Problems · by component
2016 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell engine problems
372 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell cite engine, 24% of all 1,536 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
372
24% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Engine ran out of oil with no indication on instrument panel that it was happening. Engine now knocks and needs replacing. My independent service center has determined a failure. It is available for inspection.”
“original owner. Car shook badly and hesitated losing speed at 61k. dealership replaced all or four ignition coils and spark plugs. Car started and burning oil at 61,000 despite regular oil changes at 3500. Mostly done by the dealership. Car has been burning oil uses 1 quart every 500 miles. All four window regulators have stopped working. I replaced one.”
“I have been dealing with ongoing engine performance problems for over a year. My Tucson consumes oil at an abnormal rate, and I constantly have to refill it. There is also sluggish acceleration, and the Check Engine Light has stayed on despite multiple inspections and maintenance efforts. I’ve seen hundreds of complaints about this exact issue from other Hyundai owners. I also found that an NHTSA investigation is ongoing, yet Hyundai continues to deny responsibility, often blaming the issue on the owner. I believe this is a safety concern and a manufacturer defect that needs to be addressed before more drivers experience full engine failure. Please investigate this further and include my VIN in any future action or recall.”
“The reason of this complain is due to excessive oil consumption which now damaged my catalytic converter against Hyundai Motors America. The complained started 2021 where we noticed that the low oil engine light up after only 1500 miles from last oil change. We submitted the complained with dealer (Carlsbad and Escondido CA) and my car failed 3 consecutive oil consumption test and Hyundai performed an engine cleaning, claiming it was going to fix the problem. This happened when the vehicle was still under warranty. At the time they said that if this did not fix the problem, they were still going to fix the car since the issue happened under warranty. The engine cleaning DID NOT fixed the problem, my car no longer has warranty and my catalytic converter fails and makes the vehicle inoperable in highway (engine ceases to accelerate) . We submitted a complain with Hyundai corporate and they denied fixing our car since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. I would like to ask for them to fix the engine and catalytic converter make the car operable again.”
“Me and my daughter were headed back home from a family trip and we were stranded on the side of the road luckily we had family tailing us!! My engine light came on while we were still in the city in Savannah so we stopped by an autozone and changed the spark plugs so the engine light stopped blinking but when we got about 20 miles from home it stopped going we had to pull over it started smoking and it was really hot but the temperature had never moved we had it towed home!! I keep my maintenance up regularly on my car I had 2 mechanics check it out they both said the piston is breaking the spark plugs and it’s something down in the motor that’s doing it I should not have any motor issues at all with my car!! Especially when I do my part at keeping it up I was quoted 7,738 to fix my car which I don’t have both mechanics said the engine in those cars are no good and it’s been recalls on them just not my model it’s not right I’m out of a car and no way to work or no way for my kids to get around they have to ride in Lyfts and Ubers with strangers I feel like my car should be fixed because I did my part at keeping it up and I’m still out of car and frustrated due…”
“Engine has rod knock and low power due to rod bearing failure. There was never an illuminated oil light or message of any sort prior to failure. this vehicle has had oil changes regularly and never been an issue till now. With Hyundai not having a recall on this engine, and seeing many other reviews about this same issue it is a very dangerous issue leaving people stranded and loosing power in times where serious harm issues could occur and this issue is very costly being that the engine will have to be replaced. As a consumer taking care of the vehicle and still the engine failing due to the lack of integrity of Hyundai I believe Hyundai should step up and make it right and take care of the people who have spent there hard earned money on these cars and are now left in the dark.”
Showing 6 of 372 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.