2019 Hyundai Tucson: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · Engine · FL

While driving on the highway 65 mph in our 2019 Hyundai Tucson AWD, the vehicle suddenly experienced a severe power loss, loud engine knocking, engine light flashing, and the car in limp mode. This caused a terrifying hazard. We exited to safety, the car was towed and is at a Hyundai dealership. It pulled a diagnostic engine trouble code P1326 (Knock Sensor Detection System). The dealership confirmed the code, but is refusing to replace the engine under the Hyundai Engine II Class Action Settlement without an out-of-pocket 'combustion cleaning' fee, which, as seniors, we cannot afford on a fixed income. The dealership service manager told us that he requested Goodwill from Hyundai Corporate for the combustion engine cleaning. And because of a past denial, corporate denied it a 2nd time. So, we contacted our Hyundai Corporate case manager, who said our request for “the engine replacement” was still pending and in review by their team. She saw no denials, except for a loaner, which would be approved, upon repair approval. We added the dealership service manager on this call to discuss confusion about goodwill be denied by Corporate for the “combustion cleaning”. He said this case manager would not see the combustion cleaning requirement, because it was instructed by another department. His then pivoted the topic & said we received an estimate for combustion cleaning. My response “we never received an estimate & have no estimate in my email”. His response “I hate to use this word, but you’re a liar”. My husband then took the call saying “we did not receive an estimate in writing, although we had asked the tech for an estimate but nothing was final.” The service manager cut him off and said “we are done come pick up your car” & hung up. This dealership phone interaction needed to be included in this incident because now we are being put in grave danger as he is expecting us to pick up our un-drivable, unsafe & hazardous car with no concern for safety.

Filed Jun 17, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

The 2019 Tucson has 60,413 miles. My daughter drives it very low mileage - a couple of miles a day back and forth to school. Friday she was driving and the car lost engine power and it stopped driving. No warning lights. There was a cloud of smoke and it smelled like burning plastic. She was on a busy road but pulled over and quickly exited the vehicle. I had it towed and the mechanic says the engine oil was empty and the engine has seized. We do regularly scheduled oil changes. No lights or warnings and the car just stopped in traffic.

Filed Apr 12, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

The component involved is the engine and associated knock detection system (KSDS). The system triggered a P1326 code indicating abnormal engine knock associated with a known defect condition. On February 14, 2023, while driving on the freeway, the vehicle suddenly entered reduced power (“limp mode”) and lost acceleration capability in active traffic. This created a safety risk, as the vehicle was unable to maintain speed with surrounding traffic or accelerate as needed for normal driving conditions. There were no sufficient warnings prior to the event to allow safe planning or avoidance of the loss of power condition. The system activation itself (P1326 and limp mode) was the first indication of the severity of the issue. The problem has been reproduced multiple times, with repeated P1326 events occurring after the initial incident. The condition has been inspected and partially confirmed by a Hyundai dealership. In March 2026, dealership records documented that oil contamination was causing catalytic converter failure, indicating ongoing engine-related deterioration consistent with the defect condition identified by the knock detection system. Despite these findings, the underlying engine condition has not been resolved. The KSDS system is designed to detect a potentially serious engine defect and limit engine power to prevent further damage. However, it does not correct the underlying defect. As a result, the vehicle may continue to operate with a known compromised condition that can trigger reduced power unexpectedly. This creates an ongoing safety concern. A vehicle that can suddenly lose acceleration due to a known defect presents a risk to the driver, passengers, and other motorists, particularly during freeway driving, merging, or other situations requiring normal engine performance. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request.

Filed Feb 24, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · IL

Catalytic converter and oil leak which is causing the vehicle to lose power. The catalytic converter was replaced in 2024 and now is bad again in 2025. Oil consumption has been a problem since 2024. Hyuandi is refusing to repair the vehicle. Despite the engine making a knocking noise and the check engine light is flashing the vehicle is still under the 150,000 power train warranty

Filed Dec 18, 2025 · Driver assistance, Engine · FL

My 2019 Hyundai Tucson, VIN [XXX] , has developed engine knocking, which may indicate internal engine failure. A mechanic has suggested a possible loss of cylinder compression, though the exact cause has not been confirmed. Hyundai vehicles from similar model years have experienced engine failures related to bearing wear and metal debris, leading to stalling, loss of power, and complete engine failure. These failures present a serious safety risk, particularly if the engine fails while driving. I am concerned that this defect could result in sudden loss of power or engine seizure, increasing the risk of an accident. I am submitting this complaint to ensure the issue is properly investigated and addressed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 18, 2025 · Engine · FL

My 2019 Hyundai Tucson, VIN [XXX] , has developed engine knocking, which may indicate internal engine failure. A mechanic has suggested a possible loss of cylinder compression, though the exact cause has not been confirmed. Hyundai vehicles from similar model years have experienced engine failures related to bearing wear and metal debris, leading to stalling, loss of power, and complete engine failure. These failures present a serious safety risk, particularly if the engine fails while driving. I am concerned that this defect could result in sudden loss of power or engine seizure, increasing the risk of an accident. I am submitting this complaint to ensure the issue is properly investigated and addressed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Nov 24, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · UT

Engine making knocking sounds, losing power, no indication of low oil levels until very low.

