2021 Hyundai Tucson Antilock Brake Control Module Recall (20V543)
Hyundai Motor America · 652,024 vehicles · Reported September 4, 2020
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 652,024 2021 Hyundai Tucson vehicles. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire. An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash. Park outside and away from buildings until it is repaired.
Recall 20V543 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V543000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 195 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 4, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor America |
| Vehicles | 2021 Hyundai Tucson |
| Units affected | 652,024 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip > Control Unit / Module |
| Safety risk | An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Hyundai Tucson in recall 20V543?
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Tucson with recall 20V543?
Park it outside. NHTSA lists a fire risk for recall 20V543, so keep the vehicle away from buildings until it is repaired.
NHTSA lists this as a Park Outside recall because of a fire risk. Park the vehicle outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, even if you have not noticed any problem.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V543?
Recall 20V543 covers 652,024 vehicles: 2021 Hyundai Tucson.
NHTSA lists 652,024 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hyundai | Tucson |
What is the fix for the Tucson antilock brake control module recall?
Yes. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.
When was recall 20V543 announced?
Hyundai Motor America reported recall 20V543 to NHTSA on September 4, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 4, 2020 | Hyundai Motor America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V543000. |
This recall was filed 73 months ago. If your Tucson was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Tucson is part of recall 20V543?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V543 is open on your Tucson, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 20V543000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Tucson owners do about recall 20V543?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V543000 applies to your Tucson.
- Park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.
- Call a Hyundai dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any control unit and module symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Tucson owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 12 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 20V543 was reported on September 4, 2020, owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the brakes and were received on or after September 4, 2020, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 79 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 12 of them involve the brakes. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Hyundai Tucson: 79 complaints in total, 12 about the brakes
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The issue started just before my vehicle had 60,000 miles on it and only occurred every once and a while but, now it happens more often. When braking at low speeds my car makes a hissing/buzzing noise and the pedal goes soft. We got to a dealership when it had 60,420 miles on it.
2021 Hyundai Tucson owner, AL, NHTSA complaint 11699883, filed November 17, 2025
I bought a brand new 2021 hyundai tucson on 1/1/2021. I found out on 1/10/2021 that there was an active recall on my car. After looking through the laws it states that a car dealership is legally not allowed to sell a car that has an active recall.
2021 Hyundai Tucson owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11387738, filed January 12, 2021
Tl* the contact owns a 2021 hyundai tucson. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v543000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable.
2021 Hyundai Tucson owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11399906, filed March 9, 2021
Can recall 20V543 make my Tucson a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
If the 2021 Hyundai Tucson brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Tucson been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Hyundai Tucson recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V543
Did the recall 20V543 fix work?
Since recall 20V543 was reported on September 4, 2020, owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 20V543000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Tucson is part of recall 20V543000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V543000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Hyundai. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.