There are 50 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Tucsonin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
All dash warning lights are on and dash lights have a intermittent bright light surge. Hard to shut off engine and have to disconnect battery for electric power to shut off. Very noticeable hesitation in acceleration starting to drive
Hyundai Tucson Sport 2016 GDI engine. I am the original owner of this truck I have taken care of this truck so much it being my first brand new purchase. No oil leaks NOTHING! When I first purchased the vehicle I noticed that it would stall when I would accelerate but did not think too much of it since it was brand new. A few years passed started to notice frequent oil changes were supposed to be made. Another few years turbocharger went out had to get it replaced. The engine consumes so much oil at first I thought it was because the turbocharger was out so when I got it fixed I thought that would fix that issue and it didn’t. I got an oil change March 2, 2026 and on March 21, 2026 I was on the highway and the truck started to shake really bad I exited the highway went straight to the oil place they said I had no oil on the dipstick I got ANOTHER oil change (expensive) and when I turned on the car to leave the car shook again and the engine light was flickering on and off and finally stayed on the dash board. Barely made it home. Got a tow truck to tow it to Hyundai dealership they told me they will not see it unless I pay the diagnostic fee of $200 and even then they think it’s the engine with everything I described to them. They said since there are no recalls on the Tucson that Hyundai will not do anything for me I would have to pay out of pocket for everything. Had to pay the tow truck again to tow it to my house ($250). My car has all the symptoms all the other cars have that they have recalled. This is a huge safety issue because i drive on the highway a lot and everyone knows a car with no oil is extremely dangerous.
The transmission began slipping and hesitating within days of purchase. The vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate when pressing the gas pedal, especially when pulling into traffic or crossing intersections. This creates a serious safety risk because the vehicle does not respond when needed, leaving me exposed to oncoming traffic. The issue is intermittent and does not always trigger warning lamps or fault codes. The problem has been reproduced multiple times by me while driving under normal conditions. The selling dealer performed only a brief test drive and stated they could not duplicate the issue, but the hesitation and failure‑to‑accelerate continue to occur. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Hyundai, but the symptoms match known issues with the 2016 Tucson’s dual‑clutch transmission and TCM logic. There were no warning lights prior to the failure, and the symptoms first appeared within the first week of ownership. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
"On [XXX], my 2016 Hyundai Tucson (VIN [XXX] ) experienced severe engine power loss and mechanical noise under load while driving uphill, creating a dangerous safety situation. This occurred 2 days after a dealer visit (February 19, 2026) where an open KSDS Service Campaign (TSB HCE22-14-E600-TL, Issue 10D021) — directly related to engine monitoring — was left incomplete. The dealer subsequently denied an engine evaluation citing mileage over 150,000, despite the open campaign having no mileage restriction and despite a prior verbal commitment to cover repairs. Multiple follow-up attempts by phone, email, and WhatsApp have been ignored." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My car had a KSDS knock sensor detection system campaign 966 installed in 2022 specifically to active if having rod bearing wear. Towed my car to Hyundai under the TXXM warranty and they said my bearing clearance was ok and i need new lifters and timing chain cost for repair $2900. I have asked for the full rod bearing wear test report and they will not provide it. They have had my vehicle for 20 days now and I am out of work on disability. Hyundai service center is generally expected to provide you with a report following a rod bearing wear test (often referred to as a Bearing Clearance Test or by a related service campaign, such as T6G or TSB 21-EM-004H). Here is what you can expect regarding reports and documentation: Documentation of Results: The dealership should provide a copy of the results, specifically noting if the bearing clearance passes or fails. Proof of Inspection: If the test is performed under a recall or Service Campaign (e.g., Campaign 966, 982, or T6G), they are required to document the inspection, which you can request for your records. Evidence of Damage: If the test results in a failed diagnosis, technicians often take photos of the engine internals, such as metal flakes in the oil pan or excessive wear, which are used to support the warranty claim. If the Test Passes: If your vehicle passes, ask the technician to print a copy of the results. If the Test Fails: A formal diagnosis of rod bearing failure, confirmed by this test, is required for engine replacement under the extended 15-year/150,000-mile warranty. Hyundai - Recalls +3 This is a safety issue without the full rod bearing report to consumer. Thank you for upstanding, [XXX] cell - [XXX] email - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and there was a ticking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where a mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a knock sensor failure. The knock sensor was replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was included in Manufacturer Campaign: CS966 for the transmission control module (TCM). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that the vehicle was included and the software update was performed. After the vehicle was repaired, the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated; however, approximately 30 minutes later, the vehicle failed to exceed 35 MPH, and the check engine warning light started flashing. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the software update caused the vehicle to enter LIMP Mode to protect the engine. The dealer informed the contact to drive the vehicle for 30 days or a total of 500 -1000 miles, and if the vehicle continued to enter LIMP Mode or failed to operate as needed, to return the vehicle for the engine to be replaced. There were no additional repairs performed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Car died/lost power while driving in traffic 11/28/25. Good Samaritan was kind enough to push me off the road out of traffic. Car was towed to Hyundai dealer that day, then 12/1 told engine failure, required engine replacement. Class action lawsuit settlement for engine replacement, but denied by Hyundai because of "neglect", since I am not able to locate all of the service records that they request. Known faulty rotating assembly, and Hyundai has implemented concerted practice of denying warranty coverage for failed engine. Now having to pay almost $8K to replace with new engine, but concern that new engine will have same issue. (multiple posts about this). There was high potential for significant traffic collision, injury due to sudden, catastrophic engine failure. Traumatic experience.
