2012 Hyundai Tucson: sudden loss of power

Filed Jan 26, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · MO · fire

Our [XXX] daughter was driving the vehicle from our home to work in Richmond Heights (approx. 19 miles) on [XXX] on {XXX]. At approximately [XXX] and before the [XXX] exit ([XXX] area), the vehicle made a load bang/popping noise, began to lose power, and the interior began to fill with smoke. She was driving in one of the center lanes and luckily made it over to the right shoulder without incident despite traffic and the smoke impairing her view and use of the rear and side mirrors. She immediately got out and called 911. Luckily there was no accident involved and she was not trapped in the vehicle. She was not injured, just very shaken. The vehicle was on fire under the hood and eventually burst into flames. The Kirkwood City Police Officer called the Kirkwood Fire Department and Terry's Towing. The fire was put out, but not before causing the vehicle to be totaled (see photos). Terry's Towing towed the vehicle to its lot, where it is currently stored. The vehicle is a total loss. As we purchased the vehicle from a family member earlier in 2023 as a spare car for our 16yo son and 20yo daughter (when she's home on break from college) for local and short drives, we only carried liability insurance on it with Progressive. We were not aware of Hyundai Recall 251 / the federal safety agency Recall # 23V651000 until after this happened to our daughter. We have filed a case with Hyundai. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by them or anyone else. The vehicle was running fine. The ABS light had come on sometime prior to this incident. The vehicle was going in for an oil change and system check after the holidays. In the process of obtaining the fire department report. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 19, 2022 · Engine · TX

2012 HYUNDAI TUCSON Bought it used, 1 prior owner ~50K, very clean. Since is VERY well maintained (incl. oil changes). Periodic engine light off & on for no reason. NO other probs, no oil leaks EVER. All recalls done. Dealership checked 11/2021 when doing recall, didn't document, it's "a short in wiring", "expensive to fix" & blamed "not tightening gas cap"?! THEN...On freeway with no warning light, a loud "bang" noise heard, vehicle began shaking. Initially felt like flat tire, barely able to control, lost power but able to steer off highway, engine died. VERY, VERY dangerous situation in heavy traffic. During tow to dealership, found # to national recall center who assigned a case number & was told "it's being escalated nationally..a corporate case worker (CW) will call in 3-5 days". Told "tell dealership to give loaner car". No loaners b/c LONG waiting list. Corporate requested multiple exams & photos from dealership in search of "engine sludge" (shift blame technique "poor maintenance") none was found. Engine pictures pristine (per dealership) "like a new engine". Corporate even requested 1st owner records!? Diagnosis:"catastrophic engine failure" due to bearing failure, estimate ~$7K+ for new engine. Corporate offer: 80% of engine replacement cost w/parts warranty (1 yr/12K), no loaner car unless delay due to backorder. Owner gets to counter offer or discuss w/ CW whose role (apparently)is to negotiate w/owner. 3 wks, never rec'd call from anyone. Hrs, days, wks spent chasing elusive CW. "Cust. Care" answers "hello, what's VIN & mileage?". Forced to repeat same story over & over, finally learned CW out on PTO, no one reassigned (someone slipped w/ "we are SOO busy here"). Finally reached CW. Call #1: nice guy. Call #2: lied, blamed dealership, mean, shaming, told to quit calling, wasting HIS time. Take it or leave it on 80/20 deal to replace w/another Theta II (aka we never fixed our prob) engine. NEVER BUY HYUNDAI! SOMEONE COULD'VE DIED.

Filed Oct 7, 2021 · Engine · VA

10/5/21Driving on interstate. Experienced sudden loss of power. Pulled to side of road and car completely stopped and shut down. No warning lights prior to incident. Vehicle routinely serviced and had full tank of gas. Mechanic stated catastrophic engine failure.

Filed Feb 25, 2021 · Engine · 113,000 miles · OH

I was driving down the highway going about 70 miles and hour and for no reason I lost power , the oil light and battery light flashed briefly and thankfully I was able to get to the side of the road off the highway. It turned off. I was able to get it started agin and baby it to the nearest gas station less than a mile down the road. My husband told me to just baby it home and he would take a look at it. It started making a ticking sound. I did get it home and my husband said my engine was shot. Now I don't even know how this is possible for a car that was running just fine and then all this werid stuff happens. Please look into this. I could have been killed. Now we have a dead car that we still have to pay for. And we can't afford a new engine plus the labor to put it in. Now we are trying to find a new car.

