Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#11677677July 31, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am writing to raise a safety concern regarding this suv, specifically the lower trim level that lack dedicated ventilation to the third-row seating and small ventilationair ways for second rows. In these vehicles, airflow to rear passengers is minimal to nonexistent, as air vents are only provided in higher trim levels for an additional cost. This design choice creates significant safety risks, especially in regions with extreme temperatures like Arizona. Passengers, particularly children, seated in the third row can experience overheating or discomfort during travel, even when the vehicle’s main air conditioning is running. Basic airflow should not be considered an optional or luxury feature, as it is critical to passenger well-being and safety. By tying proper ventilation to a higher-priced trim, the manufacturer effectively places financial barriers on fundamental passenger safety. I request that this matter be reviewed and investigated to determine whether this practice complies with consumer safety expectations and whether ventilation should be standard across all trim levels.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677170July 30, 2025
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
when accelerating at high speeds, over 70 mph, the car will sometimes appear to slip into neutral, and we are not able to accelerate at all. And then will need to coast to a stop, pull over, shut the car and restart. this has happened five times in the past year and always after one hour or more of driving at high speeds
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676869July 29, 2025
ENGINE
Burning oil fast has been confirmed. I always go get frequently oil changes and top off Because it burns a lot. I never get a warning lamp When I go toc get my oil service representative tells me my oil is completely gone.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677040July 29, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
[XXX] We took out Stanta Fe to the Hyundia Dealership in Columbia, TN 38401. The installed a new rover cover gasket left and service kit. The purpose was to stop oil from leaking into the alternator. I would like to point out we did not see any visible signs of the gasket was leaking. We had our regular scheduled oil change in Feb of 2025 and no report of an oil leak. We had a service event at the end of June 2025 and were told there was a visible leak was present and appeared to be about 3 months old. We took it back to the dealership and reported the recall issue was occurring. This was 7/25 and just outside of a year. The stated it would not be covered under warranty/recall now. I called and complain to Hyundia corporate. Waited 2 weeks to say it would be taken care of by the dealership. Called them today to arrange for bring the car in but they had no record of what I was told by Hyundia corporate. I believe this breaking faith w the whole recall process with the NTSB. 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
#11677123July 29, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield wiper fluid is designed to only hit the bottom of the windshield. This does not allow for the windshield to be properly cleaned while the vehicle is in motion. Creates a safety hazard if you cannot wash debris or an excess of bugs from the field of view of the driver. There are multiple complaints regarding the spray location onto the windshield.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677050July 29, 2025
TIRES
The failure occurred in the sidewalls of the two factory‑supplied all‑season tires on the passenger‑side (front and rear) of my 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. Both tires exhibit pronounced bulges on the outer sidewall of the front passenger tire. Tire size is 255/45 R20 105V M+S The rear OEM tire was replaced on February 10, 2025 and front OEM tire (with DOT codes visible) remain mounted on the vehicle, but I must replace it to keep the vehicle operational. I noticed the bulging of the second tire today, July 29, 2025. Sidewall bulges indicate internal cord separation. A sudden loss of air pressure or blowout—especially at highway speeds—could result in rapid vehicle instability, loss of control, and a potentially serious crash, endangering occupants and other road users. No, the problem has yet to be inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance or others. However there is mounting conserns and simular reports of the same problem occurring with other owners of 2024 Hyundai SantaFes with the same OEM tire. No warning lamps, messages or other symptons prior to the problem occuring. There has been no off‑road use, curb impacts, overloading, or manufacturing advisories at the time of discovery. My best assessment is a potential manufacturing or design defect in the OEM tire sidewall construction causing premature internal separation under normal use.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676868July 29, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
While driving to work today [XXX] on or around [XXX] on [XXX] from Riverview to downtown Tampa while doing about 68 MPH, my emergency brake deployed for about 6 seconds. The whole vehicle shook. There were no other vehicles around. Quite scary. 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
#11676848July 28, 2025
STEERING, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
At 118,000 miles Downhill brake, transmission and 4 wheel drive were damaged from the hyundai dealership not fullfilling warranty. They disconnected my tow hitch and my transmission was burning .. smelled like a bon fire. Took me 1 year to repair and have transmission changed through warranty but they didnt change the other components that were damaged due to negligence from the hyundai dealership. The dealership was very rude and didnt dedication their attention or care to truly finding what was wrong with my vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676563July 28, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
*Problem Parts:I only could check 1 box- should be Brakes and Steering too *ADAS: Lane Keeping Assistance too Over the course of two days, my 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe experienced a serious electrical and safety system failure. It started with the blind spot monitoring lights flickering in the side mirrors and warnings for Forward Collision Avoidance (disabled), ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Downhill Brake Control, Parking Brake & Brake Fluid (blinking red). The rearview camera failed and the screen remained on the radio display when in reverse. The Lane Keeping Assist Indicator shifted from white/green to orange. The next morning, I had trouble opening the vehicle with the key fob. Auto Hold, Master Warning, Forward Collision, ESC, and Downhill Brake Control lights were now steadily on. The MPH numbers on the dash were blurred, and a message appeared saying “Put in P” even though the vehicle was already parked. The accessories light came on, but the engine would not start. Interior lights continued to work. I had to manually open the car and start it by pressing the fob to the button. While trying to exit a parking garage (where a tow truck couldn’t reach me), more warnings appeared: AWD, Low Tire Pressure, Malfunction Indicator (not engine), and Power Steering. I felt tightness in the wheel and had to pull over. The temp and gas gauges dropped to zero along with the RPMs. I have a newer car battery and recently replaced fob batteries, so this was not a simple battery failure. I’ve reported the issue to Hyundai Consumer Affairs. No recall appears under my VIN, despite similar failures being widely reported in this model. I’m a single parent who typically drives with two young children, including one with serious medical needs. I rely heavily on this vehicle for medical travel. The vehicle has since been towed to a Hyundai dealership for diagnostics. This is a serious safety concern and could have led to a loss of control or failure in an emergency situation
