Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Hyundai Tucson owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving 65 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the RPM failed to raise, and the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
This car accelerates while unattended. Most likely due to an ECM malfunction and unable to properly respond/send signals to the motor. On 4 occasions, the car has accelerated, even if in park. It will go 25mph on its own and to stop I had to put it in neutral. I've seen that my car isn't the only one experiencing this. Considering it's an ECM issue there should be a recall because that is not a part you change during the life of a car.
Initial issues on vehicle presented in January 2021 with various check engine light codes including p0133. Although vehicle passed emissions in 2020, various check engine codes for mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensors, misfire for various cylinders. After replacing indicated mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensors indicated via OBD ii tool, battery, alternator (more than once), both front cv boots, head gasket seals for both cylinder banks, more check engine light issues appear according to the vehicle. Currently another cylinder misfire check engine code has appeared after all spark plugs have been replaced with OEM recommended brand replacements (nkg pre-gapped spark plugs). The misfire code has cleared at this time. The current check engine code from the OBD ii tool is error code for drive train driveability p0420 regarding catalyst system operating below threshold at bank 1. …
I was slowing to a stop and could feel that the car was going to die and it did. I took it to the dealer and they did a fuel induction service and it seemed to fix the problem.the dealer should have not charged me for a car so new, but they put under the service "maintenance" which I didn't find out till a couple years later when it happened again and I called the dealership. I have since had the same incident happen 5 times and after reading several people have had the same thing with no explanation I decided to put my incidents in so that more people would know it isn't just a single happening of the same thing. After this happens I take the car on the freeway and floor it meaning to blow out what I think May be stuck in the fuel line???? It always works for a while. This thing doesn't occur for any particular reason and I have the car well maintained. …
The first time this happened I was pulling into a parking place in a shopping center. As I was turning into the parking place I very lightly tapped the accelerator and the engine reved up and I applied the brake only to have the car continue forward and go up the cement curb. I then pushed down on the brake pedal as hard as I could and only then did the car stop. If the cement block had not been there, I would have hit the car parked directly in front of me. The front tires had gone about two feet up on the cement block. The next time this happened I was once again parking. This time I was parking parallel to the curb. I pulled into and in front of the space I was going to park in. I put the car in reverse and began to back up slowly with my foot over the brake pedal. Suddenly, the engine reved up and the car lurched backward. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle would not immediately start. Once the vehicle was started, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the nox, purge valve, fuel trim and camshaft sensors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The sensors were replaced however, ten days later the failure recurred. Laurel Hyundai located at 998 eisenhower blvd, johnstown, pa 15904 was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. While depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, it stalled without warning. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled intermittently while reversing, driving, and various other times. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted on the first attempt, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but they where unable to diagnose the failure. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 145,400.
While driving the car just stalls, loosing power steering and power brakes. Resulting in my daughter rearending another car and that car hitting the car in front of it and that driver suing my insurance. After being in the body shop for a month, I picked the car up Friday April 25 the car stalled three times. I drove the car back to the dealer douglas Isuzu, in santa ana calif. On Saturday April 26 and it stalled again getting off the 55 freeway almost causing me to drive off the road on the offramp.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while making a turn at 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was able to restart after waiting. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.
My 2005 Hyundai Tucson (2.7l v-6 4wd) has for the last 1.5 years has been: 1.stalling out 2. Running very rough with no power (especially when raining or after several days of rain) 3. Cranks over but doesn't start 4. Engine quits running on highway (leaving us stranded on route I-80). All intermittently! I have had the car in a repair shop where they replaced the ignition coil pack assembly (6/2011). Then it failed again but not long enough to get something diagnosed, so I drove it just knowing someday it was going to happen again. Finally it failed again (1/1/2012) this time long enough for me to get the code/s from the ECM. It had a hard crankshaft position sensor failure. Then it ran fine. I replaced the crankshaft position sensor and upon removal and inspection the sensors three wires were bare. …
Engine complaints in other Tucson years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2005 Hyundai Tucson?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2005 Hyundai Tucson, 21% of the model year's 185 complaints. The component named most often is engine (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Hyundai Tucson engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2005 Hyundai Tucson, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Hyundai Tucson engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.