Other Fuel System Problems of Hyundai Santa Fe - part 1

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid has had multiple occasions, most recently on February 3, 2026 with 12,330 miles on the car, where the gas-powered engine fails to provide any power to the drivetrain. The car experiences vast power loss and enters "limp mode" where only the small hybrid battery is powering the vehicle. Max speed ranges from 10 - 25mph and there is little, if any, acceleration, even when the gas pedal is pegged to the floor. It is necessary to pull over, engage the flashing safety lights and try to find a safe place to park. After turning the vehicle off and on several times, eventually, the gas engines re-engages. The first incident of this type for this vehicle was on August 7, 2025 with approximately 4,400 miles on the vehicle. It was taken to the dealer, key Hyundai of salem, who could not find any dtcs and could not replicate the problem. They said "bring it back if it happens again. " they next time was on February 3, 2026 where it happened several times on a trip to and from a local restaurant. This time, at dtc code of p088000 powertrain / powerloss was recorded and reported. However, by the time the car was seen by key Hyundai of salem on February 5, 2026, the code has cleared itself. Hyundai's corporate policy is that historical codes can not be used for warranty claims. So, the dealer tried one potential fix, cleaning the tcm connectors under the driver's seat, and returned the vehicle stating that Hyundai corporate would not authorize warranty work unless/until the car was presented to the dealership with a current / live dtc or visible broken parts. It seems unsafe to put a vehicle back on the road that could lose power and drivability at any time for no apparent reason. I am aware that there have been several other reports of similar power loss / limp mode situations by owners of 2024-25 Hyundai Santa Fe hybrids. At the moment, I am told that there is no current technical service bulletin on this from Hyundai.

See all problems of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

My Hyundai Santa Fe 2019 limited is burning oil. It started after the turbo broke in October 2024. The turbo began leaking oil and then died. I took it to the dealership as it is still under warranty and they replaced the turbo. As a result, I have had issues ever since and now my car burns oil at a fast rate. In between oil changes I need to put oil in the engine to avoid it being drained. I am able to go about 3k miles on synthetic oil and by 2. 5-3k it is almost empty. It has been doing this now since 2024. I just had my 90k mile check up complete and with that I got an oil change. This was done in November 2024. Syntehtic oil was used. On January 16, as I was driving my car mileage decreased, the car began to shake and the engine light came on. I was able to safely stop and have the car towed. It was found that after driving just 2k miles the oil had completely burned off. I currently have an appointment at the dealer for them to run diagnostics on why it is burning. I saw there was a class action lawsuit against other Hyundai's doing the same thing and as a result Hyundai has to replace the engine. I also have read numerous forums where everyone is reporting the same thing with this particular model of it burning oil. I wanted to report this in case there were other owners of the same car experiencing the same thing.

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Component: engine (theta ii 2. 4l gdi) / connecting rod bearing-related failure risk with abnormal internal oil loss. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request (engine, oil level condition, diagnostic history, and dealer records). Safety risk: while driving on the highway (approx. 70 mph), the vehicle displayed a low oil warning, and I experienced concern for potential engine seizure/stalling and sudden loss of power, which could cause a crash. I reduced speed and sought service. This condition presents an ongoing safety risk because sudden engine failure can occur without adequate warning. Dealer confirmation: the problem was confirmed by a Hyundai dealer. After a routine oil change, the low oil warning appeared within ~1,700 miles. A Hyundai service center inspected the vehicle and documented the engine was approximately 3 quarts low with no external leaks, indicating internal loss/engine deterioration rather than a leak. Hyundai then required additional steps (combustion chamber cleaning and monitored mileage), and the abnormal internal oil loss condition persisted. Manufacturer inspection: the vehicle has been inspected by Hyundai dealerships, and Hyundai performed campaign-related actions, including ksds/ecm update (t3g) and later knock sensor replacement. No police or insurance inspection. No crash or injury occurred. Warning lamps/symptoms prior to failure: prior symptoms included a check engine lamp with dtc p1326 (ksds-related) documented by Hyundai service in 2025, followed by continued abnormal internal engine condition. The low oil warning occurred while the vehicle was in motion (highway speed). The issue remains unresolved, and I do not feel the vehicle is safe to operate due to seizure/stall risk. Additional: I reported this as a safety defect because similar theta ii engine issues are widely reported and can result in stalling, seizure, or engine fire. Hyundai denied engine replacement assistance despite the documented condition.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

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).

Car had an unintended acceleration. I had been stopped prior to entering my garage. I had started to slowly accelerate when the car accelerated hard. It took a lot of effort to stop the car.

