2016 Hyundai Tucson: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Jun 12, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · NC

The vehicle severely shudders, jerks, and hesitates from a stop and while making a turn, during both acceleration and deceleration, making it entirely unsafe to drive. The vehicle has been completely un-driveable for the past 6 days. The check engine light illuminated, and on 4/9/26, the dealer documented a failed transmission judder test and kept the car, issuing a loaner. A temporary software patch failed after two weeks. Upon return, the dealer reported they were unable to recreate the problem, recommended returning when the vehicle demonstrates the problem more frequently, and refused to mechanically repair the dual-clutch transmission under my active original-owner 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, basically instructing me to continue to drive a seriously un-safe vehicle. Most recently, a yellow dashboard warning light illuminated, and the vehicle entered a dangerous 'limp mode,' severely restricting power and struggling to move before the light cleared after cooling down. The vehicle is completely un-driveable and parked.

Filed May 26, 2026 · Transmission · CO

Transmission previously replaced after failed Judder test. Transmission is failing again: Last few days the car will accelerate to 15 then it attempts to shift and power drops and pressing the pedal has no response or very little then it changes into what feels like 4th or 5th gear at 20 mph and acceleration is very sluggish and also switching into manual gear control is completely unresponsive. Power drop at 15 mph, the transmission jumping into what feels like 4th or 5th gear at 20 mph, and sluggish acceleration — is consistent with the clutch pack slipping and the TCM essentially giving up on lower gears and defaulting to a higher gear to protect itself. Manual mode being completely unresponsive is a significant red flag — it means the TCM may have entered a limp or failsafe mode where it’s overriding driver input entirely.

Filed Feb 14, 2026 · Engine · OH

The engine, specifically cylinder # 3, has had a catastrophic failure at 114,000 miles. Engine repair shops and engine experts have determined the only fix is a complete engine replacement. Cost estimates are $8500 for a new engine + labor estimated at $2000. Scrap value is estimated at $1000 - $1500 The dealer from whom we bought the car in late 2015 said it is out of warranty. This is unacceptable. Please, please issue a recall on the engine of this vehicle. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested. Failure was catastrophic Problem has been confirmed by engine experts The car is not drivable to a manufacturing facility The engine has not been inspected by police nor our insurance company There we no warning lamps or messages Symptoms include shuddering at initial acceleration beginning at 75,000 miles Dealer said there was no problem and recommended and performed a transmission fluid change

Filed May 7, 2025 · Engine · 95,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled and shuddered. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle remained at the residence. A dealer was contacted and made the contact aware of an unknown the federal safety agency Campaign Number; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Filed Jan 22, 2024 · Transmission · CA

Car shuddering going from full stop to 1st gear, not fixed by software update. Clutch replaced under drive train warranty at no cost to me.

Filed Aug 14, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · NM

I recently purchased a 2016 Hyundai Tucson, Limited 1.6T. After a few weeks of driving I noticed it would shake when at a stoplight. It also loses acceleration and 'skips' when making turns, going over speed bumps or just taking off from a complete stop. There have also been times that I press the accelerator pedal and the car doesn't move. After researching I discovered this is a known issue and Hyundai issued a Technical Service Bulletin (number 21-AT-014H) in August 2021 instead of a recall. My vehicle had less than 40K miles on it when I purchased it (from a non-Hyundai used dealership) I took my car to a Hyundai service center, when I explained the problems to a technician, he suspected he knew exactly what the problem was. I chose to have them perform a "judder" test to confirm and the tech was right, it did in fact fail the judder test. In order to fix this issue, I have to have the entire clutch assembly replaced for approximately $2500. This issue is a huge safety risk and I believe Hyundai should issue a recall and fix this issue at no charge to the vehicle owner. I have read hundreds of similar complaints, they know there is a problem, they know how to fix the problem, the financial burden should not fall on the consumer.

