general problems of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe - part 2

At 70,000 miles the Santa Fe was consuming oil at 1. 5 quarts per 1000 miles. It is a 2. 4 engine. The Hyundai dealership did an oil consumption test and verified the consumption. They want to do a combustion chamber cleaning and have me run it 1000 miles. The vehicle is unsafe because this defective engine could seize up at any time. I am trying to have Hyundai USA replace the engine ASAP. I have all my maintenance records and two warranties.

My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe experienced a sudden and complete engine failure without any warning signs. There were no warning lights, no check engine light, and no unusual noise before the failure. The engine stalled while trying to start, ran very rough for a second, and then completely shut off. After that, the engine would not start again at all. A certified independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed the engine suffered a mechanical failure consistent with rod bearing wear or crankshaft damage, which is the same issue described in Hyundai’s known engine safety recalls. I later took the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership. They also confirmed that the engine had failed, but said it could not be repaired under Hyundai’s programs because my vehicle was not listed in the specific recall. I was never notified of any safety campaigns or recalls. I am not the first owner, so the required recall inspections and updates were never completed on this vehicle before I bought it. The sudden engine shutdown created a serious safety risk, especially because there was no warning before it failed. This failure matches the symptoms described in Hyundai’s theta ii engine defect investigations. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this vehicle should be included in the affected group, and whether this engine failure is part of the broader safety defect already identified in many Hyundai engines from the same model years.

The light for the passenger airbag has been on for years. I have taken it in, and the only thing the service department determined is that there was a water bottle under the seat. I was rear-ended into another vehicle, and the airbag did not deploy. The engine burns the oil from an oil change in approximately two weeks. I add a quart of oil every two weeks. If the engine seizes while driving due to this condition, I could be injured in an accident.

It sounds like the rod inside are hitting need a new engine. Auto shop said need a new engine. Engine has 125000 that all no oil leak no other problems.

Engine went into limp mode and a knocking sound was heard. Had car inspected and oil changed but no improvements occurred. Took car to dealership and it failed engine test. Hyundai will not cover replacement under open extended warranty.

While driving on the highway at normal speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power with no prior warning lamps or messages, placing me and other road users at immediate risk. The engine rapidly began knocking, lost acceleration, then stalled completely. I had to coast to the shoulder, which was extremely dangerous in high-speed traffic. The failure appears consistent with bearing wear and debris circulation described in Hyundai recall 168 and TSB 17-01-071, which warn that certain Hyundai 3. 3l engines can suffer internal metallic debris contamination during manufacturing. This can restrict oil flow, damage the bearings, and lead to sudden engine seizure without warning — exactly what happened in this incident. After the failure, the engine was inspected by a Hyundai dealership, but no oil sample, no debris test, and no photo documentation were provided, even though the recall procedure requires these steps when symptoms match knock/no-start failure patterns. The cause was not reproduced or confirmed by any independent mechanical test; the vehicle simply failed suddenly and has remained inoperable since. The incident created a major safety risk because the sudden loss of power happened at highway speed with no safe way to maintain vehicle control or speed. Based on known recall documentation, the symptoms match the described safety-related engine defect. The vehicle remains available for inspection. There were no injuries or police reports, but the situation definitely could have resulted in a crash. In my assessment, this is a critical safety defect related to internal engine debris and bearing failure, consistent with the known Hyundai recall pattern for this engine family.

The contact's mother owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. The contact stated that while the owner was driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with loss of compression in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine failure was a known failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