I have a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2. 0t. I recently experienced the following issues; gasoline fumes coming into the car at low speeds, difficulty starting the car when it is cold and hesitation when trying to accelerate quickly. The check engine light came on and the dealer diagnosed a faulty fuel pump and high pressure hoses. . . . . . On a car with only 49100 miles! the repair cars are estimated at over $1800. This is totally unacceptable and there should be a manufacturer issued recall on the car where Hyundai covers the cost of the repairs.

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

I currently owned an 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe fwd with the 3. 3 v6 engine with approximately about 136,000 miles. We were driving into vegas when we heard the knocking engine sounds. Immediately we called the dealership in vegas advising them we were going to tow the vehicle in. Once we get the vehicle towed over to the dealership, we waited till the following Monday where it was authorized to have the engine replaced. We were so glad about that. The vehicle was going to be completed by early January and we got the news the vehicle was completed but now having misfiring issues due to faulty injectors. I was advised that this was not covered due to the mileage. This was an non issue when I turned in the vehicle to Hyundai. I made several attempts to contact my case manager and this was again denied due to the mileage. For a vehicle with less than 140k miles and being less than 10 years old, we are very upset with this process and for Hyundai knowing that there were concerning issues with both the fuel injectors and engine.

The fuel injectors have repeatedly failed. I am on my third replacement.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Fuel injectors are bad. The car misfires, I smell gas, runs rough. They fixed one the second week of December 2025. I had the same symptoms when my light came on again on December 23,2025, they said they couldn’t find anything and gave me the car back. On January 3, my engine light came on again, I had warnings sent to my email and phone app about potential engine failures they said today ( 1/6/26) that it was another fuel injector and was told they would not replace the rest until they went out. When I asked them how safe I would be on an upcoming trip, I was told to just check the car every day before I go!.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

Gas is purging from the top of the fuel pump.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

# **NHTSA complaint answers** ### **1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** the **engine** failed due to **sudden and extreme oil consumption** that resulted in the engine being completely dry of oil despite regular maintenance. This caused internal damage including **cvvt (continuous variable valve timing) system failure**, bearing damage, and a complete engine seizure. Yes, the failed engine is fully available for inspection upon request. The vehicle is currently located at dick smith Hyundai in greenville, south carolina, where the dealership diagnosed the failure and recommended a full engine long block replacement. ### **2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** the engine failure occurred **suddenly and without warning**, causing the vehicle to lose power while operating. The loss of engine function created the risk * sudden deceleration in traffic, * inability to accelerate or maneuver, * potential rear-end collision, * complete engine stall in unsafe conditions. The vehicle had * oil warning light** prior to the failure, meaning I had no indication that the engine was at risk until the failure occurred. ### **3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** yes. The engine failure was confirmed • **schwab’s automotive** in fayetteville, nc – determined the engine suffered catastrophic internal damage and was not repairable. • **dick smith Hyundai** dealership – confirmed **high oil consumption and cvvt damage**, and recommended a full **engine long block replacement** (estimate: $8,160. 60). The problem has been fully verified by both an independent mechanic and an authorized Hyundai dealership. ## **4. Yes. The vehicle was formally inspected by Hyundai motor America through the dealership’s diagnostic report. Hyundai reviewed the case (case #xxx) after receiving the dealership findings. The engine remains intact avai. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of in.

What happened: while driving in montana on September 21, 2025, the cabin suddenly filled with gasoline fumes and the accelerator pedal stopped responding. After pulling over, flames erupted from under the hood and the vehicle was completely destroyed within minutes. The passenger-side door could not be opened from the inside at first, delaying escape and creating a serious safety risk. No warning lights or messages appeared before or during the fire. (1) while driving, gasoline suddenly filled the cabin and the accelerator pedal stopped responding. Within seconds, the vehicle caught fire. The cause appears related to the fuel system, and possibly the abs module. The vehicle was completely destroyed but remains available for inspection in a private tow lot. (2) the fire spread extremely quickly. Both occupants were nearly trapped inside when the passenger-side door would not open from the inside, delaying escape. The vehicle burned on the shoulder of a busy highway in montana, posing danger to us and to surrounding motorists. (3) not after this fire, but a similar problem occurred in 2023 when gasoline filled the cabin and caused the engine to stall. At that time, Hyundai replaced the engine under warranty. (4) no. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. It is secured in a private tow lot and is available for inspection. (5) no. There were no warnings at all before or during the failure. Even as gasoline filled the cabin and the vehicle caught fire, the check engine light stayed off and no alerts appeared.

