2015 Hyundai Tucson Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Tucson report most often about the engine: sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, loud knocking or rattling, and in many cases a dealer diagnosis that the engine needed replacement. A second recurring theme is oil consumption, with owners describing having to add oil between changes, and a third is brake complaints tied to the ABS recall notices, including soft or unresponsive pedals and delayed stops. Most reports in the sample fall between roughly 45,000 and 90,000 miles, and several describe failures with no warning light beforehand.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalling, knocking, or failure

   • 156 complaints (68%)
   • median 69,900 mi at 5.9 yrs old (62 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,074 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the engine stopping or losing power while driving, sometimes at highway speed, often after a knocking or rattling noise. Several say there was no warning light before the event, and that a dealer or independent mechanic later diagnosed low compression, seized bearings, or a failed engine that needed replacement. Some report that the dealer attributed the damage to something else, such as an impact to the oil pan, or that warranty coverage was denied because of mileage or age. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 90,000 miles, though a few appear much earlier and a few past 100,000 miles.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing regular oil changes and any engine or knock-sensor work, and have a pre-purchase inspection listen for lower-end knocking. Ask whether the knock sensor detection software campaign was performed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There was a recall on my car which followed under the campaign 958 which was unknown to me until my car engine seized while driving on I-5 highway. Due to the fact I did not know of the recall when this incident happened I had to get it towed to the closest auto shop. They were unsure of what caused the seize and tried to replace the starter (cost around $340). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11367062, filed 2020-10, 69,800 miles

   “2015 Tucson engine blew after only 70,000 miles. It did not show any signs of failure but as I was driving the engine made a bang noise and just stopped and would not start again. After I did some research I found out that this is not the first Tucson to have engine failure after 70,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11151597, filed 2018-11, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption

   • 43 complaints (19%)
   • median 76,718 mi at 6.1 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report the car uses far more oil than expected, in some cases a quart every few hundred miles, with no visible leak and sometimes without a low-oil warning. Several describe repeated oil consumption tests at the dealer and being told the condition was not covered, while others link the oil loss to later engine noise or failure. Usually reported from about 65,000 miles upward, often after 100,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the dipstick level and look for a fuel or burnt smell in the oil, and ask whether any oil consumption test has been done. Plan to monitor the level between changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On numerous occasions oil filter has blown out leaving me with no oil in the engine. Most recently, it happened when I was passing another vehicle at aprox. 37 MPH on a state road. I am uncertain the cause of the incident where I lost all of the engine oil but I would hazard to guess the system which controls oil pressure is not working properly and the pressure get so high for the increased RPM needs it blowes out the weakest point.”

   NHTSA complaint #11352312, filed 2020-08, 87,775 miles

   “I have a 2015 Hyundai Tucson, the oil burns really fast. I have to get an oil change every month or the car will start making a loud noise. I only have 69000 miles on it. The dealership at this point dont know what to do”

   NHTSA complaint #11405417, filed 2021-03, 69,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal soft or slow to stop

   • 56 complaints (24%)
   • median 73,500 mi at 7.7 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal going low or to the floor, longer stopping distances, or brakes that felt stuck, in some cases during stop-and-go traffic. Several mention receiving a recall notice for the ABS module but being told the parts were not yet available, and a few report smoke or a chemical odor from the engine bay around the same time. Reported from roughly 55,000 to 96,000 miles in the sample, often in low-speed or stop-and-go driving.

   Recall 22V056000Recall 23V651000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 22V056000 (ABS module) was completed and get written confirmation. Test the pedal feel on a test drive and check for brake fluid leakage or a burning odor under the hood.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received a recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). However, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that upon driving from a complete stop, the vehicle was shuddering significantly. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure gradually stopped while driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11479788, filed 2022-08, 84,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the brakes were stuck without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. No further information was available. The failure milage was 71,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11452815, filed 2022-02, 71,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hesitation or loss of power when accelerating

   • 57 complaints (25%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe pressing the accelerator and getting engine revving with little or no forward movement, sometimes described as a pause or lurch when pulling away. Some say the dealer updated software or found no fault, and others were told the transmission needed repair or replacement. Reported from very low mileage up to about 115,000 miles, with several cases around 70,000 to 90,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car from a stop and at part throttle on a test drive, including a slight incline, and ask whether any transmission software update or repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was waiting to turn left, after checking both directions, I tried to accelerate and could barely move. At this point I saw a car headed toward me that I could not see due to a car being parked along side of the road. I tried to get out of the way, but my Tucson would not move. This resulted in being t-boned. Vin photo included I have more photos available if needed”

   NHTSA complaint #11133595, filed 2018-10, 72,300 miles

   “I was driving on a city street, in the eco mode. I turned left, and the vehicle paused forward motion, until I pumped the gas pedal 2 or 3 times. This has happened many times since I purchased the veh. In 2016, with 16,000 + or - miles on the odo. When I turn off the eco mode, the problem still happens, though not as often. I left the car at vandergriff Hyundai for a day with n.p.f.”

   NHTSA complaint #11156905, filed 2018-12, 16,700 miles

Buying note. The main things to verify on this model year are engine health and oil use, along with whether the ABS module recall and any engine-related software updates were completed. A pre-purchase inspection and a look at the service history are worth the cost given how often owners describe engine replacement.

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.