For some time now, we have been receiving a number of messages from owners of Hyundai Tucson model years 2022 and 2023 which suffered a serious mechanical problem. After some research on the subject and after consulting certain dealerships and the manufacturer’s service bulletins, we have indeed found a major design flaw related to Hyundai’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine.
Loss of power and refusal to restart
The testimonies of the owners usually agree: the vehicle was working properly then, suddenly, lost power, emitted a strange sound and generated vibrations in the passenger compartment to finally turn off and not start again.
These owners testified that they had to call the manufacturer’s roadside assistance service, which then proceeded to transfer the vehicle to the nearest dealership. Once there, the vehicle would have been subject to a repair covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Some even claim to have received a new engine. In all of the testimonials received, however, no owner was required to shell out any money, as everything was covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. So far, affected consumers cite good customer service from their dealership, but admit to being concerned about the long-term reliability of their vehicle.
A problem with the injectors
Now what’s going on with that engine? According to information gathered by Hyundai dealerships in Quebec who prefer to remain anonymous and service bulletin related to the problem, it would be a design defect related to the direct injection system. It would affect the 2022 and 2023 Hyundai Tucson, the 2021 to 2023 Sonata and the 2021 and 2022 Santa Fe. This defect also affects the Santa Cruz pickup truck sold in the United States, but only the one powered by the naturally aspirated version of this engine . The turbocharged versions of the 2.5-liter engine are therefore spared.
When a Hyundai Certified Mechanic receives a vehicle affected by this defect, they should rely on Service Bulletin 23-FL-002H issued by the manufacturer in March of 2023. They will first be instructed to replace the entire system. direct injection.
The mechanic must also ensure that the fault has not damaged the piston rings. If so, they should also be replaced. If the mechanic judges that the engine has been seriously damaged by the defect, he must proceed with a request for replacement of the engine under warranty by act of good faith by the manufacturer. Ditto if some of the components that need to be replaced are out of warranty. Such situations would be managed on a case-by-case basis by the manufacturer.
Still no recall
At the time of writing, Transport Canada’s recall database did not show any recalls related to this defect. It must be said that, for the moment, it does not affect the safety of the occupants or that of other motorists.
We have attempted to contact Hyundai Canada to receive an official statement from them. We are still awaiting a response and will update this article as soon as we receive more information to this effect.
