Is the 2005 Hyundai Tucson a bad year?
185 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Tucson years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Tucson are in line with other Tucson years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 Tucson owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 50,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 38 (21%) | 27k–102k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 31 (17%) | 13k–123k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 30 (16%) | 50k–97k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 16 (9%) | 23k–100k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 20 (11%) | 62k–152k miles · ahead | — |
| Suspension | 15 (8%) | 89k–150k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Brakes | 15 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 14 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 14 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 50,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 185 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Nov 2023.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Transmission keeps slipping out of gear when you put into gear and car won't move. You stop at a light and even though car is in gear it won't move.
Misfire cylinder #5. This has been an ongoing problem shortly after my mother gave me the vehicle at apx. 24,000 miles.
Engine on our 2005 Hyundai Tucson turned off in the middle of a busy highway going approximately 40 mph. Managed to turn/roll off the road without power or power steering.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 50,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2005 Hyundai Tucson: 8
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 released. Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
The stop lamp switch in the affected vehicles may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
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. This can cause increased risk of injury to the driver under certain crash conditions.
On certain sport utility vehicles, during static air bag deployment testing conducted by NHTSA using fifth percentile female dummies indicated if a small statured adult driver, not wearing a seat belt, is involved in a frontal or near frontal crash… This can cause increased risk of injury to the driver under certain crash conditions.
On certain passenger vehicles, the parking lever ratchet pawl was not properly manufactured and may damage the teeth of the parking lever ratchet. Damaged parking brake lever ratchet teeth may prevent the parking brake from engaging or may allow the parking brake to release after it has been engaged. The inability to engage or the inadvertent release of the parking brake lever, may allow your vehicle to roll while it is parked and may result in a crash.
On certain sport utility vehicles, the parking brake lever ratchet pawl was not properly manufactured and my damage the teeth of the parking brake lever ratchet. Damaged parking brake lever ratchet teeth may prevent the parking brake from engaging or may allow the parking brake to release after it has been engaged. The inability to engage, or the inadvertent release of, the parking brake lever may allow your vehicle to roll while it is parked and may result in a crash.
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with electronic stability program (ESP), the yaw rate sensor may become too sensitive and may recalibrate inaccurately. While driving the ESP program may cause the engine to reduce power and may cause a brake at one of the wheels to be inappropriately. Brake application caused by inadvertent ESP activation may result in loss of control and a crash.
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with electronic stability program (ESP), the yaw rate sensor may become too sensitive and may recalibrate inaccurately. While driving the ESP program may cause the engine to reduce power and may cause a brake at one of the wheels to be inappropriately. Brake application caused by inadvertent ESP activation may result in loss of control and a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 35
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 Hyundai Tucson. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ata solenoid diagnostic trouble codes P0740, P0741, P0742, P0743, P0746, P0748, P0750, P0755, P0760, P0765, P0770
Some vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Stop lamp switch failure
Neighbouring years
2006 Tucson: 135 complaints, keep it.
Every Hyundai Tucson year
2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Tucson years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2005 Hyundai Tucson a bad year?
185 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Tucson years. At 50,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Hyundai Tucson?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (38), air bags (31), electrical system (30), transmission and drivetrain (16), body structure (20).
How many recalls does the 2005 Hyundai Tucson have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09V-280), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09V-122), Air bags (NHTSA 07V-197), Air bags (NHTSA 06V-445) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.