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2021 Hyundai Tucson

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA78
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA25 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tucson FWD, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 78 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Tucson FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl232825$2,500
Tucson FWDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl222825$2,500
Tucson AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl222523$2,700
Tucson AWDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl212623$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42663, 43646, 42666, 42667.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

195
Park outside652,024 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.RiskAn engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.FixHyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.
NHTSA campaign 20V543000reported Sep 4, 2020Hyundai Motor America

NHTSA defect investigations

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · action AQ23002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
78complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 16 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 26

Most-cited components

Engine38
Electrical System11
Unspecified10
Service Brakes9
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Power Train8

What owners describe

“The driver side and center seat belts in the back seat don’t secure. The buckle just slides back out. They’ve apparently been like that since I bought the car in 2020 and just recently had a passenger in one of those seats.”Jul 7, 2024 · Seat Belts · NHTSA owner report
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering column. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Steering column would not disengage and remained locked up after the vehicle was started and in gear. This have caused me to almost get into a few …”Apr 26, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“I was contacted by Hyundai last year about a possible recall on my engine so I brought it in October 2023 to have it checked out. I was told that everything with the car was fine. Fast forward to last week 02-21-2024 and my engine starts shutting off while driving ON THE HIGHWAY? I have it towed to a new dealership in …”Feb 29, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.

Compare the 2021 Tucson with

2021 Toyota RAV4 →2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime →2021 Tesla Model Y →2021 Honda CR-V →2021 Chevrolet Equinox →2021 Nissan Rogue →

Other Tucson model years

F

2026 Hyundai Tucson

5 recalls · 82 complaints

F

2025 Hyundai Tucson

7 recalls · 416 complaints

F

2024 Hyundai Tucson

4 recalls · 143 complaints

C

2023 Hyundai Tucson

2 recalls · 174 complaints

C

2022 Hyundai Tucson

3 recalls · 499 complaints

B

2020 Hyundai Tucson

1 recalls · 176 complaints

B

2019 Hyundai Tucson

1 recalls · 377 complaints

B

2018 Hyundai Tucson

1 recalls · 394 complaints

D

2017 Hyundai Tucson

3 recalls · 1,084 complaints

F

2016 Hyundai Tucson

5 recalls · 1,616 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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