Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#11721750March 3, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Forward Facing Driver Assist cabin camera will shut off the cruise while you are driving if it cannot detect your eyes. This is NOT a safety feature but rather an extremely dangerous safety hazard!!! While you are traveling at 70+ mph and put on sunglasses and all of a sudden the car starts alarming and decelerates without warning causing the driver to become EXTREMELY distracted trying to figure out what is going on is a recipe for a major incident. There is no way to shut the camera off so you are then forced to either drive with no cruise at all so you can wear sunglasses and for long trips creates added and unnecessary driver fatigue OR you forego wearing sunglasses and squinting causing unnecessary eye strain/fatigue so you can use the cruise. Please explain to me how this is a safety feature? Also the warning that 'you might need to take a break' is also NOT a safety feature and also creates driver distraction rather than safety and should just totally be removed from the vehicle software completely. We have literally driven the car over the center line on the rumble strips without a signal and then back into our lane again the warning does NOT go off, we've jerked the wheel to avoid an object in the road warning does NOT go off, BUT if you happen to drive to close to the center line but don't go over it then the warning DOES go off.....if we just left the house turned out of the driveway, the damn thing goes off. There is no making sense of when or why it goes off, it's completely random. And again, no option to turn it off. Had the dealership given COMPLETE details of these 2 specific "SAFETY" features - I use that term EXTEREMLY loosely - sharing they could NOT be turned off I never, EVER would have bought this vehicle. I am not alone in my complaints, I have seen hundreds of similar complaints on forums for Hyundai vehicles that have this feature. PLEASE PLEASE issue a directive to Hyundai that they need to push a fix allowing shut off of these 2 features
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721567March 2, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The trunk hatch is no longer functioning. The car beeps, but does not unlatch. Once the gate is manually open from a latch inside the trunk, it will not close by pushing the gate close button. It just stopped working. I went into the grocery store, and when I returned with groceries, it stopped working. Hyundai says it's out of warranty and will cost $1800 to repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721258March 1, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Unsure, but likely transmission. I no longer own the vehicle, it is at Tom Ahl Hyundai in Lima, Ohio. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the vehicle was put in reverse, without pressing the gas the car would rapidly accelerate and jerk as if it was going to stall. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the dealership. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The manufacturer was working on a fix but unable to figure out the issue, so I returned the car. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, no warning lights.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720879February 27, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I have taken my car to my local dealership for the Service Campaign 976 (Oil Gasket leak) back in Nov 2023. Ever since then my car has had starting issues until one day it needed a jump start in 2024 during the summer. Didn't think anything of it at the time, until the beginning of 2025. Car needed a jump start in the winter before leaving for work in the morning and before going back home from work. My brother who is a auto mechanic suggested I needed a new battery by now so I did that. Once I replaced the battery on my car I noticed that I didn't have headlights, power steering or heat working in my car. He came to my home and checked my engine and noticed that my alternator was covered in oil. I remembered that I took my car to the dealership for this issue with the Service campaign. I've been back and forth with this issue between the dealership and corporate to look at this issue. The dealership can't provide any photo proof or documentation stating what work was done. The dealership claimed that Hyundai doesn't need photo proof as of 2023 and started needing it in 2024, they simple state that the work was done and sign the car off on the recall. I don't see how this isn't a safety issue when the description of the campaign says that my vehicle can shut off while driving causing a crash. I have a family that I drive in this vehicle and our safety isn't being a concerning issue with this matter because "It's outside of the warranty" that shouldn't matter if the dealership can not provide any proof that work was done besides putting a oil shield on the vehicle. The head gasket leak didn't seem to be resolved if the alternator is saturated in oil enough that it doesn't hold a charge.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720923February 27, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Vehicle went in to limp mode in the middle of driving. Would not accelerate past 30mph. Was able to turn around and pull in to a neighborhood when the vehicle stopped responding altogether and had an additional warning about letting the engine recharge the hybrid system. Restarting the car got it home. This would have been extremely dangerous had it happened on the highway, at highway speeds. Dealership replaced the high pressure fuel pump. Got it back yesterday, we will see if that fixes it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720704February 26, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I was driving on the road and all of the sudden my car went limp and would only move 45 miles per hour. I took it to the dealer which I have lifetime powertran on my car. It has been there for over a month at the dealer. They asked me to provide all oil changes,services, and registrations. I did that and then fidelity asked them to tear down the engine again to see if I had carbon build up. Then after the dealer did that they ask the dealer to tear the motor down even further to see if the exhaust valve was bad and if it was bad they would not replace my motor. My car consumed so much oil that I was changing my oil so often. I have been renting a car just to get back and forth to work. In my contract it says that the exhaust valve is covered under my lifetime powertran. I feel like hyundai and fidelity are giving me the run around. I took very good care of my car and I have shown that. Hyundai has had alot of problem with there motors with the oil consumption and motors just going limp. I feel I will never buy a hyundai again. I am losing money everyday because of the dealer and fidelity. I need the motor replaced and it was no abuse on my part I took care of my car. I want fidelity to tell me how I abuse the exhaust valve. I did my oil changes and took care of my car. I am still paying on my Hyundai and can't afford another car. I have alot of medical bills that I pay. Any help would be great. Sincerely [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
