YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Tucson Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2018 Hyundai Tucson has 396 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 75, and ranks 6th worst of 21 model years, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other Tucson years. Engine problems dominate at 65% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 60,000.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
75/100
#6 of 21 Tucson years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
396
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
1 Park Outside
Crashes
13
reported in complaints
Fires
9
Injuries
10
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2009
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24.5
22 city / 28 hwy
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0

Top 2018 Hyundai Tucson problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine256 (65%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain101 (26%)
  3. Brakes43 (11%)
  4. Other43 (11%)
  5. Electrical System38 (10%)
  6. Fuel System22 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body11 (3%)
  8. Airbags5 (1%)
  9. Steering4 (1%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Engine stalls or loses power suddenly at highway speeds, sometimes followed by smoke and fire from the engine compartment.
  • Brakes fail to stop the vehicle even when the pedal is fully depressed, in some cases leading to a crash.
  • Engine surges to full power unexpectedly while parking or entering a garage, described as sudden unintended acceleration.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in frontal or rear collisions, including cases where curtain airbags did not activate.
  • Transmission shifts irregularly or fails to shift properly, with owners told the vehicle has a dual-clutch issue.
  • Loud knocking or ticking noises from the engine precede stalling or power loss.
2018 Hyundai Tucson complaints: complaints filed per quarter292018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
396 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q1 (29).

2018 Hyundai Tucson recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V543000Sep 4, 2020Brakes652,024 vehiclesPark Outside

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

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.

    Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.

2018 Hyundai Tucson fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
28 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.

2018 compared with other Tucson years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid951,619527
2017Avoid851,086327
2018Avoid75396124.5
2019Avoid80379124
2020Caution60177124

All Hyundai Tucson years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Hyundai Tucson reliable?
Compared to other Tucson model years, the 2018 ranks 6th worst out of 21 years tracked, with a complaint index of 75 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 65% of complaints (256 of 396), with a median failure mileage of 60,000 and 8 fires reported.
Does the 2018 Hyundai Tucson have a brake recall?
Yes. Recall campaign 20V543000 covers the Anti-lock Brake system HECU fuse and was expanded in December 2020 to include 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles; the remedy is a fuse replacement.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
NHTSA lists 396 complaints for the 2018 Tucson, including 13 crashes, 9 fires, and 10 injuries.
Which Tucson years are better than 2018?
Years like 2007, 2008, and 2009 carry Good verdicts with much lower complaint indexes (10, 5, and 0), making them lower-risk compared to the 2018 model.

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.