2015 Hyundai Tucson: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jul 21, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · IN

While driving on a US highway, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost the ability to start/run normally, requiring the vehicle to be pulled off the road and towed to an authorized Hyundai dealership. Dealer diagnostic testing found the engine failed a bearing/performance test, consistent with connecting rod bearing wear. This failure mode — Check Engine light, DTC P1326, abnormal noise, or a no-crank/no-start condition caused by connecting rod bearing wear — is described in the manufacturer's own internal dealer service bulletin covering an engine warranty extension program for multiple engine families (Theta II MPI and Nu GDI engines) across several model years and vehicle lines. That bulletin acknowledges the failure as a known condition and extends coverage to 15 years/150,000 miles for original and subsequent owners. The failure occurred suddenly and without warning while the vehicle was in active use on a highway, creating a stall/loss-of-power hazard in moving traffic — the vehicle could not be restarted at the roadside. The dealership's own multi-point inspection performed shortly after intake confirmed engine fluid levels and oil grade were within normal range, indicating the failure was not attributable to a lack of lubrication at the time of failure. Despite this, the manufacturer denied warranty coverage for the repair, citing an inability to produce maintenance receipts for a prior period, even though the dealership's own inspection findings do not support a maintenance-related cause. This report is submitted because of the safety hazard posed by unwarned loss of engine power/starting capability while driving, and because this failure pattern appears consistent with a defect the manufacturer has already acknowledged for closely related engine platforms, raising the question of whether additional vehicles with this engine design should be included in that existing warranty/defect campaign.

Filed Jul 9, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · 118,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The engine turned over but failed to restart. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic shop and then to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine seized; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The dealer advised that there was no warranty coverage. The Better Business Bureau was contacted and informed that the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed, but a request for repair coverage was declined due to a failure to have the recall remedy completed; however, both the contact and the previous owner were unaware of the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Filed Jun 22, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · PA

Bought the vehicle as is with "1 owner, who was older" drove it off the lot and rest drove it, at 57,000 miles. Perfect...that was november 2023.. 3 days later my car was a little low on gas due to they didn't fill it and I left it be, started it drove about 15 miles and it starts sputtering and almost stalls out. Now here I am in June and beginning of June I hear ticking under hood, thinking it's my oil, I changed it (myself) and here it is 3 weeks later oil keeps burning hot, the oil.pressue light comes on when I brake and off when I give it gas, and I don't have any power what so ever when trying to accelerate and doesn't pick up speed unless I'm going downhill. I have 2 small children and a single mom working 5 days a week, I need this car to work. Please hellllpp me . We were going up a hill and I almost got rear ended because my car didn't have power. Not to mention the driver seat fuse keeps blowing out and the bolt keeps breaking so now I can't fit comfortably while.driving and my seat bounces constantly up and down when going over bumps. This was supposed to be my new beginning family car as this is the newest car I've ever owned and it's become an absolute nightmare and I'm scared for me and my children that the engine is going to blow up because that's what it sounds like or I'm going to get smashed by another vehicle due to the fact I have no power

Filed Jun 15, 2024 · Engine · AZ

Vehicle code P1326 Flashing engine light Knocking noises while accelerating Indicates of low oil level When accelerating in doesn’t want to accelerate and it feels like it wants to stall out and shut off

Filed Dec 29, 2023 · Engine · WI

I have a 15 Hyundai Tucson that has been shutting off on me while driving on a highway going between 55 mph to 70 mph. Engine went into limp mode, CEL is on and flashing. Knocking noise heard from engine and consuming oil. Diagnosed with P1326 code. Brought to local Hyundai dealership. Even though road test stated normal operation, technician notes that vehicle DID stall, shut off, on return to the shop. No codes. Was told Hyundai would not pay for man hours to look into further. So allowed me to drive off their lot. Upon re-search I found, with NO help from local Hyundai or the dealership I purchased vehicle from, that my VIN number is associated with the E2 class action settlement that just went live May 2023, that my engine is indeed infected, like a cough before the cold, and has the potential of starting on fire/failure. Now I purchase this vehicle in 08/2023 with no disclosure of this very concerning problem. I am told by Hyundai USA that there is a paper trail that every affected VIN in the settlement has been notified, by law, to owners of affected VIN’s, and still not disclosed. I reached out to Hyundai USA at the national level, was given a case manager, who sent my case to the buyback/legal department. My case manager reached out and stated that my case has been denied due to age and mileage of vehicle (even though automatically extended to 15yr/150,000 miles) I asked what my next steps should be as my vehicle is still shutting off on me while driving and was told to have a different Hyundai dealership diagnose vehicle, but to not tell them all of the information of it already going to one Hyundai dealership. I was told if I hear a noise from the engine that I should pull off to the side of the road and call for a tow truck. I said so Hyundai USA feels good allowing this vehicle to be operated on highways knowing the symptoms I am experiencing. They obviously do not care for my safety let alone passenger safety, nor other motorist on roads.

