2016 Hyundai Tucson transmission and drivetrain problems
518 of the 1,620 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 36 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 518 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 206 · 2017: 80 · 2018: 48 · 2019: 48 · 2020: 28 · 2021: 22 · 2022: 21 · 2023: 25 · 2024: 16 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 13
Half of the 362 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 3,000 and 23,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,620 complaints in all about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, 13 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Tucson transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Purchased new tuscan and has 200 miles on it. My wife started backing up into our garage and warning light came on stating not to drive car due to transmission over heading. The car was towed to dealer. After a day they advised US not to drive the car in the eco mode as the tranny heats up.
Problem concerns the 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Clutch plates in the transmission may not engage in drive or any forward gears after stopping at an intersection, toll booth, etc. when you apply power to move forward the clutch plates inside the transmission will not engage. Even putting the vehicle in 1st (vs drive) does nothing.
Air conditioning system will freeze up during hot and humid weather. This will happen regularly and consistently about every 60-90 minutes. We discovered that the solution is to stop, turn vehicle off, and let system thaw for 10-15 minutes. I have taken vehicle to dealer but they can't find or fix the problem.
On january 11, 2016 I was going on an entrance ramp to interstate 10 in jacksonville, fl. And as I was entering the interstate, there was a lag time in the engine, and power was not getting to the wheels. I had the accelerator floored and it just wouldn't move. Then all of a sudden it propelled me forward very fast.
Motion on highway, transmission just slows car down causing cars in rear almost hitting my car. Sometimes when going from stop, transmission does not go in car in gear and just revs. While going from stop sign car starts to go then slows down by itself. This is a new double clutch transmission that does not work.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 16V628000 HighAug 30, 2016 · 41,000 vehicles
- 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.
36 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0128 P0011 P073F P1921 P0507 P0880
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson
Source: the same files- engine problems 433 complaints
- electrical problems 216 complaints
- latch and lock problems 157 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 518 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (32% of everything owners filed about it), and 36 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 16V628000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 7,900 miles; half of them between 3,000 and 23,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.