2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    abs module

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW IN DECEMBER 2009 AND TWICE IN JANUARY 2010. I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT STOP THE CAR WITHIN 20 TO 30 FEET OF THE CAR AHEAD. I HAVE TO DIVERT OFF ROAD TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. REPORTED THE…"~13,000 mi, complaint #764447
  2. #2

    engine stall or no start

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=10, median 28,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "OWNER (HYUNDAI TUCSON 2008 GLS) HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPRESENTATIVE IS THE WORSE. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN CUTTING OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIME INDICATING THE CAR CUT-OFFS WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, I TOOK MY…"~1,500 mi, complaint #876721
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE.…"~27,000 mi, complaint #1083898
    • "MY 2008 V6 TUCSON HAS STALLED WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC NUMEROUS TIMES.IT USUALLY STARTED RIGHT BACK UP BUT THE LAST TIME IT WOULD START BUT NOT STAY RUNNING. THE CAR ALSO CHUGS WHEN I RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL AT AROUND 45 MPH AND IT DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY DURING…"~30,000 mi, complaint #885240
  3. #3

    stability and traction control

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUSCON. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND THE STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATED. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DEACTIVATE THE ESC BUT TO NO AVAIL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO…"~16,100 mi, complaint #787389
    • "WE WERE DRIVING TOWARDS HOME WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO BUCK AS IF SOMEONE WERE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND SOUNDED AS IF GEARS WERE GRINDING. THE ESC IDIOT LIGHT KEPT GOING OFF AND ON SO I TURNED THE ESC OFF WITH THE MANUAL SWITCH AND IT SEEMED TO WORK MEANING I COU…"~84,732 mi, complaint #1062163
    • "ESC OFF LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. IF RESTART VEHICLE LIGHT DOED NOT COME ON. THIS IS A MANUFACURING DEFECT & SHOULD BE RECALLED. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MECHANIC TO FIX SOMETHING THAT ISN'T REALLY BROKEN. THERE IS NOTHING WRING WITH T…"~92,000 mi, complaint #1294978
  4. #4

    airbag system

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. "~63,000 mi, complaint #1284103
    • "AIRBAG LIGHT ON. DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED, HYUNDAI INLAND EMPIRE, LOMA LINDA, CA, DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED A WIRE WAS SEVERED IN LOOM ATTACHED TO PASSENGER SEATBELT THAT CONNECTS TO ASSEMBLY UNDER VEHICLE (PHOTOS AVAILABLE). THIS PART HAS NEVER BEEN TAMPER…"~67,397 mi, complaint #1045459
  5. #5

    alignment and pull

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE AS IF IT WERE ON ICE WHILE DRIVING ON DRY LAND. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SURGE FROM APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH TO 35 MPH. THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHERE TH…"complaint #672883
    • "UPON REACHING A SPEED OF 65 AND HIGHER, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE AS THOUGH THE TIRES ARE UNBALANCED. 4 SETS OF TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED AND INSTALLED, AND THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL. TIRES FROM A DIFFERENT CAR WERE INSTA…"complaint #727351
  6. #6

    brake hydraulics

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AT APPROXIMATELY 5 -10 MPH, THE WHEELS SEIZED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLI…"~12,800 mi, complaint #954963
    • "ON 18 OCTOBER 2017 BRAKES FAILED ON A HILL IN TRAFFIC WITH RED LIGHT AHEAD. 43903 MILES ON THE CAR. MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER AS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SOMEHOW I CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE AND GOT IT TO STOP. DIAGNOSED AS BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. BOTH REAR BRAKE LINE…"~43,903 mi, complaint #1432773
  7. #7

    engine internal

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY ALERTED HER TO AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEN…"~188,000 mi, complaint #1702581
  8. #8

    horn

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "HORN DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. MAY STOP WORKING FOR A FEW MINUTES UP TO A FEW DAYS AND THEN IT WORKS AGAIN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND IT WASN'T WORKING ON MY DRIVE THERE. OF COURSE WHEN IT WAS BEING SERVICED THE HORN WORKED. THE HORN WORKED FOR ANOTHER TWO DAYS…"~9,000 mi, complaint #815313
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SOUND THE HORN TO AVOID A CRASH AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN WAS VERY HARD TO PUSH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEAL…"~18,199 mi, complaint #873865
  9. #9

    power windows and locks

    1 unsafe, 1 broken

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "ELECTRIC LOCKS NO LONGER WORK VEHICLE MUST BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. *TR"~70,000 mi, complaint #982812
  10. #10

