2016 Hyundai Tucson Steering Problems

I am writing regarding the diagnosis provided for my vehicle [XXX] . I was informed today that the engine failure is being attributed to a "water hose failure" rather than the engine defects covered under the active safety recall/settlement regarding Connecting Rod Bearing failure. As there were no coolant leaks before or after the vehicle was towed to your dealership. I am formally requesting a re-evaluation and more detailed evidence. Given the known history of these engines seizing, I need to ensure this diagnosis is absolutely correct and not a symptom of the internal defect. I request the following information be provided immediately: 1. Evidence of Overheating: Did the vehicle store any specific "overheating" codes in the ECU prior to the engine shutting off? 2. Oil Pan Inspection: Has the oil pan been removed to inspect for metal shavings or debris? If the connecting rod bearings failed (the recall issue), there will likely be metallic debris in the oil, regardless of the condition of the water hose. 3. Bearing Clearance Test (BCT): Was the mandated Bearing Clearance Test performed? If not, I request that this be done, or that a teardown be performed to inspect the rod bearings specifically. 4. Causal Link: Can you provide evidence that the water hose failed causing the engine to seize, rather than the engine seizing causing a pressure spike that damaged the cooling system? I have no transportation to work and school. They would not honor a loaner. This has happened since Decemeber of 2025. I await your written response with the requested photos and technical data. My case # with Hyundai Consumer Affairs # XXX Please provide: All relevant photographs Freeze-frame and ECU data Technician diagnostic notes Results of oil pan inspection and/or BCT (if performed) Any physical evidence supporting the stated cause of failure I request this information be sent in writing at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your attention to INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U

NHTSA ID

11726365

Incident

Dec 13, 2025

I leased a 2016 hyundai tucson from Metcalf Auto Plaza [XXX]. Every week since then i have had to return the car for repairs. It got to a point where Neil suggested he can trade it for another but each and every vehicle i test drove to replace my car was NOT ready to be on the road but according to them every car had just got out the shop. Instead of trying to have issues resolved the mechanics decide to make "jokes" as if your pain and suffering is a joke. Since i did not want a trade in and wanted my car fixed instead Neil tried to tell me that this was my final offer which i declined because why not just fix my car? I went to talk to Neil in person September 9, 2025 about getting my car fixed and the frustrations i am having because having to return the car weekly and i havent had it for a month is outrageous. [XXX] i was driving the hyundai on the highway with my children in the car and the electricity to the car completely cut off but came right back on, i got off the highway and the car did it again and this time the wheel locked up and i almost wrecked the car. I called metcalf and the only thing they could tell me was they can tow my car to metcalf but me and my children had to find our own means of transportation. Every time i called to have my car serviced and told them about what i would hear and feel they could NEVER make the car "do it again". I am beyond frustrated, upset and terrified because i have been telling them about smoking coming from the engine, rattling noise etc. My kids lives were put in danger and the only thing they could say was "i apologize and we can tow the car to the shop". Did not care if we had transportation and have never offered to give us any after continously getting stranded in the car. Now the car is towed to their shop once again and the car wouldnt even turn over for me to get it out of the middle of the street. I was blocking traffic and had to have the police block INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)

NHTSA ID

11686397

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

Purchased a used 2016 Hyundai Tucson, approx. 79,000 miles. A few weeks later I noticed a rattling in the steering column when driving over railroad tracks, rough roads, etc. When sitting stationary, I could rock the steering wheel back and forth and got a clunking sound. Took to the dealership, they wanted $250 just to diagnose. Did my own investigating. With the car turned on I would hold the steering wheel with one hand and hold the steering shaft with the other and work them in opposite directions. This replicated the clunking and knocking noise I would hear while driving. I determined it was a faulty upper pinch bolt. Replaced the bold and all noise went away. Fast forward a few months later and the sound returned. Slightly at first, then the sound became very pronounced again. Tightened pinch bolt again, went away. Seems to either be a problem with the shaft itself or the upper pinch bolt. Either way, my fear is the steering shaft is going to loosen and fall off of the steering column resulting in a loss of steering and potential accident. Hyundai dealership seems to act clueless about issue.

NHTSA ID

11620740

Incident

Mar 17, 2022

Pronounced rattle from the steering column (not the wheel) when going over a rough surface. Vehicle has only 49,000 miles on it. Hyundai dealer checked and determined the rattle was not a safety issue and said a small plastic piece in the steering mechanism had broken and quoted a repair cost of over $1,000. I do not believe the dealership's diagnosis, nor its' safety assessment and believe they are simply avoiding a repair that should be covered under the vehicle's soon to expire warranty!

NHTSA ID

11594881

Incident

Apr 11, 2024

Internal engine failure; no compression cylinder. My vehicle was affected by the Tucson Dual Clutch Transmission Reprogramming recall. In higher ambient temperatures and specific operating conditions, the transmission clutch application logic can result in a delayed engagement when accelerating from a stop, and the vehicle would not accelerate. Inability to move the vehicle in traffic. The car is well maintained and in excellent shape. They estimated the cost to replace the engine at $14,000! and Hyundai Dealer Larry Miller denied any help with the repair cost.

