Owners have filed 393 safety complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Tucson with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.
Complaints for this vehicle report 13 crashes, 9 fires, 10 injuries. No deaths have been reported.
Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2018 Hyundai Tucson, engine & cooling issues stand far above everything else.
"UNKNOWN -A catalytic converter clogged after being installed - only 14 months following installation, causing rough and unsafe acceleration, inability to shift gears properly, and need to drive with hazards on. It is clear that there is an issue with the engine/exhaust and system in this vehicle. Additionally, the car needs oil added regularly and seems to be burning it, as indicated by low level."
"DRIVING ON FREEWAY NO WARNING LAMPS ON DASHBOARD. EXIT FREEWAY TO GET GAS AND THERE IS MINIMAL ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. CYLINDERS ARE NOT FIRING, NO COMPRESSION. ENGINE FAILURE CONFIRMED BY HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPT AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC."
Complaint filings for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson over time:
Across the Hyundai Tucson model years we track, the 2016 has the most complaints on file (1,616); the 2018 ranks 3 of 3.
1 recall applies to some or all 2018 Hyundai Tucson vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.
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 …
Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →
NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.
As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 393 complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Tucson with NHTSA. The most-reported system is engine & cooling.
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson has 1 NHTSA recall on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
NHTSA gives the 2018 Hyundai Tucson an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.
All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.
Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.
This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.