# **NHTSA complaint answers** ### **1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** the **engine** failed due to **sudden and extreme oil consumption** that resulted in the engine being completely dry of oil despite regular maintenance. This caused internal damage including **cvvt (continuous variable valve timing) system failure**, bearing damage, and a complete engine seizure. Yes, the failed engine is fully available for inspection upon request. The vehicle is currently located at dick smith Hyundai in greenville, south carolina, where the dealership diagnosed the failure and recommended a full engine long block replacement. ### **2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** the engine failure occurred **suddenly and without warning**, causing the vehicle to lose power while operating. The loss of engine function created the risk * sudden deceleration in traffic, * inability to accelerate or maneuver, * potential rear-end collision, * complete engine stall in unsafe conditions. The vehicle had * oil warning light** prior to the failure, meaning I had no indication that the engine was at risk until the failure occurred. ### **3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** yes. The engine failure was confirmed • **schwab’s automotive** in fayetteville, nc – determined the engine suffered catastrophic internal damage and was not repairable. • **dick smith Hyundai** dealership – confirmed **high oil consumption and cvvt damage**, and recommended a full **engine long block replacement** (estimate: $8,160. 60). The problem has been fully verified by both an independent mechanic and an authorized Hyundai dealership. ## **4. Yes. The vehicle was formally inspected by Hyundai motor America through the dealership’s diagnostic report. Hyundai reviewed the case (case #xxx) after receiving the dealership findings. The engine remains intact avai. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of in.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming engine oil, and there was no indication of an oil leak. While a friend was driving, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. The next day, while driving at unknown speeds with the hazard lights activated, the vehicle began making an abnormal sound and then stalled. The tpms and abs warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to technical service bulletin number: 17-01-047-1. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer submitted a claim. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

My vehicle has never missed an oil change or maintenance event yet at my last oil change my engine had burned through all its oil and no low oil light or check engine light came on. Hyundai is refusing to cover it under their warranty stating it occurred due to maintenance neglect even though all oil changes and maintenance events receipts were provided to Hyundai and are available in car fax.

Engine is experiencing excessive oil consumption. Engine in question is a theta ii 2. 4 gdi. Losing a qt every 400-500 miles. The car has less than 75,000 miles on it. The vehicle has been religiously maintained, oil changes every 5,000 miles or less. However because we are the second owners, even though it was purchased in 2020 when it had less than 30,000 miles, the warranty does not apply. The engine type has several manufacturer defects. Hyundai is using the technicality of a non-transferable warranty to get out of the fact that they knowingly put a defective engine in vehicles. By the time the oil consumption issue is apparent, it is too late, and you need a full unit replacement. I was quoted $9,000 - $10,500 by two Hyundai dealerships to replace the engine. I've spoken to non-Hyundai shops and the only way to truly correct the issue is to replace the engine with a remanned engine since the actual engines are manufactured poorly from go, so even a new one could be defective. There are million of these engines across several kia and Hyundai vehicles. They cause undue burden to consumers. Hyundai and kia do not stand by their product and consumers are being hurt. Instead of having an asset I thought was worth $10,000 an I could drive for several years and tens of thousands, if not one hundred thousand plus, more miles, I have a vehicle that is a ticking time bomb that would cost as much to fully fix the problem as it is worth. A simple google for kia optima, kia sorento, kia sportage, Hyundai sante fe, Hyundai sante fe sport, Hyundai sonata or Hyundai tucson + theta ii 2. 4 gdi will yield more than enough results to show how prevalent the engine failure + oil consumption issue is. If left unfixed the engine will consume too much oil and seize, or lead to other problems with vehicle rendering unsafe to drive.

Documented oil-consumption issue with my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, which currently has 98,876 miles. This concern was first formally reported in October 2025. Since that time, I have fully complied with all diagnostic and procedural requirements requested by the dealership, including inspections, documentation, and follow-up visits. The dealership has acknowledged that the vehicle has an ongoing oil-consumption condition. Per the instructions provided by Hyundai service team, I was advised to “submit my own claim. ” I later learned that, as a customer, I am not permitted to submit or appeal a claim directly, and that only the dealership has the ability to do so. I have since been informed by customer care that the claim submitted on my behalf was considered weak, which may have contributed to its denial. I was also advised that Hyundai and the dealership were already aware that I did not have the ability to submit or appeal the claim myself, despite being directed to do so. Throughout this process, I have made every good-faith effort to follow Hyundai’s guidance, yet I have experienced repeated misdirection and inconsistent information. This has caused unnecessary delays and frustration while the underlying issue remains unresolved. The vehicle has been properly maintained, with regular oil changes and servicing completed according to Hyundai’s recommended intervals. Despite this, the excessive oil consumption persists and poses a risk to engine longevity and overall safety. Due to the current condition of the engine, I no longer feel it is safe to continue driving the vehicle, which has left me without reliable transportation. Additionally, I have previously experienced the theft of this vehicle, for which I was not compensated, despite the well-documented safety concerns affecting Hyundai customers. Taken together, these issues have significantly impacted my confidence and ability to rely on this vehicle. Given Hyundai’s well-documented history of oil-consumptio.

