Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Hyundai Tucson - part 1

The car was shaking, idling and accelerating and engine lights on.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

I took my Tucson to my local Hyundai dealership on Friday, August 28, 2026. It was there for a standard oil change and tire rotation. When I scheduled the appointment online the system also said there was a recall. I always stay on top of that so I let them take care of that as well. The recall didn’t seem like anything major, it was something to do with emissions. Ok, when I left the dealership that day the engine was warm so there was no noticeable difference. I didn’t use my vehicle at all for the next few days. When I got into it Monday morning for work I noticed immediately after starting the car and taking off the engine was hesitating and bucking. This lasted a few minutes. The problem seems to improve once the engine is warm but others are reporting online that they’re having issues with engines stalling as well. There’s something wrong with the software update that’s being used and no one seems to have a fix. I reached out to Hyundai with my concern and they recommended I take it back to the dealership to be diagnosed and see if my warranty would cover any repairs. My vehicle was free of problems before that update and now it’s falling back on me to pay for a potential problem they caused. There has been no accidents for me personally with this but it’s most definitely a safety hazard.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

Sudden uncommanded high engine revving 4000 rpm with loss of forward acceleration while driving. Isg (idle stop n go) indicator on dashboard turned yellow and system could not manually override. Vehicle was turned off. After car turned back on after about 30 minutes it entered a protective limp home mode, which cleared the systems. All seemed back to normal. It was advised to have vehicle towed to the dealer where purchased. The vehicle has only 4,000 miles and 9 months old. To date the dealer could not replicate the malfunction and could not find any abnormalities in the codes.

Onxxx my car experienced sudden knocking in the engine. I pulled over to the service station on the [xxx] and had my car towed to empire Hyundai in [xxx]. I had just changed oil on xxxand upon inspection oil level was fine. Problem is the theta 2 engine and though the car is under extended warranty Hyundai is requesting maintenance records before repairing this. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with ecu software error. The contact was advised to contact the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA hotline. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,565.

Franchise dealer preson Hyundai is actively obstructing a court-ordered settlement tracking test for an engine burning 2. 0 qts internally, forcing a young driver with child to operate an oil starving vehicle at risk of highway engine seizure and fire.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

Vehicle turned itself off with no warning while being driven @ 40 moh. Dealer suspects fuel injectors, but could be ignition coil.

?on Thursday, August 6, 2026, while driving my 2018 Hyundai Tucson on interstate 81, the vehicle experienced sudden, severe engine vibration and a loud metallic ticking sound before losing power and stalling completely on the highway. I was stranded on the side of the highway in a high-speed traffic zone, creating an immediate and hazardous safety situation. ?because the vehicle was completely inoperable, I was forced to pay $200 out-of-pocket to have the vehicle towed 35 miles to the nearest authorized Hyundai dealership service center. ?upon arrival at the dealership, an on-site service technician performed an obd-ii diagnostic scan on the lot and confirmed diagnostic trouble code p1326 (engine knock sensor detection system / connecting rod bearing failure). Despite the technician confirming the presence of this critical safety defect, the dealership service desk explicitly refused to enter the diagnostic code into Hyundai’s corporate system, stating they would not process or submit the vehicle for inspection or warranty authorization for over a month. ?Hyundai motor America customer care was contacted immediately and witnessed the dealership’s refusal to log the safety defect. While corporate assigned a case manager, Hyundai and the dealership have continually stalled the intake process under service campaign 966 / t6g and refused to provide direct-bill rental transportation or loaner support while the car sits disabled on the dealer lot. ?as a direct result of this sudden highway engine failure, the manufacturer's failure to address a known safety defect, and the refusal to provide recall mobility support, I have suffered ongoing financial loss, out-of-pocket towing expenses, and forced leave from employment. I am filing this report to document the hazardous highway failure of code p1326 and the refusal of the manufacturer and dealer to process a critical safety recall intake in a timely manner. My husband is the registered owner but I am the driver.

