NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
320 reportsMileage unknown · Aug 5, 2024
EnginePower TrainSuspension
There has been an ongoing issue with oil consumption and engine failure with my car. The engine didnt give any indication of running hot on the dashboard. It just shut off while driving. I've been to the dealer a few times with no help. On 8/4/2024 my car cut off in the middle of traffic with my daughter in the car twice. It t…
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There has been an ongoing issue with oil consumption and engine failure with my car. The engine didnt give any indication of running hot on the dashboard. It just shut off while driving. I've been to the dealer a few times with no help. On 8/4/2024 my car cut off in the middle of traffic with my daughter in the car twice. It took 3 hours to cool off in 90 + degrees heat. Oil wasn't in the spark plugs but they keep getting shorted out. Oil burns and the engine stalls. I have to replace it which I did but my car shut down. We could've been in a bad accident because it wouldn't drive off immediately. We were stranded on a 2 way country road. This is all horrible because again, we could've been involved in a bad accident on the road we were on. After 5 1/2 hours it finally started and 2 people had to trail me home.
NHTSA ODI #11606395
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2024
Engine
Every time I get an oil change my oil is low. Have started checking my oil after the oil change, a week or so later and oil is low. I will check it the following day after the oil change and the oil level is fine but then the oil level drops as weeks go by. There are no warning lights that come on, especially the one time I was …
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Every time I get an oil change my oil is low. Have started checking my oil after the oil change, a week or so later and oil is low. I will check it the following day after the oil change and the oil level is fine but then the oil level drops as weeks go by. There are no warning lights that come on, especially the one time I was very low. I’ve been told by the mechanics that this is a common problem with Hyundai. Most recently I had an oil change done 7/15/24. I drove 600 miles so far and the oil is at least half a quart low
NHTSA ODI #11605466
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion System
This car is burning excessive amounts of oil. I care for it diligently with regular oil changes and scheduled maintenance. Earlier this summer, Capital Tire and Service confirmed that the engine light was on due to a knock sensor likely caused by low oil. At their advisement I ran a consumption test; 800 miles later the engine w…
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This car is burning excessive amounts of oil. I care for it diligently with regular oil changes and scheduled maintenance. Earlier this summer, Capital Tire and Service confirmed that the engine light was on due to a knock sensor likely caused by low oil. At their advisement I ran a consumption test; 800 miles later the engine was nearly empty of with another engine light signal. This light went off after adding 5 quarts of oil. I am routinely adding extra oil, hoping the engine does not seize, and waiting to see if Hyundai will issue a recall. This vehicle is not safe to drive.
NHTSA ODI #11605311
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2024
Engine
I was told by my mechanic that there was a service memo put out by Hyundai about the possibility of the engine in my vehicle consuming too much oil and they offered a fix. I did everything required. Oil change, oil consumption test etc. My engine is burning 3.3 quarts every 600 miles or so. Hyundai DENIED my claim to have t…
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I was told by my mechanic that there was a service memo put out by Hyundai about the possibility of the engine in my vehicle consuming too much oil and they offered a fix. I did everything required. Oil change, oil consumption test etc. My engine is burning 3.3 quarts every 600 miles or so. Hyundai DENIED my claim to have them replace the engine even though it was an issue that they previously acknowledged and other people have had their engine fixed or replaced by Hyundai.
NHTSA ODI #11600954
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2024
Engine
Oil consumption issue. At anytime the engine could fail and shut off making for unsafe driving and causing an accident. In progress, have done one consumption problem test and about to do a second. Oil light went on after an oil change and had that inspected at local garage. After that oil change within a week or so took back to…
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Oil consumption issue. At anytime the engine could fail and shut off making for unsafe driving and causing an accident. In progress, have done one consumption problem test and about to do a second. Oil light went on after an oil change and had that inspected at local garage. After that oil change within a week or so took back to garage and oil was down again after 735 miles and took it to the Hyundai dealer in Meriden CT after waiting 3 weeks for an appointment. They won't commit to saying it is a problem until they do more costly tests but it is evident it is the same problem my daughter had with jeep until they finally did a recall. Problem began in Feb but I went away and continued with issue when I got back at beginning of May. Have seen the same complaints on the internet and lawsuits etc.
