Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

864 consumer complaints on file.

#11749431July 9, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I did a navigation update as requested by the infotainment system on the Hyundai. After the update, the air conditioner would not turn on when the ac button was depressed . I took the vehicle to my local Hyundai dealer and they found the ac blower and ac button working intermittently. After further inspection, the mechanic found the multi fuses that sit on the PCB bloc had one burnt fuse that did not blow and was still hot and the PCB block had melted around where the fuse connected to it. ( Hyundai stated that they required the damaged PCB fuse, the PCB block and the harness). I'm concerned that the electrical short discovered by the Hyundai mechanic could have progress and burnt my car or my house since I keep my car in the garage. The Mechanic working for the Hyundai dealer found the burnt fuses and PCB block and kept them after replacing them with new parts. The ac was working fine until I did the navigation update and there were no warnings whatsoever.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749400July 9, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, AIR BAGS
The airbag sensor is on in the car. When I told the dealership they stated that the sensor is not covered under the warranty even though it was over by a fe hundred miles. None of the airbags will deploy if there is an accident. I don't see why a safety issue is not covered by the warranty. For the dealership to fix it, it is going to be over $800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748853July 7, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I have had the vehicle in 4 times for check forward attendition warning system light keeps coming on. The first time they replaced the front camera. The situation came back after I was using the cruise control on a express way. Did not do it do it on the road but as soon as you stopped and turned the vehicle off the vehicle check forward attention warning system would come on and off and the only way to shut it off was to stop from more than 20 minutes and it would reset. Took the vehicle back 3 times and they could replicate so there was nothing they could do. The issue came back today. The check forward attention warning system light keeps going on and off. We stopped and let the vehicle sit and upon restarting the check forward attention did not reset . This time the vehicle lost all volume from the dash board. You could recieve phone but no volume. No radio volume. All the safety features that Bing are not working. Check the set up and the volume had a red 🔺️ next to the volume. 4 times into the shop for the same issur
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748829July 7, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Fuel door mechanism stops working leaving you unable to add fuel. Is a constant complaint in 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. My vehicle's door mechanism as stopped working 53,000 miles as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748720July 7, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield wipers intermittently stop working. This has been occurring for 2 years and the 5dealership cannot find an issue because they always work when the car is in for service. They also now want to charge a diagnostic fee each time it's in since the car is no longer under warranty
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748226July 3, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
My dealership has reground the rotors on my car twice. Now with less than 40,000 mileson the car the brakes need ground again. The issue with the brakes is it causes the front end of the car to shake when the brakes are applied. This could lead to loss of control on down hill stops in slippery conditions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747288June 29, 2026
ENGINE
While driving, my vehicle displayed “Shifter System Malfunction! Service Immediately.” Immediately after, I was unable to shift the vehicle from Drive into Park, Reverse, or Neutral. The only way to park the vehicle was to turn the engine off while it was still in Drive, restart it, and then shift into Park. This is an extreme safety hazard. A driver who cannot change gears can lose control of the situation during an emergency, be unable to safely park, reverse, or place the vehicle in neutral if needed. Having to shut the engine off while the transmission is still in Drive is unsafe and not how the vehicle is intended to operate. This issue first occurred around 45,000 miles while the vehicle was under warranty, but it temporarily resolved on its own. It has now returned in June 2026 at approximately 65,500 miles, after the warranty expired, and is happening repeatedly. After researching online, I found many Hyundai owners reporting the same “Shifter System Malfunction” with identical symptoms, indicating this may be a widespread defect. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue, as it poses a serious risk to driver and public safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747209June 29, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5-30 MPH, the transmission failed to shift properly, and the vehicle lost motive power. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747163June 29, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On [XXX] after spending the day at Henson Creek Golf Course in Fort Washington, MD, I returned to my vehicle and discovered that it had completely lost all electrical power and would not start. The vehicle exhibited no warning signs prior to the failure. Believing the issue to be related to the battery, I contacted AAA for roadside assistance. AAA attempted to jump-start the vehicle, but the jump-start was unsuccessful. The vehicle was subsequently towed on May 18, 2026, to Pohanka Hyundai in Capitol Heights, MD for diagnosis and repair. After approximately nine days, the dealership advised that the battery terminals had been secured and that no additional problem could be identified. On [XXX], the exact same issue occurred again; however, this incident was significantly more dangerous because it occurred while the vehicle was being driven. While traveling during morning rush hour through a busy intersection in Northeast Washington, DC, the vehicle suddenly and completely lost power without warning while in traffic. The vehicle stalled in the middle of the intersection, creating an extremely hazardous situation. Fortunately, motorists traveling behind me were able to stop in time, and no collision occurred. However, this incident could easily have resulted in a serious crash involving injuries or fatalities. The vehicle was towed to Ourisman Hyundai in Bowie, MD, where it is currently undergoing additional diagnosis. I am extremely concerned that this vehicle has experienced two complete electrical failures within approximately one month, including one incident that occurred while driving in heavy traffic. Because the dealership was unable to identify the root cause after the first incident, I am concerned that a serious defect may exist involving the vehicle's electrical system, battery system, wiring, power distribution system, or another component affecting vehicle operation and safety. 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
#11747031June 28, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Latch system for fuel tank door failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746876June 27, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