Maintenance has been maintained on this SUV. SUV has about 20,000 miles. While at a complete stop at stop light, the SUV jerked a few times and when attempting to drive the accelerator pedal the SUV would not respond. I then put in park then back in drive slow acceleration, was able to pull over. After turning SUV off and waiting a few minutes , turned SUV back on engine light is on. Home is 10min. Away, engine light is on and acceleration sucks. By time I park the engine light is off. Wait 2 hrs. Drive around the block no light acceleration is off. Dealership is not helpful no engine lights can 0914not tell what is wrong with SUV. Its has been a week no engine light but acceleration still fill off.

The engine has been running rough for awhile and emissions light came on. My car was having problems accelerating, 2 years ago the light came on but didn’t stay on so the dealer couldn’t diagnose problem.

While traveling out of state, my 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe (2. 5l) experienced a sudden loss of power and rough running during acceleration to pass; check engine light came on. Independent shop pulled code p0302 (cylinder 2 misfire). Vehicle became unsafe to drive and was left at a Hyundai dealer in indiana. I later learned Hyundai issued TSB 25-FL-001h (Jan 2025) for 2. 5l gdi injector internal filter breakage that causes misfires and directs replacing all four injectors. Parts were quoted up to three weeks on backorder. This sudden power loss during highway passing presents a safety risk (inability to accelerate/merge). Vehicle is under 60,000 miles.

I am the current owner a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. While I was driving my SUV on the highway at highway speeds at 60mph, the oil pressure and the check engine warning light illuminated all of sudden after around 1 hour of smooth ride. In the meantime, suddenly the vehicle lost motive power, the steering wheel seized and smoke came immediately. Losing motive power in running conditions and smoke coming out during failure could have endangered our lives. The smoke came out due to leakage of engine oil probably. The vehicle was stuck in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then after Hyundai dealership. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,245 only. Before reporting to nhsta I have seen numerous complaints about high oil consumption and burnt valves on theta ii engines around 2017 santafe sport model and very similar occurrence of events happening to all while driving the vehicle on highways. Hyundai must need to provide support to this year model and make vehicles.

Bought car in 2022 when covid was still a problem. I had problems with the led screen on the dash turning off. It did come back after about 10-15 minutes. I had to pull over to the side of the road in the meantime. I brought my car in and no problem was found. I was told that there was no way they could order a $6,000 part if they could not reproduce the problem. I still have had this problem periodically, but it does not last as long. This can be a safety risk when the screen goes out when driving. My check engine light has gone off many time in the 3 yrs and 7 months of me owning the vehicle. I am asked if the light is blinking when this occurs. If I said 'no', I was told 'then you don't have to worry'. I had my car in to evaluate the engine light on, and was told not to worry that no code showed up (I did not get a service record if they didn't find any thing, despite me asking). The very next day I was stranded on a busy hwy. My car was towed to the shop. I barely got off the hwy as one of my fuel injectors was bad. I was 45 min from my home and the check engine light went on. I started driving home and called the service dept. I was told that as long as the light was not blinking, it would be ok, and I tomorrow I should call for an appt if it is still on. My car started to act up when I was nearing my home, but it was drivable. The next morning the light was still on. I did not feel safe driving it around and felt it was another fuel injector. I was driving my car to the shop and the car was slowing down a little at a time. By the time I was about 1/2 mile from the shop, my car was only going 14 miles per hour. I was driving on the side of the hwy with my flashing lights on. Very unsafe. I know that I have a lemon for a car, but not taken seriously, that is a problem. I have had many more times that my engine light was on and would bring it in for an evaluation. Sometimes things were found, other times not. I am concerned about that lack of concern.

Driving on freeway and noticed smoke. Realized I needed to pull over and brakes weren’t working. Off ramp was at an incline so car came to a stop just in time to get toddler and myself out of vehicle. Car was on fire.

