Engine stalls jurks lose of power engine light blinking excessive oil use
2018 Hyundai Tucson engine problems
250 complaints (63% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 65,000. 4 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 250
- of this car's complaints
- 63%
- typical mileage
- 65,000
- crashes
- 4
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor3
- Exhaust system: emission control1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Hyundai Tucson engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Check engine light 75Engine failure 75Oil consumption 65Knocking 63Stalling 52Loss of power 36Won't start 6Misfire 5Overheating 5
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Loss of Motive Power
the federal safety agency received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitionersâ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODIâs evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to the federal safety agency which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. Â There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in the federal safety agency's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, the federal safety agency does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing the federal safety agencyâs reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to the federal safety agency cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
DP22003
What 2018 Hyundai Tucson owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle started shaking aggressively. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road, and the parking brake was engaged. The vehicle stalled and was towed to the nearest gas station. The vehicle failed to start and was towed to the residence. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.
2018 Hyundai Tucson catastrophic engine failure consistent with known Hyundai Nu engine defect pattern documented across 141 prior owner-filed the federal safety agency complaints for this same vehicle. OBD codes P0326, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 documented July 19–25, 2026. Independent licensed mechanic confirmed in writing that engine requires replacement. Authorized Hyundai dealership service manager verbally confirmed coolant in oil — the exact failure mode documented in prior the federal safety agency complaints for this vehicle generation. Service Campaign 966/KSDS was completed and active when failure occurred and did not prevent it. Hyundai Motor America denied goodwill claim Case #43120457 citing out-of-warranty status and aftermarket parts — no written test results or inspection report has been produced to this household. Requesting federal investigation into pattern of engine failures in 2018 Hyundai Tucson consistent with acknowledged Nu engine defects.
I took my Tucson to my local Hyundai dealership on Friday, August 28, 2026. It was there for a standard oil change and tire rotation. When I scheduled the appointment online the system also said there was a recall. I always stay on top of that so I let them take care of that as well. The recall didn’t seem like anything major, it was something to do with emissions. Ok, when I left the dealership that day the engine was warm so there was no noticeable difference. I didn’t use my vehicle at all for the next few days. When I got into it Monday morning for work I noticed immediately after starting the car and taking off the engine was hesitating and bucking. This lasted a few minutes. The problem seems to improve once the engine is warm but others are reporting online that they’re having issues with engines stalling as well. There’s something wrong with the software update that’s being used and no one seems to have a fix. I reached out to Hyundai with my concern and they recommended I take it back to the dealership to be diagnosed and see if my warranty would cover any repairs. My vehicle was free of problems before that update and now it’s falling back on me to pay for a potential problem they caused. There has been no accidents for me personally with this but it’s most definitely a safety hazard.
I own a Hyundai Tucson 2018 SEL Plus. My problem is my vehicle is coming to the end of it's 100,000 mile warranty. This vehicle started burning oil about 30,000 miles and it got worse. I checked on recalls and there was no recalls for my VIN number for this vehicle. My Hyundai vehicle is burning a quart of oil every 300 miles and this is no exaggeration. I bought the car brand new and had to replace my 1st Catalytic converter at 79,627 miles on 5/14/25 that was originally on the car. The second Catalytic converter that I had put on I, had to replace that Catalytic converter again at my cost at approximately $900.00 and then after that it plugged up again at 91,928 miles on 7/28/26 and I, had to replace that one that is the third one now. The Catalytic converter company had warranted the work and the converter to be installed. This has caused the car to not only misfire, but become a possible road hazard to miss enough and possibly cause it to stall or reduce the power output of the vehicle while in operation and on public roads in traffic and possibly create a major accident on the freeway. This is a major saftey concern being that you could not only lose power while in motion but could lock up the engine. We talked to mechanics, other people that own them and even the service guys at Hyundai knew it is problem. The service genteman said that they would clean the valves I, believe they talked about cleaning the valves with walnuts like sand blasting and I, told him cleaning the valves is not going to do anything for the oil consumption, because the oil consumption is the engine.The engine when it was originally made on the number 3 cyclinder was bored wrong. That is our problem because the oil rings and rings are letting the oil bypass the piston and filing out the iriadium spark plug and our car mileage has gone down because of this the rings are wearing faster and causing us to keep buying newer spark plugs. " Check Engine Light Flashes " plugged Cat Converter.
