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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2018 Hyundai Tucson is associated with 389 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 1 safety recall campaign in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 145 reports (37% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 6 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.6l 4-cyl, 2l 4-cyl, and 2.4l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 22 to 27 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 389 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 1 official campaign
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Engine (145 / 37%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 13 crash / 9 fire / 8 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 22–27 MPG across 6 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Tucson FWD 1.6L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM7) 25 MPG 30 MPG 27 MPG — $2,300 / yr
Tucson FWD 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 23 MPG 30 MPG 26 MPG — $2,350 / yr
Tucson AWD 1.6L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM7) 24 MPG 28 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
Tucson FWD 2.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 21 MPG 28 MPG 24 MPG — $2,550 / yr
Tucson AWD 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 21 MPG 26 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Tucson AWD 2.4L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 21 MPG 25 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV FWD 15.5%
SUV AWD 16.2%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2018 Hyundai Tucson models.
View complete 2018 Hyundai Tucson crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?

Summary of 389 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
389
Crash Reports
13
Fire Reports
9
Complaints w/ Injury
8
Total Injuries
10

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Engine 145 complaints
Powertrain 44 complaints (1 crash)
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 27 complaints (1 crash)
Service Brakes 17 complaints
Service Brakes 13 complaints (4 crashes)

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2018 Hyundai Tucson problems & component breakdown (60 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #20V543000 Active Recall
Affected Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
View all 2018 Hyundai Tucson recalls & campaign history (1 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2018 Hyundai Tucson

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson

How many safety recalls does the 2018 Hyundai Tucson have?

The 2018 Hyundai Tucson is associated with 1 official NHTSA safety recall campaign in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 1 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?

NHTSA records list 389 consumer defect complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Engine, appearing in 145 filings (37% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2018 Hyundai Tucson defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2018 Hyundai Tucson earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2018 Hyundai Tucson get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson range from 22 to 27 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.