2015 Hyundai Tucson Engine Problems

We have a 2015 Hyundai Tucson that we bought brand new. It has 80k miles on it. The car started using oil about three years ago. The dealer recommended replacement of the catalytic converter, which we did. The car continued to use oil, and the dealership had us replace the catalytic converter two more times, so three times total. Now the problem is occurring again and they are recommending replacement of the catalytic converter for a FOURTH time. We have filed a claim with the manufacturer and have been going in circles with the dealership for months. It is our position that the repeated catalytic converter failure is caused by an underlying motor issue, which should be covered by the manufacturers warranty, but the dealer treated the symptoms instead and waited for the warranty expiration. This car is owned by my father, an [XXX] disabled veteran. He bought this car thinking it would be a safe and reliable vehicle for him to drive into his retirement years. Instead, Hyundai is repeatedly making him pay to replace the same part when it is clearly not resolving the oil consumption issue. He is being taken advantage of. Hyundai should honor their warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755592

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

While driving on a US highway, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost the ability to start/run normally, requiring the vehicle to be pulled off the road and towed to an authorized Hyundai dealership. Dealer diagnostic testing found the engine failed a bearing/performance test, consistent with connecting rod bearing wear. This failure mode — Check Engine light, DTC P1326, abnormal noise, or a no-crank/no-start condition caused by connecting rod bearing wear — is described in the manufacturer's own internal dealer service bulletin covering an engine warranty extension program for multiple engine families (Theta II MPI and Nu GDI engines) across several model years and vehicle lines. That bulletin acknowledges the failure as a known condition and extends coverage to 15 years/150,000 miles for original and subsequent owners. The failure occurred suddenly and without warning while the vehicle was in active use on a highway, creating a stall/loss-of-power hazard in moving traffic — the vehicle could not be restarted at the roadside. The dealership's own multi-point inspection performed shortly after intake confirmed engine fluid levels and oil grade were within normal range, indicating the failure was not attributable to a lack of lubrication at the time of failure. Despite this, the manufacturer denied warranty coverage for the repair, citing an inability to produce maintenance receipts for a prior period, even though the dealership's own inspection findings do not support a maintenance-related cause. This report is submitted because of the safety hazard posed by unwarned loss of engine power/starting capability while driving, and because this failure pattern appears consistent with a defect the manufacturer has already acknowledged for closely related engine platforms, raising the question of whether additional vehicles with this engine design should be included in that existing warranty/defect campaign.

NHTSA ID

11751791

Incident

Jun 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The engine turned over but failed to restart. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic shop and then to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine seized; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The dealer advised that there was no warranty coverage. The Better Business Bureau was contacted and informed that the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed, but a request for repair coverage was declined due to a failure to have the recall remedy completed; however, both the contact and the previous owner were unaware of the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

NHTSA ID

11749344

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Mileage

118,000 mi

My 2015 Hyundai Tucson with the 2.4L engine developed a loud engine knocking sound while driving. The knocking became worse and the vehicle became unsafe to drive due to the possibility of sudden engine failure. The vehicle is currently at a Hyundai dealership and has been there for over a month. The dealership denied the warranty claim stating that a different engine component failed instead of the connecting rod bearing. This engine is part of the known Theta II engine defect issue that has caused engine failures in many Hyundai vehicles. A sudden engine failure while driving could result in loss of power, difficulty steering or braking, and could increase the risk of a crash. I am filing this complaint because the engine failure symptoms match the known defect pattern, and the vehicle may be unsafe if the issue is not properly addressed. Hyundai Tucson with 113,000 miles and failing engine. I’ve been told repairs have amounted to $10,000. I was told my car has severe engine failure and must be replaced by Hyundai of the shoals in Tuscumbia, AL. Engine failure is dangerous as a fire may start from a metal piece and also loss of control of vehicle is possible. Hyundai has denied warranty as they say the exact part in theta 2 engine settlement is not failing. I have had to complete recalls on this car since the first payment I made on it. The engine knocking began a month ago and that’s about how long the dealership has had my car.

