DecodedCars2008 Hyundai Tucson
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2008 models.
- Class
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV Gls FWD, 4dr SUV Se/Limited AWD, 4dr SUV Se/Limited FWD
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 22 combined · 20 city / 25 hwy
- Length
- 170.5 in
- Curb weight
- 3,241–3,547 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 1 campaign
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 22 MPG combined — 16% better than the average 2008 SUV - (18.9 MPG).
- AWD / 4WD available
- Few owner complaints20 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 87 for similar models.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 22 similar 2008 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2008 Hyundai Tucson is a SUV - offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 2.7L 6-cyl) and front-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 171 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 104-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,241 lb (4dr SUV Gls FWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 22 MPG combined (20 city / 25 highway), 16% better than the 2008 SUV - average of 18.9 MPG, for an estimated $3,050 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2008
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2007 Tucson — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2007; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2007 Tucson →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV Gls FWD | 170.5 in | 70.9 in | 68.1 in | 103.5 in | 61 / 61 in | 3,241 lb | 60/40 |
| 4dr SUV Se/Limited AWD | 170.5 in | 72 in | 68.1 in | 103.5 in | 61 / 61 in | 3,547 lb | 60/40 |
| 4dr SUV Se/Limited FWD | 170.5 in | 72 in | 68.1 in | 103.5 in | 61 / 61 in | 3,369 lb | 60/40 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson 2WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 22 | +16% | $3,050 | 404 |
| Tucson 2WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | +16% | $3,050 | 404 |
| Tucson 4WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | +21% | $3,200 | 423 |
| Tucson 2WD | 2.7L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | +6% | $3,350 | 444 |
| Tucson 4WD | 2.7L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 23 / 19 | +9% | $3,550 | 468 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2008 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2008 Hyundai Tucson under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2008 SUV -s
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Hyundai Tucson (this car) | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser | 15 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2008 Toyota RAV4 | 24 MPG | Not rated | 13 |
| 2008 Honda CR-V | 23 MPG | Not rated | 11 |
| 2008 Subaru Forester | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2008 Kia Sportage | 22 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2008 Ford Escape | 32 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
Recalls (1)
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch · Apr 1, 2013
NHTSA campaign 13V113000 · 1,712,336 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
- Risk
- Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Not every 2008 Hyundai Tucson is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2008 Hyundai Tucson buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 1 recall this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Engine — 4 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Service Brakes — 4 owner reports. Brake firmly from speed; check for pulling, pulsing pedal or ABS warning light.
- Air Bags — 3 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 66,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2008 Hyundai Tucson. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Tucson years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tucson | 38 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 6 | 99 |
| 2025 Tucson | 38 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 7 | 448 |
| 2024 Tucson | 38 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 152 |
| 2023 Tucson | 38 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 182 |
| 2022 Tucson | 38 | 182.3 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 506 |
| 2021 Tucson | 25 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 80 |
| 2020 Tucson | 25 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 179 |
| 2019 Tucson | 26 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 385 |
| 2018 Tucson | 27 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 399 |
| 2017 Tucson | 28 | 176.4 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 1,093 |
| 2016 Tucson | 28 | 176.4 in | Not rated | 5 | 1,626 |
| 2015 Tucson | 25 | 173.2 in | Not rated | 2 | 229 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Hyundai. How we calculate this →