Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Hyundai Tucson problems
Owners filed 185 complaints about the 2005 Hyundai Tucson with NHTSA between Mar 2005 and Nov 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (31).
Complaints
185
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags31
- Electrical system30
- Structure20
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Engine18
- Power train16
- Suspension15
- Vehicle speed control14
- Exterior lighting13
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Electronic stability control (esc)10
- Visibility9
- Tires9
- Steering8
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
24
18
14
8
10
8
13
13
8
8
7
4
9
11
13
4
4
4
5
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 24 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
31 reports7 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“I acquired my vehicle as a used car. Although, to my knowledge my vehicle air bags have not deployed, the air bag light is illuminated on my dash panel and this issue is preventing me from obtaining an updated vehicle registration in my state of residence (Delaware). Since the year make and model are listed under the "recall" section of the NHTSA website, specifically for an airbag issue, I am requesting information regarding what nest-steps I nay take to have this problem repaired by Hyundai without any cost to me.”
Electrical system
30 reports1 fire
“This car accelerates while unattended. Most likely due to an ECM malfunction and unable to properly respond/send signals to the motor. On 4 occasions, the car has accelerated, even if in park. It will go 25mph on its own and to stop I had to put it in neutral. I’ve seen that my car isn’t the only one experiencing this. Considering it’s an ECM issue there should be a recall because that is not a part you change during the life of a car.”
Structure
20 reports2 crashes1 fire
“REAR SUBFRAME IS ROTTED. MY 17 YEAR OLD WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SHE LOST CONTROL, IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC.THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED AND SITTING IN A PARKING LOT FOR 2 MONTHS AS I CAN NOT FIND THIS PART! MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A RECALL WITH THESE CARS.”
Engine and engine cooling
20 reports1 crash
“I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND HE STATED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET IS ROTTING/CORRODING AND IS CLOSE TO LEAKING. HE SAID THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON IT. *TR”
Engine
18 reports
“The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving 65 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the RPM failed to raise, and the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.”
Power train
16 reports
“INITIAL ISSUES ON VEHICLE PRESENTED IN JANUARY 2021 WITH VARIOUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODES INCLUDING P0133. ALTHOUGH VEHICLE PASSED EMISSIONS IN 2020, VARIOUS CHECK ENGINE CODES FOR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSORS, MISFIRE FOR VARIOUS CYLINDERS. AFTER REPLACING INDICATED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSORS INDICATED VIA OBD II TOOL, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR (MORE THAN ONCE), BOTH FRONT CV BOOTS, HEAD GASKET SEALS FOR BOTH CYLINDER BANKS, MORE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES APPEAR ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY ANOTHER CYLINDER MISFIRE CHECK ENGINE CODE HAS APPEARED AFTER ALL SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM RECOMMENDED BRAND REPLACEMENTS (NKG PRE-GAPPED SPARK PLUGS). THE MISFIRE CODE HAS CLEARED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT CHECK ENGINE CODE FROM THE OBD II TOOL IS ERROR CODE FOR DRIVE TRAIN DRIVEABILITY P0420 REGARDING CATALYST SYSTEM OPERATING BELOW THRESHOLD AT BANK 1. I HAVE UTILIZED LOCAL STORE CATALYTIC CLEANER LIQUIDS TO CLEAN THE SYSTEM, WHICH HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2021, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST LOCAL DEALSHIP FOR A LARGE MAJORITY OF THESE REPAIRS INCLUDING A $150 DEALERSHIP FEE JUST TO HAVE…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.