general problems of the 2016 Hyundai Tucson - part 1

While stopped at a traffic light, the engine began producing a loud metallic clattering and clanking sound, consistent with connecting rod bearing failure (rod knock). There was no prior warning light or indication of this specific failure. When the light changed, the vehicle would not accelerate normally, leaving me stalled in a lane of moving traffic. I was forced to make an emergency turn to get the vehicle out of the way of oncoming and crossing traffic. The engine would not hold an idle afterward and has not run since. The vehicle was towed to a Hyundai dealership, where a service department employee stated by phone that this 1. 6l turbocharged engine family has a known, documented history of severe factory defects affecting the connecting rod bearings.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. While the contact’s daughter was driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The vehicle failed to restart immediately. The vehicle was started after a while; however, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a goodyear service center to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine had seized and needed to be repaired. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,479.

The vehicle severely shudders, jerks, and hesitates from a stop and while making a turn, during both acceleration and deceleration, making it entirely unsafe to drive. The vehicle has been completely un-driveable for the past 6 days. The check engine light illuminated, and on 4/9/26, the dealer documented a failed transmission judder test and kept the car, issuing a loaner. A temporary software patch failed after two weeks. Upon return, the dealer reported they were unable to recreate the problem, recommended returning when the vehicle demonstrates the problem more frequently, and refused to mechanically repair the dual-clutch transmission under my active original-owner 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, basically instructing me to continue to drive a seriously un-safe vehicle. Most recently, a yellow dashboard warning light illuminated, and the vehicle entered a dangerous 'limp mode,' severely restricting power and struggling to move before the light cleared after cooling down. The vehicle is completely un-driveable and parked.

Oil consumption engine ticking hesitate to change gears poor acceleration.

The engine is failing at 128,000 miles. The car is burning so much oil that it is impossible to drive more than 500 miles without the oil running dry. The problem has been inspected by the Hyundai dealership nearest me. The vehicle notified me of the oil issue by illuminating the oil light. The issue started after the turbo failed at 127,000 miles. The turbo was replaced at a cost $3,500 and immediately afterwards the vehicle which previously did not burn oil now does. It doesn't just burn oil it consumes it like a black hole.

Oil drains very fast even with regular oil changes and maintenance. The vehicle began shaking and then completely stopped with very little warning. Check engine light flashed for under 60 seconds then vehicle would not move forward on the highway creating a major safety hazard. Engine smelled hot and like burning rubber.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was illuminated and there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed an oil consumption cleaning. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Hyundai Tucson sport 2016 gdi engine. I am the original owner of this truck I have taken care of this truck so much it being my first brand new purchase. No oil leaks nothing! when I first purchased the vehicle I noticed that it would stall when I would accelerate but did not think too much of it since it was brand new. A few years passed started to notice frequent oil changes were supposed to be made. Another few years turbocharger went out had to get it replaced. The engine consumes so much oil at first I thought it was because the turbocharger was out so when I got it fixed I thought that would fix that issue and it didn’t. I got an oil change March 2, 2026 and on March 21, 2026 I was on the highway and the truck started to shake really bad I exited the highway went straight to the oil place they said I had no oil on the dipstick I got another oil change (expensive) and when I turned on the car to leave the car shook again and the engine light was flickering on and off and finally stayed on the dash board. Barely made it home. Got a tow truck to tow it to Hyundai dealership they told me they will not see it unless I pay the diagnostic fee of $200 and even then they think it’s the engine with everything I described to them. They said since there are no recalls on the Tucson that Hyundai will not do anything for me I would have to pay out of pocket for everything. Had to pay the tow truck again to tow it to my house ($250). My car has all the symptoms all the other cars have that they have recalled. This is a huge safety issue because I drive on the highway a lot and everyone knows a car with no oil is extremely dangerous.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, where the contact restarted the vehicle. The contact drove to his workplace and parted the vehicle. However, the vehicle later failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer it was purchased from, and the contact was informed that the engine had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to affordable towing and repair, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was towed to 125,000.