NHTSA ID

11728702

Incident

Mar 16, 2026

On January 7, 2026, shortly after delivery of a used 2015 Hyundai Tucson (VIN [XXX] ), the vehicle experienced immediate mechanical failure while being driven, resulting in sudden loss of power and drivability. Multiple warning lights illuminated on the dashboard at the time of failure. The vehicle became disabled and left the occupants stranded roadside in Fairhope, Alabama. The exact component that failed is UNKNOWN at this time. The failure appears related to the engine, powertrain, fuel/propulsion, and/or electrical systems. The vehicle was not operable after the incident. On January 8, 2026, the selling dealership (Sandy Sansing Nissan, Pensacola, Florida) towed the vehicle back to their dealership. The vehicle has remained in the dealership’s possession since that date and is available for inspection upon request. This sudden failure created a significant safety risk due to loss of propulsion while in traffic and exposure to roadside hazards. The problem has not been independently repaired or evaluated by the consumer. No manufacturer inspection has occurred to the consumer’s knowledge. The dealer has not provided a diagnostic report or repair findings. No warning lights or symptoms were disclosed prior to delivery. The failure occurred almost immediately after delivery. The vehicle was sold and delivered by a licensed dealership. The sale is currently in dispute because the vehicle became disabled almost immediately after delivery due to this safety-related failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11714404

Incident

Jan 7, 2026

At the time of engine failure, my husband was on the offramp between 140N and 24N at approximately 8:30pm. This ramp is under construction and narrow, but state troopers stopped and were able to push the car to the side of the road. As it was nighttime, my husband and /or other motor vehicle drivers/passengers could've been seriously injured. The car did not display any warning lights or signals. The car was then towed home and then to Empire Hyundai in Fall River, where it was assessed. It was determined that there were 5 outstanding recalls on the vehicle. Hyundai fixed all, with the exception of Recall #966, which was issued and not repaired PRIOR to my purchasing the vehicle. Hyundai Corporate was contacted by Aaron at Empire Hyundai. They (Corporate) refuses to replace the engine. According to Corporate, this should've been fixed by the independent dealer or owner PRIOR to being sold to me.

NHTSA ID

11712080

Incident

Jan 9, 2026

Driving on interstate for approx 30min and the car stopped accelerating. We safely merged off to the side and the car completely shut off. The car would not start. We put oil in and it started up by engine light was on. We got vehicle towed 1hr back into town. We are lucky no cars were behind us to cause an accident. We are also lucky engine did not catch on fire. This happened completely out of the blue. I get my vehicle serviced regularly and serviced at Hyundai dealerships for major repairs. The engine failed us and is available for inspection. Our claim was denied by Hyundai due to my mileage being 10k over the warranty. However they installed the faulty engine so regardless of mileage this needs to be resolved.

NHTSA ID

11699079

Incident

Oct 25, 2025

The engine failed two years ago at 86000 miles. Hyundai replaced the engine for it to start knocking and stop working a year later. I completed all of the first oil changes, slow driving, ect. Seems like an engine problem with Hyundai itself.

NHTSA ID

11689795

Incident

Jan 7, 2025

I started having oil issues 3 years after purchasing my hyundai Tuscan 2015. I took my vehicle to hyundai several time all of which I was told by service guy and I quote “Hey its Hyundai, just following up so right now we have a consumption issue. It is currently 2.5 quarts low. The tech recommends re doing the oil change and returning in 1000miles and recheck. When you return and we see that the oil level is more than a quote low then we would have you reduce the service interval from 5000miles to 3000miles, let me know if you have any questions. I had many questions and also wanted to know why it was my responsibility to do all these things if they know the engine is faulty. Had another diagnostic and the code P1326 populated. That means indicates an issue with the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS), often pointing to actual engine knocking caused by worn connecting rod bearings, but also potentially to a faulty knock sensor, wiring problems, outdated ECM. The Theta II engines are documented to have clogged oil galleys, preventing proper lubrication and causing premature wear. They do everything the can NOT to fix the issue even with a lifetime warranty on that engine.

