Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints
8,019 consumer complaints on file.
- #11455552March 7, 2022ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I purchased a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe June 2021 Upon completion of my oil change 12/1 I was told there was a oil leak and the oil wasn't going to stay in, I drove home under 20mph because my engine wouldn't allow me to go any faster. The next day it was towed to a Hyundai dealership close to home, Hyundai denied the first claim because they said it was the oil change companies fault. I then called the warranty company and the adjuster came out examined the car he found out that wasn't the case, it was internal damage cause by the manufacturer. Botls came loose that cracked something and metal chips got into my engine. My extended warranty denied covering it because it wasn't basic engine failure it was cause by the production of the vehicle and the faulty bolts that internally damage itself. I resubmitted the claim to Hyundai for repairs since we know now it wasnt outside negligence and the extended warranty company wasn't going to cover it. The advisor told me the second claim was denied as well , after speaking to the consumer affairs department myself they still denied having any part and the faulty engine. I'm in a Facebook community group and these people are going through this daily with Hyundai they are putting bad engines in cars once the original owner finds out they're trading them in and the second owner buys them in the car fails we aren't covered under the powertrain warranty because it only applies to the first owner. Hyundai is ripping people off and stealing our hard worked for money and getting away with it! They're picking and choosing who the engine failure class action lawsuit applies to even though we all have bad failed engines! I have been stuck making payments on a car for 3 months that I cannot drive and I owe $18,000 on a totaled car and they care nothing about goodwill and helping their customers who have spent thousands on their cars.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11455205March 4, 2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Engine failed within 3 years of having the car so did transmission. Always having other issues with this vehicle. Recently the alternator now the blind spot warning system. This vehicle was purchased new and has had so many problems.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11454983March 3, 2022STEERING
Hyundai has a problem with the steering coupler in numerous vehicles, including our Santa Fe. Problem is caused by deterioration of the plastic coupler between the electric power assist motor and the steering column. Hyundai has not recalled this item on other Hyundai models, but is doing an EXTENDED SERVICE REPAIR for 15 years unlimited mileage if you bring it in and ASK FOR IT TO BE FIXED. However, they are NOT doing this for the Santa Fe, as they say "they are not seeing a problem with this model", even though it has the same defective part that is being replaced in other Hyundai models. My vehicle is showing signs of this defect and has a definite "BAD SPOT" in the steering when you drive the vehicle. It is very dangerous and WILL LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IF IT IS NOT FIXED as soon as possible. However, Hyundai, at the dealership level and at the Hyundai North American level refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem with the Santa Fe, using the same parts as the other models that they admit have a defect. There have been no repairs of modifications to the steering system of this vehicle. It was purchased new and used as a daily driver since purchase in May of 2013. Hyundai is refusing to replace the rubber steering coupler that is defective.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11455073March 3, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, approximately 30 minutes later the neighbor informed that the vehicle was on fire. The contact rushed outside to discover flames and smoke were present coming from the rear driver's side of the vehicle. A fire extinguisher was used to extinguish the flames. The fire department was called to the scene. During the incident, the contact sustained a burned right hand which required medical treatment. The cause of the fire was not yet determined. A fire report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 48,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11455092March 3, 2022ENGINE
Car has 122000 and lost power. Hyundai said it needs a new engine and refuse to pay
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11454665March 1, 2022ENGINE
VERY WELL MAINTAINED LOW MILES WITH A P1326, P0014, C1611 CODES WHICH I HAD CLEARED AND LOOKED AT BY MY SHOP ONLY TO BE STANDARD HALF-MILE LATER ON A VERY BUSY ROAD, HAD A TOW COME AND GET ME WHICH WAS EXPENSIVE ALONG WITH THE BILL I HAD JUST PAID FOR. I THOUGHT IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE B/C THE SMELL WAS SO TERRIBLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THIS SUCKS AND THEY PROBABLY WON'T DO A [XXX] THING ABOUT IT. AS I LIVE ALREADY LIKE I'M IN POVERTY THIS ISN'T ENOUGH. 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
- #11454457February 28, 2022ENGINE
