general problems of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe - part 1

I was about to turn into a 2 lane road and a warning came on my dash, "shifter system malfunction service immediately " my vehicle was in drive I was unable to move my vehicle, unable to shift into any other gear. It was sudden with no warning or loss of power prior to the warning and loss of movement.

-shift lever in transmutation stopped working so car would go into auto shut off and then would not drive once I took my foot off the break. Would not switch gears or drive. Had to shut car off then turn back on to get it to switch gears. -safety was put at risk majorly. Car did that in 5 lanes of traffic with me and kids in car and couldn’t drive. We almost got hit. -dealership said no issues found until I took it in a second time for the same issue then they said it was the translation shift leaver. -briggs kia inspected it -no warnings at all -this happened multiple times. Put the most current date.

Vehicle has now had several incidences of completing losing all acceleration power while driving at both high and low speeds, resulting in need to turn on hazards and abruptly pull to side of road. Pushing on gas pedal does nothing and vehicle will even roll backwards if I pull over on a hill and take my foot off the brake. I have to put vehicle in park and turn off. Sometimes I have to restart the vehicle a few times before it will drive forward after putting it back into drive. The vehicle does not lose electrical power and will sometimes display the master warning light on dashboard and other times have no dashboard indicator of a problem. This is an extremely dangerous situation and my VIN is not listed under safety recall 22v-746 despite exhibiting the same behavior. I have contacted my local Hyundai dealership service in past and they recommended a transmission flush which did nothing to alleviate the issue. It is now happening frequently so we are reaching out to the local Hyundai dealer service center again.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle experienced hard shifting while attempting to change gears, and the vehicle hesitated, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired; however, dtc: p1c2d03 was retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where the same diagnostic trouble code was confirmed. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 99,700.

Code p1c2d03 is popping up on my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe after the dealership "fixed" the recall in 2023. My car is going into limp mode, failing while driving, and unsafe. Dealership and corporate won't help me. The transmission was never replaced with the recall and they are claiming they aren't relatable and can't do anything unless a recall is reopened.

My transmission failed, even after the #236 recall in 2022. My car was recalled for recall #236 in 2022. My car was updated and "fixed" and now in 2025 is showing the p1c2d03 code and requiring a new transmission. The same recall, without the fix. The car is in great health and never had issues until I was going 60 miles per hour on a busy highway and it reduced to 26 miles per hour during busy traffic. Causing me to almost get rear-ended multiple times and people swerving off the highway to miss me. My car was not going, even with the gas pedal down. I had no warnings, it happened out of nowhere.

This vehicle has two instances of transmission disengagement. One at highway speed and the other while driving in a residential area. In both cases the vehicle suddenly started to slow down, and the rpms went up to 4-5 thousand. I was able to stop the car and turn it off and after a few minutes restarted the car and completed the journeys without any further issues. I have contacted the dealer and will be taking the car in for a diagnosis. I did not notice any warning lamps or other symptoms before each occurance.

Upon starting the vehicle and placing in drive, it drove like it was stuck in a low gear. A few seconds later the vehicle stopped moving while in drive and would not respond to drive or reverse despite turning off the ignition and restarting. I was stranded in an intersection and the car would not move. It had to be towed to the dealer.

I was driving on the freeway and the transmission suddenly went out, causing me to quickly lose speed. The car was on, my foot was on the gas, but I wasn't moving forward. I maneuvered to the side of the road as best I could, with a semi on my tail and almost rear-ending me. I put the car in park, then in reverse and again in drive, put my foot on the gas, and still no movement. I turned the car off, and back on, and it worked fine. I had the car towed to the dealership where they stated they could not recreate the incident, and that no codes had been alerted. At my request, they also checked to make sure the system that records codes was working and I was told it was fine. The dealership couldn't help me. I am fearful of driving this vehicle, especially on the freeway as this could happen again at any time, putting myself and others in danger.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was hesitating after a cold start. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over and restart the vehicle. The contact's husband restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (power train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 41,122.

The contact owned a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated received notification of Hyundai recall campaign number: 236, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the 8-speed dual clutch transmissions (dct) tcu software update was performed. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle shut off temporarily and almost came to a complete stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was stated that he continued driving the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and scheduled an appointment for a diagnostic test; however, the contact decided to trade the vehicle due to safety concerns. The vehicle was traded for another vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,600.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 mph. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle lost motive power. A message indicating that there was no power was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, a red hybrid warning light with a stop safely message was displayed. The contact state that the Hyundai app displayed the power train and chassis indicated the contact needed to schedule a service. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined the vehicle had either bad fuel, or the vehicle was refueled while the engine was running. Additionally, the gas cap was left opened. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The dealer replaced the rocker cover gasket and oil gasket to resolve a leak. The vehicle was at the local dealer awaiting field technical engineer inspection. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 22v746000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

The contact owns 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (power train) and linked the recall to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under the recall or warranty. A case was filed, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

When I press the pedal to acelérate it has no power to move on drive or reverse and other problem power off when I drive on the road.

