Most of what people know about used Hyundais concerns the Theta II engine recall, which has its own guide on this site. But the Tucson, the Santa Fe and the Elantra each have a record with a shape of its own, and two of the three biggest problems in that record are not the engine at all.
Tucson: the dual-clutch, 2016 to 2017
The third-generation Tucson launched for 2016 with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and that transmission is why the 2016 car has 1,616 complaints and a score of 37 against 226 and 89 for the 2015 car. The dual-clutch hesitates from a standstill — sometimes for a full second, in traffic — jerks when engaging, and on some cars loses drive; the regulator investigated and Hyundai issued software updates and, for a proportion of cars, replaced the clutch or the transmission control unit. The 2017 car scores 39. The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Tucson with a conventional six-speed automatic in the same years does not have the problem and is the version to buy from that generation; the 2.4-litre from 2018, also with a conventional automatic, is better still, and the 2018 to 2021 cars score between 74 and 90.
The fourth generation launched for 2022 and repeated the launch-year pattern — 374 complaints, score 49, mostly electrical and infotainment — before the 2023 car recovered to 81. The 2025 year shows a similar bump.
Hyundai Tucson: the record, year by year
| Year | Score | Verdict | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | DATA PENDING | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | DATA PENDING | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | DATA PENDING | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | DATA PENDING | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 89 | BUY | 78 | 1 |
| 2020 | 86 | BUY | 176 | 1 |
| 2019 | 70 | BUY | 376 | 1 |
| 2018 | 73 | BUY | 393 | 1 |
| 2017 | 39 | AVOID | 1,083 | 3 |
| 2016 | 37 | AVOID | 1,616 | 5 |
| 2015 | — | DATA PENDING | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | — | DATA PENDING | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | — | DATA PENDING | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 85 | BUY | 255 | 3 |
| 2011 | 83 | BUY | 124 | 5 |
Live from the federal record as of 2026-10-04; linked years have their own page. Full table and repair costs on the Hyundai Tucson model page.
Santa Fe: the engine years, then a good run, then a new platform
The Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport of 2013 to 2019 carry the Theta II engine and the recall, and the 2017 model year is the concentration point: 951 complaints, score 34, almost all engine failure and fire. The years either side are far better than that suggests — the 2015 and 2016 cars score 87 and 84, the 2018 to 2020 cars between 82 and 87 — because the recall campaigns and the knock-sensor software reached most of the fleet. A 2018 to 2020 Santa Fe with the engine campaign completed is a strong used mid-size crossover. The fifth generation launched for 2024 on a new platform with a boxy new design and, so far, scores in the 30s and 40s on electrical and transmission complaints; give it a year.
Elantra: steering, then a clean run
The fifth-generation Elantra of 2011 to 2016 does not use the Theta engine, and its complaints are of a different kind. The leading one on the 2011 to 2013 cars is the steering — the electric power steering pulls to one side and wanders, which Hyundai addressed with software — followed by an engine tick from piston slap, premature brake wear, and a recall for the brake pedal stopper pad. The 2011 to 2013 cars score between 35 and 41; the 2014 to 2016 cars, with the fixes in production, between 78 and 84. The sixth generation launched for 2017 with 763 complaints and a score of 35, then scores between 74 and 81 for 2018 to 2020. The seventh generation from 2021 has scored between 76 and 88 every year. The Elantra GT hatchback follows the same shape.
Hyundai Elantra: the record, year by year
| Year | Score | Verdict | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 88 | BUY | 22 | 0 |
| 2024 | 86 | BUY | 54 | 1 |
| 2023 | 79 | BUY | 98 | 2 |
| 2022 | 76 | BUY | 101 | 5 |
| 2021 | 76 | BUY | 130 | 6 |
| 2020 | 73 | BUY | 250 | 3 |
| 2019 | 80 | BUY | 250 | 1 |
| 2018 | 81 | BUY | 282 | 0 |
| 2017 | 35 | AVOID | 767 | 4 |
| 2016 | 82 | BUY | 292 | 2 |
| 2015 | 84 | BUY | 262 | 3 |
| 2014 | 78 | BUY | 383 | 2 |
| 2013 | 34 | AVOID | 1,329 | 4 |
| 2012 | 35 | AVOID | 1,329 | 5 |
| 2011 | 42 | AVOID | 915 | 8 |
Live from the federal record as of 2026-10-04; linked years have their own page. Full table and repair costs on the Hyundai Elantra model page.
What to check
Tucson 2016 to 2017 with the 1.6 turbo: drive it in traffic and from a rolling stop; ask for the transmission software and clutch replacement history. Santa Fe 2013 to 2019: the engine campaign history and the knock-sensor update, as described in the engine-recall guide. Elantra 2011 to 2013: on a straight road with a flat crown, note whether the car holds a line with your hands off the wheel for a second, and ask whether the steering software update was done.
Summary
Buy: Tucson 2018 to 2021 and 2023; Santa Fe 2015 to 2016 and 2018 to 2020 with the engine campaign complete; Elantra 2014 to 2016 and 2018 onward. Avoid: Tucson 2016 to 2017 dual-clutch, Santa Fe 2017, Elantra 2011 to 2013 and 2017.