I bought my 2012 Hyundai Tucson from a used car dealership back in November of 2024 . When I bought the vehicle it only had 55,000 miles on it and came with a 2 year unlimited mile warranty on the drive train and a full carfax history in which everything came back clean , regular oil changes with synthetic oil every 4,000 miles and for my warranty through the used car dealership requirements I have continued to honor the every 4,000 mile oil change with synthetic oil every time . I have my carfax that shows that my vehicle was brought to a certified Hyundai dealership back in 2019 for maintenance and the dealership never applied the required ksds software update to extend my warranty. Flash forward to 8/06/2026 my vehicle with only 94,000 miles on it is sitting at a Hyundai dealership with the engine blown . I filed a claim with Hyundai and of course they denied it . I filed a complaint with corporate because it was at a certified Hyundai dealership back in 2019 they have had the updated ksds software available at the time knew that it was a requirement for the extended warranty and didn't add the software update to my vehicle. I have asked for a good faith gesture and was also denied . I'm on a fixed income with a disabled husband and a disabled son . I still owe a considerable amount on the vehicle since I've only owned it for 1 year 7 months . The used car dealership I bought it from will only cover up to $2,900. 00 of the repairs and the new engine is costing me $7,601. 01 . Leaving me with a remaining bill of $4,701. 01 . While that's pennies to them to me that's 4 months rent and my family not eating for 4 months . . I even tried to work with them to split the cost and again was denied . They know their 2. 4 theta engine is inferior and was court ordered to extend their warranty. I was informed when I brought it to the dealership that is fixing which is also a certified Hyundai dealership that it has 4 open recalls attached to my vehicle that needed to be fixed.

See all problems of the 2012 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

While driving my 2022 Hyundai Tucson hybrid, the vehicle suddenly lost power, began shaking, and all warning lights illuminated at once. The car would not accelerate properly and became unsafe to operate in traffic. After pulling over and restarting the vehicle, the warnings cleared, but the issue has occurred more than once. It first occurred 3/25/26. The dealer was not able to reproduce the issue but found numerous faults and reset them. This is a serious safety concern because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose motor power while driving, creating a risk of collision. The problem is intermittent and unpredictable.

My 2018 Hyundai Tucson with the 2. 0l engine has suffered catastrophic engine failure. The engine lost compression in cylinder 4 and now requires a full replacement . This is part of a broader pattern—the 2016–2018 Tucson is known for excessive oil consumption that leads to engine failure, with over 1,900 engine-related complaints filed with NHTSA across these model years . Prior to this failure, I reported excessive oil consumption and other engine issues to my dealership. Despite these reports, the problem was not resolved, and I was given inadequate guidance on how to address it. The engine ultimately failed while I was driving, creating a sudden loss of power that posed a safety risk. Other Hyundai Tucson vehicles with the same engine have been covered by recalls for related engine defects , but my specific VIN was not included, despite exhibiting identical symptoms. Meanwhile, other owners report that similar engine failures have been dismissed or denied coverage by Hyundai . This inconsistency in how the manufacturer handles a known, widespread defect is what prompted me to file this complaint.

I own a Hyundai Tucson 2018 sel plus. My problem is my vehicle is coming to the end of it's 100,000 mile warranty. This vehicle started burning oil about 30,000 miles and it got worse. I checked on recalls and there was no recalls for my VIN number for this vehicle. My Hyundai vehicle is burning a quart of oil every 300 miles and this is no exaggeration. I bought the car brand new and had to replace my 1st catalytic converter at 79,627 miles on 5/14/25 that was originally on the car. The second catalytic converter that I had put on I, had to replace that catalytic converter again at my cost at approximately $900. 00 and then after that it plugged up again at 91,928 miles on 7/28/26 and I, had to replace that one that is the third one now. The catalytic converter company had warranted the work and the converter to be installed. This has caused the car to not only misfire, but become a possible road hazard to miss enough and possibly cause it to stall or reduce the power output of the vehicle while in operation and on public roads in traffic and possibly create a major accident on the freeway. This is a major saftey concern being that you could not only lose power while in motion but could lock up the engine. We talked to mechanics, other people that own them and even the service guys at Hyundai knew it is problem. The service genteman said that they would clean the valves I, believe they talked about cleaning the valves with walnuts like sand blasting and I, told him cleaning the valves is not going to do anything for the oil consumption, because the oil consumption is the engine. The engine when it was originally made on the number 3 cyclinder was bored wrong. That is our problem because the oil rings and rings are letting the oil bypass the piston and filing out the iriadium spark plug and our car mileage has gone down because of this the rings are wearing faster and causing us to keep buying newer spark plugs. " check engine light flashes " plugged cat converter.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally, and the engine was making abnormal sounds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and an oil change was performed as associated with NHTSA campaign number: 21v727000 (engine); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

