Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Hyundai Santa Fe - part 2

These vehicles are not suitable to be on the road, and you NHTSA and Hyundai are doing nothing about it. These vehicles are eating oil, a quart every 200 miles. My daughter(college) can't even go on a short road trip to another city without adding oil. The engines in these crap cars are blowing up left & right. There are numerous facebook page groups for these and sister kia vehicles with the same 2. 4 engines. Thousands upon thousands of posts about engine oil and engines blowing up, no one doing anything about it. My daughter's car is beautiful, but worth nothing due to this issue, so we are out thousands of dollars on this. We are about to go to war with Hyundai on this and I'm sure we'll get nowhere. If we're lucky, they'll install a rebuilt engine. . . But it"s the same crap engine!!!!!!! so we are all back to square one and NHTSA is doing nothing. This is a well known flaw for years now.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Enterprise car sales sold me this vehicle when it had 3 open recalls on it. The vehicle itself was a problem from the beginning. When I took it in for it's first oil change the mechanic told me it had no oil in it. He said they sold me a car that is notorious for consuming oil and or seizing or blowing up. I had the engine replaced on this car already and I just took it in for it's first oil change and it was already consuming oil. I want a new car but enterprise is telling me this is my problem.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

After having the abs recall fixed a while back all of the lights came back on about a week ago. There has been a loss of oil meaning I have been adding oil in between oil changes at least once a week, there has been smoke coming from under the hood and if you run the heat or air you have to have circulate cabin air button pushed or it pulls the smell inside the car and it is overwhelming. The smoking has been going on for about at least a month now.

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I was driving on March 20, 2026 at about 12:00 pm when I suddenly noticed smoke, a strong gasoline smell, an oil smell, and a burning odor coming from the vehicle. I pulled over immediately because I believed the vehicle was unsafe and at risk of fire. The vehicle had to be towed. An independent repair shop later found a fuel leak at the high-pressure fuel line / fuel pump area, a loose ground wire on the right-hand side of the engine, a valve cover gasket leak, and engine timing chain noise. I was informed that gasoline had sprayed throughout the engine bay. This created an immediate fire hazard even though no actual fire occurred. This problem was especially concerning because the vehicle had been inspected and serviced by an authorized Hyundai dealer in December 2025, less than about 3,000 miles earlier. The loose engine ground wire and fuel leak raise serious concerns about vehicle safety and the adequacy of the prior inspection. I contacted Hyundai the same day and reported this as a fire-risk safety issue, but I did not receive timely assistance. Because immediate dealer service was not available, I had to authorize emergency repairs at a local shop for safety reasons. No warning lights were noted before the incident. The failure was confirmed by the repair shop.

Gas motor is not engaging to assist electric drivetrain on a hybrid awd 2025 Santa Fe. This resulted in a dangerous situation crossing a busy road from a stop sign. The Santa Fe rolled into the intersection at the drivers request, but did not accelerate normally (only to a maximum of a few miles per hour) and felt like an eternity to cross the road. Fortunately oncoming drivers from left and right were paying attention and slowed down and in one case honked aggressively to point out we driving badly. Pulling over to the side of the road, turning the vehicle off and then back on again has sometimes made it run normally, but we limited our trips at that point to first getting safely home and then delivering it to the dealer. The 20 mile drive to the dealer required pulling over twice to reset the vehicle so the electric motor would assist. We have had repeated warnings from the onboard system including "follow up checks required - engine management system" and "there may be a problem with the engine management system contact your dealer". I will note that we have 11,000 miles and 11 months experience with the vehicle with no problems. It may not be relevant, but these new faults began 2 days routine service for oil and tire rotation when recall was performed including ecu software update for recall 25-01-028-1. Dealer is uncertain of problem and referring with outside tech assistance from Hyundai but we were told to expect 2 weeks for parts and repair and uncertainty as to whether that would fix it. In the meantime a vehicle with unreliable acceleration and top speed is unsafe and parked. I do note on this NHTSA website 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid SUV awd that there are 47 complaints. 9 relating to this problem all beginning October 2025 and none prior back to the first post of Nov 2024 for this model. Complaints similar to this for engine management and speed and power loss account for 50% of complaints for this vehicle on the nhsta website since October 2025.

See all problems of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

After performing regular oil changes, and even a new fuel pump sensor, I experienced an issue. Last oil change was within the past two weeks. Driving home from the mountains, I heard a knocking sound from the engine bay. I narrowed it down to all gears above 2500rpm, increasing knocking with rpm speed. I took it easy on the engine, mostly coasting down the mountain. Suddenly during acceleration on an uphill, a pop sounded, and copious white smoke started coming from the engine bay. I pulled over despite having no power brakes but I was fortunate to be near an off ramp in a rural area. Trying to troubleshoot roadside, I noticed fluid on the tie rod, but I wasnt able to determine what kind of fluid it was. When I try to start the car, there is one single click, the engine wont even attempt to turn over. Oil, battery and check engine lights are all on. After towing, I found that the fluid leaking from the vehicle is oil. The vehicle is currently at a transmission shop, but from my research, this isnt a transmission issue but a blown rod bearing the Hyundai engines are know for. I will be contacting a dealership to see if they will at least confirm my diagnosis.

My vehicle had oil consumption problems that were fixed with a new replacement engine now my catalytic converter is going bad due to engine oil consumption problems and the dealer I deal with is refusing to help with this issue. There is only around 50k miles on the new engine. I would greatly appreciate your help with this thank you!.

My wife's 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe limited experienced a sudden crack in the engine and lost oil without any warning signs. There were no warning lights, no check engine light, and no unusual noise before the engice crack. A certified independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed the engine has no oil, whick it did a couple days before when I checked the oil and topped it off, which is the same issue described in Hyundai’s known engine safety recalls. 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 crack and loss of oil created a serious safety risk, especially because there was no warning before it happened and it almost left our family stranded two hours from home. This failure matches the symptoms described in Hyundai’s theta ii engine defect investigations. While at the mechanic shop, we were quoted $10,000 to get a new remanufactured engine put into this car. I certainly (and I know most families) don't have $10k sitting around waiting to be used for car repairs. 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. This vehicle is currently parked in our yard waiting to be repaired or sold. I would prefer it be repaired by Hyundai since one of the car plants is only 1 hour from our house. I was unaware of the current safety recall until I read it today.

Engine rattles noise when starting the car after sitting for more than an hour it makes that sound another issue is that when I turn the headlights on all interior lights shuts off including the instrument cluster radio and ac climate control buttons.

See all problems of the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

My 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe (approx. 153,000 miles) developed a new stalling and engine-dying-at-idle condition immediately following a knock sensor replacement performed by a Hyundai dealership. Prior to this repair, the vehicle ran normally with no stalling or idle issues. The vehicle was originally brought in for diagnosis related to code p1326, which is covered under Hyundai service campaign t6g (engine rod bearing / knock sensor campaign). The dealership replaced the knock sensor but subsequently claimed my vehicle's p1326 condition did not qualify under campaign t6g. Immediately after the knock sensor replacement, the vehicle began stalling and completely shutting off at idle — a condition that did not exist before the dealer's service. I returned the vehicle to the dealership to address this new issue. The vehicle has now been at the dealership for over three (3) weeks with no diagnosis update, no repair timeline, and no communication from the service department. I am filing this complaint for two reasons: 1. Safety concern: an engine that stalls and dies at idle presents a serious risk of loss of vehicle control, particularly in traffic or at intersections. 2. Service campaign t6g: I believe the underlying condition and the dealer-caused stalling issue are both connected to the knock sensor system covered by this campaign. I request that NHTSA review whether this vehicle qualifies under campaign t6g and whether dealer-caused damage following campaign-related service should be addressed under the campaign or a related recall. The dealership's failure to communicate for 3+ weeks and their claim that my vehicle is not covered under campaign t6g warrants regulatory review.

