Equipment Problems of Hyundai Santa Fe - part 1

The transmission was replaced and I picked up my vehicle on 16 September. 23 September, all of the transmission lights, warning, lights and check engine light came on. The vehicle is being towed back to the dealership with transmission issues again.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Unknown went to the grocery store and vehicle was working fine. Upon leaving the store, started the car, esc off light was on and when I went to press the brake to put the vehicle in reverse, the gearshift was locked and I couldn't move the gear. Long story short, I had to get my vehicle towed to the house as the vehicle is non-drivable at this time. Kelly's blue book indicated there were a few Hyundai recalls related to the esc but my make and model was not affected but clearly I believe it is based on my experience and find this very unsafe.

See all problems of the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

While driving the car, started to smell gas and saw smoke. Tried to pull over and abs lights came on and lost brakes. Was able to stop using emergency break. Car was completely engulfed in seconds.

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

While driving on a steep, narrow grade with no safe shoulder, my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe sport suddenly lost all forward power. The engine would rev but the vehicle would not accelerate. I was left stranded in traffic, with cars behind me and nowhere safe to pull off, creating an immediate risk of being rear-ended or rolling back into other vehicles. I had to call for a tow to avoid a serious crash. The vehicle was marked as having all recall campaigns completed, including the rod bearing inspection and knock sensor update, which were supposed to protect against catastrophic engine failure. Clearly, those campaigns were not sufficient to prevent the failure I experienced. At the time of failure, the vehicle displayed the check engine light and drivability symptoms consistent with abnormal combustion and potential bearing damage. Hyundai denied lifetime warranty coverage under the theta ii engine settlement without performing the required inspection. Instead, I was left with an estimate for engine-related repairs that exceeded the value of the vehicle, effectively rendering it a total loss. This failure is exactly what Hyundai’s recall notices describe as a risk: sudden engine failure, loss of motive power, and increased risk of crash. The fact that this happened to my vehicle despite “completed” recall campaigns raises serious concerns about whether the defect remains unresolved and whether Hyundai is adequately honoring its recall and settlement obligations. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether Hyundai is improperly denying warranty coverage without inspection and whether vehicles that were marked as repaired under these recalls are still at risk of catastrophic engine failure, stalling, and loss of motive power on public roads. The settlement administrator also works for Hyundai is just referring customers back to Hyundai customer care. They are not honoring this class action lawsuit and acting in bad faith and putting lives at risk.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Everytime with acc active it activates the driver attention camera system which never works in sunlight camera reads wrong and disable acc while driving on freeway all the time due to sun reflection cant even wear polairized glasses acc never works.

Driver assistant cruise and steering components relating to the warning system. The system notification is turned off in the settings; however, the issue overrides the setting. Cruise control and steering assist shuts off after brief but consistant warning to keep my eyes on the road. My eyes are on the road. I can do nothing to stop it from warning. It may happen up to 20 times in a distance of 9-20 miles. This has occured since purchase and occurs everytime the car is driven. While passing on interstate highways the system may shut off. Acceleration stops, steering assist shuts off. Four dealerships have seen the vehicle and a claim was issued by Hyundai America. A service manager finally, after many request, rode with me after a year of many service appointment resulting in a change of passenger facing camera. No change occurred in the system, it continues to behavior the same a prior to the camera change.

My drivers side door opened while driving. The latch wouldn’t allow me to close my door.

The horn has completely failed for the 4th time. Dealer is now stating it is not covered as mileage is over 60k.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Vehicle information: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe hybird sel VIN: [xxx] purchased date: [xxx] (less than one year) mileage at incident: 12,753 incident date: [xxx] dealer: kengarff downtown Hyundai summary of problem: I am filing this complaint because of a serious safety concern caused by clear dealership negligence and potential engine failure. During a routine service, the dealership failed to add engine oil, but recorded in the service invoice that it was added. I unknowingly drove the vehicle 3–5 miles without oil, and multiple dtc error codes (p052400, p001100, p001400) appeared. The oil warning light, which should have alerted me, did not activate. Although a later borescope inspection stated there was “no immediate damage,” since then, the vehicle has shown: significant loss of power and acceleration abnormally high rpms, even when the car is stopped louder engine noises rpm is increasing suddenly while driving downhill without acceleration this vehicle is less than one year old and costs over $40,000. I should not be forced to drive a new car that may have hidden or delayed engine damage. Safety concern: I have a [xxx], and I cannot risk sudden engine failure, stalling, or fire while driving. This is not only a reliability issue, but a serious safety hazard for my family and others on the road. Attempts to resolve: reported to Hyundai corporate, case opened. The dealership admitted the mistake but denied responsibility after the inspection. Hyundai corporate stated “no action until further inspection,” despite clear evidence of negligence. I continue to experience performance and safety issues. Requested action: I urge NHTSA to investigate this incident and hold Hyundai accountable for both the dealership’s negligence and the potential safety defects (oil light failure, possible hidden engine damage). Consumers should not be left to drive unsafe vehicles, especially when children’s safety is at stake. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Horn not blowing. It started giving a low sound and now it has stopped working completely. I went online and saw where this problem is wide spread.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Car only has 20,000 miles and the horn already needs to be replaced.

