2021 Hyundai Tucson
The Verdict
The 2021 Hyundai Tucson has 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (45 complaints) and body (13 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 79/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Hyundai Tucson, consider the 2009 model year which has 76% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2009 has 76% fewer complaints
View the 2009 Hyundai Tucson dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
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.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 59 | 12 | 54 | 49 | 11 |
| 2006 | 36 | 15 | 50 | 27 | 7 |
| 2007 | 25 | 6 | 19 | 11 | 4 |
| 2008 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 22 |
| 2011 | 26 | 25 | 4 | 46 | 19 |
| 2012 | 27 | 23 | 13 | 170 | 16 |
| 2013 | 36 | 34 | 18 | 161 | 11 |
| 2014 | 20 | 46 | 9 | 118 | 3 |
| 2015 | 26 | 52 | 12 | 123 | 6 |
| 2016 | 571 | 36 | 149 | 452 | 408 |
| 2017 | 159 | 35 | 50 | 637 | 200 |
| 2018 | 36 | 32 | 20 | 250 | 55 |
| 2019 | 35 | 111 | 18 | 203 | 8 |
| 2020 | 40 | 42 | 16 | 74 | 3 |
| 2021 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 45 | 2 |
| 2022 | 77 | 24 | 42 | 207 | 29 |
| 2023 | 49 | 16 | 22 | 34 | 10 |
| 2024 | 45 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 1 |
| 2025 | 154 | 37 | 64 | 12 | 12 |
By Category
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Worst Problems
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See how the 2021 Hyundai Tucson stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
Engine knock sensor went off and now the engine needs replacement due to faulty cylinder rod.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine blew. No warning lights were illuminated. There was white smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,800.
This vehicle burns oil at an alarming rate. I am getting oil changes every 3K miles, and when I take it in, the dipstick is dry. I receive no oil lights to tell me it is low. I just had to get spark plugs and the mechanic at the garage told me this was due to the oil consumption issue in these vehicles. I am at 71,000 miles.
I was driving down [XXX] from my house.My engine light started to flash.I tried to accelerate my car barely went 10 miles an hour.I got Home 2 minutes later.There was major knocking.I had the car towed to [XXX], Hyundai, the only code that is showing up on the diagnostics, is P1326 there is an open class action lawsuit for this exact code. For the rod bearing failure, Hyundai is denying the claim, saying there's a gap in maintenance history on a car. I didn't own yet when I bought the vehicle. It passed a 190 point inspection. There's no way there was anything wrong with this vehicle.I am under fifty thousand miles , and if I was on the highway , it could've been deadly i could not accelerate. No other lights were on in the vehicle, except for the flashing engine light.I have already reported to the better business bureau and they have sent it to arbitration. I have contacted the escalation department for Hyundai.They opened up to separate cases.The agent that was assigned to me didn't even get the code from [XXX], they just denied the claim without it.I have the emails to prove that I had to give it to her. I have.\n All my maintenance history, but as you can see from the text message from XXX Hyundai, they are requesting maintenance for a car that wasn't in my possession yet. They're asking for dates from a year before I had the car, I bought it through EchoPark. I have everyone on my side including fFdelity , as I tried to go through Fidelity and they said they couldn't approve the warranty because of the class action lawsuit against Hyundai for that exact manufacturer malfunction. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road before being driven to the residence. The contact’s neighbor checked the oil level and informed the contact that the oil pan was empty. The oil level was topped off. The contact stated that the vehicle was not due for an oil change for another 200 miles. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that there was no oil in the oil pan. The contact was informed to provide the vehicle service records. The contact stated that the failure was a manufacturer's failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and two cases were filed. The failure mileage was approximately 44,807.
Forward Collision Avoidance Assist is on and will not go off. Only has 16,900 miles and is newly out of warranty except for 5yr 50,000 bumper warranty. Dealer at Allen Turner says noat way they will cover this because my Vin is not listed in the latest recall. This vehicle was purchased new and has been maintained as required by manufacture . So, I am [XXX] and have purchased new Hyandais before. I do not at this time in my life have the means to fix this issue. Is there any help on this from Manufacture since this is so newly out of warranty and low mileage. I do not know what to expect as to causing a road accident and hurting myself or someone else. My phone is [XXX] and address is [XXX] Email is [XXX]. Kind regards. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Forward crash avoidance system keeps activating causing the car to brake on it's own. This was previously fixed on my car once back in 2022 and now in 2026 it is happening again. I have been trying to communicate with Hyundai regarding additional years to current recall but their not going to even though they have known for years this was an issue and included older models than their current recall. This is not a one time issue this is the second time and until fixed it continously caused the vechile to randomly brake, it's going to get someone seriously injured or killed if they don't address it.
My back windshield shattered unexpectedly
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle on several occasions, the message "Check the Forward Collison System" was displayed, and a collision warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the forward-looking camera had experienced an open circuit, and unknown parts needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V316000 (Forward Collison Avoidance). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,493.
