Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#11736009May 6, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 25 MPH with a “Vehicle Will Shut Down” warning message displayed. The contact stated that the engine then began to shut down, and although the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled. The failure occurred on multiple occasions, requiring the vehicle to be towed each time. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired and the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and multiple cases were opened, The failure mileage was approximately 3,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736061May 6, 2026
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained on, despite no accident occurring. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who could not determine the failure and advised the contact to visit the dealer. At the dealer, the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed passenger air bag inflator that needed replacement. The dealer also found that the SRSCM (Supplemental Restraint System Control Module) required replacement due to the part shorting the inflator. The airbag was replaced, but the dealer refused to replace the SRSCM as it was no longer under warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure occurred at approximately 77,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736151May 6, 2026
ENGINE, SUSPENSION
Engine is burning a tremendous amount of motor oil. Dealer does acknowledge engine is burning oil. No warning lights on. Told burning motor oil is normal for a hyundai engine. Engine can seize during driving with no warning and is a safety issue. Front struts are also failing. No warning and is a safety issue: Currently trying to get dealer to cover defective components under warranty. Nothing has been repaired or resolved as of yet.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736072May 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
when vehicle accelerates from stopping position motor immediately increases rpm's from 700 to about 4,000 and increases and decreases with jerking motion. sometimes much difficulty controlling speed and controlling car when there are approaching vehicles. the transmission does not perform safely there is the same problem when passing other vehicles and travelling uphill , sometimes 50 to 75 mph. the selling dealer informed me this may be this transmission's way of learning how to accelerate.I don't believe this. I am [XXX] old, never a ticket with two safety classes in my first 30 years of driving heavy vehicles for my employer. the selling dealer was unable to completely reproduce problem. I have this problem when vehicle is first activated in the morning as I begin driving also. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736056May 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned on and shifted into park, the vehicle unexpectedly rolled away with no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle then collided with a tree. The contact also stated that the air bags did not deploy during the crash. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where full body repairs were completed. The vehicle was later taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred, and during the second incident the contact’s spouse attempted to stop the vehicle and was almost run over. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was provided. The contact stated that the their arms and fingers are hurting during the failure, The contact stated that the vehicle then collided with an area of the contact’s home. The contact stated their concern that there vehicle is very hazardous and very unsafe and the failure could have been worse for the contact's spouse. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11735879May 5, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
The right side power captain seat in the second row began to fold down without the button being pressed. It happened with and without the seatbelt plugged in. It came down while my toddler was in her rear facing car seat and began to crush the car seat and push on her feet. The chair would not stop the power seat motors even with both my wife and myself pushing back on the seat trying to free our daughter from the car seat. It continued to push down the moment there was more space to collapse. No errors or messages or engine lights of any sort were displayed anywhere. Even after removing our daughter it happened several times again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11735795May 5, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735723May 5, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield spontaneously cracked while parked. There are no signs of impact to explain the crack. This can be a safety concern as it can continue cracking, impede visibility and even burst possibly sending glass towards occupants.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735603May 4, 2026
ENGINE
Engine seized up on the interstate. Vehicle has ~97,000 miles. Towed to dealership. Dealership wanted $8,000+ to replace engine. Hyundai refused to honor their warranty of 15 years/150,000 miles. Remains at the dealership, unrepaired.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735486May 4, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
"What component malfunctioned...?" - Electrical system (suspected) "How was safety put at risk?" - We were unaware if the dashboard instruments were reading correctly. We also couldn't lock/unlock the doors or open/close the windows. The tailgate would also not open. "Has problem been reproduced?" - Not yet - plan to have the service center inspect. "Has vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer?" - No "Were there warning messages or symptoms?" - Yes, when the issue occurred. The vehicle reported 13 warnings/alerts. Happened for the first time on 5/2/2026 GENERAL DESCRIPTION: While the vehicle is parked or idling after sitting for a period of time, the dashboard suddenly displays approximately 13 warning alerts simultaneously, including a message stating "Check Emergency Stopping function" among others. During this condition, multiple vehicle systems become inoperative, including: - Power windows - could not open/close - Door locks - could not lock/unlock - Tailgate operation - could not open (it was closed) The vehicle appears to experience a system-wide electronic failure affecting both body controls and safety systems. The condition is intermittent but has occurred multiple times. Restarting the vehicle does NOT immediately resolve the issue. After driving for a period of time, the vehicle eventually returns to normal operation. This is a safety concern because: - Critical safety systems (automatic emergency braking / driver assist features) are (potentially) disabled - Basic vehicle functions (locks/windows) are unavailable. This is a concern if the door can't be opened and one needed to exit through the window in an emergency. - The failure occurs without warning and cannot be reliably reproduced on demand This appears to be a broader electrical or communication system failure rather than a single component issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735383May 3, 2026
ENGINE
I took my car in for the EVM engine update. Since then whenever it starts it is jumpy. The rpm rev more than they should. It’s very concerning that it will rev and won’t stop and I could possibly hit someone. I took it back to the dealer and they called the timeline and they told them to do another update. They did and it is still like that. Was never like that before. I have connected with several people that have had the same thing happen. I will gave to take it in again and leave it which is a major inconvenience
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735358May 3, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