See all problems of the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid has experienced repeated, dangerously abrupt power loss while driving at highway speeds, causing the vehicle to go into "limp mode" without any warning or prior indication. This safety hazard occurred on three separate occasions: first incident: 7/29/25; mileage: 9,205. Situation: while traveling at 70 mph on the interstate, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 35 mph and entered "limp mode" without any warning lights or notifications. Dealer repair: replaced ignition coil assembly (parts: 27301r1h, 27301-2m417). Second incident: 8/27/25; mileage: 12,898 situation: while accelerating to 65 mph on the interstate, the same loss of power and abrupt forced deceleration occurred, again with no warning. This sudden loss of speed created a serious safety hazard for me and other drivers. Dealer repair: replaced fuel pump & o ring assy-high pressure (parts: 35326-2m500, 35305-2m414 lh). Third incident: 9/25/25; mileage: 14,830. Situation: traveling at 70 mph on the interstate, the car abruptly decelerated, again entering limp mode. This caused surrounding vehicles to swerve to avoid rear-ending me, putting myself and others at risk. Dealer repair: replaced high pressure sensor (3534202m400), packing fuel pump (31115-0w000), and fuel pump and tube assy (31119-l1400). In all three cases, there was never any warning light, check engine notification, or app alert before the incident. Hyundai and my dealership confirmed and replicated the issue during each repair. I have reported the vehicle to the texas dmv, Hyundai and the dealer. These recurring “limp mode” incidents have repeatedly jeopardized my safety, my family’s safety, and the safety of the public due to the sudden, unanticipated loss of power at high speeds. Since the underlying issue persists and has required three separate major repairs, I am fearful for my safety while operating this vehicle and believe it constitutes a serious safety defect needing federal investigation.

High pressure fuel pump leaking gas into engine oil.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

I am reporting a serious and recurring safety defect with my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid, purchased new in January 2024. The vehicle has suffered from over 30–40 sudden hybrid system failures, including loss of acceleration, “stop vehicle” warnings, and check engine lights. These incidents happen without warning, including while driving at legal speeds (40–70 mph), on residential streets and highways. Most recently, the car failed twice in two days, while my teenage son was driving within all road laws, including once with a friend in the car. The vehicle simply stopped accelerating in the middle of traffic, endangering them and everyone around them. These failures have happened at legal speeds ranging from 40–70 mph, on both residential roads and highways. There is no advance warning, just abrupt loss of power and sudden warning messages. We’ve taken the vehicle to the south charlotte Hyundai dealership multiple times. Each time, they either reset the check engine light or replaced indicators: but never addressed the root hybrid system failure. We filed a lemon law case, and Hyundai responded with only a $2,000 offer including legal fees, requiring us to keep the dangerous vehicle. We rejected the offer. These failures have occurred with children and passengers in the car. We have documented as many incidents as we could, including photos, service records, and communication with Hyundai. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I no longer feel safe driving or allowing my family to drive this car. This is a critical hybrid system failure that continues to place lives at risk. I believe this may be part of a wider pattern affecting Hyundai hybrid vehicles, and I am pleading with the NHTSA to open an investigation before someone is seriously injured or worse.

Vehicle failed to accelerate while operating on the highway. Pulled over and shut vehicle off and smelled gas. Vehicle would not stay started. Towed to dealer and was told it was a defective fuel injector. All injectors were replaced. Apparently this is a known problem. This could have been extremely dangerous if I wasn’t able to pull over. Hyundai should issue a recall to replace these defective parts.

The oil pressure switch has a faulty seal causing oil to leak out onto the engine block. This causes oil on the underbody and ground, smoke amd smell from oil on got surfaces, knocking noises from the engine, reduced power or hesitation, illumination or the check engine light and oil pressure light, high speed stall, and will also cause fire in the engine compartment resulting in death or sever injury. I have taken my car to the red mccombs Hyundai dealership in san antonio TX for repair and they have confirmed that it is the oil pressure switch seal that failed. The oil leak has also damaged electrical components causing a malfunction in the dash cluster and steering wheel control.

My engine seized at approximately 80mph on the interstate [xxx] ). The engine light came on only after I lost power. I only avoided a multiple car accident due to quick reaction and taking an exit ramp. Police came to my stalled vehicle and helped my push it off a major road to a nearby parking lot. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

A few days before the complete engine failure the car became very jerky on the throttle response I would slowly add throttle and the car would jump all over the place with rpms and felt extremely jerky when shifting gears. At one point the engine downshifted past redline when decelerating off the highway. The day of the engine failure I was accelerating up hill after leaving a stop sign. Around 25 mph the throttle stopped responding and the engine went to idle around 800 rpm. The car started violently shaking and sounding like it was running on 3 cylinders. I tried the throttle again and nothing happened. At this time I was slowing to a stop on the hill while still in lane being unable to get out of lane to the shoulder. Upon coming to a stop the vehicle continued to shake and eventually the engine stalled while keeping the electric on. At this point there was never any lights on the dash board to indicate a fault. Upon attempting to restart the engine it turned over 3 times and eventually started all while violating shaking and eventually stalling again. The third time attempting to start it did not turn over. At this point I was stuck in lane and needed to call the police to come and assist me because I was unable to move the vehicle under its own power putting my life in danger. Upon taking getting it towed to a dealership they said it was a fuel injector fault.

