Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2017)

972 consumer complaints on file.

#11758520August 21, 2026
ENGINE
There is a class action lawsuit for the Theta Engine in some Kia and Hyundai vehicles and my type of vehicle falls into this lawsuit category. I drive a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and what the lawsuit described what happened to my vehicle, it seized up and you’re supposed to have a lifetime warranty for this problem. I submitted all the paperwork and Norman Hyundai sent videos it was seized up but denied my claim so I have a car that no longer drives with a car loan still so can’t buy a new vehicle. I was told they didn’t see oil additive anytime but their own business this in March ‘26 and May ‘26. It states on the lawsuit if anyone’s in the class action lawsuit they are covered if this happens to your vehicle. Also, part of the lawsuit is the oil consumption and how much it’s eating gas and then it seizes possibly or catch fire and my car was barely getting a 1,000 miles and it would be empty so couldn’t keep up always checking it and the car seized up due to what’s supposed to be covered.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756697August 13, 2026
ENGINE
We have been involved with an Oil Consumption problem since 2025 maybe earlier. No leaks just an over use of oil. I have had to fill it myself or take it to the dealer. They did testing and di some kind of cleaning that took 8 hours. We still have the problem and while driving the whole car shut down. No power in the middle of a highway. This has now happened twice and the first time we had to call AAA for help. It showed an engine sign and we checked the code. First it was an small air leak but they didn't find anything. It came up again, same message so we replaced the gas cap, but the oil was still disappearing and the car had shut down again. I spoke with the Hyundai corporation and they said to do the combustion cleaning again. So we set it up but found out that we had to pay for it so we declined. They refused to do anything about the car. We later found there were other cars made by the same company with the same problem. I did some research and they have had an Oil Consumption problem for quite a while. Now the Catalytic Converter is showing up as having problems. Well that's where the oil goes and can shut down the car due to airflow. They never disclosed it to us face to face, we had to find out about it after the the warranty was up. That was very dangerous to have stopped on a highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756411August 12, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Complete unmitigated loss of acceleration and power while traveling at highway speeds, creating an immediate life-threatening road hazard. Following a warranty engine replacement and mandatory dealer software flash at Clay Cooley Hyundai (Sherman, TX), the vehicle began experiencing powertrain communication issues. While operating the vehicle at 65 MPH on the highway, the vehicle completely failed to accelerate and lost propulsion power, nearly resulting in a catastrophic rear-end collision with an oncoming 18-wheeler semi-truck. Dealership diagnostics claim "no trouble codes present," but live data telemetry confirms the High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) is actively commanding and delivering a dangerous 1,600 PSI to the fuel rail at hot idle. This abnormal fuel delivery is paired with a severe powertrain stutter in 3rd gear. Service personnel at multiple locations confirm a widespread, high volume of transmission failures and severe drivability issues specifically tied to this recent Hyundai software update. Corporate has denied repair coverage. The vehicle remains an active highway safety hazard and is completely undrivable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755907August 10, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle jerked and shuddered abnormally. Additionally, the transmission hesitated, and the vehicle almost stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the Service Campaign Number: 9C2 was completed. The contact was informed that the updated software was confusing the transmission and had caused the failure. The contact was informed that the remedy was not yet determined. In addition, the contact was informed that the dealer was waiting on instructions from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 63,036.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755867August 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Was driving down highway, 95 South in VA, when sunroof blew out. No traffic in front at the time, nothing hit the car. Driving around 65 mph. Temp outside was ~85-87, AC in car at 74. Just blew up and out after a large "Bang". There was no impact to the vehicle prior and no other marks or scratches to the vehicle indication an impact.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755540August 7, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe was brought to dealership on 3/27/26 for an oil change and a computer update was completed for Emissions Improvement. Upon picking the vehicle up after service, it was noticeable that it was not shifting correctly. I spoke to the service department and asked if the memory was cleared with the update an if it was having to relearn how I drive and the said it should not be affected. This went on for a few days and I left the car with them to duplicate as there were3 no stored codes. After a few weeks, the Teck Line recommended a new transmission, which Hyundai offered goodwill assistance. As we were waiting for the transmission to arrive from being on backorder, a bulletin for Service Campaign 9C2 was release on 5/18/26 that described my experience with shifting issue almost exactly. The transmission was replaced and the drivability issues still persist. Hyundai says that I must let my car warm up for 1-3 minutes to allow a catalyst to reach temperature and not cause rough shifting. This rough shifting is the effect of the update and thus te reason that my transmission needed to be replaced. Further investigation showed that this update is a known issue and cannot be reversed once installed. Currently, I must start my car in 90 degree weather to warm it up as a result of this update which is not logical in any thought process. I have asked Hyundai to cover the balance of the new transmission as this is a result of thier faulty software update with no success.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755044August 5, 2026
POWER TRAIN