Once again on 7/18/2023 (p1c2d03) and 8/15/2023 (p1c2e92) dtc for tcu issues very dangerous condition, fails to accelerate from stops at signs and traffic lights, then nearly stalls in traffic lane bogging down, and cuts out decelerating when accelerator pushed to floor, risking being rear-ended by following cars. By the time car is ready to take to dealer for analysis the fault has corrected and there is no active code for diagnosis – been repaired twice but continuing tcu codes. Seems to be same issue as recall 236, don't believe the fix is effective.

24 Jan 2023 I had this Santa Fe repaired at the dealership for recall #236, oil pump transmission code dtc p1c2e92. They claimed the software update fixed the issue. On 27 may 2023 the same code was transmitted and the vehicle entered a safety mode preventing driving it. Hyundai towed the vehicle to a dealership in florida (hampton Hyundai, fort walton beach). They did the same corrective action - the transmission "relearned" the software. Hyundai USA claims it "could" be for a different issue. I sounds to me like their recall repair did not correct the issue. Having a vehicle shut down with 20 seconds to pull over every 4 months does not seem like an effective recall correction.

Transmission goes out of gear while driving. It was taken to Hyundai for inspection 5 times. Goes out of gear when driving. Making a turn at a light, the car stopped in the intersection, I could have been hit by another car. Car was taken in for a transmission recall on 02/07/2023, ever since they reset the transmission, the car goes out of gear again. It didn’t happen before recall and computer reset. The car has been back to the Hyundai dealer on at least 5 times and has been there for a full week now. They still have the car. The dealership said they can’t reproduce the problem. No warning lights when taken for recall, however, transmission warning light came on the last 2 times taken to the dealership.

I have been taking my 21 Santa Fe hybrid limited into the dealership for a year and a half for the same code . Powertrain code p040b00, and to this day they can not repair this issue. I looked it up and a ton of us are having issues with this same code. It should be investigated, and customers should be warned. Hyundai needs to recall these vehicles or provide a solution. A year and a half is unacceptable.

When driving on the highway the SUV would not change gears. It felt like it was stuck in 1st gear, reving very high. Was unable to move the SUV to the side of the road. Came to a stop with heavy traffic blowing there horns. Put the SUV into park, switched it over to sport mode and was able to get going. This is the third time the SUV has lost power. Also have noticed the transmission has been taking to long to change gears.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

On January 26th, 2023 at 9:57am the vehicle was unable to shift into reverse, drive, or neutral. The vehicle's system sent automatic messages indicating to have the transmission control system checked. We had the vehicle towed to a Hyundai dealer to be serviced. The dealership advised they performed a software update and that nothing else needed to be done. Then on January 30th, 2023 at 7:44pm the vehicle's check engine light came on and the vehicles system sent us another notification to our phone and email that there was a transmission control system issue. The vehicle shakes abruptly when accelerating after a stop. I have photos of the warning messages as well as video of the car shaking.

This happened on 18th January 2023, a day after I received a transmission related recall notice (recall 236) from Hyundai. My car did not move when I put the transmission in "drive". I restarted the car and then drove the car a short distance when the car stopped moving again. Then, there was a few seconds of mobility in which I managed to park the car in a parking spot. By this time, the "check engine" light switched on. I had the car towed to the dealership. The tow truck driver also tried to drive the vehicle, but at this point in time, the car just did not move in "drive". The dealership inspected the car the next day and informed me that the transmission would need to be replaced and they had placed an order for the same, but the part won't come in before February. My car is currently parked at the dealership parking lot, and we are waiting on the replacement transmission to arrive from Hyundai. The transmission on this vehicle has always been jerky from the beginning, especially at lower gears. The car shudders when the transmission is shifted from park to drive. I read in online forums that this was because of the design of the transmission, so did not report. But this sudden breakdown of the transmission has gotten me worried.

Vehicle warning alarm activated, car went into limp mode for about 20 seconds, and then lost all drive. Warning message for transmission control unit problem. Several previous temporary failures with no stored codes over past two or three months, one previously reported to NHTSA. Drive would not engage even after multiple restart attempts. The short amount of time and reduced speed could cause a serious accident. Very fortunate that I knew what I was happening and reacted quickly to get vehicle to side of highway. Dealer service has confirmed problem. Awaiting new transmission.

There were two warning (?) "bings" from the instrument cluster and then vehicle completely lost power and would not exceed maybe 2 mph. Vehicle had forward drive, but no willingness for engine to speed up beyond idle speed. Was like this for several city blocks until I was able to restart at a traffic light and then it resumed normal operation. Did not notice any warning lights and no messages popped up in the instrument or vehicle display. Just the two "bings" before power loss. This is actually the second time this has happened. Last time was while accelerating on a freeway onramp, but vehicle corrected itself more quickly and without need for restart.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (power train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

The vehicle will not move forward or reverse, when drive or reverse is selected. The car has been at the dealership since 10/11/2022. I was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. No one in the Hyundai organization (including the dealership) can tell me when replacement will be.

