Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 Hyundai Tucson owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving approx 55mph on [redacted] in my 2019 hyundai tucson when the check engine light came on and the engine started to stall. I felt the acceleration dying down in the middle of busy highway traffic. Gray smoke started coming from the hood cracks. I luckily was in the right lane already, so when I could I veered off to the shoulder and the car quit. The smoke was increasing badly. Ppl from the highway were yelling its going to blow up get away from it! I was so scared. I grabbed my phone and keys and ran as far as I could while dialing 911. Within a couple minutes flames were swallowing the entire engine and front of the car. I am furious. I researched online and hyundai has had many similar incidents with this car and other with this engine ! These need to be banned and taken off the road before they kill anyone else. …
While almost at a complete stop in the process of putting my 2019 Hyundai Tucson in park at my friends home to drop her off, the car involuntarily surged/accelerated forward over a cement curbing and landscaping timber and slide down a small incline into a tree and landscaping boulder! After looking on line concerning the malfunction it seems there are abundant claims from other 2017-2019 Hyundai Tucson owners that have experienced this exact mechanical defect under this frightening description of a surge or acceleration out of the drivers control! It's the craziest, scariest thing ever. We have taken the car in for a recall concerning the check engine light regarding the catalytic converter prior to this incident. The car is well cared for and maintained and has never been in any accident.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while in her daughter's possession, the engine had failed to start after multiple attempts. Several warning lights illuminated the instrument panel during the failure. The vehicle was jumpstarted and the horn began to blare once the engine restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they were unable to determine the failure. The contact also stated that the vehicle would rattle while both idle and upon activation of the AC. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was given to a case manager; she was later instructed by the case manager to take the vehicle back to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
While driving down a busy road at 10:00 pm on New Years Eve, my vehicle's engine completely shut off. Immediately prior to the shut off, the vehicle's dash displayed the oil and battery lights. The vehicle's automatic emergency brake and steering wheel lock were both engaged, not allowing me (or the tow truck company) to move my vehicle out of this busy road. My car remained in this location for 3 and a half hours. The hazard lights stopped working after the first hour, making it extremely difficult to see that the vehicle was stopped. After the second hour, an officer parked behind my vehicle with their lights flashing as he said it was an extremely dangerous situation and my car was sure to be hit. He was able to get a tow truck to me before Hyundai. For hours, numerous people were forced to brake quickly/swerve into other lane to avoid hitting my car. …
I have a Hyundai Tuscon 2019, which was pre-certified by Hyundai. This particular car was part of a lawsuit because of a knock sensor issue. The lawsuit information is here: [redacted] The knock sensor failing is not really what causes the safety issue. The engine symptoms when the sensor fails is the issue. The engine goes into "safety mode" which limits the car to a significant slower speed. The problem is that Hyundai has now tried to fix this issue twice on my vehicle, and the knock sensor continues to fail. To be clear, they've replaced the sensor twice. Based on the lawsuit, the court mandated them to fix the knock sensor. They have done that free of charge, but the sensor continues to fail. To me this sounds like a manufacture issue. It is incredibly dangerous when you're on a highway and the sensor fails. It happened to me, and it was almost catastrophic. …
The components that failed are the engine and transmission and parts associated with the functionality of these parts. It is currently in the shop but will be available for inspection upon request once repairs are complete. My safety and others were put at risk when these malfunctions occurred (driving incredibly slow on the highway could cause an accident, accelerator malfunctioning that might break, broken down late at night hours from home, parts catching fire from leaking oil, etc.). The problems have been acknowledged by my warranty company and the two repair shops that have serviced it. My car was inspected by Geico Insurance Company after I got rear-ended and needed to file a claim, however, the inspection was not specifically on my engine/transmission. The warning dash lights didn't seem to come on until it was too late, especially during the transmission issue. …
I was driving on the highway when my vehicle started decelerating and shutting down completely. I ended up safely pulling over because it could've been a serious accident and called FHP they tested my car code p1326 came up I had it towed to the dealership where they assured me I had the extended warranty and that the car should be covered and I don't have to pay out of pocket. What the dealership told me would take 2 days has now been almost a month and still counting. I've had 3 denials for engine replacement due to being outside of warranty with Hyundai even though I have the extended warranty. The dealership has sent pictures and spoke with my case manager at Hyundai to confirm that the engine failure was due to the bent connecting rod bearing that is again covered under warranty. …
- replaced catalytic convertor twice - Check engine light on , needs another catalytic convertor - Exhaust fumes are coming back into my car through the AC vents , I've had to pull over due to being nauseas and extremely dizzy. - The dealership will not answer my phone calls , but will answer another phone because I have called from another phone and they picked up immediately - Was told from a service advisor that they would not help me " unless the car blew up " - My car did recently ,8/8/24, shake aggressively, the check engine light flicked rapidly and a strong puff of fumes came through my car - They will not help me because they stated that my rod bearings are not rotted therefore I do not qualify for assistance and everything would come out of pocket , the engine replacement , the catalytic convertor due to me being a few thousand miles outside of my 100,000 warranty. …
While driving, the check engine light began flashing and the vehicle shook severely due to engine misfiring. The vehicle has had a recurring cylinder 3 misfire throughout ownership. Spark plugs and ignition coils were first replaced around 40,000 miles and replaced again in December 2025 for the same recurring issue. A Hyundai dealership inspected the vehicle and found codes P0300 random misfire and P0303 cylinder 3 misfire. The dealership technician documented that the piston rings did not look good and confirmed the catalytic converter was damaged as a result of the misfires. The vehicle has had an engine rattle at idle, oil consumption, and blow-by since early in ownership. The engine defect is progressive and predates the current mileage. The flashing check engine light and severe shaking while driving at highway speeds created an unsafe condition with other vehicles on the road. …
Car has had shaking during acceleration and a noise (rattle/knock/tapping) from the engine for last 18 months. Dealer "could not find any issues" until July 31st 2025 when the engine broke down with a P1326 code (connecting rod bearing failure) and the engine seized. Vehicle is under class action class with extended 150k 15 year warranty on engine for this concern. Had recall performed for the knock sensor detection system as required by class action. Dealership first asked for most recent oil change record (provided) and than informed that Hyundai declined repairs due to full maintenance records not being submitted. Have now submitted full maintenance records to dealer and Hyundai directly since I purchased in 2023 as certified pre owned. All maintenance performed as per factory recommendations In manual. Hyundai still declining repairs without any explanation.
Transmission complaints in other Tucson years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2019 Hyundai Tucson?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2019 Hyundai Tucson, 11% of the model year's 385 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2019 Hyundai Tucson transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2019 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 2019 Hyundai Tucson transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 9,000 miles, and 100% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.