NHTSA ODI #11598536
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2024
Engine
Have 80,000 miles on vehicle , driving down highway , and total engine failure occurred. Luckily there was a highway shoulder I was able to roll onto for safety. No oil light had come on, but mechanic said there was an internal oil leak, and that I had no oil , and engine was blown. There are many known engine failures due to e…
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Have 80,000 miles on vehicle , driving down highway , and total engine failure occurred. Luckily there was a highway shoulder I was able to roll onto for safety. No oil light had come on, but mechanic said there was an internal oil leak, and that I had no oil , and engine was blown. There are many known engine failures due to excessive oil consumption in the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport models. They need to offer a recall on this model and replace the engines of thismodel.
NHTSA ODI #11596311
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2024
Engine
engine failure misfire, oil consumption
NHTSA ODI #11590291
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2024
Engine
Excessive oil consumption has occurred for the past couple of years. At 80,000 the crankshaft seized and died at an intersection and the dealer said that I need a new engine.
NHTSA ODI #11589779
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2024
Engine
For the last year or so, we have had a major issue with oil consumption, there are no oil spots on our driveway yet the oil just disappears and we are constantly having to add more. I have spoken with Hollar Hyundai about the issue and they acknowledged there is a problem and that the SUV now has a lifetime warranty for the engi…
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For the last year or so, we have had a major issue with oil consumption, there are no oil spots on our driveway yet the oil just disappears and we are constantly having to add more. I have spoken with Hollar Hyundai about the issue and they acknowledged there is a problem and that the SUV now has a lifetime warranty for the engine. We have all records of oil changes and my wife is very religious about getting it done as scheduled. We asked about what we are to do and all they said was drive the vehicle until the engine siezes up and then Hyundai will replace the engine. I asked about doing the test on the engine nd they will not do a test on the engine for us. We are at our whits end with this engine using so much oil and we need to have soeone from Hyundai Motor America contact us and help us resolve this issue. My wife loves our SUV and it is the first one she has ever paid cash for due to inheriting some money and now she is faced with the possibility of having to trade it in on another vehicle and thus coming out of pocket or even aking car payments again. PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS KNOWN ISSUE!!!!!
NHTSA ODI #11586963
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
While driving my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport in freeway traffic, I felt the vehicle begin to heavily vibrate and the engine was jerking severely. The speed began to slowly descend. I was unable to control this. I was in a one-lane overpass, with no safe place, room, or lane to pull over. I felt hopeless and fearful for my life. …
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While driving my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport in freeway traffic, I felt the vehicle begin to heavily vibrate and the engine was jerking severely. The speed began to slowly descend. I was unable to control this. I was in a one-lane overpass, with no safe place, room, or lane to pull over. I felt hopeless and fearful for my life. I was literally drifting, praying the vehicle would be able to handle the descent upward. As the speed declined, the vibrations became more pronounced. No dash lights were illuminated. Other drivers behind me were approaching rapidly at the speed limit and slamming on their brakes and hazard lights in an attempt to notify drivers further back. I managed to maneuver over to approximately 24 inches of a faux shoulder on the right of [XXX] . Cars hurled past mine within inches of my vehicle. I knew I needed to get out of the car and crawled over to the passenger side. Again, I was trapped. Several HPD units were dispatched to literally shut down the freeway to enable a tow truck driver to safely hook up my SUV. I had it towed to my mechanic and he did a diagnostic indicating a compression issue. He ordered new spark plus and 4 new coils. Upon further investigation he discovered that Cylinder 4 was not holding compression and he informed me that the engine had failed. I then had it towed to the local Hyundai dealer. At check in, I was informed that there would be a $700 diagnostic/tear apart fee to discover what repairs were needed. I informed them exactly what was needed and I expected a new engine. The Hyundai mechanic dismantled the engine and took pictures, ran a few tests. He submitted the results to Hyundai for approval. The engineer at Hyundai denied a new engine claiming "the head coil is not part of the recall". I was told for $2500, Hyundai would "refab" my damaged head to control the leaks. If that repair didn't address the issue, I was sure to get a new engine. A financial and physical risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6
NHTSA ODI #11585306
Official recalls
4Oct 27, 2022
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 237. This recall is an expansion of recall 22V-056.
Feb 3, 2022
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
Dec 13, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the component detaches during deployment, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, if the detached component were to enter the vehicle occupant compartment, there could be an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 171.
Sep 20, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The front coil springs may have been improperly manufactured and, as a result, may fracture under certain loads while driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the coil spring fractures, it can puncture the tire, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: All of the affected vehicles are currently unsold on dealer lots. Dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge prior to the vehicle's sale. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 167.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires
Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.
DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.