2020 Hyundai Tucson: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Engine · CA

On XXX, while driving at freeway speed in [XXX] with my [XXX] son in the back seat, the engine of my 2020 Hyundai Tucson (2.4L Theta II GDI, approx. 99,108 miles) seized suddenly and without warning. I lost all motive power in moving traffic and coasted to the shoulder, where my son and I sat stranded for 30 minutes with smoke and a burning smell coming from the engine while waiting for a tow. No warning lamps or messages appeared before the failure. COMPONENT FAILED: Engine. Tustin Hyundai ([XXX]) diagnosed the failure on RO XXX: engine seized; connecting rod pierced through the bottom of the engine block due to internal catastrophic failure at the crankshaft/bearings; starter had a burnt smell. The dealer recommends full long block replacement. The vehicle remains at Tustin Hyundai and is available for inspection upon request. CONFIRMED BY: Hyundai dealership technician (diagnosis on RO XXX) and an insurance adjuster (National General/Allstate claim XXX, Estimate of Record on file). A goodwill request was submitted to Hyundai Motor America and denied. RELEVANT DEFECT HISTORY: This is the same connecting rod bearing failure mode for which Hyundai extended a Limited Lifetime Warranty on 2018-2019 Tucson vehicles with the same Theta II 2.4L GDI engine (TSB 22-EM-001H-1/TXXI). Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II ECU software update, issued XXX) was open and incomplete on my VIN at the time of failure and was performed only at the post-failure service visit. Oil consumption without external leaks, a documented characteristic of this engine defect, was present before the failure. SAFETY RISK: Sudden total loss of motive power at highway speed in traffic with a child aboard created a serious risk of collision, and the 30-minute roadside wait exposed us to passing traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 7, 2024 · FL · fire

In May of 2023, my house burnt down. We were in it at the time when the smoke detector went off. When I opened the door from to kitchen to the garage, I saw flames shooting up at the front of my car. The fire was so intense at that moment, I knew all we could do was flee the house. I grabbed my wife and we ran out the front door. You do not have a recall listed for my vehicle, but Hyundai lists two. The first one listed can potentially cause a fire. Both recall maintenance was performed on my car. I sincerely believe that the car was the cause of the fire. Since it had been sitting in my garage for approximately four hours, the engine wasn't hot. I had it regularly serviced at the local Hyundai dealership. There were multiple fire investigators, including one from Hyundai. Here is the recall information. Recall 195Recall2016-2021 TUCSON (TL) ABS FUSE KIT INSTALLATION AND SOFTWARE UPDATEDec 21, 2020 Service Campaign 966ServiceCAMP 966 - ENGINE MONITORING LOGIC - VARIOUS MODELSMay 23, 2022

Filed Dec 9, 2023 · Engine · PA

While driving down the interstate to go back to my college, I noticed a cloud of white smoke coming out of my exhaust. Seconds later, I no longer could accelerate and white smoke was also coming out of the engine. There were no lights on my dash at this point or at any point before this day. I quickly tried to get off of the road when I noticed my car was no longer going. I managed to get to the side of the road where finally my engine and oil light came on. I waited 2.5 hours for a tow truck on the side of the interstate, where I was barely off of the road. It was taken to the dealership where I bought it (since the car only has 32k miles on it) for a "hole in the engine" which is what I was originally told by the service department. Two days later, I received a phone call that there actually was no hole in my motor, and that the drain oil plug disappeared from my engine while driving, causing all of the oil to spill out of my engine that day on the interstate. Despite getting an oil change only 1500 miles ago from this exact dealer, they stated that the plug would have fallen out immediately after their service if it was placed back incorrectly. Hyundai stated this is now an "owner's problem" and that I was to call my insurance company to get an estimate from them because the dealership would not cover it since it was no longer a warranty issue. I called my insurance company who then got pictures from the dealer of the engine and a video. They then called me stating this type of damage is not covered under my policy, and that they would not pay for it. So here I am, stuck with Hyundai refusing to pay for a damaged engine even though the oil drain plug fell out, which inherently caused the damage, and despite having a 10 year/100k mile warranty on the motor. I found out there is an open investigation through the federal safety agency about this exact issue and was hoping to receive clarity on what I can do.

Filed Feb 22, 2022 · Brakes · NV

Four Weeks ago , I called Henderson Hyundai,702‑565‑1500, concerning a fire hazard for my car that the Hyundai Company said would start on fire because of corroded brake lines. I was told before that this would be taken care of at my next oil change, today, 2-22-2022. The service rep said this didn't apply to my 2020 Tucson. I told him that my car met their recall instructions. The dealership refused to fix the potential fire hazard. I want to go on record that I attempted to resolve the issue and the dealer said no. I put my car in the garage and don't want my house to burn down.

Filed Jan 29, 2022 · Engine · NE

These vehicles I been noticing looks like they having issues with their staters or something I been seeing on Youtube everyone having same issue like I'm where on cold days you try to start the engine it just makes a clicking sound with a burning smell

Filed Dec 1, 2021 · NY

While I was driving my car on the highway I notice my back window was getting foggy and about 5 minute later all my indicators on my dashboard lift up and my car went dead trying to get off the highway ramp and smoke came out of the hood, this was a brand new car, Hyundai Tucson 2020 and only have 23000 miles on it, from when I purchase it, please can you check in to this for me.