Dear NHTSA, I'm reporting a recurring safety issue with my vehicle's door latches. All four doors have, at different times, become completely stuck—unable to open from inside or outside. This creates a serious risk, especially in emergencies where quick exit is critical.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

On Aug 2, 2025, while traveling back from vacation with our family of 4, our engine failed and completely seized up on a very busy highway. The vehicle completely shut off in a lane of travel near an exit ramp, and we were unable to even pull off on a shoulder for safety. We were unable to restart the vehicle or reproduce the issue because the vehicle will not turn on. There were no warning lamps or other messages. However, the car has historically consumed an extraordinary amount of oil, even with routine oil changes and service. Two quarts of oil were added to the vehicle the day before this happened. The vehicle was towed to a Hyundai dealership and the incident was reported to Hyundai USA. We've been told the dealership can not run tests or inspect the vehicle until Aug. 21, nearly three weeks after it happened. We were told this is because they have numerous other vehicles with similar problems. This was an incredibly terrifying experience that put the safety of our family of 4, including two young children, at risk. A bystander called 911 and a state trooper arrived to set up flares and expedite a tow truck. We were told the spot we broke down is an incredibly busy part of an interstate where fatal accidents happen every other day.

The horn on my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has completely stopped working. This is a severe safety hazard. I recently attempted to warn another driver who was drifting into my lane but was unable to, forcing me to swerve and nearly resulting in a head-on collision. The horn failed without any warning. After researching online, I have found that this appears to be a known issue with the Santa Fe model and Hyundai vehicles in general. I am requesting a diagnostic and repair as this is a safety feature failure that could lead to a serious accident. Please let me know if this issue qualifies for a recall. Thank you.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I have taken my Hyundai Santa Fe 2022 phev under warranty for a fix of being in reverse, the function not working, the car revs aggressively not in gear and then put it in park and the car aggressively jolts forward in park like a hard gear change. Hyundai replaced pcm and said it was fine. I took car and immediately noticed grinding noises and straight back to Hyundai. They claim it's fine. Today same issue with reversing and aggressive car jolting. Hyundai is going to take it back tomorrow. I do not feel safe in this vehicle. It felt like the transmission was going to give out on the freeway. The rpm are maxing out at 5-20 mph and sometimes don't want to engage in drive. Extremely unsafe for freeway driving. There is something terribly wrong with this cars engine or transmission. Unsafe for Hyundai to release for use.

While driving the sunroof glass out of no where exploded.

The car horn stopped working very suddenly, without any prior warning, while I was driving. The car has around 36000 miles on it, so the horn dying out was a surprise. Driving without a functioning horn has also become a safety issue. I have an upcoming appointment with the dealership to diagnose and fix the problem.

We were driving in montana down [xxx] and heard a very large “pop” sound above us. Our vehicle was traveling alone in the area at the time, no other vehicles were around ours. There was no debris on the road or flying in air at the time, either. At this point the panoramic roof glass was closed but the interior cloth cover was open and there was no evidence of any damage. When we stopped for gas, the front glass panel covering behind the windshield and before the panoramic roof glass, was completely shattered. The weather was the same as it had been, 80f with minimal cloud coverage. There was no sudden change in weather/driving conditions.

The climate control screen is difficult to see, especially in sunlight. This makes it unsafe to change things like fan speed while driving. Interestingly all other screens are very bright but this one screen is not bright and dealer says no adjustment available.

