Equipment Problems of Hyundai Santa Fe - part 1

Vehicle stalled while driving — unsafe loss of power. While driving at normal speed, the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning and the electrical system malfunctioned. I had to pull over and restart car. This created a dangerous situation and could have caused a collision. Prior to this incidenct, the vehicle had intermittent electrical issues during startup (flickering electronics). This is the first time the car has experienced during driving, and is now at the Hyundai dealership. The car has been reported as unsafe to drive. This appears similar to other Hyundai stalling/power loss issues and may indicate a developing safety defect. Requesting investigation.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe limited. The panoramic sunroof glass suddenly shattered/exploded without a collision and without any known impact. Glass shattered completely and created a safety hazard to occupants and traffic. Vehicle was purchased as Hyundai certified pre-owned in 2021. Hyundai corporate case has been opened and advised dealer inspection. Dealer inspection is pending. Photos are available. Request that this be logged as a potential safety issue involving panoramic sunroof glass failure.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

First failure occurred 7 months after purchase at 5,270 miles on August 1, 2024. The vehicle suddenly went into "limp mode" abruptly decelerating to 25 mph with a non-responsive gas pedal. A code reader displayed po653 sensor reference: "voltage b circuit high". Dealer found corroded wire to battery and cleaned it. Second failure: horn loss to 1 tone. Fixed at 30k mile dealer service on June 12, 2026 and found to have faulty packing resulting in corrosion. At the same standard service the brake system was flushed. 3rd failure was 5 days and 437 miles (30,712 miles) after the 30k dealer service. On June 17, 2026 during my early morning commute while merging onto the interstate, alarms began to blare and the gas pedal suddenly became unresponsive. The initial alarms read blind spot failure. Car would not accelerate from 40 mph that it was going coming down the bridge ramp so I took the very close off ramp down from the aqua duct and the console display alert showed "engine management system: details: braking and body control system with a recommendation to get "a full system check. . . Today". I brought it to the dealer that afternoon and as of yesterday, 6/26/26 they can find nothing wrong, declaring it an intermittent issue and asked me to come get the car, refusing to continue looking or providing alternate options other than referring me to Hyundai consumer affairs.

Child opened the back hatch (as instructed). The child then pressed the button to close the back hatch. Fingers were trapped at the bottom of the hatch, and the hatch “clamped” into position. The interior hatch release was not sufficiently intuitive for the chiller to remove the trim and slide the tab, resulting in the child being trapped for 10-15 minutes before help arrived.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

On 6/6/2026, my husband and I were driving on i70 west bound near the golden CO exit. Out of nowhere, we heard a very loud pop sound and then heard wind over our head. The front sunroof spontaneously shattered. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? front sunroof how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? yes! has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no! not a single warning, nothing!.

See all problems of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

The rear occupant seat sensor after an update even if there is nothing on the back or on the seat it continues to activate the horn and advising we received a rear occupant alarm. I even deactivate the option and still goes off constantly. I have to leave the car unlocked to avoid the alarm going off.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

On may 30, 2026, my 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe was involved in a multi-impact interstate collision in the sandy springs/atlanta area while traveling with my family which includes 1 year old kid. The vehicle was struck from behind, spun out, and impacted the concrete highway barrier multiple times before coming to a stop in the travel lanes. The collision resulted in substantial structural vehicle damage, and occupants sustained head concussions and bruising. The airbag system did not deploy during the sequence of impacts. I am submitting this report to request an evaluation of the crash parameters and deployment logic to determine whether the system operated within its intended safety design specifications under these specific multi-impact conditions. I don't have the footage but I have seen on police laptop of the incident.

I put my vehicle in park and vehicle continued to move, it moved over a curb and into a wall. I brought vehicle to dealership next day and they stated it was a gear control issue and needed to be replaced. I brought the vehicle to get an estimate for repairs and estimate is near $7000. Dealership said the part is not under warranty and no recalls. This is a safety concern. Vehicle has not been checked by manufacture, police or insurance as of yet no warning lamps or messages warned me of a possible gear failure. I have read online of other people having this same issue with Hyundai Santa Fe.

The vehicle stooped running while driving and will not start, available for inspection upon request. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Two unsafe scenarios in past two months: 1) driving 80 mph, engine misfire, vehicle will not accelerate past 1 rpm, had to drive home from out of town with very slow acceleration, dangerous to not be able to accelerate efficiently on highways 2) driving 55 mph, all driver safety systems malfunction, accelaration completely disabled, had to coast to safe stopping point. Restarted vehicle and could drive home with check engine light on, incredibly dangerous for car to lose all ability to accelerate in the middle of a highway.

