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Hyundai TucsonModel year report

2011 Hyundai Tucson Problems

Compared with other Hyundai Tucson years

Typical for this model

49/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
124filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
72,100miles, 70 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Hyundai Tucson (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Tucson most often describe engine noise and oil loss, with many complaints tied to a recall for oil-pan seepage and to engine damage from low oil. A second recurring theme is a dash-light and shifter problem in which stability-control and hill-descent indicators come on and the vehicle becomes hard to shift into park. Brake-related complaints, including a pedal that sinks and an antilock brake recall, also appear repeatedly.

  1. Engine

    Engine noise, oil loss and engine damage

    • 38 complaints (31%)
    • median 90,710 mi at 8.7 yrs old (24 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2026

    Owners describe a ticking or knocking sound from the engine that often gets louder over time, sometimes with the oil warning light flickering. Several say oil was found leaking from the pan area or that the engine used more oil than expected. Some complaints state the dealer found the engine needed replacement after the noise and oil loss were diagnosed, and a few describe the engine stalling or losing power while driving. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 140,000 miles, with some complaints as low as 70,000 and others past 180,000.

    Recall 19V0630003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the oil level and look for seepage at the oil pan gasket, and listen for ticking or knocking on a cold start. Ask whether the oil-pan recall work was completed and whether the knock-sensor software update was applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “At about 99,000 miles my Hyundai tuscon began making a ticking noise in the engine. It progressively has gotten worse. Now at 103,000 it is much louder and I'm being told it is a lifter problem. I'm reading about recalls on the 2.0 motor but tuscon not included with the santa fe and sonata and many other people having the same issue”

    NHTSA complaint #11091318, filed 2018-05, 100,000 miles

    “My car was having issues starting up. One day we started the car and drove into town and it started to make a rattling noise. The car was also slow to accelerate. When we tried to drive home out of no where the engine went out and the car wouldn't start again.”

    NHTSA complaint #11301727, filed 2020-01, 189,000 miles
  2. Electronic stability control

    Stability and hill-descent lights on, hard to shift into

    Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the electronic stability control and downhill brake control indicators illuminating together during normal driving, often around 40-50 mph. While the lights are on, the shifter will not move into park, and owners say they must shut the engine off and restart, sometimes repeatedly, to get it into gear. Several report the dealer suspected or replaced a brake pedal switch. Reported from roughly 27,000 to 66,000 miles, usually during ordinary driving in dry conditions.

    Recall 13V113000

    What to check: With the engine running, confirm the brake lights work and that the shifter moves freely between gears and into park. Ask whether the brake light switch has been replaced and whether the brake light switch recall was performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The transmission/gears gets stuck when I want to put it in reverse. This happened 5 times in the last 3 months. I brought the car and complained to the dealer and they said it could be a brake light issue and could not fix it unless they see the problem when it happens. This problem occurs randomly. It happened again last week so I scheduled to bring it in to the dealer this week.”

    NHTSA complaint #10466849, filed 2012-07, 35,000 miles

    “When returning home from store I couldn't put the car in park. Only could get to neutral. Turned the car off and started it up again and it moved into park. This has happen now three(3) times in the last week. I have called to get it looked at next week.”

    NHTSA complaint #10474313, filed 2012-09, 27,000 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission fluid cooler hose leak and transmission trouble

    • 9 complaints (7%)
    • median 86,605 mi at 5.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2012–2021

    Complaints describe a transmission fluid leak traced to the cooler hose, in some cases followed by loss of drive or a transmission that had to be replaced. Some owners also report the vehicle losing power while the engine revs, or a clunk and no response when shifting into drive. A few mention the dealer replaced the hose under the recall but the problem returned. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 125,000 miles, with several past 100,000.

