What 122 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid

I was on the highway on the way to work when my car started stalling. Every time I pressed the gas to give it some power, it would not go anyway where. after getting it towed to get looked at some of the fuel injectors failed and were misfiring. The warning message about ‘check engine’ popped up 2 minutes before it happened. this is the third time now in less than 6 months.

NHTSA ODI 11749034

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the panoramic sunroof exploded while driving at approximately 40-50 MPH. The rear section of the sunroof glass had shattered into several pieces without impact. The contact closed the shade, and the glass fell inward. There was glass inside the shade and the roof. There were no injuries. There was an abnormally loud sound like a handgun or several balloons popping. The vehicle was previously inspected, and there were no issues found with the sunroof. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the dealer stated that a rock might have caused the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the insurance company for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled with the local dealer. Additionally, the manufacturer provided a loaner vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 24,038.

NHTSA ODI 11746494

While driving on a highway shortly after taking delivery of this vehicle as a Certified Pre-Owned purchase from an authorized Hyundai dealership, I experienced sudden and total brake failure. The Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) warning light illuminated and an audible warning chime sounded. The brake pedal did not respond normally. I was unable to slow the vehicle with the brakes and was forced to make an emergency maneuver to exit the highway and come to a safe stop. Upon inspecting the vehicle after stopping, I discovered that the rear left brake caliper had completely detached from its mounting bracket. The caliper was on the ground beneath the rear of the vehicle. Brake fluid had leaked onto the road surface. The vehicle had been in my possession for less than one full drive since purchase. As part of the CPO certification, the selling dealer performed a multi-point inspection and documented installation of new brake pads and certified the brake system as in good working order. The detachment of the caliper is consistent with mounting bolts that were either not reinstalled or not properly torqued following the dealer's brake service during CPO preparation. I have photographic evidence of the detached caliper and brake fluid loss. INJURIES: None, but significant risk to myself and other highway drivers. FIRES: No. MEDICAL ATTENTION: Not required. CONTACT WITH DEALER/MANUFACTURER: Yes — Hyundai corporate complaint filed. I am requesting this complaint be investigated as a potential safety defect related to brake service practices during Hyundai CPO vehicle preparation.

NHTSA ODI 11745559

I received a letter in March that there is a problem with The Tow Hitch Harness Accessory which could lead to a fire etc. They said they will come out with a repair. I contacted the Victory Hyundai dealership in Jefferson Ohio where I got the car in April and they said they have a repair but the trailer electrical/ lights will not work. I got a second letter saying they have a solution for repair in May I contacted Classic Hyundai twice to make sure the repair now will allow the lights and brakes on the trailer work. Julie and Jesica there said all would be fixed and the lights and break lights will work. I brought the car there June 5th 2026 and asked again if all would work. Lyna there said no. I left. I called U-hall Streetsboro Ohio and talked to Bill who handles the hitch repairs and they said they could fix totally and have for some dealerships. I called Hyundai customer service Kyre and asked if Hyundai in Streetsboro Ohio can be set up to have it repaired. He said no. He would not document his response to me. I bought this car with their factory installed hitch because I needed one to pull my boat and move other stuff. My lawn tractor broke down and I have to pay $135 to have it towed for repair. I am unable to fish in my boat since I can not pull it. There is a repair that will work at U-haul and they are ignoring it.They want to make the hitch unusable. Uhaul will fix for $250-$350. If they disconnect the hitch electrical and the car is sold the new owner can get into an accident since they would have no lights and break lights, turn signal. This is a high risk for an accident. They intend to eliminate the fire risk and create an accident risk for the trailer now not working. What kind of engineers they have?? They should be contacted about this situation. It has been several months with no solution when one exists. I have had multiple Hyundais and will no longer purchase another vehicle from them. You should communicate with them on this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11745677

Horn on vehicle consistently goes out. Either goes out entirely or the volume of the horn is below a safe level. This is a known Hyundai issue and Hyundai refuses to acknowledge it on this specific model, but has acknowledged it on different models. I Have had multiple repairs by Hyundai directly, and the horn consistently keeps going out. There are sometimes in dangerous situations where I need to utilize the horn to avoid an accident and warn other drivers of danger, and I am unable to do so, and it causes dangerous driving situations. This is a known defect on multiple Hyundai vehicles in this year, but the Tucson is one of the few vehicles they will not call a voluntary recall on and NHTSA needs to be notified about this and act accordingly as a regulatory body to protect consumers and people on the road.

