Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#11725909March 20, 2026
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 60 MPH, the sunroof shattered outward. The contact stated that his wife was able to drive the vehicle safely back to the residence. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer nor an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725839March 20, 2026
SEATS
Second row power seats will operate even when a carseat is present & installed using LATCH system, crushing occupant. Power seat button at base of second row seats are easy to inadvertently press while entering/exiting the seat (i.e when seat belt is not on), causing the seat to move forward crushing occupant. This has happened multiple times since taking ownership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725759March 20, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the camera had become inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V808000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer was recently contacted and informed that the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725475March 19, 2026
ENGINE
Beginning about a month ago, I noticed a rattle upon the engine start up that lasted for a 1-2 seconds then stopped and everything sounded normal. I thought it could be b/c of the cold weather. I went in to get a routine oil change on 03/11/2026 and they said the oil looked fine, but it was about a quart low, indicating it was burning some oil somehere. They said to check in in a few months and they would top it up if needed. I asked them about the rattle and they thought is might be from a bad (timing chain tensioner) but said I should get it checked out. I called on Friday 03/13/26 to schedule an appt at my local Hyundai Dealership on 03/17 . The night before(03/16), I was driving my vehicle and suddenly on the road, I heard a loud noise in the engine, and the power shut off, the Engine and oil light came on and I just had enough time to pull off the busy state route. My car would not start or turn over. I had it towed to the dealership and they did determine that it was a "Rod Bearing Failure" that caused the engine to sieze. I provided them evidence of my oil changes which from 10k-93k miles on my car since I have owned it. I have had the oil changed 10 times. They are saying they only allow 8k between oil changes to honor the warranty and have initially denied my claim. The service associate at the dealership said my valvetrain was 'somewhat' dirty, but nothing to where it was the cause for this issue. And since it was the Rod bearing that failed, the exact part that was recalled, he was surprised they were not even offering any good-will offer, to split the cost of the engine replacement. I have reached out to Hyundai Consumer Affairs and am waiting to hear back to see if they will be fair and work with me on this to honor the warranty issue or at least share the cost burden for this "well-known" failure in their engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725596March 19, 2026
WHEELS
I have been fighting this issue now for 2 years, vibration while driving interstate speeds, especially right rear seat. I have had tires replaced twice trying to fix balance issue only to find out that one rim will not road force balance correctly, even with tire matched it only reduced road force balance to 20lbs (30lbs with out match). I have had it at discount tire and Gettel Hyundai of Lakewood ranch, FL several times. Hyundai sent a senior tech to look at tires, did not speak to me to get explanation of my concern, did a balance, got same numbers and said was good to go. My other 3 rims have a max road force of 12lbs without even being matched. This causes vibrations when driving, extra wear and force on the tire and is a safety concern. This rim is the issue and Hyundai refuses to fix it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725551March 19, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I purchased my new vehicle in June or July of 2024. I had to replace my windshield on September 26, 2024, then again on December 13, 2025 due to a crack. I recently have received another chip in my windshield on or about March 18, 2026. I am unsure whether all of these were due to rocks, but it seems unbelievable that a windshield would need to be replaced so often. I have safety concerns that the windshield is easily breakable and if it were in a crash, what would happen. I also had to pay $100 each replacement and now my insurance is going up because of these claims.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725263March 18, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe purchased new in May 2024. On three occasions since December 2025, while driving, the dashboard went completely black as if the vehicle shut off. The Hyundai startup logo then reappeared while the vehicle was still moving, and the vehicle lost acceleration. The most recent event occurred at highway speed, approximately 65-70 mph, requiring us to coast to the shoulder. No warning lights appeared before the event. A video of the most recent incident is available. Dealer inspected vehicle but could not duplicate the problem and reported no error codes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725223March 18, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Dear NHTSA Team, My car was in a minor accident Last. After that, the repair shop replaced my bumper and front camera. Don Franklin Somerset Hyundai performed a calibration on my new radar. They calibrated it six times, but there are still many issues with the HDA driving system. 1. False Dual-Side Warning When a vehicle is present only on the right side, the vehicle camera system incorrectly detects vehicles on both the left and right sides. In reality, there is no vehicle on the left side. In this scenario, both the radar warning and the camera detection are incorrect. 2. Wrong-Side Warning In some cases, when a vehicle approaches from the left rear, no warning is issued on the left side, while a warning is incorrectly displayed on the right side. In this scenario, both the radar warning and the camera detection are incorrect. 