2008 Hyundai Tucson Problems & Complaints

Most common 2008 Hyundai Tucson problems

• Engine & cooling~30,000 miles
  921%
• Brakes~16,000 miles
  716%
• Speed control & acceleration~26,000 miles
  512%
• Electrical system~18,000 miles
  512%
• Stability & traction control~85,000 miles
  49%
• Steering~66,000 miles
  49%
• Air bags~67,000 miles
  49%
• Other / not specified~65,000 miles
  49%
• Wheels & tires~39,000 miles
  37%
• Suspension~134,000 miles
  37%
• Body & structure~134,000 miles
  37%
• Windows, wipers & sunroof~17,000 miles
  25%
• Seat belts~25,000 miles
  25%
• Transmission & drivetrain~82,000 miles
  25%
• Fuel & propulsion system~80,000 miles
  25%
• Locks & latches~70,000 miles
  25%
• Seats~25,000 miles
  12%
• Equipment & accessories~62,000 miles
  12%
• A/C & heater~70,000 miles
  12%
• Driver assistance
  12%

Share of the 43 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Hyundai Tucson complaints by model year

Best Tucson years: 2011. Years to avoid: 2025, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023. Compare all years →

2008 Hyundai Tucson recalls (1)

What 2008 Hyundai Tucson owners say

Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, other drivers on the highway alerted her to an issue with the vehicle. The contact was unaware that there was a fire under the hood at the time. The contact stated that then noticed orange flames coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that her neck became hot from the intense flames however, there was no injury sustained. The contact quickly exited the vehicle and ran away from the vehicle. The fire department was notified of the fire however, the fire extinguished itself prior to the fire department arriving at the scene. A state trooper arrived and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The vehicle was not destroyed but was traded. The approximate failure mileage was 188,000.

Tl contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Tucson. After the vehicle was purchased on March 6, 2009, the driver noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment while driving. She reached her residence and observed steam underneath the hood of the vehicle. Hyundai roadside assistance towed the vehicle back to the dealer. The Hyundai manufacturer was notified. The contact does not want the vehicle back. The failure mileage was 382. 4/01/09 the consumer noticed the insulation and the cover over the insulation along the firewall behind the engine burning and smoking. There was no flame just a red glow along the burning edge of the material/insulation and a considerable amount of smoke. Updated 04/09/09.

Brakes

#1. The airbag light comes on saying the passenger airbag is not connected (something like that). #2. Braking lights did stop working and stayed on while the car was turned off. I never received any recall notice of this and we fixed it ourselves. #3. And most important and dangerous! The back driver's side wheel froze up and started to catch on fire. We had the Caliper, and several other surrounding parts changed and the master cylinder when it almost caught fire again. A mechanic could not figure it out. I did a lot of research and discovered the problems with the ABS, which I strongly believe this is the problem. I cannot drive it at all. The emergency brake is like mush and does not work at all. I have now read of these cars catching fire from the ABS and people have died! My car is a 2008 and not the year of the car that has been recalled. But my 2008 is doing the same thing. …

I took the car to my mechanic to get brake pads because car was pulling to the left upon braking and he informed me the ABS module was bad and was not distributing brake fluid to the right front wheel. I called Customer Care Center for Hyundai and they informed me Tuscan models are not included in the ABS module recall event. Yet the information printed on all hyundai ABS recalls threaten a possible fire safety concern. I want to file a complaint because the ABS brake systems are all the same on all hyundai models. Please address my safety issue asap.

Speed control & acceleration

In October of 2020 I was pulling into a parking space and my car accelerated and crashed into a light pole resulting in injury to both my husband and myself. He is 91 years old and shattered his upper arm. We had the vehicle fixed and checked out and was told all was fine. About June of 2021 I took the car in for a recall on the brake lights to the Hyundai dealership and told them of the first incident and asked them to check and was told that all was fine. On December 23rd 2021, the same thing happened when I was pulling into my parking space at home. When it accelerated, I had both feet on the brake and ended up hitting a wall damaging the car again. Fortunately, this time injuries were minor. There were no warning lights, messages or symptoms before these two incidents happened. …

Assistant service manager, I have a 2008 Hyundai tuscon, purchased at fitzgerald's, which you have serviced in the past. Yesterday (3/21/10) when on a short road trip I stopped for gas. On starting, the engine accelerated on its own (without accelerator pressure) to an idle RPM of 5000 while in "park". It did this repeatedly. I was able to put it in gear only by shifting it rapidly into drive immediately after starting, before the engine RPM increased dramatically. The car would then maintain a road speed of around 60 MPH on its own without accelerator pressure if the brakes were not applied. Thankfully, the brakes would slow the car, but at a stop (while in drive) the engine would idle at 2000 RPM requiring marked brake pressure to keep it from accelerating forward. If placed in neutral the engine would accelerate to around 5000 RPM. …

2008 Hyundai Tucson engines & fuel economy

EPA ratings. Class: SUV.