2005 Hyundai Tucson Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Tucson most often write about the engine quitting while driving or coming to a stop, about the air bag warning light coming on, and about corrosion of the rear subframe and suspension parts. Many of these reports come at higher mileages in later years of ownership, while air bag sensor and hatch-hinge reports show up early, even in the first few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or cuts out while driving and at stops

   • 30 complaints (16%)
   • median 56,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2018

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning while cruising, turning, or braking to a stop, sometimes with the warning lights flashing and the power steering and brakes going heavy. Several owners say the vehicle restarted on its own or after a short wait, and that the dealer could not reproduce the problem. Replaced parts mentioned include the throttle position sensor, idle speed control, ignition coils, plugs and wires, and the air intake hose and clamps, with the stalling often returning afterward. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 160,000 miles, with many cases in the 27,000 to 100,000 mile range.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any stalling episodes were logged and whether the throttle position sensor, idle control or intake hose have been replaced. A long test drive that includes stops, turns and a stretch at highway speed is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2005 hyundi Tucson 2.7l v6. Im having problems with the vehicle stalling when coming to a stop. The problem happened today at a stop sign. Thankfully there wasn't another car in front of me because I couldn't stop in time for the sign after it stalled. This has not been the first time this has happened. Its happened about 6 other times, all when coming to a stop at traffic lights, stop signs and yield signs. The car does start right after its stalled. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10341486, filed 2010-07, 133,830 miles

   “I usually keep my car in the garage and out of the weather. I recall last year my daughter said my car stalled out when she was driving. I told her water may have just splashed under the engine or something. I just had the same issue. We had a rain storm last night. I went out and started my car. I came out to leave and my car was off. I tried to start it again but it didn't want to turn over. Finally after 7 tries the car started. I backed out and it just sputtered and the car just cut out twice. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10449664, filed 2012-02, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and passenger seat sensor

   • 26 complaints (14%)
   • median 75,880 mi at 10.2 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2023

   Complaints describe the air bag warning light coming on or the passenger air bag indicator flickering on and off depending on who is sitting in the seat, including adults of smaller build. In some cases owners report the light staying on for long periods or returning after a reset, and a few say the front passenger wiring harness was diagnosed but the part was no longer available. Dealer responses described in the complaints range from reprogramming the sensor to finding no fault. Spanning very low mileage (under a few thousand) up to about 184,000 miles, with many reports in the first 10,000 miles and again above 75,000.

   Recall 07V197000Recall 06V4450003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the air bag warning light goes out after startup and does not flicker when someone sits in the passenger seat. Ask whether the driver air bag inflator recall work was completed, and have the air bag codes scanned.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There has been two problems involving my 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The first problem was in regards to the passenger side airbag light. The light would flicker on and off with an adult female of over five feet in height and over 100 lbs, but less than 115lbs. According to the owners manual the flickering light means that the sensor for the airbag is malfunctioning. I took the vehicle to the local dealer and was told that they had checked it and it was working fine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10142463, filed 2005-11, 7,000 miles

   “Dt: passenger side air bag sensor light does not work correctly. The consumers wife weighed 105 pounds when she sat in the seat the sensor light would come on or go off sometimes. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and they reprogrammed the sensors for a lighter weight but it is still not working. They did ran a code check but did not show any codes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10121197, filed 2005-05, 950 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Rear subframe and suspension corrosion

   • 15 complaints (8%)
   • median 132,018 mi at 13.9 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2020

   Owners describe rear subframes, cross members and lower control arms rusted through, sometimes discovered during an alignment or routine service. Some complaints say the rear of the car stepped out or a front control arm broke while driving, and that a mechanic attributed the break to rust. Repairs described include replacing the subframe or control arms, with owners noting difficulty finding parts and dealer inspections for corrosion. Mostly reported between roughly 100,000 and 180,000 miles, on older vehicles in road-salt areas.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the vehicle put on a lift and inspect the rear subframe, cross member and control arms for rust-through before buying, especially in a region that uses road salt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I want to have a four wheel alignment service completed. The automotive technician invited me back to view the underside of my vehicle. What I saw was very disturbing. The whole rear left side of my vehicle is rusted something awful. This subframe is totally rusted through and through. I also recently had to replace rusted out lower control arms.”

   NHTSA complaint #11278320, filed 2019-11, 128,000 miles

   “Rear subframe is rotted. My 17 year old was driving on the highway, she lost control, it could have been tragic.the car has been towed and sitting in a parking lot for 2 months as I can not find this part! My mechanic said it was a recall with these cars.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339665, filed 2020-07, 150,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Unintended acceleration or revving at low speed

   • 18 complaints (10%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 9.7 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2005–2023

   Complaints describe the engine revving or the vehicle surging forward at a stop or when lightly touching the accelerator, in some cases overriding brake pressure until the pedal was pushed hard. Owners say the throttle position sensor and idle speed control were replaced in some cases, while others report the problem returning. A related set of complaints describes loss of power or no response when accelerating at highway speed. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 145,000 miles, with several cases between 47,000 and 135,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the car at a standstill with light throttle application and check for a steady idle. Ask whether the throttle position sensor or electronic throttle components have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The first time this happened I was pulling into a parking place in a shopping center. As I was turning into the parking place I very lightly tapped the accelerator and the engine reved up and I applied the brake only to have the car continue forward and go up the cement curb. I then pushed down on the brake pedal as hard as I could and only then did the car stop. If the cement block had not been there, I would have hit the car parked directly in front of me. The front tires had gone about two feet up on the cement block. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11185854, filed 2019-03, 135,000 miles

   “Dt: the contact owns a 2005 hound Tucson, while on cruise control it was too tight, causing the rpms to rev. , the dealer repaired. Currently, while on cruise control it went out of the cruise control and the speed dropped rapidly. The service dealer stated they could not find the cause of the problem. This almost resulted in two accidents.”

   NHTSA complaint #10132879, filed 2005-08, 2,786 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Rear hatch window hinges and latches rusting out

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 72,500 mi at 6.1 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2018

   Owners report the rear hatch window hinges or latches corroding and breaking while the window is being opened, sometimes letting the glass drop. Complaints mention both hinges failing one after the other, and that the struts were the only thing holding the glass up. In one report the dashboard came down after a crash, and another describes steering wheel coating breaking apart, but the hatch hinge reports are the recurring theme. Reported from about 48,000 to 98,000 miles, on vehicles roughly six to ten years old.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Open and close the rear hatch glass and check the hinge and latch hardware for rust or looseness, and look at the paint and underbody for corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle was parked in my driveway when I opened the rear hatch. The hinges suddenly disintegrated, busted right off. The rear window fell out striking me. The only way it was being held up and kept from falling to the ground, was by its shocks that keep window up when opened. I see that are numerous reports on this matter from various times. Is there some kind of recall on this problem?”

   NHTSA complaint #10469445, filed 2012-08, 85,753 miles

   “I own a 2005 bought brand new Hyundai tucsan. Today we went to put something in the hatch using the window and it fell into my hands. The latches are so corroded that they just fell off. This should not be happening to a 6 yr old vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10407181, filed 2011-06, 53,000 miles

Buying note. Check for rear-subframe and suspension corrosion on a lift first, since that is the most costly issue owners describe, and confirm the air bag warning light and recall work are sorted. A long test drive with stops and highway speeds will also show whether the stalling and throttle complaints are still present.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.