#11720832February 26, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint is significantly peeling on the hood of my car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720840February 26, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I was about to turn into a 2 lane road and a warning came on my dash, "shifter system malfunction service immediately " my vehicle was in Drive I was unable to move my vehicle, unable to shift into any other gear. It was sudden with no warning or loss of power prior to the warning and loss of movement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720812February 26, 2026
WHEELS
I purchased a brand new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy from the dealer and I saw a the tire pressure drop from a normal 36 psi to 32 psi and the vehicle would vibrate. I filled it up right away thinking due to weather. Then, it dropped again after a couple of days to 32 psi and vehicle would vibrate again. I took the vehicle to Costco to get it inspected thinking it's some sort of a slow leak and vibration could be due to 32psi pressure. When Costco tried to repair the tire, the sidewall failed on the tire. Costco said I needed a new tire. When removing another tire, the same thing happened, the second tire sidewall broke as well. I ended up getting all new set of tires, which ended up costing me $1350. They informed me that these are Pirelli's tires and is known to have vibration at high speeds and could develop buldge and shows signs of early deterioration and abnormal wear problems. I found the same thing after doing some research. I provided the Costco report to Hyundai National Consumers affairs along with the pics of the tire. They told me go to the dealer first and upon arriving at Hyundai dealer, they weren't really interested in knowing what happened since I didn't purchase a tire warranty plan. I spoke to Hyundai consumer affairs and they said there's nothing they can do either since I didn't have tire protection purchased from them. This is a brand new vehicle with factory installed tires and for them to just not take responsibility for selecting a poor supplier that is known to have these issues shows they don't care about the customers at all. I have been a long time loyal customer of Hyundai for at least 10 years. This was my 3rd Hyundai vehicle and if they don't resolve this then this will be my last Hyundai vehicle
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720545February 25, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The front piece of the panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered while sitting in my parked vehicle. I heard a loud pop and saw that the entire piece of glass was totally shattered. I took it to the dealership and they told me it is a known problem with this type of sunroof on their vehicles, they said it is not covered by warranty. The estimated repair cost was over $800. Had I been driving down the road with the sunroof open, it could have presented serious safety risks.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720532February 25, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I put my vehicle in park but it kept going anyway and hit a car in front of me.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720517February 25, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Vehicle experienced sudden loss of power while driving. Transmission warning and ABS warning lights appeared at the same time. The vehicle would not shift properly and began skipping and dropping gears. Smoke was visibly coming from the center underside of the vehicle near the transmission area. There was a strong burning oil or rubber smell inside and outside the vehicle. This created a serious safety risk due to loss of acceleration and potential fire hazard from smoke and burning odor. The issue has been intermittent since early ownership, including jerky shifting and hard engagement. The dealer documented dual clutch transmission communication faults and ABS faults but returned the vehicle the same day stating it was a loose ground. The problem has continued after repair. Vehicle is available for inspection. The defect involves the powertrain and related electrical systems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720472February 25, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The rearview backup camera system malfunctioned. The camera was replaced under a safety recall on my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Within four days of the recall repair, the camera continued to fail intermittently, displaying a blank/black screen and not providing a rearview image when the vehicle was placed in reverse. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I also have video documentation clearly showing the malfunction occurring. The failure of the rearview camera puts me and others at risk because the system is required to provide visibility behind the vehicle when reversing. When the screen goes blank, I cannot see pedestrians, children, vehicles, or objects behind me. This creates a significant risk of a backing collision, especially in parking lots and residential areas. The vehicle was brought back to the dealership four days after the recall repair because the issue continued. The dealer stated they could not duplicate the issue at the time of inspection and are requesting a diagnostic fee to continue evaluation. However, I have video evidence clearly showing the malfunction occurring after the recall repair. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership that performed the recall repair. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. The manufacturer has not personally inspected it beyond the dealership performing the recall repair. There were no warning lamps. The issue presents intermittently when shifting into reverse, at which time the display screen fails to show the rearview camera image. The issue first appeared prior to the recall repair and continued within four days after the recall component was replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720379February 25, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
