Model year 2021 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2021 Hyundai Tucson: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2021 Hyundai Tucson at 23–25 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 80 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

1

EPA combined mpg

23–25

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Hyundai dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2021 Hyundai Tucson recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 1 safety recall for the 2021 Hyundai Tucson, newest first.

Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Control unit/module

NHTSA 20V543000 Reported Sep 4, 2020 Park outside
Filed by
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 195)
Units affected
652,024 (estimate)
Problem
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2021 Hyundai Tucson fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2021 Hyundai Tucson EPA fuel economy
VersionEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCity/Hwy/CombFuel cost/yrCO2 g/mi
Tucson AWD2.0L 4-cylAutomatic 6-speedAll-Wheel DriveRegular22/25/23 mpg$2,900385
Tucson AWD2.4L 4-cylAutomatic 6-speedAll-Wheel DriveRegular21/26/23 mpg$2,900387
Tucson FWD2.0L 4-cylAutomatic 6-speedFront-Wheel DriveRegular23/28/25 mpg$2,700361
Tucson FWD2.4L 4-cylAutomatic 6-speedFront-Wheel DriveRegular22/28/25 mpg$2,700363

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2021 Hyundai Tucson crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2021 Hyundai Tucson NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicleOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover riskForward collision warning
2021 Hyundai Tucson SUV AWD5 stars5 stars5 stars4 stars15.5%Standard
2021 Hyundai Tucson SUV FWD5 stars5 stars5 stars4 stars16.2%Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2021 Hyundai Tucson owner complaints

Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Tucson, most recently on Oct 10, 2026. 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 7 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2021 Hyundai Tucson complaints
Component named in complaintsMentions
Engine39
Electrical system12
Unknown or other10
Service brakes9
Fuel/propulsion system8
Power train8
Engine and engine cooling3
Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking3
Service brakes, hydraulic3
Vehicle speed control3

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Hyundai Tucson model years

Hyundai Tucson by model year
YearCombinedRecallsComplaintsOverall rating
2026 Tucson26–38 mpg6995/5
2025 Tucson26–38 mpg74505/5
2024 Tucson25–38 mpg41525/5
2023 Tucson25–38 mpg21825/5
2022 Tucson26–38 mpg35065/5
2020 Tucson23–25 mpg11795/5
2019 Tucson23–26 mpg13855/5
2018 Tucson22–27 mpg13995/5
2017 Tucson23–50 mpg31,0945/5
2016 Tucson23–50 mpg51,6265/5
2015 Tucson22–50 mpg22294/5

All Hyundai Tucson years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2021 Hyundai models

2021 Hyundai Accent2021 Hyundai Elantra2021 Hyundai Ioniq2021 Hyundai Kona2021 Hyundai Nexo2021 Hyundai Palisade2021 Hyundai Santa Fe2021 Hyundai Sonata2021 Hyundai Veloster2021 Hyundai Venue

Sources

  • Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 28, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
  • Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
  • Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
  • Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
  • NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Hyundai.