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2016 Hyundai Tucson problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
54% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 861 of 1,620 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (54%), and the largest group is filed under power train (517). For comparison, the 2015 scores 58% and the 2017 scores 79%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Hyundai Tucson years
Of the 14 Hyundai Tucson years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (54%). The worst is the 2018 (80%), the best the 2023 (36%). By volume, the 2016 drew 1,620 complaints (861 drivetrain), against 227 for the 2015 and 1,088 for the 2017.
Hyundai Tucson years to avoid and best years →
2010 Tucson problems · 2011 Tucson problems · 2012 Tucson problems · 2013 Tucson problems · 2014 Tucson problems · 2015 Tucson problems · 2016 · 2017 Tucson problems · 2018 Tucson problems · 2019 Tucson problems · 2020 Tucson problems · 2021 Tucson problems · 2022 Tucson problems · 2023 Tucson problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Hyundai Tucson said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 861 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Hyundai Tucson transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 20, 2015 through May 31, 2016 and equipped with a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission. Certain driving conditions and high temperatures may cause the vehicle to not move if the accelerator pedal is pressed and released repeatedly.
Risk: Inability to move the vehicle while in traffic may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 28, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at…
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Hyundai Tucson? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson
Does the 2016 Hyundai Tucson have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 861 of 1,620 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Tucson concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (54%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Hyundai Tucson is power train: 517 of 1,620 complaints (32%) name it, followed by engine (423) and structure (227). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Tucson reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 54% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Hyundai Tucson years we score, it ranks 4th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Hyundai Tucson involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 16V628000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Hyundai Tucson years are better?
Among the Hyundai Tucson years we track, the 2023 (36%), the 2020 (48%) and the 2011 (52%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (54%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/hyundai-tucson
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.