YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Tucson Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 101 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson, 26% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 15,800 miles. No related recalls are listed for this component on the 2018 model.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
101
26% of 396
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
15,800 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe hesitation or delayed acceleration from a stop, sometimes taking several seconds, which they call dangerous when turning left across traffic.
  • Several report the dual-clutch transmission causing jerking or lurching in stop-and-go traffic, with the car sometimes taking off faster than expected once power engages.
  • Some describe the vehicle slipping out of gear when the brake is quickly applied while rolling to a stop, requiring the car to be shut off and restarted.
  • Others report the transmission failing to shift up during merging, forcing the engine to spin at high RPM before the car finally accelerates.
  • One owner reported a fire originating near the center console with smoke and flames coming from the driver side while driving, with no dashboard warning beforehand.
  • A few owners say dealerships attributed hesitation and jerking to the dual-clutch design itself rather than a defect that could be repaired.

When 2018 Hyundai Tucson transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 1, 2018, latest Sep 17, 2026.

2018 Hyundai Tucson transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter82018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q32024 Q42026 Q1
101 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q3 (8).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Tucson model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201022 (37%)
  2. 201120 (16%)
  3. 201226 (10%)
  4. 201316 (6%)
  5. 201411 (5%)
  6. 201520 (9%)
  7. 2016517 (32%)
  8. 2017290 (27%)
  9. 2018101 (26%)
  10. 201941 (11%)
  11. 20209 (5%)
  12. 20218 (10%)
  13. 202263 (17%)
  14. 202314 (11%)
  15. 20244 (4%)
  16. 202515 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
NHTSA lists 101 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Tucson, which makes up 26% of the 396 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2018 Hyundai Tucson transmission issues?
According to the data provided, no related recalls are listed for the 2018 Tucson's Transmission & Powertrain component.
At what mileage do 2018 Tucson transmission problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this component is 15,800 miles.
What kind of transmission complaints do 2018 Tucson owners report?
Owners report hesitation on acceleration, jerking or lurching in traffic, gear slipping when braking, and delayed shifting during merging, based on NHTSA sample complaints.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to these complaints?
NHTSA data for this component and model year shows 3 crashes and 2 fires reported, with 0 injuries.

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.