general problems of the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

I purchased my 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe on October 29, 2021. Since then, I’ve experienced a series of mechanical and electrical failures that I believe are far beyond normal for a vehicle of this age. - the remote start has never worked. - on October 20, 2023, the hatch latch failed. The only way to open it now is by climbing into the back and manually pulling the latch. - on October 27, 2023, the electric power steering failed. I had to replace the entire steering column at a cost of $4,000. - the paint began deteriorating prematurely and required a full repair. Hyundai covered this under warranty, but the cost was $8,000. - in early spring 2025, all coil packs had to be replaced due to misfires, costing approximately $500. - September 4, 2025, the car stalled while I was driving on a main road and I had to pull over. There were no warning lights and I started home. About a mile from home check engine light came on so contact mechanic. Ended up towing to a dealership and was told the engine must be replaced because the oil had burned off without any warning from the oil light indicator. The turbo also needs replacement. - the combined cost is $14,000. These failures have caused significant financial hardship and stress. I am currently $17,000 underwater on the loan, and the repair costs are overwhelming. The lack of warning before catastrophic engine damage is especially concerning. I believe these issues reflect systemic defects in the vehicle’s design and manufacturing. The repeated failure of critical components—especially the steering system and oil monitoring—make this the worst automotive experience I’ve ever had. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate these failures and determine whether Hyundai should be held accountable. Consumers deserve protection from vehicles with such extensive and costly problems.

This car has been cutting off for a month and no type of codes popping up alternator has been replaced two brand new batteries has been replaced which is dangers car cutting off while I am driving this vehicle is not safe at all needs to be recalled ASAP mechanic can’t even find the problem .

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe xl. The contact stated that there were intermittent, but constant electrical failures with the vehicle. The contact stated that the doors unintendedly locked and unlocked. Additionally, the contact was unable to upload the software updates for the vehicle or connect the vehicle to the emergency 9-1-1 system through the cell phone. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to find an electrical or computer failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but was unable to assist the contact. The contact believed that the computer system had been compromised. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from a stop light, the vehicle failed to respond. The auto start/stop feature failed to restart the engine as designed. The contact stated that the turbo light was illuminated as if the turbo was activated, even though the contact had not activated the feature. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who determined that the turbo had failed. The turbo charger was replaced. After the vehicle was repaired, the failure reoccurred while the vehicle was idling or parked. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was informed of the failure however, the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Continuous issue of front driver passenger power seat front level button failure. Continuous headlights, fog lights getting fused every 4 months. Indoor back roof light works and sometime just does not work for months.

For the past month my car has been stalling in traffic. The car stalls and then turns back on a few seconds later. It also stalls when I am accelerating after stopping for a red light. This situation is very dangerous and it means that I cannot drive my car expecting to be safe at all. It seems like the motor and the transmission are involved which makes the stalling very dangerous as those are major systems.

My Santa Fe developed difficulty starting beginning the afternoon of February 18. While waiting in stop-and-go traffic to park for a sporting event, the isg (idle stop-and-go) activated at least 40 times. After at least the 40th time, the Santa Fe did not turn back on. After about 10 minutes, I was able to start it. This happened while I was stuck in very heavy traffic exiting the freeway. After that, it would always take multiple attempts to start the car even though the battery had more than enough power to turn over the starter. After a couple of days of dealing with this, I took the Santa Fe to my local Hyundai dealer. After diagnostics, they were able to reproduce the problem and they determined that the starter had developed an intermittent short which was likely caused by the multiple isg activations on Sunday, 2/18/2024. While they verbally agreed with me that repeated activation of the isg was the likely cause of the starter short, they wouldn't put that in the written service statement. At the time of this problem, my Santa Fe was 1,887 miles past the 5-year 60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. I had purchased the Santa Fe a few months ago as certified pre-owned with about 58,500 miles on it so, even though being the 2nd owner, I retained the remainder of the bumper-to-bumper warranty as well as the 10 year 100,000 engine/drivetrain/transmission warranty. Oddly enough the starter, which is attached to the engine is categorized as part of the car's electrical system instead of as part of the engine so the starter replacement wasn't covered. I appealed to the dealer for a discount of some kind. They declined. They claimed to have called Hyundai USA which also supposedly said no to covering the cost of the new starter. A quick google search for this problem revealed other owners of Santa Fes with the isg have had the same exact issue.

