Hyundai Tucson Common Problems & Known Faults (UK)
If you are considering buying a used Hyundai Tucson, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 4 known faults for this model, 3 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 14 known faults · 15 owner reports · 4 good notes
Hyundai Tucson 3rd Gen (2015 to 2020) problems
Transmission/ClutchMedium severity💬 Owner reports
7-speed DCT dual-clutch transmission juddering and clutch pack failure
Rough guide
£1000-1500
Typical symptoms
juddering when pulling away in 1st gear
hesitation at junctions
limp mode
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.7 CRDi 7-speed DCT
Typical mileage:
40000-80000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity🏛️ Official recall
Manufacturing debris in crankshaft oil passages causing rod bearing failure, engine seizure, and fire risk
Rough guide
£3000-6000
Typical symptoms
cyclic engine knocking noise that rises with RPM
sudden engine stall while driving
flashing check engine light (limp mode)
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.0 & 2.4 Petrol (Theta II)
Typical mileage:
60000-120000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Timing chain tensioner failure causing the chain to jump teeth and damage the engine
Rough guide
£800-2000
Typical symptoms
rattling noise on cold start
engine management light
loss of power and misfires
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6 GDi Petrol
Typical mileage:
60000-100000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Turbocharger failure caused by blocked oil feed pipes/strainers due to carbon buildup from infrequent oil changes
Rough guide
£800-1500
Typical symptoms
loud whining or 'siren' noise from turbo
loss of power
blue smoke from exhaust
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6 & 1.7 CRDi Diesel
Typical mileage:
70000-120000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the 3rd Gen
15 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · December 2019A 2018 1.6 GDI automatic Tucson with 15,000 miles intermittently shook, banged, and stalled when coming to a stop.
Engine · August 2019A 2018 1.6 GDI manual Tucson with 18,000 miles experienced a two-second flat spot when reapplying the accelerator pedal.
Gearbox and clutch · July 2019The manual gear selector on a 2015 Hyundai Tucson with 33,000 miles was reported to be sticking.
Brakes · June 2019A 2016 Hyundai Tucson required new wheel hub seals and brake calipers, but faced a four to six-week wait for the parts.
Engine · February 2019A 2017 1.7 CRDi DCT Tucson with 40,000 miles randomly refused to accelerate, even when going downhill, with no fault found by the dealer.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2018A 2015 1.7 CRDi manual Tucson experienced clutch judder, which was eventually repaired after a design flaw fix became available.
Gearbox and clutch · October 2018Clutch judder was present from new on a 2015 1.7 CRDi Tucson, subsiding when the engine warmed up, likely due to the dual-mass flywheel.
Suspension and steering · February 2018The steering on a 2016 Hyundai Tucson was described as "wandery"; replacing the steering rack did not fully resolve the issue.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2018A 2016 manual Hyundai Tucson with 21,248 miles suffered clutch, dual-mass flywheel, and starter motor failure, costing £3152 to repair.
Gearbox and clutch · October 2017A 2016 1.7 CRDi Tucson experienced severe clutch judder at 1,500 miles; clutch and flywheel were replaced, but judder returned at 6,800 miles.
Engine · September 2017A 2016 1.7 CRDi Tucson with 7,000 miles experienced significant powertrain vibration at motorway speeds, possibly a dual-mass flywheel issue.
Bodywork · July 2017The electric tailgate on a 2016 Hyundai Tucson intermittently failed to open, requiring the emergency lever.
Engine · June 2017A new 2017 1.7 CRDi Tucson experienced engine revs rising to 3,000rpm when the clutch was pressed for gear changes.
Bodywork · February 2017The foot-operated tailgate on a March 2016 Hyundai Tucson was reported to open of its own accord without the key present.
Gearbox and clutch · June 2016The clutch on a 2015 Hyundai Tucson with 3,500 miles burnt out completely while reversing a 1400kg caravan; dealer quoted £3000 for repair.
What owners like about the 3rd Gen
4 notes
This model is noted for its very comfortable and refined driving experience.
The vehicle offers a spacious cabin and a generously sized boot, enhancing practicality.
The car has strong family appeal, featuring affordable running costs and a very large boot.
The model achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with high scores for adult occupant and passenger safety.
Other years0 known faults · 4 owner reports · 3 good notes
Other Hyundai Tucson years: owner reports
What owners report
4 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Bodywork · October 2017A 2008 Hyundai Tucson failed its MoT due to significant rust on the rear subframe, requiring a replacement costing €600.
Gearbox and clutch · February 2014Transmission damage can occur in the 6-speed manual gearbox if the oil is not changed at the recommended 60,000-mile service interval.
Exhaust · December 2011The diesel particulate filter on a 2006 2.0 diesel model lasted approximately 170,000 miles before needing a £2,500 replacement.
Suspension and steering · April 2011High tyre wear was observed on 225/55 R17 tyres, with rears lasting 10,000 miles and fronts 15,000 miles.
What owners like
3 notes
The diesel manual variant of this vehicle offers a surprisingly good driving experience.
The car benefits from a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty that is fully transferable to subsequent owners.
The vehicle achieved a 4-star Euro NCAP rating for occupant safety, 1-star for pedestrian safety, and 3-star for child safety.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 10 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Hyundai Tucson advert and we check it in seconds.
Hyundai Tucson service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used Tucson. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing chainChain
1.6 GDI, 1.6 CRDI, 1.7 CRDI, D4FB, D4FD, G4FD
No fixed replacement interval
The U2-series 1.6/1.7 CRDi diesels and the 1.6 GDi petrol are chain driven with no scheduled replacement. Chain stretch is rare but tensioner failure can occur if the oil is not changed frequently. The 2.0 and 2.2 CRDi are covered by a separate row because only the 2010-on R-series versions are chain driven.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: June 2026
Hyundai Tucson buying questions
Is a used Hyundai Tucson reliable?
The Hyundai Tucson has 4 known faults in our database, 3 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (timing chain tensioner failure causing the chain to jump teeth and damage the engine) and engine (turbocharger failure caused by blocked oil feed pipes/strainers due to carbon buildup). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
What are the most common Hyundai Tucson problems?
Three stand out. Engine: timing chain tensioner failure causing the chain to jump teeth and damage the engine (typically 60000 to 100000 miles). Engine: turbocharger failure caused by blocked oil feed pipes/strainers due to carbon buildup (typically 70000 to 120000 miles). Engine: manufacturing debris in crankshaft oil passages causing rod bearing failure, engine seizure (typically 60000 to 120000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Hyundai Tucson years should I avoid?
No Hyundai Tucson year is a write-off, but the 3rd Gen (2015 to 2020) carries the most serious faults: engine. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Hyundai Tucson?
Ask the seller about the engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for rattling noise on cold start, loud whining or 'siren' noise from turbo and cyclic engine knocking noise that rises with RPM. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 4 known faults before you travel. Check a Hyundai Tucson advert →
What is the real MPG of a Hyundai Tucson?
Owners report 39.0 mpg on average across the Hyundai Tucson engines with data, about 76% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 969 owner submissions. Hyundai Tucson Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Hyundai Tucson owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Hyundai Tucson goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.