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Before you buy a used Hyundai Tucson (III).

2015–2020 · Petrol / Diesel · 2 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Hyundai Tucson (III), real photo of this generation
M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 2 of its engines.

1.6 GDi / T-GDi

Petrol

1.6 / 1.7 / 2.0 CRDi

Diesel

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Hyundai Tucson (III)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.6 GDi / T-GDiPetrol44 with conditions3
1.6 / 1.7 / 2.0 CRDiDieselFewest documented22 with conditions3

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.6 / 1.7 / 2.0 CRDi (Diesel).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Diesel.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Hyundai dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Hyundai airbag and seat-belt recalls (2003–2026)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Hyundai brake recalls (2004–2024)Brakes

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Hyundai electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2016–2026)Electrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 4 checked

Engine

  • Look out for: Engine knock, oil-pressure warning and loss of power; with an overheated catalytic converter, abnormal combustion that damages the pistons.

    Ask them to check: Ask by VIN about an outstanding campaign; with knocking or the oil warning, stop. Check the catalytic converter if there is hesitation or loss of power.

Brakes

  • Look out for: Several warning lights come on at once on the instrument panel, including the brake warning light.

    Ask them to check: With the brake warning light on, check that the pedal brakes normally and go to the garage without delay: without assistance the pedal becomes hard. The garage reads the codes, removes the engine undertray and checks the electric vacuum pump, its cap and its connector.

Bodywork

  • Look out for: The inside or outside handle of a door does not open it, or it takes several pulls to open.

    Ask them to check: Try each door with the inside and outside handle, with the lock released. If one fails, the garage replaces that door's latch; ask Hyundai by VIN whether your car has the extended warranty.

Automatic gearbox

  • Look out for: Abnormal vibration or shudder when pulling away and at low speed, especially in traffic.

    Ask them to check: At the dealer: run the judder test with the diagnostic tool, install the latest gearbox software and replace the dual clutch only if the judder remains.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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