2019 Hyundai Tucson: What to check before buying

Burning oil is the dominant complaint. Levels drop quarts low between changes with no visible leak, and the low-oil light often stays dark. Many reports progress to knocking, a flashing check engine light, a bad rod bearing, metal shavings in the oil, and a full engine replacement, often between 51,000 and 60,059 miles. Some cars have catalytic converters and exhaust manifolds replaced more than once. Owners describe stalling and power loss at highway speed, and two fires started under the hood while driving. Out-of-warranty and second owners report denied engine claims.

Reduced power and stalling are reported, with one car unable to exceed 25 mph. Shuddering, sluggish climbs, and an intermittent check engine light accompany excessive oil consumption. Diagnoses point to exhaust system and catalytic converter failure, including P0420 codes, with one converter replacement needed at about 89,000 miles. The manufacturer declined to cover repairs in more than one report. Only 4 complaints are filed here.

Most reports concern the ABS module recall, which carries a fire risk even while parked. Owners describe waiting months for a repair because dealers had no parts, and some were told to park outside away from buildings. Separate reports describe a brake pedal that sinks toward the floor or feels spongy, with crashes when the car failed to stop. Filings include 4 crashes, 3 fires, and 1 injury, including a vehicle that burned while parked.

Hesitation from a stop is a common early complaint, appearing within the first few thousand miles. The car pauses for about two seconds before pulling, as if fuel cut out, mostly in normal drive mode. Later reports describe limp mode, knocking, a flashing check engine light, and refusal to shift on hills, with codes such as P1326 tied to the knock sensor monitoring campaign. Oil consumption and repeated catalytic converter failures also appear. Sudden loss of power at highway speed led to one crash, and one engine fire is reported.

Sudden loss of acceleration is the main pattern. The check engine light flashes, the car will not go past 30 mph or so, and lane keeping and forward collision warnings light up at the same time. Dealers often find no fault, and knock sensor replacements do not always fix it. Other reports cover an infotainment screen that freezes on the backup camera, audio that stays on and drains the battery, failed low beams, theft despite the anti-theft update, and long waits for recall parts. One engine fire is reported.

Two patterns appear. Some cars accelerate on their own while parking, sitting with auto hold engaged, or on cruise control. One climbed to 90 mph on cruise, and a parking surge ended in a crash that injured two people. More often the car drops into limp mode with a flashing check engine light and will not exceed 45 or 50 mph, sometimes on the freeway. Some of these followed engine recall work. Hesitation, RPM flares, and dealers unable to duplicate the fault also appear.

None of the bags deploy in serious collisions, according to all 3 complaints. The crashes include a front-end impact, a side impact followed by a head-on hit, and a 55 mph crash into an embankment. Injuries include concussions and a passenger striking the windshield. No cause was determined in these reports. Four people were injured across the filings.

Both front seatbacks collapsed into a reclined position when the car was hit from behind at about 30 mph, injuring two people. A second report raises concern that the front headrests are fixed and sit far behind the occupant's head, leaving a gap that could worsen injuries in a crash. The dealer offered no fix. Only 2 complaints are filed.

Neither report describes a suspension fault. One car surged forward while being put in park, rolled over a curb, and hit a tree. The other went into limp mode several times on the freeway and in turns, with a foul smell inside the cabin. Its catalytic converter and fuel injectors were replaced before the manufacturer approved a new engine after 6 dealer visits.