Hyundai · Model Report
Showing safety data for the 2016 model year only.
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.
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.
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."
1. Component/System Failure & Availability: The failed component is the engine's internal Camshaft Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) phaser backing bolt within the 3.3L V6 engine assembly. An internal factory bolt unthreaded, backed out, and physically pierced directly through the upper valve cover. The vehicle and intact failed engine are currently located at an authorized Hyundai dealership service center in [XXX], and remain fully available for immediate physical inspection by federal investigators upon request. 2. Safety Risk: An internal engine bolt unthreading and puncturing through the valve cover creates an extreme safety hazard. A high-velocity metal bolt piercing the engine casing causes immediate engine seizure, sudden loss of motive power at highway speeds, loss of power steering/braking assistance, and massive pressurized oil discharge directly onto red-hot exhaust manifolds, posing a severe risk of sudden catastrophic vehicle fire and multi-vehicle highway collisions. 3. Dealer/Independent Confirmation: Yes. The failure was formally inspected, reproduced, and confirmed by an authorized Hyundai dealership service department. Dealership technicians logged official diagnostic findings under Prior Authorization Case #XXX. 4. Inspection by Manufacturer/Others: Yes. The defect was inspected and escalated directly to Hyundai Motor America (HMA) Corporate Engineering. Corporate engineering officially verified the defect and issued Techline Case #XXX, confirming that an internal factory CVVT backing bolt unthreaded and pierced the valve cover, recommending a full engine replacement. 5. Warning Lights & Prior Symptoms: There were no prior warning lamps, check engine lights, unusual sounds, or advance warning symptoms prior to the failure. The internal hardware failure occurred suddenly and without warning while operating the vehicle at standard operating parameters. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
No injuries · No fire · No crash
WHAT FAILED: The engine — the 3.3L Lambda II GDI V6 (engine family GHYXV03.31XE per the federal emissions label) — failed catastrophically: a connecting rod penetrated the engine block. The failed engine IS available for inspection on request. It has been preserved unrepaired since the failure, the rod penetration of the block is externally visible, and the vehicle is currently at Niagara Hyundai in New York. WHAT HAPPENED / SAFETY RISK: On [XXX], I was driving at approximately 65 miles per hour on [XXX] southbound near Bath, New York, with four occupants aboard, when the engine failed suddenly and without warning — no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms preceded it. The vehicle immediately lost all motive power at highway speed. I was forced off the roadway and through brush and debris to bring the vehicle to a stop. The sudden total loss of power at highway speed created an immediate loss-of-control hazard to my occupants and to surrounding traffic. CONFIRMED BY OTHERS: The tow was dispatched through a 911 emergency call. A New York State Trooper was at the scene and observed the debris trail. The towing company's invoice (T&R Towing and Service, Call #[XXX], [XXX]) records "Break Down," winch recovery, vehicle not drivable, and the tow operator's handwritten condition description: "Motor go Boom." The vehicle is now in the possession of a Hyundai dealership (Niagara Hyundai), and Hyundai Motor America has an open case (#[XXX]); however, Hyundai has refused to inspect or diagnose the engine unless I first pay to repair unrelated damage, so the manufacturer has NOT yet inspected the failure — leaving this safety defect undiagnosed by Hyundai. RELEVANT BACKGROUND: In 2024, Hyundai issued warranty extension TXX8 (15 years / 150,000 miles) for connecting rod bearing failure in this exact engine, acknowledging the failure mode. Mileage at failure was under 100,000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I filed a complaint when the first engine seized. It's a miracle we got off the road safely that day. While it was at the dealership, the engine was replaced with a used engine and covered by my extended warranty from Vroom. I believe the cost was approximately $14,000. I was told the engine had around 30,000 miles on it. I've put around 20,000 miles on this engine and the same thing happened again. This time, the engine had been knocking for a few months. When it started knocking, I took it to the dealership because the new extended warranty by Hyundai was in effect and I assumed it would be covered. Immediately, Autonation Hyundai in Savannah, GA said it would not be covered because it was a used engine. I don't understand why when the engine can be traced and the mileage known by the number on the engine. On XXX, my [XXX] granddaughter took her driving test in the vehicle. About 2 hours later, the engine seized with her driving. We were on the same road and it was about the same time of day. Once again, it was a miracle we got off the road safely. I just talked to Hyundai and we'll see what they say. From the stories I've seen, they'll do anything they can to avoid covering these engines and they get away with it. The people who get hurt the most from this are the ones who can least afford it. I'm a [XXX] widow raising my 5 grandchildren by myself and believed I was getting a good vehicle, mainly due to the report by Consumer Reports magazine. Even after the first engine failed and was replaced, I still wasn't in a financial position to get another vehicle and assumed if something happened again, it would be covered under the extended warranty Hyundai was made to provide. Obviously, that means nothing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
No injuries · No fire · No crash
Purchased a used Santa Fe in January 2026 with 129k mile and at 131k my vehicle's CEL came on and did not function properly while operating. While driving the vehicle failed to accelerate above 25 mph when I pushed the gas. I pulled over to get out of the way of traffic and avoid any accidents. I shut the car off and sat for several minutes before restarting my vehicle. It successfully restarted and I drove home and parked it. I ran CEL diagnostic and received the code P0021. I had the vehicle towed to the local Hyundai dealer and they also pulled the same code and indicated I have an oil consumption issue explained as follows "Timing over advanced. Timing components driven by oil pressure. Inspected cylinders and borescope and found cylinder wall scoring and faulty piston rings. Radiator has crack causing coolant leak. Engine will have to be replaced to remedy oil consumption. Radiator will need to be replaced to remedy leak." resulting in over $12k of repair work. The vehicle's temperature gauge did not indicate any abnormalities nor did the oil light come on to indicate any oil consumption issues. The vehicle was driven from the dealer to my home within city limits/speed and has not replicated the acceleration issue but the CEL remains on as the repair is too costly and is more than what was paid for the vehicle.
No injuries · No fire · No crash
Rod bearing failure while driving, engine made a clanking noise. Engine made a loud bang and shut off. It was difficult for the driver to get control of the vehicle and get it to the side of the road. Engine threw the rod and piston through the oil pan causing catastrophic internal damage. The oil had been changed the day prior. The company that changed the oil sent an inspector to evaluate car at the scene. He stated this is a known problem with this engine. He pulled up pictures of other cars that had the same problem, also took pictures of the car oil pan and compared the pictures, they were exactly the same. Car was towed to Hyundai dealership that is refusing to replace the engine.
No injuries · No fire · No crash