2010 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

    transmission automatic

    14 unsafe

    14
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=19, median 37,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTING WITH LOUD CLUNK AND LURCHING OF VEHICLE AT 35 MPH. FELT AS IF I HAD BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. INSTINCTIVELY HIT THE BRAKES AND PULLED OVER TO CHECK FOR EXTERIOR DAMAGE, AND FOUND NONE. CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD AND EXPERIENCED…"~500 mi, complaint #789705
    • "PURCHASED MY 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON IN MAY 2010. I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF TRANSMISSION LOCKUP AT 50 MPH. AS DESCRIBED BY OTHERS IT FEELS LIKE YOU HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. THE CAR LURCHES AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, IT FEE…"~6,000 mi, complaint #825912
    • "THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. THE RADIO/GPS LOST ITS AUDIO, THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT AID ME IN GETTING IT REPAIRED. *TR"~37,500 mi, complaint #889297
    • "I WAS AT A GAS STATION AND POSITIONING MY VEHICLE FOR FUELING. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER GOT STUCK AND I COULDN'T MOVE IT TO ANYWHERE BUT NEUTRAL. DURING THIS TIME THE ESC AND DOWNHILL BRAKE CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ON. THEN I SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART…"~47,000 mi, complaint #1026027
    • "WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN TRYING TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE ALL ACCELERATION AND ESSENTIALLY PUTS THE VEHICLE INTO A COAST. TAPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOTHING…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1274080
  2. #2

    airbag system

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

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

    • "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 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK BACK…"~45,602 mi, complaint #1066962
    • "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 BU…"~69,810 mi, complaint #1085091
    • "I WAS JUST DRIVING NORMAL SPEED AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORMED ME MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING IS FAULTY. THEY ARE SAYING IT ISN'T UNDER MY WARRANTY, WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2010 I WAS TO…"~75,500 mi, complaint #1124755
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that when she started the vehicle, the driver's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made awa…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1936102
  3. #3

    engine internal

    1 stranded, 2 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "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 F…"~121,000 mi, complaint #1550005
    • "OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE"~159,000 mi, complaint #1709900
    • "The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from underneath the hood and the temperature gauge fluctuated. The vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated.…"~199,996 mi, complaint #1993858
  4. #4

    power windows and locks

    2 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "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 WOR…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1450307
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCKING SYSTEM STARTED TO MALFUNCTION WITH THE REAR HATCH AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR NOT OPENING WITH THE REMOTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD BE THE ACTUATOR. THE…"~213,000 mi, complaint #1607617
  5. #5

    unintended acceleration

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON LTD FWD - APPROX 14,000 MILES. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVER WAS PARKING THE CAR. DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND CAR LURCHED FORWARD, STOPPING ONLY WHEN IT HIT A TREE. BODY WORK BEING DONE NOW AND THEN OFF TO DEALERSHIP FOR ANALY…"~14,000 mi, complaint #866422
    • "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 PR…"~28,000 mi, complaint #1081367
    • "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, I…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1074598
  6. #6

    abs module

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "On January 26, 2024, at AutoNation, I was requested to bring my 2010 Hyundai Tucson in to replace a part involving my ‘brakes.’ I’m the original owner, since 2021 my brakes would grind at least twice weekly and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop! Then,…"complaint #2066089
    • "This has been an ongoing problem since I last reported this on February 16, 2025. There’s a clicking noise under my tires and then I can’t stop, my brakes grind and my pedal grinds… all my ABS lights then come on… this has been going on too long!! Since Ap…"complaint #2111595
  7. #7

    brake hydraulics

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

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

    • "THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK FROM DRIVE WHEN STOPPED TO PARK. I DROVE TO ANOTHER PARKING SPOT AND STILL WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. THE CAR FINALLY SHUT DOWN. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, WHICH UNABLE TO DO THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FROZEN AND UNABLE TO PUSH DOWN.…"~25,495 mi, complaint #1027903
  8. #8

    engine stall or no start

    1 stranded, 1 unsafe

    2
    incidents

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

    • "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 comp…"~168,000 mi, complaint #1847119
  9. #9

    acceleration loss or hesitation

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOU…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1027171
  10. #10

    alignment and pull

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE C…"~4,100 mi, complaint #788392
  11. #11

