When it comes to Hyundai’s greatest hits, the Hyundai Tucson might just be the one that took all the sales glory in the past decade or so. With more than 7 million units sold worldwide, the Tucson is one of, if not the most popular SUV you can buy these days. Hyundai knows just how popular the Tucson is which means that they had to make it a good package.
In order for a car to reach stardom level, it needs to be reliable, much more so than most cars in its segment. Thankfully, the Tucson is indeed a reliable SUV because it manages to stay free from widespread serious issues, even though there are so many Tucson models in the world.
The most common Hyundai Tucson issues include problems with the transmission, problems with the engine, problems with the electricals, various equipment-related problems, and issues with the A/C system. The good news is that the Tucson isn’t a particularly costly car to live with which means that maintaining it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Either way, we are now going to go in-depth into common problems with Hyundai Tucson, so be sure to stick around and find out more. The key to always buying a proper car is to do a pre-purchase inspection, but before you do so, it’s good to familiarize yourself with the problems you can encounter.
Hyundai Tucson – Transmission problems
It seems like the most complained-about issue with the Hyundai Tucson is due to the 7-speed EcoShift gearbox. The issues include rough shifts, delayed shifts, jitteriness, and the car launching forward from a standstill which made the car tricky to maneuver in tight spaces. Hyundai even recalled a bunch of Tucson models because of this issue, but not all of them have been fixed.
In order to solve this issue, you will have to recalibrate the software part of the transmission which means going to the dealership as they are equipped with the proper tools and technicians to help you out. However, as mentioned previously, this can sometimes be a temporary fix only and thus will have to be repeated every now and then.
Hyundai Tucson – Engine problems
One of the more serious issues you can encounter with a Hyundai Tucson is related to engine knocking which can eventually cause catastrophic engine failure or even fire. Hyundai recalled almost 100,000 units because of this problem, but we can never know if all cars have been fixed or not. This issue was later tracked down to a faulty connecting rod bearing.
Hyundai thought that the best idea would be to equip the car with a Knock Sensor Detection System which would promptly alert you when the engine starts knocking so you can come to a complete stop. This is essential as you are not going to be able to repair this issue if you keep on driving, you are only risking making it worse.
Hyundai Tucson – Electrical issues
Hyundai makes some of the world’s most reliable consumer cars, but almost all of them tend to suffer from various electrical issues. The speaker system is known to fail and stop playing any audio. The infotainment system can be a pain to use, and it can turn itself off or be slow to respond. It can also bug out and refuse to give you certain functions.
Some sensors tied to the car’s safety systems can also fail or lose power. The most common one is related to the car’s forward collision warning system which can certainly be a huge nuisance as these systems are designed to keep you safe from an accident.
Hyundai Tucson – Equipment issues
These issues are associated with a bunch of car systems such as the doors that won’t open or unlock for some reason. The sunroof is known to explode on newer Tucson models without any apparent reason. This can be really dangerous and is also the reason why Hyundai recalled a bunch of their models and even lost a class-action lawsuit because of that.
Other equipment-related issues are typically minor and not overly serious, but are still something you’d rather avoid if possible.
Hyundai Tucson – A/C issues
The Hyundai Tucson also seems to be suffering from certain A/C issues that can significantly impact your overall enjoyment and comfort. There are many different complaints about the A/C, but it seems like most complaints are associated with the system not blowing the correct temperature or shifting from one side to the other.
This can be really frustrating, especially on a cold/warm day. It seems like the most common culprit of A/C-related issues is a faulty thermostat that will have to be replaced.
FAQ Section
Should I buy a Hyundai Tucson?
The Hyundai Tucson is a really popular compact-to-mid-size family SUV for a reason. It offers a well-rounded list of equipment and amenities, it is really spacious, comes with a large trunk space, is really reliable, and looks good.
To make matters even better, the Tucson is a sub $30,000 SUV even though it looks and feels like a much more luxurious and much more expensive SUV.
Is the Hyundai Tucson the best Hyundai SUV?
The Hyundai Tucson is the most popular Hyundai SUV even though almost all Hyundai SUVs are popular. It does not offer nearly as much space as the Palisade which also looks more like an SUV, and it does not look as good as the Santa Fe.
The answer to this question lies in your personal preferences and what you need more. If it were up to me, I’d take the Santa Fe over the other two in a heartbeat.
How long can a Hyundai Tucson last?
If you take proper care of it and you don’t abuse it, you ought to get more than 250,000 miles out of the Tucson without needing any major overhauls to the engine or the rest of the car. The driving environment also plays a big role in predicting how long any car can last which means that those driven off-road all the time are likely going to last less.
