Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1470–25K
3625–50K
2450–75K
2675–100K
32100–150K
3150K+
268 reports with mileage · 694 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine. Review the 643 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 161 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports23 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
962 reports
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2024
Engine
Owned this vehicle for 4 years without any issues. Driving home on a friday, made a stop at a friends dance studio, and as I pulled into the parking lot my car just randomly died. I was able to restart the vehicle without any problems and there were no error messages on my car to indicate an issue. I drove the car home for it to…
Read full complaint
Owned this vehicle for 4 years without any issues. Driving home on a friday, made a stop at a friends dance studio, and as I pulled into the parking lot my car just randomly died. I was able to restart the vehicle without any problems and there were no error messages on my car to indicate an issue. I drove the car home for it to die on me again as I was pulling onto my road. At first we thought maybe alternator. Still no messages are being indicated on my vehicle. My husand drove the car to the mechanic on Monday and as he drove it started making noises. He was able to get it to the mechanic. It was later that day that we were advised there was only a quart of oil left in my car (oil changes pretty regularly), per the mechanic the engine is toast. Still no error warnings etc. such as, oil low or change oil soon to advise me of any issues. I now have to completely replace my engine.
NHTSA ODI #11586844
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2024
Engine
Complete engine failure with vehicle excessively consuming oil with no warning indicators. Issue has been recognized by dealer as known issue. Safety risk with car complete shut down with no warnings.
NHTSA ODI #11586778
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2024
Engine
Over the past 50,000 miles we have put on the car we have had major oil leaks and now the engine is burning oil. The engine has stalled multiple times and now sounds like a diesel. We have spent over $3000 in repairs and still will have to replace our car as it continues to worsen. Metal shavings have been found in the oil. No r…
Read full complaint
Over the past 50,000 miles we have put on the car we have had major oil leaks and now the engine is burning oil. The engine has stalled multiple times and now sounds like a diesel. We have spent over $3000 in repairs and still will have to replace our car as it continues to worsen. Metal shavings have been found in the oil. No remedies have been found, aside from replacing the engine.
NHTSA ODI #11586462
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2024
Electrical System
Sun roof has opening and closing issues. No warning signs. Could very well cause major issues, broken glass, damage to electrical, interior due to water etc. called dealership with no luck.
NHTSA ODI #11585877
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2024
Engine
I was driving on the highway at 65 miles per hour and my 2017 Santa Fe began to decelerate. I tried pushing hard on my petal and it would not accelerate past 30 mph. I got off the highway as safely as I could. I heard a knocking sound while driving and the check engine light came on after my car experienced this problem.
NHTSA ODI #11585216
108,000 miles · Apr 24, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle came to a stop in the middle of the roadway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with an engine k…
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle came to a stop in the middle of the roadway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with an engine knock. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V578000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
NHTSA ODI #11584894
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2024
EngineFire
Engine seizure happened while driving and the engine caught on fire. The car was well maintained and had been up-to-date on all recalls.
NHTSA ODI #11582964
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2024
Engine
The car started making a very loud knocking noise while driving and became un-drivable due to the engine knocking and sputtering. Safety was compromised due to not being able to safely drive the vehicle the appropriate speed as this began suddenly. The car was taken to the dealership where the determined that it had rod bearing …
Read full complaint
The car started making a very loud knocking noise while driving and became un-drivable due to the engine knocking and sputtering. Safety was compromised due to not being able to safely drive the vehicle the appropriate speed as this began suddenly. The car was taken to the dealership where the determined that it had rod bearing failure and the engine needed replaced. There is a recall for the same make, model, and year of the car, but the VIN number is different. The recall that is out for other VIN of the same car and engine states that there is rod bearing failure due to a faulty crankshaft. This has been confirmed by the dealership. There were no warning lights or indications that the car was not in proper mechanical shape prior to the issue. The dealership and corporate are unwilling to work with us to have this issue repaired under the recall, even though it is the same issue, since it is 17,000 miles over the warranty and that the recall “does not affect our VIN number.” The engine that the car needs is not available unless it is a used engine as there are so many issues with said engine, which then makes the engine extremely expensive and difficult to locate.