See all problems of the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Beginning about a month ago, I noticed a rattle upon the engine start up that lasted for a 1-2 seconds then stopped and everything sounded normal. I thought it could be b/c of the cold weather. I went in to get a routine oil change on 03/11/2026 and they said the oil looked fine, but it was about a quart low, indicating it was burning some oil somehere. They said to check in in a few months and they would top it up if needed. I asked them about the rattle and they thought is might be from a bad (timing chain tensioner) but said I should get it checked out. I called on Friday 03/13/26 to schedule an appt at my local Hyundai dealership on 03/17 . The night before(03/16), I was driving my vehicle and suddenly on the road, I heard a loud noise in the engine, and the power shut off, the engine and oil light came on and I just had enough time to pull off the busy state route. My car would not start or turn over. I had it towed to the dealership and they did determine that it was a "rod bearing failure" that caused the engine to sieze. I provided them evidence of my oil changes which from 10k-93k miles on my car since I have owned it. I have had the oil changed 10 times. They are saying they only allow 8k between oil changes to honor the warranty and have initially denied my claim. The service associate at the dealership said my valvetrain was 'somewhat' dirty, but nothing to where it was the cause for this issue. And since it was the rod bearing that failed, the exact part that was recalled, he was surprised they were not even offering any good-will offer, to split the cost of the engine replacement. I have reached out to Hyundai consumer affairs and am waiting to hear back to see if they will be fair and work with me on this to honor the warranty issue or at least share the cost burden for this "well-known" failure in their engine.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

While traveling at approximately 80 mph on the highway, my vehicle suddenly lost all response to the accelerator pedal. Despite continued pressure on the gas, the vehicle rapidly decelerated to approximately 40 mph on its own. There were no warning lights, unusual noises, or physical indicators of a problem before, during, or after the event. I was able to safely navigate the vehicle off the highway. The vehicle appeared to operate normally afterward. The following day, I brought the vehicle to a mechanic who was unable to replicate the issue and found no stored fault codes. No repairs were made. Given the known concerns surrounding the theta ii engine in this model year, I am submitting this incident for documentation purposes and to contribute to any ongoing or future investigation into sudden acceleration loss in 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles.

Engine failed while driving down the road, car was looked at by two mechanics with no known reason for engine failure so car was took to Hyundai of murfreesboro for diagnostic testing and was there for a total of 12 days for inspection, in which during that time I as asked to submit maintenance records for vehicle which I provided 18 pages of oil changes, other records. I was then told my claim was denied by Hyundai due to maintenance neglect as worded by the technician through a text message “is not proceeding with coverage on the engine due the cause of engine failure being maintenance neglect ” I received to other valid reason or cause, nor via email or in writing only a text message.

See all problems of the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

The contact’s daughter owns a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. While the owner was driving approximately 70 mph, the engine started making a knocking sound. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver called the contact and was advised to pull over to the side of the road and turn off the vehicle. Once the vehicle was turned off, it was towed to a certified mechanic who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to another mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, who confirmed the failure and that the engine needed to be repaired. The dealer informed the contact of a class action lawsuit for the engine failure and that the engine could be repaired; however, because the vehicle had not received the software update for Hyundai campaign: (Hyundai txxm warranty extension number: 966/953/txxm); the vehicle was no longer eligible to receive the engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer opened a case. The failure mileage was 86,204.

On [xxx] while entering the parking lot of my office, I noticed a blinking check engine light on the car's dashboard. I've never experienced this before so I called my husband. He asked me to use a diagnositic tool he kept in the car. I did and there was a code "p1326" when I pressed the key for more information it said something about the manufacturer. My husband told me to call the nearest dealer. I called castle Hyundai in downers grove. I was instructed not to drive the care and have it towed to the dealership as soon as possible which I did. Castle Hyundai verified the p1326 code and fixed the knock sensor, changed the oil. I picked the car up on March 13. On [xxx], the flashing check engine light returned while driving home from work. Again, we used the diagnostic tool and again the code p1326 appeared. The car was towed back to castle Hyundai. On Monday, I spoke with christain jones the service director because I hadn't heard anything about the car. He called later in the day and said that the car needed a new engine. He asked for records of my oil changes since purchasing the car in 2021. I emailed him three from 2022, 2023 and 2024, the four change was done by castle on March 12 2026. I was told that he would send the the information to Hyundai regarding a new engine. However, he stated that he was not confident the company would approve the claim. This after, I received an email from eric marcum with castle. The email stated that Hyundai denied the engine replacement due to "lack of maintenance". He wanted to know if we wanted an estimate on replacement of the engine. I responsed that I needed Hyundai's rejection in writing and I also wanted an estimate of the replacement. I attempted to contact Hyundai's customer care, however, their offices were closed until Monday. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving on the highway at approximately 70 mph with a heavily loaded vehicle, my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe sport 2. 4l suddenly lost power and entered limp mode. The check engine light flashed and diagnostic code p1326 was stored. During limp mode the engine was banging hard, almost like it was seizing and then releasing repeatedly. This is consistent with connecting rod bearing failure, not wrist pin failure. P1326 is generated by Hyundai's knock sensor detection system (ksds), specifically designed to detect abnormal vibration consistent with connecting rod bearing failure — a known defect covered under Hyundai's theta ii engine warranty extension. Prior to this event the engine had been consuming oil abnormally. Approximately 1,300 miles after my last oil change the oil level had already dropped to the low mark on the dipstick, a significant change from normal operation. The vehicle was towed to a Hyundai dealership where it remains today. The dealership confirmed cylinder scoring and wrist pin damage. Hyundai is attributing the failure solely to wrist pin failure to avoid theta ii warranty coverage. I believe the wrist pin damage is downstream damage caused by the underlying rod bearing defect. My safety was directly at risk at highway speed. The vehicle has approximately 140,000 miles and is within the 15 year/150,000 mile theta ii warranty extension. A warranty prior approval has been submitted to Hyundai motor America and has been unresolved since March 24, 2026.

