My 2019 Hyundai Tucson Has 60K Miles, and the Dealer Says It Needs a New Engine, It Was the Biggest Financial Mistake of My Life

Does the Hyundai Tucson have engine failure issues? Erin purchased a 2019 Hyundai Tucson and has to buy a new engine. She says it was the biggest financial mistake of her life and gives a warning to car shoppers. Here is what all car buyers need to know.

Posted: April 16, 2025 - 7:27AM
Author: Denis Flierl

"If I can help just one person by sharing this information, it's worth it."

That's what Erin (@erinbak13) says in her recent TikTok clip. She bought a 2019 Hyundai Tucson, and now, at 60,000 miles, the Hyundai dealer tells her it needs a new engine.

Erin says, "After I had my 2019 Hyundai Tucson for about six months, it started burning oil at a pretty high rate. The oil would just be gone every month, which is not normal."

Before Erin tells the rest of her story, picture a 26-year-old who buys a used Hyundai Tucson, thinking it will be a great car. It's affordable, good on gas, the insurance isn't exorbitant, and she has a car payment she can afford.

However, after six months of owning the compact SUV, she takes the car in to get the oil changed, and the technician tells her the engine has no oil left in it and that she needs to keep an eye on it and check it often.

She starts checking her oil once a month; no oil is showing on the dipstick. Now, she has to go to the dealer and add oil to the engine monthly. She knows something is wrong but keeps driving the car because she needs it to get to work.

However, the car finally dies on the road. Let's pick up Erin's story.

"So, I took my Tucson to the Hyundai dealer where I bought the car, and they told me that it's normal for Hyundais to burn oil and that I would have to go to my local Pep Boys and put oil in the car."

"So, then I started doing my research and saw that this was happening to other owners. After eight months of owning the car. It still burns oil, and then one day, I was driving, and the car just shut off."

"It was pretty traumatic."

"I was driving on a pretty busy road, and the car went into "limp mode," which means it sensed that something was wrong with the engine, and it was to prevent the engine from exploding. I got to the side of the road and got the car towed to the dealer."

Note: When Erin's Hyundai Tucson entered "limp mode," it's a safety feature that protects the vehicle from further damage when a fault is detected, typically restricting power and speed. Common causes include transmission issues, faulty sensors, or low engine oil levels. The limp mode dash warning message means addressing the underlying problem as soon as possible, which is crucial.

Erins' Hyundai Tucson Has Multiple Issues

"So the dealer tells me there are recalls on my car that I hadn't got fixed, I don't even remember what they were. So, they fixed the car and gave it back to me, and I'm not kidding; I drove the car off the dealer's lot, got on the highway, the car died, and went back into limp mode."

"So, at that point, I was pretty pissed, I had to get the car towed back to Hyundai, and they said that they were sorry and there must be a bigger issue that they didn't catch when the car was in the first time and now they will need the car for another week."

"They called me and told me that the engine needs to be replaced."

"Of course, I was shocked, and looking back, I was so naive because I was adding oil to my car. I was taking it in for maintenance every few months, and this can't be possible."

"So they blamed me and said I wasn't taking care of my car."

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"They said, yeah, the engine needs to be replaced, and it's going to be $10,000 to fix it."

"So, I did some more research, and the number of articles about Hyundai engine failure and other people in this situation is unbelievable. I reached out to Facebook groups; I even talked to a news station and was doing everything I could think of. I even messaged the CEO of Hyundai, and he replied to me."

"But Hyundai did nothing, nothing to help me."

"They told me the only thing they could do was replace the engine and that it would be $10,000, which I didn't have. I have a car payment for this car; I had just purchased it. I'm 26 years old, and it's traumatic."

"Now, I am passionate about this. If you are in the car market and considering this car, please do not buy a Hyundai."

Does the Hyundai Tucson have engine problems?

The Hyundai Tucson has been reported to have some engine problems, including engine stalling, excessive oil consumption, smoke from the engine, frequent check engine notifications, and engine failure. Some owners have also reported issues like rough idling and reduced fuel efficiency.

Common Engine Problems:

Engine Stalling: The 2021 Tucson, in particular, has been reported to have issues with engine stalling, which can be a safety concern.
Excessive Oil Consumption: Many owners have noted that their Tucson engines are burning oil at an abnormally high rate.
Engine Failure: Some 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engines used in various Hyundai vehicles, including the Tucson, have been reported to fail and require replacement, leading to numerous recalls.
Rough Idling and Reduced Fuel Efficiency: These are other issues reported by Tucson owners, according to bulbapp.com.

What Is Hyundai's Response?

Hyundai has issued recalls for certain Tucson models to address engine issues, including recalls for defective ABS units that could potentially cause engine problems, says Lemon Law 123.

According to Asbury Automotive Group, Hyundai has also issued recalls for 2019-2021 Elantra, Kona, and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines.

Conclusion

Hyundai has had problems with its 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engines used in various Hyundai vehicles. Car shoppers need to research before they buy a car. This serves as a cautionary tale, reminding potential buyers of the potential financial impact of engine issues.

Erin must pay $10,000 for a new engine in her 2019 Hyundai Tucson. It's an expensive lesson and doing research before she punched the vehicle would have saved her making the worst financial decision of her life.

How About You?

Do you have a Hyundai Tucson or another Hyundai model and have experienced engine failure? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Hyundai Tucson story: I Bought a 2018 Hyundai Tucson and After Driving It 2,000 Miles the Engine Died, Now the Dealer Refuses To Honor Their Warranty

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Erin

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