NHTSA ODI #11582480
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2024
Engine
My car was burning oil much faster than it should have been. On [XXX], my car started making a very loud knocking noise, and my engine blew out while on [XXX] in Nashville, TN. Thankfully I was able to pull over with friends trailing me. There was a burnt smell coming from under the hood. The problem has been confirmed by my lo…
Read full complaint
My car was burning oil much faster than it should have been. On [XXX], my car started making a very loud knocking noise, and my engine blew out while on [XXX] in Nashville, TN. Thankfully I was able to pull over with friends trailing me. There was a burnt smell coming from under the hood. The problem has been confirmed by my local Hyundai dealer. The service department at the dealer attempted to get my car approved for an engine replacement, and Hyundai Motor America has denied the authorization. According to Hyundai, a recall from August 9, 2018 was not addressed on my vehicle. They have documentation that proves that I was not the owner of the vehicle when the recall was issued, therefore, I was not made aware of the recall. Because the recall was not addressed, they are refusing to fix my car for free OR offer any type of goodwill assistance. I would be solely responsible for repairing the faulty engine that they placed in my vehicle, due to a recall that was issued before I owned the car. I know several people that have had to have their Hyundai engines replaced. These cars are causing massive vehicular damage and financial burden on consumers. Based on dealership quotes, this repair will cost me anywhere between $8,000 - $14,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11581389
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2024
EnginePower Train
Was going down the highway at 65 when my vehicle completely lost the accelerating component. Almost got rear ended so I pulled off. Then made it to work when it happened again. The engine light came on and gave 2 codes. Finally got it towed to the dealership where they have decided it’s either a new timing chain or new engine du…
Read full complaint
Was going down the highway at 65 when my vehicle completely lost the accelerating component. Almost got rear ended so I pulled off. Then made it to work when it happened again. The engine light came on and gave 2 codes. Finally got it towed to the dealership where they have decided it’s either a new timing chain or new engine due to mechanical loss. They discovered there was no oil in the car and they have also found metal shavings in my oil. Now they are telling me I need a whole new engine. I only have 135,644 miles on this car. The car was driving perfectly fine the day before and had just been to the dealer and looked over 1,500 miles before and I was told everything was perfect working condition.
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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may not have been set in the correct mode during vehicle assembly, and therefore will not provide an appropriate warning in the event of an underinflated tire. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TPMS sensors, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 159.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Trailer Hitches
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Electrical System:wiring
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses may be damaged by the seat's height adjuster mechanism, resulting in a failure to provide an audible warning when front seat occupants do not fasten their seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.
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
3
DP24001 · 3.3L Engine Loss Of Motive Power (lomp)
Opened Feb 8, 2024 · Closed May 16, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on February 2, 2024, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the "engine" on the following vehicle model: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles equipped with the 3.3L V-Shaped GDI Lambda-II engines. The petition cites allegations of a loss of motive power, often resulting in an engine seizure. The stall is preceded by a knocking sound, decreased performance and no warning lights. An analysis of the subject vehicle population was undertaken using complaints submitted to ODI along with manufacturer data. It was determined that the frequency of events is low for the subject population, while those that specifically report a loss of motive power event have a high mileage at the time of incident. The 2017 Santa Fe is equipped with a service interval reminder for the consumer that must be set by the consumer themselves or at a dealership. A Technical Service Bulletin (19-EM-002H) instructs the dealership to set the maintenance reminder at the completion of routine maintenance service or anytime a repair is performed that requires new engine oil. This maintenance reminder will help reinforce the need for proper oil maintenance intervals. Additionally, the Santa Fe vehicles with 3.3L V-shaped Lambda-II engines will be added to Hyundai’s existing Technical Service Bulletin (23-EM-007H) related to combustion chamber cleaning. These actions will help limit negative consumer incidents related to loss of motive power. Lastly, Hyundai has extended the limited engine warranty for MY 2013-2019 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L V-shaped Lambda-II engines included in the Petition. The updated coverage is 15 years, or 150,000 miles and details are contained in Technical Service Bulletin 24-EM-003H. In view of the service interval reminder, combustion chamber cleaning, and extended warranty actions being taken by Hyundai, ODI is denying this Defect Petition. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the report cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
AQ23002 · 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.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration