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2013 Hyundai TucsonProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 266 owner complaints about the 2013 Hyundai Tucson, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-651 the manufacturer reports only 25% of affected cars repaired.

45
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the Tucson median · #8 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 25%Owner complaints26644 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage87kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 21, 2026. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2013 Hyundai Tucson has problems

266 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
Engine15611
Service brakes, hydraulic313
Electrical system225
Power train161
Air bags119
Service brakes102
Structure61
Fuel/propulsion system61
Steering62
13 other systems326

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

3 recalls

2013 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 →

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 →

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?

87kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 110 engine complaints. 65% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
5under 30k miles72under 100k miles38100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine

17 owners mentioned a cost

$5,000median

Middle half: $599 – $7,000

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2013 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

2013 Hyundai Tucson safety ratings

2013 Hyundai Tucson SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2013 Hyundai Tucson frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2013 Hyundai Tucson side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2013 Hyundai Tucson side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 4 stars (17.6% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2013 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 was driving on the highway going 65 mph and scared when the engine started clicking and shaking a tiny bit. Plus it was slowing down no matter what i did. Well in a 4 lane highway. There was No engine light, no previous issues. The car drove great until this issue. I had the car only 3 months.…
Complaint 11751801 · Jul 21, 2026
My 2013 Hyundai Tucson with 89,417 miles experienced complete engine failure due to severe rod knock from connecting rod bearing wear. This vehicle was brought to our local Hyundai dealership with confirmed diagnosis. This is a well-documented manufacturing defect in the 2.4L Theta II engine. This…
Complaint 11741013 · May 30, 2026
On Monday, [XXX], I was traveling northbound on [XXX] headed towards Roanoke from Salem at an approximate speed of 65 MPH. At approximately mile marker [XXX], before the exit to [XXX], the vehicle started to lose power rapidly, and the car began to go into what I perceived as "limp mode" and was…
Complaint 11733552 · Apr 24, 2026

Own a 2013 Tucson?

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