Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Complaints (2014)

164 consumer complaints on file.

#11770765October 13, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
There was a low noise when I got in the vehicle in the morning. I looked at the engine and it was coming from the abs system. I took it to the mechanic shop and the noise was even louder, the abs part on the passenger side of the firewall in the engine blew up and catch fire. Luckily they were able to put the fire down right away. I’m glad that didn’t happen while driving or while in the driveway of our house were there’s more vehicles parked. There was an Abs light on the dashboard due to an abs sensor for the rear right wheel.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767395September 28, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
I am reporting what I believe may be a safety-related defect involving the driver's door latch/lock actuator assembly in my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, VIN [XXX]. The driver's door latch failed while the door was in the closed position. As a result of the failure, the driver's door could not be opened using either the interior door handle or the exterior door handle. The door remained mechanically stuck in the closed position. This was not simply a power door lock that failed to electronically lock or unlock. The failure prevented the driver's door itself from being opened from either side. Because the door was stuck closed, the inability to open the door normally substantially increased the difficulty and cost of the repair. SAFETY CONCERN My primary concern is occupant egress during an emergency. If this failure occurred during or immediately following a crash, vehicle fire, electrical failure, medical emergency, flooding event, or another situation requiring rapid evacuation, the driver or occupant could be unable to exit through the affected door. This presents an even greater concern for an elderly person, a person with a disability or limited mobility, or another occupant who may not be physically capable of climbing across the center console and exiting through another door. Depending upon the circumstances, an occupant could potentially remain trapped until another door could be accessed, a window could be broken, or emergency personnel could gain entry. The safety concern therefore is not merely that the door lock or actuator stops functioning. The concern is that failure of the latch/lock assembly can potentially eliminate a normal means of emergency egress from the vehicle. NHTSA has previously recognized in its investigations that an inability to open vehicle doors and circumstances involving potential occupant entrapment can create safety concerns, particularly when rapid access to or escape from a vehicle may be necessary. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767435September 28, 2026
ENGINE
1. 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Theta 2 Engine Failure It was available for inspection upon request at local dealer and service After engine failedXXX abruptly while driving, it was towed to the service for inspection. 2. The Theta 2 engine in countless 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe models has been a safety risk for all citizens on the roads. This has been an unannounced recall failure due to manufacture shards of metal found within the engine, causing vehicle damage and failure. My car stopped abruptly on the road. I have maintained it through due oil changes and service. 3. The independent dealership that serviced my vehicle has verbally recognized that Theta 2 engines are a safety risk, after my family and I did research to expose underlying cause of engine failure. 4. It has been inspected by Allen Turner Hyundai in [XXX]. No known national manufacturers have been present or documented in case. 5. No, abrupt stop while driving along with burning smells and smoke coming from hood of vehicle. 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
#11765036September 17, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment with an abnormal burning odor entering the vehicle through the A/C vents. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that her father performed most of the maintenance on the vehicle and became aware that the Theta 2 engine had several failures. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 157,596.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757038August 14, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at 60 mph the vehicle began to shake violently, and the engine experienced a complete loss of automotive power, the service vehicle soon, ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered off an exit into the parking lot of an AutoZone where a diagnostic scanner displayed the code "P0302". The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the exhaust valve on cylinder two had dissolved and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to a local Hyundai dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the exhaust valve in cylinder two was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,687.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753388July 28, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
On June 20, 2026, while the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was being driven on Richardson Highway near Mile 155 in Alaska, smoke and flames developed from the engine compartment without any collision. The driver stopped and both occupants exited before the vehicle became fully engulfed. The fire created an immediate risk of serious injury or death and blocked the northbound lane. There were no known prior drivability problems, warning lamps, or other symptoms before the incident. The exact failed component is UNKNOWN. Potential areas requiring investigation include the engine, electrical system, ABS/HECU brake module, multi-fuse, fuel system, and other engine-compartment components. Alaska Department of Public Safety responded. Its report states that there was no obvious cause, but that the fire appeared to have originated in the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed and preserved for the manufacturer. Hyundai inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the inspection was