2007 Hyundai Tucson

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

74/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Hyundai Tucson, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	10	15%
Service brakes	6	9%
Suspension	4	6%
Structure	4	6%
Exterior lighting	4	6%
Vehicle speed control	3	5%
Suspension	2	3%
Unknown or other	2	3%
Fuel/propulsion system	2	3%
Engine	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The rear passenger control arm broke off of the subframe due to severe corrosion despite Hyundai applying a corrosion preventative under recall 17-01-013 on 12/1/2015. During all service work following the preventative i
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Check engine light came on. Had Advanced Auto check and informed it's an airbag module and I've not struck anything
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

PLEASE include my car in recall “CAMP113” see photo! The rear crossmember steel is doing exactly what your recall is for!! Please HELP BEFORE I DIE!
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

The contact's daughter owned a 2007 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at approximately 45–50 MPH, she rear-ended another vehicle. The seat belt did not restrain the daughter in the se
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph when the contact noticed smoke coming from the front driver's side brakes. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehic
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Rear subframe has excessive corrosion which lead to a a lower control arm failure. In short the control arm bracket on the subframe rusted away and the control arm fell off. My wife could have been killed. It seems that
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Took my car to get inspected and would not pass inspection due to rust underneath the vehicle salt corrosion. Was advised that engine was going to fall out. Took my vehicle to Hyuandai dealer for a gas tank recall whic
NHTSA complaint: Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE VEHICLE CHECK-UP BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING. THE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2007 Hyundai Tucson. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch 09V122000

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUM

Risk: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch 13V113000

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 Tiburo

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 trans

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

Exterior lighting 09V280000

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEAS

Risk: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module 07V197000

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, STATIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TESTING CONDUCTED BY NHTSA USING FIFTH PERCENTILE FEMALE DUMMIES INDICATED THAT A SMALL STATURE ADULT DRIVER NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AND INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL OR NEAR FRONTAL CRASH, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY NOT OCCUR.

Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE WITH ONE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN OF COMPLIANCE FOR LOW RISK DEPLOYMENT FOR SMALL STATURE ADULTS WHO ARE NOT PROPERLY WEARING THE

The seven scores

Reliability raw	78	good
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	84	excellent
Depreciation	79	good
Performance	62	average
Efficiency	36	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 57% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 72% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 89% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 88% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 78: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2007 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 84: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2007 Hyundai Tucson?

Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 10 of them (15%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2007 Hyundai Tucson reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2007 Hyundai Tucson last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2007 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2007 Hyundai Tucson?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.