3. False Warning During Smart Driving While driving on the highway using the smart driving function, when the vehicle is required to turn left or right, the system may generate a false dual-side warning. As a result, the vehicle aborts the intended left or right turn and continues driving in the center of the lane. In this scenario, both the radar warning and the camera detection are incorrect. 4. while driving manually (without HDA engaged) or parking, the vehicle shows left-side or right-side collision warnings without clear cause. I reported these issues to Hyundai USA approximately three weeks ago. I was instructed to bring the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. However, during my recent visit, the dealership representative only reviewed the videos I provided and concluded that no issues were present, without conducting a physical inspection or test drive of the vehicle. Given the ongoing safety concerns and lack of proper diagnosis or resolution, I am submitting this complaint for your review and assistance. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Thanks, Best Regards, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725045March 17, 2026
SEATS, SEAT BELTS
This is related to the recent issue with a '26 Palisade Calligraphy and the stop sale due to the 2nd row seat killing a [XXX] . I just went out and tried this on my ’24 Santa Fe Calligraphy with the 2nd row captains chairs and the electric button on the top of the seat. First off, if the seatbelt is secured, the button is disabled. Our rear facing car seat is a Britax click tight which uses the seatbelt to secure it. If the seatbelt is not secured, the button works. I sat in the seat (adult male), reached back and pushed button, and the seat started to compress me while sitting in it. Once I started to resist, the seat stopped, but it did not back off. I had to use more pressure than expected. I had to reach back and push the button again to get out. I did the same test again this time using my arm and I had to put moderate pressure to get the seat to stop. More pressure than I expected was required. I don’t know many details on the tragic death of the [XXX] old but I believe they were in a rear facing car seat that was not using the seat belt and instead using the latch connectors to secure it to the seat. This means the button in the Palisade was operable (assuming it’s like the Santa Fe) and I can totally see the seat back coming down onto the rear facing toddler. Whatever fix Hyundai does for the Palisade needs to be done on the Santa Fe as well as it is dangerous for small kids with how it works currently. There has to be a way to detect pressure on the seat and render the button inoperable just like when the seatbelt is secured. 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
#11725044March 17, 2026
POWER TRAIN
1. Component/System: 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), specifically the transmission oil pump or hydraulic pressure system. Inspection availability: The vehicle is currently at McGrath City Hyundai in Chicago and can be made available for inspection upon request. 2. The transmission exhibited slipping gears, delayed gear engagement, loud mechanical noise, and a transmission warning light. These conditions create the risk of sudden loss of drive power, unexpected stalling, or inability to control the vehicle, which could cause accidents, collisions, or injury to the driver, passengers, or others on the road. 3. A technician at McGrath City Hyundai initially informed us that the transmission oil pump had failed, which aligns with the symptoms. Later, another dealership representative claimed there was no issue, and the fluid was simply low. No written diagnostic confirmation or independent verification has been provided to date. 4. Hyundai corporate has been contacted and opened a case, but they refused to provide documentation or details of any inspection or repair, and did not assign a supervisor to provide clarification. No police, insurance, or third-party inspections have been performed. 5. Symptoms first appeared on March 9, 2026, including: Transmission warning light; Delayed gear engagement; Slipping gears; Loud mechanical noise from the transmission
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725035March 17, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Rear bucket seat crushes occupant of seat belt is not buckled. Rear facing car seat is crushed posing huge risk to baby
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725023March 17, 2026
SEATS
A child was exiting the vehicle from the second row driver-side seat, and the seat fold-up button (on the shoulder of the seat) was accidentally tapped. The seat began to tilt forward to collapse, squeezing a toddler in a rear facing child seat between the seat and the back of the front driver seat. Thankfully, the child seat bore the brunt of the pressure, but the incident clearly demonstrated an absence of sensors or logic to disallow the button to function when a child seat (using latch) is installed. We then tested the passenger seat in the second row and found that, even if a seat occupant is present, if the seatbelt is not buckled, the button WILL continue to operate and crush the passenger. That is to say the collapse function of the seat is uninhibited by the weight or resistance of a seated passenger. This is especially alarming given our elementary age children enter and exit the car on their own with little assistance requested from us.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724997March 17, 2026
SEATS
The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while attempting to adjust the front driver's seat, the second-row passenger’s side seat engaged unintendedly. The child was seated in the booster seat, and the main seat started to fold down. The contact was unaware that the seat had been activated, but was able to stop the seat from fully folding. The child was unharmed. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 174.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724962March 17, 2026