At 22000 miles wheel speed sensor went out, all control system shut down and car became unstable. At 44000 miles fuel injector went out, was driving on freeway and car started shaking and losing power, then in parking lot would not start at all, had to be towed to dealer. This is way to many breakdowns for a car with such low mileage.

Was traveling on [xxx] near reston, va when the Santa Fe engine started missing and losing power and check engine light came on. Vehicle was towed to dealer and repaired on 04/26/24 mileage was 36285. The repair order says it was fuel injector for cylinder #1. The second time the same thing happened was on [xxx] near haymarket, va. The date was [xxx], mileage was 36577. The engine started missing lost power and check engine light came on. Vehicle taken to dealer for repaired. They replaced injector #2. The third time was about [xxx] mileage about 51000. Was traveling near haymarket, va. Engine started to miss, decrease in power, check engine light came on. Vehicle was towed to dealer. Inspection of the engine revealed injector #3 was malfunctioning and they needed to replace it but could not get the injector for it from Hyundai. The vehicle has been setting at the dealer since then with no idea when it will be repaired. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Q: what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? a: two fuel injectors on bank 2 are failing intermittently causing the engine light to flash and stay on (p0300 errors) and the car loses power.   q: how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? a: driving to newark airport on [xxx] the car suddenly lost power and was quickly coming to a halt. Luckily I was was in the middle lane and was able to get to the shoulder without incident. This also happened to my daughter when she was in wa state, driving to work on the highway (the car was serviced but the fuel injectors were not replaced - see attached receipt). Q: has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? a: yes. An independent service center performed a injector value load test which determines the amount of blocked pressure the injector is performing under load. The values and the math show that more than 1 injector on bank 2 are failing. Q: has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? a: I had the vehicle in the Hyundai dealer but they did not do the injector load test and only wanted to replace all the coil packs and plugs. I had two other independent service facilities confirm the issue is with fault fuel injectors. Hyundai has the parts on hold and is not releasing any due to this issue. I do not understand how this is not a recall circumstance. I am fortunate that in both instances an accident did not occur. Q: were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? a: yes, the engine light comes on - at first blinking, then steady. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Driving vehicle at highway speed, engine rpms dropped to less than 1500, could not maintain any speed, cel illuminated. As soon as vehicle was pull to side of road, it would no longer run. It would start, idle roughly then stall out. Vehicle was towed to mountain Hyundai in denver. High pressure fuel pump failed, fuel pump in one cylinder failed, fuel was dumped into oil fouling all spark plugs. This is the second high pressure fuel pump failure on this vehicle.

Vehicle failed an oil consumption test. Dealership acknowledges that the vehicle burns 1. 5 quarts per 1 thousand miles. The dealership initially told me that Hyundai would cover a combustion cleaning. However after acknowledging my mileage, they are now refusing to provide any assistance. This is a known issue and they are not acknowledging it. The dealership instructs me to drive until the problem progresses, but according to their data there is already a problem outside of the manufacturers specifications.

Per franklin county fire department report, they determined a malfunction in the canister vent valve associated with the gas tank initiated a fire. According to the department findings, the canister vent valve detached from the vehicle and was discovered approximately 200 yards behind the final position of the vehicle, still burning. This malfunction is believed to have compromised the fuel system, leading to an ignition and subsequent vehicle fire. The vehicle sustained extensive damage and was deemed a total loss.

I am writing to formally report an issue with my vehicle that I believe may warrant a recall investigation. The issue involves the fuel door, which is failing to open after the car has been turned off. This has occurred repeatedly and is preventing me from refueling the vehicle, posing a significant inconvenience and potential safety concern. Despite ensuring that the vehicle is unlocked and powered down as instructed, the fuel door remains stuck and will not release. This malfunction requires manual intervention or technical assistance each time I need to access the fuel tank, which is not only frustrating but could also become hazardous in certain situations. I would appreciate it if this matter could be reviewed for possible recall consideration or guidance on next steps. Please let me know if additional documentation, including my VIN or service history, is needed.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 🔎.

The car started jerking and the check engine light came on. I had to have it towed to my house. We can't get the car to do anything now. We get it started for 5 seconds, the engine completely dies.

Steering made clicking sounds when turning. Injectors caused the car to run very rough!.