Filed Jun 20, 2023 · Engine · NM

The vehicle had been well maintained. Have receipts for most all services. At around 90,000 miles, the car started "burning oil" and needed frequent top offs. At 108,000 miles, I have car serviced and started a road trip. In less than 40 miles, it started to shudder and miss fire on the interstate. Causing loss of power and control. Fortunately, I was able to pull over safely off interstate 40. I did not drive further and had car towed back to town. At dealership, I was told "engine failure" due to 2nd cylinder loss of compression, and new engine is only option. I was denied any service under warranty due to being over 100,000 miles. The dealership will not work with me on variance or goodwill gesture. I have seen in online forums that this is happening to other owners. The vehicle was well maintained and never gave any hint of the pending failure. I am filing this as formal complaint and safety hazard with this vehicle.

Filed Jan 28, 2023 · Transmission · CA

Has been happening for the last few years, but recently got worse: very difficult to get car to move forward from a dead stop, car would shudder like it was going to stall out. Took car to a Hyundai dealership on October 4, 2022, who were able to replicate the problem. Issue was for transmission to be replaced under drivetrain warranty. Once transmission had been replaced, there were no more problems with moving into first gear from a stop.

Filed Dec 13, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · FL

Similar to the recall for Hyundai's newest vehicles with its dual clutch system, and to its recall for the 2016 Tucson my vehicle will be unresponsive when we accelerate, delayed or no acceleration, jerking, shuddering, shaking, and stalling. Not sure if this issue was covered under [XXX] et al, v. Hyundai Motor America. We had been complaining of the way my 2016 Hyundai Tucson ([XXX]) was driving since Apr 2019 (32,299 miles), and again Mar 2021 (44,857 miles), and on both instances we were told that was normal operation because of the car's dual clutch system. Now that the car has passed the warranty period (5 year/60,000 miles), Hyundai is telling us we have to replace the dual clutch, and that they're not covering it because the vehicle is now outside of the warranty period. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Jun 29, 2022 · Transmission · IA

The dual clutch transmission is malfunctioning. The car is lurching when accelerating, failing to accelerate and/ or delayed acceleration, and shaking/ shuddering terribly. The car is available for inspection upon request. My safety as well as others is at risk because there have been multiple incidents where the car's accelerator wouldn't engage when going 70+ mph on the interstate almost causing an accident. The car also lurches and shakes terribly. Yes the problem has been confirmed. The problem has been inspected on similar cars having the same problems but not mine specifically. There were no other warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The problems first appears May 14, 2022.

Filed Jun 6, 2022 · Transmission · VA

Transmission can lurch forward or hesitate, shudder when accelerating from a stop. More problematic is the extreme vibration/shuddering of the car when in stop and go traffic. It is so severe passengers are actually thrusting back and forth in their seats. First occurrence was at 23,000 miles when a warning light came on saying, "transmission running high, pull over while driving in traffic." At the time I was driving in moderately heavy city traffic for about 20 minutes. Hyundai service reported they could not duplicate the problem, and no codes found in any system, so no repairs performed. Was informed service mechanic that this can happen in extended traffic. However, I had not been in extended traffic. I continued to experience other issues as noted above and when complained about them was told there was nothing wrong with the car, it just had some quirks with the transmission, nothing that needed repair. Recently my driving has changed from city to interstate driving and starting about 5,000 miles ago, the severe shuddering/vibrating happens when traffic is tied up on interstates. The car has not been overheated by hot weather or extended driving as suggested by the service center. When I took it back in for servicing I was informed there was a "dry and wet" type of transmission in the 2016 Tucson's, and I had the dry one which is problematic. Again, the mechanics were unable to duplicate the problem, and said there was nothing they could do to fix the car as it was inherent in this transmission. They suggested I contact Hyundai and ask for the transmission to be replaced as it was still under warranty. Current mileage is 39,000. I have contacted hyundai but they insist, I must take it back to the dealer so they can "duplicate the problem and repair it. It has been and continues to be very frustrating trying to deal with hyundai. I do not feel safe driving long distances in the car and consider it to be a safety concern. Please advise. Thank you, Ellen

Filed Mar 11, 2022 · Transmission · TX

My car has an unresponsive accelerator pedal, delayed or no acceleration, jerking, shuddering, shaking, and stalling. The defects cause dangerous and unsafe conditions, including failing to shift, stalling and delayed or unresponsive acceleration, especially from a stop. I have been stuck on major highways and have had to disconnect battery and wait just to get the car to restart and actually move. I have had to be towed just to get out of the way of traffic