Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Hyundai Santa Fe - part 1

After 110,000, the engine started using oil and it began to knock. According to the history of these engines, it will lead to engine failure. They have a record of being a lemon engine and there is not a engine of this type that this does not happen. The engine needs to recalled and replaced, they are the theda ii gdi series of 2. 0l and 2. 4l four-cylinder engines from Hyundai/kia.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Engine control harness with under fuse box due to melted fuse box. This caused my blower motor and relay to go bad. No air flow currently in car due to control harness. Dealership stated that there has been several sante fe that has came in this year with the same issue.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Excessive oil consumption under warranty, . Hyundai says its normal consumption within 1,000 miles. Engine its doing stalls now.

Engine seized while driving. Recall-covered failure mode. Hyundai denial despite recall. Screenshots showed recall with VIN for engine recall and suddenly removed by Hyundai next day.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

2020 Hyundai santafe limited awd . . . Burning excessive oil. This only was noticed because the low oil light intermittently started coming on, and has only started happening in the last few months. Low oil indicator flashing - 4qt low, went for an immediate oil change 78788 miles - oil changed 80252 miles - low oil - added 1qt 80628 miles - low oil - added 1qt 81376 miles - oil changed 81999 miles - low oil - added 1qt 82755 miles - low oil - added 2qt these are the most recent events since we started logging it.

While driving- in total movement- the car completely shut off. Without any prior warning or indication. Immediately after, the car restarted, drove a couple blocks over, continuing to shut off while driving. It was then towed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the warning lights did not appear until after the car quit. They all came on & flashed & quickly went back out. Uncertain which component misfired or is affected- possibly related to an engine or fuel/ cylinder failure. Car is at mechanic for inspection. Our safety & lives were in critical jeopardy as the vehicle stopped without warning while driving in traffic congested area. It is unknown if this is a known issue or if this situation has been replicated however the current mechanic facility has experienced the same issue with this vehicle. Also strong odor of gas was experienced during shutoff.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and blinked intermittently. The contact stopped at a gas station. The contact filled up the fuel tank and checked the coolant reservoir. When the contact restarted the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle failed to exceed 30 mph without shaking or vibrating. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The engine coils or the starter sensor and the O2 sensors were replaced before the independent mechanic informed the contact that the engine had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the engine had failed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was under a service warranty and the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. However, the manufacturer refused to replace the engine and offered the contact monetary compensation. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

On a clear road a sencor comes on detect comes on says detection collision. The breaks come on when you are traveling on interstate or two lane roads. When you are traveling 75 mph and breaks come on all of a sudden on the highway. We are lucky we never got hit in the back of the car going that fast. We will stop 75 to 35 mph in 10 seconds.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Check engine light came on oil light came on then the vehicle shut off while I was driving. Safety was not good as I was driving the vehicle. I then had it towed to a shop to have it looked at. That is when I was told I would need a new motor due to a crankshaft failure. The check engine light had come on the night before but when turning the vehicle on the next morning to take it to get looked at it was no longer on. Was driving it too the shop to have it looked at when it shut off on me while driving.

My engine has been sucking up oil since the day I bought it. Once I hit 100k miles it started sucking up oil faster than the recommended oil changes. I was driving home two weeks ago. I went to get in a major highway and she would not go past 35 mph. I went to trade it in and was told it needs a new engine and a new turbo. This is a known problem and Hyundai will not fix it. This car is not even 4 years old. I got it in April 2021.

I had been driving about 1. 5 hours when I exited the interstate and the car engine shut off at a traffic light. When I shifted the car into park and tried to restart the car, smoke filled the cabin. Unbeknownst to me, an oil leak occurred while driving. No warning lights or other indicators that anything was awry. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest Hyundai dealer. Though the SUV is under warranty, they say the oil leak was caused by improper oil plug installation at the last oil change. The oil leak caused the motor to seize and the resulting damage is in excess of $10,000. Hyundai says the warranty won't cover this as it is a service issue. Jiffy lube says their technician did nothing incorrect and they won't take responsibility for the repairs.