NHTSA ID

11689470

Incident

Jul 10, 2021

Without any notice, the crankshaft seized while driving 55 mph on the highway. We were on a highway with one lane in each direction and a shoulder. No warning lights appeared until after the engine failed. We were barely able to coast to the shoulder at the time. The incident blew a baseball size hole in the engine. The vehicle was towed to over 60 miles to Noller Hyundai of Lawrence, Kansas. The repair was paid for under the Hyundai warranty without me providing any maintenance records. The engine is not in our possession for you to inspect, but I'm sure you could reach out to the dealership where it was replaced.

NHTSA ID

11676165

Incident

Jul 3, 2025

engine is burning oil. have to replenish oil level once a month, started about a yr ago

NHTSA ID

11664078

Incident

May 5, 2024

On [XXX], my husband and I were driving on [XXX] (Highway) in the slow lane, when the engine shutoff without any Service engine light warning. It was frightening because an tractor trailer was directly behind the car as we lost power. There was no sounds of engine parts knocking or pinging when the problem occurred. The only thing was observed was (two) 2 puffs of smoke seen from the tailpipe, witnessed by my son who was following behind in his vehicle. The vehicle was not able to start after shutdown and had to be towed to my home. We purchased a new battery after assuming battery failure--with no resolve. The vehicle was towed to(two) 2 repair shops with the same conclusion: Seized Engine After checking Open Recalls on my vehicle, I contacted Hyundai to check for assistance. The vehicle is now at the Hyundai dealership in McDonough, Georgia for inspection. I am thankful that my husband and I were not injured or laying in a Morgue after this frighten ordeal on the highway when the Engine suddenly shutoff/Seized. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11659451

Incident

Apr 26, 2025

The engine uses about 3 to 4 quarts of oil before a oil change the it will go in limp mode. I have to get it rest and then add oil for the engine to run right. Also transmission don't want to shift 3 to 4 gear it will be 35 mph to 65 before it shifts. When the car goes in limp mode I lose power going up a hill and almost got rear ended. They won't do anything do to its a used car. No lights came on the dash till it acts up.

NHTSA ID

11652974

Incident

Mar 25, 2025

--->While I was driving my hyundai tucson engine seized (-engine model (lm) 2.4l theta ii--> 63,664 miles). Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. ---> As I said before I was driving in a express way when the incident happened. My car just stopped working out of a sudden and I had to take the side road by applying a much force effort from myself not to get hit by several vehicles behind. When I finally managed to step aside, I sensed some sort of smoke smell. And also all warning lights from car dashboard came up with no prior lamp alerts before this incident. ---> I took the vehicle to the nearest repair shop called Sam's certified auto repair. And there it was diagnosed that the vehicle engine was seized. So i inmediately called the dealer and the asked me to tow my SUV. There they diagnosed the vehicle with a seized engine too. From there on I found out that these vehicle i bought have a recall and that the this engine model has a major malfunctioning manufacture issues. Then I tried to get an authorization approval for a new engine but it was denied because they stated that I have a savage title.

NHTSA ID

11622117

Incident

Oct 16, 2024

The engine completely shut off while I was driving 70 mph on the highway. I lost braking and steering power. I had NO warning, no lights came on at all. I bought it used on 11/20/2023 and I have only driven it 6,011 miles.

NHTSA ID

11617479

Incident

Sep 18, 2024

- My engine seized while driving North on [XXX] from San Diego to CA. After having it towed to a shop I was informed it was completely out of oil which caused the engine to seize and would need to be replaced. My last oil change had taken place within about 6k miles and should not have been out of oil. Additionally no oil light, engine light, or any light on the dashboard was on to notify me something was wrong. - I was on a major CA highway in the far left lane when the engine seized and would no longer accelerate. I was incredibly lucky to make it across 4 lanes and that there was an off-ramp right there so I could get off the highway. This could have caused a massive pile-up accident. - The first shop it was towed to confirmed no oil and engine seizure. Hyundai has only acknowledged I need a new engine but won't confirm it was due to lack of oil, likely because they know there are massive oil consumption problems with this Theta II engine. - Hyundai has now had my vehicle for 2 months and is denying warranty coverage as I cannot produce 2 out of 9 years of oil change records. I have provided the other 7, which include records of the last 4 years of consistent oil changes. - There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem before failure. There was no way I could have known anything was wrong or that this was going to happen. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11609830