The vehicle is a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. It had previously been included in an engine-fire-related recall/service campaign, and Hyundai replaced the engine between approximately October 2024 and January 2025 at about 113,000 miles. About 10,000 miles and 14 months later, the vehicle developed engine/performance problems. A Hyundai dealership service center performed about $6,500 in repairs, including installation of a new transmission, and represented that the engine and transmission had a lifetime guarantee. One day after the vehicle was returned from the dealership, the engine compartment caught fire while the vehicle was being driven. The fire rapidly escalated, the vehicle exploded/burned, and the vehicle was destroyed down to the frame. The occupants escaped, but the incident created an immediate risk of serious injury or death. The failed component appears to involve the engine, engine compartment, fuel/oil/electrical systems, transmission-related repair area, or another drivetrain component. The vehicle remains may be available for inspection depending on insurance/tow/storage status. The vehicle had recently been repaired and inspected by a Hyundai dealership service center. This incident raises concern that the recall-related engine-fire risk, replacement engine, recent dealership repairs, transmission installation, or related components may have failed and created a serious fire hazard.

Hi, I have a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport and I recently went to the dealership to get my brakes done and that day they did the recall 9c2 which is a software update on the engine/transmission and the next morning when I drove my car the rpm’s were going up and my mph wouldn’t go past 15 mph for about a block down the road and the car jerked two times and then drove like normal. I call the dealership let them know about the issue and it’s never been an issue in the past and they set up a appointment I come in and they tell me if it’s not related to the brakes then I’ll have to pay $250. 00 for a diagnosis test. Unbelievable I don’t believe this is a coincidence I have taken well care of my car and the past owner as well and the car doesn’t even have 100k miles. I have researched other people in the same situation as me and even read that Hyundai is recommended us to warm up our cars before driving now. It is so frustrating my car was perfectly fine until that recall and they won’t do anything about it.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

While driving, the sunroof glass of the vehicle exploded/shattered with no known trigger, force or debris striking the glass. At the time no risk to myself as the sunroof shade was closed. I am in the process of getting this inspected and repaired.

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 occasional do 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 2026 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 doesn't exist, and 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 turn off this feature. Currently, there is no way to disable or temporarily disable this feature.

Am filing a formal complaint regarding an official software update provided by Hyundai that completely corrupted the infotainment/head unit system in my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. I purchased this vehicle from carmax less than three weeks ago. The vehicle came equipped with Hyundai blue link, so I contacted Hyundai support to activate the service by pressing the blue link button inside the vehicle. Hyundai informed me that my vehicle required a software update because the current system did not contain the necessary software for blue link to function properly. A Hyundai representative directed me to Hyundai’s official update website and provided instructions for completing the update. Following Hyundai’s instructions exactly, I purchased and formatted a usb drive, downloaded the update using my VIN from Hyundai’s official website, properly extracted the files, and installed the update into the vehicle. During the installation process, the update failed and corrupted the head unit system. The display now continuously shows “update unsuccessful” with error code 106. Since the failed Hyundai update, multiple vehicle systems no longer function properly, including the backup camera, bluetooth, hands-free calling, blind spot functionality, radio, map/display system, automatic headlights, and automatic radio shutoff when opening the driver door. I now have to manually operate systems that previously worked automatically. I contacted Hyundai customer support multiple times and was repeatedly transferred between departments. I was incorrectly referred to navigation support even though my vehicle has a non-navigation system. Navigation support confirmed this was a Hyundai issue and stated they could not assist. When I contacted Hyundai again, I explained every step I followed, and the representative acknowledged that I appeared to have completed the update process correctly. Despite Hyundai’s official software causing this failure.

Spontaneous windshield crack.

The back windshield of my 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe just exploded outwards. The vehicle hasn't been moved or driven today. The glass exploded out the back and shot over 18 ft away. There has been no change in temperature it is 70°. It was terrifying and came out of nowhere there were no cracks or chips in the back windshield. I'm so glad we were off to the side when this happened or it would have caused serious injuries.

