NHTSA/EPA public records retrieved through July 2026. Next scheduled review: 2027-01-19. Report v1.0.
2019 Hyundai Tucson
Model-year general report. Individual vehicle specs may vary depending on factory options.
Configuration matched
Vehicle configuration matched using available VIN and public vehicle data.
Public Reporting Summary
No signal was computed for this vehicle. The sections below present official NHTSA and EPA records as retrieved, with coverage and limitations disclosed explicitly.
- Recall 20V543000 (HECU/ABS module) completion status
- Oil level and cold-start engine noise
- Sudden stalling or power loss during a test drive
- Transmission hesitation from a stop or on an incline
- Service Campaign 9C2 emissions ECM update completion
Available Records
Data Coverage
Coverage depth varies by data category, manufacturer reporting, and US market volume.
VIN-Decoded Configuration
Factory configuration decoded from VIN KM8J3CAL5KU000001
- Model Year
- 2019
- Make
- HYUNDAI
- Model
- Tucson
- Trim
- Limited
- Body Type
- SUV
- Engine
- 2.4L GDI Theta II
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline (Regular Unleaded)
- Drive Type
- 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
- Assembly Plant
- Ulsan, South Korea
- Country of Origin
- South Korea
VIN decoding vs. vehicle history: decoding identifies how this vehicle left the factory (trim, engine, drivetrain, plant). It does not reveal accidents, title brands, odometer readings, or service history — those require a separate vehicle-history report and cannot be derived from the VIN pattern alone.
Reported Issue Patterns
Recurring themes grouped from public owner-complaint records. Patterns describe reporting activity, not how often issues occur across all vehicles.
Reported Impact & Context
The largest reported pattern in this validation (49 of 107 complaints, 45.8%). Owners describe receiving the recall notice (engine-fire risk, advised to park outside) and then waiting 6+ months for the repair part amid repeatedly canceled dealer appointments. This exact recall family is the subject of an active federal Audit Query (AQ23002) into Hyundai's and Kia's recall-handling timeliness.
Owner-Reported Symptoms
- Recall notice received advising the owner to park outside away from structures due to fire risk
- Dealer reports the remedy part is on back-order for months, with canceled or rescheduled appointments
- Several owners explicitly describe fear of parking the vehicle indoors while waiting
What to inspect
Ask whether recall 20V543000 has been completed and how long the repair took. Confirm via the VIN-specific NHTSA lookup that it shows completed, not just notified.
Reported Impact & Context
15 of 107 complaints (14.0%). Corroborated by Hyundai's own Knock Sensor Detection System campaign and a linked DTC P1326 bulletin series (shared with the 2.0L Turbo engine). A related federal Defect Petition (DP22003) into a loss-of-motive-power theory was denied, with NHTSA attributing reviewed cases to improper oil-change servicing rather than a vehicle defect — reported here alongside, not instead of, the real complaint pattern.
Owner-Reported Symptoms
- Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, including at highway speed
- Rapid or excessive oil consumption, in some cases with a burning smell
- One report describes the engine found completely out of oil and seized despite claimed regular maintenance
What to inspect
Check the oil level and listen for abnormal noise at cold start. Ask for full service records showing proper oil-change procedure, including drain plug gasket replacement.
Reported Impact & Context
7 of 107 complaints (6.5%). No official record found addressing this specific pattern.
Owner-Reported Symptoms
- Hesitation when accelerating from a stop, in some cases within the first few thousand miles
- RPM surges without a corresponding speed increase
What to inspect
From a stop, note any hesitation or RPM surge; on an incline, note any clunk or failure to downshift.
Complaints & Statistics
How complaint filings for this model year are distributed over time and by system.
Complaint Filing Distributions
Statistical profile of formal complaints submitted to federal highway safety databases.
History: Annual Complaints
Volume of complaints filed on this model year by calendar year.
| Calendar year | This vehicle |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2021 | 32 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 6 |
Category Distribution
Complaint concentration grouped by primary mechanical/electrical systems.
Safety Recalls
Recall campaigns registered with federal regulators for this model year.
A recall listed for a model year may not apply to every individual vehicle. Use the official NHTSA VIN-specific recall lookup to confirm campaigns on a specific car.
Recall Summary
The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Potential Consequence
An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the HECU fuse; for 2019-2021 model years, the ESC software will also be updated. Owners advised to park outside away from structures until repaired.
Manufacturer Service Guidance
Service guidance the manufacturer issued to authorized service centers for specific components or conditions.