POWER TRAIN
While driving at normal roadway speeds, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of power during acceleration. The engine remained running, but the vehicle failed to respond appropriately to throttle input, resulting in a significant reduction in forward movement. This created a dangerous situation, particularly in traffic conditions where consistent acceleration is required. The issue appears to be related to the transmission or powertrain system, though the exact component failure is UNKNOWN at this time. This condition poses a serious safety risk, as loss of power while driving can increase the likelihood of rear-end collisions or inability to safely merge or clear intersections. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealership; however, they were unable to reproduce the issue during testing and therefore did not perform a repair. Despite this, video evidence of the incident exists and clearly shows the loss of power event. There were no warning lights or messages prior to or during the incident. The failure occurred unexpectedly during normal operation. The problem has not been resolved and may occur intermittently, making it difficult to reproduce under standard inspection conditions. The vehicle remains in service and available for inspection upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724953March 17, 2026
SEATS
I am reporting a serious safety concern with my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy (VIN: [XXX] ). While my child was seated in the second row, the folding seat button was accidentally triggered and the seat continued folding while my child was still in the seat. My child screamed in distress, and I am concerned this created a pinching or crushing hazard. This appears to be a dangerous condition because the seat continued moving even though a child occupant was present. The button may also be too easy to trigger during child entry or exit. I believe this issue should be investigated before a more serious injury occurs. 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
#11724587March 16, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe on March 11, 2024, from a private dealer with approximately 46,000. The contact was informed that the vehicle had only one owner who had leased the vehicle. Recently, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The mechanic retrieved a Carfax report and discovered that the vehicle had five previous owners and there were several mileage discrepancies. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 46,000. However, it was discovered that the last known accurate mileage on the vehicle was 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724717March 16, 2026
POWER TRAIN
1. The transmission warning symptoms first appeared on March 9, including a transmission warning light, delayed gear engagement, slipping gears, and loud mechanical noise. 2.5-liter turbo engine use an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). It has been in McGrath City Hyundai since March 10 for inspecton. 2. We were not harmed, but were very concerned about the safety of the car. 3. We only tried and waiting for this dealer for a ddiagnosis, but they verbally gave 2 conflicting diagnoses today. No written diagnosis report, no repair report. 4. This morning (9am), a staff informed us by phone that the vehicle has a failed transmission oil pump and that the dealership was waiting for approval for the replacement part. However, during a later call (1pm) today, another staff member stated that there is no issue for the transmission oil pump, and that the transmission fluid was simply lower than normal, with no leaks. We were told to pick up the vehicle today. We refused and waiting for them to email us a diagnosis report and a repair report. 5. The transmission warning symptoms first appeared on March 9, including a transmission warning light, delayed gear engagement, slipping gears, and loud mechanical noise. This conflicting information is extremely concerning, especially given the transmission symptoms described above. Hyundai issued Safety Recall #236 specifically for 2021–2022 Santa Fe vehicles due to the high-pressure electric oil pump in the 8-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) potentially malfunctioning, causing a complete loss of drive power. And there is an active class action about it too.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724716March 16, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V879000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION), but the failure occurred. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera displayed a distorted image or a black screen occasionally while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there was no record that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer. The contact found the paperwork provided by the dealer when the recall repair was completed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for the most recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,667.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724611March 16, 2026
SEATS
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was parked and either running or turned off, the second-row seats closed on the safety seats when the button in the rear of the vehicle was depressed. The contact stated that once the button was pressed, the seat could not be stopped from closing until the button was pressed a second time. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724541March 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driving to work and a loud noise (pop) was heard and then I realized the sunroof had basically exploded. Glass was all over the car and all over myself. I immediately got off the road and turned on my hazard lights to assess the situation. This could have caused an accident had I not remained calm. Contacted dealership this morning. Waiting to hear back. No prior warning to this happening.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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