The transmission began slipping and hesitating within days of purchase. The vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate when pressing the gas pedal, especially when pulling into traffic or crossing intersections. This creates a serious safety risk because the vehicle does not respond when needed, leaving me exposed to oncoming traffic. The issue is intermittent and does not always trigger warning lamps or fault codes. The problem has been reproduced multiple times by me while driving under normal conditions. The selling dealer performed only a brief test drive and stated they could not duplicate the issue, but the hesitation and failure?to?accelerate continue to occur. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Hyundai, but the symptoms match known issues with the 2016 Tucson’s dual?clutch transmission and tcm logic. There were no warning lights prior to the failure, and the symptoms first appeared within the first week of ownership. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

"on [xxx], my 2016 Hyundai Tucson (VIN [xxx] ) experienced severe engine power loss and mechanical noise under load while driving uphill, creating a dangerous safety situation. This occurred 2 days after a dealer visit (February 19, 2026) where an open ksds service campaign (TSB hce22-14-e600-tl, issue 10d021) — directly related to engine monitoring — was left incomplete. The dealer subsequently denied an engine evaluation citing mileage over 150,000, despite the open campaign having no mileage restriction and despite a prior verbal commitment to cover repairs. Multiple follow-up attempts by phone, email, and whatsapp have been ignored. " information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The engine in this 2016 Hyundai Tucson has experienced progressive failure symptoms consistent with the known rod bearing defect covered under Hyundai's engine warranty extension campaign. Symptoms include: excessive oil consumption requiring frequent top-offs over several months, severely degraded acceleration, failure to upshift under load, and an audible metallic crunching noise occurring around 4,000 rpm. A knock sensor fault code (p1326) was previously triggered (on 2/16/26), confirmed by a mechanic (on 2/17/26), and cleared. The dealer was visited (on 2/17/26) and refused to perform the campaign repair, stating no active code was present at that time. The vehicle is available for inspection. The problem has not been confirmed by the dealer despite a visit; the dealer declined to act citing absence of an active code. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance. Warning symptoms include the prior knock sensor code, oil consumption, loss of power, and the current mechanical noise. Symptoms first appeared several months ago and have progressively worsened. The dealer's refusal to act under the existing campaign despite documented symptoms has left this vehicle in a dangerous condition on public roads.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and there was a ticking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to auto zone, where a mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a knock sensor failure. The knock sensor was replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was included in manufacturer campaign: cs966 for the transmission control module (tcm). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that the vehicle was included and the software update was performed. After the vehicle was repaired, the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated; however, approximately 30 minutes later, the vehicle failed to exceed 35 mph, and the check engine warning light started flashing. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the software update caused the vehicle to enter limp mode to protect the engine. The dealer informed the contact to drive the vehicle for 30 days or a total of 500 -1000 miles, and if the vehicle continued to enter limp mode or failed to operate as needed, to return the vehicle for the engine to be replaced. There were no additional repairs performed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

The car has been diagnosed with internal engine failure by both an independent service center and a dealership service center. The issue was described as a rod timing issue causing knocking, leading to failure of the engine. A light was not on for a majority of the issue but did start flashing before car became completely undrivable. The car was sold to me with this issue and has been driven for nearly 3 years with a power loss issue that was dismissed as turbo lag or other issues. Driving a car with this issue that does not alert with a check engine light is a major threat to driver and passenger safety as it can result in engine seizure and vehicle fires. The engine issues began at the least before 58,000 miles, with total failure occuring at roughly 96,000 miles. Hyundai is known for this issue, particularly in turbo model engines. Only once during ownership of the car did the check engine light come on prior to engine failure. When checked, it was described as a catalytic converter issue. The service center also did an oil change on the car, and the light went off. The check engine light did not come on again for more than a year. The check engine light did not come on until after the issue was diagnosed by the independent service center it was taken to in January 2026.

The engine, specifically cylinder # 3, has had a catastrophic failure at 114,000 miles. Engine repair shops and engine experts have determined the only fix is a complete engine replacement. Cost estimates are $8500 for a new engine + labor estimated at $2000. Scrap value is estimated at $1000 - $1500 the dealer from whom we bought the car in late 2015 said it is out of warranty. This is unacceptable. Please, please issue a recall on the engine of this vehicle. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested. Failure was catastrophic problem has been confirmed by engine experts the car is not drivable to a manufacturing facility the engine has not been inspected by police nor our insurance company there we no warning lamps or messages symptoms include shuddering at initial acceleration beginning at 75,000 miles dealer said there was no problem and recommended and performed a transmission fluid change.

On my husband's way home from work he explained to me that the car had a "hiccup" and then an engine light blinked on, then it died at an intersection. He was pretty close to home so he got it started again and drove it home. He replaced spark plugs and coil packs and it still had a misfire. We took it to an auto repair shop where they did a scan and told us it had a dead hole in cylinder 2 and that it needs a full engine replacement. The car also had an oil change just before thanksgiving. My husband checks oil regularly and added a quart a month before the oil change and it seems to consume more oil then it should.