While driving on the highway at normal speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power and shut off without warning. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the loss of power. I was able to safely pull over, but the engine would not restart at that time and the vehicle required towing. The sudden engine shutdown occurred in active traffic and created a safety risk due to loss of propulsion. The vehicle later restarted, but I brought it to an authorized Hyundai dealership for inspection. The dealership diagnosed internal engine damage, including piston ring failure and cylinder wall scoring, and advised that the engine would need to be replaced. Since the incident, the vehicle has shown intermittent oil pressure warning lights and reduced performance. The issue has been confirmed by a dealer inspection. The vehicle is currently not considered reliable or safe for regular driving.
The car will fail to accelerate when turning at a stop and starting at times. It’s very dangerous b/c you can be at a complete stop on the highway and try to start going and the car will sputter out. There is no doubt that something is wrong with the transmission and has been for a year but didn’t register until 12,000 miles later.the car only has 70,000 miles in it. I kept taking it to Hyundai to be looked at and they kept telling me it was just how the dual clutch transmission works. Now a year later they say it’s registering as a problem but don’t want to cover it under the warranty b/c I’m a second owner. If I was the original owner, it would be covered. If you look at the history of this year and make, you can see there have been issues with this car. I am extremely upset they aren’t willing to cover the cost. This is my [XXX] daughter’s car and this has been extremely dangerous to drive. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
i bought the car used, i took it in for diagnostics on my transmission. they claimed i needed a new one, not claiming i need a new clutch. my car’s model and year match the DCT recall problems. but not the vin. when my car was in the heat or accelerating it had the same issues listed. i believe this is a manufacturing issue.
Misfire, excessive oil consumption, engine knocking, loss of power/acceleration, gas smell, excessive gas consumption
I’ve been having ongoing issues with my 2016 Hyundai Tucson where the car struggles to accelerate, especially after stopping at red lights or pulling out into traffic. Sometimes, when I press the gas pedal, the car either hesitates badly or doesn’t move at all. A few times it’s completely stalled while trying to make turns or cross intersections, which has been really scary and dangerous. I did some research and found there was a known recall for this exact problem related to the Transmission Control Module software and the dual-clutch transmission. The symptoms described in the recall match mine perfectly, but when I checked my VIN, my vehicle isn’t included. I haven’t taken it to the dealer yet because I’m worried I’ll have to pay out of pocket for something that I believe is part of a known manufacturer issue.
1. "Transmission or ECU" 2. There is a lag and sometimes almost stall when accelerating from a stop. I was turning into a lane from a stop sign and the car decided to not move for 3-4 seconds after pressing accelerator. If people had come around the blind corner when that happened I would have been T boned. 3. All four people living in my house...... and our mechanic. Yes 4.No, because were not paying for something that has had a recall. 5. We inherited this car from my grandmother and she knows nothing about cars so she never thought anything was wrong. Since the day we got it, it has been doing the same thing "DCT CONTROL LOGIC UPDATE & P0128 DTC LOGIC UPDATE (RECALL 149)" #17-01-023
1. December 2024: Hyundai dealership diagnosed my transmission as defective (unable to shift properly) and recommended a full replacement. Despite this, they assured me the vehicle was "safe to drive" without disclosing risks. - Unedited dealer text: "The tech said he doesn’t think it will break down or leave you stranded, he just can’t get it to shift correctly." - No warnings were given about prolonged use, highway driving, or potential failure. 2. Post-Repair Damage: After relying on Hyundai’s advice, the transmission worsened, causing additional damage (e.g., radiator failure). 3. Recall Negligence: My VIN was wrongly excluded from Recall 16V-628 (transmission control issues), despite exhibiting identical symptoms. They didn't cover repairs, despite their technician confirming the defect. The safety impacts are as follows: - Sudden loss of power while driving (e.g., inability to accelerate or shift). - Increased crash risk due to erratic transmission behavior. - Hyundai’s failure to warn put me and other drivers in danger. I am requesting: - Investigate why my VIN was excluded from Recall 16V-628. - Force Hyundai to reimburse repairs and extend recall coverage. - Require Hyundai to issue clear safety warnings after faulty repairs. Attached is the following: - The radiator repair invoice. - Proof of text from Hyundai. - Proof of my Vin being excluded from recall. - Quote for my transmission repair.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the transmission started slipping while accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V628000 (Power Train, Electrical System). The contact called an independent mechanic who provided a printout of a recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
When accelerating, like taking off from a red light or through a turn, my car begins to shake like it’s unable to change gears correctly, and sometimes leads to the car stalling in the middle of the street and intersection putting my in danger of being hit from other drivers. It’s also happened that when I press the gas after being stopped at a light, my car RPM goes up but I don’t move and then the car jolts forward quickly. This has been happening for years and when I take it to Hyundai they tell me “that’s just how the car runs” which seems incredibly unsafe.
My backup, my reverse is not working after 30 minutes the car is running.
loss of power, transmission slipping. unable to get car to move creating hazard. happened 5 times. Diagnosed by dealer as systemic transmission component failure and known issue. many of the same complaints on internet, Code p1921
Vehicle started to shake and lost acceleration. Gave engine Code P073F Unable to engage gear 1. Hyundai shows Recall Campaign for this issue but dealer refuses to acknowledge it, and says it needs new transmission. They state transmission damaged clutch rather than clutch damaged transmission.
Oil consumption is excessive it has caused the engine to have a knocking noise even though routine oil changes have been up to date. Yes available for inspection. This may cause the engine to seize at any given point while in motion. No, I have not been able to take the vehicle to a dealership yet. No, vehicle has not been inspected. No, no check engine/warning light has turned on. Knocking noise began June 28th 2024.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026