAM ON MY CAR REPAIR. IT'S STILL SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I'M IN AN EXPENSIVE RENTAL. I HAD JUST MADE MY LAST PAYMENT....

NHTSA ODI 11012733

Jun 7, 2017Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (HEADQUARTERS HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 3775 N US HIGHWAY 17-92, SANFORD, FL, 32773) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECOND BEARING MELTED AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COULD NOT BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 10993737

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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 2013 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell verdict →