Hyundai tucson engine the vehicle is burning excess amounts of oil. The rate of engine oil loss is over one quart per 500 miles. My mechanic tells me his evaluation is the vehicle's turbo unit causes the engine to run very hot, and the internal seals are breaking down, causing oil to mix with the fuel. The solution is an engine rebuild, which will cost over $3,000. Such a rebuild will result in…
2016 Hyundai Tucson engine problems
moderate 234 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
234
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
9fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 234 engine complaints filed for the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
Owners have filed 234 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 19 model years of Hyundai Tucson in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Engine knocking and loosing power under acceleration.
At the end of November 2021, my oil change light came on, which was odd because I was not due for an oil change. Brought the car in, they changed my oil and the light was gone. Barely a week later, the oil light came on again. I had some guys at work check it and they said I barely had any oil. I scheduled another appointment but never made it. I was driving on the highway when my car…
I was at a stoplight waiting to turn right. When there was a safe break in traffic I began the right turn, but the engine made a clunking noise and stopped accelerating in the middle of the road. At this point, cars were getting close to me and my car wasn't speeding up, so I turned on my hazard lights and managed to inch onto the shoulder. I had my 5 month old baby in the car with me, so his…
This evening me and my fianc were driving 45mph down hill on a straight road to get christmas gifts, and all of a sudden out of no where the engine just died/stalled (no warning/dashboard lights). Thank god we were able to coast into a gas station and get off the road safely. The car wouldn't even turn over, so my fianc checked the oil and it was low. The car doesn't leak oil and we do oil…
Had engine trouble with your 2016 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 engine problem on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 234 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 84 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 55,000 and 105,016 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 105,016. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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/2016/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.