Equipment Problems of Hyundai Santa Fe - part 1

Rear bucket seat crushes occupant of seat belt is not buckled. Rear facing car seat is crushed posing huge risk to baby.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Driving to work and a loud noise (pop) was heard and then I realized the sunroof had basically exploded. Glass was all over the car and all over myself. I immediately got off the road and turned on my hazard lights to assess the situation. This could have caused an accident had I not remained calm. Contacted dealership this morning. Waiting to hear back. No prior warning to this happening.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Service campaign update 9c2 was installed. Since then erratic shifting occurs including up and down shifting without change in acceleration and deceleration or lag. This lasts between 1-5 minutes after initial vehicle start-up. This is dangerous when vehicle attempts to pull out into traffic. Hyundai has been aware of the issue as early as December 2025 but no notice of corrective action has been received.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

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 🔎.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe purchased new in may 2024. On three occasions since December 2025, while driving, the dashboard went completely black as if the vehicle shut off. The Hyundai startup logo then reappeared while the vehicle was still moving, and the vehicle lost acceleration. The most recent event occurred at highway speed, approximately 65-70 mph, requiring us to coast to the shoulder. No warning lights appeared before the event. A video of the most recent incident is available. Dealer inspected vehicle but could not duplicate the problem and reported no error codes.

I have attached a photo since I couldn’t save it.

I put my vehicle in park but it kept going anyway and hit a car in front of me.

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 🔎.

While parked the panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I'm reporting a rearview camera issue in my Hyundai Santa Fe 2020. The camera image was previously static/distorted and has now completely stopped working. When the vehicle is placed in reverse, no image is displayed. This creates a safety risk, as the rearview camera is essential for visibility and preventing accidents while backing up. I am aware there has been a recall for similar rearview camera issues; however, my vehicle is not included because the recall is VIN-specific, despite experiencing the same problem.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

My horn stopped working. Not under warranty but I believe it is a safety issue. A replacement horn is not available and not under warranty. Online search revealed this is a common issue.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

The motor began to making a knocking noise and started smoking like a fire was starting. We immediately turned off the vehicle preventing from a full fledge fire. We had children in the car as well which posed a safety concern for them. We had no prior warning lights or issues. It has yet to be inspected by anyone.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I was driving on a 5 lane highway when suddenly what sounded like a gunshot or grenade going off in my right ear turned out to be my sunroof shattering. I thought someone shot at me since there were traffic on my right, but when I looked to my right I saw no evidence until I looked up, then immediately felt glass particles falling in all around.

See all problems of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Replaced horns a couple times, after doing research, this seems to be a deeper and ongoing issues with this car ok a larger scale. Horns die out or stop completely, causing multiple replacements.

The dealership I bought it from (vineland Hyundai) I have had trouble with before where they say they fix things and they don’t. Last year there was a recall for the back camera not working. I took it in and supposedly they fixed it. Well, a few months later, the camera does not work at all and the problem issues with it is exactly what the recall says. I contacted the better business bureau and the dealership and even though they have it in the system as completed clearly it was not done or it would not done correctly and right now I have no back camera. They refuse to help. I seriously doubt this was done at all being I’ve had issues with service said they did things before and did not. I even asked Hyundai if I could get this done at a different dealership that is more trustworthy and they refuse to help. I’m hoping you may be able to intervene and have them actually do this recall correctly.

On my vehicle I’ve had to have the horn replaced at least three times. Paying about $500 for the last two instances. While there is no formal federal recall for the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe horn specifically, it is affected by a widespread, known issue where water intrusion corrodes the horn's electrical contacts, leading to failure. Hyundai has addressed this with an extended warranty or service campaign in some regions to replace the horn. Saying this my VIN # is not included in this but I can’t understand why.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

The sunroof glass suddenly shattered while driving slowly into a parking lot.

Horns stopped working entirely. Car was crossing into my lane and I attempted to honk horn and no sound. No warning lights or messages on dash. Is available for inspection. No inspections conducted currently.

The car was purchased new on June 30, 2021. On January 25, 2024 at 38,347 miles the horns failed to work and were replaced under warranty. About a week ago (c. January 24,2026) the horns again failed. The dealer was called and I was told that there was no recall on the horns and I would have to pay around $91 for the horns plus labor. The service manager told me that this is a common problem that has to do with where the horns are mounted on the vehicle. They are behind the front bumper and exposed to the elements. I feel that this is a serious design flaw and a safety issue that should be addressed by the manufacturer. There should be a recall instead of customers buying new horns every two years. Had the horns failure occurred during an emergency situation it could have resulted in an accident and possible loss of life.

