2022 Hyundai Tucson Electrical Software Recall (21V938)
Hyundai Motor America · 12 vehicles · Reported December 2, 2021
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 12 2022 Hyundai Tucson vehicles. The software installed in the Integrated Central Control Unit (ICU) may be incompatible with the vehicle, which could result in inoperative headlights and/or taillights. Inoperative headlights or taillights can decrease visibility for both the driver and surrounding traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V938 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V938000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 214 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 2, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor America |
| Vehicles | 2022 Hyundai Tucson |
| Units affected | 12 |
| Component | Electrical System > Software |
| Safety risk | Inoperative headlights or taillights can decrease visibility for both the driver and surrounding traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Hyundai Tucson in recall 21V938?
The software installed in the Integrated Central Control Unit (ICU) may be incompatible with the vehicle, which could result in inoperative headlights and/or taillights.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Tucson vehicles. The software installed in the Integrated Central Control Unit (ICU) may be incompatible with the vehicle, which could result in inoperative headlights and/or taillights.
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Tucson with recall 21V938?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Inoperative headlights or taillights can decrease visibility for both the driver and surrounding traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Inoperative headlights or taillights can decrease visibility for both the driver and surrounding traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the software.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V938?
Recall 21V938 covers 12 vehicles: 2022 Hyundai Tucson.
NHTSA lists 12 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Hyundai | Tucson |
What is the fix for the Tucson electrical software recall?
Yes. Dealers updated the ICU software, free of charge.
Dealers updated the ICU software, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been repaired and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 214.
When was recall 21V938 announced?
Hyundai Motor America reported recall 21V938 to NHTSA on December 2, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 2, 2021 | Hyundai Motor America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V938000. |
This recall was filed 58 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 21V938?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V938 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 21V938000. 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 21V938?
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 21V938000 applies to your Tucson.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Hyundai dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- 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 software 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 382 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 51 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 21V938 was reported on December 2, 2021, owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 10 of them (20%) 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 electrical system and were received on or after December 2, 2021, 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 electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 382 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 51 of them involve the electrical system. 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.
- 2022 Hyundai Tucson: 382 complaints in total, 51 about the electrical system
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Purchased a brand new 2022 tucson. Within 2 months it went to the dealer with about 7 dash fault lights turning on (abs, Air bag, lane assist, check engine, just to name a few) and breaks engage on their own.
2022 Hyundai Tucson owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11635455, filed January 11, 2025
Had the oil changed at the 36k mark. Since then some weird electrical issues are happening. Bluetooth nor android auto will play a song more than 2 minutes before starting again. The screen is harder to "touch" for anything.
2022 Hyundai Tucson owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11645268, filed February 27, 2025
Safety issue having to replace multiple horns on the vehicle. Known issue from Hyundai America. Would like an investigation, maybe a recall.
2022 Hyundai Tucson owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11668547, filed June 23, 2025
Can recall 21V938 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.
Recall 21V938000 does not automatically make your Tucson a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2022 Hyundai Tucson back, and the problem shows up again.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022 Hyundai Tucson has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
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.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no 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 21V938
Did the recall 21V938 fix work?
Since recall 21V938 was reported on December 2, 2021, owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 10 of them (20%) 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 21V938000 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 21V938000?
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 21V938000 (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.