Numerous issues with this vehicle. Now, when having oil change, told by the Hyundai service center that it is using excessive oil and may need a new engine. In researching this problem, have discovered Hyundai has had several problems with excessive oil consumption in their many of their Hyundai vehicles, including the 2016 tuscan.

Excessive oil consumption caused engine failure on December 17, 2025. My truck stopped and I was stranded on highway i55 south for 4 hours. Hyundai and the extended warranty has denied fixing my truck. It is still at [xxx] Hyundai as of today. Hyundai’s failure to properly diagnose or repair this issue when it was first reported under warranty has caused financial burden, diminished vehicle value, loss of use and inconvenience, and emotional distress and stress. This is a legitimate safety concern. I am demanding resolution of an ongoing excessive oil consumption defect in my 2016 Hyundai vehicle. This defect began while the vehicle was under warranty and has continued despite proper maintenance and compliance with Hyundai’s service requirements. I expect Hyundai to honor its legal and contractual obligations without further delay. Please contact [xxx] [xxx] Hyundai) @ [xxx] for details regarding repairs, oil consumption tests, etc. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am writing regarding the diagnosis provided for my vehicle [xxx] . I was informed today that the engine failure is being attributed to a "water hose failure" rather than the engine defects covered under the active safety recall/settlement regarding connecting rod bearing failure. As there were no coolant leaks before or after the vehicle was towed to your dealership. I am formally requesting a re-evaluation and more detailed evidence. Given the known history of these engines seizing, I need to ensure this diagnosis is absolutely correct and not a symptom of the internal defect. I request the following information be provided immediately: 1. Evidence of overheating: did the vehicle store any specific "overheating" codes in the ecu prior to the engine shutting off? 2. Oil pan inspection: has the oil pan been removed to inspect for metal shavings or debris? if the connecting rod bearings failed (the recall issue), there will likely be metallic debris in the oil, regardless of the condition of the water hose. 3. Bearing clearance test (bct): was the mandated bearing clearance test performed? if not, I request that this be done, or that a teardown be performed to inspect the rod bearings specifically. 4. Causal link: can you provide evidence that the water hose failed causing the engine to seize, rather than the engine seizing causing a pressure spike that damaged the cooling system? I have no transportation to work and school. They would not honor a loaner. This has happened since decemeber of 2025. I await your written response with the requested photos and technical data. My case # with Hyundai consumer affairs # xxx please provide: all relevant photographs freeze-frame and ecu data technician diagnostic notes results of oil pan inspection and/or bct (if performed) any physical evidence supporting the stated cause of failure I request this information be sent in writing at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your attention to information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.

Vehicle is showing ksds-related engine warning behavior and the Hyundai dealership performed a diagnostic scan. The service manager told me, “I don’t recommend you driving it,” due to a potential engine safety issue. However, Hyundai motor America’s national consumer affairs team is refusing to authorize towing or a loaner/rental until after a full diagnosis is completed. The dealership cannot complete the diagnosis unless the vehicle stays on-site, but I am unable to safely leave it because Hyundai is refusing transportation assistance and I was told not to drive it. This forces me to drive a vehicle they identified as unsafe in order to complete the required inspection. This involves ksds/engine failure risk, which has been associated with stalling, loss of power, and possible fire hazards. Being advised not to drive while being denied towing or transportation creates a serious safety concern for myself and my children. I am requesting NHTSA document this incident because Hyundai is creating a safety hazard by refusing support for a vehicle they identified as unsafe to operate.

My motor has a knocking/tapping noise that is obnoxiously loud. My oil level is always changed on time every 3k miles. I have 146,257 miles on my vehicle. I was informed from my mechanic shop that many of the 1. 6l motors have issues. I have never had an engine noise then boom its knocking. I was informed not to drive my car to further damage the vehicle. I do not drive it but now am stuck in a loan for a vehicle I cannot drive. I had zero warning for this matter.

Car died/lost power while driving in traffic 11/28/25. Good samaritan was kind enough to push me off the road out of traffic. Car was towed to Hyundai dealer that day, then 12/1 told engine failure, required engine replacement. Class action lawsuit settlement for engine replacement, but denied by Hyundai because of "neglect", since I am not able to locate all of the service records that they request. Known faulty rotating assembly, and Hyundai has implemented concerted practice of denying warranty coverage for failed engine. Now having to pay almost $8k to replace with new engine, but concern that new engine will have same issue. (multiple posts about this). There was high potential for significant traffic collision, injury due to sudden, catastrophic engine failure. Traumatic experience.