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.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

High excessive oil consumption and premature piston ring failure leading to excessive oil consumption.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

Complete engine failure in July of 2024. When the car was sold to us it was under recall and not repaired and we were not told there was a recall. When the engine failed we were told we were at fault because we failed to get the recall addressed.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

The engine lost power while driving, and the vehicle entered a reduced-power mode. The check engine light began flashing, and the engine made a loud knocking noise during acceleration. A diagnostic scan showed code p1326 (knock sensor signal range/performance). The knock sensor was replaced, and the engine oil was refilled after discovering an oil leak. The vehicle operated normally for a short time, but the same symptoms returned. The vehicle is available for inspection. The vehicle suddenly lost power while traveling approximately 70 mph on the highway, making it difficult to maintain speed and safely keep up with traffic. This created a risk of being struck by other vehicles or causing an accident. The problem has since recurred during normal driving. The problem has been reproduced multiple times. A diagnostic scanner consistently identified code p1326. The knock sensor was replaced and the engine oil was replenished, but the same symptoms returned after several trips. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a Hyundai dealership. The vehicle has been inspected by the owner and a family mechanic who replaced the knock sensor and identified an engine oil leak. It has not yet been inspected by Hyundai, law enforcement, or an insurance representative. There were no warning lights or messages indicating low engine oil or an oil leak before the failure occurred. I had the engine oil changed approximately one month before the incident. While driving on the highway at approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power, the check engine light began flashing, and the engine started making a loud knocking noise. After inspecting the vehicle, we discovered it had an engine oil leak and the oil level was low. Before the loss of power, there were no warning signs that the engine was losing oil or that there was an oil leak.

2018 Hyundai Tucson catastrophic engine failure consistent with known Hyundai nu engine defect pattern documented across 141 prior owner-filed NHTSA complaints for this same vehicle. Obd codes p0326, p0301, p0302, p0303, p0304 documented July 19–25, 2026. Independent licensed mechanic confirmed in writing that engine requires replacement. Authorized Hyundai dealership service manager verbally confirmed coolant in oil — the exact failure mode documented in prior NHTSA complaints for this vehicle generation. Service campaign 966/ksds was completed and active when failure occurred and did not prevent it. Hyundai motor America denied goodwill claim case #43120457 citing out-of-warranty status and aftermarket parts — no written test results or inspection report has been produced to this household. Requesting federal investigation into pattern of engine failures in 2018 Hyundai Tucson consistent with acknowledged nu engine defects.

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 on the highway with adaptive cruise control on, car began decelerating without any vehicle in front. Started to get off highway, check engine light began flashing and came to a full stop. Car died. Tried restarting and car died. Check engine, oil and battery lights then on. Total engine failure and no warning lights prior.

The vehicle developed an intermittent but potentially dangerous engine control malfunction. After the engine reached normal operating temperature, the engine speed (rpm) would repeatedly surge while the vehicle was stopped in park and neutral, fluctuating from approximately 1,000 rpm to over 3,000 rpm without any throttle input from the driver. The condition occurred with the air conditioning turned off and could be reproduced multiple times. At approximately the same time, the auto start/stop system stopped functioning and displayed a warning indicator. A malfunction indicator lamp (check engine light) also appeared during the incident. The warning light later turned off, but the engine surging continued. This unexpected increase in engine speed raises concerns about unintended vehicle movement or loss of driver control if the condition were to occur while shifting into gear or while driving. The unpredictable nature of the malfunction presents a potential safety risk to the occupants of the vehicle and to others on the road. The vehicle has been taken to an authorized Hyundai dealership for diagnosis and repair and remains under inspection. The problem is available for inspection. During my research, I found numerous reports from other Hyundai owners describing similar engine surging, idle fluctuation, and auto start/stop malfunctions involving comparable vehicles. Because similar complaints appear to have been reported by multiple owners, I am submitting this report so the issue can be evaluated for a possible broader safety defect. I have videos of the incident.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

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.