Vehicle is consuming oil at an exceptionally fast rate. In October 2025, when taken in for an oil change and my complaint of a burning smell upon quick acceleration, the technician documented no oil was found on the dipstick. Just a month later, in November 2025, the oil level was already extremely low, the vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and an oil consumption test is currently being administered. The vehicle is scheduled for an engine replacement in January 2026 after the consumption test is concluded.

See all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Six weeks ago the alternator and battery had also been replaced. My Hyundai Santa Fe sport turbo engine, exhibited a persistent rubber-like odor for approximately three weeks after the latest maintenance. During this period, the push-start button intermittently failed, requiring multiple attempts to engage, and the vehicle experienced noticeable shaking. After being parked, smoke began to emerge from under the hood, followed by visible flames. Within roughly 3-5mins minutes, the vehicle was completely engulfed in fire and blew up 6 times. Notably, the car had undergone significant repairs in the past year, including an engine replacement, starter, oem parts, O2 sensors, brakes, valve cover gasket, new tires, and routine oil changes.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

There was no low oil indicator light, no smoke, and no oil on the garage floor. My wife was driving the vehicle on I-285 in atlanta, returning from the atl airport, when the vehicle began to lose power and started jerking and surging; the check engine light began flashing. She had to take surface streets to get home because the loss of power made the vehicle unsafe to drive on the freeway. When she arrived home, I checked the engine oil dipstick and it was completely dry. I took the vehicle to the garage that performs my oil changes, and they mentioned this is an ongoing issue with Hyundai—the vehicle is burning oil. The low oil level caused the knock sensor to trigger, which in turn caused the check engine light to flash and reduced power in an attempt to protect the engine. I never received any notification regarding a recall for this issue, and now my motor is more than likely damaged since I can still hear knocking when the engine runs at higher rpms. My vehicle has over 100k miles, and I have never had an issue with it until now.

Excessive oil consumption. Mechanic who changed oil said oil level was too low and he could find no leaks. He said this is a known Hyundai problem. The dealer acknowledged this. There was no warning light saying the oil was low. It was discovered during a routine oil change.

The engine of our 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport has been significantly problematic since we first purchased the vehicle in 2017. These issues have been well documented by other Hyundai owners and have resulted in class action lawsuits. After purchasing our vehicle new from dealer, it began experiencing difficulties, consuming large amounts of oil, spewing smoke from the tailpipe, leaving metal shavings in the engine oil, failing to start, and at times going into a protection mode to keep the engine from further damage and restrict speed above 15 miles per hour. The vehicle had to be towed multiple times at our own expense. Hyundai delayed replacement of the engine for months resulting in thousands of additional miles being put on the vehicle under unsafe operating conditions. Hyundai reluctantly replaced the engine in February of 2024. What appears to not be well-documented in NHTSA complaints are the impacts of these engine issues to other Hyundai components and parts. Hyundai replaced our original engine but did not replace the engine’s catalytic converter. 20 months later, the check engine light has illuminated again as a direct result of oil sludge and buildup from accelerated oil consumption. In November 2025, the dealership identified the fault code p0420 for catalyst efficiency system below threshold. We have experienced a loss of acceleration, increased fumes, and decreased fuel efficiency as a result of the catalytic converter failure, and believe the vehicle is no longer safe to drive at high speeds on freeways. The dealership has confirmed damage to the catalytic converter and has quoted a replacement fee that is $5000, almost $1000 higher than other dealerships in our area. We asked for the dealership to submit a request to hma for goodwill assistance and were denied on November 24th. We strongly believe that Hyundai is responsible for both the damage to the catalytic converter as well as the safety concerns caused by this issue.