All normal sounds completely stop working, no audio or volume at all: no turn signal, no collision warning, no GPS audio, no radio; no hands-free phone volume. Hyundai Service department advised they have never heard of this type of incident. All warning systems are completely silent.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720142February 24, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Auto dimming headlights. The headlights have stopped auto dimming. I feel like this is a safety issue because if you have them on you have to push the switch forward and then pull backward to change them back to dim. It is not something that happens occasionally it is every time they are on. Not only is it dangerous for me but also on coming vehicles. I have taken it to the dealer and was told they were waiting on some way to test what the problem is.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720134February 24, 2026
SEAT BELTS
Both driver and front passenger seat belts are nearly impossible to snap it and it is just as hard to get them to release. Sometimes you think it is snapped together and it comes out going down the road. I have taken it to the dealer and they said the parts are on back order and have been for a long time. This is a serious safety issue. It looks to me like they would be on top of something like this. If there is an accident I don't trust the seat belts to protect me and my family. It has not been listed as a recall yet so I do not understand why they would be on back order for so long.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720116February 24, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I purchased this vehicle on September 8, 2025, from Antwerpen Hyundai of Clarksville. Since purchase, the vehicle has had persistent problems that substantially impair its use and market value. Issue 1: HVAC / Ventilation Defect: Outside air enters through the center dash vents even when the fan is turned off. The recirculation feature disengages automatically after a few minutes, allowing outside air into the cabin. This issue has been ongoing and unresolved despite service visits. Issue 2: Intermittent Screeching/Scratching Noise from Dash/Steering Column Area On October 4, 2025, we began hearing an intermittent screeching or scratching sound from the front dashboard/steering column area. The vehicle has been serviced 3 times at 2 dealerships: November 10–14, 2025 – Antwerpen Hyundai Clarksville: Technician documented that the sound was replicated on two separate occasions and attempted two repair solutions. We were told the issue was resolved. The sound returned the same day during the drive home. December 9-16, 2025 – Hyundai of Dundalk: Service record indicated “fittings greased.” No detailed explanation provided. Personnel who handled the vehicle were no longer employed at pickup. The noise continued. January 20 – February 5, 2026 –Antwerpen Hyundai Clarksville: Service manager drove vehicle approximately 55 miles each way (100+ miles total) attempting to replicate the sound but reported being unable to do so. When picking up the vehicle, the noise was present again. Audio recordings of the sound were provided to the dealership multiple times. The service manager later indicated he might use electronic diagnostic equipment but did not follow up further. Current Condition: The screeching/scratching noise continues intermittently. While not constant, it is recurring and has persisted since October 2025. The issue has been replicated and documented by dealership technicians previously but remains unresolved after three repair attempts. The HVAC issue contiues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719921February 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
On the morning of February 20 2026 at around 6:35am. I was on my way to work when the engine light started flashing and the speed started to decrease. I was traveling on a major highway in heavy rain with a lot of traffic. I had to put on my hazard lights and quickly pull off the road. The code given is P1326 which has to do with the engine and wiring harness. I just purchased the vehicle on Jan. 17 2026. The Carfax stated no open recalls.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720024February 23, 2026
ENGINE
Our vehicle has encountered a catastrophic engine failure (burnt valves) due to a known and ongoing issue with the piston rings install in this engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719697February 22, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Own a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and have experienced the following issues over the past year and a half. Beginning after maybe 40,000 miles we pulled out onto a roadway and the engine immediately lost power and started flashing a glaring red warning that the hybrid system was failing and to pull over. We luckily were able to and turned the car off and waited. I tried to turn it on and it came back to life as if there was never an issue? We drove off. it left no warning code or did not update my Bluelink App. I took it to the dealership and they could not find any issues. Fast forward another 5 or 6 months and it happens again. Take it to the dealer and they keep it a week to go over it but still nothing. Within a week of getting it back it happens again and this time I am videoing it happening to me. Back to the dealer and provide the video because again the car did not log the event nor did it update my app. They hold it again for a week and try different things. They still cannot figure it out and I get it back.... it happens again.... This time the dealership was able to come up with an answer and that the oil level was too high. I got the car back and it seemed to work. Probably now 6 months go by and then this week I drive over to Jacksonville (5 hr drive) and visit. Again the car scares us on the highway and I have to pull over. Havea friend meet us with tools and we jack up the car and let out enough engine oil to insure we can read between the two marks on the dipstick. We drive off but the engine keeps hestitating and we almost make it back before it completly shuts down. We tow it to the Dealer in Jacksonville. They call the next morning like they can't find anything wrong! I explain everything and remind I don't tow cars for fun - something is wrong with the car and it is leaving us vulnerable and worst is it is not leaving any codes. Not sure but I have lost faith in Hyundai
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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