completed on July 11, 2026. Hyundai later stated orally that it did not find an engine defect, but it has not provided the complete inspection report, testing methods, photographs, technical findings, or a written origin-and-cause determination. Hyundai has not explained whether the ABS/HECU, electrical system, multi-fuse, fuel system, or other potential fire sources were separately examined. The vehicle sustained catastrophic damage and was a total loss. Both occupants escaped, but experienced severe ongoing psychological distress after the fire. I request that NHTSA evaluate whether the fire involved an engine, electrical, ABS/HECU, fuel-system, recall-remedy, or other safety defect. The vehicle was available for Hyundai's inspection. Its current availability for further inspection is UNKNOWN. The vehicle remains preserved and is currently available for further inspection upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751694July 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
*"I am filing a complaint against Hallmark Hyundai in [XXX] regarding an active safety recall on my vehicle's ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) module.My vehicle was brought to the dealership on XXX. As of today, XXX, the dealership has held my car for 27 days without completing the safety remedy. The dealership continues to give me conflicting stories, refuses to provide an expected repair date, and is denying me manufacturer-funded alternative transportation while my vehicle is grounded for this safety defect.I am reporting this because the dealership is failing to provide a timely remedy for a critical braking safety hazard, leaving me without a safe vehicle." The warning lights came on on XXX every light on my dash is flashing. Hallmark Hyundai inspected my vehicle and said it was the abs module I have been without transportation for a whole month with no answers on when my car will be ready for pick. The advisor Devita keep telling me lie after lie I need my car immediately no way it takes a whole month to fix a recall repair I need my car I have lost my job due to this I’ve missed important dr appointments do to my car being held for a month with no answers 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
#11751278July 18, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Both front doors stopped opening cant get in the vehicle or out of the vehicle from the front doors. Both stopped working within two weeks. The locks unlock and lock but the doors will not open. Hyundai dealership wants 8,000 dollars to replace Both door panels. This is a safety issue. If I get stuck inside the car and cant get out
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750844July 16, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started to lose power while depressing the accelerator pedal, with black smoke coming from the engine compartment. The oil, check engine, and battery warning lights were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and discovered black smoke coming from under the hood. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the engine was replaced. Two weeks after the replacement, the starter failed to operate as needed, and the vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic, where the starter was replaced. Upon investigation, the mechanic discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); and associated the vehicle with the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,577.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749195July 8, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I am reporting a severe safety failure on my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport that perfectly matches the safety defect described in Recall 21V-303 / Campaign 205. This happened even though I had the dealer perform the official recall fuse fix back in 2024. The problem started after I left the car parked for about 3 to 4 hours. When I came back, I heard a motor (not the motor) loudly running under the hood even though the ignition was completely off. It stayed on even after starting and turning the car off. The battery in the vehicle had drained so bad it was deemed bad when hooked up to a tester at the auto parts store. After getting a new battery and trying to drive the car, the electrical system went haywire. The dashboard lit up with every brake warning light on, the speedometer stopped working, miles to empty being erratic, and the exterior rear brake lights kept flickering erratically after the car was turned off. The steering was acting abnormal and unnatural, not crisp and easy to turn as usual. There were absolutely no warning lights or symptoms before I parked the vehicle. I had it towed to my local Hyundai dealership, and their diagnostic scan confirmed major brake and chassis issues, specifically code C2402 for an ABS Pump Motor Circuit Malfunction and codes C1200, C1203, and C1206 for a loss of wheel speed data. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives, but it is currently sitting at the dealership waiting for a resolution from a Hyundai customer care case manager. The 2024 recall remedy only involved dropping the fuse amperage to mitigate fire intensity; it did not replace the module housing or prevent the internal brake fluid leak from eventually destroying the system. The defect has seemingly now fully manifested, knocking out primary braking indicators and power steering assist, presenting an ongoing safety and fire hazard while driving and parked.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748225July 3, 2026
ENGINE
On March 20, 2026, while driving, my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (VIN: [XXX]) equipped with a Theta II 2.4L GDI engine, the car experienced a catastrophic, sudden loss of motive power. The engine suffered a total mechanical failure/seizure, creating an immediate highway safety hazard. This vehicle is part of the "In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II" settlement population due to known factory manufacturing defects where residual metal debris blocks oil flow to the connecting rod bearings. Hyundai Corporate has issued a blanket refusal to honor the lifetime safety warranty extension, using an unverified allegation of "outside influence" to avoid executing the mandatory engine replacement protocols required under NHTSA Campaign T3G. 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
