The Lemon Index2016 Hyundai Tucson.
The 2016 Hyundai Tucson is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 561 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 626, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 23 to 50 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Tucson year is 2021.
Lemon alert. 6.3× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2021
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2016–2021 Hyundai Tucson, 32.0M views. The 2016 is the same generation.
- Gauges, lights & wiring1.4M views
New HYUNDAI TUCSON 2021 at night - LED lights, ambient lights & new digital cockpitcrospotter13 · 792K views · 3 videos - Driveshaft, axles & 4x4792K views
2016 Hyundai Tucson 4x4 - Offroad Demo RunAutoXan · 792K views - Windows, doors & mirrors454K views
2016 Hyundai Tucson rear door fix. Doors wouldn't open, 10 minutes later they work again.Joseph Lombardo · 223K views · 3 videos - Brakes & ABS338K views
Hyundai Tucson Brakelight Change 2015- 2019-Same for Most Years!Flashback502 · 338K views
Show 4 more
- Infotainment, battery & electrical248K views
How To | Replace Car Battery | 2016-2021 Hyundai Tucson |Automotive Dysfunction · 149K views · 2 videos - Transmission & shifter241K views
How to: Transmission Fluid Change on Hyundai Tucson 2016 and NewerModern DIY Projects · 241K views - Spark plugs & ignition coils182K views
Hyundai Tucson Spark Plug Change 2014-2019--Easy!Flashback502 · 182K views - Death wobble & steering129K views
How to Replace 2016 Hyundai Tucson Steering Wheel ControlsMikechanic · 129K views
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Hyundai Tucson SUV 3rd Generation 2015-201A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 739K views
Which Hyundai SUV should you BUY? 2019 Tucson or Santa FeRaiti's Rides · 268K views
New 2021 Hyundai Tucson: Should you buy one? | Auto Expert John CadoganAuto Expert John Cadogan · 162K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 1,625 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Tucson year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 5K to 65K miles on the car (834 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 2K–22K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 6K–91K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 43K–70K miles
Recalls 5
- brakes 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020.
- electrical 2016
The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated.
- transmission & drivetrain 2016
Certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the vehicle to not move if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released repeatedly.
Show all 5 recalls
- latches/locks/linkages 2016
In the affected vehicles, if the primary hood latch has been released, and the vehicle is driven, the secondary hood latch may not hold adequately secure the hood to prevent it from opening while the vehicle is in motion…
- lights 2016
In the affected vehicles, when the vehicle's engine is running and the brake lights are illuminated, if the turn signal is activated, the trailer turn signal lights will either turn off or remain continuously illuminated…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 171 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- "the 2016 tucson (tl) is available with an accessory trailer hitch and accompanying wiring…
- The shift lever on some 6-speed vehicles may intermittently not shift out of park
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Tucson SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Tucson SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2300–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
My vehicle stalls to accelerate.when I hit the gas it will stall to move, it's dragging very slow. This is very scary when I'm driving and my suv slows down when other cars are driving fast behind me.
2016 Hyundai Tucson owner · NHTSA complaint 11267007
More owner reports
Dual clutch transmission slips and car will dangerously not accelerate when cold
NHTSA complaint 11054976
The vehicle is well maintained and the last oil change at 52,000 miles had no warning lights and the tech said there was no oil. It was just about 5,000 miles since last oil change. Search shows this is a far too common problem.
NHTSA complaint 11282721
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Hyundai Tucson reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 6.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 626; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Tucson year by this measure is 2021.
What are the most common 2016 Hyundai Tucson problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (68%), engine (19%) and speed control (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson have?
5 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson get?
23 to 50 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Hyundai Tucson safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Hyundai Tucson problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,000 and 65,000 miles. The middle report was at 29,800 miles, from 834 complaints.
Does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 68% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson cost in fuel a year?
About $2300 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Hyundai Tucson year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2021, 2013 and 2014.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works