CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2016 Tucson comes with a dual-clutch, 7-speed transmission. But Hyundai forgot to tell you about one key phrase – zero-move. That's right, an alarming number of owners have said their SUV wouldn't accelerate after a stop.

Turns out that's because the transmission's application logic has been stumbling all over itself. Hyundai recalled the issue in September 2016, but it's difficult to say if owners are out-of-the-woods, or if this is just a sign of things to come.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,840 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Hyundai Tucson drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Hyundai Tucson Owner Comments (Page 3 of 24)

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problem #440

Jun 222022

Tucson

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Put car in drive and it does not engage and will not move. It acts like it is still in park. However, the reverse gear does operate.

- Randleman, NC, USA

problem #439

Mar 202022

Tucson

  • miles
Transmission can lurch forward or hesitate, shudder when accelerating from a stop. More problematic is the extreme vibration/shuddering of the car when in stop and go traffic. It is so severe passengers are actually thrusting back and forth in their seats. First occurrence was at 23,000 miles when a warning light came on saying, "transmission running high, pull over while driving in traffic." At the time I was driving in moderately heavy city traffic for about 20 minutes. Hyundai service reported they could not duplicate the problem, and no codes found in any system, so no repairs performed. Was informed service mechanic that this can happen in extended traffic. However, I had not been in extended traffic. I continued to experience other issues as noted above and when complained about them was told there was nothing wrong with the car, it just had some quirks with the transmission, nothing that needed repair. Recently my driving has changed from city to interstate driving and starting about 5,000 miles ago, the severe shuddering/vibrating happens when traffic is tied up on interstates. The car has not been overheated by hot weather or extended driving as suggested by the service center. When I took it back in for servicing I was informed there was a "dry and wet" type of transmission in the 2016 Tucson's, and I had the dry one which is problematic. Again, the mechanics were unable to duplicate the problem, and said there was nothing they could do to fix the car as it was inherent in this transmission. They suggested I contact Hyundai and ask for the transmission to be replaced as it was still under warranty. Current mileage is 39,000. I have contacted hyundai but they insist, I must take it back to the dealer so they can "duplicate the problem and repair it. It has been and continues to be very frustrating trying to deal with hyundai. I do not feel safe driving long distances in the car and consider it to be a safety concern. Please advise. Thank you, Ellen

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #438

May 142022

Tucson

  • miles
Hyundai dealership just gave me my vehicle back after having it for 3 months replacing the engine due to engine failure which a class action law suite was filed about. While having my vehicle they also replaced all the ignition coils and spark plugs, 1 day after receiving my vehicle back my car throws the following codes and has to go back to the dealership. P0353- ignition coils C primary control circuit/open P0354- ignition coils D primary control circuit/open P0420- Catalyst system efficiency bele9 threshold bank 1

- Warsaw , IN, USA

problem #437

May 092022

Tucson

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

No or reduced acceleration after stopping, no shifting at all into gear, vehicle hesitating, especially in low gears at speeds less then 10 MPH while idling in traffic. Issues shifting into gear and accelerating when pushing accelerator especially when going downhill. Issue happens nearly every time the vehicle is driven. Rear driver's side door will not open from inside or outside of car. Seems to be an issue with the cable/pulley system. Could definitely be a safety hazard in an emergency situation.

- Centennial, CO, USA

problem #436

May 052022

Tucson

  • miles
Transmission slips when trying to accelerate any. No leaks etc. Almost had a wreck trying to merge onto the interstate with my family in the car.

- Terry, MS, USA

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problem #435

Jan 312021

Tucson

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to merge into traffic, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

- Hagerman, ID, USA

problem #434

Mar 102022

Tucson

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car has an unresponsive accelerator pedal, delayed or no acceleration, jerking, shuddering, shaking, and stalling. The defects cause dangerous and unsafe conditions, including failing to shift, stalling and delayed or unresponsive acceleration, especially from a stop. I have been stuck on major highways and have had to disconnect battery and wait just to get the car to restart and actually move. I have had to be towed just to get out of the way of traffic