On [xxx], around [xxx] I was driving my car on [xxx] and I suddenly experienced "check engine flashing" and engine misfiring. I was driving ~70-75 mph in the left lane. I immediately turned on the hazard lights and somehow manage to get to the right lane and safely stopped the car in open space on the side. This could have resulted in a very serious accident as I had my whole family in the car with me. Hyundai motor company must be held accountable for this type of engine quality issue. My car has 119580 miles. I had always car maintenance done at Hyundai dealerships to make sure that it is maintained as per the company recommended. The catalytic converter in my car was changed by the Hyundai dealership (key Hyundai manchester, CT) at approximately 96000 miles as it had gone bad in April of 2024. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Engine failure with no prior warning, such as oil pressure gauge,oil indicator light, or check engine light. Vehicle was at dealership for maintenance and this happened as tech was test driving. Found all oil was lost with no indications of a leak.

On [xxx, I was driving on the interstate when my engine seized and the car lost all power, leaving me stranded on the side of the road on a busy exit at night. This was very dangerous to myself and others. I purchased this car in July of 2023 with 69,000 miles in good condition. I immediately made an appointment to take care of the recalls and updates to this car, which were performed February 2024 due to this being the first available appointment. Also, at my first oil change (3,000 miles after the previous oil change) I was told by the mechanic that there was absolutely no oil in my car. Since then I have had to put several quarts of oil in between each oil change, costing me hundreds of dollars. Then June of 2024, the p1326 code flashed on my car and it went into limp mode also while I was driving on a busy street, putting myself and others in danger. I took it to the dealership and was advised to continue driving it and there was nothing they can do until my engine fails. I also brought up the oil consumption issue and was told that even if I did an oil consumption test (at my cost), there was nothing they could do. I was advised by my service advisor not to do a consumption test. I took his advice and continued to drive my car, adding countless quarts of oil weekly to my car. Fast forward to September 2024, when my engine light came on due to misfires in cylinder 3&4 and I took it to a local mechanic due to the incredibly long wait for an appointment at Hyundai. I was told all 4 spark plugs were oil fouled due to excessive oil consumption. This happened again July of 2025. My mechanic advised me that there was nothing to do about it, but that this would continue to happen due to the oil consumption issue. Now Hyundai is refusing to take responsibility for this engine that has had documented issues resulting in class action lawsuits and safety issues for myself and others and refusing any financial assistance. No warning lamps were on before incident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of informatio.

At first I noticed that there’s a strong smell of oil when I am driving it. The engine was consuming a large amount of oil so much so that I have to keep an extra bottle of oil in my car. I will be driving and oil light shows up and I have had an oil change not just a week prior. I had an independent mechanic to come check it and he said a lot of oil is leaking out into the engine because, I never see any oil on the ground. Then finally the check engine light is on, the steering is shaking heavily and I have stopped driving it for my safety and that of others on the road.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low engine oil warning light illuminated, prompting the contact to inspect the dipstick. After a visual inspection, the contact observed that the oil was abnormally low, though the vehicle had been serviced less than a month prior. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed an engine oil consumption test and found that the vehicle consumed one quart of engine oil in 360 miles. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 103,000.

The engine starting consuming a quart of oil in less than 500 miles of recent oil change. Car has 114,000 miles and due to oil consumption lifters are now ticking louder. I was not notified of the class action lawsuit that happened due to this same issue. Oil pressure light came on.

Car is running out of oil quickly but there are no visible leaks. Have had the oil changed a couple of times since then and have had to add oil in between because the oil light comes on when I make turns. Had the oil changed at a local oil service station and they said it was almost empty.

The engine suddenly seized up on me. Was told by my mechanic that that year and make once they get to a certain mileage gets premature engine failure. I looked it up and that year has a huge problem with this issue.