Each entry means the manufacturer issued service guidance related to a component or condition. Guidance covers diagnostics, repairs, software updates, and product improvements — it is not, by itself, evidence of a defect.
Guidance Summary
Hyundai developed a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS): software leveraging existing engine sensors to continuously monitor for symptoms that may precede an engine failure.
Applicable Configurations
Concurrent with the 2.4L GDI-scoped DTC P1326 campaign
The manufacturer issued service guidance related to this component or condition.
Guidance Summary
Applicable vehicles with 2.0L Turbo and 2.4L GDI engines may exhibit DTC P1326, abnormal noise, or a no-crank/no-start condition. Remedy includes crankshaft/bearing inspection and, where warranted, full engine replacement.
Applicable Configurations
2.0L Turbo AND 2.4L GDI (shared, not 2.4L-exclusive)
The manufacturer issued service guidance related to this component or condition.
Guidance Summary
Hyundai informed dealers of a proposed class-action settlement (named 'Theta Engine Settlement') for customers affected by Theta-engine-related claims.
Applicable Configurations
Theta-family engines, including 2.4L Theta II
The manufacturer issued service guidance related to this component or condition.
Guidance Summary
Certain 2018-2021 Tucson with the 2.4L GDI Theta II engine may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. ECM update improves combustion and fuel-trim adaptation. A brief cold-start hesitation (1-3 minutes) may occur after the update, expected to resolve as the catalyst warms.
Applicable Configurations
2.4L GDI Theta II only, 2018-2021 Tucson
The manufacturer issued service guidance related to this component or condition.
Safety Ratings & Investigations
NHTSA laboratory crash-test ratings and federal safety investigations.
Federal Crash Ratings
Driver-Assist Features to Verify
- Forward Collision Avoidance
- Vehicle Speed Control
- Lane Departure
- Electronic Stability Control
Confirm each equipped feature operates without warnings during the test drive.
Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) Status
AQ23002 (Audit Query, open) reviews Hyundai/Kia's timeliness handling 16 combined HECU recalls including this vehicle's own 20V543000. DP22003 (Defect Petition, denied) investigated a related but distinct loss-of-motive-power theory and found no vehicle-based defect in reviewed cases. A third action number (PE19003) cited by the recall was checked and found to apply to the 2011 Santa Fe, not this vehicle.
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (Audit Query)
ODI received 8 Hyundai and 8 Kia Part 573 Recall Reports (2016-2023) all involving ABS modules/HECUs from supplier Mando, with varying defect descriptions and remedies. This Audit Query evaluates the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai/Kia's defect decision-making, explicitly including this vehicle's recall (20V543000).
Loss of Motive Power — Oil Drain Pan Assembly (Defect Petition, DENIED)
A petition alleged loss-of-motive-power incidents from oil drain pan/plug failures across Hyundai/Kia models 2005-2021, including 2019 Tucson. ODI reviewed the evidence and found reviewed cases consistent with improper oil-change servicing (failure to replace the drain plug gasket) rather than a vehicle-based defect.
Limitations & Data Integrity
What this report cannot tell you, and where the data comes from.
Report Limitations
- This report compiles official NHTSA and EPA public records for the 2019 Hyundai Tucson 2.4L Theta II configuration. It does not assess, guarantee, or verify the actual condition of any individual vehicle.
- Complaint counts reflect reporting activity, not a failure rate.
- 29.0% of 2019 Tucson complaints (107 of 369) could be attributed to the 2.4L Theta II engine via VIN parsing; 6 complaints (1.6%) could not be resolved.
- Recall 20V543000 is not engine-scoped in its own text.
- A cross-referenced action number (PE19003) on this vehicle's recall was independently checked and found to apply to a different vehicle (2011 Santa Fe), not this one — disclosed rather than assumed.
- This report does not compute or imply a Reported Issue Signal, reliability score, or purchase recommendation. Always obtain a professional pre-purchase mechanical inspection before finalizing a used-vehicle purchase.
Data Source Attribution
NHTSA vPIC (Vehicle Product Information Catalog)
Vehicle Identity / ConfigurationDrivetrain and engine attribution from 6 real VIN patterns.
Limitations: VIN position 5's meaning unresolved.
NHTSA Complaints API (complaintsByVehicle)
Owner Complaints369 complaints; 107 (29.0%) attributed to 2.4L.
Limitations: Self-reported; lowest total volume validated to date.
NHTSA Recalls API (recallsByVehicle)
Safety Recalls1 recall — the fewest of any vehicle validated to date.
