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2010 Hyundai Tucson Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Hyundai Tucson, most often about the transmission (37% of complaints, typically around 26,500 miles). It is 20th of 22 Tucson model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2010 Hyundai Tucson problems
Transmission
22 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 26,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
For awhile noticed occasional but unusual increase in RPM's. Didn't think much of it until incident on highway when car made a loud noise, and lurched forward as if we hit something. Immediately pulled off road, and didn't notice any damage. Took car to dealer when they "reset" something and said the car was good.…
My problem with this Tucson is in regards of "sudden unintended acceleration". It sporadically, on an almost daily basis we experience "sua" followed by immediately loses power and acceleration every time it's driven. Ex: driving on the freeway doing 70mph, it will lunge and the tachometer will race and suddenly loses…
Brakes
14 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles.
Over the last week, my car has gotten stuck in park on 3 occasions. This is a problem with the brake switch. Apparently, Hyundai and kia have recalled 1.9m cars with this problem but the Hyundai Tucson is only recalled up to year 2009. Mine is a 2010 and not included in the recall. However, this is a serious problem…
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the electronic stability control and down hill brake control warning lights illuminated. In addition, the gear shifter failed to shift into park from the drive position. Also, while driving various speeds, the gear shifter shifted out of the drive…
Engine
7 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 140,000 miles.
I first noticed white smoke coming from the back of my SUV. I pulled into a store parking lot and tried to park. My main brakes failed. I then tried using my emergency brake. It too failed. White smoke started coming through the vents so I turned them away from me and tried shifting to park with no success. I then…
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the dealer had repaired the vehicle under Hyundai technical service bulletin number: 21-01-023h-3 (engine monitoring logic update). However, two months later, the vehicle stalled while at a complete stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The…
Electrical
6 complaints · 10%See oid 10434752. Same issue. Had problems getting vehicle into park. That issue appears resolved. However, one day the stereo was staying on for a few seconds after the car was turned off. Two days later, there was no audio from the stereo, GPS or bluetooth. They all appear to be working (radio changes…
The right passenger door will not lock. The electronic locking system on the doors started clicking, when I stopped and put the car in park. I was able to get the other doors to lock, but the right door stopped working. Also the overhead night light is no working. The car istotally dark at night when I open the doors.
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 9%I first noticed white smoke coming from the back of my SUV. I pulled into a store parking lot and tried to park. My main brakes failed. I then tried using my emergency brake. It too failed. White smoke started coming through the vents so I turned them away from me and tried shifting to park with no success. I then…
Air bags
5 complaints · 9%A truck pulled in front of me and I smashed the whole front of my car into them and my air bag did not deploy..updated 05/30/14 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The consumer received injuries to the neck back and hips. Updated 06/06/2014
On 6/14 while driving on the expressway the airbags in my car deployed there wasn't any damage to my car. Took it in to carmax was told it detected a crash but no damage they couldn't believe it. Elgin Hyundai looked at it and explained it had impact damage but they couldnt find anything wrong.
Speed control
3 complaints · 5%My problem with this Tucson is in regards of "sudden unintended acceleration". It sporadically, on an almost daily basis we experience "sua" followed by immediately loses power and acceleration every time it's driven. Ex: driving on the freeway doing 70mph, it will lunge and the tachometer will race and suddenly loses…
On three separate occasions this vehicle experienced unintentional acceleration while either braking or slowly attempting to park. During each incident the auto accelerated at high speed while my foot was on the brake and I was unable to stop the auto from proceeding forward even with both feet heavily applied to the…
Lights
3 complaints · 5%The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the electronic stability control and down hill brake control warning lights illuminated. In addition, the gear shifter failed to shift into park from the drive position. Also, while driving various speeds, the gear shifter shifted out of the drive…
The right passenger door will not lock. The electronic locking system on the doors started clicking, when I stopped and put the car in park. I was able to get the other doors to lock, but the right door stopped working. Also the overhead night light is no working. The car istotally dark at night when I open the doors.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Hyundai Tucson recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed april 10, 2024 through october 11, 2024. Owners may contact hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor america (hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 elantra, genesis coupe, sonata hybrid, 2012-2015 accent, azera, veloster, 2013-2015 elantra coupe, santa fe, 2014-2015 equus, 2010-2012 veracruz, 2010-2013 tucson, 2015 tucson fuel cell, and 2013 santa fe sport vehicles. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Lights: switch
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'on' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 22, 2013. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Full defect summary
Hyundai motor company (hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 accent, model year 2007-2011 azera, sonata and sante fe,2006-2011 tucson, 2009-2011 elantra touring, 2007-2010 elantra, 2008-2011 veracruz, 2009-2011 genesis, 2010-2011 genesis coupe, 2007-2008 entourage, and 2006-2008 tiburon vehicles. Originally, in april 2013, hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 accent and tucson, model year 2007-2010 elantra, model year 2007-2011 santa fe, model year 2008-2009 veracruz, model year 2010-2011 genesis coupe, and model year 2011 sonata vehicles. In september 2013, hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to
Lights: exterior lighting
Risk: This could lead to reduced visibility of the rear of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear reflector assemblies, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during june 2011. Owners may contact hyundai's customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect summary
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2010 tucson vehicles manufactured from february 27, 2010, through april 17, 2010 for failing to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment," for the photometry requirements of the rear reflector assemblies installed in the rear bumpers.
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: If "air bag" warning lamp is illuminated, the passenger air bag will deploy if a crash of sufficient force to require front air bag deployment is experienced, and will not be deactivated if a child is seated in the right front seating position, which may increase the risk of injury to a child front passenger.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the pods module free of charge. Hyundai anticipates owners notification began by telephone on february 15 2010 and the notification was mailed on march 5, 2010. Owners may contact hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect summary
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2010 tucson vehicles. Properly seated adult right front seat passengers weighing over approximately 240 pounds cause the passive occupant detection system (pods) module program to illuminate the "air bag" warning lamp.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Questions about the 2010 Hyundai Tucson
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Hyundai Tucson?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (22 complaints, typically around 26,500 miles); brakes (14 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles); engine (7 complaints, typically around 140,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Hyundai Tucson have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 22, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Hyundai Tucson?
- It is 20th of 22 Tucson model years by number of complaints, with 59 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.