I had my oil changed at a reputable service center November 19, 2025 and the mechanic said my oil drip pan and plug needed to be replaced in the next few months because they were showing wear and could fail. He asked if I knew about a pending lawsuit against Hyundai concerning these items causing major issues. I said I was unaware, so I researched it. It seems to be legit. During my research there were multiple reports that many had oil leaking problems and some owners reported that the vehicle completely stopped running. That is especially dangerous driving on an interstate. I was quoted about $350. 00 to replace the pan and plug but I was told to contact the local dealership to see if they would replace it. They wanted $215. 00 for a diagnostic plus parts and labor. That is quite a chunk of money for a drip pan and plug.

My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe suffered a crankshaft/bearing failure identical to NHTSA recall 17v578000. Hyundai states my VIN was not included in the recall, but the vehicle has the same 3. 3l engine, the same failure, and the same symptoms described in the recall bulletin. The engine has never been replaced. The defect appears broader than the recall VIN range. They are refusing to replace the defective engine.

Engine oil consumption issue. I have taken the vehicle in 4 times due to this they have. Changed hoses and even the oil pan but the engine still runs out of oil. On several occasions the oil light comes on within 1000 miles of a oil change and when I check it the system is completely out of oil. This means the lubrication system is running with no oil and likely has metal particles in it. I have contacted Hyundai corporate and the issues still has not been resolved. There needs to be a recall on these engines before they start blowing up. I uploaded files of thw most recent service Nov 5th and the current odometer reading and oil level. 7 days later the oil level is low.

The vehicle’s engine is experiencing excessive internal oil consumption that poses a serious safety risk while driving. After a routine oil change performed by an authorized Hyundai dealer, the engine oil warning light illuminated within about 1,700 miles. Upon inspection by another Hyundai service center, technicians confirmed that the engine was burning oil abnormally and was three quarts low, with no external leaks. This issue was documented in the dealer’s repair order, which states “vehicle is burning excessive oil. ” the problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a Hyundai dealer. The vehicle is equipped with the theta ii 2. 4l gdi engine, which is already covered under Hyundai’s ksds (knock sensor detection system) extended engine warranty due to known internal mechanical defects such as bearing wear and oil consumption. Despite this, the manufacturer has declined to replace the engine. The excessive oil burning occurs rapidly and triggers the low-oil warning light while the vehicle is in motion, creating a risk of engine seizure and sudden loss of power that could lead to a crash. The defect remains unresolved. Warning lights for low oil level appeared multiple times beginning in 2025, shortly after the ksds update and knock-sensor replacement.

While driving the oil light started flashing then the check engine light started flashing with no prior warning. The car was checked, it had burnt up the oil in it and then I put 3 quarts in it. It was 200 miles from needing an oil change. The engine had little to no power once oil was put in it. It died on the side of a highway. It had to be towed to a mechanic. There was no prior warning to this incident that the oil was low. This car put me and my child at risk of car accidents when on the road trying to get home with traffic behind me because the car wouldn't accelerate. I called Hyundai and they said they wouldn't help with no recall or extended warranty on the car.

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.

I recently inquired about this vehicle that was for sale at grayson Hyundai. It's has a ksds that needs service immediately and the pre-owned manager is not willing to do that; in fact he's refusing because "they aren't Hyundai" when that is a lie and his dealership can definitely do that service. Safety is a huge concern because the engine could potentially catch on fire or worse. Nothing has been inspected or replaced or fixed at this dealership. I did not go to the dealership myself so I don't know what lights could be on. But with the recalls and this ksds campaign service needing to be done I don't think there is anything else wrong with the vehicle.

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph onto the ramp, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle stalled and shut off, and the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact was calling for roadside assistance and noticed white smoke coming from under the hood. The stated that the smoke then turned dark brown and then black, and then flames appeared under the hood. The contact grabbed several things of value and exited the vehicle and started running. The vehicle was engulfed in flames, and the edr was destroyed. The contact sustained minor scratches after falling while running away from the vehicle. No medical attention was sought. The police and fire department were called to the scene. The contact stated that a police report was not filed due to the incident not being related to a crash. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The local dealer where the vehicle was purchased was contacted; however, no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had been purchased two months prior to catching on fire. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance provider and declared a total loss. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v181000 (trailer hitches); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 94,400.

