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2016 Hyundai Tucson Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,625 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, most often about the transmission (32% of complaints, typically around 7,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Tucson model year since 2000 and has 5 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 2016 Hyundai Tucson problems
Transmission
518 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 7,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly.
On 2 separate occasions the car would not accelerate from a stop. The first time I had backed on to the road, put the car in drive and tried to accelerate. The engine revs but no forward motion. I tried putting it in park then drive, neutral then drive. Still no acceleration. Car finally started to creap forward.…
Vehicle shifts into neutral randomly. I was driving normally on a city street and slowing down. Then I stepped on the gas to speed up and the engine raced (like the vehicle was in neutral). However, the vehicle was not moving and coasted almost to a stop. I put on the brakes, put the vehicle into park, and then back…
Engine
430 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
My car turned off twice while driving with no indicators lighting up. I was going to take it for oil change closer to my work; but had to pull over the vehicle started to knock again no indicators came on. I finally get to a dealership for kia and agent told me they had to check for recalls on the engine because past…
When starting from a complete stop or stationary, the car hesitates, almost seems to choke, and then lurches forward with a burst when trying to enter into traffic. It is hard to anticipate whether it will move or not when trying to pull out into traffic from a stop sign. Once moving the car seems to operate and…
Other or unspecified
263 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles.
When the vehicle is stationary (example: I come to a stop at a stop sign or stop light) then try to move again, the car won't move and there is a lull when I give it gas. This is a dangerous problem with the dual clutch transmission. The engine "revs" but the car wouldn't move after coming to a stop. I have had a few…
Recently, we've been experiencing an issue involving the rear door locking system on our daughter's 2016 Tucson. The doors can't be opened, despite the child locks being disabled, the auto and manual locks being unlocked, or the manual handles being used from inside or out. The is a most unsafe situation, especially…
Body and structure
227 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
First my driver's side rear door got to sticking at 60, 500 mile and now my front passenger side door doing the same thing. My taillight says it's not work and it be working and vis versus, as if there's a shortage. Now the steep hill lights come on along with the car traction light. It's doing it more now than ever.…
Purchased a 2016 tuscon with 35 miles on it on may 2016. Within 3 months my passenger door would not open after being unlocked. This was corrected and had no problems. Within the last 2 months of this year, both of my rear doors are having problems, the passenger side buzzes when the lock , the driver side passenger…
Electrical
217 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: software, ignition.
Rear passenger door will not open when unlocked with either outside handle nor inside handle without jarring door. Safety issue due to not being able to get children out of carseat
Once per day, while driving on flat ground, the car displays the message "steep grade! Press brake pedal" (page 5-20 in the owners manual). When this happens, the car completely dies and can not accelerate. I have to put my hazards on and coast to the side of the road! This is extremely dangerous! I have taken it to…
Doors and locks
158 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors, hatchback/liftgate, electronic lock/latch actuator, fueling/charging door/hatch/port.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side door failed to open. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer team Hyundai of bend (2250 ne. Hwy 20, bend, or 97701, [phone]) where it was diagnosed with needing the rear…
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the rear passengerâs side door failed to open from the inside or outside while unlocked. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was…
Speed control
112 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 7,500 miles.
I purchased my 2016 hyjndai Tucson new and in less than a year it has been sent to the local Hyundai dealership via tow truck. Each time is the same issue, the vehicle while in drive will not move forward while the accelerator is pressed. The rpms will react to the accelerator, but the vehicle will not move. First…
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle failed to move forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred randomly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was not notified of…
Fuel system
56 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 11,000 miles.
Standing at red light with foot on brake pedal. When light change to green, I tok foot of brake and stept on gas pedal. The engen started to race but car would not move. After severel seconds and cars behind me honking their horn, car would lurch forward and slowely gain speed. I was going strait forward so I did not…
The dual clutch manual transmission "freezes" in neutral even though the car is in drive. The vehicle won't move. This is a dangerous situation. It happens sporadically. The engine is also very balky and sluggish on acceleration.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Hyundai Tucson recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Electrical: software
Risk: Inability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: tail lights
Risk: Failure to illuminate the trailer's turn signal lights would prevent the communication of the driver's intent, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
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
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 2016 Hyundai Tucson
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (518 complaints, typically around 7,500 miles); engine (430 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); other or unspecified (263 complaints, typically around 39,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 4, 2020 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Hyundai Tucson?
- It is the most complained-about Tucson model year since 2000, with 1,625 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.