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe calligraphy repeated horn failures since purchasing vehicle new. Will be having 5th and 6th horns replaced with no effective remedy as vehicle has less than 11k miles on it and this urgently safety failure needs to be corrected. There is no warning of the horn failure until you need them to prevent an emergency/collision warning.

Subject: sabotage of safety-related engine test via unauthorized modification description: while my vehicle was undergoing an official manufacturer oil consumption test for a potential engine replacement warranty claim, a dealership in lincolnwood, IL damaged the oil pan threads. Instead of a proper oem repair, they installed a non-standard, oversized self-tapping "kkb" bolt without my knowledge or consent to conceal the damage. Safety risk: two independent certified mechanics have verified this as a hazardous "quick-fix. " this non-oem bolt relies on compromised aluminum threads and poses a severe risk of sudden, catastrophic oil loss, which could lead to engine seizure and fire while driving. Manufacturer negligence: the manufacturer has been presented with photographic and independent expert evidence confirming this unauthorized modification. Despite the clear safety hazard, the manufacturer has repeatedly delayed resolution through multiple follow-up postponements. Consequences: this unauthorized modification has halted the engine safety test, leaving the vehicle with both a failing engine and an unsafe oil pan. The manufacturer has refused to provide safe alternative transportation while the vehicle is in this hazardous state during extreme winter conditions. I am seeking immediate intervention to ensure the vehicle is restored to factory safety standards and the engine safety test is completed.

See all problems of the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

This car was in a bbb binding arbitration and Hyundai was told to fix: speed control malfunction, speed linit not posting to hub arbitrary fan engagement. The dealership alm west had the car 2 weeks and the car sat on their lot. They said we are unable to duplicate the problem. Now in addition I showed them the cracked windshield and they were not responsible. I had an insurance complaint I took it to safelite and replaced the windshield yesterday and I got it back with a new windshield and it also had a crack in the replacement windshield. I think Hyundai knows there's a problem with the glass which is also part of the safety system of the car.

My windshield is the problem. My granddaughter drives with me often and afraid the glass will shatter. Yes, the corporate office for Hyundai. No, this was done while driving, all occasions.

I was driving at on the highway no other cars around going 80mph and the sunroof spontaneously shattered without impact. Distracting me with a loud bang and glass flying I had my wife and two kids in the car it’s a major safety issue. I’ll repeat the sunroof spontaneously shattered without impact of rock or debris. And I was traveling at a speed of 80mph on a clear highway. Distracting me with the loud bang and glass flying in and over my roof of the car.

The in-cabin camera system is having non stop issues. I have had this car since 2024 and have never experienced issues with this system like I have for the past month or so. I don't know if this is because of the latest update that was done on 11-26-25 or not. The system constantly goes off telling me to keep my eyes on the road when I am staring at the car in front of my while I am driving. It dings and displays the message on the dash which is a major distraction while driving. On the 8th of January I decided to count how many times it goes off. On all these drives I was only driving for 20-25 minutes at a time. On the 8th the system went off 26 times, on the 9th it went off 18 times and on the 12th it went off 27 times. That is excessive and very dangerous as if I turn the system off in the car it will disable the safety features on the car because it can’t detect my eyes at that time even though I am staring at the car in front of me. It does it in any type of weather, any time of day, and if I’m wearing my prescription glasses, sunglasses or anything. I took it to the dealer and they couldn’t duplicate the issue so they weren’t able to fix it as per Hyundai they have to duplicate the issue for them to fix it.

