2017 Hyundai Tucson
Gas Hydrogen fuel cell Compact SUV
The 2017 Hyundai Tucson is sold in the U.S. as a gas and hydrogen fuel cell compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tucson Fuel Cell, is EPA-rated at 50 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 1084 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Eco FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 26 | 32 | 28 | $2,250 |
| Tucson Eco AWD | Gas | AWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,300 |
| Tucson FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,300 |
| Tucson FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,400 |
| Tucson AWD | Gas | AWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 28 | 25 | $2,500 |
| Tucson AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 21 | 26 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Tucson Fuel Cell | Hydrogen fuel cell | FWD | 100 kW AC Induction | 49 | 51 | 50 | — |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
The 2017 Hyundai Tucson is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
Compare coverage →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Data on this page is never influenced by that.
Recalls (3)
Engine
criticalProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Tucson and Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners were notified of the defect on November 16, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed January 15, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 209.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
criticalProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.
Electrical System
highProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
NHTSA investigations
Engine — Loss of Motive Power (closed)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 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
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023 · action DP22003
Engine — Engine Fires (closed)
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software mo
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · closed Feb 5, 2024 · action EA21003
Owner complaints
1084 complaints filed
13 involved a crash, 26 a fire, 14 injuries, 1 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2016: 5 · 2017: 56 · 2018: 92 · 2019: 100 · 2020: 44 · 2021: 154 · 2022: 151 · 2023: 178 · 2024: 124 · 2025: 124 · 2026: 56
Most-cited components
- Engine — 594
- Power Train — 290
- Unknown Or Other — 138
- Vehicle Speed Control — 87
- Electrical System — 84
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Compare the 2017 Tucson with
Other Tucson model years
2026 Tucson
5 recalls · 82 complaints
F2025 Tucson
7 recalls · 416 complaints
F2024 Tucson
4 recalls · 143 complaints
C2023 Tucson
2 recalls · 174 complaints
C2022 Tucson
3 recalls · 499 complaints
B2021 Tucson
1 recalls · 78 complaints
B2020 Tucson
1 recalls · 176 complaints
B2019 Tucson
1 recalls · 377 complaints
B2018 Tucson
1 recalls · 394 complaints
F2016 Tucson
5 recalls · 1,616 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 37543, 37546, 37542, 37541, 37545, 37544, 47527). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.