Filed Sep 23, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 152,429 miles · FL

I was driving and the engine started making a click click noise. It sounded terrible like there were rocks rattling around at the bottom of the engine and lost power. The vehicle broke down and I had to find a to and rental car to get home. Hyundai service said I need a new engine, because the entire engine needed replaced. I know there have been several recalls on the hyundai engines and I called the hyundai customer service and flat out told me that my ngine was outside of the warranty and therefore they could not help. I am not ready to have to get a new vehicle, specially in this covid situation. I had a similar issue with a 2003 tuscon santa fe...this engine failure issue is a scam.

Filed May 13, 2020 · Engine · 100,086 miles · CA

On 5/10/2020, check engine light went on, engine sputtered, we were able to exit freeway and pull over and by that time, car was shaking very hard. Towed to mechanic, car requires engine overhaul. Car then towed to hyundai dealership, car needs a full engine rebuild. I have maintained my car with oil changes and the car has 100086 miles. There are numerous reports of failure of the theta ii 2.4 liter engines, which my car has, yet no recall issues. Mechanic said parts alone will be around $6000 dollars, if you add labor it's probably more than the car is worth. I am concerned that there is a defect in the engine that poses a risk to life. A few months prior, this car also had a complete failure (lost all power) on the freeway.

Filed Mar 12, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 77,100 miles · NC

Driving along the interstate when engine had reduced engine power for a moment, then stalled around 70mph. Made it to an exit ramp luckily. Engine hesitated to restart, once it did start engine started knocking and had next to no power. Towed to hyundai dealer, hyundai dealer stated that hyundai has had major problems with these engines and hyundai should cover it fully. Dealership proceeded to pull oil pan and valve cover without our consent and with no communication for days. Confirmed the engine was bad, metal shavings in oil pan, rod bearings failed. Common problem. Waiting on hyundai for approval. Service advisor quit, we were informed 6 days later that hyundai is only willing to cover 65% of cost and we would have to pay 35% ($3,500.0) out of pocket. We refused to pay; they stated we would have to pay diagnosis, but they ended up waiving that. Technicians did not fully secure oil pan or valve cover. Oil under car where it was parked, have photos and videos to back this claim up. Have rental car and many tow bills in to the mix now. Why would the dealer tell us hyundai fully cover this but they don't? We need this issue fixed. Many other tucson owners deal with the same problem, with the same engine as the other cars, but theirs get replaced free or charge and expenses paid by hyundai.

Filed Oct 23, 2019 · Engine · 57,974 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai tucson. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle seized and lost power without warning. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the road and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle, but was unable to duplicate the failure. Three weeks prior to the failure, the vehicle was repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v063000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact informed keffer hyundai (9010 e independence blvd, matthews, nc 28105, (980) 201-2782) and was instructed to bring the vehicle back in for a second diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 57,974.

Filed Jul 5, 2019 · Engine · 131,250 miles · MI

Manufacturer sent recall letter in early february stating the engine was under recall for oil leak / possibility of failure causing a serious loss of power situation while driving no adverse action this far but we no longer feel safe driving this vehicle as the engine may ail at any time with no warning

Filed May 14, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · 86,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai tucson. The contact stated that driving about 55 MPH, the fuel gauge showed three bars and as the accelerator pedal was depressed, it went to the floorboard and the vehicle lost power. There were some unknown warning lights that illuminated and then unilluminated. The contact merged to the side of the road and waited for someone to arrive with fuel and added fuel to the vehicle. The vehicle was then able to start. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Filed May 6, 2019 · Engine · 61,500 miles · CA

My engine seized with 61,500 miles on it. It was serviced regularly and all fluids had just been topped off for a 9 hour drive. Was driving on I-5 south 3 and a half hours into our drive and lost power, engine seized

Filed Feb 1, 2019 · Engine · 130,000 miles · WA

I was driving on the freeway when I suddenly lost power to my steering and accelerator. The car had quit running but was still receiving power from the battery. It was a severely dangerous situation as I was not able to get completely off of the freeway onto the shoulder before my vehicle stopped moving. Wsdot and washington state patrol assisted getting me off of the freeway to a safe location. I had it towed to a repair shop. They diagnosed catastrophic engine failure and that the car needs a new engine. It is a 2012 hyundai tucson with a 2.4l engine. Additionally, at 75,000 the transmission failed in this vehicle, and was replaced at that time. This was covered by my extended warranty at the time.