2018 Hyundai Tucson engine problems
252 of the 397 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Tucson name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 85 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation. 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 engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 252 reports a crash · 8 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 26 · 2022: 28 · 2023: 42 · 2024: 45 · 2025: 50 · 2026: 36
Half of the 63 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 31,000 and 90,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
397 complaints in all about the 2018 Hyundai Tucson, 36 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 “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Tucson engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
As stated in many forums by many owners,in my case the 2.0 with automatic. I have a 2014 kia soul and the 2018 tuscon. Both vehicles act the same,hesitate when they want to. Both have done this since brand new and neither dealership has made an effort to fix the problem.
I have a 2018 Hyundai Tucson and it cut off on me while returning home from out of town on 4/5/2020 on 495 capital beltway. White smoke started coming out the tailpipe so I pulled over and cut the truck off, I tried to restart and it wouldn't turn over, all of the dash lights lit up, I had to call aaa to tow me home, the tow driver…
Same dual clutch problem as on 2016 Hyundai Tucson. Hesitates for several seconds prior to engaging which causes significant danger in oncoming traffic. I had this same problem with the 2016 and Hyundai continued to deny any known problems. Now there is a class action lawsuit regarding this issue.
I get oil changes quite frequently due to the mileage I put in a vehicle. I have 7 oil changes/tire rotations between november 2018 and november 2019. On november 13th 2019 my check engine like came on and at the same time my engine started making a knocking sound. Prior to this I had no indicators that anything was wrong.
This is my 2nd issue with this vehicle. Ever since I bought the vehicle I have always noticed that when I come to a complete stop (at a red light or stop sign) and I go to press on the gas the car doesn't go. It's like it hesitated before it starts to pick up speed.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
85 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 26-EM-014H TSB Service bulletinSep 16, 2026
- Some Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine may exhibit a continued DTC P132600 after an ECM logic update has been performed per TSB 24-01-068H, Engine Monitoring Logic (Service Campaign 966). This bulletin provides instructions to inspect and resolve other engine mechanical issues and if DTC P132600 remains, then a procedure and manual mode passwords are given to perform the update agai
- 26-01-033H TSB Warranty extensionMar 26, 2026
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
- 26-01-033H DN Warranty extensionMar 26, 2026
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
The 3 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
P1326 P0087 P0326 P000A P0011 P0014 P0128 P0301
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Hyundai Tucson names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 101 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 252 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (63% of everything owners filed about it), and 85 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation 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 engine on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 67,000 miles; half of them between 31,000 and 90,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.