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2011 Hyundai TucsonProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 124 owner complaints about the 2011 Hyundai Tucson, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-651 the manufacturer reports only 25% of affected cars repaired.

2011 Hyundai Tucson
66
CarFlaw IndexSolid year49% below the Tucson median · #16 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 25%Owner complaints12411 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage100kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2011 Hyundai Tucson has problems

124 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine401
Service brakes, hydraulic211
Power train200
Electrical system122
Service brakes121
Electronic stability control (ESC)90
Suspension50
Engine and engine cooling50
Tires41
13 other systems245

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2011 Hyundai Tucson recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

25%repaired · 2026 Q2

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Park outside

Recall 23V-651 · Sep 22, 2023 · 1,649,478 vehicles · 411,914 repaired

Risk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

51%repaired · 2020 Q4

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Recall 19V-063 · Feb 5, 2019 · 120,000 vehicles · 61,736 repaired

Risk. A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

64%repaired · 2017 Q2

Automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines

Recall 16V-057 · Jan 28, 2016 · 11,176 vehicles · 7,116 repaired

Risk. If enough transmission fluid leaks out, the transmission may not function properly and the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

82%repaired · 2015 Q3

Air bags

Recall 14V-245 · May 13, 2014 · 137,500 vehicles · 112,306 repaired

Risk. An air bag assembly that is not properly mounted may result in an increased risk of injury to the driver in the event of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Brake lights: switch

Recall 13V-113 · Apr 1, 2013 · 1,712,336 vehicles

Risk. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.

Mileage at failure

When do engine problems start?

100kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 23 engine complaints. 48% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
0under 30k miles11under 100k miles12100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2011 vs. every other Tucson year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tucson median. How we score

'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2011 Hyundai Tucson safety ratings

2011 Hyundai Tucson SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2011 Hyundai Tucson, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresAQ23002 · still open
    Open
  2. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
In owners' words

What Tucson owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I own a 2011 Hyundai Tucson (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle had an engine replacement performed by Hyundai service. Immediately after picking up the car, I noticed a loud abnormal noise coming from underneath the vehicle. I reported the issue right away, but was told nothing was heard and it was…
Complaint 11732770 · Apr 21, 2026
I purchased this vehicle from an acquaintance, who had it serviced by a local mechanic. Before I decided to buy it, I spoke with the mechanic he used, as well as calling the dealer with the vin number to verify that the recall issues had been taken care of. It was purchased around 9/19/2022 per the…
Complaint 11578890 · Mar 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speed, she heard a knocking and ticking noise coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The oil warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mechanic…
Complaint 11485252 · Sep 19, 2022 · 148,981 miles

Own a 2011 Tucson?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.