While driving under normal conditions, my engine experienced a sudden and catastrophic failure. The check-engine light illuminated, the vehicle began shaking violently, and I was forced to pull over immediately due to safety concerns. There was no prior warning and no oil pressure or oil warning light activated at any time before or during the failure. After stopping safely, I checked the oil level and found it lower than expected. I added oil as a precaution, but the condition did not improve and the vehicle became inoperable and required towing. The engine assembly remains intact and available for inspection upon request. This failure posed a serious safety risk, as the loss of engine function occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion, creating the risk of stalling or loss of control. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealership. Hyundai motor America denied warranty and goodwill assistance, citing mileage and alleged insufficient maintenance documentation, despite the vehicle being within the 10-year powertrain period and despite the nature of the failure. Routine maintenance was performed throughout ownership; however, some historical service records are unavailable due to the age of the vehicle and changes in service locations over time. Multiple facilities no longer retain records from that period. Notably, no oil warning indicators never activated, which raises concern regarding the failure mechanism. Hyundai has acknowledged widespread engine issues in this engine family involving oil consumption, bearing failure, and sudden engine seizure. The symptoms and progression of this failure closely align with those known defect patterns. This complaint is submitted to document a sudden engine failure presenting a clear safety concern and to assist in identifying potential defect trends. This car has undergone previous engine repair, ac condenser and entire turbo by their service department previously 2022 & 2024 respectively.

Vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Tucson issue category: engine / powertrain / vehicle safety complaint: I am reporting a serious safety issue involving my 2016 Hyundai Tucson equipped with a theta ii engine. My vehicle first displayed an engine oil warning light. I immediately took the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealership, where I was charged approximately $500 for an oil change and diagnostic testing. I was told there were no issues with the vehicle. Within approximately 20 miles of leaving the dealership, the vehicle suddenly entered limp mode while driving and displayed diagnostic code p1326. This created a dangerous situation as the vehicle lost power unexpectedly. I returned the vehicle to the dealership, where a software update was performed. However, within another 20–30 miles, the exact same issue occurred again, with the vehicle entering limp mode and triggering code p1326. Hyundai has now refused to repair the engine under warranty and is attempting to attribute the issue to a catalytic converter problem, despite the presence of code p1326, which is associated with engine rod bearing failure and is part of a known defect affecting these vehicles. This condition presents a significant safety risk, as the vehicle can lose power suddenly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. I believe this issue is directly related to the known Hyundai theta ii engine defect, which has been the subject of recalls and a class action settlement. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Hyundai’s handling of these failures and their refusal to repair vehicles experiencing known engine defects that pose a safety risk.

Car often does not accelerate when hitting the gas. Was turning onto highway from a stop car did not accelerate causing other vehicle to swerve to avoid hitting me as my car would not move. Couple seconds later it moved.

While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of motive power accompanied by a loud, catastrophic internal knocking sound from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Hyundai dealership (piazza Hyundai of limerick), where a certified diagnostic technician confirmed a severe internal connecting rod bearing failure (rod knock). This sudden engine failure creates a significant highway safety hazard due to the immediate loss of acceleration and power steering/brake assistance if the engine completely seizes while operational. Hyundai has issued widespread safety recalls and a 15-year/150,000-mile extended warranty (txxm) for this exact failure mode in other engine displacements (such as the 2. 0l nu gdi), yet they have excluded the 1. 6l turbo engine from identical coverage despite it suffering from the exact same manufacturing defect and presenting the same public safety risk.

As I was driving I was stopped & told my car was on fire. I immediately stopped & hopped out & less than 30 seconds later half of the hood caught heat/fire & flew into the windshield breaking it. At least half the car is burnt to ashes.

Engine ran out of oil with no indication on instrument panel that it was happening. Engine now knocks and needs replacing. My independent service center has determined a failure. It is available for inspection.