- Cedar Hill, TX, USA

problem #433

Dec 312021

Tucson

  • miles
The car vibrates, shakes, when stopped; hesitates, shakes, vibrates on accelerating from stopping, in traffic at stoplights. Incident becomes unsafe in traffic, etc. Reported to Dealer (Horne Hyundai, Mesa, AZ, 85120) and took car in for troubleshooting, diagnostics, or repair(s); twice, 1 st on Jan. 19, 2022, Dealer duplicated the same problem; Dealer technician performed 7 Type Judder Test, Vehicle Failed. Performed Transmission (TCU) update, Vehicle Passed, performed test drive, vehicle passed. Dealer acknowledged the same issue with vehicle; however reported to customer that it passed the Judder Test. Vehicle released to customer, no further testing or logic improvement. Customer drove vehicle home and incident occured again, less than 24 hrs from Dealer troubleshooting the incident. Customer returned vehicle to Dealer on Jan. 31, 2022; with the same issue; vibrating, hesitating, when stopping, and accelerating at stop lights, etc. Safety Issue in traffic. Dealer acknowledged the same issue again. Dealer technician again performed 7 Type Judder test. Judder detected. Performed Dual Clutch Transmission Detection and TCU Software updates, proceeded to test for Judder, Vehicle Passed. Returned vehicle to customer. Customer conferred with Dealer Service Manager about the vehicle issues, and was unable to resolve any further testing or next logical repair issues. Dealer suggested the customer contact the Manufacturer for further issues; unable to satisfy customer complaints of this issue and documented issues with previous recall of 41,000 Hyundai Tucson DCT issues and problems. Dealer could not reconcile with customer on why this VIN number was not included in the recall #149 for Hyundai Tucson vehicles; suggesting we report to NHTSA for the safety issue. This DCT issue is recurring with recurring "reprogramming by the Dealer(s) never really repairing anything, just software updates. Invoices 358494 (2) Horne Hyundai, Apache Junction, AZ 85120

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #432

Dec 272021

Tucson

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that soon after purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle would stall upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the RPM's would loudly rev. The contact took the vehicle back to the independent used auto shop where the vehicle was purchased and was informed that they would not service the transmission or offer any additional assistance. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V628000 (Power Train, Electrical System) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact called a local dealer and made an appointment for service. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

- Gainesville, GA, USA

problem #431

Nov 212021

Tucson

  • miles
A warning light indicating that a brake light is out has been active for over 4 years. The bulbs have been replaced and checked and the brake light outage persists. This is an electrical issue and poses a serious safety hazard. Secondly, when trying to accelerate, the engine will rev between 400-500rpms but the car won-€™t speed up for several seconds. Lately while pressing the gas pedal the engine is revving in the 500-€™s while the car actually DEcelerates from 70mph to 40mph while ON THE FREEWAY. This is a mega dangerous safety issue for myself and other drivers. A mechanic quoted us yesterday as needing a new transmission. The car is 6 years old. In my opinion, these issues coupled with the existing recalls make this car a true lemon.

- San Diego , CA, USA

problem #430

Oct 012021

Tucson

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Reduced engine power that caused car to suddenly stall. Check engine light and engine oil pressure light both came on. Auto shop is stating a new engine is required. Similar recall have been issued in other Hyundai Tucson

- Quincy, IL, USA

problem #429

Feb 012020

Tucson

  • miles
Engine Burns excessive oil, We change our oil every 3k miles since owning it sept 2019. I had taken it to the dealer for a repair on a separate issue and asked them to look at the engine and transmission due to noise and intermittent issues taking off. was told there was no issue and i did not need an oil change until I reach 5 k miles ( i was at 3k) and that the transmission has had the update and this is how the car operates noise and all, a week and a half later engine stalled while turning through a light at an intersection and the oil light came onfor a split second then off, no oil lights ever indicated low oil until that moment, I checked the oil and it was dry, I did an oil change, next time I reached 3k miles I took it to a shop, not the dealer and oil was dry at 3k miles, have had to refill the oil at 1500 miles since finding this out and have made multiple complaints to the dealer, they will not inspect it for what is a widely known issue unless i pay the money to do an oil consumption test that i cannot afford i have made numerous calls and have been unable to reach corporate after my first contact and delaer will not assist due to me being out of warranty even though this could have been prevented while i was in warranty and informed them i was having concerns, this company is aware of the issues these cars have and is knowing selling them when they can cause injury or death, as well none of my door handles will open the car upon first try(though this part is now under an extended warranty due to this issue) this company is knownly selling and doing everything not to recall dangerous vehicles

