2018 Hyundai Tucson Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine problems: sudden loss of power, loud knocking, and in some cases a rod through the block, typically reported between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles. A second cluster of complaints concerns the dual-clutch transmission, which owners say hesitates or lurches from a stop, often at low mileage. A smaller but consistent group involves excessive oil consumption, brake concerns tied to a brake-control-unit recall, and a few reports of gas or coolant smells in the cabin.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, stalling and loss of power

   • 125 complaints (31%)
   • median 69,500 mi at 3.8 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,400 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe a loud knocking or pinging from the engine bay while driving, sometimes followed by the check engine light and a sudden loss of power; some vehicles would not restart afterward. Several owners say a shop or dealer diagnosed rod bearing or piston damage and recommended engine replacement, and a few describe a connecting rod coming through the block. Dealers and the manufacturer are described as reviewing coverage case by case, with some owners saying the vehicle was not covered. Most descriptions involve highway speeds and mileage from about 46,000 to 131,000 miles, with many in the 60,000-110,000 range.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a mechanic listen for bottom-end knock at cold start and check for a P1326-type code history; ask whether any engine monitoring software campaign was completed and whether the engine has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. We heard knocking noise in the engine while driving at night and then the car failed to accelerate. We were able to get to the side of the road without crashing. We had it towed to a shop. The shop says that the engine had knocking noise were rod bearings and there was coolant/antifreeze in the engine block.”

   NHTSA complaint #11390398, filed 2021-01, 74,000 miles

   “I was driving my vehicle and heard a loud knocking in the engine compartment. I pulled over and turned the car off. I was afraid to keep driving it since I didnt know what the issue was. My car was towed back home. I had a technician check my car and I was told the motor had blown up. My car only has around 67,000 miles on it. I have been informed by the tow company that this has happened to many people with the same type of vehicle that I have. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389755, filed 2021-01, 67,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hesitation and lurching from a stop (dual-clutch)

   • 103 complaints (26%)
   • median 12,100 mi at 1.9 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe a pause of a second or more when accelerating from a stop, followed by a lurch or hard engagement into first gear, and rough or stuttering shifts in city and highway driving. Some report the behavior appeared within the first few hundred miles and worsened over time. According to complaints, dealers often responded that this is normal for a dual-clutch transmission or could not reproduce it. Reported mostly at low mileage, often under about 25,000 miles, and frequently from a stop or during low-speed maneuvers.

   What to check: Test drive repeatedly from a dead stop and from reverse into drive, including on a slight incline; confirm the vehicle has the latest transmission control software and ask for any prior clutch or software service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my 2018 Hyundai Tucson limited 1.6l forward drive new in november 2018. I started experiencing problems a few weeks after my purchase. The vehicle is slow to accelerate at times and other times the vehicle lurches/accelerates forward at a high rate of speed with my foot on the brake pedal. For instance, I was at a drive thru with my foot on the brake pedal and my Tucson began to accelerate forward. I was so afraid that I was going to hit the car in front of me that I turned the vehicle off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11342847, filed 2020-08, 6,000 miles

   “Ongoing issues with the engine transimission. After 3 dealership visits, problem was duplicated at bob mayberry Hyundai-monroe, nc. We were told this was a known problem and fix/part was coming in march/april 2020. I was never contacted. Continued to drive the car until finally got fed up with the same issue. I went to other dealership (keffer Hyundai-charlotte, nc.). Was told they had to replicate but tech could not. (repair invoice states they drove the car 1 mile!) (the dealership was told this was an intermitent problem). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11375641, filed 2020-11, 25,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the low oil or check oil light coming on well before the next scheduled change, sometimes within a few thousand miles, and oil being added between services. Complaints describe dealers running an oil consumption test, performing combustion chamber cleaning or an engine flush, and in some cases advising shorter oil change intervals; several owners say the condition returned after the repair. Described from as low as about 8,000 miles up to roughly 108,000 miles, often noticed around 35,000-60,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel smell on the dipstick, and ask whether the car has been through an oil consumption test or the combustion chamber cleaning described in the service bulletins.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine in my 2018 Hyundai Tucson is burning oil at an excessive rate. I have to change my oil every 2000 miles or less due to engine knocking if I don't. Due to the excessive oil consumption, I now have to replace all 4 engine coils for over $1500. There have been multiple codes given to me every time I take the car in, including 3 times for the knock sensor which was replaced under a nationwide recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11576084, filed 2024-03, 105,097 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle was abnormally low on oil even though it had been less than 3,000 miles since the previous oil change was performed. The dealer instructed the contact to drive the vehicle for 1,000 miles and then return as part of an oil consumption test. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11645586, filed 2025-02, 35,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal response and ABS control unit recall

   • 38 complaints (10%)
   • median 29,950 mi at 3.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Some owners describe the brake pedal not responding as expected, in a few cases with other warning lights on, and one complaint describes the parking brake being used to stop the vehicle. Others describe receiving notice of an anti-lock brake hydraulic control unit recall and being told to park the vehicle outside due to a possible fire risk, with parts not yet available in some cases. Reports appear across a wide range, from roughly 15,000 to about 100,000 miles.

   Recall 20V543000

   What to check: Confirm by VIN whether recall 20V543000 was performed, and ask whether the anti-lock brake control unit was replaced or only inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall on my 2018 tuscon brakes, brakes were acting odd and my daughter utimately ended up rolling and totalling it in oct 2020. In march 2021, we received a recall notice for brakes. She had mentioned the brakes acting funny, but only having 18k miles. We assumed it was still newness. She received a head injury and sest belt sores on her hips.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406025, filed 2021-04, 18,000 miles

   “My car was purchased from enterprise leasing in may 2019. I was not told about the recall #195 which is a safety issue and can result with the car on fire. According to your website a plan to solve the problem was submitted to you on may 16, 2018 before the car was sold to me. I was never informed about the recall by Hyundai. I found out about the recall from a friend. Upon notifying Hyundai they have yet to provide a solution to a serious problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11394354, filed 2021-02, 18,500 miles

Buying note. Have any candidate inspected for engine noise, oil consumption and prior engine or brake recall work before purchase, and keep documented oil change records, since several of these issues are described around or past 60,000 miles. A short test drive focused on stop-and-go acceleration will also show whether the transmission hesitation is 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.