My car is burning oil. I have returned multiple times to have it serviced and checked for leaks, but no leaks have been found. Before reaching the recommended 3,000-mile oil change interval, the oil level drops below the minimum mark on the dipstick. In addition, my engine has started making a knocking noise, which is very concerning.
Vehicle stalled approximately 15 times between April 17 and May 4, 2026, including once on Interstate XXX at approximately 50mph with minor children ages [XXX] and [XXX] in the vehicle. The oil and battery lights illuminated simultaneously at each stall. Diagnosed as ABS module failure first, then left front wheel speed sensor failure on the 2nd occasion, both confirmed by a Hyundai dealership. Multiple warning lights illuminated, including check blind spot and anti lock brake system messages on the dashboard BUT no error codes following the 2nd repair. The vehicle has been inspected and repaired twice by the manufacturer’s dealership with a 3rd repair currently pending as of May 11, 2026. An open case has been filed with Hyundai Motor America regarding this issue. Issue remains unresolved and the vehicle is still at the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2 years ago I had the engine replaced. Now on this new engine which has approximately 29k. The mechanic is telling me that I need a new engine. I called Hyundai and their telling me that is not under warranty anymore. What can be done?
My 2021 Hyundai Tucson has experienced repeated engine-related failures associated with a knock sensor (P1326) fault that causes the vehicle to enter limp mode and lose power while driving. This issue has occurred multiple times at approximately 15,000, 17,000, 41,000, and 90,000 miles and has resulted in four separate incidents requiring towing. During these events, the vehicle suddenly loses power and cannot maintain normal driving speed, creating a hazardous condition while in traffic. The vehicle has undergone multiple repair attempts, including an ECM update and three knock sensor replacements. Despite these repairs, the issue continues to recur and no root cause has been identified. Hyundai has not provided a permanent fix and has advised continued operation of the vehicle unless the issue occurs again. This ongoing condition presents a safety concern due to the risk of sudden loss of power while driving.
In October 2025, while the vehicle was still under Hyundai’s 5-year warranty, an authorized Hyundai dealership diagnosed a significant electrical failure affecting the ABS/ESC system on my 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The vehicle was experiencing multiple dashboard warning lights, intermittent key fob malfunction, alarm system failure, and progressive electrical instability affecting safe operation. Dealer diagnostic trouble codes included C120001, C167581, and C164202, with technician notes stating “ABS sensor wiring harness fault found.” The dealership recommended replacement of the wiring harness, estimated at approximately $12,000, but no warranty repair was performed. Since the initial diagnosis, the condition has continued to worsen with additional warning lights and ongoing ABS/electrical system instability. The issue remains unresolved and continues to affect vehicle safety.
I just got an oil change and the oil was completely gone although there was no leak found. Not even a week later my oil is low again. There is smoke coming from the back pipes and the gas is burning out quickly. I just purchased the car last year
I already replaced 3 catalytic converters and I am at 31000 miles. They finally decided to do an oil consumption test but it passed. The other day my car started shaking and my ignition coil and spark plugs were also bad which somehow is related to my engine issues.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light was frequently illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to various independent mechanics and was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer for service, and upon inspection, the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was provided with an estimate for the engine replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was initially informed that the vehicle was covered under warranty; however, the contact was later informed that there was no warranty on the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
While driving on the freeway, my 2021 Hyundai Tucson SE (72,021 miles) suddenly and without warning lost power and entered limp mode. I was able to safely maneuver to the shoulder and exit the freeway. The check engine light came on and is currently flashing. I took the vehicle to AutoZone where code P1326 was retrieved. I then took it to Pep Boys for a full diagnostic where P1326 was the only code present. The Pep Boys report states the vehicle requires immediate attention. The vehicle remains in limp mode and the check engine light is flashing. The vehicle is not being driven as it cannot safely reach freeway speeds. I contacted Hyundai Customer Care and was assigned Case # XXX. I also contacted a Hyundai dealership who attempted to charge a 225 diagnostic fee despite P1326 being a known Hyundai defect covered under recall/service campaign. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicle experienced a catalytic converter efficiency failure that was confirmed by an authorized dealership in January 2025. The dealer indicated the catalytic converter required replacement; however, the replacement was not performed, and the vehicle was returned to service with an unresolved emissions defect. Less than one year later, the vehicle developed recurring emissions system failure, loss of power, drivability issues, and repeated warning indicators. The vehicle is currently out of service while additional components, including oxygen sensors and spark plugs, are reported to be affected. The manufacturer is declining to replace the catalytic converter and is attributing the condition to oil consumption despite the prior unresolved emissions failure. The issue has been confirmed by dealership diagnostics and has resulted in prolonged loss of use of the vehicle. This appears to be a continuing engine and exhaust/emissions system defect that was not properly remedied when first identified and may affect safe operation of the vehicle.
78 total