NHTSA ODI 11745447

I received a Recall notice around January 2026 for the trailer hitch wiring harness on my 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. For 6 months the local dealer told me there was no fix available from Hyundai. I finally received a notice informing me that parts were now available and to bring it in to dealer for repairs. I took the vehicle in for recall repairs on May 27, 2026. Instead of repairing/replacing the wiring harness, Hyundai removed the entire wiring harness making the trailer hitch which I use for my business inoperable legally. When I noticed the wiring harness missing several days later, the dealer said that was Hyundai's "fix" for the recall issue. I contacted Hyundai USA Customer Service who also told me that removing the wiring harness and replacing it with an inexpensive dust cover was the fix. They told me that sometime in the future there will be another recall to have the wiring harness replaced. In the meantime, they have taken my vehicle VIN off the open recall list, since it has been "fixed". Hyundai sold me a vehicle with a trailer hitch and now they have without my permission or prior knowledge disabled it.

NHTSA ODI 11743550

I was driving on the freeway no where near an overpass going about 65mph when the front panel on my panaromaic sunroof exploded and glass went everywhere. There is no signs that a rock could have possibly hit it. My safety was at risk because I could have crashed and broken glass rained down on me. There were no warning signs and the vehicle has not been inspected yet, but it will be.

NHTSA ODI 11739695

I am writing regarding a serious vehicle safety issue involving my 2023 Hyundai Tucson Limited purchased from on [XXX] with approximately 61,000 miles. About one month after purchase, during a drive from Pennsylvania to Florida in October 2025, the vehicle experienced multiple dangerous steering and collision-assist malfunctions in clear highway conditions. The first incident occurred in Virginia while adaptive cruise control and steering assist were active at approximately 70 mph. Within seconds, the steering wheel aggressively turned left and right, causing the vehicle to tip and nearly roll until the driver manually regained control. Later during the same trip, while making a normal lane change with the right turn signal activated, the vehicle falsely detected a collision despite no vehicle being present. The vehicle then veered left toward traffic and unexpectedly slammed on the brakes. Following these incidents, all assist sensors and automated driving features were manually disabled for safety reasons. However, the vehicle has continued intermittently triggering false collision warnings and emergency braking events with no vehicles present, creating additional near-accident situations involving surrounding traffic. I recently had the vehicle inspected by Hyundai after initially believing this may only be a calibration issue. Due to financial and scheduling limitations, I delayed service until this month, but I now understand this issue is far more serious and systemic. Two separate mechanics have advised me the vehicle has major safety-system malfunctions making it unsafe to drive. There are no reported accidents or braking issues on Carfax. I am also concerned this appears to be a widespread issue affecting this vehicle model, yet I received no notification regarding related safety concerns or recalls until conducting my own research. One mechanic stated“I’m surprised this car hasn’t killed you yet. I wouldn’t put my own kids in this vehicle." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11739331

The reverse beeping is just too loud for an Hybrid and many people online agree. I fully agree with having mandates for electric vehicles for safety concerns however they should not be so loud that they are louder or near as loud as a commercial truck and disturb residents. In fact Hyundai responded to the complaints by re-designing it for 2025 and newer facelifts but won't give any services to upgrade it to newer versions. I fully believe that Hyundai should and must offer services to use the new updated VESS.

NHTSA ODI 11738659

The car has 57,000miles and needed a new transmission. Safety concern of the transmission failing while driving. There was a persistent and worsening rubbing noise once the car ran for 20 minutes or so. 4 visits to the dealer later, they confirmed the issue and Hyundai issued a warranty to replace the transmission with a remanufactured transmission. When I asked the dealer what happened, he said this was there 4th one in a few weeks. There were no indicator lights or anything besides the noise to indicate there was a problem.

NHTSA ODI 11737934

The automatic emergency braking system has activated on four separate occasions for unknown reasons or warning. Tapped the brakes and it disengaged. In three of the situations no vehicles or pedestrians nearby. One incident I was driving along a sidewalk when the braking system activated causing an abrupt stop

NHTSA ODI 11735952

Sitting at a red light the vehicle seemed to almost stalled then lunged forward about eight feet almost colliding with the vehicle in front of me. To my knowledge the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer nor has the problem been reproduced by a dealer or independent service center. To my knowledge there were no warning lights, messages or symptoms. I am somewhat unfamiliar with this vehicle since I've only owned it for 5 days. I picked it up on 4-25-26.

