Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Hyundai Tucson owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled and failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the A/C was blowing warm air. The contact lives in a hot climate and was concerned for the safety of her 2 minor children. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, three A/C compressors were used to attempt to repair the vehicle at a service center however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed at the owner's expense due to the warranty being invalid. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V543000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the Brake Auto Hold was engaged unintendedly and failed to disengage upon pressing the button, which required the contact to turn off, restart, and drive the vehicle for some time for the Brake Auto Hold to disengage. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The contact stated that the infotainment system was inoperable. Additionally, the passenger's side rear seat belt failed to buckle as intended, and the passenger's side rear door handle fractured while the contact was opening the door. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact smelled an abnormal odor and heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed, the vehicle jerked forward. Several unknown warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V543000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
Component: Engine / Electrical System / Fuel System Incident Date: February 9th, 2026 Vehicle Speed: 45-50 MPH Description: While traveling at highway speeds on a major roadway, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic and sudden engine stall without any prior warning or dashboard indicators. The engine shut off completely while in motion, resulting in an immediate and total loss of power steering and power-assisted braking. I was forced to perform a high-effort emergency maneuver in heavy traffic to reach the shoulder and avoid a collision. This vehicle is used to transport myself, my coworker and my family whose lives was placed in immediate danger by this failure. Since the start of the financing agreement, this vehicle has a documented history of recurring sensor issues and failed repair attempts at the dealership (Route 1 Hyundai). …
Our daughter was notified by another driver at a stoplight that her brake lights were not working. The car's brake sensors indicated the brake lights were not working, while driving the light went off and the lights worked again momentarily. The Hyundai dealership refused to address the problem when it was taken in for maintenance because the light did not appear for them they said it wasn't possible to a fix it. After an online search, there are instructions on what to do if you are a DIY person. They are very basic if you know your way around the electrical system in the auto. Our daughter lives and works in the Phoenix metro area putting her at risk from collision and being in violation of local ordinance regarding vehicle operation. There were no earlier indications of a problem until 5 days ago.
Four Weeks ago , I called Henderson Hyundai,[phone], concerning a fire hazard for my car that the Hyundai Company said would start on fire because of corroded brake lines. I was told before that this would be taken care of at my next oil change, today, 2-22-2022. The service rep said this didn't apply to my 2020 Tucson. I told him that my car met their recall instructions. The dealership refused to fix the potential fire hazard. I want to go on record that I attempted to resolve the issue and the dealer said no. I put my car in the garage and don't want my house to burn down.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V543000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
At times, this vehicle will refuse to go. You will get an alert in the dash that the emergency braking system has engaged. It may be a door is not completely shut, or sometimes it's just that I don't have my seat belt on. It seems to be inconsistent, because I often times put my seat belt on after I finish backing out, and am ready to go forward. If there is any kind of incident that requires a fast escape, this "feature" could cost somebody their life, or cause them to deal with a carjacking. The car needs to go when I tell it to go.
While driving one evening, it was brought to my attention that my passenger brake light was remaining on, when I was not braking. A week later, both sides are on. This happens only if my headlights are on - automatically or if I manually turn my headlights on. The back center light will only come on when I high the brake pedals. Again, back brake lights on driver and passenger side remain on regardless of brake pedal is engaged.
Electrical rear brake system. My rear driver side brake like sometimes fails to operate properly. Brake warning light on dash comes on. This happens on and off. After researching the issue I found numerous owners are having the same issue. Some replace the bulb multiple times while others have had dealerships replace the harness. Both solutions only temporarily fixed the problem for a short time
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando.
Brake complaints in other Tucson years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2020 Hyundai Tucson?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the brakes of the 2020 Hyundai Tucson, 25% of the model year's 179 complaints. The component named most often is software (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Hyundai Tucson brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-543 (control unit/module, Sep 4, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Tucson brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 11,000 miles, and 63% before 25,000 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.