Filed Oct 17, 2025 · Engine · MI

[XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Vehicle Information: • VIN: [XXX] • Year: 2019 • Make: Hyundai • Model: Tucson • Mileage: 132,303 Problem Description: On Oct 11, 2025, my 2019 Hyundai Tucson entered limp mode on the freeway, losing power suddenly, posing a safety risk. This followed a dealership visit a couple months ago for a recall engine repair (possibly 21V‑727). They returned the car with a check engine light, claiming it was a false error needing a reset on my next visit. No reset was done. On Oct 11, the limp mode forced a tow back to the dealership. They now demand $300 for diagnostics and refuse a loaner, claiming it may not be warranty-related. I’ve escalated to Hyundai national team case number : 41621677 with no resolution after four days. This feels like a safety defect tied to the prior recall work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 8, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

The vehicle is experiencing excessive oil consumption and increasingly severe engine performance symptoms. The oil level drops rapidly between changes, but the loss is not due to external leaks. The engine burns oil internally, causing residue buildup and damage to other components — specifically the intake manifold and catalytic converter, which the dealer has now recommended replacing. These issues align with the symptoms addressed in Hyundai Campaign 966 (Engine Monitoring / Knock Sensor Detection System), which is intended to detect early bearing wear and related oil consumption defects. However, the dealership refused to perform the required campaign diagnostics (bearing inspection, KSDS verification, and oil-consumption test) without charging a diagnostic fee. Even though the engine has not yet fully failed or entered limp mode, the excessive oil consumption is already causing secondary damage to emissions and intake components. If left unresolved, this can escalate to engine seizure, catalytic converter overheating, or exhaust-related fires due to unburned oil entering the converter. These are clear safety hazards that can result in loss of power, smoke, or fire while driving. Multiple Hyundai owners have reported identical problems — excessive oil loss, residue damage to emission systems, and dealer refusals to perform Campaign 966 inspections. These patterns indicate a systemic engine defect that leads to downstream component failures, not isolated wear. Replacing the manifold or converter does not correct the root cause, as oil consumption continues after replacement and will likely damage new parts. The dealer’s refusal to perform the manufacturer’s required diagnostics and their attempt to charge for unrelated repairs prevent proper defect identification. This is a serious and ongoing safety issue affecting Hyundai Tucson and other models with the same engine family.

Filed Aug 19, 2025 · Engine · MN

My engine has an oil consumption problem that I've been dealing with Hyundai on. The vehicle is a 2019 Hyundai tucson. Last Friday [XXX] my car lost power on the freeway on a bridge and I began to slow down and couldn't pull over due to no shoulder. I had myself and my family in the car with me, (wife, [XXX] , [XXX] ) My car has failed two oil consumption tests and had a combustion chamber cleaning to try to resolve this issue. Now after losing power, the dealer has gone back on their word of engine replacement because Hyundai denied the claim. They are telling me the oil consumption lead to the catalytic converter getting plugged and losing power. The engine light for that has been on throughout all of the oil consumption testing (months) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 8, 2025 · Engine · 103,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing excessive oil consumption, and the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering. The contact continued driving uphill, and the vehicle experienced reduced power and was driving sluggishly. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop at the traffic light, the contact depressed the brake pedal firmly out of fear that the vehicle would roll backwards. The vehicle was taken to Valvoline, where oil was added to the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to Firestone, where diagnostic trouble codes P0420, P000A, and P050A were retrieved. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the same diagnostic trouble codes were retrieved. The dealer recommended an intake manifold replacement; however, the dealer informed the contact that there was no guarantee that the repair would correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered the cover fifty percent of the repair cost. A case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

Filed Dec 11, 2024 · Engine · TX

While driving on the highway, the check engine line came on and my Tucson started loosing power. I quickly moved into the right lane and was able to exit the highway and pulled over. I had previous issues with the vehicle and was told it was the 1 & 2 ignition coils that were replaced. I assumed it was the same issue for the 3 & 4 ignition coils. They were also replaced but the issue was not resolved and the vehicle was towed to a mechanic shop who stated there was a piece missing off one of the pistons and he couldn't determine how that could have occurred. At this point, he said my engine would need to be replaced and apparently they are back-ordered for 6 months. My daughters vehicle - 2019 Kona, was purchased at the same time and she also lost power in her engine while driving on the freeway. Fortunately she pulled off onto the should in a very dangerous situation. Her engine had a hole and later found out the 2019 Kona had an engine recall. I have heard there are issues with the 2019 Tucson, but no recall has been issued.