#11746944June 27, 2026
ENGINE
ID # 11746004. I accidentally entered the wrong incident date on my original submission. The correct date of the incident is June 17, 2026. Please update my file to reflect this correct timeline.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746439June 25, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
: "Vehicle is currently grounded at Rowe Hyundai Westbrook in Westbrook, Maine. Dealer confirms HECU has an active electrical short matching Recall 205 (Campaign 21V303000) but refuses to replace the safety defect because it lacks an external fluid leak. The vehicle is unsafe to drive due to fire risk and brake hazard, and the manufacturer's agent is refusing the federal remedy."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746004June 23, 2026
ENGINE
The engine failed completely and is currently available for inspection at my residence. While traveling on a family vacation at highway speeds, the engine suffered a catastrophic connecting-rod bearing failure and seized. This caused an immediate loss of motive power, braking assistance, and steering control, nearly resulting in a fatal multi-car collision with my child in the vehicle. Warning lights illuminated on the dashboard during the failure as a sudden metallic knocking sound occurred and the engine died. The vehicle became completely disabled and had to be limped off the highway and towed. The VIN has a completed Campaign 953 from September 2019 qualifying it for the Lifetime Warranty Extension under the Theta II settlement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738905May 19, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Engine code p1326. The engine went into limp mode it was only able to drive about 15 miles then check engine light came popped on and the vehicle stopped and I had the get the vehicle towed. Yes Route 60 of Hyundai in Vero Beach was aware of the issue and also I took the vehicle to Hyundai in Fort pierce where they also was well aware of the engine issue. When I received a recall letter in the mail and brought my vehicle into Route 60 Hyundai of Vero Beach. My vehicle was also apart of the Theta 2 issue class act litigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738419May 17, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
As I would be driving down the road, most of the time when getting up to speeds of either 25-30mph or 55-60mph is when the dash board lights up check BSD detection system failure, then it will rev out rpm’s to 5,000-6,000 then lose power to accelerator. I also notice on the dash board where the panel for your selected gear displays is blank and doesn’t show whether you are in park,drive neutral, ECT. After this occurs I can not drive it any longer until I safely stop the car (most of the time on a busy highway or country road Highway where once this happens it becomes dangerous due to the power loss in the accelerator) and put it in park, I’ve tried to put the vehicle in park, once fully stopped, and try to put it back into drive but the shifter is locked into park and will not let me shift the vehicle, I then have to shut the vehicle completely off and open the driver door to get the backup power cut off as-well to have zero power to the vehicle. Once that is completed I then Re-Start the vehicle where it operates normally again, this situation happens at least twice a week if not 3-4. It sometimes has put my passengers and myself at risk of getting into accidents or struck by other vehicle on the road. my vehicle is still under a warranty through the dealership I purchased it from, but when I ask them about it they say that because there is no prompt on the dash once I get there that they cannot do anything about it, nor do they allegedly know why it’s happening, I’ve asked a few other mechanics I know and they say that they have seen this malfunction before with this vehicle and usually it is a transmission sensor? Or a transmission speed sensor issue? I then relay this message back to the dealer ship and they still act like they don’t know what it is, I truly believe that the dealership just doesn’t want to deal with the issue and I only have 2-3000 miles left under their warranty, I do enjoy the vehicle and respect Hyundai for their great customer service.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737489May 13, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car randomly dies. Constantly needing oil due to it leaking. Check engine light on
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730941April 13, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Failure consistent with known recall defect (NHTSA Recall 17V226) involving premature bearing wear resulting in engine seizure and sudden loss of power while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729308April 5, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving west across [XXX] , towing a 5x8 enclosed trailer, there was a smell of burnt rubber and I pulled over to inspect for a busted tire. At no time were there indicator lights on the dash. Upon bringing the vehicle to a stop on the side of the road the cabin began to fill with smoke. I popped the hood of the car with the intention of looking to see what was occurring. Exiting the vehicle and coming around to the front there were already flames coming out from under the hood. Within 10 minutes the car and trailer were engulfed in flames and have been deemed total losses by insurance. I had the vehicle serviced two days prior in Columbus Ohio and was cleared for the 4 day journey. I had the brakes done in 4 months prior in [XXX] . Had no issues getting to Columbus, no problems driving to Kansas City. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728573April 1, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The passenger-side doors do not latch properly and may open after closing. This creates a safety risk while driving. The issue occurs continually and has worsened over time. Vehicle has approximately 106,265 miles. this causes the auto door locks no to work.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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