Vehicle suddenly slipped into limp mode. Vehicle was then immediately taken to have code read. Code came back p1326. Was advised due to previous recall campaign(s) to contact Hyundai of America for guidance. Was told that vehicle needed to be confirmed per the bct at any Hyundai dealership to which the agent scheduled the appointment myself and that I should get the other 4 recalls fixed as well. My spouse drove the vehicle there and that was our last true communication verbally with Hyundai of America. Vehicle barely made it to the dealership and then spouse was offered a ride home an hour and a half later without paperwork or any type of understanding other than it would take time for the service team to get it on the bct. A week later I was told it would cost $250. We have argued that we were never told it would cost anything as it relates to this major recall nor the others and in fact it would be performed at zero cost. Then, a service manager stated that now the vehicle needed $10k worth of work and began having finance firms contact me that he said were employed by Hyundai but are not. Here we are a month later, and still no vehicle and we have contacted Hyundai of America numerous times and have all communications regarding such contact and have gotten nowhere. We have yet to actually speak to someone over the phone. We were assigned a case manager who is now on vacation. We're without an income now because after not having transportation to work my partner has lost his job, and we are in dire condition. Inside of my vehicle that this dealership is holding hostage is my infant’s car seat and a brand new catalytic converter. They have refused to communicate with me and supposedly with this case manager according to her emails. We are in need of help.

Tried passing someone on the thruway, as I was about to the car jerked a bit then started decelerating. The check engine light started flashing and so did the oil light. Read the code as cylinder 3 misfire and a knock sensor. Changed the spark plugs and coil packs then checked the oil and saw there was no oil in the engine. Was told by my mechanic it’s a common problem with these Hyundai engines, it seems the rings are getting fried in the engine and that’s why it consumes oil so quickly.

While traveling northbound on [xxx] in florida traffic came to a stop, and when I stopped, my engine seized, I attempted to restart, but was unable to get a restart. My attempts to restart caused the starter to start burning smoke was coming from under the hood this put me at serious risk being on an interstate highway in the left lane at [xxx]. It was very difficult for me to push the car to the side of the road in this dangerous situation, recalling how harry chapin died in new york, because his car failed, and was struck by another vehicle. I was able to get the car onto the shoulder away from the moving traffic. The engine that seized is a 2. 0 gdi engine and that engine has been identified to have multiple failures and being replaced after failing . Hyundai sent a letter. I believe this engine should be recalled and replaced before others are put in the same dangerous situation. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The engine has been consuming oil, where we were adding at least a quart of oil between oil changes. We noticed the vehicle would shake like it was going to die while idling at a stop light or in a drive through. Recently my husband was driving home from work on a busy highway and the vehicles check engine light started blinking on and off. He pulled over and had the vehicle towed. The oil consumption made the vehicle throw a rod and damage the engine. Now we are needing to replace the engine.

See attached document for complaint.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

While traveling on the highway the car began to lose speed rapidly until coming to a complete stop, no warning lights were present prior.

