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2008 Hyundai Tucson

The Verdict

90 Smooth Ride

The 2008 Hyundai Tucson has 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (17 complaints) and engine (10 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 90/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Hyundai Tucson, consider the 2009 model year which has 58% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2009 has 58% fewer complaints

View the 2009 Hyundai Tucson dashboard →

90

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20055912544911
2006361550277
200725619114
20081777102
200980820
20109910722
2011262544619
201227231316816
201336341816011
2014204691173
20152652121206
201657036147450408
20171573550631199
201835322024155
201935108181998
2020404216683
202112117402
202274193819929
20234516203210
2024411414151
202514334571212

By Category

Body
17
Engine
10
Brakes
7
Electrical
7
Transmission
2

By Severity

1
19
2
14
4
10

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2008 Hyundai Tucson stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Brakes 4

#1. The airbag light comes on saying the passenger airbag is not connected (something like that). #2. Braking lights did stop working and stayed on while the car was turned off. I never received any recall notice of this and we fixed it ourselves. #3. And most important and dangerous! The back driver's side wheel froze up and started to catch on fire. We had the Caliper, and several other surrounding parts changed and the master cylinder when it almost caught fire again. A mechanic could not figure it out. I did a lot of research and discovered the problems with the ABS, which I strongly believe this is the problem. I cannot drive it at all. The emergency brake is like mush and does not work at all. I have now read of these cars catching fire from the ABS and people have died! My car is a 2008 and not the year of the car that has been recalled. But my 2008 is doing the same thing. My special needs son and I could have been killed! Flaming red inside the tire area. We threw bottles of water on it so it wouldn't catch on fire and catch all the other cars and buildings on fire. Please help! Also, the ECS light comes on for no reason. I'm afraid of this car and I'm afraid to sell it to someone who may be killed by it. We thought we fixed this problem in 2020 but it started catching on fire again in 2022 and had not been driven since Aug. 2022 since the last fire flames and stinky smoke that comes out from the back tire area.

36mo ago
Brakes 1

I took the car to my mechanic to get brake pads because car was pulling to the left upon braking and he informed me the ABS module was bad and was not distributing brake fluid to the right front wheel. I called Customer Care Center for Hyundai and they informed me Tuscan models are not included in the ABS module recall event. Yet the information printed on all hyundai ABS recalls threaten a possible fire safety concern. I want to file a complaint because the ABS brake systems are all the same on all hyundai models. Please address my safety issue asap.

37mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that a section of the rear sub frame was extremely corroded. The contact believed that a welding failure might have caused the severe corrosion on the subframe. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that he had approximately a year before the suspension would fail and the render the vehicle undrivable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

38mo ago
Body 1

The driver side door will not unlock. It will not unlock with the key fob. It will not unlock with the key. It will not unlock manually. The locking piece that should flip back and forth (from lock to unlock) is stuck in the locked position. This should be safety issue as you cannot operate the driver side door. You cannot enter or exit the vehicle from the driver side.

41mo ago
Electrical 4

In October of 2020 I was pulling into a parking space and my car accelerated and crashed into a light pole resulting in injury to both my husband and myself. He is 91 years old and shattered his upper arm. We had the vehicle fixed and checked out and was told all was fine. About June of 2021 I took the car in for a recall on the brake lights to the Hyundai dealership and told them of the first incident and asked them to check and was told that all was fine. On December 23rd 2021, the same thing happened when I was pulling into my parking space at home. When it accelerated, I had both feet on the brake and ended up hitting a wall damaging the car again. Fortunately, this time injuries were minor. There were no warning lights, messages or symptoms before these two incidents happened. I am concerned that others will be put at risk if this happens again or to anyone else with one of these vehicles. I might add that with these accidents, the airbags did not deploy. The first was a significant crash which should have deployed the airbags.

55mo ago
Engine 1

MY ELDERLY MOTHER INLAW PURCHASED A CAR AT A BUY HERE PAY HERE PLACE. HER GRANDSON IMMEDIATELY NOTICED IT WAS SKIPPING WHEN IT GOT OVER 40. HIS GRANDMOTHER TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID IT WAS FINE THEN HIS GRANDMOTHER AND OTHERS NOTICED THE SKIPPING. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SENT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WE ARE UNABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH. IT HAS BEEN THEE DAYS AND THEY WILL NOT TELL HER ANYTHING NOR PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR HER USE. THEY SEEM TO BE SET UP TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS ELDERLY SICK LADY WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

63mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT THE VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS WOBBLING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 168,000.

63mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY ALERTED HER TO AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEN NOTICED ORANGE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER NECK BECAME HOT FROM THE INTENSE FLAMES HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO INJURY SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT QUICKLY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVING AT THE SCENE. A STATE TROOPER ARRIVED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED BUT WAS TRADED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

69mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON THE FLATBED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND FROM THERE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FUCCILLO HYUNDAI OF SYRACUSE, 2601 ERIE BLVD E, SYRACUSE, NY, 315-445-7900, AND WAS TOLD TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO ONE CALLED HER BACK, EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS TOLD THAT SOME ONE WOULD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

71mo ago
Body 1

I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL THAT MY STATEN ISLAND HYUNDAI SAID THEY COMPLETED ALL THE RECALL NOTICES ON MY CAR IN THE MAIL.I NEVER BROUGHT MY CAR THERE!

80mo ago
Body 2

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY SON'S HYUNDAI SONOTA ALSO ON 3 DIFFERENT DOOR'S. HYUNDAI REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.I SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI WILL NOT PUT THIS ON A RECALL. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY PROBLEM AS IF THERE IS A ACCIDENT AND CANNOT OPEN DOOR THEN WHAT.