On 1/29/22 I was driving on the parkway going 60 mph when my vehicle began to fail. I could not accelerate and I had to put my car in neutral to get to the side of the busy parkway. My vehicle turned off and would not turn back on. My vehicle was towed to A Hyundai dealership where ultimately I was told I needed a new engine for almost $6000. Hyundai stated they won’t pay for it due to a recall that was never taken care of in the beginning of 2019. I bought my vehicle in November 2019 from a Chevrolet dealership where nothing about a recall was ever disclosed. I can’t seem to find anything about a 2019 recall but I do see there was on listed on 2/2/22. I’m at loss for what to do. I can’t afford to pay for this and I still owe 13,000 on it. The red battery signal lit up on the dashboard when the engine started to fail. That was the only warning signal. Yes available for inspection upon request.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11454510February 28, 2022ENGINE
On April 22,2021 I took my Hyundai Santa Fe to McGrath Hyundai Serv Ctr for routine oil change. I paid for this oil chge and was given a MultiPoint Inspection rpt detailing my car was in good condition needing only routine maintenance updates. Mileage was documented 46,008 mi. My car was in excellent condition, regularly maintained at Hyundai service centers. 9 days later my engine failed without any warning. I had only driven about 30 mi after service.This is a safety issue as the failure could've occurred while I was driving. I towed the car back to the serv ctr where I was told I would need a new engine. There was no reason ever given for the sudden failure other than that this was a bad engine. I called Hyundai Corp Care to ask for help. I was told my 100,000/10yr warranty had expired 6 mos. earlier and there was NO recall. I later found this not to be true as NHTSA had done an investigation earlier causing Hyundai to recall 1000's of Santa Fe's for the EXACT reason that my engine failed. My VIN is not included in this recall but the problem was exactly the same. I read in the NHTSA report this recall applied to engines manufactured before 2011. After many phone calls/emails, Hyundai Corp agreed to a "good will" offer to replace the engine for 80%. I was told they would remove the bad engine and drop in a new one. However, there was faulty communication between Hyundai Corp and Hyundai service center. My hands were tied. 175 days later I was returned my car with a remanufactured short block. Approximately 2 mos later my oil light began to flicker. I returned to serv ctr where I was told I now need to manually check my oil regularly. The service engine light no longer works as it should. The warning light no longer works for other safety issues also. Hyundai was not truthful in owning up to the existence of the engine safety issue. They should have owned my problem and repaired as part of the recall. I no longer feel safe driving my car.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11454094February 25, 2022ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the oil sensor flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil sensor was leaking oil onto the engine and exhaust. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the starter needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the engine seized during the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453959February 24, 2022ENGINE
While driving car would slow speed unexpectedly. In addition to this issue the heat in the car stopped working. After having several system flushes and parts replaced by our mechanic we took it to the dealership for evaluation and was advised the car has complete engine failure. No check engine light ever came on!! Was advised by dealership that several complaints have been made about this particular engine but no recalls have been made. The transmission for this car was already replaced less than a month after purchasing at 66,000+ miles due to a defect, and it has been continuous issues since then. Car has been regularly maintained and despite these preventative maintenance steps the engine still failed. Hyundai I am sure is aware of these engine issues and should address them immediately. Consumer would like to add that after speaking with the salvage yard about a replacement engine the gentleman advised that he received 1000+ inquires for a engine for this make and model year.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453601February 23, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Exploding Sunroof On 02/22/22 I was driving home from an appt, going approx. 40 mph when all of a sudden i heard a loud sound like a shotgun and then glass from my sunroof was falling down on me. I have a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Nothing hit me, I didn't hit any pot hole or anything, the weather was around 70 and overcast, it was terrifying. My first thought was a stray bullet shot in the air came down and hit the sunroof. Thank goodness there wasn't a car near me on the 4 lane road. I was able to pull off on a side street; i was shaking, bawling, and so confused. There was no warning whatsoever, just BAM, explosion. I called 911, who came out within about 20 minutes. Upon further investigation, we determined the glass was protruding upwards and out of the car indicating the explosion came from inside the vehicle. We examined the large pieces of glass to see if there were any scratches or dings and found nothing. I filed the police report, closed the sunshade to drive home without glass falling on me. Things could have been much worse. I just found out since my car only has 77K miles, the sunroof is still under warranty and will be fixed by Hyundai. Still, something should be done about this as I've been researching, it seems more common than it should!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453574February 23, 2022VISIBILITY/WIPER