Fire while driving - electrical - no warnings reference NHTSA recall 23v181000 fire extinguished once by fire extinguisher (civilian) then again by union, mo fire department. Hyundai had the vehicle towed to their inspection facility. Inspection report being withheld. Claim has been denied. Hyundai now refusing to return vehicle.

At various times the vehicle will not start. It takes multi times to to start the vehicle. The starter and battery have been tested and both are in excellent condition. Both key phob batteries have been replaced and the vehicle at times won’t start but the dash lights turn on. After twice of trying to start the breaks get really stiff. I’ve learned if I get out of the vehicle and open the hood and close it the car will start then any other time getting out and back in it does not start. I even placed the key phob in the designated location of the battery died and still won’t start. The check engine is not on either.

The systems forward collision and lane departure warning are randomly turned off. Dealership is not aware of how to fix.

The airbag light keeps coming on and saying it’s not activated, the wiring also keeps blowing out brand new headlights due to faulty wiring.

Adaptive cruise control automatic emergency braking blind spot warning forward collision warning lane departure warning lane keeping assistance parking collision warning rear cross traffic warning every one of these lights are going off in the car. I’ve taken it twice to the Hyundai dealership. Both times they have not been able to figure out what is wrong with it even with the opd it’s not showing any issues or fault codes a technician has even had the car for one week went through every single sensor, cable, battery, alternator fuses and didn’t come up with any results. He returned the car back to me completely baffled and unable to fix the issue. Please email at jdlalchan@gmail. Com for photos and video which I cannot add here on this website through mobile.

The forward collision avoidance system is malfunctioning and shuts down the traction and stability control systems making the vehicle more vulnerable to collisions. Multiple attempts to repair this system have been unsuccessful.

Purchased vehicle 7/25/2022 at the end of October battery was dead we jumped it. Then when it got cold it would not start jumped it and started. Went bought a new battery the battery in car when we bought it was a 630cca parts store didn’t have a listing for my battery so matched it and got one with 640cca. Next morning would not start. Tried jumping it wouldn’t start that way. Called Hyundai parts department and asked what battery should be in it said at least 660cca, so we got a 750cca a week or 2 later today 11/29/22 was cold snow morning wouldn’t start. The problem is my car doesn’t start below 32degrees. Very upsetting I buy a new vehicle that reliable and it doesn’t seem reliable it. I’ve also read earlier forums and I read numerous complaints about this issue. I try looking up the battery for this model and it say’s discontinued so what am I supposed to do. I need a reliable car for my family not one that will leave me stranded and calling in to work or kids to not go to school.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe first owner after each use of the auto stop/ start feature is guaranteed that in 24-48 hrs the car will stall at stop lights and take anywhere from 15-20 min to restart. The power to the electronics continues but the engine can't restart from the stop. It appears as of the feature takes the power from the alternator, starter and battery and drains it until the car can be restarted. Once it starts it drives well until the system is engaged again. I have chosen to not use the system and the car has not stall however once the use of the auto/ start stop system is engaged for a day or two it will stall the vehicle from a stop mostly at stop lights after so much time on standby mode while using the auto start / stop system. Dealer can not recreate the issue.

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle approximately 30 minutes later the neighbor informed that the vehicle was on fire. The contact rush outside to discover flames and smoke were present coming from the rear driver side of the vehicle. A fire extinguisher was used to extinguish the flames. The fire department was called to the scene. During the incident the contact sustained a burned right hand which required medical treatment. The cause of the fire was not yet determined. A fire report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer and local dealer was not yet notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 48,000.

Recall 218 for possible engine fire was issued in early February 2022. 3. 5 months later in mid-may there is still no remedy. It has been inconvenient to “park my vehicle outside and away from structures” and to constantly be pulling over when I smell something to make sure my car is not on fire. I can not use my car to go on any long trips for fear it will catch fire. Hyundai should buy my car back since it can catch fire and I can’t use it reliably and since it could kill me or my family.

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle there were multiple warning messages displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle would not accelerate to exceed 10 mph. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who disconnected the battery and reset the computer and the failure was remedied. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.

