2018 Hyundai Tucson: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · ME · fire

Approximately one month ago I had a high pressure fuel pump installed in my 2018 Hyundai Tucson. While driving on the highway, about ten minutes from home, my car suddenly burst into flames. There were no warning lights in the cockpit. There was no smoke in the cabin. Another motorist flagged me down. I got out of the vehicle just in time for it to become fully engulfed in flame. It burned down on the highway. Police and fire responded. Insurance is investigating. If I was inside the vehicle, I would have certainly died.

Filed Aug 11, 2025 · Transmission · CT

I was driving on the highway, about to change lanes, when I looked in my rear view mirror and saw black smoke coming from my appeared to be my exhaust. I immediately started to pull over, and that is when the oil light first appeared on my dashboard. By the time I had put the car in park, the check engine light had also appeared. After calling my boyfriend and a tow truck, I exited the vehicle and noticed a large pool of oil by my front tire. With the car on the tow truck, I could see oil continue to drip out. The car was towed to the local Hyundai dealership. Since this occurred on a Saturday afternoon, the service dept. was closed, and Hyundai called me on Monday, Aug 11, 2025 to explain that i should contact the auto mechanic that last changed my oil, as the oil plug had fallen out, and my engine had seized. (Had I not noticed the smoke right away, I could have been in an accident on the highway when the engine seized.) I explained to Hyundai that I had my oil changed 3,000 miles ago, and hadn't seen any indication of oil leakage, nor had the oil light come on prior to the incident on Aug 9, 2025. Hyundai insited I contact the oil change mechanics as it was clearly a craftsmanship defect, not the fault of Hyundai parts or material. Hyundai provided photos showing the oil plug was still laying on the block. I visited Superior Auto (mechanics that did the previous oil change) and they also deny responsibility due to the fact that the car drove fine for 3,000 miles without any indication of oil leakage, so there is no proof of fault craftsmanship.

Filed Apr 30, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · IA

Bought car [XXX] blew up 2 weeks later knock censor was not put on by first dealership so engine blew on interstate car was possible on fire due to as much smoke was coming from vehicle could of been rear ended engine failure due to that no warning of engine failure tucson knows all these problem and is currently in a class action lawsuit and have known the problem for years dealership had to of known this was going on with this engine but sold the car to unsuspecting consumer i think there was a lot of stuff going on this car was owned by stew hansons then sold to dewy ford to sale which my understanding is they own both dealerships. My safety and anybody that gets into my vehicle is still have a 50/50 chance of it happening again ! Have done a lot of homework and watched many youtube videos of these vehicle burn to the ground even one death . they are death traps and should not be on the road . im scared to put my grandchildren in it due to all the info i have obtained INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Nov 27, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · IL · fire

I was driving home from a family get together with my husband and daughter in my car. We smelled something burning, and suddenly smoke was coming out of my center console. I pulled over and flames were coming out of the driver side. As soon as we evacuated the vehicle, it burst into flames. There was no warning, nothing lit up on the dashboard to warn me of this hazard. A witness was driving behind us and called 911 when he noticed flames underneath my vehicle right before I pulled over. A police report was filed and it was reported to my insurance agent, it is currently still under investigation since it just happened 2 days ago during a Holiday weekend. My safety and my family's safety was put at risk due to no warning, how fast the vehicle went up in flames, etc. The car was a total loss.

Filed Oct 20, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · NC

The engine has failed in my 2018 Hyundai Tuscon. I was driving the car daily since purchasing in July of 2023. Everything was fine until the first week of October, I had just picked up my son and was getting on the interstate when my check engine light came on and my oil light would flash on and off occasionally not persistently. I had the car checked immediately and there was no oil in the car at all. I added oil to the car, but it was too late the engine had already blown. I drove my son to school the next morning and the car sounded like a lawn mower and was knocking continuously. The dealership has the car now and this is a known problem with this model car. The car could've locked up while I was on the interstate with my child and we or others could have been severely hurt in an accident or car fire if the engine caught fire. The dealership is not offering to remedy the situation even knowing this is a known problem for their cars. There is already a recall for most of these cars but for my engine the cut off stops at year 2017, I think this should be reconsidered and 2018 should also be included in the recall as I have read many testimonials regarding people having the same problem I had, there was no indication anything was wrong with the oil or engine until it was too late.

Filed Jun 14, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · NJ

I have only owned the car for 1 month. I had gotten an oil/filter change and a new oil pressure sensor at ~80,100 miles. I had requested the oil sensor be changed because it would flicker on and off when the car was idling/low RPMs once it had heated up fully. This had fixed that issue seemingly. At ~80,700 miles the car had started riding a bit "rough", especially at higher speeds, so I decided to have a look under the hood. I was terrified to see that my dipstick was bone dry. There was never any evidence of any noticeable leak underneath the car on the driveway nor any evidence of blue smoke coming out of the exhaust. After some research (Hyundai corporate was telling me over the phone multiple times that there was no known issues with my specific car/engine) I was appalled to see I was essentially lied to. I found multiple official TSBs, the federal safety agency notices, and hundreds if not thousands of other customers noting the exact same experience. I had tried to take it to Hyundai for the oil consumption tests laid out in multiple TSBs but I was denied "due to the original warranty expiring". To my knowledge this exact issue has caused Hyundai and Kia to extend to 150k miles for all owners. This is my only mode of transportation and I am so worried my car will stall/seize/catch fire on the highway. This is beyond unsafe and unacceptable but I assume I may have to wait until the final litigation hearing in September for official recalls to be issued. If my car makes it that long.

Filed May 2, 2023 · Engine · PA · fire

While diving home from a baseball game my car caught fire with me and my family inside.

Filed Feb 9, 2023 · CA · fire

I was driving, my oil and battery light went on, my engine stalled I pulled over. The car started to smoke and caught on fire. The car is totally a lost cause.

Filed Sep 22, 2022 · Engine · NC · fire

The engine caught on fire, it was considered totaled loss. I settled with the insurance and not sure if the car is still available for inspection. My safety was put at risk because I was driving the car when it happened. I did not get injured because I was able to get out of the car. There was no recall from what I know. The car was inspected by GEICO which is why it was considered totaled loss. There was no warning before the fire. The car was in great condition.

Filed Dec 1, 2021 · Engine · CA

Purchased new on 5/30/2018. 3/2021 I noticed shaking, noises, pinging, whining sounds and vibration coming from engine as I turn engine on / off and in drive. 3/24/2021 I brought vehicle for inspection. Service Advisor felt the shaking, vibrations and heard the pinging / noises and whining sounds as I turned the vehicle off. Vehicle went for oil change and inspection, stayed overnight and no fault found, service bay stated they could not reproduce the occurrence. The sensations worsened and I brought vehicle back on 3/30/2021 for inspection as I did not feel safe driving vehicle. 4/02/2021 dealer said the sensations could not be detectable and it was suggested that maybe the Turbo dual clutch engine. 10/15/2021 the air conditioner failed. Brought vehicle in for inspection. Service performed diagnostic testing on vehicle and found internal failure on a/c compressor. New compressor was ordered and replaced. Replacement air conditioner is not as powerful or cold as original part. Vehicle is still making pinging, whining, vibrations. 11/29/2021, engine light came on. I reversed out of a parking spot and it felt different. Put gear in drive and immediately the gas pedal went to half way to floor and the vehicle jerked and then seemed to catch the gear. Then the pedal went to the floor and there was no go, then it kicked in. Repeated multiple times. Tried reverse and there was none. No rpm movement and quickly came a strong burning smell. Had vehicle towed dealer. All vehicle services are current and up to date.

Filed Nov 22, 2021 · Engine · IL

With 2018, Hyundai Tucson, I was accelerating on the highway coming off of an exit ramp. I was on my way to the dealership to investigate a knocking sound I just started hearing with the engine. Suddenly, the engine failed completely and I started to smell burning. I was able to roll into the shoulder and have my car towed to the dealership. An engine light came on a few miles before the engine failed, but I had no warnings at the start of the trip. Car was at 60,000 miles.

Filed May 7, 2021 · Brakes, Engine · 100,000 miles · CO

I have been reaching out to auto nation where I purchased my 2018 hyundai tucson while driving on the highway there was a swishing noise and sputtering the car just stopped I was however able to get on the off ramp the car was towed which cost me 528.00 to get out had he re-towed to an auto body shop and the engine rod blew out and up making a good size hole in the oil pan now I have to pay 120.00 diagnostics charges but they do not think hyundai will pay for repairs so I'm paying for a car that is completely incapacitated. I was reading on your reports concerning hyundai and kia the law suit for their slow response but to this day I have not received any information regarding this problem your knowledge and report on the engine problem and rod is exactly what has happened to my hyundai except it hasn't caught on fire as of yet my understanding is park it away from everything as just being parked it can still catch on fire. I need help on this matter... Thank you I have been trying to get this resolved since march 2021