I was driving down the road when the check engine light began to flash. The vehicle started to decelerate and began to sputter. This was a serious safety issue as there were vehicles behind me which put myself and other drivers at risk. I was able to pull over on the side of the road. I cut the vehicle off and waited a few minutes. I cut the vehicle back on and the check engine light was still blinking. I was able to drive the vehicle back to my home but was not able to go over 40 mph and had to repeatedly pull over to ensure my safety. Diagnostic of the vehicle indicated a code p1326. The vehicle was taken to a local Hyundai dealership to get a second diagnostic. This was truly terrifying for me. I’m glad I didn’t have my son in the car with me at this time. Also done research and it states that the p1326 code in Hyundai Santa Fe sport vehicles, particularly those with 2. 0l turbo and 2. 4l engines, is linked to a recall concerning connecting rod bearing wear and potential engine failure. This issue is addressed through a recall or a product improvement campaign, which may involve engine replacement or software updates. The knock sensor detection system (ksds), associated with code p1326, is designed to detect excessive bearing wear and activate engine protection mode. My Hyundai only has 82000 miles on it. So I’m writing this to let you know that this is a big safety issue and needs to be addressed and fixed on my Hyundai.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I purchased a brand new vehicle from Hyundai within 9 months the horn stopped working. It was replaced 10/2024 and now less than 1 year the horn has stopped working once again. Hyundai has not issued an extended warranty to the Santa Fe model when this has been a known issue with all there vehicles for this year.

While driving my vehicle, the check engine light came on, and the engine entered limp mode, severely reducing power and acceleration. This presented a significant safety risk while traveling on the highway, especially during lane changes and merges. The issue was later diagnosed by a certified Hyundai dealer as diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p1326, which relates to the knock sensor detecting potential engine bearing wear. The dealer confirmed this issue and performed related inspection work under Hyundai’s service campaign t3g. No prior warning signs appeared before the incident. Hyundai has issued a known campaign for this issue, but no recall appeared under my VIN at the time. I incurred rental and rideshare costs due to the vehicle being held at the dealer for several days. This condition severely impacts the drivability and safety of the vehicle.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I believe my vehicle is part of the parking prawn recall. It jerked and jolt when in park very aggressively. When we proceeded to try to move the car in reverse it did not budge.

Forward attention assist keeps going off. For no reason. Eyes are on the road and head is forward.

All of a sudden my liftgate in the back will not stay up. The pistons for the liftgate are no longer working on either side, so kind of strange as they don't usually go like that thank you [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I have a Hyundai Santa Fe 2020 had it only a year my sunroof is a panoramic and it busted out of nowhere. Nothing hit it just shattered on its own when I was going down the road. I know nothing hit it because nobody was on the road near me and I looked around and saw nothing. I was told to report it here so that’s what I’m doing.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Subject: engine failure due to bearing defect – no ksds recall notification vehicle: 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe sport VIN: [xxx] date of purchase: April 2016 complaint summary: I am filing this complaint regarding my 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe sport, which experienced catastrophic engine failure due to the known theta ii gdi engine bearing defect. Hyundai has an active class action settlement covering this defect, which requires owners to install the knock sensor detection system (ksds) update to be eligible for free repairs or the lifetime warranty. Despite owning my vehicle since April 2016 and holding clear title in my name for over 6 years, I never received any notice or communication about this required software update. Hyundai’s records still list the prior owner, hertz, even though I have maintained valid registration and insurance in my name since the purchase. This lack of notice prevented me from having the ksds update installed before the engine failed. I understand this defect does not show as an open safety recall on the NHTSA database because Hyundai classified it as a product improvement campaign under the class action settlement. This does not change the fact that it is a known safety hazard and Hyundai failed to properly notify me, which denied me the chance to protect myself and my vehicle. I believe this is a major safety concern because the engine can stall or catch fire without warning. I am requesting that NHTSA hold Hyundai accountable for failing to properly notify current owners and ensure compliance with the class action settlement. Desired resolution: require Hyundai to honor the warranty and cover my engine replacement in full. Investigate whether Hyundai is failing to properly notify owners about this critical software update. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

In may while driving on the highway my car suddenly wouldnt accelerate and started jerking. It would go past 60-65 and the engine light was on. Took it to get repaired and they stated the whole engine needed to be replaced. Never once had an issue with my car until then. Of course we got the runaround went it came to the warranty. After repairs I notice my car does not run the same and that its slow to accelerate. Fast forward about a month later the starter goes bad in the car and now its completely unoperable.

