I was pulling into a parking spot in a shopping parking lot and stepped on the brake to stop, but the brakes failed and the car kept going and would not stop, ultimately rolling up over the curb onto the grass area and crashed into the concrete light post. The car was towed to the Hyundai dealer in laguna niguel ca 92677 949-485-3700 ( steve pacheco ) service advisor
2018 Hyundai Tucson brakes problems
severe 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
4crashes
3injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 34 brakes 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.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2018 Tucson with brake complaints should be viewed with caution: many involve a widespread HECU recall (20V543000) that creates fire risk and has caused brake failure at highway speeds; parts have been critically backordered. Even after brake service, problems can return within 1,500 miles, and some failures have contributed to serious injury.
The bulk of these complaints center on NHTSA Recall 20V543000, which involves internal corrosion of the anti-lock brake hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) creating electrical shorts that can trigger engine compartment fires. Hyundai identified this issue before many owners took delivery, yet notification was delayed and parts remain severely backordered—some owners waited six months or longer with no resolution in sight.
Brake pedal failure is the most reported functional issue. Owners describe the pedal going soft or failing to respond entirely, sometimes requiring them to keep pressing until the vehicle slows or forcing a passenger to engage the parking brake. One case involved brake fluid flush at a dealer that resolved the problem for only 1,591 miles before it returned. Another owner's vehicle stalled while driving at highway speed after the owner noticed erratic oil pressure warning lights and high oil consumption; the dealer kept it for four months before concluding the engine needed replacement.
A few complaints describe brake-related incidents with severe consequences: one vehicle reversed out of park on its own, striking a passenger; another accelerated when the driver applied the brake, resulting in a crash. One owner reported her daughter's brakes acted odd before the vehicle rolled and totaled at 18,000 miles; the recall notice arrived months later.
The common thread across 22 complaints is parts distribution failure—dealers nationwide confirm recall components unavailable, sometimes with no estimated arrival date. Owners feel trapped: they've been told to park outside due to fire risk while the manufacturer cannot provide the fix.
Same Hyundai Tucson brakes reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
ABS/HECU internal corrosion causing electrical short and engine compartment fire
The anti-lock brake hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) internally corrodes over time, leading to electrical shorts that can cause significant overcurrent in the ABS module. This electrical short creates a risk of engine compartment fire.
When: Affects 2016–2021 model years; failures reported across a range of mileages from approximately 49,000 to 177,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine compartment fire risk; Brake warning light illumination; Check engine light illumination; Vehicle stalling; Loss of engine power while driving
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign Number 20V543000, Hyundai Recall #195
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair requires replacement ABS HECU module; however, parts have been on backorder for extended periods (6+ months reported in multiple complaints). Multiple dealerships confirmed parts unavailable as of early 2021. Repair cost not specified by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 20V543000 issued September 2020; recall status marked as INCOMPLETE due to parts unavailability. Hyundai was slow to notify owners and has cited parts distribution issues. Some owners report Hyundai corporate claimed a solution existed but dealerships could not provide it.
Brake pedal loss of responsiveness and brake failure
The brake pedal intermittently fails to respond when depressed, sometimes requiring the driver to continue pressing the pedal until the vehicle responds, or requiring passenger intervention (e.g., engaging parking brake) to stop the vehicle.
When: Reported at mileages of approximately 49,000, 83,000, 96,000, and others; one case at 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes soft or goes to a very low level; Brake pedal depressed but vehicle does not decelerate; Vehicle continues forward despite brake application; Vehicle jerking while braking; Intermittent brake response failure; Brake warning light illumination
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign Number 20V543000
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had brake fluid flush performed at a dealer; problem recurred within 1,591 miles. Brake pad inspection showed pads within normal parameters. Dealers unable to diagnose or repair in multiple cases due to unavailable recall parts. One owner's vehicle was kept at a dealer for four months before being informed engine replacement was needed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Recall 20V543000; parts unavailable for repair. Recall notification delayed in some cases (one owner received notice in March 2021 when recall was known since January 2021).
Unexplained vehicle movement in park / shift out of park without driver input
Vehicle came out of park and moved backward without the driver pressing the brake pedal or shifting the transmission, resulting in a severe injury to a passenger in the vehicle.
When: March 2020 (reported date March 5)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle reversed out of park without driver input; Vehicle moved while parked and running; No brake pedal or shift lever engagement by driver
Repairs/costs cited: Incident occurred in a driveway; owner has video documentation of the vehicle moving on its own. The incident resulted in the passenger being run over and sustaining serious injuries including partial facial trauma requiring ongoing plastic surgery.
Unintended acceleration while braking
While the driver depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle sporadically accelerated instead of decelerating, resulting in a collision with another vehicle.
When: At approximately 69,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed but vehicle accelerated; Sporadic acceleration while braking; Loss of braking control
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was towed but not diagnosed or repaired. No injuries sustained; police report filed.
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
In many Instances, I come close to get involved in accident. I cannot apply HARD BRAKING. When the hard braking is applied, I feel my foot is touching the ground and the brake cable is going to break. It is very scary and unsafe.
Had brakes trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
It's a meaningful issue. 34 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 21,000 and 96,000 miles, with the median around 69,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 21,000; a quarter make it past 96,000. 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?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2018/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.