A Hyundai recall 9C2 update was applied to my vehicle. Ever since that update my vehicle hard shifts on cold starts which I fear is damaging the transmission. Hyundai dealer was able to replicate this and keeps advising us that concern is ‘under review with Hyundai’. I have the service order that states this. This problem has been ongoing for Months! I think Hyundai needs to find a resolution to this as my research indicates it is impacting a lot of customers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753050July 27, 2026
ENGINE
On June 10, 2024 at 107,129 miles Hertrich Hyundai dealership of New Castle inspected my vehicle and submitted a request to Hyundai for engine replacement under the recall settlement of the Theta II Engine Settlement. Hyundai denied the request because of the rebuilt title, even though the rebuilt title resulted only from prior Roof damage unrelated to the engine, powertrain, or recall issue. After continuing to seek assistance from Hyundai, my engine ultimately seized and suddenly stopped working on May 10, 2026, while driving on the highway with my two children. The vehicle lost power and stopped in traffic, creating a dangerous situation and causing my children extreme fear and distress. Had Hyundai honored the Theta II Engine Settlement when I first requested assistance, this failure could have been prevented. I request that Hyundai honor the Theta II Engine Settlement and replace my defective engine at no cost to avoid any future problems. My Hyundai Santa Fe is covered under the Theta II Engine Settlement. For over three years, I repeatedly contacted Hyundai after experiencing symptoms consistent with the known Theta II engine defect. Hyundai failed to provide meaningful assistance, did not properly process my requests, and denied coverage solely because of the vehicle’s rebuilt title.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753154July 27, 2026
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The 9C2 campaign software update introduced dangerous vehicle hesitation and unpredictable gear changes in active traffic, presenting and immediate crash hazard
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751827July 21, 2026
ENGINE
On July 4, 2026, I was driving 2.5 hours from home. My car stopped after about an hour of travel. The car shook and the check engine light came on as the car shut down. There were no warning lights on in my vehicle. I have oil change records. My car had burned through all the oil in an hour. This is not a new problem with this model Hyundai. Every group I went to discuss the problem online all had customers who reported their vehicles suddenly started burning oil quickly which resulted in damaged motor with no warning lights in the dashboard. I had to have my car towed from out of town to the dealership. The dealership that said I had extended warranty on parts of the motor. However upon checking the motor, they said it wasn't covered. I filled out a claims report with Hyundai motors who looked into the problem and also said it's not covered under warranty. This is a known issue of Hyundai with a failure to warn of low oil in the car's warning center. This is a fault of Hyundai. I've taken good care of my car and just paid $1000 for new tires on July 2, 2026 before my trip. The dealership quoted me a price of $3500 to replace the motor with a used one. It would also require 16 hours of labor which I Believe is $200 an hour. I believe they should replace the motor due to faulty systems. My car has 107,000 miles on it, but whenever I've gone to have it checked out, everything checked out fine even at the dealership. Also, this is a known issue that Hyundai is refusing to address with their customers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751838July 21, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I own a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.4L (VIN: [XXX]). On XXX, my vehicle received Campaign 9C2 (ECU software update for Theta II emissions improvement). Shortly after this update, I began experiencing a drivability issue that did not exist beforehand. Description of the issue: The problem occurs only after the vehicle has been sitting long enough for the engine to become completely cold, typically overnight. During approximately the first 1/4 mile of driving, the vehicle intermittently jumps, surges, or lurches while accelerating normally. Once the engine warms up, the symptom completely disappears and the vehicle drives normally for the remainder of the trip. There are no warning lights, no check engine light, and no diagnostic messages. The Hyundai dealer has had the vehicle for nearly a week but has been unable to reproduce the concern. Because the issue only occurs during the initial cold start and first portion of the drive, I am concerned that it may not have been tested under the same conditions in which I consistently experience the problem. I am not claiming that Campaign 9C2 caused the issue, but the timing is notable because the symptom began only after the ECU update was performed. I am requesting Hyundai's assistance in determining whether: - the ECU update was installed correctly, - any required adaptation or relearn procedure is incomplete, - there are any related Technical Service Bulletins or software updates, or - additional diagnostics should be performed during a true cold-start drive with live data recording. 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
#11750493July 15, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
After having the Service Campaign 9C2 ECU SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THETA II EMISSIONS IMPROVEMENT, TSB 26-01-013H-2 done, my vehicle started having driveablity issues. On a normal, cold start the engine's RPMs go up really high, so I take my foot of the gas and the revs drop, almost stalling the car, and then the car bucks. I put my foot back on the gas pedal, and the engine revs really high again and takes off. If I try to drive normally, the car bucks and runs rough. My car also revs a lot higher during highway driving, than it did before the update. All of this is also causing terrible gas mileage. My car did nothing like this until I had the 9C2 update.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750549July 15, 2026