Incident

Jun 26, 2024

Our 2015 Hyundai Tucson check engine light started flashing and went into "limp mode" while driving on the freeway. Limp mode means the car loses power to accelerate, struggles going up hills, and limits speed. Thankfully I was not pulling out. The vehicle was towed that day to a mechanic who found traces of metal in the oil (see documentation). The vehicle was then towed to the Hyundai dealer. The dealer explained there is a common problem with Hyundai engines failing due to rod bearing issues and PistonSlap. I later learned the dealership covers the rod bearing issues due to a court settlement from being sued for so many engine issues. The dealership said if they found it was an engine bearing rod issue (ring connecting to the piston) they would replace the engine since it was a safety issue. They claimed if it was a piston slap it would not be covered (even though the bearing rod is connected to the piston and could potentially cause PistonSlap). After checking that the car had been taken care of extremely well with oil changes around every 3 months and all safety procedures had been taken they performed a bearing clearance test. The test passed without error detection so they changed the existing knock sensor. We were directed to drive the car and if the sensor turned on again to bring the 2015 Tucson back. We did and a week later, the new Knock Sensor reported there was something wrong with the engine again. I also noticed when checking the oil that smoke came from the dipstick tube. We took the car to the Hyundai dealer again. They did the bearing clearance test again. It passed again but this time they detected a rattling noise coming from the engine block. According to the records the noise was loudest to cylinder 4. The dealer claimed we needed a new engine that would cost about $9,500. Clearly, this is a piston-manufactured defect. With metal floating in the oil and a limited piston warranty it encourages the owner to drive the car until it brakes.

NHTSA ID

11600334

Incident

May 1, 2024

Ticking sound (loud noise ) from the engine and the check engine light is flashing. The mileage on the car is 142600km.

NHTSA ID

11597501

Incident

Jun 21, 2024

Bought the vehicle as is with "1 owner, who was older" drove it off the lot and rest drove it, at 57,000 miles. Perfect...that was november 2023.. 3 days later my car was a little low on gas due to they didn't fill it and I left it be, started it drove about 15 miles and it starts sputtering and almost stalls out. Now here I am in June and beginning of June I hear ticking under hood, thinking it's my oil, I changed it (myself) and here it is 3 weeks later oil keeps burning hot, the oil.pressue light comes on when I brake and off when I give it gas, and I don't have any power what so ever when trying to accelerate and doesn't pick up speed unless I'm going downhill. I have 2 small children and a single mom working 5 days a week, I need this car to work. Please hellllpp me . We were going up a hill and I almost got rear ended because my car didn't have power. Not to mention the driver seat fuse keeps blowing out and the bolt keeps breaking so now I can't fit comfortably while.driving and my seat bounces constantly up and down when going over bumps. This was supposed to be my new beginning family car as this is the newest car I've ever owned and it's become an absolute nightmare and I'm scared for me and my children that the engine is going to blow up because that's what it sounds like or I'm going to get smashed by another vehicle due to the fact I have no power

NHTSA ID

11595845

Incident

Jun 3, 2024

Vehicle code P1326 Flashing engine light Knocking noises while accelerating Indicates of low oil level When accelerating in doesn’t want to accelerate and it feels like it wants to stall out and shut off

NHTSA ID

11594560

Incident

Jun 13, 2024

The passenger door handle will not open from the outside door after using keyless entry or door unlock. This put people at risk if someone is trying to rescue the person from an accident or other critical injury where one needs help to escape from the vehicle. There are numerous reports of this manufacture and model where the front doors or back passenger doors will not open. Carguru has a page listing this issue as well [XXX] The issue just happened one day when I tried to open the door for someone. This needs to be investigated. I have been told by a local mechanic that it would cost anywhere from $400 to $800 in repairs. The second issue is that the engine burns oil faster than normal. I have a normal commute to work and before the 3,000 mark for an oil change, my oil light comes on in my vehicle. I check the oil only to see that it's very low. My mechanic has stated that Hyundai Tuscan and the Kia Sorento have this engine issue. The burning of the oil is faster and the catalyst converter has to be changed faster due to high amounts of carbon being burned. Please look into this matter INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11592603