Vehicle serviced on 5/7/2026 for Hyundai service campaign 9c2 immediately after noticed car was not driving as it had been prior to this update, sluggish acceleration on start, chugging and then rapid sudden acceleration. Returned to service dept may19. Diagnostics revealed no issues, problem persisted. Returned to service dept. May22. Informed Hyundai was looking into this issue related to the 9c2 update and awaiting a new update to fix the problem. As of todayjune15 there has been no action to remedy the problem. Do not feel safe driving a vehicle that hesitates when starting to drive and then accelerates roughly. This has happened consistently upon cold start up thus far but concerned it may happen while in traffic or at other times and result in an accident.

Driving down the interstate to work at around 70 mph at approximately 6:40 am and the front sunroof exploded upwards. Nothing of impact, just a loud explosion and glass blew upwards. The broken glass is positioned upward. The cover of the sunroof was closed and it was not currently in use. Otherwise, glass could have shattered all over me, causing a wreck. I am an [xxx] veteran, the explosion itself set off my anxiety, but thankfully, I was able to pull the car over without incident. I took pictures of the sunroof and I was able to drive slowly down a smaller highway to the dealership, mac grubbs Hyundai in hattiesburg, ms, where I dropped the car off for repairs. I contacted my insurance company and they picked me up in a rental care from the dealership. There was no warning light, not leaks, or cracks in the sunroof prior to the incident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

2 unrepaired recalls. Frame rusted and unsafe to lift to repair the other recall which is an oil leak onto the alternator. Car won't run now. Corporate asked if I had a lawyer. They have declared my car not fixable or drivable. Neither corporate nor dealer will return my calls. No info from them at all. No offer of a buyback. No anything.

See all problems of the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Hyundai recently had a service campaign that was issued to address an emissions related issue in CA. The service campaign was 9c2 and the TSB was 25-01-087h. After this software update was applied to my vehicle the engine is now sluggish on a cold start and the transmission is shifting differently at low speeds and low gears. It appears that the performance of my vehicle has been compromised. There is a Hyundai forum where many Santa Fe owners are experiencing the same issues after the software update. I have notified the service advisor at my local Hyundai dealership.

See all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

On two occasions, five months apart, the windshield cracked for no apparent reason. No foreign object hit the windshield. The replacement was not a generic. If was a Hyundai oem. Two cracks, which spread over the windshield is not “normal”, in my opinion. Thank you.

On 4/17/26 mcdonalds Hyundai of [xxx] , dealership performed an ecu update for theta ii emissions logic improvement (Hyundai campaign number 9c2). Ever since that time the vehicle has been lurching during acceleration. This happens particularly when the vehicle has been sitting for several hours. I reported this to the dealership on 4/28/26 (scott, service manager) and to Hyundai on 4/29/26 (Hyundai case management #: 42610495). I noted to Hyundai that this same/similar problem has been reported by other owners ( see [xxx] ) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Beginning on 04/17/2026, my vehicle began displaying multiple safety-related dashboard warnings simultaneously, accompanied by audible alerts. The warnings included the forward collision safety system, blind-spot monitoring, electronic parking brake (epb), stability and traction control, lane keep assist, and auto hold — all activating at the same time. These warnings reappeared on several occasions and were photographed with date and location data embedded in each image. My vehicle was brought to burlington Hyundai dealership, where a repair order was opened and a loaner was provided. The car was returned without the issue being fixed. Within days, the same warnings reappeared and the situation worsened. On multiple occasions, the engine shut off completely and the transmission shifted into neutral on its own while my vehicle was being driven at approximately 20 to 40 mph. On at least one occasion, the parking brake engaged automatically without any input from the driver. A dashboard photo clearly documents the message "engine off! shift to n, then start engine. " these failures are a serious danger to everyone on the road. When the engine shuts off while driving, normal steering and braking ability is lost. When the parking brake engaged on its own, the car stopped abruptly with no warning. Any one of these incidents could have caused a serious accident or injury. My vehicle was returned to the dealership for a second repair visit and a second loaner was provided. The dealership confirmed via text that the car was still in the shop but never followed up with a diagnosis or timeline. When the dealership was called directly, no update was provided. As of 06/04/2026, my vehicle has been at the dealership for at least 30 days across two visits — 11 days for the first and at least 19 days for the second — with no confirmed root cause, no completed repair, and no clear communication.

The fuel tank opener has become increasingly hard to operate. The fuel tank is supposed to unlock when the doors are unlocked. Sometimes it takes 10 or more times of unlocking the doors and checking the fuel door to successfully open the fuel door.

