2nd generation (LM / ix35) · LM (ix35 outside the US) · 1,433 complaints, 789 with mileage
Owners filed 1,433 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2015 Hyundai Tucson, and 789 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 37,500 and 104,000 miles. The median is 73,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (41.1% of complaints, typically around 86,722 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (12.4% of complaints, typically around 96,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (8.1% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
8 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 589 | 41.1% | 86,722 | 69,671–112,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 177 | 12.4% | 96,000 | 55,000–140,000 |
| Power Train | 116 | 8.1% | 60,000 | 20,000–90,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 102 | 7.1% | 69,900 | 62,000–102,000 |
| Electrical System | 92 | 6.4% | 37,125 | 15,000–86,000 |
| Service Brakes | 68 | 4.7% | 47,000 | 10,500–71,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 31 | 2.2% | 54,500 | 19,000–99,000 |
| Structure | 31 | 2.2% | 75,000 | 34,000–105,576 |
| Air Bags | 29 | 2.0% | 41,500 | 18,000–69,810 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 25 | 1.7% | 65,000 | 30,000–97,200 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 78 | 55 |
| 2011 | 174 | 105 |
| 2012 | 315 | 210 |
| 2013 | 319 | 183 |
| 2014 | 238 | 111 |
| 2015 | 309 | 125 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 73,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 41.1% of complaints (589 reports, 367 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,722 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 69,671 and 112,000 miles.
A single system taking 41.1% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 12.4% of complaints (177 reports, 35 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 140,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.1% of complaints (116 reports, 87 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 90,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.1% of complaints (102 reports, 28 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,900 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 62,000 and 102,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.4% of complaints (92 reports, 47 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 37,125 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 86,000 miles.
The brakes account for 4.7% of complaints (68 reports, 23 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 47,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,500 and 71,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 319 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 78. The median year sits at 273.
NHTSA records 8 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the hydraulic brake circuit (2), the airbag system (2), the exterior lighting (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 1,433 complaints filed against this generation, 67 reported a crash; 74 reported a fire; 65 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 4.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 37,500 and 104,000 miles, with a median of 73,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the hydraulic brake circuit are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 86,722, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Connecting-rod bearing wear and seizure caused by machining debris left in the crankshaft oil passages restricting oil flow; presents as a knocking noise escalating to engine failure or stall while driving. Covered by Hyundai's Theta II engine settlement and the KSDS knock-sensor detection software campaign, with extended engine warranty coverage.
Stop lamp switch failure causing brake lights not to illuminate, cruise control not to cancel, and push-button start / shifter interlock faults; subject of a broad Hyundai recall.
6-speed automatic harsh shifting and torque-converter shudder complaints.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V651000 | 2024-04-10 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module |
| 22V056000 | 2022-05-31 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module |
| 19V063000 | 2019-08-19 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine |
| 16V057000 | 2016-03-17 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines |
| 14V245000 | 2014-05-09 | Air Bags |
| 13V113000 | 2013-04-22 | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch |
| 11V259000 | 2011-05-20 | Exterior Lighting |
| 10V061000 | 2010-03-05 | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive |