Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2025 | 6 | 2% | 16,000 miles |
| 2024 | 6 | 6% | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% | 102,000 miles |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% | 24,000 miles |
| 2017 | 3 | 0% | 0 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 0% | 78,000 miles |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2013 | 1 | 0% | 18,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2009 | 2 | 11% | 70,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 5% | 25,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% | 170,000 miles |
| 2006 | 8 | 6% | 87,000 miles |
| 2005 | 3 | 2% | 80,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact leased a 2025 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, another driver cut her off while in an intersection which activated the emergency brake system. As a result, the contact was hit from behind by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt failed to secure the contact and thrusted her forward. The contact did not seek medical attention but days after the accident, the right side of her neck, right lower shoulder blade, right inner thigh, right side of her chest, left side sciatica, lower right abdomen, and lower back. The authorities arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. Despite the failure and the damage to the vehicle, the contact managed to drive the vehicle home. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 15,900.
There was an accident involving this vehicle where another vehicle pulled out in front causing a collision. There was damage only to the front of the vehicle which caused several malfunctions. Prior to the impact the break assist did not operate which may have prevented the collision but when the impact happened the seat belts locked in place and the driver side window would not roll down nor would the driver side door open. This seems to be a safety hazard as if the vehicle were on fire how would the driver be able to get out? The problem was reported to the dealer, with no resolution. I do have photos of the damage that can be available upon request.
Due to the design of the middle seat belt receiver it is impossible to install any type of car seat using the seat belt. The receiver is so long, you cannot get the seat belt tight enough to prevent movement of the car seat. There are no anchors for the middle seat either to use the latch system instead of the seatbelt, and anchors cannot be borrowed from the other sides as per the owners manual. Furthermore when a passenger sits in the middle seat, the receiver is on their lap, not down by their hip. This is not only uncomfortable, but I feel like the seat belt is not worn properly. One week after leasing the vehicle I went back to the dealership and was told there was nothing they could do about it. No help was offered. I reached out to Hyundai on my own.
Center rear buckle fails to latch. Plastic case separated after normal operation of closing/folding down the rear seat. Buckle case separated from buckle latch. Buckle would latch with plastic cover missing, however would be a considerable risk, as a the retaining bar feature is not captive to the buckle and would separate in use, if used. As well as a pinch hazard. The center buckle was only use a handful of times and is free from contamination/debris. A safety buckle shouldn't fail under normal operation of folding a seat as designed. The seat folding action caused the buckle casing to pop off and separate.
Drivers seat, seat belt at the lap tightens while driving to the point it is brusing hip bones. Even if someone loosens it, the seat belt automatically tightens up to the point it is dangerous in a collision because it can cause internal injuries or more severe injuries. The seat belt design is flawed in that it pulls extra belt from only from the top, so the bottom of the lap belt is fixed and that part is getting too tight and cannot be consistently comfortable or loose enough that it does not bruise or cause injuries to hips and laps. The issue has been ongoing and a major concern. I have contacted Hyundai who said it may or may not be under warranty but expected for me to pay for a visit to the shop to find out when this is a safety issue. Secondly the headlight system keeps failing. …
The seat belt is hanging up inside . I cant get out of it with out pulling some time it works some time it dose not. Had it in twice works when I get there now what it has to be fix. It only has 600 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while attempting to buckle the driver's side seat belt, the seat belt failed to buckle securely, and the seat belt failed to retract as designed. The contact had not attempted to pull on the seat belt and the seat belt was unable to buckle securely. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer was contacted dealer and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,361.
Since purchasing this car brand new I have had 3 different seat belt pretensioner failures all covered under warranty. Both front seat belt pretensioners and driver side belt anchor pretensioner. This is on a car with approximately 52000 miles and in excellent condition. In each case the airbag light came on. I am seriously wondering if there is a serious safety issue with these components.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Tucson years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (8), 2024 (6) and 2025 (6) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2006.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Tucson seat belt problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seat belts recall for any Hyundai Tucson model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Hyundai Tucson seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles; 53% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › retractor (1 mentions), followed by the rear/other (1).
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.