    Recall 16V0570001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Look for red or dark fluid under the front of the vehicle and check the transmission fluid level and color. Ask whether the cooler hose recall was completed and whether the transmission has been serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The rubber transmission cooling lines broke at 55 MPH on rt 81s and instantly blew the transmission. My vehicle is the exact make, model and year of the NHTSA campaign 16v05700. I contacted Hyundai for reimbursement of my repair costs and Hyundai stated that my vehicle was not part of this 149 campaign. I do not understand why others with the exact same problem are being reimbursed and I am not? Clearly Hyundai is at fault. Documentation is attached”

    NHTSA complaint #11413067, filed 2021-04, 153,000 miles

    “Comment: I have brought in my Tucson for the clunking transmission issue 5 times now. Each return to the service center results in a cannot duplicate response. 1. On the morning of 28 march 2013, approximately 20 seconds after starting the vehicle the transmission was shifted into drive, a loud mechanical clunk was heard and felt from the driver's seat, the transmission did not respond, the vehicle would not move when the gas pedal was depressed, and the p,r,n,d indicator in the dash board display went blank. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10504783, filed 2013-03, 8,000 miles
  4. Brakes

    Brake pedal sinks or braking fades intermittently

    Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners report the brake pedal going toward the floor or braking power dropping out briefly, sometimes over bumps and sometimes with the ABS and hill-descent lights on. A few complaints describe a longer stopping distance than expected in a highway situation. Some owners mention the dealer could not reproduce the condition on inspection. Reported across a wide range, from very low mileage up to about 140,000 miles, without a single consistent pattern.

    Recall 23V651000

    What to check: Ask whether the antilock brake module recall was completed, and have the brake fluid level and pedal feel checked on a test drive, including a stop over uneven pavement.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Highway, bridge, following significantly far back. Car stops ahead and I brake in plenty of time (my son was in the front seat and can attest to that). Car brakes but very slowly, not in time so we hit the stationary car and then we were hit much harder from behind. Airbags deployed. The car immediately filled with smoke which I attributed to the air bags because I did not know any better. Very scared, I screamed for the kids to get out of the car. Smoke was gone by the time police arrived. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11209489, filed 2019-05, 75,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that when driving at least 5 MPH over road bumps that the vehicle would sporadically lose braking power for one to two seconds. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 1,700.”

    NHTSA complaint #10409333, filed 2011-06, 1,700 miles
  5. Electrical system

    Battery drain and starting problems

    • 9 complaints (7%)
    • median 81,600 mi at 8.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2025

    Owners describe the vehicle failing to start, sometimes in cold weather, with a click and a battery that would not hold a charge. Complaints mention alternator replacement and, in one case, camshaft sensor replacement after the check engine light came on. Others report the engine light or gauges behaving erratically while driving. Reported mostly between about 35,000 and 116,000 miles, with some cases in cold weather.

    What to check: Ask about battery age and any charging-system repairs, and have the charging system tested. Check that all warning lights come on and go out normally and that accessories such as the air conditioning and heated seats work.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I parked the car 6/12/19 wed that evening and everything seemed ok. At 1030am the next day, 6/13/19, I tried to use electric key to unlock to go to work and realized it wouldn't unlock so I noticed black soot above driver window and tried manual key to unlock. I could barely crack to see the seat exploded on drivers side. Called 911 and firemen and politics arrived. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11222363, filed 2019-06, 89,000 miles

    “The car would not start when I went to start it up. It was parked outside overnight in 20 degree weather and just clicked when I went to start it. I had to call Hyundai roadside assistance to come and jump the car. They did and it took them a couple of tries and they had to use their vehicle, not the portable starter. They said that the battery was drained. There was no reason for that because there were no lights left on. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10555482, filed 2013-12, 35,000 miles

Buying note. Have a 2011 Tucson inspected for oil leaks at the pan and for engine noise before buying, and confirm which of the open recalls (engine oil pan, transmission cooler hose, antilock brakes, brake light switch) have actually been completed. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a check of the brake lights and shifter are worthwhile given how often those come up in complaints.

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.