On October 10, 2022, while driving home from the hospital, my car unexpectedly entered limited driving mode (max 15 mph) for 10-15 seconds in the middle of the road and then died totally. Later, I discovered that it was due to a recall that was initiated on October 6th, manufacturer recall number 236 & NHTSA recall number 22v746000, for which Hyundai did not give me a notice letter until December 8th, 2022. My automobile has been parked at the dealership since October 10, 2022, with no indication of when the transmission will be available to repair it. The Hyundai dealership diagnosed my car with the p1c2d03 diagnostic code and ordered a new transmission to replace it on or around 10/13/2022, but they haven't received it from Hyundai yet. I've followed up with both the dealership and the Hyundai incident case manager numerous times, but nothing has changed.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.  .

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (power train); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

I have been aware of this safety defect/recall for over 2 months now yet Hyundai has no remedy planned thus placing owners and others on the road in serious danger. This is unacceptable and I wish to file a formal complaint with the NHTSA. (NHTSA recall number 22v-746).

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to coast off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (power train). The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

The transmission in my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has failed multiple times. The first failure occurred within the first two years of owning the vehicle. The car began jerking, hesitating, and struggling to accelerate, and the check engine light came on. The dealership confirmed a transmission issue and replaced the transmission under warranty. After that replacement, the same symptoms returned, and the transmission had to be replaced a second time, again under warranty. The most recent transmission replacement was only a few weeks ago, and the same symptoms are already returning — the vehicle hesitates, jerks, and occasionally loses power when trying to accelerate. These problems create serious safety concerns, especially when merging onto highways or crossing intersections. The hesitation and loss of power make it unpredictable and unsafe to drive. I have two young children who ride in car seats, and I no longer feel confident that this vehicle is safe for my family. Hyundai service employees have acknowledged that this is a known, recurring issue with this model’s transmission design. However, no permanent fix or recall has been issued, and I have been told to continue replacing the transmission under warranty until the coverage runs out. This approach does not address the underlying safety defect. The issue has been confirmed by Hyundai dealerships multiple times. The check engine light has come on before each failure. I am reporting this because repeated transmission failures that cause hesitation and power loss are a clear safety risk, and Hyundai has not provided a lasting solution.

While driving on the highway, when I pushed on gas pedal the car would not accelerate, I was uncertain if I was losing power of the vehicle, luckily it maintained the current speed and did not decelerate,but I was unsure at the moment if I was losing complete power, because it wasn't responding, it felt like the car was going to stall similar to when you run out of fuel. This occured for around 20 seconds, I would guess, long enough to notice that the car was not responding and continued to not respond,and to be concerned from a safety perspective. The night before I had filled the fuel tank and I noticed to guage that predicts fuel mileage kept changing by 3-5 miles difference,back and forth repeatedly, before I even left the fueling station and as I continued to drive. I'm unsure if that is related to the driving performance issue of not accelerating the next day. The next morning when the non acceleration occurred the predicted fuel mileage was consistent. The next time I drove the vehicle following the non accelerating issue, there was an error that popped up on my digital dash stating "a possible condition with your engine control system has been detected. A full system check is recommended to be done when convenient. Please contact your local dealership to schedule an appointment. " also, the check engine light came on. Myhyundai app showed a dtc - p040b00, dtc system - powertrain, dtc sub system- ems. I took the vehicle to the Hyundai dealership to confirm that the car was safe to drive or if I should rent a car until it can be further inspected. They read the codes and said it is safe to drive and no additional information, I will be taking the car back to the dealership in a week, which is their first available appointment with a hybrid certified technician. Both the dealership and Hyundai corporate customer service states there are no current recalls, but through other car forums, it appears to be a similar issue that has occurred with other Hyundai models.

This SUV has been plagued with issues, and yet after 5-6 visits to the dealership, they don't seem to be able to fix them all. The vehicle (2. 5t awd) currently has around 14k miles and within the past month the gas pedal suddenly became unresponsive, worst of all while carrying my kids and wife in the car. Coming to a dead stop to cross an intersection, went to accelerate to join traffic and the car wouldn't accelerate. Last time on 9/23 when I almost got into a head-on accident while making a left turn as the car barely moved into the first of three incoming lanes, would not accelerate and so forced me to quickly hit reverse, outrageous! other three times while making a right turn. Auto engine-off has been disabled on all occasions (hate it); two times happened while driving on Smart mode, another one on comfort and another one on sport mode. Car has been always using mobil, shell or chevron gasoline. Which also brings me to another point, the vehicle suddenly started consuming crazy amounts of gas, currently at 16mpg for the past 4 full tanks! the vehicle was dropped off at dealership on 9/26/22 and already filed for lemon law in FL as this is absolutely unreliable and dangerous to carry my family on. According to manager at rick case Hyundai of davie, an update for the transmission just came out this week after a recall and so they were going to reprogram. I am still getting rid of this p. O. C.