The Hyundai Tucson is a popular choice for the compact crossover SUV segment, with its stylish design, upscale cabin, many safety features, and efficient hybrid options. While the Tucson is a solid pick, it’s not completely free of issues. Here are the three most common Hyundai Tucson problems reported by many real owners.

What are the most common Hyundai Tucson problems?

To find out the most frequent issues that Hyundai Tucson owners encountered, we looked at analysis from RepairPal. While some automotive evaluators rely on their own testing to determine a vehicle’s reliability, RepairPal collects data from real owners, including the severity, frequency, and cost of repairs. The benefit of this type of analysis is that it’s reflective of real-world scenarios.

Here are the three most common Hyundai Tucson problems reported by owners:

1. Illuminated check engine light due to automatic transmission not shifting correctly
2. Recalled airbag control module
3. No sound from the speakers

It’s important to note that these issues don’t affect most Tucson models. However, they were the most frequent ones for the crossover SUV, so let’s take a closer look to understand them in greater detail. 

Most common Hyundai Tucson problem is an illuminated check engine light from a transmission shifting issue

Based on RepairPal data, the most common Hyundai Tucson problem reported by many owners is the check engine light illuminating as a result of the automatic transmission not correctly shifting. Typically, the cause of the issue is the failure of the speed sensors in the transmission. It’s a simple fix, for the speed sensors are easy to replace — and don’t cost much.

Airbag control module recall

The second most frequent issue reported by owners of the Hyundai Tucson is a defect in the airbag control module. With the defect, there is a greater risk of the passenger side airbag incorrectly deploying during a car accident. Because of this, the airbag control model must be replaced. 

For this issue, Hyundai issued two recalls for certain model years of the Tucson (2005-2009, 2013, 2014, and 2016). Like most recalls, Hyundai should cover the cost of the airbag control module replacement.

No sound from the speakers

The other common problem for the Hyundai Tucson is a strange one. For models with a multimedia navigation system, the sound suddenly stops emanating from the crossover SUV’s speakers. Whether it’s when playing the radio, CD player, navigation system, or during telephone calls, the sound just abruptly stops. 

Fortunately, the “no sound” issue is easy to address — and typically doesn’t require one to take the vehicle to a service center. The cause of the problem is a software glitch, which can be resolved with a “hard reset.” To do the “hard reset,” disconnect the negative battery terminal in the crossover SUV. Wait around 15 minutes and then reconnect the terminal. After that, the sound should come back.

Is the Hyundai Tucson a reliable crossover SUV?

For reliability, the Hyundai Tucson is “above average,” according to RepairPal data, with a rating of four out of five. In a field of 26 compact SUVs that the automotive site evaluated, the Tucson is the fifth most reliable vehicle. 

The ownership costs for repairs of the Tucson are relatively low too. The average annual repair costs are $426, which is lower than most compact SUVs. This is the result of less frequent and severe repairs.