NHTSA ID

11591106

Incident

Mar 1, 2024

When driving All the warning light is on. Also when you reduce speed or stop at the light the steering wheel turn hard to turn or move. The battery seem to be low voltage, because when you lock the car the sound of the horn sound weak. And wouldn't start.

NHTSA ID

11587590

Incident

May 7, 2024

Mileage

233,147 mi

Hi, I am an owner of 4 Hyundai vehicles and all had the steering wheel coupler failed before 100,000 miles. 2 sonata and 1 Elantra coupler was replaced under the 100,000 miles extended warranty but my 2016 Tucson with 80,000 miles is not covered. All Hyundai and Kia vehicles have this problem. Why only some models are covered and not others? The problem is the same across the board. I think Hyundai should be compel to honor repairs on all models for this common steering wheel coupler problem and not on selected model.

NHTSA ID

11581508

Incident

Jun 3, 2023

The engine is consuming more than 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. This began around 100000 miles at 1 quart per thousand miles and has since progressed to 1 quart every 500--800 miles. I found this problem when my oil pressure light came on as I was going around a curve. I checked my oil level and it was not visible on the stick. My engine was 3 quarts low 3000 miles since the last oil change. This has been going on since April of 2021. My steering column makes a significant rattling noise and jiggles up and down when going over bumps. This has been going on since about the 80000 mile mark which was around April 2020. My local shop confirmed there was something likely worn out and needing replacement, perhaps the entire steering column.

NHTSA ID

11527308

Incident

Jun 15, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, a clicking noise was present coming from the steering column while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who indicated the ticking noise was caused by loosened steering column bolts. The bolts were re-torqued and the failure was remedied. The contact indicated that approximately 40,000 miles later the ticking noise reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the steering column bolts had loosened again. The bolts were again re-torqued and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,037. The consumer stated the 2nd occurrence happened on 07/20/2022 at 55,053 miles.

NHTSA ID

11477601

Incident

Mar 29, 2017

Mileage

14,037 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a rattling noise and vibration coming from the steering wheel. Additionally, while parking and turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a clicking noise coming from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the intermediate steering shaft was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 64,000.

NHTSA ID

11474942

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

Mileage

64,000 mi

The traction control system keeps randomly kicking on while driving.

NHTSA ID

11451098

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

MAJOR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED INCLUDING SPEEDOMOTER, TACHOMETER, DEACTIVATION OF AIRBAGS AND INABILITY TO INDICATE WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. SITUATION WAS REMEDIED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF A SECONDARY VACUUM PUMP. WATER ENTRY INTO THE PUMP IS CAUSE OF ISSUE TO MAJOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

11438031

Incident

Oct 25, 2021

THE CAR SEEMS TO BE ACTING AS IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL FAULT. ALL OF THE SAFETY SENSORS ON THE CAR ARE FLASHING AND THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. MY WIFE AND I CURRENTLY ARE STATIONED OVERSEAS IN ITALY AND THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SAID TO TAKE IT TO HYUANDAI FOR REPAIR. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP HERE REFUSES TO TOUCH IT OR EVEN REPLY TO US. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE.

NHTSA ID

11400082

Incident

Feb 18, 2021

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND I WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT CLICKS WHEN EVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I WAS TOLD IT IS FINE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I GET IT REPAIRED BUT AFTER READING WHAT COULD HAPPEN THAT DOESN'T SEEM TRUE. I HAVE HAD THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR LATCH REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. NOW TO OPEN MY FROM PASSENGER DOOR YOU HAVE TO PULL THE DOOR HANDLE 3 TIMES TO GET IT TO OPEN. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL GO UP AND DOWN WHEN TRYING TO PUT JUST UP OR DOWN.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11398745

Incident

Jan 8, 2021

WINDOWS GET STOCK UP OR DOW CAR IS PARK AND RUNNING THIS ISSUE HAPPING TREE TIME IN LESS OF ONE YEAR FIRST THE DRIVER SIDE THEM THE REAR PASSENGER AND NOW THE FRONT PASSENGER. STERLING WHEEL HAS A CLOCKING NOISE TOOK TO THE DEALER THEY SAY THEY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT STILL MAKING NOISE THIS IS WENT THE CAR IS IN MOTION SPECIAL WHEN MADE TURNS