Part(s) affected: engine / engine control / stall / loss of power summary: my 2016 Hyundai Tucson (VIN: [xxx] ) has an active p1326 – knock sensor detection system (ksds) code, which indicates rod bearing wear and imminent engine failure. The vehicle experiences: •loss of power •inability to accelerate •engine hesitation •risk of stalling while driving these are serious safety risks. This issue is part of the Hyundai/kia engine defect settlement xxx), yet Hyundai refuses to provide towing or address the safety risk despite the p1326 code being a known precursor to engine seizure. The vehicle is currently unsafe to drive, and Hyundai customer care has refused to escalate my case according to settlement requirements. This is a safety hazard that can cause engine seizure and sudden loss of power while driving. Details: •Hyundai case #: xxx •engine settlement code p1326 confirmed •Hyundai refusing proper support •vehicle should not be driven NHTSA intervention is needed due to Hyundai’s failure to address a known safety defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 35 mph, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with the engine knock sensor and catalytic converter. The contact was informed that the vehicle was consuming an abnormal amount of engine oil. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was provided with goodwill assistance. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Dear NHTSA, I am submitting this complaint to report a recurring issue with oil consumption in my Hyundai vehicle, which I understand is a known problem affecting this particular engine type and model. I am the original owner and have been a loyal Hyundai customer for many years. I have followed all recommended maintenance, including regular oil changes. Despite this, my vehicle has developed excessive oil consumption that has not been resolved through standard service procedures. The dealership has contacted Hyundai for approval to perform a combustion chamber cleaning, but based on my research and feedback from other owners, this procedure does not effectively address the root cause of the issue. My concern is that this problem may be indicative of a broader mechanical defect that could impact engine performance and safety. My 10-year warranty is nearing expiration, and I am worried that delays in resolving this issue may result in the loss of warranty coverage for necessary repairs. I believe this issue warrants further investigation, as it appears to be affecting multiple vehicles with the same engine configuration. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this matter and consider whether a broader safety investigation is warranted. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, kelly stafford.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

For about a year I have had issues with my car not accelerating in stop and go traffic. I push the gas pedal and it moves a little then will not go for about 20 seconds. Sometimes the engine will flutter. I have taken it to Hyundai and was told no diagnostic codes show and they can't find anything wrong despite bringing the reports from my auto shop of these things occuring. My car is going in yet again this week because this issue continues to get worse and I have almost caused several accidents in traffic due to not being able to drive. There is a recall however Hyundai says my car is not in the recall despite the same issues the recall is for. I have all routine service done when needed and have taken care of this vehicle but I feel like Hyundai should step up because this is very dangerous not only for myself but other commuters as well. The Hyundai dealership literally said they just have the sign on their building they don't support these issues.

I leased a 2016 Hyundai Tucson from metcalf auto plaza [xxx]. Every week since then I have had to return the car for repairs. It got to a point where neil suggested he can trade it for another but each and every vehicle I test drove to replace my car was not ready to be on the road but according to them every car had just got out the shop. Instead of trying to have issues resolved the mechanics decide to make "jokes" as if your pain and suffering is a joke. Since I did not want a trade in and wanted my car fixed instead neil tried to tell me that this was my final offer which I declined because why not just fix my car? I went to talk to neil in person September 9, 2025 about getting my car fixed and the frustrations I am having because having to return the car weekly and I havent had it for a month is outrageous. [xxx] I was driving the Hyundai on the highway with my children in the car and the electricity to the car completely cut off but came right back on, I got off the highway and the car did it again and this time the wheel locked up and I almost wrecked the car. I called metcalf and the only thing they could tell me was they can tow my car to metcalf but me and my children had to find our own means of transportation. Every time I called to have my car serviced and told them about what I would hear and feel they could never make the car "do it again". I am beyond frustrated, upset and terrified because I have been telling them about smoking coming from the engine, rattling noise etc. My kids lives were put in danger and the only thing they could say was "I apologize and we can tow the car to the shop". Did not care if we had transportation and have never offered to give us any after continously getting stranded in the car. Now the car is towed to their shop once again and the car wouldnt even turn over for me to get it out of the middle of the street. I was blocking traffic and had to have the police block information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia).

While driving on the highway at normal speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power and shut off without warning. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the loss of power. I was able to safely pull over, but the engine would not restart at that time and the vehicle required towing. The sudden engine shutdown occurred in active traffic and created a safety risk due to loss of propulsion. The vehicle later restarted, but I brought it to an authorized Hyundai dealership for inspection. The dealership diagnosed internal engine damage, including piston ring failure and cylinder wall scoring, and advised that the engine would need to be replaced. Since the incident, the vehicle has shown intermittent oil pressure warning lights and reduced performance. The issue has been confirmed by a dealer inspection. The vehicle is currently not considered reliable or safe for regular driving.