2018 Hyundai Tucson: Will not accelerate
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 Tucson report: will not accelerate. CarComplaints.com lists 13 owner complaints, average mileage 17,600 miles.
NHTSA has 101 owner complaints for the 2018 Tucson in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11765149 (filed 09/17/2026): “There is a definite known problem with the transmissions in all 2018 hyundai tucsons and maybe other model years as well. this is well documented via the internet by the number of articles concerning this ongoing problem! this problem seems to have been unreso…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11748939 (filed 07/07/2026): “While driving my 2018 hyundai tucson limited 1.6l turbo with the 7-speed ecoshift dual clutch transmission (dct), the vehicle has repeatedly failed to engage and hold gears, resulting in loss of motive power in traffic. diagnostic scanning retrieved codes p074…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace torque converter (1 reports) replace transmission (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .