YearToAvoid

2010 Hyundai Tucson Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Tucson years

The 2010 Hyundai Tucson ranks 16th (best) out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 0 and 59 complaints. Its top issue is Transmission & Powertrain (37% of complaints, median failure mileage 45,602), backed by 4 recalls including an airbag PODS module fix and a brake recall.

Complaints
59
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
3 / 2
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24.5
21.5 city / 29 hwy

Top 2010 Hyundai Tucson problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain22 (37%)
  2. Brakes14 (24%)
  3. Engine10 (17%)
  4. Electrical System8 (14%)
  5. Other6 (10%)
  6. Airbags5 (8%)
  7. Structure & Body4 (7%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (2%)
  10. Steering1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden, hard downshifts that feel like being rear-ended, sometimes at low speeds like 35 mph.
  • Drivers describe the transmission violently downshifting when decelerating on ramps, causing the seat belt tensioners to lock.
  • Several owners say the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated forward while braking or parking, in some cases leading to a crash.
  • One owner reported brake failure accompanied by white smoke and burning smell, requiring use of the emergency brake and shifter tricks to stop.
  • A driver noted the vehicle swaying left to right at 75 mph, with the dealership finding no fault.
  • An airbag failed to deploy during a frontal crash, resulting in neck, back, and hip injuries.
2010 Hyundai Tucson complaints: complaints filed per quarter62010 Q12011 Q42014 Q32017 Q42020 Q12022 Q42024 Q2
75 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2013 Q4 (6).

2010 Hyundai Tucson recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V651000Sep 22, 2023Brakes1,649,478 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 11V259000Apr 26, 2011Electrical System7,829 vehicles

    Exterior lighting

    Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2010 tucson vehicles manufactured from february 27, 2010, through april 17, 2010 for failing to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment," for the photometry requirements of the rear reflector assemblies installed in the rear bumpers.

    Risk: This could lead to reduced visibility of the rear of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear reflector assemblies, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during june 2011. Owners may contact hyundai's customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.

See all 4 recalls for the 2010 Hyundai Tucson →

2010 Hyundai Tucson fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,650
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.

2010 compared with other Tucson years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best059424.5
2011Best7124523.5
2012Good40255323

All Hyundai Tucson years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Hyundai Tucson reliable?
Among all 16 model years of the Tucson, 2010 has the best ranking, with a Complaint Index of 0 and only 59 NHTSA complaints, the lowest complaint volume in the lineup.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Hyundai Tucson?
Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 37% of complaints (22 of 59), with owners reporting hard downshifts and lurching, at a median failure mileage of 26,416.
Does the 2010 Hyundai Tucson have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2010 Tucson, covering brakes, an electrical stop lamp switch, rear reflector assemblies, and an airbag PODS module reprogram.
How does the 2010 Tucson compare to other Tucson years?
The 2010 model year is rated Best, the top spot among all years, while years like 2016 (Complaint Index 93) and 2025 (Complaint Index 100) rank as Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Hyundai Tucson?
EPA rates the 2010 Tucson at 24.5 mpg combined (21.5 city / 29 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $2,650.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.