First Failure occurred 7 months after purchase at 5,270 miles on August 1, 2024. The vehicle suddenly went into "Limp Mode" abruptly decelerating to 25 mph with a non-responsive gas pedal. A code reader displayed PO653 Sensor Reference: "Voltage B Circuit High". Dealer found corroded wire to battery and cleaned it. Second Failure: Horn loss to 1 tone. Fixed at 30K mile dealer service on June 12, 2026 and found to have faulty packing resulting in corrosion. At the same standard service the Brake System was flushed. 3rd Failure was 5 days and 437 miles (30,712 miles) after the 30K dealer service. On June 17, 2026 during my early morning commute while merging onto the interstate, alarms began to blare and the gas pedal suddenly became unresponsive. The initial alarms read Blind Spot Failure. Car would not accelerate from 40 mph that it was going coming down the bridge ramp so I took the very close off ramp down from the aqua duct and the console display alert showed "Engine Management System: details: Braking and Body Control System with a recommendation to get "a full system check...TODAY". I brought it to the dealer that afternoon and as of yesterday, 6/26/26 they can find nothing wrong, declaring it an intermittent issue and asked me to come get the car, refusing to continue looking or providing alternate options other than referring me to Hyundai Consumer Affairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746776June 26, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the automatic emergency braking system engaged while there were no objects or vehicles near the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the pre-collision message was displayed while the vehicle was parked or was idling. The vehicle was taken to dealer on several occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the dealer assessment was most important. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746705June 26, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and shuddered and lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was initially informed that the failure was not related to the transmission; however, the dealer later diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the contact was advised to pick up the vehicle; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact's Attorney notified the manufacturer, who proposed an unsatisfactory settlement. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746649June 26, 2026
SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V218000 (Seat Belts) and 25V659000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however, the recall repairs were denied due to a lack of maintenance records with an authorized Hyundai Dealer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746699June 26, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle stalled while driving — unsafe loss of power. While driving at normal speed, the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning and the electrical system malfunctioned. I had to pull over and restart car. This created a dangerous situation and could have caused a collision. Prior to this incidenct, the vehicle had intermittent electrical issues during startup (flickering electronics). This is the first time the car has experienced during driving, and is now at the Hyundai dealership. The car has been reported as unsafe to drive. This appears similar to other Hyundai stalling/power loss issues and may indicate a developing safety defect. Requesting investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746406June 25, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On June 24, 2026, my spouse was operating our 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe when the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic, and total electrical failure while actively on the roadway. The vehicle was stopped at a traffic light when all propulsion power was instantly lost, the engine shut down, and all electronic systems—including the center infotainment screens and instrument cluster—went completely dark. Safety Hazard & Entrapment Incident: Simultaneous with the total electrical failure, the vehicle's electronic door lock system malfunctioned. The rear passenger doors and rear liftgate locked completely and could not be disengaged or opened from the inside by the passengers. Due to this total power loss and lock failure, my young daughters were trapped in the rear seats. My spouse was forced to climb over the center console from the front seat into the rear cabin to manually extract our children through the front doors. The family had to abandon the disabled vehicle in live traffic and walk down the roadway to reach a safe location. This constitutes a severe safety hazard involving both sudden loss of motive power on a public road and occupant entrapment due to safety lock/latch failure during an electrical short. The vehicle has been towed to Pohanka Hyundai of Capitol Heights for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746383June 25, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
-On [XXX] I was drivng on a highway while using cruise control. The car suddenly applied the brakes hard. I tried 4 times to use the accelrator and each time the brakes were applied hard again. -The car behind me laid on its horn and managed to shift to another lane thereby avoiding a rear end collison. -Fortunately I was driving in an outside lane and got the car to the shoulder. -I turned the engine off and then started the car again. -There were no warning lamps or messages that I can recall. It happened quickly. -This incident came very close to causing at least vehicle damage and possibly physical harm to the occupants of my car and the car behind me. -I took my car to the dealership which is Crown Hyndai in St. Petersburg, Florida. They were unable to recreate the problem so the issue is still outstanding. -To prevent future incidents I no longer use cruise control and turn off the FCA system when I start the car. 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
#11746250June 24, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My check engine light came on, and my car was also feeling "sluggish" and slow to accelerate. I scheduled a service appointment at my local dealer 4 days later. At the appointment, the technician stated everything checked out okay and the check engine light was likely an "anomaly" or "outlier" but otherwise nothing to be concerned about since everything checked out "okay" and no problems were identified during their test drive. However, that very afternoon, I was driving down the interstate, where the posted speed limit is 70mph, when my check engine light came on again and suddenly lost power, drastically reducing my speed and could not accelerate faster than 39mph. Luckily, the interstate was not busy at the time (about 10:30-11:00 a.m. Saturday morning) and there were only less than 4 cars behind me that were able to easily switch lanes and pass me. I moved over to the shoulder to a complete stop and restarted my car. My check engine light remained illuminated and was still slow to accelerate and "sluggish" but was able to (slowly) reach interstate speed (60-70mph) until I reached an acceptable exit and safely made it to my destination. I have since used roadside assistance to tow the vehicle from my home to the the same dealership for inspection and service (again).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746185June 24, 2026
SEATS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear occupant seat sensor after an update even if there is nothing on the back or on the seat it continues to activate the horn and advising we received a rear occupant alarm. I even deactivate the option and still goes off constantly. I have to leave the car unlocked to avoid the alarm going off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746181June 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Recall for Rearvirw camera and been waiting for over 2 months for the part to become available. Everytime I call they say we only get 1 once in a while sorry. This is not safe if anything happens for visibility.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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