While driving on a service road at approximately 45 mph, the corner side glass on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe shattered suddenly and without warning. There was no impact from a rock or object, and no other vehicles were present that could have caused debris. We had just entered the service road, and road conditions were normal. My [xxx] was seated in the front passenger seat at the time of the incident. The glass shattered inward, and the only thing preventing glass from entering the cabin was the window tint holding the shattered pieces together. This presented a serious safety hazard, as occupants could have been injured if the tint had not contained the glass. Once parked in my garage, I took pictures and tried to examine the damage but the window was still crackling and popping. My husband was able to inspected the window immediately after he returned home and confirmed there is no visible rock chip or point of external impact. The fracture pattern appears to originate from inside the glass or along the edge, consistent with a stress fracture or defect rather than road damage. This failure occurred under normal driving conditions with no accident, no debris strike, and no extreme temperature change. The sudden shattering while driving posed a significant risk to driver control and passenger safety, especially with multiple children in the vehicle. I am also aware of other owner complaints involving unexplained glass cracking or shattering on Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles, which raises concern that this may represent a broader defect rather than an isolated incident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Supplemental update – ongoing safety concerns and extended loss of use since submitting my initial complaint, my leased Hyundai vehicle (VIN [xxx] ) has now been presented for service for the third time for the same unresolved safety-related issues. The vehicle has been held by the dealership for eight (8) consecutive days during this service visit with no resolution and no clear timeline for return. Safety concerns remain unresolved, including: persistent toxic/chemical odor inside the cabin random rear hatch opening while vehicle is parked and locked repeated false “windows open” alerts electrical/body control system irregularities to date, I have not been provided with documentation confirming that cabin air quality testing, exhaust intrusion testing, or comprehensive electrical diagnostics have been performed. These unresolved conditions present ongoing safety risks and loss of use. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I stopped to fill the gas on my road trip and the gas panel would not open. As a single women driving alone this is not ideal. It took 45 min of continuous unlocking/locking with pushing to get it to pop open. There needs to be an alternative/emergency handle to pull so this does not happen again. I was standing in 32 degree weather the entire time! not safe.

Dashboard cracking - not overly parked in sunlight.

Hyundai - daw - driver attention warning / forward attention warning system this issue warrants immediate consideration for a recall. Despite wearing glasses, sunglasses, or no glasses, the problem persists. I occasionally remove my glasses while driving, and the warning continues to sound. This occurs regardless of the time of day, weather conditions, or whether I am sitting upright or reclining. The warning randomly activates and deactivates, sometimes without any intervention. Occasionally, I simply allow the warning to sound without taking any action, and it remains active for a few seconds or until it triggers a warning that the system will be turned off, at which point it deactivates. I have attempted various troubleshooting methods, such as keeping my eyes open, adjusting my seating position, wearing and removing my glasses, and tilting them to minimize glare. None of these methods have proven effective in preventing the warning from activating or in making it deactivate. This is a persistent problem. Hyundai dealerships initially informed me that the warning might be an annoyance and their response was to simply refrain from using it. However, if a basic feature like cruise control in a 2024 & 2025 model is rendered unusable due to a design flaw (which this certainly is), it constitutes a clear violation of safety standards and should be addressed through a recall. The incessant alerts are highly disruptive and can be quite frustrating. For instance, driving with an arm in the 12 o’clock position triggers a warning, while wearing polarized sunglasses also results in an alert. The presence of a setting to disable the warning is a welcome feature, but the system’s persistent alerts can be overwhelming. The alerts continue even after taking a break. It is distracting and a safety hazard. Drivers should be able to adjust the sensitivity of the feature to turn off this feature. Currently, there is no way to disable or temporarily disable this feature.

As driving, the passenger side rear wheel disconnected from the subframe. A lot of suspension parts (e. G. Rear suspension mounting bolt is absent from the subframe; rear control arm toe link detached from its mounting point; severe corrosion present on subframe control arm and bushing sleeve; rusted and degraded mounting hole) were subsequently affected which significantly impacts driver and passenger safety as well as other surrounding vehicles. The mechanic indicated that if we were on the highway at a higher speed this would of caused a major accident with potential several deaths.

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Both horns have failed for the second time since the vehicle was purchased new in November 2023 and is currently showing 25,000 miles. The first set was replaced under warranty at a Hyundai dealership approximately 1 year ago. Not having a functioning vehicle horn is a safety hazard that would fail annual vehicle safety inspection testing in my state.

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.

My back up camera is not working properly. The picture at times is scrambled and starts floating around on the screen. This was not the first time this has happened. I reported it to the dealership service department when I first noticed, about a year ago or longer. They updated the software and told me that would correct the problem. Clearly it did not correct the problem, if it is continuing to have issues.

I have had the horn in my 2022 Santa Fe replaced 3 times over the course of 3 years, and now it doesn't work again. I realized the newest horn is not working when a truck almost backed into me yesterday and I had no way to warn them to stop backing up.