My Experience with the 2025 Hyundai Tucson PHEV
I wanted to love this car. It’s a great concept on paper—efficient, tech-savvy, and stylish. But my experience has been filled with repeated issues and safety concerns that I can’t overlook.
Ongoing Check Engine Light
The Check Engine Light first appeared at just 430 miles. It came back at:
1,225 miles
1,506 miles
2,255 miles
2,657 miles
3,165 miles
Each time I visited a dealership, the light was reset—but the underlying problem was never fixed.
System Failures
The side mirrors stopped responding to the reverse gear.
The audio system stopped pairing with my phone.
Both are frustrating in a vehicle marketed as high-tech and modern.
Serious Safety Issue: Automatic Emergency Braking
This is where things went from annoying to dangerous:
Incident 1: While driving around 15 mph with ~20 feet to the car ahead, the vehicle braked hard for no reason.
Incident 2: On the freeway at ~60 mph with plenty of space (~30–40 ft), the car suddenly braked. My passenger and I were thrown forward, and the car behind barely avoided a crash.
Dealing with Dealerships
This journey involved three dealerships:
First dealership refused to service my car because I didn’t buy it there.
Second dealership was excellent—professional, helpful, and provided two loaners (one for 30 days).
The third dealership stepped up and towed my vehicle in and gave me another loaner. I'm now waiting for a real fix.
Final Thoughts
Hyundai, you have a great product idea, but the reliability and service consistency need serious work. I'm still hopeful this last dealership will resolve everything, but at this point, I have to say: actions speak louder than words.
Would I recommend this car? Not yet. Maybe after Hyundai proves the issues have been resolved