    backup camera

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "UNKNOWN. Since I purchase this vehicle in 2010, the backup camera does not always work. I took it in to the dealership and they stated that in order to diagnose it, it must happen while I am there. At this time, the backup camera only works sometimes and it…"complaint #1901744
  12. #12

    battery and charging

    1 stranded

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Every morning the car has to have a jump! We bought a battery! That didn't help! We took it to the shop, they couldn't figure it out but said it was something to do with the electrical but didn't know what, so we started digging on our own and you have to take…"complaint #1773880
  13. #13

    brake booster

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "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 NO…"~57,000 mi, complaint #997186
  14. #14

    corrosion and rust

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "I HEARD A CLUNK UPON TURNING RIGHT, EXITING A PARKING LOT. THE REAR END OF THE CAR STARTED TO SWAY. FEARING A BLOWN TIRE, I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, ONLY TO FIND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL PITCHED AT A RATHER UNHEALTHY ANGLE. AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP…"~136,000 mi, complaint #1607873
  15. #15

    engine oil consumption

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The engine ran out of oil completely with no leaks no nothing and never had a light come on to show low oil or engine issues. It went from running great to engine knocking with no warning"complaint #1866428
  16. #16

    fuel tank and lines

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL PUDDLES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE GREW LARGER EACH WEEK. THE CONTACT CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-[REDACTED PHONE], BUT WAS NOT ASSISTED. THE CONTAC…"~109,448 mi, complaint #1588642
  17. #17

    glass and windshield

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "While driving under normal conditions, the panoramic sunroof glass suddenly shattered without warning. There was no impact from road debris, no prior cracking, and no abnormal use of the sunroof. The failure occurred spontaneously and created a safety hazard d…"complaint #2174907
  18. #18

    infotainment head unit

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

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

    • "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…"~30,000 mi, complaint #911210
  19. #19

    interior trim

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "ISSUE: THE INTERIOR PLASTIC COVER ATTACHED TO THE SHIFTER LOCATED NEXT TO THE CUP HOLDERS WILL CRUMPLE-UP AFTER SOME SODA IS SPILLED ON IT - CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRUMPLED PLASTIC WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT OR PROHIBIT THE SHIFTER TO BE PLACED IN PAR…"~10,703 mi, complaint #851121
  20. #20

    key fob and immobilizer

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "SOMETIMES WHEN MY CAR IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE ALL OF THE DOORS LOCK WITHOUT ME USING THE FOB.I DID HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT THIS ISSUE,BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RECREATE MY ISSUE.SO WHEN I GET MY OIL CHANGE I MAKE SURE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IS DOWN,SO THE CAR…"complaint #1018012
  21. #21

    other

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a r…"complaint #1961768
  22. #22

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW HYUNDAI TUCSON AND FOUND THERE IS NO ALERT BELL, BUZZER, OR LIGHT TO TELL THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THEIR SEAT BELT BUCKLED. *TR"complaint #785330
  23. #23

    stability and traction control

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "AFTER HAVING A SERVICE ON MY 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON, 2 DAYS LATER THE ESC INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DBC INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE SHIFTER WAS HARD TO PUT INTO GEAR. TOOK IT IN AND THEY CHANGED THE SHIFTER. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME TWO LIGHTS C…"complaint #861004
  24. #24

    steering electric assist

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "Yesterday, my wife car, suddenly started to sharply to the right, when her hold on steering wheel relaxed. I tested it. It is not an alignment problem. It is a sudden and obvious taking over of the steering by the car. I took it to my mechanic. He told me th…"complaint #1759929
  25. #25

    suspension struts shocks

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 3,2014, TWO WEEKS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER THREE TIMES WITHIN THAT MONTH FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN WHICH EACH TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE (SO WE THOUGHT). ON DECEMBER 11,20…"~42,000 mi, complaint #1138793
  26. #26

    transfer case awd

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED UPHILL AND THE FRONT WHEELS MOVED, BUT THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS…"~172,000 mi, complaint #1518917
  27. #27

    wiper and washer

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

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

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SNOW HAD ACCUMULATED UNDER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS. AS A RESULT, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE…"~9,000 mi, complaint #832375
  28. #28

    wiring harness

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "The car dies, unknown, mechanics don't know! It's in the wires somewhere, the backup camera doesn't work, the radio doesn't work! Even with the the fuse in and everything working the backup camera still doesn't work, and as soon as you shut the car off it does…"complaint #1853483

NHTSA investigations

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