This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Hyundai Tucson powertrain problems
severe 97 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
97
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
3crashes
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 97 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 97 powertrain 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 powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
Hyundai has launched an anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign (Campaign 993), combined with an anti-theft steering wheel lock campaign (Campaign P32), in response to an increase in thefts of certain 2011-2022MY Hyundai vehicles not equipped with engine immobilizers targeted through social media. For certain vehicles that cannot be updated with the software (Campaign 993), Hyundai is offering customers steering wheel locks at the dealer (Campaign P32). This Dealer Best Practices Guide provides information to assist dealership personnel with customer questions relating to the immobilizer software upgrade, window decals and steering wheel lock ant-theft solutions available from
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain vehicles (listed below) equipped with 7-speed Double Clutch Transmissions (DCT) may exhibit abnormal vibration at low speeds. This bulletin outlines the procedures for diagnosing clutch judder, updating the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) with revised logic, and/or replacing the Double Clutch.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain vehicles (listed below) equipped with 7-speed Double Clutch Transmissions (DCT) may exhibit abnormal vibration at low speeds. This bulletin outlines the procedures for diagnosing clutch judder, updating the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) with revised logic, and/or replacing the Double Clutch.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides the procedure to update the TCU for vehicles that may exhibit a hesitation at acceleration particularly from a rolling stop condition. This update optimizes the TCU torque control logic.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Tucson dual-clutch transmission exhibits a pervasive lag-and-lurch pattern: the engine revs but the vehicle sits motionless for 1–5 seconds, then suddenly lurches forward. This happens at traffic lights, stop signs, highway merges, and hillclimbs—exactly where predictable power is critical. One owner nearly got T-boned making a left turn when the car refused to accelerate; another could only climb a moderate hill partway before having to roll back down. Dealership computer resets provide no lasting fix, and one owner had the transmission fully replaced at 15,000 miles only to experience the identical problem again at 73,000 miles.
Engine oil consumption is another pattern: owners report burning 0.3–1+ liter per 1,000 miles, with dipsticks going bone-dry between services despite no visible leaks. Hyundai's official response is that this is normal. Engine bearing failures follow—some preceded by loud knocking, others occurring suddenly. At 122,000 miles, one owner with full dealership maintenance records faced a $5,300 repair bill after one valve broke and sat on the piston. A second owner's engine seized after the dealership allegedly failed to torque an oil plug properly. A third owner had a knock-sensor-related limp-mode failure at 75 mph on the highway, followed by an engine replacement that failed again 30 miles later.
No warning lights precede many of these failures. One owner's reverse camera electrical short caused nine dashboard lights to illuminate simultaneously, freezing the transmission in gear and disabling all gauges. Repairs routinely exceed $1,000 and require 6+ weeks at dealerships; parts delays stretch to three months. Warranty coverage is spotty for second owners.
Same Hyundai Tucson powertrain reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Dual-clutch transmission hesitation and delayed engagement
The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission exhibits severe hesitation or complete loss of power engagement when accelerating from a stop, rolling starts, or low-speed maneuvers. The vehicle engine revs but wheels do not move for 1–5 seconds before suddenly lurching forward, or fails to accelerate at all in some cases. This occurs intermittently or constantly, often triggered by traffic stops, turns, and highway merges.
When: Begins early in ownership (some as low as 5,000–12,000 miles); worsens over time; some cases persist through transmission replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs without vehicle motion; wheels unresponsive to gas pedal; Sudden lurching or jerking forward after delay; Inability to accelerate or merge in traffic; Difficulty climbing hills; vehicle stalls or stops partway up; Intermittent stuttering and shaking at stops and during low-speed driving; Hesitation lasting 1–5 seconds from complete stop
Codes mentioned: P1326 (knock sensor code, often misdiagnosed), TCM (transmission control module) failure codes in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers reset transmission computer repeatedly without permanent resolution; full transmission replacement performed in multiple cases but does not resolve the symptom; some owners replaced entire transmissions twice; one owner had transmission replaced at 15,000 miles and same issue recurred at 73,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai acknowledges the problem in some dealer conversations but claims no recalls apply; TSB for combustion cleaning mentioned in some narratives; extended warranty (150,000 miles) for engine defects mentioned in some owner research; class action lawsuits mentioned by owners; Hyundai declined warranty coverage in some cases where owners are second owners or warranty has expired; some dealers state 'dual clutch transmissions all have this problem' and told owners to accept it or trade vehicles
Excessive engine oil consumption
Engine consumes oil rapidly despite regular oil changes and maintenance. Owners report oil burning at rates of 0.3–1+ liter per 1,000 miles, with some vehicles running completely dry between services. Oil pressure warning light flashes intermittently or remains on; no visible leaks underneath vehicle.
