Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#11711408January 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My panoramic sunroof spontaneously blew while driving on freeway
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711386January 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving at on the highway no other cars around going 80mph and the sunroof spontaneously shattered without impact. Distracting me with a loud bang and glass flying I had my wife and two kids in the car it’s a major safety issue. I’ll repeat the sunroof spontaneously shattered without impact of rock or debris. And I was traveling at a speed of 80mph on a clear highway. Distracting me with the loud bang and glass flying in and over my roof of the car
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711353January 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Horns assemblies are Failing repeatedly. Since ownership of the vehicle (2023 and a CPO Platinum Wrap), I have had to replace a single horn, or both horns three times with local Hyundai dealerships. mostly the right horn would fail, then the left. I am currently making efforts to have my vehicle’s horns serviced for the fourth time as they are not working. I have been to my dealership on Dec 16, 2025 & Jan 15, 2026, to have the horns repair to no avail. In December, a diagnosis was performed with no action. Yesterday, one part (horn) was not available, and I was quoted a fee of $400 to perform the task. This is extremely concerning as this is not a consumable part or fluid. This is a required vehicle safety item. There are TSB's for other models in the Hyundai line with similar failure of horns ( TSB's: 24-BE-018H & 25-BE-005H). These failures have not been covered under the Santa Fe line or the other remaining Hyundai models of similar years of production and experiencing like failures of horn assemblies as of this date.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711112January 15, 2026
ENGINE
My engine failed and was diagnosed as needing to rebuilt or replaced by the dealership. During the pandemic it was hard to get parts so they rebuilt it. At first it was missed diagnosed because it was a 3.3l V6 and only the 4 cylinder engines were on recall. I had check engine lights on all the time. I paid for repairs that only masked the problem for a short time. It was such a problem I had to get a waiver to register my vehicle. After having more problems with my engine. Hyundai of Kennesaw confirmed my engine needed to be replaced they actually requested Corporate to approve an engine replacement for my vehicle in 2021. It was denied. So I paid for the rebuild. In August of 2025 i sent a letter extending the warranty which covered my vehicle engine rebuild. Hyundai denied that claim Jan 2026.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711184January 15, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
I am writing to formally report an incident involving the service department at Lakeland Hyundai (1500 W Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33815). My 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe was brought in on 12/31/25 for an active engine recall involving the Cylinder Head Cover Oil Leak Repair (Recall Code 976 / Campaign 24-01-026H). The vehicle was driven into the dealership in proper working condition. I was later informed that allegedly stripped bolts for the cover would require an out-of-pocket cost of $483.36, despite this being a recall repair. There was also a required Upper Timing Chain Guide repair quoted at $58.38 to complete the recall work. When I was called in on 01/12/26 to pick up the vehicle for completed work, I was charged $29.99 for a Multi-Point Inspection related to the recall, yet no documentation or billing was provided for the timing chain guide repair I was told was completed. Upon attempting to leave the lot, the check engine light was on and the vehicle immediately began shaking violently and producing a loud noise. The service representative could not identify the cause and later advised there was nothing further they could do, citing a P0300 code, and instructed me to return the loaner and retrieve my now-undrivable vehicle. My vehicle remains at Lakeland Hyundai and is undrivable due to issues that arose immediately following recall service. I respectfully request guidance and resolution regarding responsibility for the damage, loaner coverage, and loss of transportation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711076January 15, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Horn stopped working due to the same issue other Hyundai horns stopped working.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711053January 15, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This car was in a BBB binding Arbitration and Hyundai was told to fix: speed control malfunction, speed linit not posting to hub arbitrary fan engagement. The Dealership ALM West had the car 2 weeks and the car sat on their lot. They said we are unable to duplicate the problem. Now in addition I showed them the cracked windshield and they were not responsible. I had an insurance complaint I took it to Safelite and replaced the windshield yesterday and I got it back with a new windshield and it also had a Crack in the replacement windshield. I think Hyundai knows there's a problem with the glass which is also part of the safety system of the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710825January 14, 2026
ENGINE
I purchased my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport secondhand from CarMax and have maintained it regularly with timely oil changes and tune‑ups. Despite this, the vehicle is burning oil at an extreme rate—approximately 1 quart every 378 miles. My local Hyundai dealership confirmed this through three consecutive 1,000‑mile oil consumption tests, all showing excessive oil loss far beyond normal operating limits. This level of consumption appears to indicate an internal engine defect, not normal wear. Hyundai corporate denied my case solely because I am the second owner, even though the vehicle is well under 100,000 miles and the defect has been verified by their own technicians. The denial did not address the confirmed test results or the safety implications. I am deeply concerned that the engine could seize while driving due to rapid oil loss, creating a serious risk of sudden loss of power, stalling, or inability to accelerate in traffic. This is a significant safety hazard for me, my passengers, and other drivers. The vehicle has been inspected by the Hyundai dealership, and I am fully willing to make it available for further inspection. A low‑oil warning lamp appeared far earlier than expected after a routine oil change, which prompted the initial investigation and ultimately revealed the defect. Based on my research, this appears to be a known issue affecting Hyundai GDI engines from this era. I am filing this report because the excessive oil consumption represents a latent engine defect with clear safety implications, and Hyundai has declined to address it despite documented evidence.