Short answer
Among Hyundai Tucson model years through 2024, 2008, 2009, 2018 and 3 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2005 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Hyundai Tucson: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 22 (2005–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 36
- Fewest recalls
- 2008, 2009, 2018 and 3 more years (1)
- Most recalls
- 2005 (8)
- Most recalled system
- Exterior lighting (14)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2016, 2017, 2018 and 6 more years
Hyundai Tucson Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 5 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 7 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2024 | 4 | 5 stars | Equipment, Power train, Steering |
| 2023 | 2 | 4–5 stars | Power train, Trailer hitches |
| 2022 | 3 | 4–5 stars | Electrical system, Structure, Trailer hitches |
| 2021 | 1 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2020 | 1 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2019 | 1 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2018 | 1 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2017 | 3 | 5 stars | Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic, Trailer hitches |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2015 | 2 | 4 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2014 | 2 | 4 stars | Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2013 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2012 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2011 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2010 | 4 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2008 | 1 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2007 | 5 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Air bags |
| 2006 | 5 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Air bags |
| 2005 | 8 | Not rated | Air bags, Electronic stability control, Exterior lighting |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20265 recalls
- 20257 recalls
- 20244 recalls
- 20232 recalls
- 20223 recalls
- 20211 recall
- 20201 recall
- 20191 recall
- 20181 recall
- 20173 recalls
- 20165 recalls
- 20152 recalls
- 20142 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20115 recalls
- 20104 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20081 recall
- 20075 recalls
- 20065 recalls
- 20058 recalls
Hyundai Tucson: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Hyundai Tucson recalls are exterior lighting (14), air bags (13), service brakes, hydraulic (13), electrical system (7) and engine and engine cooling (5). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 22 model years, and 2016, 2017, 2018 and 6 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Hyundai Tucson Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Hyundai Tucson?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2008, 2009, 2018 and 3 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Hyundai Tucson model years have the most recalls?
2005 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Tucson", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy