2018 Hyundai Tucson engine problems

“The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle started shaking aggressively. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road, and the parking brake was engaged. The vehicle stalled and was towed to the nearest gas station. The vehicle failed to start and was towed to the residence. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.”

“I took my Tucson to my local Hyundai dealership on Friday, August 28, 2026. It was there for a standard oil change and tire rotation. When I scheduled the appointment online the system also said there was a recall. I always stay on top of that so I let them take care of that as well. The recall didn’t seem like anything major, it was something to do with emissions. Ok, when I left the dealership that day the engine was warm so there was no noticeable difference. I didn’t use my vehicle at all for the next few days. When I got into it Monday morning for work I noticed immediately after starting the car and taking off the engine was hesitating and bucking. This lasted a few minutes. The problem seems to improve once the engine is warm but others are reporting online that they’re having issues with engines stalling as well. There’s something wrong with the software update that’s being used and no one seems to have a fix. I reached out to Hyundai with my concern and they recommended I take it back to the dealership to be diagnosed and see if my warranty would cover any repairs. My vehicle was free of problems before that update and now it’s falling back on me to…”

“2018 Hyundai Tucson catastrophic engine failure consistent with known Hyundai Nu engine defect pattern documented across 141 prior owner-filed NHTSA complaints for this same vehicle. OBD codes P0326, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 documented July 19–25, 2026. Independent licensed mechanic confirmed in writing that engine requires replacement. Authorized Hyundai dealership service manager verbally confirmed coolant in oil — the exact failure mode documented in prior NHTSA complaints for this vehicle generation. Service Campaign 966/KSDS was completed and active when failure occurred and did not prevent it. Hyundai Motor America denied goodwill claim Case #43120457 citing out-of-warranty status and aftermarket parts — no written test results or inspection report has been produced to this household. Requesting federal investigation into pattern of engine failures in 2018 Hyundai Tucson consistent with acknowledged Nu engine defects.”

“I own a Hyundai Tucson 2018 SEL Plus. My problem is my vehicle is coming to the end of it's 100,000 mile warranty. This vehicle started burning oil about 30,000 miles and it got worse. I checked on recalls and there was no recalls for my VIN number for this vehicle. My Hyundai vehicle is burning a quart of oil every 300 miles and this is no exaggeration. I bought the car brand new and had to replace my 1st Catalytic converter at 79,627 miles on 5/14/25 that was originally on the car. The second Catalytic converter that I had put on I, had to replace that Catalytic converter again at my cost at approximately $900.00 and then after that it plugged up again at 91,928 miles on 7/28/26 and I, had to replace that one that is the third one now. The Catalytic converter company had warranted the work and the converter to be installed. This has caused the car to not only misfire, but become a possible road hazard to miss enough and possibly cause it to stall or reduce the power output of the vehicle while in operation and on public roads in traffic and possibly create a major accident on the freeway. This is a major saftey concern being that you could not only lose power…”

“My engine is consuming an excessive amount of oil due to a known issue with the Hyundai engine design impacting cars from 2011-2018. My car only had approximately 89,900 miles on it when I noticed the issues. Hyundai is aware of the defect and has re-engineered their engines due to the issue. The engine is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others is put at risk every time I drive. By denying my claim, I am forced to repeatedly top off my oil to maintain levels and try to drive as safely as possible, however my car is at risk of engine failure due to the consumption. I have escalated these concerns to Hyundai and I was still denied. The problem was confirmed by a Hyundai dealer. The denial stems from Hyundai’s policy that it must be consuming greater than 1 quart for every 1,000 miles driven. However, my car is still consuming oil and it is incredibly unsafe. The engine was inspected by qualified Hyundai mechanics. The consumption issue was documented in their paperwork. The oil light would intermittently flicker while I drove, which had never happen before. Additionally, the car began to drive rough and I recognized something…”

“My 2018 Hyundai Tucson with the 2.0L engine has suffered catastrophic engine failure. The engine lost compression in cylinder 4 and now requires a full replacement . This is part of a broader pattern—the 2016–2018 Tucson is known for excessive oil consumption that leads to engine failure, with over 1,900 engine-related complaints filed with NHTSA across these model years . Prior to this failure, I reported excessive oil consumption and other engine issues to my dealership. Despite these reports, the problem was not resolved, and I was given inadequate guidance on how to address it. The engine ultimately failed while I was driving, creating a sudden loss of power that posed a safety risk. Other Hyundai Tucson vehicles with the same engine have been covered by recalls for related engine defects , but my specific VIN was not included, despite exhibiting identical symptoms. Meanwhile, other owners report that similar engine failures have been dismissed or denied coverage by Hyundai . This inconsistency in how the manufacturer handles a known, widespread defect is what prompted me to file this complaint.”