The glass in the sun roof imploded. It it available for inspection. The glass would have been propelled into the vehicle if the sun roof was open. The problem has been reported to the dealer and acknowledged. There was no warning prior to the implosion.

Safety concern – lack of air conditioning ventilation in third row seating I am writing to formally report a safety concern regarding a vehicle that lacks adequate air conditioning and ventilation in the third-row seating area. The third row of this vehicle does not receive sufficient airflow, resulting in significantly elevated temperatures compared to the front and middle seating areas. This creates an uncomfortable and potentially unsafe environment for passengers seated in the rear. This issue raises several safety concerns, including: - increased risk of heat-related illness, especially during warm weather conditions - lack of proper air circulation, which may affect breathing comfort - potential danger to vulnerable individuals such as children, elderly passengers, or those with medical conditions in addition, the absence of adequate ventilation in the third row appears inconsistent with standard safety expectations for passenger vehicles, where all seating positions should have reasonable access to airflow and temperature control. I am requesting the following: - a formal evaluation of the vehicle’s ventilation system - clarification as to whether this is a design issue or mechanical defect - appropriate corrective action to ensure safe and adequate airflow to all seating areas I would appreciate a timely response regarding how this concern will be addressed. Please note that I am documenting this issue due to its potential impact on passenger safety. Sincerely, [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe se information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vulnerable exposed radiator to road debris from the front and underneath my 2022 Santa Fe. It seems that this is an issue that is not covered by warranty and owners are held responsible with filing an insurance claim or pay out of pocket. Manufacturer needs to provide some type of protection for radiator or lose repeat customers.

Today, I received an extended warranty for my horn. There is a known issue with water getting into the horn and causing them to fail. Upon researching this, people have reported having their horns changed several times. This is a safety matter that an extended warranty is not fixing. Please enforce a recall so that this matter may be properly resolved. Canada has already issued a recall, I hope we can do the same. Thank you.

Passengers are stuck in vehicle due to failure of doors opening from either inside, outside or both.

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I am writing because my local Hyundai dealer is failing to make the repair in a timely manner consistent with what my recall notice stated, and is requiring that I make two trips to Hyundai in order to get this necessary recall work completed. Meanwhile, if the camera fails, it could put me and others at risk. My service representative, [xxx] , and his service manager showed zero concern about my time or possible dangers if the rear camera fails, stating that it's Hyundai corporate that made the policy that customers must have their car inspected and photos taken of the rear camera harness assembly during this first visit, before ordering the parts under my vehicle's specific VIN number. Once they do this and submit it to Hyundai corporate, they say, the parts will be ordered and I will be contacted again to make yet another appointment to have the parts installed. My letter from Hyundai says nothing about having to make two visits. It says to schedule an appointment, and the recall work will be done. I actually tried to call the 855 Hyundai number to schedule the work, and that operator said nothing about two visits; she was unable to book the appointment she'd given me, so directed me to the local Hyundai dealer, who also said nothing about two appointments being needed to have this recall work done. I am concerned, because I am scheduled to drive out of town in a high pedestrian and vehicle traffic area in two weeks and was doing my due diligence to get the recall work done before the trip. I feel that the two appointments are unnecessary when every 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe with this feature is equipped with the same rear camera and rear camera harness assembly, such that there's no reason to have to further register it with my VIN, that this could all be done in one appointment. Requiring customers to come for 2 appointments--especially without telling them anywhere in the letter or during 2 phone calls--simply increases risk of injuries if the camera fails. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of inform.

On March 17, 2026, the sunroof of our Hyundai sante fe 2021 exploded. The driver and two passengers were not hurt because the sunroof was closed and the liner in place when the explosion took place. The incident occurred on an open country highway on a sunny afternoon with no other vehicles or flying objects sighted.

While driving west across [xxx] , towing a 5x8 enclosed trailer, there was a smell of burnt rubber and I pulled over to inspect for a busted tire. At no time were there indicator lights on the dash. Upon bringing the vehicle to a stop on the side of the road the cabin began to fill with smoke. I popped the hood of the car with the intention of looking to see what was occurring. Exiting the vehicle and coming around to the front there were already flames coming out from under the hood. Within 10 minutes the car and trailer were engulfed in flames and have been deemed total losses by insurance. I had the vehicle serviced two days prior in columbus ohio and was cleared for the 4 day journey. I had the brakes done in 4 months prior in [xxx] . Had no issues getting to columbus, no problems driving to kansas city. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

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

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.