general problems of the 2016 Hyundai Tucson - part 1

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.

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.

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.

My 2016 Hyundai Tucson experienced engine failure consistent with known Hyundai engine defects. After reporting multiple battery outages, rapid oil consumption, and limited acceleration ability, outstanding warranties were checked and updated. However, the issues persisted, and the engine failed suddenly while I was driving. Hyundai denied warranty coverage without proof of the issues being unrelated to the warranty. This presents a serious safety hazard due to unexpected engine failure.

The reason of this complain is due to excessive oil consumption which now damaged my catalytic converter against Hyundai motors America. The complained started 2021 where we noticed that the low oil engine light up after only 1500 miles from last oil change. We submitted the complained with dealer (carlsbad and escondido CA) and my car failed 3 consecutive oil consumption test and Hyundai performed an engine cleaning, claiming it was going to fix the problem. This happened when the vehicle was still under warranty. At the time they said that if this did not fix the problem, they were still going to fix the car since the issue happened under warranty. The engine cleaning did not fixed the problem, my car no longer has warranty and my catalytic converter fails and makes the vehicle inoperable in highway (engine ceases to accelerate) . We submitted a complain with Hyundai corporate and they denied fixing our car since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. I would like to ask for them to fix the engine and catalytic converter make the car operable again.

Brought vehicle in on 07/10/25 to dealership with very low oil, it was determined vehicle was burning oil and combustion cleaning was recommended. Hyundai corp. Denied claim due to 2nd owner. We are not 2nd owner had to transfer title upon my father's death, vehicle owned by family. Hyundai then approved claim and combustion cleaning was done. We were then told by dealership to bring in vehicle every 1000 to check oil. On 2nd 1000 check it was determined to be burning oil and needed engine replacement. Hyundai corp. Denied claim this time stating gross maintenance neglect from 01/2018-06/2019 period but only 3084 miles were put on between oil change. This was not brought up during combustion denial. Also Hyundai stating out of warranty which expired 08/24/25 but issues started in 07/2025. I have asked Hyundai case manager to provide written proof in owner's manual where it shows we did not maintain vehicle in accordance to manual.

Engine has rod knock and low power due to rod bearing failure. There was never an illuminated oil light or message of any sort prior to failure. This vehicle has had oil changes regularly and never been an issue till now. With Hyundai not having a recall on this engine, and seeing many other reviews about this same issue it is a very dangerous issue leaving people stranded and loosing power in times where serious harm issues could occur and this issue is very costly being that the engine will have to be replaced. As a consumer taking care of the vehicle and still the engine failing due to the lack of integrity of Hyundai I believe Hyundai should step up and make it right and take care of the people who have spent there hard earned money on these cars and are now left in the dark.

Me and my daughter were headed back home from a family trip and we were stranded on the side of the road luckily we had family tailing us!! my engine light came on while we were still in the city in savannah so we stopped by an autozone and changed the spark plugs so the engine light stopped blinking but when we got about 20 miles from home it stopped going we had to pull over it started smoking and it was really hot but the temperature had never moved we had it towed home!! I keep my maintenance up regularly on my car I had 2 mechanics check it out they both said the piston is breaking the spark plugs and it’s something down in the motor that’s doing it I should not have any motor issues at all with my car!! especially when I do my part at keeping it up I was quoted 7,738 to fix my car which I don’t have both mechanics said the engine in those cars are no good and it’s been recalls on them just not my model it’s not right I’m out of a car and no way to work or no way for my kids to get around they have to ride in lyfts and ubers with strangers I feel like my car should be fixed because I did my part at keeping it up and I’m still out of car and frustrated due to the companies negligence!!.

While driving, on multiple occasions all warning lights will come on and the car will start to lose power. The headlights constantly go off and come back on randomly. Turn the blinker on and the rear window wipers intermittently come on. The vehicle has been towed to the dealership so many times and we either get “can’t duplicate” or needs oil change, which had just been done. Now we are being told that we need a second engine replacement. Unfortunately this time it will not be covered by warranty. We have reached out to Hyundaii motors 3 times and the bbb auto but they stand behind it not qualifying for the lemon law. Hyundai should have some obligation as all these issues are “known issues” just not recalls. The 2016 Hyundai Tucson is not a safe vehicle.

Was driving down busy road when engine suddenly knocked violently and shut off rendering car inoperable. Inspection revealed low oil, despite not being due for an oil change after and no visible/identifiable leaks. Investigation by mechanic resulted in being told that numerous Hyundai engines like this are having the same problems and need total engine replacements. The call only had 70,000. Dealership said they see one a week.