I was driving down [xxx] from my house. My engine light started to flash. I tried to accelerate my car barely went 10 miles an hour. I got home 2 minutes later. There was major knocking. I had the car towed to [xxx], Hyundai, the only code that is showing up on the diagnostics, is p1326 there is an open class action lawsuit for this exact code. For the rod bearing failure, Hyundai is denying the claim, saying there's a gap in maintenance history on a car. I didn't own yet when I bought the vehicle. It passed a 190 point inspection. There's no way there was anything wrong with this vehicle. I am under fifty thousand miles , and if I was on the highway , it could've been deadly I could not accelerate. No other lights were on in the vehicle, except for the flashing engine light. I have already reported to the better business bureau and they have sent it to arbitration. I have contacted the escalation department for Hyundai. They opened up to separate cases. The agent that was assigned to me didn't even get the code from [xxx], they just denied the claim without it. I have the emails to prove that I had to give it to her. I have. \n all my maintenance history, but as you can see from the text message from xxx Hyundai, they are requesting maintenance for a car that wasn't in my possession yet. They're asking for dates from a year before I had the car, I bought it through echopark. I have everyone on my side including ffdelity , as I tried to go through fidelity and they said they couldn't approve the warranty because of the class action lawsuit against Hyundai for that exact manufacturer malfunction. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road before being driven to the residence. The contact’s neighbor checked the oil level and informed the contact that the oil pan was empty. The oil level was topped off. The contact stated that the vehicle was not due for an oil change for another 200 miles. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that there was no oil in the oil pan. The contact was informed to provide the vehicle service records. The contact stated that the failure was a manufacturer's failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and two cases were filed. The failure mileage was approximately 44,807.

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

Subject: urgent drivability concern – 2024 Hyundai Tucson (6/22 incident) vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Tucson date of incident: xxx trip details: [xxx] to [xxx] (~160+ miles) summary of issue: during a long-distance drive on xxx, the vehicle experienced severe and consistent drivability issues that created unsafe driving conditions. Symptoms observed: •severe loss of acceleration / stalling behavior throughout the entire trip •no check engine light illuminated at any time •when pressing the accelerator: otachometer increased (rpms rising) ovehicle speed decreased or failed to increase appropriately •significant delay in acceleration, especially when: omerging onto the interstate opassing other vehicles •cruise control behavior: oseemed to manage acceleration more effectively than manual throttle ohowever, still exhibited slow response when additional acceleration was required •auto start/stop system: osystem automatically disabled itself owould not allow reactivation during the trip safety concern: this condition made it difficult and unsafe •merge into traffic •maintain appropriate highway speeds •execute passing maneuvers dealer visit (near [xxx]): •vehicle was inspected after sitting for a couple of hours •dealer reported no issues found •however, the problem was persistent and clearly present during operation under driving conditions took vehicle to a dealership in raleigh and asked that they look at the fuel injectors. They determined that all 4 injectors were failing and replaced them under warranty. Concerned that Hyundai America has not issued a recall as driving the vehicle with this issue creates a serious safety concern that would lead to injury or loss of life information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

While driving on a us highway, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost the ability to start/run normally, requiring the vehicle to be pulled off the road and towed to an authorized Hyundai dealership. Dealer diagnostic testing found the engine failed a bearing/performance test, consistent with connecting rod bearing wear. This failure mode — check engine light, dtc p1326, abnormal noise, or a no-crank/no-start condition caused by connecting rod bearing wear — is described in the manufacturer's own internal dealer service bulletin covering an engine warranty extension program for multiple engine families (theta ii mpi and nu gdi engines) across several model years and vehicle lines. That bulletin acknowledges the failure as a known condition and extends coverage to 15 years/150,000 miles for original and subsequent owners. The failure occurred suddenly and without warning while the vehicle was in active use on a highway, creating a stall/loss-of-power hazard in moving traffic — the vehicle could not be restarted at the roadside. The dealership's own multi-point inspection performed shortly after intake confirmed engine fluid levels and oil grade were within normal range, indicating the failure was not attributable to a lack of lubrication at the time of failure. Despite this, the manufacturer denied warranty coverage for the repair, citing an inability to produce maintenance receipts for a prior period, even though the dealership's own inspection findings do not support a maintenance-related cause. This report is submitted because of the safety hazard posed by unwarned loss of engine power/starting capability while driving, and because this failure pattern appears consistent with a defect the manufacturer has already acknowledged for closely related engine platforms, raising the question of whether additional vehicles with this engine design should be included in that existing warranty/defect campaign.

See all problems of the 2015 Hyundai Tucson 🔎.

-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.

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.