Driving down the highway. Vehicle random alerts that there is a transmission error.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735250May 2, 2026
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
On April 13, 2026, I arrived home and parked the vehicle, engaging the traditional shifter into the "Park" position and turning off the engine. After exiting and standing on the ground to retrieve a purse from the cabin, the vehicle spontaneously and rapidly began reversing. As the vehicle gained momentum, I was struck by the driver-side door, which knocked me down and resulted in the vehicle running over me. The vehicle only stopped its rearward movement once it collided with a neighbor's parked car. Only after the vehicle began moving did the horn begin blaring, indicating a delayed rollaway alert. This incident resulted in a fractured ankle that required surgical intervention. Despite the traditional shifter being placed in "Park" and the engine being off, the vehicle failed to remain stationary, representing a catastrophic failure of the parking pawl or transmission engagement.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11735297May 2, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle had oil consumption problems that were fixed with a new replacement engine now my catalytic converter is going bad due to engine oil consumption problems and the dealer I deal with is refusing to help with this issue. There is only around 50k miles on the new engine. I would greatly appreciate your help with this Thank you!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735133May 1, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled and hesitated to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine and check engine oil warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local O'Reilly's, where it was diagnosed with ignition coil #3 misfire. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to severe engine oil consumption. The vehicle was then to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with abnormal engine oil consumption, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle required an engine oil refill 800-1,000 miles before an engine oil change was due. The contact related the failure to several unknown Hyundai TSBs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735182May 1, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734899April 30, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle Information: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Mileage at failure: approximately 109,000 miles Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor Company The vehicle experienced a complete failure of the automatic transmission system. The failed component is available for inspection upon request. At approximately 98,000 miles, the vehicle’s check engine light illuminated. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealership for diagnosis while it was still within the 100,000-mile powertrain warranty period. The dealership inspected the vehicle and advised that no issue was found, and no repairs were performed at that time. Approximately 11,000 miles later, the vehicle experienced severe transmission problems, which progressed to complete transmission failure at approximately 109,000 miles. Safety Risk: The transmission failure resulted in a sudden loss of power and reduced vehicle operability while driving. This condition presents a potential safety risk to the driver and surrounding traffic, particularly during normal roadway and highway use. Prior Inspection / Diagnosis: The issue was not identified or reproduced during the dealership inspection at approximately 98,000 miles when the check engine light was present. Other Inspections: The vehicle was inspected by a Hyundai dealership at approximately 98,000 miles. No inspection by police, insurance representatives, or manufacturer engineering personnel has occurred since the transmission failure. Warning Signs: Check engine light illuminated at approximately 98,000 miles Vehicle was taken to dealership for diagnosis at that time No specific transmission warning messages were displayed Dealership reported no issue found Maintenance History: The vehicle has been regularly maintained with oil changes performed approximately every 5,000 miles. Maintenance records are available for review upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734970April 30, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe quartz white pearl paint and the paint is blowing off as I drive in multiple places. I took it to the dealer because when I called they said there's a Z05 recall on white Hyundai paint and it would be covered. When I take it in, they say 2020's weren't covered because the paint issue was corrected in 2020, when clearly it wasn't. In any case Hyundai agreed to pay 65% of the cost, nothing more. THEY NEED to include all years that present this issue. Unfortunately I've now picked my car up and the paint in the areas that were painted are a different color white. I'm not happy with this remedy and I'm not happy that Hyundai refuses to take ownership with ALL vehicles painted in white. This recall should be revised to include all vehicles from 2016 forward instead of skipping one year which just happens to be 2020. Any help is greatly appreciated. The paint is already starting to show signs of coming off in other areas but those won't be considered until it's obvious paint peeling larger than a certain size.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734840April 30, 2026
SEAT BELTS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
My seat belts and rear safety camera are not functioning. I have been dealing with my local dealer who seems not to care and Hyundai Corporate for 3 months to try to resolve thissafety issue and have gotten no where
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734834April 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On April 27, 2026, my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe experienced an intermittent electrical/system malfunction affecting multiple vehicle systems at the same time. Multiple orange warning lights/messages appeared on the dash, including driver-assistance warnings and the master warning triangle. At the same time, the front turn signal stopped working, causing rapid flashing; the power locks stopped working; the windows would not roll up or down; and the rear liftgate would not open using the key fob or exterior liftgate button. The vehicle/component is available for inspection upon request. This created a safety and access issue. The malfunction affected exterior signaling, locks, windows, and rear cargo access. My dog was in a crate in the rear cargo area, and I could not open the liftgate normally to access him. The failure of locks/windows/liftgate could create a serious emergency risk if a person, pet, or cargo needed to be accessed quickly, and the turn signal failure affected my ability to safely signal to other drivers. The issue lasted approximately 30–40 minutes and did not immediately clear after turning the vehicle off and back on. It later returned to normal on its own. This has happened more than once. The vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealership for inspection. The dealer has been working with Hyundai Techline, but as of now they have not been able to reproduce the issue or find active diagnostic codes. I provided video evidence of the dash warnings from the incident. The dealer advised that scans currently show systems operating as designed because the issue is intermittent and not occurring during inspection. There were no prior symptoms before the failure. The warning lamps and messages appeared at the time the malfunction occurred. Seek reimbursement for rental car fees and diagnostic fee.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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