The 2016 Hyundai Tucson has a few more complaints on file than you might expect of a Hyundai. It’s hardly a lemon, however, boasting a five-star National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety rating and similar numbers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But you’ll make fewer visits to the auto repair shop in a 2015 model.
Key Points
- The 2016 Hyundai Tucson has five recalls and 1,072 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which isn’t bad, but it’s a lot more than you’ll find in the 2015 and 2017 models.
- An urgent fire hazard notice was issued for a 2016 recall related to corroded wiring in the ABS control unit.
- A variety of structural issues have been reported, with jammed doors being the most concerning.
- Software hiccups may result in delayed acceleration when starting the car up.
- The 2016 Tucson isn’t the worst SUV in its class, but it is the worst mid-2010s Tucson, based on recall and complaint numbers.
Fire Hazard in the ABS System Resulted in a Major Recall for the 2016 Hyundai Tucson
There is currently an urgent warning in effect for the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, due to a significant fire risk when the car is parked. This is linked to a 2020 recall for over a half-million Tucsons from the 2016-2021 model years.
The problem had to do with the anti-lock brake system. In affected vehicles, the hydraulic electronic control unit for the ABS is prone to internal corrosion, which could lead to an electrical short that could spark an engine fire. The fix involves a software update.
A handful of complaints have been registered since the recall was issued. In early-2022, a driver reported black smoke coming from under the hood while going uphill. A complaint from another driver that same year states that flames were shooting out from under the hood.
These later complaints aren’t common, but they do seem to pop up every couple of months, meaning the recall does not seem to be complete.
Jammed Doors Lead a Host of Structural Issues for the 2016 Model Year
The NHTSA currently has 175 complaints on file for structural issues, with one of the big problems being a rear passenger door that gets stuck and won’t open from the inside or the outside. This could pose a safety threat in an accident should passengers be unable to escape the car.
There have been no recalls or investigations for the problem, but there is a recall for 81,000 units with hood latches that are prone to disengage at random, opening the hood and blocking the driver’s view of the road.
Other issues involve windows getting stuck in place, panels needing to be replaced, and in at least one instance, a driver reports all four doors on the vehicle getting stuck shut.
Hyundai sold nearly 90,000 Tucsons in 2016, so having just 175 structural complaints on file isn’t a bad a rate of incidence. But it’s frequent enough that if you encounter a Tucson with a rear door that won’t open, you shouldn’t be too surprised.
2016 Hyundai Tucson’s Software Hiccups May Result in Delayed Acceleration
Approximately 41,000 Tucsons were recalled in 2016 for inability to accelerate from a stop. All of the recalled units were 2016 models equipped with seven-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmissions. This makes up close to half of all 2016 Tucsons.
According to the recall, certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the vehicle to not move if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released repeatedly. The issue stems from software issues and may see drivers pressing the accelerator for a few seconds before the vehicle begins moving.
This can pose a safety threat, as you may be pressing the gas only to get no acceleration, so you press it a little harder, and all of a sudden, you’re peeling out of the driveway. In short, the issue makes your vehicle unpredictable.
The most recent complaint registered for this problem was reported in 2020, four years after the recall was issued. So, the problem wasn’t entirely eradicated with the recall, but the incidence rate has gone down considerably, with no new reports for the last couple of years.
You Could Do Worse Than a 2016 Hyundai Tucson, but There are Better Options on the Market
With over a thousand complaints and five recalls, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson certainly has its share of problems. While most of these issues have already been handled by recalls, an urgent warning over a fire hazard is worrying, and stuck doors are pretty common.
You could do a lot worse than a 2016 Tucson, but the 2015 Tucson has just one recall and 108 complaints on file, and Kelley Blue Book pricing puts it at $3,000 to $4,000 cheaper than the 2016 model.
The 2016 Hyundai Tucson isn’t a bad car, it’s just not the best option available if you’re looking for a used mid-2010s model of the vehicle. A 2014, 2015, or 2017 Tucson is going to give you a lot less trouble.
Photos: Hyundai
