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Reliability report · 2022 Hyundai Tucson · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,150/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

A busy redesign launch — the injector and drivetrain patterns make paperwork essential.

The 2022 is the launch year of the redesigned (fourth-generation) Tucson, and it re-spikes the complaint curve: 472 federal complaints combined across the gas (360), hybrid (105), and plug-in-hybrid (7) versions. The gas 2.5L direct-injection engine draws fuel-injector-misfire complaints, and both the gas and electrified cars draw low-speed drivetrain scares — hesitation, surges with the brake applied, and a stuck-in-neutral pattern on plug-in cars.

Three recalls apply, the one with teeth being a tow-hitch wiring-harness fire risk (25V893). Most of the problems are software or covered repairs, but this is a first-year car — buy one with the recalls closed, the injector history known, and the drivetrain behavior tested.

Evidence: 472 NHTSA complaints · 3 recall campaigns · 7 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Squawking

What that means: First year of the fourth generation, and it shows: 472 federal complaints across the gas, hybrid, and plug-in-hybrid variants, three recalls including a tow-hitch fire risk, plus fuel-injector misfires and low-speed drivetrain scares that recur across the file.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

472

Federal complaints (all powertrains)

3

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2022 Hyundai Tucson SUV FWD Later Release (NHTSA VehicleId 17102)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

2.5L GDI fuel-injector failure → cylinder misfire

major
  • 2.5L GDI Theta III (gen 4, gas)

The gas Tucson's 2.5L Theta III direct-injection engine draws a recurring complaint: a fuel injector leaks internally — Hyundai's own service bulletin blames a broken internal filter in the injector — and the cylinder misfires. Owners report the check-engine light, shaking, and a sudden power reduction, often around cylinder 3, sometimes before 60,000 miles. Hyundai's fix replaces all four injectors. Under warranty it's covered; out of warranty, mechanics warn that diagnosing and replacing direct-injection injectors needs specialized equipment that drives up labor. On a test drive, a rough idle or a stumble under load is the tell — pull codes and ask whether the injector bulletin was ever performed.

This is a 2.5L GDI Theta III (gen 4, gas) problem. The 2.4L GDI / 2.0L Theta II (gen 3), 1.6L turbo + 7-speed dual-clutch (gen 3), and 1.6L turbo hybrid / plug-in (gen 4) don’t share it.

Which engine is in the one you found? →

All four injectors under warranty

$0

Injector job out of warranty

expensive; get a quote

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid · NHTSA manufacturer communications (recalls 21V938/23V038/25V893, 2.5L GDI injector bulletin, Idle Stop & Go software) · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (4th-gen Tucson)

Low-speed power loss, hesitation, and surgesmajor

Across all three powertrains, the 2022 file carries frightening low-speed drivetrain reports. On the gas car: a surge forward with the brake applied at parking speeds. On the plug-in hybrid: the transmission slipping into neutral and refusing drive or reverse — several owners describe the car rolling in a driveway, one unable to trust the parking brake with a child aboard. And on hybrids: a delayed response when accelerating from a stop as the system hands off from electric to gas power, producing near-misses pulling into traffic. Dealers frequently can't duplicate these. Test low-speed maneuvers deliberately — creep, reverse, and pull away from a full stop — and treat any lurch, hang, or refusal to engage as a serious flag.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (4th-gen Tucson)

Tow-hitch wiring-harness water intrusion → fire risk (recall 25V893)major

Recall 25V893 covers 2022–2024 Tucsons fitted with an optional Mobis tow-hitch wiring harness that may have been installed incorrectly, letting water into the control module — which can fail the trailer lights or cause an electrical short and fire. Owners are advised to park outside until repaired, and the dealer caps the wiring free of charge. VINs became searchable in December 2025 and letters went out in 2026, so on a tow-equipped 2022 the repair may still be pending — verify status by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid · NHTSA manufacturer communications (recalls 21V938/23V038/25V893, 2.5L GDI injector bulletin, Idle Stop & Go software)

$0

Recall 25V893 wiring cap

Phantom automatic emergency brakingmoderate

A cluster of 2022 owners report the forward-collision / automatic emergency braking (AEB) system braking on the highway with nothing ahead — often exiting or in clear conditions — risking a rear-end hit from behind. Dealers frequently find no fault. Test the driver-assist suite on the drive, and know how to switch AEB to warning-only if the car has a documented history of false activations.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (4th-gen Tucson)

Headlight-software and roof-molding recallsmoderate

Two lower-stakes recalls: 21V938, where the central control unit software could leave the head- or taillights inoperative (Hyundai reports all affected cars were repaired before sale, so no letters were mailed), and 23V038, where the roof moldings on 2022 Tucson and Santa Cruz may detach and become a road hazard. Both are free fixes — confirm 23V038 in particular is closed by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid · NHTSA manufacturer communications (recalls 21V938/23V038/25V893, 2.5L GDI injector bulletin, Idle Stop & Go software)

It got stuck in neutral… I tried to put it in reverse, but it instead went into neutral. I couldn't get the emergency brake to engage and my car was rolling down my driveway.
7 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Hyundai dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 25V893Optional Mobis tow-hitch wiring harness may let water into the control module — trailer-light failure or short/fire. Free wiring cap. 2022–2024; park outside until repaired. VINs searchable 12/2025, letters 2026.open
  2. 23V038Roof moldings may detach and become a road hazard (2022 Tucson and Santa Cruz). Free inspection/replacement.open
  3. 21V938Central control unit software incompatibility could make head- or taillights inoperative. Free software update; Hyundai reports all affected vehicles were repaired (no owner letters).open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2022 Tucson

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

29 MPG combined (26 city / 33 highway) for the FWD, 2.5L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 43704 (Tucson FWD).
Other builds EPA lists: AWD, 2.5L 26 MPG · Hybrid AWD, 1.6L turbo 37 MPG · Plug-in hybrid AWD, 1.6L turbo 35 MPG.

$2,150/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Collision losses run about average here. Neither a red flag nor a discount at the insurer.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2022 models, published April 2023 (report R-23). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Hyundai Tucson 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Hyundai Tucson 4dr 102 · Hyundai Tucson hybrid 4dr 4WD 101 · Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid 4dr 4WD 88, where 100 = average.

100 vs 100

right at the average

Theft

Stolen about 68% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2022–24 models, published May 2025 (report WT-24). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Hyundai Tucson 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Hyundai Tucson 4dr 26 · Hyundai Tucson hybrid 4dr 4WD 17, where 100 = average.

32 vs 100

68% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

All four injectors under warranty$0
Injector job out of warrantyexpensive; get a quote
Recall 25V893 wiring cap$0
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01On the gas 2.5L, pull codes and ask whether the fuel-injector bulletin (all four injectors) was performed; a rough idle or stumble under load is the tell.
  2. 02Deliberately test low-speed maneuvers — creep, reverse, and pull away from a full stop — on any variant; treat a lurch, hang, or stuck-in-neutral as a serious flag, especially on the plug-in hybrid.
  3. 03If it has a tow hitch, verify recall 25V893 (wiring-harness fire) is closed — it may still be pending on a 2022, and it's a park-outside item.
  4. 04Confirm recall 23V038 (roof molding) shows completed by VIN.
  5. 05Test the automatic emergency braking on the drive and check for a history of false activations.
  6. 06Because this is a first-year redesign, weight documented repairs and closed recalls heavily over a clean-looking but unverified car.

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