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2013 Hyundai Tucson brakes problems
severe
Owners of the 2013 Hyundai Tucson have filed 37 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 140,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Q1 67kmed 140kQ3 151kn=8
Complaints
37
Recalls
1
Avg fix
$450
brakes complaints on the Hyundai Tucson, by model year
Of the 37 brakes complaints filed for the 2013 Hyundai Tucson,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
1 (100%)
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted.
Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits
and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin21-BR-002HMar 2021
This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures.
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Brake failures on the 2013 Tucson fall into two hard categories: total loss of braking power and electrical fires caused by brake fluid leaks.
Several owners describe complete brake failure while driving at both city and highway speeds. Pedal goes down, nothing happens—vehicle doesn't slow. No warning lights beforehand. Two of these failures led to collisions into stopped vehicles. A collision center examined one case and found the brake booster had simply worn out; the tech noted it takes extreme force to brake when that part fails and that failure can happen anytime with little warning.
Other owners report the brake system itself starts leaking fluid onto electrical wiring in the engine compartment. The fluid ignites, creating visible flames and smoke. Fire department extinguished one; owner extinguished another himself. One vehicle caught fire at 157,000 miles.
A third group—the majority of this complaint cluster—have received the recall notice (NHTSA 23V651000 for hydraulic service brakes) but cannot get the repair done. Hyundai's parts are unavailable. Owners waited months with no remedy. One owner's registration got suspended waiting for the part. Hyundai is telling owners to park outside and away from structures until parts arrive, which many find unacceptable for a safety recall.
One case involved rear caliper leakage and subsequent master cylinder failure at 65,000 miles.
Same Hyundai Tucson brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Brake booster failure
Brake master booster wears out and stops functioning, causing total loss of braking ability. Collision center noted little or no warning before failure and extreme difficulty applying brakes even at low speeds.
When: Varies; one case at 65,000 miles with prior dealership maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: No brake response when pedal depressed; No feedback from vehicle; Vehicle failed to decelerate; Extremely hard pedal requiring very strong person to brake
Repairs/costs cited: Brake master booster replacement needed; collision center cited it as a maintenance wear item
Brake fluid leakage igniting electrical fire
ABS brake fluid leaks from the hydraulic system onto electrical wiring in the engine compartment, causing electrical fires. Multiple owners reported warning lights, smoke from engine bay, and visible flames.
When: Unknown mileage; one case at 157,000 miles, another at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: All warning lights illuminate; Smoke visible from engine compartment; Small fire on electrical wiring; ABS fluid dripping onto wiring
Repairs/costs cited: Fire extinguished by fire department or owner; vehicles towed, not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) issued; remedy not yet available; manufacturer recommendation to park vehicles outside and away from structures
Brake failure at highway/city speeds causing collision
Vehicle loses braking ability during normal driving, resulting in collisions with other vehicles. No warning lights precede the failure. Occurs at both low and highway speeds.
When: One case at 151,000 miles; another at undisclosed speed
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed but vehicle fails to respond; No warning lights illuminated; Vehicle crashes into stopped vehicle; No deceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles towed to collision shops; not repaired. Front-end damage and coolant leaks resulted from collisions
Brake system electrical solenoid failure affecting brake system
Electrical solenoid in the brake hydraulic system overheats, causing component breakage. Owner linked the failure to brake recall 23V651000 but part availability delayed diagnosis and repair.
When: At 140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Solenoid overheating; Breakage in mounting between spool assembly and window motor module
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic performed diagnostic; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); parts not yet available
Brake master cylinder pressure issues
Brake master cylinder fails to maintain proper pressure, resulting in soft or unresponsive brake pedal. Rear caliper may also leak, compounding the problem.
When: At 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Inoperable brakes; Hard pedal requiring excessive force; Pressuring issue with brake pedal; Rear driver-side caliper leaking
Repairs/costs cited: Rear driver-side caliper replaced; brake master cylinder replacement determined necessary after continued issues
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
4 most recent
brakes
· filed 12/28/2023
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
brakes · 157,000 mi
· filed 12/27/2023
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure. The contact's father was…
brakes
· filed 12/18/2023
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN…
brakes
· filed 12/18/2023
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
Had brakes trouble with your 2013 Hyundai Tucson?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2013 Hyundai Tucson?
It's a meaningful issue. 37 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 66,715 and 151,000 miles, with the median around 140,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 66,715; a quarter make it past 151,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Hyundai/Tucson.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.