2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON Complaints

Incident Summary: On 07/16/2026, my 2018 Hyundai Tucson experienced a severe engine failure resulting in sudden knocking sound from engine and stopped in middle of road. This sudden failure while operating the vehicle created an immediate safety risk on the roadway. ?The vehicle was taken to Rick case Hyundai on 07/22/2026 , where diagnostics confirmed on 07/24/2026 internal engine damage tied to connecting rod bearing wear—a known, widespread safety hazard affecting Hyundai 2.0L Nu GDI engines. ?Reason for Complaint: Hyundai Motor America denied warranty coverage and engine replacement, claiming that Service Campaign 966 / Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software had not been installed prior to the failure. ?The KSDS update is a software monitoring/warning tool, not a mechanical fix or routine maintenance requirement. Missing a software patch does not cause physical connecting rod bearing failure. Hyundai is using missing software updates to systematically deny coverage for known, dangerous engine defects. ?I am reporting this incident because sudden engine stalling on public roads poses a severe crash hazard, and Hyundai should not be permitted to avoid addressing safety-critical mechanical failures based on procedural software campaign exclusions.

While driving my 2018 Hyundai Tucson Limited 1.6L Turbo with the 7-speed EcoShift dual clutch transmission (DCT), the vehicle has repeatedly failed to engage and hold gears, resulting in loss of motive power in traffic. Diagnostic scanning retrieved codes P074B (Unable to Engage Gear 3), P074B71 (Unable to Select 3rd Gear), P074B07 (Gear Dropped Out of 3rd Gear), P092177 (1st Gear System Referencing Failure), and P0921 (Gear Shift Forward Actuator Circuit Range/Performance). A Hyundai dealer diagnosed the failure as requiring transmission replacement at approximately 93,000 miles. This is the same 7-speed DCT and the same failure mode addressed by NHTSA Campaign 16V628000 (Hyundai Recall 149) and Hyundai Service Campaign T1B, which covered 2016–2017 Tucson vehicles but excluded the 2018 model year despite using the same transmission. Hyundai has acknowledged this defect in 2018 vehicles through TSB 21-AT-014H and TSB 22-AT-007H, which prescribe a TCU software update, but issued these as service bulletins rather than a recall, so owners were never notified. When I requested the TSB software update, the Hyundai dealer refused to perform it. This defect creates a serious safety hazard: the vehicle can drop out of gear or fail to accelerate without warning while in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash — the identical hazard NHTSA cited in granting recall 16V628000. I request that NHTSA review whether the existing recall scope should be expanded to include 2018 Tucson vehicles.

Car shaking, oil is burning , and drive hard. Engine and, oil light is now appearing.

-Very high oil consumption. Going through a little over a quart very 900-1000 miles. Has a GDI turbo engine. -Transmission issues. Has a dual clutch transmission that slips.

On June 5, 2026, driver was on I25, when driver heard engine making a winding and weird noise. Vehicle immediately went from 60 mph to 40 mph. It was extremely dangerous and driver barely evaded a collusion with several other vehicles. A check oil and engine light came on. Towed back to same Hyundai dealership. They claim engine needs replaced and needs maintenance kit. Total cost $16,892.87. Note: prior to, in January 2026 the transmission and differential were replaced. Was told there were no other issues (same Hyundai dealership).

January 9, 2026, driver was on I25, when driver heard a loud thud and the RPMs kept rising but the vehicle would not accelerate. Was very dangerous and barely avoided a collision with other drivers on the road. Barely got it home and shut it off. Tried to drive again but would not get out of reverse. Car was towed to Hyundai dealership for inspection. EGO4 Check Engine Light Diagnostic. 120883. Transmission and rear coupler/differential replaced. Test driven and dealership said it drove as designed and shifted as designed. Cost $10,955.29.

While idling at a standstill (in a drive-thru queue), my 2018 Hyundai Tucson suddenly experienced a severe engine overheat, causing the vehicle's air conditioning system to immediately blow hot air and shut down. The vehicle was brought directly to an authorized Hyundai dealership (Chapman Hyundai on [XXX]) for an emergency inspection.The dealership's certified technicians confirmed that the electric Engine Cooling Fan Assembly completely failed and subsequently caused the main Front Wiring Harness and Fuse Box to physically melt. The dealership documented this catastrophic electrical and thermal meltdown under Repair Order #XXX.This is a critical safety defect. A melted engine wiring harness poses an immediate and severe risk of an electrical short circuit, sudden vehicle stalling in live traffic, or a catastrophic under-hood engine fire. Because this component controls the primary cooling of the powertrain, its failure creates an extreme hazard to the vehicle occupants and surrounding traffic. Hyundai must investigate this component failure before it results in a thermal fire incident or an accident due to sudden power loss. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

This vehicle had a engine replaced by the dealership Nov 2024.Has not run the same since.Getting worse and seems like transmission issues.I was told The first and the 2nd owner which I'm the 2nd owner has a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty.It's been 4 years and since I've had the vehicle I've driven round off 60,OOO miles .The vehicle had $84,000 something miles on it when I got it.It's becoming very dangerous to drive around other cars giving out of power in the middle of streets and barely not going up hills or freeways and streets.??

While operating the vehicle on the highway at speeds around 55 to 60 mph, without warning, the engine suffered a sudden, catastrophic internal mechanical engine failure that resulted in an immediate and complete loss of motive power, rendering the vehicle entirely undriveable. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Hyundai dealership for a formal tear-down and diagnosis. They Hyundai dealership technician formally diagnosed the issue as a catastrophic internal "pin failure" (Structural failure of an internal engine pin component). This component defect caused a total mechanical breakdown of the engine assembly. Hyundai Motor America has issued a corporate warranty denial for an engine replacement, despite the vehicle being covered under the Hyundai Engine II Class Action Settlement (which extends powertrain protections due to widespread internal engine manufacturing defects), A sudden, un-warned loss of engine power while driving poses a severe and immediate safety hazard to the driver, passengers and other motorists on the highway. Hyundai's refusal to remedy this known structural defect leaves a dangerous vehicle un-repaired. I am requesting an investigation into Hyundai's denial of coverage for structural engine component failures on the 2.0L Nu engine platform.

UNKNOWN -A catalytic converter clogged after being installed - only 14 months following installation, causing rough and unsafe acceleration, inability to shift gears properly, and need to drive with hazards on. It is clear that there is an issue with the engine/exhaust and system in this vehicle. Additionally, the car needs oil added regularly and seems to be burning it, as indicated by low level.