Most common 2016 Hyundai Tucson problems
Share of the 1,625 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 →
2016 Hyundai Tucson recalls (5)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Hyundai 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.
Remedy: Hyundai 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.
Trailer hitches
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017.
Electrical system › Software
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 20, 2015 through May 31, 2016 and equipped with a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 28, 2016.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015 to March 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, if the primary hood latch has been released, and the vehicle is driven, the secondary hood latch may not hold adequately secure the hood to prevent it from opening while the…
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Exterior lighting › Tail lights
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Hyundai Tucson vehicles manufactured May 26, 2015 to January 15, 2016 and equipped with an accessory trailer hitch harness either included with the accessory trailer hitch or sold as a service part.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9640.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 Hyundai Tucson:
Loss of Motive Power
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.
What 2016 Hyundai Tucson owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 518 →
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and there was a ticking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where a mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a knock sensor failure. The knock sensor was replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was included in Manufacturer Campaign: CS966 for the transmission control module (TCM). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that the vehicle was included and the software update was performed. After the vehicle was repaired, the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated; however, approximately 30 minutes later, the vehicle failed to exceed 35 MPH, and the check engine warning light started flashing. …
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle would hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the wrench warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they changed the rear driver's side tire and cleared the code; however, the hesitation persisted after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where they replaced the engine booster as well as eight bolts that had been fractured on the intake manifold while the booster was being replaced. Despite the second repair, the failure persisted and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V543000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and would be towed to a dealer for further assistance. …
Engine & cooling all 430 →
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle began to stall and he saw smoke coming out from underneath the hood of the vehicle. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and quickly exited the vehicle. The contact waited several minutes. The contact stated that upon opening the hood of the vehicle, he saw flames. The contact was able to extinguish the fire by shutting the hood closed. The contact stated that in the process of exiting the vehicle, he bumped his knee and twisted his ankle and received care from his caregiver. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced under an unknown recall. …
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that a week after purchasing the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The mechanic informed the contact that the warning light would be reset. While performing a final test drive, the mechanic became aware of smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The mechanic pulled over and attempted to open the hood but was unable to do so. The mechanic then noticed fire coming from underneath the vehicle. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. No one was injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard by the police. …
Body & structure all 227 →
The passenger rear door won't open and hasn't done so an unknown period of time. 1. In July, 2023 I brought it to Shaker Hyundai in Watertown, CT when there was a recall to update the electrical system in this vehicle. I requested they try to fix the door after the recall was complete. When I left the dealership, the door opened. I stopped approximately five miles down the road on the way back home; I was unable to open it then and it hasn't opened since. The car hasn't been inspected by the police or the insurance company, but it has been inspected by the Watertown, CT dealership. Yes, it's available for inspection. No lights. No messages, other than oil change light. Others have registered this issue here, and I want to add my voice to theirs. Clearly your organization knows how VERY dangerous it is for passengers to lack egress from the car. …
Body: my vehicle has experienced a malfunction in the front passenger side door. This door does not open from the outside, regardless of it being unlocked. The failure occurs 99% of attempts to open said door. A repair was made by the dealer I purchased it from, yet the issue returned within a month. First incident: February 2022. Electrical: My vehicle has also experienced malfunctions in all four windows. The initial malfunction occurred in July 2023, when the front driver side window would not go down. Within a week of having the window regulator and motor replaced professionally, the window regulator failed again (would not go back up after being let down)-- with an additional failure in the front passenger side window regulator. The part was replaced for the second time by a different independent service provider. …
2016 Hyundai Tucson engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-speed | FWD | 49 / 51 / 50 | |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 26 / 32 / 28 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | AWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 26 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Hyundai Tucson a good car?
Based on 1,625 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Tucson rates avoid: 14.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Tucson at the same age. It is one of the Tucson years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
The transmission & drivetrain — 518 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (430) and body & structure (227).
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, the most recent from September 4, 2020 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Tucson?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2016, 2017, 2022 and 2023. See the full Hyundai Tucson years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Hyundai Tucson problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 30,000 miles; 63% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.