This vehicle requires 1-2 quarts of oil to be added to it weekly. It's all over the internet that many different models of Hyundais consume excessive amounts of oil. This puts others at risk due to damaging the engine and the possibility that the car will just stop completely while driving it. We have records to show how often and how much we have to add more oil every week.

I have been experiencing issues with oil consumption, having to get oil changes every 2 months and sometimes monthly with no reported leaks from 2 different mechanics. I have been very high maintenance over my oil. While I was driving on the highway, my vehicle began to shake and a knocking sound was heard. I felt the vehicle begin to jerk but no warning lights were on. I was no longer able to drive and had to pull over and wait for a tow to my mechanic's garage. The mechanic let me know there was an issue with the engine, specifically the 3rd cylinder and the piston. It does not put out as much pressure as it is supposed to. I brought the vehicle to the dealership after and they confirmed this was an issue and quoted me $8700 in repairs. There were no warning lights and no engine lights prior to this happening. I was informed by my mechanic that this is a known issue with Hyundai in their 2018 models having failing engines. I purchased the vehicle certified pre-owned with a guarantee from the dealership that I was purchasing a reliable vehicle that should have no issues of this degree.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Overly excessive oil consumption 2 quarts every 3 or 4 days. No leaks. Engine gets so hot I don't have to turn on heater in winter. On going issue since 100,000 miles. Ebs light stays on electronic parking brake switch does not work. Parking brake will randomly engage after vehicle is turned off. Dealership cannot duplicate issue. If cruse control is turned on the vehicles warning lights all of them will suddenly illuminate and the vehicle shuts off. Alternator and battery replaced. Have not used cruse control since. Airbags never inflated in a front end crash at 45mph most recently I started experiencing I intermittent trouble staring the car. Then one day it didn't start at all and smoke was coming from under the hood. Towed to mechanic , starter burnt up 155,000. $ 900 to replace then a couple days later I lost power on the freeway and the car started jerking and vibrating. Stopped vehicle cut off and would not start. After 1hr I started and limped home. Vibration under 2000 rpms and when stopped. Knocking noise under hood. Brand new spark plugs. Mechanic stated cylinder 3;missfire was identified as a hole in a valve due to weak material now I have to replace engine. Oil consumption and excessive friction and heat is to blame. My car has been cared for like a baby it's all I have. I should not have to be responsible for this very cheaply made engine that was doomed to fail.

My 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe caught fire on October 29, 2025. Prior to this, the dealership completed one recall but left another open. Hyundai denied my claim and refused to provide the inspection report. I am filing this complaint because I believe the incomplete recall may be related and I want NHTSA to review the issue.

See all problems of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

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.

The vehicle developed loud engine knocking and abnormal noise consistent with known Hyundai engine defects. The vehicle is unsafe to operate and has been retained at an authorized Hyundai dealership since October 25, 2025. Hyundai vehicles with similar engine failures have been documented to catch fire, including while parked. Despite the known defect pattern, the manufacturer is refusing warranty coverage, alleging lack of complete oil change records, without providing proof that maintenance caused the failure. This represents a serious safety risk to occupants and the public. My family includes a child with a motor disability, which significantly increases the danger in the event of fire or engine failure.

The engine in my 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe 2. 0t shut off suddenly while driving and would not restart. The dealership confirmed the engine is seized, has bottom-end knocking, and failed the bct (bearing clearance test). Hyundai denied assistance claiming ‘maintenance neglect,’ but the mechanical failure is consistent with known Hyundai gdi engine defects. This presents a serious safety hazard because the vehicle lost power unexpectedly while in motion and could have caused a crash.

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

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.