85mo ago
Brakes 1

ON 18 OCTOBER 2017 BRAKES FAILED ON A HILL IN TRAFFIC WITH RED LIGHT AHEAD. 43903 MILES ON THE CAR. MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER AS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SOMEHOW I CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE AND GOT IT TO STOP. DIAGNOSED AS BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES RUPTURED. ALL 5 BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAUSE WAS CORROSION. STEERING GEAR ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.

104mo ago
Brakes 2

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. BRAKE LIGHT AND EMERGENCY BREAK LIGTH WENT ON - ON DASHBOARD. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 3 DAYS. AT 5 MPH, 10MPH AND 25MPH. LUCKILY THESE WERE ON CITY SIDE STREETS AND 1X WHILE PARKING. TYPICALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN WHILE BEGINNING OR POST BRAKE.

105mo ago
Transmission 4

WHEN CAR IS OFF AND STILL IN DRIVE YOU CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT AND LEAVE THE CAR, STILL IN DRIVE. I DID THAT AND IT BACKED UP AND HIT A TRUCK IN A PARKING LOT. IT HAS DONE IT EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. NO BIG DEAL UNTIL NOW. WHY DOES IT LET ME TAKE MY KEY OUT WHILE IT IS STILL IN DRIVE?

113mo ago
Body 1

ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS COME ON DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF WHEN GOING THROUGH A RAIN PUDDLE APPROX 3-4 INCHES DEEP. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN AND THE WHEEL LOCKS UP. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY TOLD ME THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY CANNOT FIX AN ISSUE THAT DOES NOT EXIST. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINS AND THE FACT THAT I JUST PAID THIS VEHICLE OFF IS MAKING ME RE-CONSIDER IT AND PURCHASE A NEW ONE. I HAVE CHILDREN AND NOW THAT WE'RE IN HURRICANE SEASON IN SOUTH FLORIDA I CANNOT DRIVE WHILE IT''S RAINING ON WHEN IT HOT AS HELL OUTSIDE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I'M GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE I PAID 20,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL THAT SOMEONE SHOULD REPLACE THIS VEHICLE OR PERFORM A RECALL TO FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING THE ISSUE.

122mo ago
Body 1

ESC OFF LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. IF RESTART VEHICLE LIGHT DOED NOT COME ON. THIS IS A MANUFACURING DEFECT & SHOULD BE RECALLED. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MECHANIC TO FIX SOMETHING THAT ISN'T REALLY BROKEN. THERE IS NOTHING WRING WITH THE SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SENSOR.

122mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

123mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL KNOB FOR THE AIR BLOWER BECAME HARD TO TURN AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE BLOWER CONTROL WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BLOWER CONTROL MODULE AND NOTICED THAT THE GROUND WIRE MELTED INSULATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT OVERHEATING OCCURRED IN SPEED FOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

134mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE OIL TO GO THROUGH THE METAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,546. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

134mo ago
Body 1

DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I HEARD AIR COMING THROUGH MY MOONROOF. OPENED SUNSHADE & SUDDENLY, SUNSHADE BUSTS OPEN & I SEE NO GLASS AT ALL. INSTANTLY LOOK IN REARVIEW MIRROR THINKING SUNSHADE FLEW ONTO THE ROAD, BUT SAW NOTHING. THANK GOODNESS B/C THIS SITUATION COULD'VE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE THAN IT ALREADY IS. GO TO DEALERSHIP & WAS TOLD IT'S A RECALL PRODUCT & TOLD ME WHICH REPAIR SHOP TO GO TO. HEARD BACK FROM REPAIR SHOP NEXT DAY (3/29); THEY SAID I'D HAVE TO PAY $180 (PUTTING FABRIC ON SUNSHADE & SERVICE MAINTENANCE). I WAS SHOCKED B/C I WASN'T EXPECTING TO PAY FOR A RECALL PRODUCT. CALL WEBASTO TO SEE IF THEY'LL REIMBURSE ME & THEY SAID THEY ONLY COVER PARTS. THIS SHOULDN'T BE THE CASE; IT'S THEIR BAD PRODUCT & THEY NEED TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO FIX IT. WAS ALSO INFORMED THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. FIND OUT TODAY THAT WEBASTO DIDN'T HAVE A PART & IT WOULDN'T GET TO THE REPAIR COMPANY UNTIL THURS (4/9) OR FRI (4/10) OF THIS WEEK. HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR B/C I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF PERSONAL STUFF & I COULDN'T KEEP INCONVENIENCING FRIENDS. CALLED WEBASTO HOPING THEY COULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR A RENTAL CAR (WAIT TIME WAS ON THEM). THEY ALREADY WOULDN'T COVER THE COST FOR THE $180. WELL, THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T REIMBURSE ME FOR THE RENTAL. CHECKED W/ MY INSURANCE CO. & THEY WOULDN'T EITHER. IT'S GOING ON 10 DAYS NOW W/O MY CAR & I PROBABLY WON'T GET IT BACK UNTIL FRI (4/10) OR MON (4/12), WHICH WOULD PUT ME AT 13-16 DAYS. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF IN A TIMELY MANNER. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND MY FRUSTRATION. I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING BLAMED SINCE I'M HAVING TO SPEND $380 ALL B/C THE PRODUCT WAS DEFECTED TO BEGIN WITH; NONE OF THIS WAS MY FAULT. I'D BE APPRECIATIVE IF THE COST OF MY RENTAL CAR & REPAIR SHOP FEE BE REIMBURSED TO ME. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR, AS THIS IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE. *TR

137mo ago

43 total

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