Driving highway speed. Nice, clear day. No trucks or vehicles within 1/4 mile. No impact to windshield. Stress fracture started on passenger side of front windshield. Initial three inch fracture has expanded to over 12 inches
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453356February 22, 2022ENGINE
Vehicle died while driving. No warning lights on at all. Dealer states that I have engine damage just by listening to it. Same issue is under recall for the santa fe sport engines but I am told that this will not be covered. This could have been an accident if I had been driving on a highway or a high traffic area.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453366February 22, 2022ENGINE
Motor seized no warning no lights no previous issues while driving
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453373February 22, 2022ENGINE
I was on the highway going about 65mph when all of the lights on my dashboard came on, including the engine light. I received a warning on the screen to get service immediately. My car started slowing down and I was able to pull over before my engine completely seized up. I was lucky that the highway was not crowded and that I was able to get over before it stopped in the middle of the highway!! I do not know why it failed! I had regular maintenance, oil changes, etc. None of the lights came on before this happened. I had no warning. I have been told by the dealership that I need a new engine. It only had 76K miles on it!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453410February 22, 2022ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. After the failure, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453416February 22, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 30 mph during rainy weather, the contact was attempting to get into the right-hand lane out of the way of a speeding vehicle approaching from the rear. The brake warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal failed to respond when depressed. As a result, she crashed into the rear of a vehicle in front which caused her vehicle to come to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact was injured by the impact hitting her head on the steering wheel. The contact stated that she was driven to the hospital by her husband where her injuries to her forehead were treated. The contact mentioned still having side effects from the accident, she suffers from migraine headaches. The vehicle was drivable, but that the vehicle engine began to stall at stop signs or traffic lights. The vehicle has been at the contact's residence for 4 months since the accident and was not drivable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453418February 22, 2022ENGINE
On 2/10/22 I was driving on a busy highway during rush hour about 60 miles per hour and my car began to loose power. I was able to cruise to the shoulder safely. I turned it off and it immediately restarted and ran with no problem. A few days later it stopped again while I was on another highway and I was able to get to an exit and to a safe location. Ultimately, after trying to restart, it failed altogether and had to be towed by AAA to Hyundai. My vehicle is serviced regularly and I've never had warning signs come on other than the the two times when the call stalled, and at that point, every light in the car was blinking. Hyundai would not give me a firm date for diagnosis. They said that they were backed up and estimated a repair even after diagnosis, would be well into March 2022. By the way, my car was dropped off on Feb 12, 2022! I requested a loaner and they told me they did not have one available. I had the car towed to an independent mechanic and I was told that the engine needed to be replaced.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453504February 22, 2022ENGINE
I was driving my Santa Fe in February 17, 2022 and while driving it completely shut down and wouldn’t start again. It has to be towed and Hyundai is not helping with anything. It only has 64k or 68k miles on it. No lights came on until it shut down while driving.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11453072February 20, 2022ENGINE
Our Santa Fe is losing oil rapidly. This started around 73,000 miles. They have done an oil consumption test and then a combustion chamber cleaning, neither worked. It showed that our vehicle is consuming 1 quart of oil every 647 miles. This will cause the engine to dry out and eventuay fail. They told us we need an engine replacement, but Hyundai will not cover it. They told our local dealer to reach out to our extended warranty. They may not cover it. They need more tests run, but at our expense. After researching online, I found out this is a known problem with these engines. Others have complained and they even state that this problem occurs at about 74,500 miles. I cannot believe that Hyundai is not being he'd responsible for these repairs. This is a potential hazard, especially if someone doesn't realize they are losing oil. Most people don't regularly check their oil between changes, this is a huge hazard. We do check ours and found the problem. Hyundai is installing faulty engines and they should have to repair them, not the consumer.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0