Misfire, excessive oil consumption, engine knocking, loss of power/acceleration, gas smell, excessive gas consumption.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 55 mph, the vehicle lost automotive power and started vibrating abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over and was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was advised that the ignition coils, water pump, spark plugs, valve, oil filter, and the engine were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

Was driving down busy city road when engine suddenly knocked violently and shut off rendering car inoperable as traffic had to go around my disabled vehicle. Inspection revealed low oil, despite filling 4 weeks prior after change and no visible/identifiable leaks. Investigation by mechanic resulted in being told that numerous Hyundai engines like this are having the same problems and need total engine replacements. They said that they "see this at least once a week in these Hyundai's and kia's". There were no warning lights or anything prior to the event.

My catalytic converter caught on fire a couple months back then I hit a code for the knock sensor replaced it and it started to act up again I can’t go over 49 burning oil took it to Hyundai now they are saying my engine is going out and I’m still panting carmart got the car.

Total engine failure. Per dealership mechanic, random misfires on all cylinders with a dead miss on 4.

Excessive oil consumption.

Excessive oil consumption which has then in turned caused my catalytic converter to go out.

I’ve been having ongoing issues with my 2016 Hyundai Tucson where the car struggles to accelerate, especially after stopping at red lights or pulling out into traffic. Sometimes, when I press the gas pedal, the car either hesitates badly or doesn’t move at all. A few times it’s completely stalled while trying to make turns or cross intersections, which has been really scary and dangerous. I did some research and found there was a known recall for this exact problem related to the transmission control module software and the dual-clutch transmission. The symptoms described in the recall match mine perfectly, but when I checked my VIN, my vehicle isn’t included. I haven’t taken it to the dealer yet because I’m worried I’ll have to pay out of pocket for something that I believe is part of a known manufacturer issue.

Fuel injectors no warning…went to get breaks checked, while they were checking them the engine light turned on after that they couldn’t get my car to start again.

I reported the vehicle to dealer for above oil consumption, which they confirmed with service check of oil level. Vehicle often stammered and failed to accelerate upon purchase. This vehicle stammered and engine began to smoke. Vehicle could started first, turned unit off. Vehicle is being towed to shop for diagnostic results.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shook abnormally with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact noticed an oil odor. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact's father, who is an independent mechanic, inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the vehicle with oil consumption and engine failure. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to monitor the exhaust for smoke and add oil daily. In addition, two days later the contact attempted to start the vehicle, and the vehicle started after several attempts. The was an abnormal oil odor entering the vehicle through the vents. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

The vehicle does not accelerate entering roadway, transmission replaced in 2022, catalytic convertor replaced in 2024. Several instances occurred when entering highway vehicle lost power and failed to merge safely, ultimately requiring hasty exit to roadside to avoid collision. The vehicle was purchased used but has been a safety risk since purchase date. Originally diagnosed transmission, then catalytic convertor, then knock control sensor. Engine oil is replaced more often than routine maintenance and refilled in between oil changes. Autonation Hyundai mall of georgia originally assisted with transmission replacement Feb 2022, catalytic convertor was replaced in Mar 2024. The vehicle has been parked for considerable time while insurance and car payments continue. In Feb 2025 my daughter was driving and was nearly rear ended when vehicle failed to accelerate, it has primarily parked since that time while exploring repairs. Car fails [xxx] enroute to game. Last quote to repair catalytic convertor was total automotive in gainesville GA. Around 19 may 2025. I believe this vehicle poses a significant safety risk due to acceleration delays, all attempts to resolve have been unsuccessful. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

1. "transmission or ecu" 2. There is a lag and sometimes almost stall when accelerating from a stop. I was turning into a lane from a stop sign and the car decided to not move for 3-4 seconds after pressing accelerator. If people had come around the blind corner when that happened I would have been t boned. 3. All four people living in my house. . . . . . And our mechanic. Yes 4. No, because were not paying for something that has had a recall. 5. We inherited this car from my grandmother and she knows nothing about cars so she never thought anything was wrong. Since the day we got it, it has been doing the same thing "dct control logic update & p0128 dtc logic update (recall 149)" #17-01-023.

Engine is burning oil and has been for sometime. Won’t accelerate and sputters tie rods are worn out. This car is a lemon and dangerous to drive.