When: Begins around 80,000–100,000 miles in some cases; present from purchase in others; progresses with vehicle age and mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pressure light flashing or illuminated; Dipstick reads below minimum between oil changes; Blue or black smoke from exhaust in some cases; Rough running at higher speeds; Oil consumption of 0.3–1+ liter per 1,000 miles documented by dealership tests
Codes mentioned: P0326 (knock sensor code, associated with oil starvation in some narratives), P1326
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple oil consumption tests performed (up to four per owner in one case); combustion chamber cleaning performed without resolving issue; dealers advised increasing oil change frequency from 5,000 miles to 3,000 miles; engine block replacements in some cases; one owner had oil plug fall out after 3,000 miles, leading to catastrophic engine seizure; no successful permanent repair documented in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai corporate claims excessive oil consumption is 'normal for your car'; extends warranty to 150,000 miles for bearing failures related to oil starvation in settlement of class action lawsuit (owners mention researching this); some dealers refuse testing beyond warranty expiration; TSBs for combustion cleaning mentioned; no root cause corrective action documented in narratives
Engine bearing and internal failure
Internal engine damage including rod bearing failure, piston/valve failure, and catalytic failure occur at relatively low mileage. Engine knocking, rough running, and loss of power precede failure. Some engines seize after oil starvation; others fail despite adequate maintenance records.
When: Occurs between 79,000–122,000 miles; some at low mileage with recent oil starvation; one case at 99,000 miles despite full dealership maintenance history
Symptoms owners cite: Loud engine knocking or 'lawn mower' sound; Loss of power while driving; Check engine light and oil light illumination sequentially or simultaneously; Rough idle and performance deterioration before failure; Engine seizes; vehicle becomes undrivable; Black smoke from exhaust in one case (oil plug failure)
Codes mentioned: P1326 (knock sensor code), P0326, Bearing clearance test failures (confirmed by dealers)
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required in most cases; one owner's engine, turbo, exhaust, and catalytic converter all required replacement; repair costs cited as $5,300 (one case) and $3,000+ for transmission alone; parts delay cited (3+ months to obtain replacement engines); one engine replacement followed by repeated failures 30 and 180 miles after install; vehicle towed in multiple cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai warranty covers bearing failure under class action settlement (150,000 miles/15 years) but some dealers deny coverage to second owners or owners past original warranty; extended warranty explicitly tied to 2017 and earlier models in some owner research, with 2018 models excluded in at least one case; no root cause corrective action documented; manufacturer delays repair while awaiting parts
Limp mode and loss of propulsion at highway speed
Vehicle suddenly enters limp mode or loses all power while driving at highway speed (60–75 mph) with no prior warning lights or diagnostic messages. Engine control system fails abruptly, forcing vehicle to coast to shoulder or requiring emergency stopping in traffic.
When: Occurs suddenly during normal highway driving; one case at 122,000 miles, another at 75 mph with recent oil change
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt loss of engine power while cruising; No warning lamps before failure; lights appear only after loss of power; Vehicle forced to coast or pull over; Engine may fail to restart or restart with continued drivability issues
Codes mentioned: P1326 (knock sensor), P0326, Check engine, battery, and oil lights illuminated after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Knock sensors replaced under warranty (ineffective); full engine block replacement performed in one case; vehicle out of service 57+ days awaiting diagnostics in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai warranty covers knock sensor and engine replacement; dealership claimed 3+ month delays for engine procurement; one owner reported vehicle remained out of service 57 days awaiting diagnosis
Transmission shift failure and inability to engage reverse
Transmission fails to shift properly or enter reverse gear. Reverse indicator flashes but vehicle does not move; vehicle may require manual push to park or may shift into wrong gear. In some cases, transmission fails to engage after service.
