Over the course of 20 years, Hyundai has provided us with four Tucson generations – the latest of which is still in production as the 2025 Hyundai Tucson, available with both a gas-only and plug-in hybrid powertrain. As eagerly priced and well-equipped as a brand-new example is, the amount of value on offer with a used model is far too tempting for many to ignore, which is why so many shoppers flock to secondhand Tucsons each year.
Available Years
Tucson
- Segment
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SUV
- Base MSRP
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$27,500
In an effort to establish whether this is a smart move or not, and more specifically, which Hyundai Tucson generations they should be flocking to, we’ve poured through a wide range of reliability data, customer complaints, and recall information, and highlighted our findings below.
In order to establish which is the most reliable of all Hyundai Tucson generations, we have consulted a variety of reputable sources, while also taking into account the number and severity of consumer complaints/recalls. J.D. Power quality and reliability ratings have been included, if available. However, it must be noted that these ratings are an assessment of initial reliability, not long-term reliability.
Each Tucson generation has been ranked from least to most reliable.
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Hyundai Tucson Generations Overview |
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1st Gen |
2nd Gen |
3rd Gen |
4th Gen |
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Model Years |
2005 – 2009 |
2010 – 2015 |
2016 – 2021 |
2022 – present |
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Engines |
2.0L I4, 2.7L V6 |
2.0L I4, 2.4L I4 |
2.0L I4, 1.6L turbo I4 |
2.5L I4, 1.6L turbo I4, 1.6L turbo I4 hybrid |
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Transmissions |
4-speed automatic, 5 & 6-speed manual |
6-speed automatic, 5 & 6-speed manual |
6 & 7-speed automatic |
6 & 8-speed automatic |
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Drivetrains |
Front- or all-wheel-drive |
Front- or all-wheel-drive |
Front- or all-wheel-drive |
Front- or all-wheel-drive |
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Third Generation: 2016 – 2021
The third-generation Hyundai Tucson saw many improvements introduced to the family-friendly SUV, including higher-quality interior materials, way more tech than previous iterations, and a punchy yet efficient turbocharged powertrain for the first time. On the whole, this generation of Tucson is largely reliable. However, earlier models were plagued with a series of common faults, which sees us rank this as the least-reliable generation to own.
Common Issues
- Transmission fault: unable to accelerate from a stop
- ABS hydraulic ECU may corrode and short, posing a potential fire risk
- Engine burns oil
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 87/100 (2019 model year)
By far, the most reported issue is an inability to accelerate from a stop – a problem which largely affects 2016 and 2017 model-year Tucsons. Hyundai did look to rectify the issue with a recall. The recall relates to 41,000 models equipped with the seven-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission, as the transmission has a tendency to overheat and then fail to respond under certain driving conditions.
Although the 2016 Hyundai Tucson has the most overall complaints, we rate the 2017 model year as worse because of other possible factors such as higher repair cost or more problems at lower mileage.
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First Generation: 2005 – 2009
Hyundai’s first-gen Tucson is a relatively simple and versatile two-row SUV, which is available with both an inline-four and a more powerful V6 option. The back-to-basics approach taken by Hyundai means that early Tucson models tend to be impressively reliable, although a few common issues do plague these aging SUVs.
Common Issues
- With eight recalls, the 2005 Hyundai Tucson is the most recalled model year
- Airbag faults
- Parking brake failure
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 84/100 (2007 model year)
With the oldest examples now hitting 20 years old this year, it’s inevitable that the first-generation Hyundai Tucson generation will start to struggle in terms of dependability. The data would suggest that the very earliest examples, dating to 2005, are best avoided, as these model years are subject to more recalls than any other Tucson to date. Some of the recalls detail how the airbag system can prove to be problematic, and how the parking brake can fail too.
It’s worth noting that very few complaints have been logged against the first-gen Tucson’s powertrain, with many owners reporting high mileages on their personal vehicles, with very little trouble experienced along the way.
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Second Generation: 2010 – 2015
The second-gen Hyundai Tucson was leaps and bounds ahead of the preceding model, boasting a much smarter exterior and interior, plus a more refined ride and a six-speed transmission, rather than the preceding model’s four-speed unit. While, like any car, there are problems which affect the second-gen Hyundai Tucson’s reliability, on the whole, these prove to be largely dependable, and a safe bet for anyone shopping around for a family-oriented SUV on the used market.
Common Issues
- Electrical gremlins
- Faulty automatic transmissions
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 86/100 (2015 model year)
Both the 2011 and 2012 model-year Tucson sport 62 complaints each on Car Complaints, with many these relating to various interior and electrical gremlins, such as faulty BlueTooth systems, and the key sticking in the ignition. The transmissions can prove to be troublesome also, with numerous owners complaining that their Tucson’s automatic unit has locked up, although these concerns aren’t as widespread as the problems affecting third-gen models.
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Fourth Generation: 2022 – Present
Having only arrived a few short years ago, it makes sense that the fourth- and current-gen Hyundai Tucson would rank as the most reliable. As the model ages, more issues may crop up, but for now the current Tucson looks to make for a reliable SUV which comes equipped with peace of mind as standard.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100 (2024 model year)
It is worth mentioning that the NHTSA currently logs 325 complaints against the 2022 Hyundai Tucson, which is the earliest fourth-gen model-year. Of those 325 complaints, 115 relate to the engine, which suggests there may be underlying issues with the Tucson’s powertrain. The complaints range from a loss of power, to stalling and misfire concerns.
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Summary: A Highly Reliable And Easily Recommended Family-Friendly SUV
Like any other car on the road, there are common issues that affect all model years and generations of the Hyundai Tucson, but that isn’t to say that the Korean SUV is unreliable. Most issues have been addressed by manufacturer-issued recalls, too, which should make shopping around on the used market for a dependable Tucson a pleasurable and easily-fulfilled experience. There is no shortage of older examples in excess of 200,000 miles, and very few seem to attract excessive rust, which is testament to both the build quality and longevity of these high-value two-row SUVs.
Sources: Hyundai, Car Complaints, NHTSA, J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, Reddit