Limitations: Not engine-scoped in its own text.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — Investigations dataset (FLAT_INV)
Safety Investigations2 genuine actions found; 1 cross-referenced action number checked and excluded as not applicable to this vehicle.
Limitations: A recall's cited action number does not itself confirm a matching investigation.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API
Safety Ratings5-star overall for both AWD/FWD; exact cross-verification, zero discrepancy.
Limitations: Not engine-specific.
US EPA fueleconomy.gov API
Fuel Economy4 configurations, corroborating the engine split.
Limitations: Required a model-list lookup to discover exact EPA model strings.
NHTSA Manufacturer Communications (Technical Service Bulletins) bulk dataset
Service Guidance119 documents; 4 individually cited, including a named class-action settlement and a current emissions campaign.
Limitations: Only a curated sample was individually detailed.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
A practical, phase-by-phase companion built from the reported patterns above. Progress is saved on this device only.
Inspection Progress
Check items off as you inspect. Progress and notes are saved on this device only — no account needed.
Before meeting the seller
Ask about the HECU recall completion and repair wait time
This validation's largest pattern (49 of 107 complaints, 45.8%): monthslong remedy-part delays on a fire-risk recall, itself under active federal audit (AQ23002).
Ask the seller whether recall 20V543000 has been completed, and how long the repair took.
Confirm recall completion via VIN-specific lookup, not just a notice
Many owners received notice but waited months for the actual repair.
Look up this exact VIN on the official NHTSA recall lookup tool.
Request oil-change service records with gasket-replacement confirmation
NHTSA's own DP22003 investigation found related cases consistent with improper oil-change servicing, not a vehicle defect.
Full service records showing oil changes with drain plug gasket replacement.
Ask about Theta Engine settlement coverage
A named class-action settlement exists for Theta-engine-related claims.
Documentation of any Theta Engine class-action settlement coverage.
Ask about Service Campaign 9C2 completion
A current (2026) emissions ECM update specific to the 2.4L Theta II engine, with a disclosed cold-start side effect.
A brief hesitation in the first 1-3 minutes after a cold start.
Cold startup
Check oil level and listen for abnormal noise at cold start
15 complaints describe sudden stalling or rapid oil consumption; Hyundai's own KSDS and DTC P1326 campaigns address engine-failure precursor detection.
Oil below the minimum mark, dark/burnt-smelling oil, or an abnormal knock/rattle at startup.
During the test drive
Watch for sudden power loss during the test drive
Several reviewed complaints describe stalling at highway speed.
Sudden loss of power, stalling, or a check engine light with DTC P1326.
Test acceleration from a stop for hesitation
7 complaints describe hesitation and RPM surges from a stop.
A jerk/hesitation pulling away, or RPMs revving without proportional speed increase.
Test-Drive Plan
A structured driving sequence covering the phases where reported conditions for this model are most observable:
Accelerating through varying speeds
Sudden power loss, stalling, or a check engine light.
Accelerating from a stop and on an incline
Hesitation, RPM surge, or a clunk/failure to downshift.
Questions for the Seller
Copy these targeted questions to ask the seller by message or in person. They address the reported patterns for this model range:
"Has recall 20V543000 (ABS module corrosion, fire risk) been completed? How long did you wait for the repair?"
Why ask: This validation's largest evidence-backed pattern.
"Do you have full service records showing oil changes at an authorized facility, including drain plug gasket replacement?"
Why ask: Directly relevant to NHTSA's own DP22003 investigation finding.
"Was this vehicle covered by the Hyundai Theta Engine class-action settlement?"
Why ask: A named settlement exists for this engine family.
"Has Service Campaign 9C2 (emissions ECM update) been completed?"
Why ask: A current, 2.4L-Theta-II-specific campaign with a disclosed side effect.
"Has the transmission ever hesitated or revved without the car speeding up accordingly?"
Why ask: 7 independent reports of this pattern.
"Do you have the complete maintenance record?"
Why ask: Unusually decision-relevant given this vehicle's engine-oil-related evidence.
For Your Mechanic
Full OBD-II diagnostic scan
Scan for DTC P1326 and any knock-sensor-related stored/pending codes.
General pre-purchase inspection: brakes, suspension, undercarriage
Standard due diligence for any used-vehicle purchase.
Documents to Verify
Read this before acting on the report
- Complaint volume does not prove failure prevalence.
- This report does not predict whether an individual vehicle will experience a problem.
- This report does not replace a professional pre-purchase inspection.