Approximately six weeks after purchase, my daughter drove the vehicle to a school event and back without issue—no warning lights, noises, or drivability concerns. Shortly thereafter, when attempting to leave for another event, the Santa Fe failed to start. I attempted a jump-start, only to discover that the engine had seized suddenly and without prior warning. It is available for inspection if needed. This sudden and unexpected malfunction could have happened while driving down the road and who knows what might have happened to include my daughter being seriously injured. The vehicle was towed to our local Hyundai dealer. Where the service team confirmed catastrophic engine failure. The engine has only been inspected by the local dealer. There were no warning lights, noises, or drivability issues prior to the engine failure. This engine failure happened on Aug. 16, 2025 references for review NHTSA recall report 17v-578 – notes crankshaft pin and bearing wear issues leading to potential stall. Nhtsa federal register (dp24-001) – acknowledges Hyundai’s 15-year/150,000-mile warranty extension via TSB 24-em-003h. Hyundai ksds campaign info & tsbs – detail warranty extension language for rod-bearing failures. Hyundai TSB 22-em-006h-2 (txxm) – illustrates Hyundai’s approach to extending coverage for engine failures. Consumer reports/NHTSA records – document similar sudden failures without warning lights in the 3. 3l lambda-ii engine.

I am the current owner a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. While I was driving my SUV on the highway at highway speeds at 60mph, the oil pressure and the check engine warning light illuminated all of sudden after around 1 hour of smooth ride. In the meantime, suddenly the vehicle lost motive power, the steering wheel seized and smoke came immediately. Losing motive power in running conditions and smoke coming out during failure could have endangered our lives. The smoke came out due to leakage of engine oil probably. The vehicle was stuck in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then after Hyundai dealership. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,245 only. Before reporting to nhsta I have seen numerous complaints about high oil consumption and burnt valves on theta ii engines around 2017 santafe sport model and very similar occurrence of events happening to all while driving the vehicle on highways. Hyundai must need to provide support to this year model and make vehicles.

The engine seized back in August 2025. The engine stopped working while I was driving on a main street and almost caused an accident. Unfortunately I put other drivers at risk when this happened. The engine issue was confirmed and inspected by the victorville Hyundai dealership in California. There was not any warning lamps prior to this.

My engine failed. Dealership put it through an oil consumption test which it failed. They ended up keeping my car for 3 weeks to build a new engine, add new belts, new spark plugs and new filters to go with the repair. After completing this repair they told me they noticed my air bag light on. They recommended a new sensor to fix it. Which I was to pay $600 for. I agreed to this and had it done. I picked up the car and had it for 3 weeks before the airbag light came back on. I brought it back to dealership. They assessed it and told me the problem actually came from the seat and the total. To repair the whole seat would be $2500+ I am the only owner of this car. It has never been in an accident where the airbag deployed. It is in it's original state. I feel this is a huge safety concern that should be looked into.

Subject: urgent safety & warranty concern – 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport (TSB #21-01-002h) dear Hyundai customer care and NHTSA, I am reporting a serious safety and warranty concern regarding my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport (VIN: 5xyzt3lb6hg429615, mileage:97,320). The vehicle is exhibiting excessive oil consumption after an initial consumption test burning 3quarts of oil in 725 miles as well as causing damage to the intake manifold requiring it to be repaired and is consistent with the connecting rod bearing defect covered under Hyundai TSB #21-01-002h. This TSB extends engine coverage to 10 years/120,000 miles for precisely this issue. Despite this, my authorized dealer, premier Hyundai of moreno valley has refused to take immediate corrective action and is requiring me to drive an additional 1,000 miles before performing the repair — a delay that increases the risk of catastrophic engine failure and endangers vehicle occupants and other motorists. Key points: this is a documented defect with a known history of sudden engine failure. TSB coverage and my warranty should apply immediately, without dangerous delay. The dealership’s requirement to continue driving the vehicle is unreasonable and unsafe. I am requesting: immediate authorization for the engine diagnostic and replacement under TSB #21-01-002h. Confirmation from Hyundai that I am not required to continue operating a defective engine to “prove” the defect. Nhtsa to log this complaint as part of the ongoing safety concerns regarding Hyundai theta ii engines. Please respond within 5 business days with next steps. I am prepared to provide full maintenance history, documentation, and dealership correspondence. Sincerely, lisa miller 25579 clifton CT. 951-965-6757 lmiller@mvusd. Net.