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to immediately start, but started after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the starter, oil filter, and engine filter, and changed the oil. On a hot day, there was a loud sound coming from the vehicle, and it was noticed that the unoccupied vehicle was attempting to start independently. The contact unlocked the vehicle and opened the vehicle door, put the keys in the ignition, and continued to crank for approximately four minutes. The accelerator pedal was pumped, and the vehicle stopped. There was smoke coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle eventually stopped. There were flames coming from the vehicle. The contact called 911, an independent mechanic, her father, and the fire department. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire and disconnect the battery. The mechanic determined that the engine cover was burned. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact indicated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 11e040000 (equipment). The insurance company referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

See all problems of the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai santa. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and hesitated to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine and check engine oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local o'reilly's, where it was diagnosed with ignition coil #3 misfire. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to severe engine oil consumption. The vehicle was then to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with abnormal engine oil consumption, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle required an engine oil refill 800-1,000 miles before an engine oil change was due. The contact related the failure to several unknown Hyundai tsbs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65-70 mph, the check engine warning light started flashing, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, where the vehicle failed to restart and was towed to a parking lot, where a mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that the engine had failed, and there was sludge in the engine oil. The dealer informed the contact that the engine replacement could not be covered due to missing oil change documentation prior to the ownership of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

My 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe sport equipped with a theta ii gdi engine began exhibiting excessive oil consumption, engine knocking, and cylinder misfires consistent with the known theta ii engine defect covered under the Hyundai class action settlement. Prior to the failure, the check engine light illuminated and I experienced repeated misfires and audible engine knocking. The vehicle required frequent oil additions between oil changes due to excessive consumption. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Hyundai dealership where a diagnosis confirmed a burnt valve inside the cylinder head. The dealership recommends replacement of the cylinder head or complete engine replacement to correct the issue. The dealership performed a bearing failure test and attributed the burnt valve to carbon buildup. However, excessive oil consumption in a gdi engine directly accelerates carbon buildup on intake valves, as burning oil deposits carbon on valve surfaces preventing proper seating and causing overheating and valve failure. The carbon buildup is therefore a consequential result of the theta ii oil consumption defect, not an independent cause. The safety risk is significant as engine misfires and knocking while driving create unpredictable loss of power and potential for stalling in traffic. The vehicle is currently not reliably operable. The manufacturer has been contacted regarding coverage under the theta ii settlement. The component is available for inspection upon request at the servicing dealership.

Immediately following the implementation of service campaign 9c2 and TSB 25-01-087h - ecu update for theta ii emissions logic improvement, the vehicle exhibits poor drivability (staggering/missing/hesitation) until the engine warms up. This is most noticeable just prior to the shift from first to second gear.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was using an excessive amount of oil. There were no warning lights illuminated. There was no indication of a leak. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact the failure was related to combustion chamber cleaning. The manufacturer was contacted, who informed the diagnostic fees were at her expense and there was no coverage. The failure mileage was approximately 94,700.