- Lehigh Acres, FL, USA

problem #428

Aug 102021

Tucson

  • miles
The vehicle issue began with needing an engine check light. Searched for a recall but there wasn't any engine recalls online for my VIN number. Took the car to the dealer for a recall and they did the recall on some electrical wire that was separate from the engine issue but they just overlooked the engine check light on my dashboard and made no mention of it. They actually bypassed it and so I thought maybe they fixed the issue since the light isn't present anymore. However the engine light came and the problem developed into a transmission failure. Upon pressing the gas pedal, the vehicle wouldn't run over 30 miles per hour and could only go up to 4 rpms.. I took the car to the mechanic and he replaced the transmission and he said that the root cause was a result of a burnt gasket. So we had that replace also.. After spending $5000 in repairs, the motor or the engine completely overheated and now the car is just a potato. Another issue is the doors on my car and not opening anymore. I have to manually ply them open by pulling on some mechanical wiring inside the door. Why do I have to pay for bad engineering? This is an obvious risk.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #427

Sep 162021

Tucson

  • miles
The vehicle is slow to accelerate on and doesn-€™t change gears quickly, often stays in a neutral mode which doesn-€™t allow acceleration. Vehicle doesn-€™t move when gas is pressed which can cause a major issue when driving on the roads. It is very dangerous and I believe my vehicle should be included in the August 29, 2016 recall.

- Duncanville , TX, USA

problem #426

Sep 092021

Tucson

  • miles
The transmission will fail to deliver power to the wheels when starting from a stop. You will hit the gas and nothing will happen for a beat, before kicking in suddenly. this creates a safety issue, especially when turning left, as it can leave you stranded in front of traffic. Multiple Tucson owners have reported the same issue with their transmisison.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #425

Jun 122021

Tucson

  • miles
The transmission on this vehicle has always functioned erratically. There has been a recall on the transmission control module. On June 12th, as I was driving the vehicle in traffic, I heard an odd clanking noise and felt a loss of power. I was driving up a hill with traffic behind me. The car stalled for several seconds, and I was unable to make it move. It then reengaged and lurched forward. It drove normally for several seconds and then did the same thing two more times, all while climbing this hill with traffic behind me. I was able to make it to a friend's house close by, but when I went to leave, it turned out that the transmission was non-functional. I was unable to put the car in reverse, or move it in any direction. It had to be towed to a Hyundai dealer and a new transmission installed. The vehicle had 81K on it when this happened.

- Takoma Park, MD, USA

problem #424

Aug 272021

Tucson

  • miles
I have been having problems with the oil burning very quickly in-between oil changes. This last time, I was driving the car and it started shaking really bad. I was at a stop and when the light turned green, my car would barely accelerate. Once it did start going, it felt as though it did not want to go into the correct gear. Hyundai states that it will take about 2 weeks to fix as they have 15 other cars in with the same complaints.

- Bloomingdale, GA, USA

problem #423

Aug 022021

Tucson

  • 69,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact's husband stated that while coming out of a complete stop, the vehicle would jerk and not upshift properly. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 16V628000 (Power Train, Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer agreed to cover 75% of the costs of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

- Montevallo, AL, USA

problem #422

Apr 222021

Tucson

  • miles
My transmission gears shift keeps on sticking in the park position and also I-€™ve been having to replace my left side parking lights I believe it-€™s an electric problem or fuse and the dealership seems to can-€™t fixed this issue with my vehicle each time I take it there

- Jamaica , NY, USA

problem #421

Jul 212021

Tucson

  • miles
88000 mile Tucson SE with 2.0L DOHC GDI motor, has had all regular preventative maintenance intervals, last oil change + other maintenance at 84400 miles by Hyundai. Check engine light came on for intake camshaft timing over-advanced (P0011); noted increasing engine noise and performance loss while driving. Made appointment with dealership immediately. Hyundai dealership inspected and claimed "almost no oil left and sludge present in oil". Service manager advised possible cause could be piston ring failure. No indication of low oil pressure on vehicle. Safety concern is engine failure without warning due to seizing if the oil level and sludge are as bad as dealership claimed, especially at the rate of oil consumption over the mileage interval.

- Purcellville, VA, USA

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