2012 Hyundai Tucson transmission problems

Filed Sep 7, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · WI · fire

I was driving down the interstate, going approximately 70mph, and my 2012 Hyundai Tucson started having difficulty maintaining speed. The engine started revving up while the car was still slowing down. Suddenly, I felt a knock and smoke started bellowing out of the engine bay. I pulled over immediately, opened the hood to inspect, and was almost burnt by the flames. There was a fire near the back of the engine block which I was able to put out with some water. I had my vehicle towed to the Hyundai of West Allis in Wisconsin. The dealership and a corporate Hyundai inspector determined that the cause of the fire was a thrown engine rod. There were no signs of issues or engine lights prior to this event. My Tucson has been at the dealership for nearly two months. After tens of hours dealing with Hyundai customer service and the dealership, both entities decided that they will do nothing to remedy the situation. My Hyundai vehicle has the 2.4L Theta II engine which is clearly implicated in the recent class action lawsuit against Hyundai for faulty engines. There is a recall for the rod bearing which was the direct cause of my engine throwing a rod and causing the fire.

Filed Mar 1, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · CA

My 2012 Tucson engine, with 62,000 miles, locked up on 09/22/21 while I was on a trip, without warning & no check engine light came on. Luckily, I was able to coast to the small shoulder. It suddenly seized on a stretch of I15 in the mountains of the Mohave Desert. The engine completely stopped so suddenly that I was lucky I was able to coast to the shoulder. The shoulder was very narrow, so I was barely off a very busy highway, at night. The breakdown happened just before midnight. I was stuck on the side of the road as cars and trucks were flying by us, with little room to avoid hitting us. It took 4 hours to find someone who would tow my car. I was towed to Midas shop at a cost of $800. The Midas shop confirmed that my engine had seized, was full of oil, and no explanation for the engine seizing could be found. The only option was to replace the engine. I wanted a new one, but they could not find one. They found a "used" one from a 2012 Tucson, supposedly with 40,000 miles on it. The mechanic had to go to Huntington Beach to pick it up. He was amazed at the cost of the engine (much higher than they had paid for any other used engine). Ultimately the replacement cost $12,118.41. When I picked up my car on 10/15/21 I headed home to San Diego (170 miles). After approx 100 miles, the transmission suddenly stopped shifting into any gear. It would not come out of neutral. I was in a lane close enough to the shoulder to coast just far enough to get a few inches off the highway. Because it was a Friday evening, there were no auto shops open. I had no choice but to have the car towed to my house (70 miles) at a cost of $500. A local transmission shop diagnosed my transmission problem. It was due to failure of the part that pumps fluid into the transmission. Yet another problem that shouldn’t occur in a car with only 61,000 miles on it. The cost of the repair was $4,200. The failure of those parts put me in 2 very dangerous situations and cost me $20,000.

Filed Aug 23, 2021 · Electrical, Transmission · 45,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated the all-wheel drive (AWD) warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

Filed Feb 1, 2021 · Transmission · 70,068 miles · PA

My awd light comes on and off- when on I do not have awd and if is a serious safety matter. I have taken it to be checked and was told "oh at times you have it and some times you don't have it. Meaning awd--then another hyundai dealer informed me " oh no problems when checked on diagnostic". Well with being said as a nurse , I find this unacceptable -- only 70 some miles and now I'm told the warranty criteria has changed. Please help and advise. Your warranty was a big decision maker in my decision to purchase. Driving in snow it went out , I drove because I was informed it was working .lucky I'm able to send you this concern as the end result could have been a negative impact.

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 Sep 2, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 110,000 miles · GA

I was driving and the engine started making a noise. All of a sudden it sounded terrible like there were rocks rattling around in the engine and it shut down. I was initially in town when it started and just got on the hwy when she broke down. Hubby, two puppies, and I were stranded in the side of the hwy in 100 degree heat for 2 hrs. Had to rent a moving truck and trailer to make the trek back home to ga. Hyundai service said it threw a rod and shredded in the engine and the entire engine needed replaced. Minimum of $5500 for the engine itself. I switched to synthetic oil on the first change when I got her new and was regular with her maintenance. I was not ready to have to get a new vehicle just yet.

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 Nov 5, 2019 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai tucson. The contact stated that the gear shifter was difficult to operate when transitioning in and out of the reverse gear. When the vehicle was placed into reverse, the gear shifter became very difficult to maneuver without warning. The contact took the vehicle to boch hyundai (391 providence hwy, norwood, ma 02062, (877) 399-3275) on three separate occasions. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Oct 3, 2019 · Acceleration, Transmission · 100,000 miles · MS

Vehicle intermittently does not accelerate from a stop, often looses power. This can be dangerous if pulling out into traffic. Transmission issues have been addressed with other years, but this issue has not been addressed with earlier model years. While turning into traffic, vehicle did not accelerate as expected almost cause it an accident. Took vehicle to hyundai for service, and the problem could not be duplicated at the time, instead was told to 'change transmission fluid, that may help' there have been multiple other tucson's with the same issue. Vehicle continues to have same issues.

Filed Aug 28, 2019 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai tucson. While driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made a strange sound as though the shifter were in the wrong gear. The vehicle performed as if it would stall, but never did. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown hyundai dealer in south carolina to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.