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676652July 28, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Seem like it burns oil quick
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676451July 27, 2025
ENGINE
My car had a thrown connecting rod-the problem described under TSB22-EM-006H-2 (TXXM/6G) which extends engine warranty to 150k miles/15 years for this exact issue my vin is listed my mileage is 113k and KSDS was completed (or I am exempt) please submit prior approval under the extended warranty for engine replacement. Hyundai is refusing to repair my car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676501July 27, 2025
ENGINE
First noticed during the last 3 months that the car seemed under powered during acceleration. Then had 2 incidents where the engine shut off when stopped at intersection to turn. Then on [XXX] I noticed while driving, the oil warning light flashed but did not remain on. Then again it flashed 1 time and did not remain lit. Upon checking the oil I found it to be 3 1/2 quarts low. Oil had been changed at the dealership at 90000 miles and the mileage that day was 93340 miles. No leaks under the car where I park at home or work. Have had all our regular oil changes at the dealership every 5000 miles. No prior oil consumption noted. We have contacted the dealership. 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
#11676375July 26, 2025
ENGINE
This modle has a serious oil consumption caused by a manufacturerer design issure with the engine. As time goes by the oil cosumption get wores potentially seizing the engine while driving. I have to constantly fill with oil. This is a major safety concern with many hyundai vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676101July 25, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Twice my car's gear shifter went from Drive to the right hand side of the gear box. 90% or more of the power cut out immediately creating a massive safety issue. In both instances, i was pulling into traffic after making complete stops at stop signs. The first time, i turned left, the second time I turned right. The shift was untouched by me as it is not a stick shift car. Hyundai charged me close to $400 for the privledge of telling me that I or something bumped the shifter to the right. Also they claim that the shifter is designed to go into low gear if it does go to the right. a low gear should provide more power not cut it out. They refuse to fix the issue, but wanted me to bring it in so they could duplicate a problem that has occurred twice in four months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676155July 25, 2025
WHEELS
I’m reporting a recurring safety issue with the Pirelli Scorpion All Season MS tires (255/45 R20) factory-installed on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy. At just over 7,500 miles, I began experiencing significant vibration at highway speeds. The dealership diagnosed the issue as defective tires — two were replaced, but the issue returned within 24 hours. I stopped driving the vehicle due to safety concerns. This problem appears to be common: I’ve found numerous reports of Scorpion MS tires showing early failure, poor balance, bulging, uneven and premature wear — all within low mileage. These issues compromise the vehicle’s stability and may present a serious hazard in wet or winter conditions. I’m concerned these tires are not structurally reliable and should not be standard on family SUVs like the Santa Fe. Hyundai and Pirelli should investigate this tire line for potential safety defects or recall. It also appears that the it's the MS, verde and AS Plus 3 from pirelli that have these issues. You can find additional complaints regarding these with a google search. They will be on reddit and facebook.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676160July 25, 2025
TIRES
I’m reporting a recurring safety issue with the Pirelli Scorpion All Season MS tires (255/45 R20) factory-installed on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy. At just over 7,500 miles, I began experiencing significant vibration at highway speeds. The dealership diagnosed the issue as defective tires — two were replaced, but the issue returned within 24 hours. I stopped driving the vehicle due to safety concerns. This problem appears to be common: I’ve found numerous reports of Scorpion MS tires showing early failure, poor balance, bulging, and premature/uneven wear — all within low mileage. They stated that it was still an inherent issue with the tires and I would need new ones. Thus I requested to have a different set tires given the issues with these. These issues compromise the vehicle’s stability and may present a serious hazard in wet or winter conditions. I’m concerned these tires are not structurally reliable and should not be standard on family SUVs like the Santa Fe. Hyundai and Pirelli should investigate this tire line for potential safety defects or recall. I understand that it is the Scorpion MS, AS Plus 3 and the Verde with these similar issues. Unfortuneately for some reason your site won't let me post my photo, but I was able to file it under the same VIN under my report for the Santa Fe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675821July 24, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint coming off of hood, no contact of any kind. Took to dealer and was told past its warranty sorry. Cost me over $1K to fix the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675906July 24, 2025
ENGINE
015 Santa Fe Ultimate. 134,000 miles. Original owner. All maintenance done per manual. Wife on hwy 2 hrs. Started loud engine knocking noise. No warning whatsiever.Pulled off closet exit. Stalled.Restarted.Pulled into gas station. Trusted mechanic inspected. Stated not to drive. He had identical vehicle at shop,identical problem.110,000 miles. Needs new engine.Noticed on fbook Forum,"Hyundai Engine Problems". Alot of similar complaints posted. Hyundai not warranting over 100,000 miles. This could have been much worse if it had been at night,in a rural area. Shocked has not been a recall!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675922July 24, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for an undisclosed recall repair, and the contact was informed that the valve cover gasket, and the alternator were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675729July 23, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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