Incident

May 16, 2024

While driving our 2015 Hyundai Tucson on [XXX] outside of Sanford, Florida, [XXX], at 70mph, the car unexplainably lost all power and my husband had to veer into the right lane while avoiding traffic at high speeds, and pull onto the shoulder until the the car came to rest. This affected his safety, the cars in the right lane, the cars behind him, and his safety on the shoulder. When he tried to restart it, the engine light came on and he immediately drove home. The following day, we took it to our regular mechanic. After inspecting the vehicle, he told us our engine was completely “shot”. We called the Hyundai dealership in Daytona Beach, Florida. The engine light was on, so we paid to have it towed. The dealership called a couple of days later and after INSPECTION, stated the engine was seized, but it was under warranty. Later, we received a call saying it wasn’t under warranty because a KDSD “RECALL” was never completed. We had no idea what he was referring to, as we never received a RECALL notice regarding the KDSD. THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL ON A KSDS SYSTEM. ONLY A SERVICE CAMPAIGN THAT WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF. Therefore, the engine was a total loss and would not be replaced. THERE WAS NEVER A PRIOR INDICATION FROM ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR SYMPTOMS. Upon investigation, I learned that Hyundai was aware of this problem in 2018. Our vehicle was in for regular service on [XXX]. After reading many of the TSB Memos, Their Service Campaign began on [XXX]. We never received notice regarding this campaign. Nonetheless, as our car was in for service IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018, they should have made us aware, and performed the software update then and there. The software only warns the driver that there may be a problem. This update doesn’t improve THE ENGINE which is defective. It is abhorrent to me that they are still putting lives at risk. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 55

NHTSA ID

11581161

Incident

Mar 28, 2024

I went to get my car looked at a couple months ago and was told the oil pan was leaking . So the day I get it changed the car shuts off while I’m driving ; I began to loose acceleration, the oil light starts to flash , the engine light is flickering while the car is shaking making a knocking noise .

NHTSA ID

11574747

Incident

Feb 7, 2024

I have a 15 Hyundai Tucson that has been shutting off on me while driving on a highway going between 55 mph to 70 mph. Engine went into limp mode, CEL is on and flashing. Knocking noise heard from engine and consuming oil. Diagnosed with P1326 code. Brought to local Hyundai dealership. Even though road test stated normal operation, technician notes that vehicle DID stall, shut off, on return to the shop. No codes. Was told Hyundai would not pay for man hours to look into further. So allowed me to drive off their lot. Upon re-search I found, with NO help from local Hyundai or the dealership I purchased vehicle from, that my VIN number is associated with the E2 class action settlement that just went live May 2023, that my engine is indeed infected, like a cough before the cold, and has the potential of starting on fire/failure. Now I purchase this vehicle in 08/2023 with no disclosure of this very concerning problem. I am told by Hyundai USA that there is a paper trail that every affected VIN in the settlement has been notified, by law, to owners of affected VIN’s, and still not disclosed. I reached out to Hyundai USA at the national level, was given a case manager, who sent my case to the buyback/legal department. My case manager reached out and stated that my case has been denied due to age and mileage of vehicle (even though automatically extended to 15yr/150,000 miles) I asked what my next steps should be as my vehicle is still shutting off on me while driving and was told to have a different Hyundai dealership diagnose vehicle, but to not tell them all of the information of it already going to one Hyundai dealership. I was told if I hear a noise from the engine that I should pull off to the side of the road and call for a tow truck. I said so Hyundai USA feels good allowing this vehicle to be operated on highways knowing the symptoms I am experiencing. They obviously do not care for my safety let alone passenger safety, nor other motorist on roads.

NHTSA ID

11562481

Incident

Aug 22, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate while driving uphill. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The engine had been replaced. The vehicle continued to hesitate while driving uphill. The check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed again and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11558898

Incident

Dec 1, 2017