I drove 2. 5 hours north to a marine brother's father's funeral, who unexpectedly passed. I started my drive home and made it to yorktown in about 15 minutes, and the engine light came on, started flashing, and went into limp mode. I pulled over on I-69 to shut it off, pulled the dipstick, and the oil level was full. I pushed the bluelink button on my rearview mirror, and hma sent a tow truck to tow the vehicle to a local dealership about 10-12 minutes away. The dealership did not inspect the vehicle until the following Monday, since it was Friday, three weeks ago. The dealership found dtc codes for misfires in cylinders 1 and 2, multiple-cylinder misfire, and too-high pressure in all four cylinders. The vehicle has had the knock sensor replaced, a ksds ecm update, and a series of gaskets replaced. It has been burning oil since 69,362 miles and is now not operational, 2. 5 hours from home. Hma has declined to replace the engine on a vehicle involved in a class action settlement due to problems with several completed replacements. The dealership has followed the manufacturer's process, and, due to the engine not producing a code it had at 87,986, but now not capable due to piston damage, cylinder scouring, and spark plug damage, the manufacturer has declined a goodwill replacement. The engine failure did put others in harm's way, as it did me when having to pull off the busy interstate to inspect the obvious failure. I have been driving a rental since this situation occurred, have a vehicle that is not operational, and a manufacturer that is not assuming responsibility for the catastrophic failure. I have read numerous forums across several platforms about the theta 2 engines. The vehicle has been serviced as needed, including multiple requests to fix or repair the engine noises it produced, when the oil level became low, and oil had to be added.

2/27/26 kept regularly scheduled oil changes with dealer. Car began to knock and lose power, oil light is periodically flashing on and check engine light came on. Took car to valvoline oil change-they state no fluid on the oil dipstck. Scheduled oil change was not for another month. No oil leaks at all. Vehicle is bucking and knocking and loses acceleration. I have an appt at the dealer tomorrow3/2/26 and am hoping Hyundai will cover any necessary repairs as they have multiple technical service bulletins about this.

The engine rod broke creating a big whole in the engine which caused the engine and underneath of car to start on fire. There was a massive recall for this same issue in 2021-2023 for the year car! it is available for inspection! yes safety was at risk, the car was on fire on the highway in the middle of rush hour. The problem was confirmed by progressive and I contact Hyundai. The car was inspected by the police and insurance company. No lights, messages and the car was running fine before the fire!.

See all problems of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe sport with approximately 132k miles. While driving at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power/velocity and the engine light flashed. This created an immediate safety hazard, as maintaining speed is critical in highway traffic. Within seconds, the vehicle regained power and the warning light turned off, giving the impression that the issue had resolved. Shortly afterward, while exiting the highway, the vehicle began shaking and felt as though it would stall but was able to drive home less than one mile. A mechanic retrieved misfire codes for cylinders 2 and 4. Further inspection revealed internal engine damage in cylinder 4 requiring major rebuild. A full deconstruction revealed that one of the valves in cylinder 4 had partially broken. This failure occurred with little to no warning and involved a sudden loss of power at highway speed, which could have resulted in a serious accident. The vehicle’s warning systems did not provide adequate or persistent alerts prior to significant engine failure. Over the last 6 months it began consuming oil frequently requiring weekly checks, however no warning systems or errors to indicate an underlining concern. Based on research, similar Hyundai vehicles have documented issues involving excessive oil consumption and internal engine damage without sufficient warning. This raises concerns about a potential safety defect affecting engine performance and failure detection.

On the morning of February 20 2026 at around 6:35am. I was on my way to work when the engine light started flashing and the speed started to decrease. I was traveling on a major highway in heavy rain with a lot of traffic. I had to put on my hazard lights and quickly pull off the road. The code given is p1326 which has to do with the engine and wiring harness. I just purchased the vehicle on Jan. 17 2026. The carfax stated no open recalls.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

After turning off the radio with the push button control the instrument cluster and navigation display panel went completely dead black. After pushing multiple buttons several times the panel came back to life. This has not yet been reported to the dealer. On 12/12/2025 this same vehicle also experienced faulty engine / power train components which required replacement @1199 miles. Throttle body assembly and torque converter assembly which caused loss of power when accelerating onto a high speed parkway attempting to reach @55mph along with excessive vibration when brakes were off. Took dealer 22 days to fix the problem.

Connecting rod bearing failure, stated a recall was active but it hadn't been assigned to my vehicle. Vehicle went into engine failiure and does not have appropriate measures to prevent engine failiure. No warning messages prior to engine failiure.