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710999January 14, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Driving in light rain at 65 mph , drivers side wiper failed after using AUTO feature. Occurrd 12/23/20125. Wiper was fixed by dealership under warranty on 12/26/2025. 3 weeks later on 1/12/2026 very same situation occurred and exact same malfunction happened yet again. Drivers side wiper total non-operational again. Taken back to the dealership for repair and the Dealership said with 100% certainty issue was caused both times from ice and and snow buildup ans will not submit under warranty. Vehicle is garage kept ( heated) and had absolutely no ice or snow on the vehicle upon operation. Weather was 40+ degrees both days when malfunction occurred. Safety issue was serious due to my wife now unable to see through the window potentially causing an accident during adverse weather conditions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710993January 14, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Was coming off an exit on the interstate and started slowing down. My brakes act like they didn’t want to work. Grinding and the pedal was twitching under my foot. The car stopped thankfully, but then all Linda of lights came on the my dash and will not go off. And 3 warning come up!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710932January 14, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
While driving my 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, the vehicle experienced a complete dashboard and system blackout, as if the vehicle shut off and rebooted. This has occurred on two separate occasions. On one occasion, while stopped at a traffic light, the dashboard went completely black and restarted. After the system rebooted, the vehicle would not accelerate or move when the accelerator was pressed. I had to turn the vehicle off, restart it, and wait before it would drive again. The suspected malfunction involves the vehicle’s electrical/infotainment and related vehicle control systems. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle lost critical dashboard information and temporarily lost the ability to accelerate while in traffic, creating the risk of being struck by other vehicles. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealership (World Hyundai of Matteson). On December 23, 2025, I was informed by the dealer that a system/infotainment “glitch” had been identified and that a replacement part would be ordered. However, the part was never replaced. The dealer later stated that because the issue could not be duplicated during test drives (approximately 85 miles driven), the repair was not authorized. The dealer acknowledged the issue could not be reproduced on demand. The manufacturer (Hyundai) has not yet physically inspected the vehicle beyond dealership involvement. No police or insurance inspections occurred, as there was no crash. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. The failure occurred suddenly with a complete dashboard blackout and system restart. The first occurrence happened prior to December 23, 2025; the second occurred afterward. The issue is intermittent and unresolved. I am concerned that the defect must reoccur while driving in order to be repaired, posing an ongoing safety risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710660January 13, 2026
ENGINE
On my 2019 Sante Fe 2.0T, I started having oil consumption/engine issues after 85, 000 miles. Under warranty, I had several minor repairs made over the last year (since 87,000 miles) at the dealership. In September 2025, at 97, 500 miles, I had it into the dealership complaining of burning oil and excessive consumptions in between oil changes. They AGAIN made a few minor repairs, I signed a one-owner warranty form since it was prior to 100,000, and they said come back if I experience further issues. On December 21, at 9pm at night, I broke down on the side of the PA turnpike. My engine light came on after my car started shaking vigorously, and wouldn't accelerate beyond 30mph. Being a Sunday night, I called the dealership in the morning- I was told no appointments for 3 weeks. Took it to a mechanic- where they diagnosed engine failure- hole in intake vale and floating valve not seated. Towed to dealership where it was INITIALLY diagnosed spark plugs and engine coil. Once a mentioned I had a prior diagnosis and pictures, Hyundai did bioscope- found burnt valve and now need all new intake values and part of the engine rebuilt. Hyundai wants me to pay for repairs. I don't think I should have to pay a dime- I've been complaining for over 15,000 miles BEFORE my warranty expired. And now, at 102, 000 miles, the engines blown?? This is a known manufacturer defect with the Theta II engines, and the pistons. I would expect Hyundai at the VERY LEAST to cover the cost of the repairs. Quite frankly, they should replace my engine with a new one, since replacing valves wont solve the pistons and burning excessive oil anyways. I have all documentation of repairs at the dealerships, email correspondence sent between the dealership's service advisors and myself, as well as my routine oil changes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710787January 13, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The In-Cabin Camera system is having non stop issues. I have had this car since 2024 and have never experienced issues with this system like I have for the past month or so. I don't know if this is because of the latest update that was done on 11-26-25 or not.The system constantly goes off telling me to keep my eyes on the road when I am staring at the car in front of my while I am driving. It dings and displays the message on the dash which is a major distraction while driving. On the 8th of January I decided to count how many times it goes off. On all these drives I was only