This vehicle has had numerous problems since I leased it. To summarize, at times the vehicle randomly shifts out of the ECO mode, usually into the SNOW mode. The engine has also raced, hesitated, bucked, rattled and vibrated when trying to change gears. Sometimes, these actions are subtle and sometimes they are borderline violent. This happens more frequently when the engine is cold.…
2025 Hyundai Tucson powertrain problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2025 Hyundai Tucsons report a cluster of powertrain and drivability issues beginning from very early ownership. The most critical problem is unexpected engine stall during driving—events occur at idle, during low-speed driving, or while accelerating, sometimes accompanied by illuminated warning lights and audible crash alarms. Dealers have struggled to reproduce these faults and often find no diagnostic trouble codes.
Transmission problems range from complete failure requiring replacement at as low as 2,000 miles to intermittent shuddering, hesitation, bucking, and random mode shifts from ECO into SNOW. One owner reported transmission rebuild at 15,000 miles after an electric oil pump replacement also failed to resolve shuddering.
The Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) system activates without legitimate threats—applying emergency braking when the car ahead is moving normally or even when no vehicles are present—creating rear-end collision risk at highway speeds. Owners report dealers have reduced camera sensitivity without fully resolving the issue.
Additionally, vehicles exhibit unintended acceleration (RPMs surge without pedal input), unprompted forward lurch while parked, oil pressure warnings causing complete power loss on highways, and odometer accuracy discrepancies. Dealership diagnostics have been ineffective; technicians often cannot reproduce intermittent faults despite owners logging incidents and keeping detailed records. Service visits have extended to two months for some owners.
Same Hyundai Tucson powertrain reports on nearby years: 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stall/shutdown while driving
Engine quits or nearly quits under various conditions—sometimes at idle after braking, sometimes during low-speed driving or acceleration. All instrument cluster lights may illuminate momentarily, then go out except warning lights and triangle. Tachometer and speedometer may read zero during event. Audible crash alarm may sound. Engine restarts but may lack normal power initially.
When: Variable; reported between 1,541 and 7,623 miles; one incident at ~4,770 miles, subsequent stalls at 5-8 months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down or nearly shuts down while driving; All warning lights illuminate briefly then go out; Tachometer and speedometer read zero; Audible crash alarm sounds with message 'engine not running'; Engine may lack normal power upon restart; Occurs erratically—sometimes only once or a few times per day, sometimes days apart; More frequent when engine is cold
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light (intermittent, often without DTC code), Forward Collision Warning light (intermittent)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer troubleshooting ongoing; no definitive repair cited in narratives. One narrative mentions faulty connectors traced to engine light; dealership reduced front camera sensitivity for collision warning. Another mentions TCM (transmission control module) ordered after powertrain/hybrid warning lights.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai headquarters contacted one owner; factory representative was promised but not sent; case number assigned but manufacturer refused to take action per one complaint
Transmission failure/malfunction
Complete transmission failure at very low mileage requiring replacement. Also transmission-related shuddering, hesitation, bucking, rattling and vibration during gear changes, sometimes violent. Vehicle may shift out of ECO mode unexpectedly into SNOW mode. Shift system malfunction message locks vehicle in place unable to shift into any gear.
When: As early as ~2,000 miles; shuddering reported at 15,000 miles and in early ownership; shift malfunction reported mid-event
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission fails completely and requires replacement; Shuddering and hesitation when changing gears; Bucking, rattling, and vibration during acceleration and gear changes; Vehicle shifts out of ECO mode randomly into SNOW mode; Shift system malfunction message displayed; vehicle locked in place unable to shift or turn off; Vehicle stuck in accessory mode draining battery; Vehicle would not go over 25 MPH
Codes mentioned: Shift system malfunction (message displayed), Powertrain warning light, Hybrid warning light (on hybrid model)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced in one case at 15,000 miles. Another transmission replacement ordered at 2,000 miles. One case required electric oil pump replacement, then transmission replacement after oil pump failed to resolve shuddering. One case: vehicle remained in dealership for 3 months due to powertrain issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not stated for most cases; one owner notes vehicle was replacement vehicle under state lemon law for previous Tucson
Intermittent engine miss, skip, or cut-out
Engine skips or cuts out at random, causing lurching or bucking especially during acceleration. Does not consistently set diagnostic trouble codes. Occurs erratically—sometimes once or few times per day, sometimes several days pass without occurrence.
