Which Hyundai Tucson years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2025 as Avoid years for the Tucson, with 2016 posting a complaint index of 95 and 1,619 complaints, the highest raw count of any year.

Which Kia Sportage years should I avoid?

The Sportage years marked Avoid are 2012, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2025. The 2023 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 with 190 complaints and 6 recall campaigns.

Does the Tucson or Sportage have more complaints?

The Tucson has 6,207 total complaints (296 per model year) versus the Sportage's 3,009 total (143 per model year), though NHTSA does not publish sales figures so these totals are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Which SUV has better fuel economy, Tucson or Sportage?

The Tucson averages 24.2 mpg combined across its lifespan and the Sportage averages 22.9 mpg combined, based on EPA data.

Do either the Tucson or Sportage have a year rated Good or Best?

Neither model has a year that earns an unqualified Good or Best verdict; both list years capped by recall campaigns instead, so the sites list only lower-risk years rather than best years.

Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage: Which Years to Avoid

Hyundai Tucson years to avoid are 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2025; Kia Sportage years to avoid are 2012, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2025. Tucson logs 6,207 total complaints across 21 model years (296 per year) versus Sportage's 3,009 (143 per year), and neither model has a year rated Good or Best overall.

Head to head

Hyundai Tucson

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 6,207
Per model year: 296
Recall campaigns: 34
Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2025
Best years: —
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 24.2
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.7 ★

Kia Sportage

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 3,009
Per model year: 143
Recall campaigns: 26
Years to avoid: 2012, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2025
Best years: —
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 22.9
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 5.0 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Tucson				Sportage
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Caution	185	8	21	Good	68	3	21
2006	Good	135	5	21	Good	111	1	21
2007	Good	65	5	21	Good	77	2	21
2008	Good	43	1	21	Caution	98	3	21
2009	Good	18	1	21	Caution	80	3	21
2010	Caution	59	4	24.5	Caution	20	2	21
2011	Caution	124	5	23.5	Caution	181	6	23
2012	Caution	255	3	23	Avoid	392	5	23
2013	Caution	266	3	23	Avoid	381	3	23
2014	Caution	201	2	22.5	Caution	122	3	22.5
2015	Caution	227	1	23	Caution	146	2	22
2016	Avoid	1,619	5	27	Caution	131	2	22
2017	Avoid	1,086	3	27	Avoid	399	4	23
2018	Avoid	396	1	24.5	Caution	164	3	23
2019	Avoid	379	1	24	Caution	70	2	23
2020	Caution	177	1	24	Avoid	160	2	23
2021	Caution	79	1	24	Caution	51	2	23
2022	Avoid	381	3	29	Caution	46	1	23
2023	Caution	133	2	28	Avoid	190	6	28
2024	Caution	96	4	28	Caution	71	3	27
2025	Avoid	283	6	28	Avoid	51	1	27

Complaint Index by year

Frequently asked questions

Which Hyundai Tucson years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2025 as Avoid years for the Tucson, with 2016 posting a complaint index of 95 and 1,619 complaints, the highest raw count of any year.
Which Kia Sportage years should I avoid?: The Sportage years marked Avoid are 2012, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2025. The 2023 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 with 190 complaints and 6 recall campaigns.
Does the Tucson or Sportage have more complaints?: The Tucson has 6,207 total complaints (296 per model year) versus the Sportage's 3,009 total (143 per model year), though NHTSA does not publish sales figures so these totals are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.
Which SUV has better fuel economy, Tucson or Sportage?: The Tucson averages 24.2 mpg combined across its lifespan and the Sportage averages 22.9 mpg combined, based on EPA data.
Do either the Tucson or Sportage have a year rated Good or Best?: Neither model has a year that earns an unqualified Good or Best verdict; both list years capped by recall campaigns instead, so the sites list only lower-risk years rather than best years.