driving for 20-25 minutes at a time. On the 8th the system went off 26 times, on the 9th it went off 18 times and on the 12th it went off 27 times. That is excessive and very dangerous as if I turn the system off in the car it will disable the safety features on the car because it can’t detect my eyes at that time even though I am staring at the car in front of me. It does it in any type of weather, any time of day, and if I’m wearing my prescription glasses, sunglasses or anything. I took it to the dealer and they couldn’t duplicate the issue so they weren’t able to fix it as per Hyundai they have to duplicate the issue for them to fix it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710618January 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has recurring powertrain communication failures starting at only 67 miles and continuing at 5,300 and 6,200 miles. Diagnostic trouble codes include U010100 (lost communication with engine control module) and multiple U100xxx codes related to transmission and CAN bus communication failures. These indicate loss of communication between critical control modules. The issue has happened multiple times and remains unresolved. I am concerned this could cause drivability problems, warning lights, or sudden loss of power. This appears to be a system-level defect in the vehicle’s communication network.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710560January 12, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Check engine code called issue for cam shaft position error. Replaced sensor, still failing. After reading online forums found that the smaller engine had oil consumption issues, I decided to check oil level, No low oil light, dip stick showed very low oil even though had been to service at Hyundai all correct service intervals. Filled oil to proper level numerous times over last year, monitor it every two weeks. Some times totally fine no oil loss and many other times it continues to have excessive oil consumption. Now randomly smell gas in cabin while driving. Reading online again and the issue is becoming more well documented by users but Hyundai has not yet acknowledged issue with this 3.3L engine. Now the gas mileage head dropped significantly which gives further indication that the piston rings are allowing oil and gas to pass by. This can lead to cam shaft bearings to wear prematurely, other mechanical parts wearing or seizing, including the engine itself for a compete engine failure, a significant risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710107January 10, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The car was brought to the dealership where it was purchased. The right rear passenger window exploded while on the highway; the pieces then shattered and fell into the child safety seat installed. There were no other vehicles around as I was driving and the temperature inside the car and outside were about the same. There were no warnings and there was no abnormal noises or flexing prior to the window completely shattering.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709972January 9, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My horn has been having problems on and off for the last year. It’s a 22 Hyundai Santa Fe. It is currently not working. Which is a safety hazard?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709865January 9, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Within a month of purchasing the vehicle [March of 2025] I was having a windshield replaced due to a crack. After I had that one installed, it needed to be replaced due to scratches on the windshield [safelite warrantied it under faulty glass]. Now within 2 weeks I have had 2 small impacts and 2 chip/cracks filled. I have never had issues with windshields in my driving career thus far like this. I understand windshields can pick up rocks and what not but searching online it doesn't seem to be an isolated incident at all. I think Hyundai may be using cheap glass or something. This is very frustrating because im constantly looking anytime I hear an impact on the windshield. Also, I do not want to be constantly calling safelite for chip repairs
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709794January 8, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY/WIPER
While driving on a service road at approximately 45 mph, the corner side glass on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe shattered suddenly and without warning. There was no impact from a rock or object, and no other vehicles were present that could have caused debris. We had just entered the service road, and road conditions were normal. My [XXX] was seated in the front passenger seat at the time of the incident. The glass shattered inward, and the only thing preventing glass from entering the cabin was the window tint holding the shattered pieces together. This presented a serious safety hazard, as occupants could have been injured if the tint had not contained the glass. Once parked in my garage, I took pictures and tried to examine the damage but the window was still crackling and popping. My husband was able to inspected the window immediately after he returned home and confirmed there is no visible rock chip or point of external impact. The fracture pattern appears to originate from inside the glass or along the edge, consistent with a stress fracture or defect rather than road damage. This failure occurred under normal driving conditions with no accident, no debris strike, and no extreme temperature change. The sudden shattering while driving posed a significant risk to driver control and passenger safety, especially with multiple children in the vehicle. I am also aware of other owner complaints involving unexplained glass cracking or shattering on Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles, which raises concern that this may represent a broader defect rather than an isolated incident. 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
#11709672January 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle experienced hard shifting while attempting to change gears, and the vehicle hesitated, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired; however, DTC: P1C2D03 was retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where the same diagnostic trouble code was confirmed. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 99,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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