Recalled components: brakes, exterior lighting, and air bags. Most-described problems: jerking, lurching or harsh shifting and shifter errors or getting stuck in gear (7 complaints, 12% each). Most-reported area: powertrain (22 complaints, 37%; median mileage when it happened: 26,400).
Fewer complaints than a typical Tucson year
The 2010 drew 15 owner complaints in its first three years, against 146 for a typical Tucson year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2016 and 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles.
Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles.
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2010 tucson vehicles manufactured from february 27, 2010, through april 17, 2010 for failing to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment," for the photometry requirements of the rear reflector assemblies installed in the rear bumpers.
Risk: This could lead to reduced visibility of the rear of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear reflector assemblies, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during june 2011. Owners may contact hyundai's customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Hyundai's safety recall no. 101. or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Properly seated adult right front seat passengers weighing over approximately 240 pounds cause the passive occupant detection system (pods) module program to illuminate the "air bag" warning lamp.
Risk: If "air bag" warning lamp is illuminated, the passenger air bag will deploy if a crash of sufficient force to require front air bag deployment is experienced, and will not be deactivated if a child is seated in the right front seating position, which may increase the risk of injury to a child front passenger.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the pods module free of charge. Hyundai anticipates owners notification began by telephone on february 15 2010 and the notification was mailed on march 5, 2010. Owners may contact hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Hyundai recall no.095. or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2010 tucson vehicles.
NHTSA listing: TUCSON. Hyundai campaign 095.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2010 Hyundai Tucson apart from an audit query, which reviews a company's recall and reporting duties rather than the vehicle.
What owners report
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Tucson. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Most named: automatic transmission (6) · Median 26,400 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Brakes14 · 24%
Engine7 · 12%
Electrical system6 · 10%
Air bags5 · 8%
Body structure3 · 5%
Exterior lighting3 · 5%
Unknown or other5 · 8%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Hyundai Tucson recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2010 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2016 Tucson drew the most (449) and the 2010 drew 15.
Owner complaints
2010: 59 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Tucson
Model year
Complaints
2010
59
2011
124
2012
255
2013
266
2014
202
2015
227
2016
1,620
2017
1,088
2018
397
2019
380
2020
178
2021
79
2022
502
2023
178
2024
146
2025
428
2026
89
Safety recalls
2010: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Tucson
Model year
Recalls
2010
4
2011
5
2012
3
2013
3
2014
2
2015
2
2016
5
2017
3
2018
1
2019
1
2020
1
2021
1
2022
3
2023
2
2024
4
2025
7
2026
5
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Hyundai Tucson, the problems described most are jerking, lurching or harsh shifting (7), shifter errors or getting stuck in gear (7), and stalling or shutting off (5). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2010 Hyundai Tucson?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2010 Hyundai Tucson apart from an audit query, which reviews a company's recall and reporting duties rather than the vehicle.
How do I check if my Tucson has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: TUCSON.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.