Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
23–25 mpgcombined; city 21–23, highway 25–28; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,990–$14,120U.S. average; Ohio $11,610–$12,620 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2021 Tucson. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Tucson. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
39
0
2
2
Electrical system
12
0
0
0
Unknown or other
10
0
1
0
Service brakes
9
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
8
0
0
0
Power train
8
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
6
0
0
1
Engine and engine cooling
3
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
3
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
3
0
0
0
Air bags
2
2
0
2
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
6 more parts
Seat belts
2
1
0
1
Steering
2
0
0
0
Structure
2
0
0
1
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
1
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2021 Tucson over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 89 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2021 Tucson, the latest on Oct 8, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (34), engine (24), engine and engine cooling (16), equipment (10), unknown or other (7).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Audit query AQ23002 Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · covers 3 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2021 Tucson.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Tucson Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
23 / 28 / 25
Tucson Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
22 / 28 / 25
Tucson All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
22 / 25 / 23
Tucson All-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
21 / 26 / 23
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data