Hyundai’s Tucson compact SUV hit the market in 2005 and made its mark as a dependable little runabout. Now two decades later this “cute ute” is in its fourth generation with no signs of slowing down. Hyundai has always tried to offer a mixture of technology features and value. Sometimes it works great, but sometimes features fall flat. In the case of the 2022-2026 Hyundai Tucson there have been a few problems along the way.
The information presented below was collected from NHTSA.gov complaints, recall information, various Facebook groups and online forums plus experience from covering the industry for the last 15 years.
Fire Risks
As far as potential fire sources, the trailer hitch wiring harness is not typical. For 2022-2024 Hyundai Tucson models equipped with an optional OEM trailer wiring harness there is a risk of an electrical short. It turns out the trailer wiring harness control module may have been installed in a location where it could get wet. Water in the control module could cause the rear brake lights and/or trailer lights to stop working. In extreme cases the short could cause an electrical fire. Oddly NHTSA recall 25V893 states “Owners can continue driving these vehicles; however, Hyundai recommends parking their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is completed.“ So you can drive it, just don’t park it anywhere you don’t want potentially burned. An improved trailer wiring harness control module is the answer and Hyundai will notify owners when it is available.
A batch of 2023 Hyundai Tucsons were caught up in a transmission fire risk problem that plagued most of Hyundai’s 2023 lineup. According to NHTSA recall 23V-526 damage to the transmission pump controller circuit board could cause heat damage. Since the affected component is an electric oil pump, the risk of a transmission fluid fire is real. Hyundai gives a similar same caveat of “you can drive it, just park it outside” like above in case it does catch on fire. Hyundai is inspecting and replacing the electric oil pumps on affected vehicles at no cost.
Vehicle Rollaway
Most modern vehicles have a lockout mechanism that prevents shifting the vehicle out of “Park” without putting your foot on the brake pedal. This is a great safety feature that not only ensures the driver is prepared to head out, but also thwarts curious children who may play with the shifter. But in the case of roughly 35,000 2025 Hyundai Tucson models that may not be true. Based on information from NHTSA recall 24V-877 there may be an issue with how the console extension wiring is routed inside the center console. Like most vehicles there is a mechanical release that allows the shift lever lock to be overridden for things like towing or emergencies. If the wiring gets in the way of the shift lever lock, it is possible to shift out of “Park” without touching the brake pedal, which could result in the vehicle rolling away by accident. The fix is to just reroute the offending harness where it can’t cause trouble, something the dealership will handle for free.
Sudden Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) Activation
There have been many complaints filed with the NHTSA over the 2023-2025 Hyundai Tucson forward collision avoidance system. Here’s just a few of the driver’s complaints:
“My car abruptly stopped due to the emergency braking system when the car in front of me braked (hard) but I had more than enough time to stop without having the emergency braking system engaged. Due to this, the car behind me hit me from behind damaging my bumper, trunk, and back lights.“ – NHTSA ID #11740016
“Forward collision assist is dangerous. It engages when not necessary and has almost caused several wrecks by slamming on the brakes.” – NHTSA ID #11739419
“The forward emergency braking system on this vehicle is a hazard not a safety feature. I have almost been rear ended 3 times because of it and have had my neck and back hurt from the quick sudden stop!” – NHTSA ID #11736762
“I was driving on a highway at 75 mph, on a clear day, with perfect visibility and driving conditions and my automatic emergency braking engaged. I was on cruise control with no one in front of me for approximately half a mile. There were cars behind me, so I had to swerve into another lane to avoid being rear ended.” – NHTSA ID #11620393
Anyone who has been in a vehicle when the automated emergency braking knows how jarring it can be. The effect is doubly so when it triggers drivers behind you to also suddenly panic brake. Hyundai did take action and NHTSA recall 26V-316 was issued for 2025-2026 Hyundai Tucson models. According to the recall the front multifunction camera software was tuned in such a way that it may trigger the FCA prematurely under certain conditions. A software update for the front camera should fix the issue for 2025-2026 models, but there is no word on earlier years with complaints.
Wayward Moldings
On a lighter note there was an issue with roof moldings detaching from a group of 2022 Hyundai Tucsons. Drivers may have noticed wind noise from the roof area or the molding starting to separate from the vehicle. According to NHTSA recall 23V-038 an improved mounting clip has been developed and will be installed by the dealership at no charge.
Conclusion
As far as recalls go, the 2022-2026 Hyundai Tucson has relatively few per year. The same can’t be said for consumer complaints though, so we’ll have to see which ones translate into recalls. Anyone looking to buy a 2022-2026 Hyundai Tucson needs to run the VIN through the NHTSA website to check for any open recalls and make sure those recalls were done.
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