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN: [XXX]) was brought to Herb Chambers Hyundai of [XXX], in December 2023 to address the Underbody Corrosion Recall/Campaign (9A0). The dealer performed the preventative service. However, the remedy completely failed because the frame was already severely structurally compromised by rust. In early 2024, I relocated to [XXX] with the vehicle. Now 2026, The front subframe sub-assembly deteriorated to a hazardous point, forcing me to spend a large sum of my own money on front-end repairs caused directly by this corrosion. Currently, the rear subframe and rear suspension components are heavily corroded and structurally disintegrated. The vehicle is completely unsafe to drive, presenting an imminent risk of structural collapse and suspension failure while in motion. Hyundai's recall remedy was ineffective and merely masked the rust. The rear subframe (crossmember/cradle) and control arm anchor points are severely corroded, rusted out, and crumbling to the touch, creating an imminent risk of suspension collapse while driving. The extreme corrosion has spread to the metal fuel line the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to the advanced corrosion . Denial of Service by Local Distributor: The vehicle is currently located in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. I presented the vehicle and documentation to the local authorized distributor, Sojitz de Puerto Rico (Hyundai of Puerto Rico). As indicated I brought the Vehicle to MVP Hyundai Humacao (XXX) and filed a claim (# XXX) However they never sent a anyone to inspect the vehicle or process a safety claim, claiming they bear no responsibility because the vehicle was imported from the mainland, Because this is a failed federal safety campaign remedy that now poses an immediate threat to my life and public safety, 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
#11749509July 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
After going to the Hyundai dealership for them to perform Service Campaign SC2 on 6/10/26, the engine is a little jumpy for the first minute or two of driving, especially low speeds through my neighborhood.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749634July 10, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle is in limp mode and is displaying a flashing check engine light with a P1326 powertrain code. The vehicle in question is a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport equipped with a Theta II 2.4L GDI engine at 118,000 miles. Per the service campaign T3G, listed on the NHTSA website, this vehicle is covered under warranty repair since it is a Theta II engine vehicle that is displaying an active P1326 power train code. The vehicle is under he 10 Year/120,000 miles limitations of the extended warranty. The dealer just submitted to us a quote to repair the vehicle and is stating that none of the repairs listed are covered under warranty. This includes a quote to replace the engine knock sensor, which is a warranty item under the T3G service campaign’s extended warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748721July 7, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH on the interstate, the contact heard an abnormal tumbling sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact noticed an unknown object had detached from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact determined that the detached component was the radar sensor. The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system and the adaptive cruise control became inoperative. The contact stated that the vehicle had not been involved in a crash prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. The mechanic advised that the radar sensor could not be reattached and stated the failure was possibly caused by a crash. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748778July 7, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Hyundai Campaign 9C2 recall update: Took my vehicle in to have the Hyundai Campaign 9C2 recall update performed on the vehicle on June 9th, 2026. Since the update the vehicle is hesitant/jerky upon first drive of the day or anytime it sits more than a few hours. Occasionally it will do this while I am driving. I feel it is a saftey risk because this could cause my vehicle to abruptly hesitate without braking and cause someone to hit me, or worsetransmission to fail while at highway speeds. I took it back to the dealer that performed the required update around june 23rd 2026 and informed them of the problem caused by the 9C2 campaign update.I got the we don't know anything about it causing problems runaround. Even though it has been documented that dealers were notified of this problem. They then wanted to charge me a $100 diagnostic fee to see if it might be something else, I declined that because I know it is from this update. My vehicle ran perfectly fine and smooth before this update was applied and no CEL lights are on. I did this update because it was required to be done by Hyundai. When I started researching why my vehicle was hesitant/jerky after the update is when I found that anyone that did this update is having these same issues, and it has been happening for a while now and Hyundai corporation has done nothing to correct this problem other than tell us to sit for at least 3 minutes or more before driving it. That does not help when it does it even after driving for a bit and possibly creating transmission problems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748248July 3, 2026
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Airbag light on. La Quinta Hyundai verified light on scanned codes found active b134800 Driver airbag resistance circuit short to ground 1st stage. Testing found clock spring issue internal fault. Since this clock spring is related to driver airbag, & horn, it would seem that this would be a safety hazard that would be under warranty. The extended warranty (Z01) that I received from Hyundai doesn’t cover my problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747342June 30, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that after an unknown Emission recall was performed on the vehicle, the vehicle started sputtering at start-up and then while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known failure after the Emission recall repair. The contact was informed that the manufacturer was working on a fix for the issue. Additionally, the contact was advised that the recall repair was optional, but the contact had opted to have the vehicle repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was contacted several times, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747482June 30, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We are driving on the highway and the engine just stop working but all lights are still working. I am trying to put gas but it seemed that the engine completely shuts off dangerously without warning. This put my family at risk because there were a lot of big trucks beside us. Theta II 2.0L Turbo engine just stalled I believe this has been around . Can you please help us.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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