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER SECURELY; THE SEAT BELT LATCHED HER IN BUT DID NOT HOLD HER UPPER BODY CORRECTLY AND TIGHTEN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT…"~1,580 mi, complaint #830449
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CAME TO A STOP WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAINT HER PROPERLY AND THE SEAT POPPED B…"~25,000 mi, complaint #948663
  11. #11

    steering electric assist

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS COME ON DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF WHEN GOING THROUGH A RAIN PUDDLE APPROX 3-4 INCHES DEEP. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN AND THE WHEEL LOCKS UP. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY TOLD ME THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO THE…"~39,000 mi, complaint #1296891
    • "I WAS DRIVING ON 611 NORTH WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL FORCFULLY TURNED TO THE LEFT. IT PUT ME IN THE SECOND LANE OF ONGOING TRAFFIC, WHERE I HIT THE OPPOSING CAR HEAD ON. I WAS KNOCKEDOUT FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES. I DO NOT KNOW THE OTHER DRIVER'S INJURIES. I W…"~72,000 mi, complaint #912151
  12. #12

    unintended acceleration

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI TUSCON, PURCHASED AT FITZGERALD'S, WHICH YOU HAVE SERVICED IN THE PAST. YESTERDAY (3/21/10) WHEN ON A SHORT ROAD TRIP I STOPPED FOR GAS. ON STARTING, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN (WITHOUT ACCELERATOR…"~26,000 mi, complaint #776215
  13. #13

    wiper and washer

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "SNOW AND RAIN ICE STORM, WARMED UP CAR SCRAPED WINDOWS WELL, GOT ON RTE 3 @ 530AM WENT FROM SLOW TO HI ON WIPERS DUE TO VISIBILITY. THE WIPERS JUST STOPPED. GOT OFF HIGHWAY AND DROVE TO WORK WITH WINDOW OPEN. CALLED DEALERSHIP. IT APPEARS THIS IS A "COMMON PRO…"~10,998 mi, complaint #703392
    • "ON 3/23/2010 WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON (MILEAGE 17372 )ON A RAINY DAY, MY FRONT WIPERS STOPPED IN THE 1:00 POSITION (APPROX) RESTRICTING MY VISUAL SIGHT OF OTHER VEHICLES AND OBJECTS ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGH TRAFFIC ROAD THRU TOWN. I WAS…"~17,300 mi, complaint #777155
  14. #14

    corrosion and rust

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that a section of the rear sub frame was extremely corroded. The contact believed that a welding failure might have caused the severe corrosion on the subframe. The contact had taken the vehicle to an…"~134,000 mi, complaint #1899210
  15. #15

    door latch and hinge

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY SON'S HYUNDAI SONOTA ALSO ON 3 DIFFERENT DOOR'S. HYUNDAI REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.I SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI WILL NOT PUT THIS ON A RECALL. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY PR…"~65,000 mi, complaint #1578631
  16. #16

    engine cooling

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON MARCH 6, 2009, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING. SHE REACHED HER RESIDENCE AND OBSERVED STEAM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. HYUNDAI R…"complaint #711329
  17. #17

    engine oil consumption

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE OIL TO GO THROUGH THE METAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA…"~57,546 mi, complaint #1191669
  18. #18

    fuel tank and lines

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE RUBBER FUEL LINE WAS ROUTED SUCH THAT IT RUBBED THE METAL CLIP SECURING THE AIR FILTER, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. THE REPLACEMENT FUEL LINE INSTALLED BY THE DEALER ALSO WILL REACH THIS METAL CLIP. THERE IS NO RESTRAINT ON THE FUEL LINE TO PREVENT THE RUBBING AN…"~80,000 mi, complaint #917427
  19. #19

    key fob and immobilizer

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WHEN CAR IS OFF AND STILL IN DRIVE YOU CAN TAKE THE KEY OUT AND LEAVE THE CAR, STILL IN DRIVE. I DID THAT AND IT BACKED UP AND HIT A TRUCK IN A PARKING LOT. IT HAS DONE IT EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. NO BIG DEAL UNTIL NOW. WHY DOES IT LET ME TAKE MY KEY OUT…"~82,000 mi, complaint #1367909
  20. #20

    other

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL THAT MY STATEN ISLAND HYUNDAI SAID THEY COMPLETED ALL THE RECALL NOTICES ON MY CAR IN THE MAIL.I NEVER BROUGHT MY CAR THERE!"~46,000 mi, complaint #1623888
  21. #21

    steering rack mechanical

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. BRAKE LIGHT AND EMERGENCY BREAK LIGTH WENT ON - ON DASHBOARD. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 3 DAYS. AT 5 MPH, 10MPH AND 25MPH. LUCKILY THESE WERE ON CITY SIDE STREETS AND 1X WHILE PARKING. TYPICALLY WHEN ATTEMPT…"~66,000 mi, complaint #1427083
  22. #22

    sunroof

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I HEARD AIR COMING THROUGH MY MOONROOF. OPENED SUNSHADE & SUDDENLY, SUNSHADE BUSTS OPEN & I SEE NO GLASS AT ALL. INSTANTLY LOOK IN REARVIEW MIRROR THINKING SUNSHADE FLEW ONTO THE ROAD, BUT SAW NOTHING. THANK GOODNESS B/C THIS SITUATI…"~62,000 mi, complaint #1172694
  23. #23

    transmission automatic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "MY ELDERLY MOTHER INLAW PURCHASED A CAR AT A BUY HERE PAY HERE PLACE. HER GRANDSON IMMEDIATELY NOTICED IT WAS SKIPPING WHEN IT GOT OVER 40. HIS GRANDMOTHER TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID IT WAS FINE THEN HIS GRANDMOTHER AND OTHERS NOTICED THE SKIPPING. SHE CALLED THE…"~125,000 mi, complaint #1745972
  24. #24

    wiring harness

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL KNOB FOR THE AIR BLOWER BECAME HARD TO TURN AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE BLOWER CONTROL WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED. THE CONTACT RE…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1196789

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for HYUNDAI TUCSON directly.