NHTSA ID

11373819

Incident

Feb 12, 2020

Mileage

60,000 mi

I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2016 TUCSON. HERE ARE ALL THE SYMPTOMS AND ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE: DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DEC 2019 AND I HAD THE PART REPLACED. HAD AN OIL CHANGE ON 1-26-2020 AND THE NEXT WEEK ON 2-2-2020 THE ENGINE WAS TAPPING, CHECKED THE OIL AND DISCOVERED NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE LOW OIL INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THE CAR CONTINUES TO BURN OIL. MECHANICS CHECKED CAR AGAIN AND NO LEAKS WAS DISCOVERED. AND STILL UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THIS CAR IS BURNING OIL. MECHANIC IS RECOMMENDING A NEW ENGINE. ALSO, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE ACCURATELY AND HESITATES AT ABOUT 45 MPH. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT DOES CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE PART CAN BE REPLACED. THE DRIVERS DOOR STICKS HAVE TO PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE 2-3 TIMES BEFORE THE DOOR OPENS. MAJOR ENGINE ISSUES,

NHTSA ID

11308433

Incident

Dec 12, 2019

Mileage

147,000 mi

I REPORTED TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (FLEMINGTON NJ) OF CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER SAYS THE STEERING JOINT SHAFT IS LOOSE AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. PART NUMBER IS 56400-D3000. LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS. THIS NEEDS THE ATTENTION OF HYUNDAI; IF THE SHAFT FAILS, DRIVER MAY LOOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS SERVICE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 50,000 MILES. THANKS. MIKE

NHTSA ID

11292585

Incident

Dec 31, 2019

Mileage

88,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11235281

Incident

Jul 27, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PEACOCK HYUNDAI HILTON HEAD (LOCATED AT 51 AUTO MALL BLVD, SUITE A, HARDEEVILLE, SC 29927, (843) 208-1234) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 15950425. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID

11233837

Incident

Jan 21, 2019

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HERITAGE HYUNDAI TOWSON (801 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD 21204, (877) 387-5495) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,738.

NHTSA ID

11174490

Incident

Jan 26, 2019

Mileage

28,738 mi

VARIOUS ISSUES HAVE COME UP WITH MY TUCSON RELATED TO MISC ITEMS WHICH WERE REPAIRED. I ALSO NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATION FROM STOP. THE CAR WOULD HESITATE WHEN YOU STARTED TO PROCEED FROM A STOP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE ENGINE NEEDS TIME TO GET BROKE IN SO AFTER IT WILL FIX ITSELF. EACH TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, THEY STATED THEY HAD CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT AND PERFORMED SERVICE AND FOUND NO ISSUES. I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT ANY RECALLS OR DEFECTS IN MANUFACTURING. RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM BECAME DANGEROUS. THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AT STOP LIGHTS AND ALMOST CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS. ON ONE OCCASION, IT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO AFTER PRESSING THE GAS AND THEN IT SURGED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME ALSO. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, A REP FROM THE SERVICE DEPT.DROVE THE CAR AND STATED, 'YOU COULD DRIVE CROSS COUNTRY, AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM'. WITHIN DAYS OF THIS INCIDENT, ANOTHER WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED AND I HAD ENOUGH. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT A STOPLIGHT AND THEN AT THE NEXT IT HESITATED AND THEN SURGED FORWARD ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DEMANDED THEY FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT! THE DEALERSHIP TOOK MY TUCSON TO INSPECT. AFTER A DAY, THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME I NEEDED AN ENTIRE NEW TRANSMISSION. THAT THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY AND REQUIRED A FULL REPLACEMENT, THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH DRIVE SHAFT WHICH THEY ALSO WOULD NEED TO FIX AND FINALLY ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE A/C WHICH WOULD REQUIRE FULL REPLACEMENT AS WELL. AFTER TWO YEARS AND A FULL WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP "CHECKING EVERYTHING" DURING EACH SERVICE AND NOW ONLY AFTER MY DEMAND, AND MY PLEADING DO THEY FIND PROBLEMS'AND ALL MAJOR PROBLEMS. I GOT MY CAR BACK, BUT NOW THE HEATING AND A/C IS NOT OPERATING RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11084982

Incident

Mar 28, 2018

Mileage

14,000 mi

THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES SINCE I GOT IT BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT, HOWEVER THE BIGGEST ISSUES IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I CURRENTLY HAVE 35K MILES ON THE CAR AND THE ISSUES ARE COMING MORE FREQUENT. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE HESITATE AND LURCH PROBLEM. YOU CAN BE ON AN INCLINE OR JUST TRYING TO GO ACROSS AN INTERSECTION WHEN IT HAPPENS. YOU PRESS THE GAS, THE CAR HESITATES AS THE GEARS CHANGE AND YOU SLOWLY ROLL OUT INTO THE STREET, THEN THE CAR LURCHES YOU FORWARD. I CAME WITHIN A FEW INCHES OF HITTING THE BUMBER OF ANOTHER CAR AFTER I WAS LURCHED FORWARD. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASON OR PATTERN BEHIND THIS. IT JUST HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES AS THIS HAPPENS, SO BAD THAT EVEN PASSENGERS CAN FEEL IT.

NHTSA ID

11010046

Incident

Jul 20, 2017

Mileage

35,000 mi