When: Occurs unpredictably during driving or immediately after service; one case at 32,000 miles on warranty; some recur within a week of repair
Symptoms owners cite: Reverse indicator flashes but vehicle will not move backward; Vehicle requires manual pushing to park; Hard shifting between gears during normal acceleration; Transmission fails to engage after being taken to dealer for repair; Gear actuator failure confirmed by dealer diagnostics
Repairs/costs cited: Gear actuator replacement (repeated in at least one case); full transmission replacement performed; one vehicle had transmission replaced at 32,000 miles, returned within a week with same issue; repairs take 6 weeks or longer with no loaner vehicles provided; repairs performed under warranty but issue recurs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty covers repairs but manufacturer provides no communication about recurring nature of defect; no loaner vehicles offered during multi-week repairs; no root cause investigation documented
Electrical system failure from faulty reverse camera
Reverse camera (or related electrical component) shorts critical electrical circuits, causing simultaneous failure of multiple dashboard systems and loss of vehicle control. Nine dashboard warning lights illuminate simultaneously; RPM gauge, speedometer, oil temperature gauge, and other instruments stop functioning; transmission ceases shifting; vehicle becomes undrivable and cannot be removed from Park.
When: Occurs suddenly with no prior damage or warning; one case mentioned 2016–2018 model prevalence
Symptoms owners cite: Nine dashboard warning lights illuminate suddenly (check engine, ABS, brakes, etc.); Instrument cluster dials (RPM, speedometer, oil temp) stop working; Transmission ceases shifting; rough operation; Vehicle cannot be taken out of Park; OBD reader cannot communicate with vehicle due to electrical fault
Repairs/costs cited: Reverse camera replacement resolved issue in owner research; one owner paid $1,000 for diagnosis and repair; dealers initially misdiagnosed and replaced multiple components over several days before identifying camera
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claimed manufacturing engineers required several days to determine cause even after camera was identified; no recall issued; owners report problem is known to multiple Hyundai facilities but not recognized as systematic issue
Transmission jerking and hard shifts during normal operation
Transmission jerks, shudders, or makes hard shifts when starting, accelerating from stops, shifting gears, or during low-speed maneuvers. Vehicle may feel unstable or as though it will stall.
When: Begins soon after purchase (within weeks to months); some cases present from new vehicle purchase; one case at 5,000 miles with 15,000 miles currently
Symptoms owners cite: Hard jerking when shifting from Park to Reverse or Drive; Shuddering at stops and during low-speed driving; Vehicle feels unstable or about to stall during stop-and-go traffic; Jerking when accelerating from rest; Shifting lags or hesitates unpredictably
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission computer reset performed repeatedly (2–10+ times) without permanent resolution; transmission replaced at 15,000 miles in one case with same issue recurring; transfer case failure occurred in one case (internal explosion) without resolving jerking
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers reset transmission computer as standard procedure; one dealer stated 'all Hyundai/Kia dual-clutch transmissions have that problem' and told owners to accept it or trade vehicles; Hyundai switched clutch manufacturers per one dealer statement; no recall or TSB documented as resolving issue
Synthesized from 97 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Rod bearing failure. Sounded like a tractor all of a sudden and stalled every time I’d come to a stop. Had it towed to the dealership. Awaiting word from Hyundai as to whether the warranty will cover this. Checked oil and wasn’t low. No check engine lights or oil lights or anything ever came on. No noises prior to this happening. Kept up on routine maintenance.
Same dual clutch problem as on 2016 Hyundai tucson. Hesitates for several seconds prior to engaging which causes significant danger in oncoming traffic. I had this same problem with the 2016 and Hyundai continued to deny any known problems. Now there is a class action lawsuit regarding this issue. I traded my 2016 in for the 2018 to get away from the problem because I was so scared. Now I…
This is my 2nd issue with this vehicle. Ever since I bought the vehicle I have always noticed that when I come to a complete stop (at a red light or stop sign) and I go to press on the gas the car doesn't go. It's like it hesitated before it starts to pick up speed. I always chalked it up to the fact that it was a 4 cylinder but after speaking to my mechanic I find out that this is not normal…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?
It's a meaningful issue. 97 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 10,391 and 38,900 miles, with the median around 19,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,391; a quarter make it past 38,900. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.