The Lemon IndexHyundai Tucson.
The best Hyundai Tucson years are 2021, 2013, 2014. Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2022. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 145, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.
Reliability by year, 2005 to 2025.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Best years to buy
2021.
Quick answers.
Is the Hyundai Tucson a good car?
Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 145; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2021 and the worst is 2016.
What are the best Hyundai Tucson years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold: 2021, 2013, 2014.
What Hyundai Tucson years should you stay away from?
The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2016, 2017, 2022.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Tucson have?
64 safety recalls across the 19 model years we track. Most: 2005 (8), 2025 (7), 2006 (5). Each year's page lists them.
What are the most common Hyundai Tucson problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, engine and automatic emergency braking most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 136 | 1.4× the average car's complaints | 64 | engine (20%) | 8 | — | 19–22 |
| 2006 | 79 | 1.3× fewer complaints than average | 31 | airbags (45%) | 5 | — | 19–22 |
| 2007 | – | too few complaints to score | 13 | airbags (38%) | 5 | — | 19–22 |
| 2010 | 48 | 2.1× fewer complaints than average | 21 | transmission & drivetrain (57%) | 4 | — | 24–26 |
| 2011 | 51 | 2× fewer complaints than average | 28 | transmission & drivetrain (39%) | 5 | — | 22–25 |
| 2012 | 55 | 1.8× fewer complaints than average | 30 | transmission & drivetrain (30%) | 3 | ★★★★☆ | 21–25 |
| 2013 | 34 | 2.9× fewer complaints than average | 19 | airbags (32%) | 3 | ★★★★☆ | 21–25 |
| 2014 | 42 | 2.4× fewer complaints than average | 22 | steering (18%) | 2 | ★★★★☆ | 22–25 |
| 2015 | 49 | 2× fewer complaints than average | 30 | engine (40%) | 1 | ★★★★☆ | 22–50 |
| 2016 | 626 | 6.3× the average car's complaints | 561 | transmission & drivetrain (68%) | 5 | ★★★★★ | 23–50 |
| 2017 | 245 | 2.5× the average car's complaints | 297 | transmission & drivetrain (61%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 23–50 |
| 2018 | 95 | about average | 137 | engine (37%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 22–27 |
| 2019 | 132 | 1.3× the average car's complaints | 185 | service brakes, hydraulic (32%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 23–26 |
| 2020 | 72 | 1.4× fewer complaints than average | 83 | brakes (24%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 23–25 |
| 2021 | 24 | 4.2× fewer complaints than average | 35 | engine (37%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 23–25 |
| 2022 | 195 | 1.9× the average car's complaints | 419 | engine (32%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 26–38 |
| 2023 | 72 | 1.4× fewer complaints than average | 180 | automatic emergency braking (23%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 25–38 |
| 2024 | 83 | 1.2× fewer complaints than average | 149 | automatic emergency braking (35%) | 4 | ★★★★★ | 25–38 |
| 2025 | 309 | 3.1× the average car's complaints | 439 | automatic emergency braking (63%) | 7 | ★★★★★ | 26–38 |
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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