The engine light started blinking and my car would not accelerate anymore. I took it to the mechanic immediately, who said that there was an engine recall. I contacted the dealership, but they cannot do an initial inspection for more than 2 months. It would likely take another 2-3 months after the inspection before the engine can be replaced. I called Hyundai and they confirmed that my vehicle should be covered under an extended warranty based on the service history and error code from my car (txxi for the theta 2 engine - knock sensor detection, code p1326). However, Hyundai will not provide any help until the vehicle is inspected by a dealership. The dealership completely refuses to look at my car as they are busy. I live on an island, so the only other Hyundai dealership is two hours away. They will not answer any of my calls. I'm expected to figure out how to commute to work alone for the next two months, but since I live in a rural area, there are no alternative transportation options. An independent mechanic confirmed and reproduced the issue. The car is unsafe to drive. The dealer will not inspect my component in a reasonable time frame, much less repair it despite the fact that it is covered under extended warranty. The car was driving normally prior to the issue, and I did not notice any problems until the engine light started blinking. I have the car available for inspection.

Around Feb 15, 2026, at ~85,000 miles, the oil pressure warning light began illuminating at idle and extinguishing above idle speed. The vehicle had also been experiencing intermittent hard starts and occasional shuddering at idle — symptoms too subtle for a typical owner to connect to imminent engine failure. An independent mechanic performed a manual oil pressure test: 4 psi (Hyundai minimum spec is 13 psi). The authorized dealer confirmed 6 psi and found metal shavings in the oil pan — the signature of connecting rod bearing wear documented in theta ii gdi engine failures. Dealer recommended full engine replacement ($8,500). Vehicle has been inoperable at the dealer since Feb 19, 2026. Safety concern: at 4 psi with metal debris in the oil system, this engine was at imminent risk of catastrophic seizure. I avoided highway driving after the warning appeared (max 50 mph, city streets only). Had the engine seized at highway speed, loss of power steering and brake vacuum assist would have created serious crash risk. The symptom profile — warning only at idle, clearing at speed, no knocking, no check engine light — is the pattern that puts less-vigilant drivers at risk of seizure at highway speed with no warning. Known defect: the 2. 4l g4kj theta ii gdi is identical to the engine subject to a $210m NHTSA civil penalty (2020), multiple recalls, and a ~$1. 3b class action settlement extending lifetime warranties through my 2019. The 2020 uses the same engine but was excluded. My failure mode is textbook theta ii. Hyundai service campaign 9c2 (ecu update for 2019-2020 theta ii, issued Nov 2025) was incomplete on this vehicle — I was never notified. Completed after the engine had already failed. Manufacturer denied coverage (case #xxx). Bbb auto line claim #xxx filed Apr 16, 2026. No crash. No injuries. No fire. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Engine seizure. Driving 80mph on i90, pop sound from under the hood happens & check engine light came on; immediately pulled over & the oil and battery light came on; turned car off & it would not start again. Smoke then came from engine while trying to restart. Code 1326.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety-related incident involving my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe on February 14, 2026. While driving, the vehicle suddenly began to overheat, creating an immediate safety hazard. I was close to my home and was able to return there safely, but once parked, I observed coolant leaking from the front of the vehicle. Due to the risk of further overheating or engine failure, the vehicle was not drivable and had to be towed to a local Hyundai dealership. At the time of the incident, the vehicle had fewer than 38,000 miles and was purchased brand new. Despite this, the dealership informed me that the repair would not be covered under warranty, claiming the radiator damage was caused by “road debris. ” however, they did not provide any evidence of an impact, puncture, or external damage. The only documentation offered was a video showing coolant spewing from the radiator after a technician inserted an object into the grille. This video does not demonstrate any pre?existing road damage or confirm that debris caused the failure. I requested proof of actual damage multiple times, including photographs or inspection notes showing an impact point, but none was provided. Without verifiable evidence of external damage, I am concerned that this may represent a premature component failure or a potential safety defect in the cooling system. The sudden overheating while driving, combined with the lack of substantiated cause, raises significant safety concerns for me and potentially for other owners of this model. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Engine fire.

Engine cut out on highway, check engine light flashing. Car would not exceed 50 mph on highway and would hesitate/jump trying to go up any hill/incline. Took to mechanic and vehicle had p1326 knock sensor code. There appears to be a service campaign (campaign 966/t3g) for 2013-2018 sanat fe sport vehicles, but when I enter my VIN campaign does not appear. This is a safety risk/hazard and should be covered by the campaign/addressed by dealer. Car has always been well maintained and adhere to service schedule.