Filed Dec 7, 2023 · Engine · OH

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate while driving uphill. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The engine had been replaced. The vehicle continued to hesitate while driving uphill. The check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed again and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 20, 2023 · Engine · NJ

My 2015 Hyundai Tucson (62,000 mi) has been having issues of late, I’ve been to my mechanic several times and the last 2 times my car was completely out of oil. There weren’t any warning lights and I just felt it was running “weird.” Now I’m told there us a risk of the engine seizing, catching fire, etc. and I have to constantly check the oil. I’m a senior citizen, so this isn’t easy for me. There is an engine defect causing the cars to need excessive amounts of oil and as more damage occurs, the engine eventually fails. What if I’m on a highway and that happens? Please make Hyundai fix these engines or give us new cars or enough money to buy a new one. They are stalling and putting us all at increased risk.

Filed May 20, 2022 · Airbags, Engine · 70,000 miles · OK

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. There was an abnormal odor of smoke detected. The contact exited the vehicle through the window. The contact stated that ten of the air bags were deployed. There was water damage due to a storm. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and informed there was water damage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Sep 24, 2021 · Engine · 76,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, she noticed that the check engine warning light was illuminated. A few days later the contact was driving to take the vehicle to an independent mechanic when the vehicle loss motive power and stalled. The contact was able to get the vehicle to restart and get the vehicle slowly into a neighborhood where the vehicle stalled again. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Filed Aug 5, 2021 · Engine · NY

At 40,000 miles with no warning engine stalled while driving Upon inspection by dealership Bore Scope Scarring on all cyl walls predominate on 1 and 2 rf suspects lower engine issue Oil change records were provided

Filed May 30, 2021 · Engine · PA

The vehicle suddenly reduced power on 05/27/2021 while my 82-year old mother was driving home. When I checked the car, the check engine light was blinking. I Immediately took to a service center and noticed the same low power 'limping' performance and a knocking sound (previously unheard). On Friday, 05/28/2021, the service manager provided an update: that they found Diagnostic trouble code p1326 related to engine inspection. Performed oil change. Cleared the diagnostic code. Ran the engine. Could hear an internal knock at higher RPMs. Will need engine replaced or rebuilt. No parts are available to replace or rebuild at this time. They contacted Hyundai with the VIN who said the vehicle was out of warranty (110,000 miles). Drove the vehicle home (two blocks) at low RPMs with no issue. There was no previous indication there was any potential issue with the engine. Maintenance and oil changes have been completed on a regular basis. There were 600+ miles before the next 5,000-mile oil change was due. Drove the car the next morning, Saturday, 05/29/2021, to see about trading the car in at the local Hyundai dealer (5.1 miles away) before the situation got worse and purchase a new vehicle. I was expecting the car would be drivable - at least at lower RPMs. The car immediately began to lose power, the check engine light began blinking and stalled three times in traffic before crawling onto the dealer's lot. They had a mechanic look at the vehicle, said the engine was shot and offered $250 as all they could do was junk it since engine parts were scarce and it would not be cost-effective to replace the engine even though the body was in good shape. I felt I had no choice but to accept as it was now clear the vehicle was unsafe to drive. For the engine to die within about 15 miles of the initial onset without warning and the sudden loss of power, is a dangerous situation is this is waiting to happen to other vehicles.

Filed Nov 18, 2020 · Engine · 110,000 miles · NY

While driving to the store the vehicle started to make noise from the engine, it started to rattle louder and louder. I was driving 40mph and pulled into the gas station where the engine noise got worst the engine light and oil light came on and the car stalled, called aaa and had the car towed to my house which was 7 miles away, the tow truck driver said that he has been coming across a few of these hyundai's with the same problem engine failure.