When: Reported from 5 months of ownership onward; ongoing intermittent nature
Symptoms owners cite: Engine miss, skip, or cut-out while driving; Lurching or bucking during acceleration; Erratic occurrence—no predictable pattern; Does not set DTC code as far as owner knows
Repairs/costs cited: No repair noted; dealer troubleshooting ongoing
Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) system false activation
Automatic emergency braking activates without actual collision threat present. System activates when vehicle ahead is moving forward, when another vehicle brakes to turn into parking lot at safe distance, or with no objects in front of vehicle. System applies brakes unexpectedly, creating rear-end collision risk for following traffic.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership; one instance ~8 months after purchase; at least 3 documented instances creating near rear-end scenarios
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic emergency braking applies without collision threat; Forward collision warning light comes on without cars or objects in front; System activates when vehicle ahead is moving forward (not braking); System activates when following vehicle braking normally to turn into parking lot; Warning light remains on for a few seconds then disappears; Unexpected brake application at highway speeds (~45 mph)
Codes mentioned: Forward Collision Warning light (intermittent)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership reduced front camera sensitivity per one narrative; no definitive resolution stated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner claims over 100 complaints nationwide; no recalls issued per complainant
Unintended acceleration/RPM surge
Engine RPMs surge and vehicle accelerates forward without driver pressing accelerator pedal. No warning lights precede or accompany event. Occurs under various driving circumstances.
When: Intermittent; multiple occurrences reported
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPMs surge unexpectedly; Vehicle accelerates forward without foot on gas pedal; No warning lights illuminate; Occurs under multiple different circumstances; Unpredictable timing
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate problem; no repair made
Vehicle lurches forward while parked
Vehicle lurches forward while in Park after being parked. Has occurred multiple times without warning or preceding events. Vehicle has made contact with stationary objects including signs and transients (likely ground-level objects).
When: Occurred 6–10 times at minimum per owner report
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lurches forward while parked in Park; No warning or preceding events; Vehicle has struck sign and ground-level objects; Erratic—dealer unable to reproduce
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to reproduce event; no repair made
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer assigned case number but refused to take action
Auto Start/Stop feature malfunction and safety concern
Auto Start/Stop feature activates at traffic lights and cannot be permanently disabled. Feature delays engine restart, leaving vehicle immobilized in traffic or at intersections during critical situations such as when following vehicle cannot stop on wet roads, creating collision hazard.
When: Experienced during normal operation; specific timing coincides with wet road conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Auto Start/Stop activates at stop lights; Engine restart delay leaves vehicle immobilized; No permanent disable option available; Increases vulnerability to rear-end collision
Oil pressure/lubrication system failure
Oil light illuminates while driving at highway speeds. Vehicle loses acceleration and power, forcing driver to pull to shoulder. Problem recurred after repair.
When: First occurrence 2+ weeks after purchase; recurred 1+ week after repair/return
Symptoms owners cite: Oil light illuminates at highway speed (70 mph); Complete loss of acceleration; Vehicle unable to maintain highway speed; Problem recurs after repair
Codes mentioned: Oil light
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle serviced for ~2 months; repair method not detailed
Transmission Control Module (TCM) malfunction
Powertrain warning lights illuminate along with hybrid system warning. Vehicle will not move forward or backward despite engine starting. TCM module requires replacement.
When: At 1,541 miles on Hyundai Tucson Hybrid 2025
Symptoms owners cite: Engine starts but vehicle will not move forward or backward; Powertrain warning light illuminates; Hybrid system warning light illuminates; Vehicle completely immobilized
Codes mentioned: Powertrain warning, Hybrid warning
Repairs/costs cited: TCM module ordered; repair pending at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai headquarters called owner notifying of problem and arranging tow
Odometer accuracy discrepancy
Odometer does not accurately reflect distance traveled. Trip odometer registered 1.8 miles while main odometer recorded only 1 mile traveled over same route. Intermittent issue; odometer functions normally most of the time.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Odometer reads lower mileage than actual distance traveled; Discrepancy of approximately 0.8 miles over 1.8 miles traveled (44% variance); Intermittent—normal operation most of the time; Trip odometer does not match main odometer
Mode selection malfunction (ECO/SNOW switching)
Vehicle shifts out of ECO mode unexpectedly and randomly into SNOW mode without driver input.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle randomly shifts from ECO mode to SNOW mode; Occurs without driver selecting mode change; More frequent when engine is cold
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I am reporting a serious safety and reliability concern with my 2025 Hyundai Tucson. At only about 2,000 miles, I was informed by the Hyundai dealership that the transmission has already failed and needs to be replaced. This vehicle is essentially brand new and should not be experiencing a major powertrain failure so early in its lifespan. The transmission issue has caused significant concern…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2025 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 2025 Hyundai Tucson?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 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?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 11,250 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2025/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.