NHTSA ODI 11734716

4/16/2026 at 1:35pm I was traveling north on Hwy 69 traveling +-45mph. Vehicle on my right in his lane and one vehicle in from of me about 50yrds. My vehicle auto applied the brakes and alarm indicating emergency collision to happen. A new minutes later (5 minutes) traveling in same direction same speed but NO cars on either side but one care approximately 100 yds in from and again the emergency collision brake and alarm took place

NHTSA ODI 11732659

While driving on April 11, 2026 at approximately 1:30 PM on [XXX] , the vehicle experienced a loss of steering response while the roadway curved to the right. The driver turned the steering wheel normally in order to follow the curve. The steering wheel moved freely and felt normal. However, the vehicle did not respond to the steering input and instead continued traveling straight. As a result, the vehicle struck the curb on the driver’s side. The impact with the curb slightly redirected the vehicle, but steering response was not restored. The driver continued attempting to steer the vehicle, and although the steering wheel continued to turn normally, the vehicle did not change direction. The vehicle did not appear to lose traction and was not described as sliding. Instead, it failed to respond to steering input. There were no warning indicators, messages, or prior signs of a problem before the incident. The driver was able to bring the vehicle to a stop in a nearby turn area and arranged for it to be towed. After the incident, the vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealership for inspection. The dealership reported no diagnostic codes and did not identify any issue with the steering system. No corrective action has been taken. 1)Steering system malfunction (column, shaft, rack, and/or EPS). Steering input was not transmitted to vehicle direction. Vehicle available for inspection. 2)Loss of steering control caused curb impact and risk of collision with vehicles, pedestrians, or objects. Could have resulted in serious injury at higher speed or in traffic. 3)No. Dealer could not reproduce. 4)Inspected by Hyundai dealer. No steering-related codes found. No cause identified. No repair performed. Hyundai Consumer Affairs case opened. 5)No warning lights or prior symptoms. Failure was sudden and without warning. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11731406

Component that is unsafe: Moonroof Glass Taking in for inspection tomorrow. Safety risk: While driving on highway, Glass Spontaneously Popped and fully shattered. Glass fell down onto myself and into the car as I was driving. This put my driving at risk. Major distraction as well as potentially being a harm to my physical self. Problem reproduced? I know that there are other reports on moonroof glass on a Hyundai Tucson cars that have been shattered with the same predisposing factors. Hyundai has also been reported to not take accountability claiming that foreign objects were the cause. No this vehicle has not been inspected, but I will be taking it in on Sunday. There were zero warnings before this.

NHTSA ODI 11724438

All systems warning lights came on

NHTSA ODI 11719137

Dear Commissioner and DMV Officials: I am writing to formally address a serious financial and safety concern affecting vehicle owners in Connecticut. As a driver with over 50 years of experience—32 of those in CT—I have never experienced rodent damage to any vehicle until purchasing my 2023 Hyundai Tucson. Since acquiring this vehicle, I have suffered thousands of dollars in damage from rodents chewing through the wiring and wire housing. Multiple mechanics have confirmed this is due to manufacturers switching to soy-based and plant-derived biodegradable materials in wiring insulation. These materials are effectively edible, attracting rodents year-round—not just in cold months. This is not owner negligence. The root cause is a material deficiency in the vehicle's manufacturing. Consumers should not bear the financial burden of a known design choice made by the automaker. Repairs are costly, often excluded from warranties, and frequently not covered by insurance. I respectfully request the Department: Investigate the scope of rodent damage complaints linked to bio-based wiring in newer vehicles. Coordinate with NHTSA to evaluate whether this constitutes a safety defect warranting a recall. Advocate for regulatory standards requiring rodent-resistant wiring materials. Urge manufacturers like Hyundai to offer warranty coverage, reimbursement, or retrofits for affected vehicles. I am prepared to provide documentation of my repair expenses upon request. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Respectfully submitted, [XXX] cc: NHTSA, CT Attorney General, CT Consumer Protection, Hyundai Consumer Affairs INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11718460

At dusk I was driving below the speed limit (40 MPH). I was at least 3 car lengths behind the vehicle in front of me when i saw the driver was braking because his brake lights came on and there was an intersection ahead with a stop light. There were at least two cars ahead of the vehicler I was behind. I braked but the car kept on going and appeared to accelerate. I was unable to stop the car with the brakes and collided with the car ahead. It was a sturdy vehicle with a strong bumper so I did not do much damage, if any, to the vehicle but my car requires 6,645.90 of repairs. No one was hurt and the air bags did not deploy. I was wearing my seat belt. There was no warning from ny vehicle that I was getting too close to the vehicle ahead and my car made no attempt to brake automatically. It was as though all warning indicators were not functioning. I have had two other incidents of the car surging ahead but did not report it because no one else was involved and I was able to correct the speed and I thought it was just my imagination.