My engine is consuming an excessive amount of oil due to a known issue with the Hyundai engine design impacting cars from 2011-2018. My car only had approximately 89,900 miles on it when I noticed the issues. Hyundai is aware of the defect and has re-engineered their engines due to the issue. The engine is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others is put at risk every time I drive. By denying my claim, I am forced to repeatedly top off my oil to maintain levels and try to drive as safely as possible, however my car is at risk of engine failure due to the consumption. I have escalated these concerns to Hyundai and I was still denied. The problem was confirmed by a Hyundai dealer. The denial stems from Hyundai’s policy that it must be consuming greater than 1 quart for every 1,000 miles driven. However, my car is still consuming oil and it is incredibly unsafe. The engine was inspected by qualified Hyundai mechanics. The consumption issue was documented in their paperwork. The oil light would intermittently flicker while I drove, which had never happen before. Additionally, the car began to drive rough and I recognized something was likely wrong with the car. Unwilling to take any safety risks, I immediately scheduled an appointment with the dealership to determine the issue.
My 2018 Hyundai Tucson with the 2.0L engine has suffered catastrophic engine failure. The engine lost compression in cylinder 4 and now requires a full replacement . This is part of a broader pattern—the 2016–2018 Tucson is known for excessive oil consumption that leads to engine failure, with over 1,900 engine-related complaints filed with the federal safety agency across these model years . Prior to this failure, I reported excessive oil consumption and other engine issues to my dealership. Despite these reports, the problem was not resolved, and I was given inadequate guidance on how to address it. The engine ultimately failed while I was driving, creating a sudden loss of power that posed a safety risk. Other Hyundai Tucson vehicles with the same engine have been covered by recalls for related engine defects , but my specific VIN was not included, despite exhibiting identical symptoms. Meanwhile, other owners report that similar engine failures have been dismissed or denied coverage by Hyundai . This inconsistency in how the manufacturer handles a known, widespread defect is what prompted me to file this complaint.
On Thursday, August 6, 2026, while driving my 2018 Hyundai Tucson on Interstate 81, the vehicle experienced sudden, severe engine vibration and a loud metallic ticking sound before losing power and stalling completely on the highway. I was stranded on the side of the highway in a high-speed traffic zone, creating an immediate and hazardous safety situation. Because the vehicle was completely inoperable, I was forced to pay $200 out-of-pocket to have the vehicle towed 35 miles to the nearest authorized Hyundai dealership service center. Upon arrival at the dealership, an on-site service technician performed an OBD-II diagnostic scan on the lot and confirmed diagnostic trouble code P1326 (Engine Knock Sensor Detection System / Connecting Rod Bearing Failure). Despite the technician confirming the presence of this critical safety defect, the dealership service desk explicitly refused to enter the diagnostic code into Hyundai’s corporate system, stating they would not process or submit the vehicle for inspection or warranty authorization for over a month. Hyundai Motor America Customer Care was contacted immediately and witnessed the dealership’s refusal to log the safety defect. While Corporate assigned a Case Manager, Hyundai and the dealership have continually stalled the intake process under Service Campaign 966 / T6G and refused to provide direct-bill rental transportation or loaner support while the car sits disabled on the dealer lot. As a direct result of this sudden highway engine failure, the manufacturer's failure to address a known safety defect, and the refusal to provide recall mobility support, I have suffered ongoing financial loss, out-of-pocket towing expenses, and forced leave from employment. I am filing this report to document the hazardous highway failure of code P1326 and the refusal of the manufacturer and dealer to process a critical safety recall intake in a timely manner. My husband is the registered owner but I am the driver.
My car had a lot of trouble accelerating it’s delayed
The engine has been consuming oil, where we were adding at least a quart of oil between oil changes. We noticed the vehicle would shake like it was going to die while idling at a stop light or in a drive through. Recently my husband was driving home from work on a busy highway and the vehicles check engine light started blinking on and off. He pulled over and had the vehicle towed. The oil consumption made the vehicle throw a rod and damage the engine. Now we are needing to replace the engine.
Questions about the 2018 Hyundai Tucson engine
Does the 2018 Hyundai Tucson have engine problems?
Owners have filed 250 complaints about the engine of the 2018 Hyundai Tucson, 63% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2018 Hyundai Tucson engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 65,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Hyundai Tucson have bad engine?
The Hyundai Tucson model years with the most engine complaints are 2017 (619 complaints), 2016 (430 complaints) and 2018 (250 complaints).
Other 2018 Hyundai Tucson problems
Transmission 101Brakes 42Electrical 29Fuel system 22Acceleration 16Lights 13Body 8Airbags 5Driver assistance 5Steering 4Seats 2Suspension 2Locks 1Seat belts 1Visibility 1Wheels 1
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