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 2018 Hyundai Tucson owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
In May 2024 my Hyundai Tucson died in a middle of an intersection with no warning. Worse than that is Hyundai motor USA informed me that the car was on a recall list for an engine failure issue that was apart of class action suit . Ans further told me that that were obligated to have the highway transportation safety dept notified first consider cause of the issue. They told an inspector from your department was required to inspect vehicle before repairs could be started and or returned fo me. That has not happened and they are using your office as the reason for delay on my vehicle. They have systematically m supplied the same answer to my case with no resolution. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to lose forward momentum. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal to gain speed and the vehicle continued to lose forward momentum. The contact stated that the engine revved and there was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled off the roadway and turned the vehicle off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and the vehicle failed to restart. The contact had her father inspect her vehicle, he then replaced the battery and was able to restart the vehicle and drove it to her residence at a slow speed. The contact stated that her father told her that the vehicle was making abnormal sounds in the engine. The contact stated that she later saw that oil had puddled under her vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, and slowing down to make a right turn, the vehicle almost stalled and lost power. The contact stated that the check oil warning light was flashing on and off. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact was able to pull over and shift into park(P). The contact had not turned the vehicle off. The contact called her father. The father arrived, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that her father checked the oil dipstick and saw that the oil level was extremely low. The contact stated that two quarts of oil were added. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed and determined that a gasket on the oil filler tube was not correctly seated, and the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder lane, engine oil was added, and the contact waited for several minutes for the vehicle to return to normal operation. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer suggested that the contact occasionally add oil to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that on various occasions while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for a routine oil change, she was made aware of an oil leak; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was stalling while depressing the accelerator pedal while driving at various speeds, and while driving uphill. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder #1 and that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a local dealer for repair. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil with the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and a dealer to be inspected and two oil consumption tests were performed by the dealer. The oil consumption tests showed no defects with the engine. The dealer performed an engine flush; however, the failure persisted. The contact was advised to have oil changes performed every 3,000 miles instead of the recommended 5,000 miles. The contact stated that recently, after having an oil change, the dealer recommended a transmission fluid flush. The contact stated that after the transmission fluid flush was performed, the vehicle jerked and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. …
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact's daughter stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle began to lose motive power. The daughter stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle engine revved; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The daughter stated that she pulled over and stopped the vehicle and placed the vehicle in park(P). The vehicle was turned off and restarted and operated as designed. The contact's daughter stated that the vehicle was making hissing sounds while depressing the accelerator pedal. The daughter stated that the failure was intermittent; however, the failure occurred while driving over 50 MPH. The daughter stated that the check engine warning light was flashing. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. …
The contact owned a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving up a hill at 30 MPH, she heard an abnormal popping noise emitting from underneath the vehicle without warning. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact saw that a fire had started from underneath the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle in front of hers witnessed the fire and assisted with calling the authorities to the scene. Both the fire and the police department arrived as the fire department extinguished the fire. Both a police and fire report were filed; no injuries were reported. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. Upon investigation, the contact linked her failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V543000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the cause of the fire had yet to be determined. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that there were metal shavings found on the camshaft sensor. The contact was advised that the camshaft sensor, oil flow solenoid, and variable tee valve were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred 3 months later. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed, with the check engine and oil light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle was not accelerating beyond 40 MPH. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that an engine knock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was returned to the dealer who determined that the knock sensor needed to be replaced a second time. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact had not taken the vehicle back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. …
NHTSA investigations
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.
Engine complaints in other Tucson years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
NHTSA has 250 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2018 Hyundai Tucson, 63% of the model year's 399 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Hyundai Tucson engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson, though it has 1 recall 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 2018 Hyundai Tucson engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 8 fires and 2 injuries 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.