We were sitting at red light in a busy intersection at night and the vehicle started hesitating and cut off. We tried pressing the automatic start and it kept hesitating and everything went black on the instrument panel. After 3rd time it started and we were able to get home. It started having more hesitation while to go up hills and low speeds. The automatic start /stop also stopped working in the vehicle. I also was having trouble with the blue link system, they were having to reset it each month until they decided to make a ticket for repair in which took a month or so in order for the engineers to see if it was default on there end. Then they decided to set me up for a appointment to have it looked at through Hyundai, which now they saw I have to have whole new head radio head unit with blue link and also a new transmission. Purchased brand new and it has low mileage and need transmission. I'm loosing faith in Hyundai!.

I have had issues with this vehicle since very shortly after purchase in June 2019. I have been without my vehicle three times due to service/warranty related issues - twice in a rental, and now the third time I am using a friend's vehicle. My complaints began with a "hard start" and a delayed turnover of the engine. The vehicle behaves as though it wants to stall out. Hyundai told me for months that they couldn't recreate the problem to fix it even though it happened 2-3 times minimum per week. Then the other things started going wrong. . . Here is a short list for you over multiple visits and phone calls to the dealership: -hard start - vehicle jerks forward upon engine start -delayed turnover - feels like it is going to stall -vehicle engine ticking upon start -most recently, vehicle engine loudly knocking upon start -vehicle auto collision sensors malfunctioned and almost caused an accident on a busy 4 lane highway by causing my brakes to slam to an almost stop because the car in a lane next to me was turning (I was going 60mph at the time with no risk of collision). -apple car play malfunctions - sounds like wires are crossed (using apple charger and generic charger) -rear view camera stays on for 10-15 minutes at a time to the point that I have to turn off and restart the vehicle -while going 25-40 mph, at times, the vehicle will create a noticeable front end jerking motion -while the flight recorder was in me vehicle, it went off on an emergency alarm for over 3 hours and Hyundai's service team couldn't determine a problem -the gas cap door will not open or close properly -vehicle, on 5 occassions, would not respond to depression of gas pedal there are other smaller issues that I have expressed my concern over, and I no longer feel safe in this vehicle with my two small children have now been without vehicle for 30+ cumulative days.

On a brand new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, the engine stalled twice while driving the vehicle at low speeds into/out of a parallel parking space on a village street. I had to restart the engine in order to continue maneuvering the vehicle. This was very dangerous as I could have been hit by oncoming traffic.

Tl- the contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the Smart system had the vehicle braking on his own and the lane change was not reading correctly, pushing the vehicle in the wrong lane into a barrier. In addition, the contact stated that the while depressing the brake pedal it failed to slow the vehicle down when making a right turn but after completing the turn, the contact was able to break. The vehicle was taken to fitzgerald Hyundai rockville dealer, (11411 rockville pike, rockville, MD 20852, (301) 881-4000) were it was diagnostic and the contact was informed the system was not calibrating properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken twice to the same dealer. The first time the contact was informed that the easy pass in the interfere with the Smart system. The easy pass was moved away from the camera but the failure recorred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number: 16086926. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000. The VIN was not available. Aw.

The blue link remote start often does not respond. This is very difficult to get fixed. The dealer does not have access to this system. Hyundai does not have a contact number that is easy to locate. When you do call they are difficult to talk with and often just hang up on you. This has been an ongoing struggle for several months. It is almost impossible to reach someone to talk too about this. They have recently sent an e mail telling me that that I must accept changes in my blue link (they are going to share data from that with other companies). You do not have an option to decline. They give you an option to agree or they note that continued use of blue link gives consent. I do not give my consent. Blue link is not dependable and as a result data from that system is likely to inaccurate. I own three Hyundai's and buying the 2019 was a mistake. The blue link system is a mess. The sell you the system it works on your phone, works from anywhere no distance limitations ect. But after you buy it they point out that you cant complain because its a complementary service. This only comes out after you buy the car. They never talk about it before the purchase. After owning Hyundai's for several years (3 of them) I am beyond disappointed they the customer service is so poor. Whats worse is that when you complain they can't find a number to contact where you can get Hyundai America to even listen to the problem.