I am reporting a sudden engine failure involving my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport 2. 0t. At just 68,000 miles, the vehicle experienced catastrophic loss of power due to zero compression in cylinder 1. The vehicle is equipped with the theta ii turbocharged engine, which has been the subject of previous investigations and safety recalls due to premature failure risks, including stalling and fire hazards. This failure occurred on [xxx], while I was driving on the highway. There was no warning. It put all drivers near me at risk as I had no power, was traveling in the left lane and had to navigate through 3 lanes of traffic to reach the breakdown lane. I request that this case be investigated further as a potential safety risk and recurrence of known issues with this engine type. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power after the engine made an abnormal sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where dtc: p1326 was retrieved, and the vehicle was diagnosed with knock sensor signal range error, metal shavings intrusion into the engine, and other unknown failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

My Hyundai Santa Fe has a major oil leak from the oil pressure light. I took the car to a non-Hyundai shop for repair and was told that the problem should be covered under recall campaign 168. Reference number: 17-01-071, date of issue: December 01, 2017. A quick check of internet complaints indicates this is a common problem with this type vehicle. My oil pressure light is on at idle after the car is warmed up. Reno Hyundai dealer informs me that it is not covered by recall. I believe that this problem should be covered based on the volume of complaints from other owners. Can your organization help me in getting some kind of an cost adjustment for getting this repaired. Thank you.

My vehicle is a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport awd with a gdi theta ii 2. 4l 4 cylinder engine. We purchased it in Feb. 2024 with 120,310 miles. Since then we have only put approximately 8,000 miles on it in 17 months. On Aug. 1st 2025 while driving up a hill out in the country the engine suddenly quit. Of course the steering and the brakes failed to operate. However I was able to coast to the next road and barely able to turn the wheel but made the corner and coasted to a stop. Without a nearby corner I would have been stuck on a state highway with many semi-trucks traveling on it. Could have been much more dangerous for my wife and I especially since we had to have the car put on a flatbed to be hauled home. The person who came to haul it checked the battery which was fine. You could hear the starter engage and try to turn the engine but it would not turn one bit. Once home we had a mechanic with many years experience have a look and listen to it. He could not get the engine to move even when trying to turn it by grabbing the engine belts and pullies. By all appearances the engine is seized. No warning lights were one and the oil was checked that very morning before leaving home. The vehicle was using about 1 qt of oil every 200 miles or so. Always used a high quality oil of proper weight/viscosity. Had no visible oil leaks on ground where it was parked every night. Hesitate to spend hauling fees to take it to the dealer 40 miles away if they are not going to do anything but offer to replace it for many thousands of dollars. For a couple living on social security this can absolutely turn things upside down as we only own one car (which we still owe on).

Engine excessively burns oil. Failed oil consumption test. Hyundai denied warranty claim, citing maintenance neglect, despite oil change maintenance records and documentation.

Driving on main road , car came to complete stop while waiting on traffic light and vehicle loss power , and wouldn’t accelerate. No , dash lights nor sounds were on prior to it loosing power nor stalling .

I am unsure what component of the engine caused the issue. There was chance of engine failure while driving. While idle the engine was stuttering and the rpn dial was fluctuating. Engine persisted to stutter and jerk at random intervals when accelerating. The engine light came on flashing ~1 hour after the first sign of the issue. Immediately after the engine light came on the vehicle was moved off of the road and a tow truck was contacted to transport the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership. The vehicle was inspected at a manufacturer's dealership and the problem was resolved with a technician stating that the vehicle needed a "system update". There is also an ongoing issue with the vehicle excessively consuming oil.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? blown head gasket how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? engine overheated and coolant boiled in 110 degree weather. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes by Hyundai. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? yes by Hyundai. Hyundai states that engine needs to be replaced because the head gasket isn’t repairable on the 3. 3l engine. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no, engine overheated once and diagnosis was blown head gasket.

Car stopped running 4 months ago and had it towed to the shop and they did a knock sensor update and sent us back with it. 4 months later check engine light comes on and take it in and they recommend a new engine and this car has a class action and they’re saying we don’t qualify. They’re saying it’s the piston rings. The car burns oil like crazy. Over 5 quarts in 2,500 miles consistently and the oil light never comes on. I have 2 kids that ride in this car for it to just die or for the engine to start fire is a risk I am not willing to take.

Motor replacement. I had taken my car several times into Hyundai for oil consumption issue. I replaced the recommended parts through Hyundai and ended up having to come right back after being stuck on the side of the interstate due to lack of compression two cylinder two I was told I needed to replace the motor. This has been a very expensive process and I haven’t had the car but 10 months.