NHTSA recorded 124 consumer complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Tucson. 70 of the complaints include a mileage, and 37% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,100 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 127 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 14 Hyundai Tucson model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 49 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (4), Seats (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Air bags (1), Exterior lighting (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Fuel system (1), Seat belts (1), Steering (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “Car had been starting up rough by. Also under my car on drivers side under plasti covering had a stream of black fluid that looked like oil and smells like gas.also inside its smells. 2nd time it did that and seems like after I feel up all the way it does it then stops till I fill up again”

NHTSA complaint #11209306, filed 2019-05, 112,800 miles

Brakes: “Both the downhill brake light and stability track control light came on at the same time. My car wouldn't get out of park, or when I got it in drive, it wouldn't go back into park. Taking it to the shop today, noticed it might be from a brake switch.”

NHTSA complaint #10627176, filed 2014-08, 48,110 miles

Other or unknown: “My 2011 Hyundai Tucson stalled while driving on a busy city road . I was going straight with 40 miles/hour when my vehicle suddenly lost power for unnown reason, and started slowing down, then completely stopped. The engine stopped, gas pedal was not responding. The check engine, oil pressure, and battery light came on at the same time when car stalled. Battery is a couple of months old, everything seem to operate normally except the vehicle does not start. …”

NHTSA complaint #11228610, filed 2019-07, 62,787 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The engine on my 2011 Hyundai Tucson limited seized up without warning on february 6th, 2018 while driving down the highway at 65 MPH on hwy 44 in st. Louis. The engine only had 78,000 miles on it and had received regular oil changes. Since it seized up completely I had to get a new engine for it. I had only owned the vehicle for about 10 months; it was purchased from suntrup ford in st louis in 2017.”

NHTSA complaint #11113067, filed 2018-07, 78,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

37% of the 70 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 110,000 miles.

13%0–104%10–2520%25–5014%50–7519%75–10024%100–1506%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (70 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 72,100 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

’11’14’1725’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Hyundai Tucson version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Tucson 2WD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic233025$2,700
Tucson 2WD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual202723$2,900
Tucson 2WD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic223025$2,700
Tucson 2WD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed manual212823$2,900
Tucson 4WD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic212824$2,800
Tucson 4WD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed manual202622$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 Hyundai Tucson → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 127 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 127 bulletins →

Other model years of the Hyundai Tucson

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026641,6825528Too new to compareToo new
20252956,5006528Too new to compareToo new
20249919,0004528Too new to compareToo new
202313617,12024–52881 · MoreToo new
202238625,95034–529100 · MoreRising
20218026,972152532 · FewerRising
20201798,600152572 · MoreStable
201938521,400152694 · MoreStable
201839931,962152665 · MoreStable
20171,09526,2533527100 · MoreStable
20161,62629,7505527100 · MoreFalling
201522969,336242525 · FewerFalling
201420278,605242518 · FewerFalling
201326678,000342535 · FewerStable
201225583,000342550 · TypicalStable
201112472,1005—2549 · TypicalRising
20105945,6024—2619 · FewerStable
20091829,0001—22—Stable
20084344,9521—220 · FewerStable
20076588,0005—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200613565,0005—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200518557,0008—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Hyundai Tucson model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Hyundai Tucson?

Owners of the 2011 Tucson most often describe engine noise and oil loss, with many complaints tied to a recall for oil-pan seepage and to engine damage from low oil. The issues reported most often: Engine noise, oil loss and engine damage; Stability and hill-descent lights on, hard to shift into; Transmission fluid cooler hose leak and transmission trouble.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Hyundai Tucson have?

NHTSA recorded 124 consumer complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Tucson as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Hyundai Tucson is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 40 complaints (32% of the total), followed by brakes with 34.

Has the 2011 Hyundai Tucson been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Hyundai Tucson get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Hyundai Tucson (Tucson 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 23 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Hyundai Tucson reported?

Among the 70 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,100 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 110,000 miles; 37% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.