The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 518 of 1,626 complaints (32%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more fire reports (17) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 229 in 2015 to 1,626 in 2016.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,626
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,200–$2,700
- Combined MPG
- 23–28
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,500–2,850 | 2,500–2,850 | 2,200–2,700 | 2,200–2,700 | 2,300–2,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–25 | 22–25 | 23–28 | 23–28 | 22–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–23 / 25–28 | 20–23 / 25–28 | 21–26 / 26–32 | 21–26 / 26–32 | 21–25 / 25–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 351–399 | 351–402 | 317–389 | 317–388 | 334–396 | |
| Complaints filed | 202 | 229 | 1,626 | 1,097 | 399 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 13 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 9 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 10 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 518 of 1,626 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson get?
EPA rates it 23–28 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
EPA estimates $2,200–$2,700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 23 mpg | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 342 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 21 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $2,700 (high) | 389 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AM7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 25 mpg | 30 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 335 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 26 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,200 (low) | 317 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AM7) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 24 mpg | 28 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AM7) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg | 30 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 334 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Hydrogen | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 49 MPGe | 51 MPGe | 50 MPGe | $0 | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 430 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 518 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 56 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 217 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 57 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 18 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 117 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 386 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 69 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Other | 267 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
- Consequence
- An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 20, 2015 through May 31, 2016 and equipped with a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission. Certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the vehicle to not move if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released repeatedly.
- Consequence
- Inability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 149.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015 to March 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, if the primary hood latch has been released, and the vehicle is driven, the secondary hood latch may not hold adequately secure the hood to prevent it from opening while the vehicle is in motion.
- Consequence
- If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch cannot secure the hood, the hood may unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 145.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured May 26, 2015 to January 15, 2016 and equipped with an accessory trailer hitch harness either included with the accessory trailer hitch or sold as a service part. In the affected vehicles, when the vehicle's engine is running and the brake lights are illuminated, if the turn signal is activated, the trailer turn signal lights will either turn off or remain continuously illuminated (not flash). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- Failure to illuminate the trailer's turn signal lights would prevent the communication of the driver's intent, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9640. Hyundai's number for this recall is 142.