2008 Hyundai Tucson Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2008 Hyundai Tucson has a complaint index of 5, the lowest among all 21 model years, ranking 20th worst (meaning near-best). It carries a Good verdict, though capped because 2005-2009 complaint records are less complete, with 43 complaints and 1 recall on file.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 5/100
- #20 of 21 Tucson years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 43
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 19 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2008 Hyundai Tucson problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine12 (28%)
- Brakes10 (23%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (14%)
- Electrical System5 (12%)
- Structure & Body5 (12%)
- Airbags4 (9%)
- Other4 (9%)
- Steering4 (9%)
- Fuel System2 (5%)
- Seat Belts2 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report engine compartment smoke or fires occurring while driving, sometimes with steam visible under the hood.
- Some describe the steering wheel suddenly and forcefully turning to one side, leading to loss of control and collisions.
- Owners report wheels seizing or locking up during braking in wet or downhill conditions, resulting in crashes.
- Several describe electrical connectors and wiring near the blower control module melting or overheating.
- Owners report the vehicle staying in drive with the key removed, allowing it to roll and hit objects unattended.
- Some report unexpected acceleration while parking, leading to crashes and injuries.
2008 Hyundai Tucson recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 13V113000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System1,712,336 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
2008 Hyundai Tucson fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Tucson years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Hyundai Tucson reliable?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2008 Tucson has a complaint index of 5, the lowest of any Tucson model year, and carries a Good verdict. It ranks 20th worst out of 21 model years, meaning it has fewer reported problems than most other Tucson years.
- What problems does the 2008 Hyundai Tucson have?
- NHTSA complaints point to the Engine as the top problem area, making up 28% of complaints, followed by Brakes at 23%. Owners also reported issues with suspension, electrical systems, and structure/body components.
- Does the 2008 Hyundai Tucson have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 13V113000) covering the electrical system, involving a stop lamp switch replacement across multiple Hyundai models including the 2006-2011 Tucson.
- Why is the 2008 Tucson's verdict capped at Good instead of Best?
- NHTSA caps model years 2005-2009 at Good because complaint records for those years are less complete, even though the 2008 Tucson's complaint index of 5 is the lowest among all Tucson years.
- What year Hyundai Tucson should I avoid instead of 2008?
- According to the data, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2025 Tucsons carry Avoid verdicts, with 2016 having the highest complaint index at 95 compared to just 5 for 2008.