June 2020 I purchased the car brand new 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe se 2. 5l from dealership, after the first year I started having issues with my display monitor just shutting off and my car going idle at red lights or when I’m sitting in traffic. I’ve never been in an accident and I’m not a reckless driver to my standards besides occasional potholes, the car going idle happened 3 times before I reached out to a dealership asking questions only for them to tell me, “it sounds like I’m using the start-stop feature too much and it’s not recommended to be used often”. So I stopped using it completely. Fast forward throughout the years, it still happened about 5-10 times a year for the past few years, I’ve learned to hurry up and put it in park, give it gas, then put it in drive. Fast forward 2025, Feb I was passed due for an oil change about 300-500 miles the the oil light came on and when I check it myself the oil tank was completely empty, I assumed it was normal since I was passed due for an oil change, and a family friend told me that wasn’t normal, I follow the recommended oil change interval on my warranty paperwork 7,500 even set my car to it, after the oil change my car was fine. I took it in at 130,284 miles, fast forward June 2025, I start my car a morning for work & it’s at 135,658 miles, the oil light comes back on and I notice it’s completely empty again. 2nd time it’s happened this year, and two family friends that are licensed mechanics tell me that’s not normal especially if I’ve gotten an oil change this year & it’s seems like the engine is burning oil too quick. I took it in to get another oil change, tell them about the issue of it being empty when I’ve been this year and it doesn’t seem right, the dealership & a local quick oil change place tells me it’s due to me not bringing it in for regular maintenance. There are no lights on on my dashboard, and when I called the dealership to ask about using the lifetime powertrain warranty I have, I have to pay.

On June 6,2025 my car caught fire under the hood on the way home from work. I was then told my car has an abs module recall and thats whats caused the fire, as well as, electrical shortage. Hyundai finally came to get car on June 27. They refuse to fix or communicate with me on my car that I am still having to pay car note on. They refuse to give me an estimate of damages that results in total loss for insurance purposes.

From the day we purchased this used vehicle, the check engine light came on. We had to have the catalytic converter replaced next. Now we’re having oil leak issues. Multiple oil leaks have been repaired, and I’ve most recently paid over $700 to have this issue resolved. A week after the Hyundai dealership repaired it, the vehicle is leaking oil again. We have to add oil about every 5-7 days. Today we were told that my [xxx] daughter needs to drive it until the engine goes out, and not to add any oil. This is not only unacceptable, it’s also unsafe! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Back up camera operates very erratically. Some times it works properly, some of the time it is very slow to engage. Other times it comes on after I have completed my rearward movement, and some times it comes on after shifting into drive. Then there are times t never comes on. I spoke to a dealer tech and was told there are a lot of them like that. If I wanted to spend about $900, they might be able to fix it. This has been going on for a couple of years.

Stopped for gas, vehicle started but would not go into gear, engine lights indicated 'check hybrid system', warning lights shown. 1/2 hr on the phone with dealership to assist. No problem detected when returning to home dealer. Second episode occurred, vehicle at dealer for the past 4 weeks. Episode repeated at dealership yet "no abnormalities are detected with diagnostics ".

A few days ago, while driving on one of chicago’s busiest expressways, my Hyundai 2020 Santa Fe with only 56,000 miles and a complete record of up-to-date maintenance, suddenly started smoking, smoke coming from under the front hood then caught fire without any warning. The fire consumed the entire front end of the vehicle from underneath the car to the top hood of car, to make matters worse, my seatbelt temporarily locked up during those critical moments, compounding the terror of the situation, potential risk to my life and property. I am incredibly grateful that I was able to escape unharmed, but I remain visibly shaken and traumatized by the experience. As you can imagine, this unexpected event has profoundly affected my peace of mind and trust in the safety of Hyundai vehicles. It is extremely concerning that a modern car, properly maintained according to its manufacturer's recommendations, could catch fire during regular operation, no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of any problems prior to the incident. I have always valued Hyundai’s engineering and safety standards, which is why I find this incident especially alarming. I am uncertain to what component failed the fire department stated it could have been either the brakes or electrical. As of writing this no official inspection to determine cause has been conducted however, I have reported the fire and filed an insurance claim and asked if they are able to determine how this happened to provide me with this information.

The engine had no oil. No indication was given by the dashboard lights. I heard a ticking noise soon after I started my car. My husband checked the oil; it was bone dry. I still had 200 more miles before my next oil change. Needless to say, the engine would have blown up if I hadn’t payed attention to the noise coming from the vehicle. In fact, this happened about a year ago, I just thought it was a fluke. Since this is the second incident, this is not a fluke and something needs to be done. We can’t afford to have a vehicle blow up on us. There was no sign of leaking on the driveway.