NHTSA ODI 11718185

Horn did not work. At about 67,000 miles on my vehicle my horn stopped working. I took it to the dealership to be replaced and paid for it. Then again at about 100,000 miles it stopped working. I took it back to the dealership and asked if there’s been any recalls they stated not at this time but there’s been a lot of people complaining about their horns and they told me to save my receipt receipts because I might be able to get reimbursed later. On two different occasions. I’ve been driving and had a car changing lanes into my lane and when I went to honk the horn to alert them, it didn’t work. Now I’m also concerned that I’ve got the same horn put on my vehicle for a third time and that I’m going to have to go back in and pay for a third one. I did reach out to Hyundai USA first and ask them to make this right but they stated they do not have an extended warranty for the 2023 vehicles even though they do have bills for 2020 through 2022. I can get copies of the receipts if they’re needed

NHTSA ODI 11717396

All four cylinders misfired in my car while driving causing the catalytic converter and all four fuel injectors to need to be replaced. My car suddenly stopped driving in a rural area with only a few minutes of warning when the engine light came on. I was not even able to drive to a nearby shoulder. I was stranded on the side of the road in 5 degree weather until a tow truck could come.

NHTSA ODI 11714062

1. Component and Availability: The panoramic sunroof shattered spontaneously. The failed component was replaced by Myrtle Beach Hyundai, but I have documented the damage with photos, and the vehicle is available for inspection to show the remaining glass debris inside the structure and the damaged headliner. 2. Safety Risk: The sunroof shattered with a loud, gunshot-like noise while driving at 60 mph on a highway (I-95), causing extreme driver distraction and potential loss of vehicle control. Furthermore, a large amount of glass shards fell into the cabin and remains trapped inside the headliner. These hidden fragments continue to rattle, causing ongoing distraction and posing a risk of injury to occupants if they fall through the damaged interior fabric. 3. Confirmation by Dealer: Yes, the problem was confirmed by Myrtle Beach Hyundai. They replaced the sunroof under a "goodwill" gesture, although they initially claimed it was not a warranty issue. 4. Inspection by Others: The vehicle was inspected and repaired by the authorized Hyundai dealer (Myrtle Beach Hyundai). No police or insurance reports were filed as it was a spontaneous failure without a collision. 5. Warning Symptoms: There were no warning lamps, unusual noises, or any symptoms prior to the failure. The shattering occurred suddenly and without any external impact or provocation on January 12th.

NHTSA ODI 11712996

I parked my car on a driveway with a slight incline. After putting the car in park, I stepped out of the vehicle and the car rolled back into the street. I brought the car back into the driveway, again put the car in park and engaged the parking brake this time. The car rolled back out into the street again. Thankfully, the grandchildren were not playing behind the car and there was no one was parked behind me.

NHTSA ODI 11711935

As I was pulling into a parking space in a parking garage, the vehicle's engine revved, tires squealed and then the vehicle propelled forward on its own, without my foot being on the accelerator. The vehicle only stopped when it hit a support column and the wall of the parking structure. There was extensive damage to my vehicle and to the parking structure wall. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk due to the car accelerating on its own. The problem has not been confirmed or reproduced by the dealer, but we did take the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and they said they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle that would have caused the unintended acceleration. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer, the insurance company and an investigator for Hyundai. Hyundai infomed us that they are not taking any responsibility for anything that occurred and that they will not share their investigator's report with us. There were no warming lamps or messages related to the problem prior to the failure. However, there have been other occasions while driving on the open road when the engine has revved on its own and I told Hyundai about that. In doing our own research, we have found that there are other 2023 Hyundai Tucson drivers who have had this exact same problem (unintended acceleration causing a crash) while pulling into parking spaces. Additionally, the air bags did not deploy during the collision and therefore the incident was not recorded by the EDR.

NHTSA ODI 11711003

Sun roof on Tucson 2023 shattered while car was being driven. When the roof shattered there was a loud sound (like a bomb going off) in the car and then the sound of glass breaking. The vehicle is available for inspection. There were not any warnings or messages before the failure. Safety was at risk for the passengers and any vehicles that were following. The loud sound caused the driver to swerve and could have caused an accident if another vehicle was on either side of the car. The vehicle was taken to a dealership and shown the damage and the service advisor stated he never heard of a problem. I have contacted Hyundai and they said it might take 6 to 8 weeks before an inspection could be made. There are many messages on the web from people with the same issues. Hyundai did a recall for this same issue for earlier production dates.

NHTSA ODI 11708951

Major problems with this cars electrical and computer systems. Six warning lights would begin to flash in succession. Eventually car would be inoperative leaving us stranded in July 2025 in Cumberland MD then after supposed repair we were again stranded in Providence RI on Nov 20, 2025 and car has been there for repair ever since. No completion date has yet been given. I strongly believe there are major safety problems with this car.

NHTSA ODI 11707219