Safety ratings
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD
- Lane departure warningOptional
- Forward collision warningOptional
- Electronic stability controlStandard
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD
- Lane departure warningOptional
- Forward collision warningOptional
- Electronic stability controlStandard
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (6)
⚠ Park outside — urgent recall
NHTSA has flagged a recall on this vehicle as severe (fire risk — park away from structures). Contact a dealer immediately; recall repairs are free.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULECampaign 22V056000 · 03/02/2022Park outside
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGCampaign 16V842000 · 21/11/2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINECampaign 17V578000 · 20/09/2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.
Risk: The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICESCampaign 16V145000 · 10/03/2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses may be damaged by the seat's height adjuster mechanism, resulting in a failure to provide an audible warning when front seat occupants do not fasten their seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.
- TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMSCampaign 17V142000 · 06/03/2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may not have been set in the correct mode during vehicle assembly, and therefore will not provide an appropriate warning in the event of an underinflated tire. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TPMS sensors, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 159.
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHCampaign 17V358000 · 05/06/2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Risk: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- ENGINE316
- POWER TRAIN95
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER60
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM35
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL32
- SERVICE BRAKES29
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM26
- AIR BAGS12
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/30/2022· ENGINE
The car stop running in the middle of the highway. Was taken to the dealership and they sled us to pay close to 700 for an inspection. Since then I have been part of numerous groups that report similar issues with certain types of engines.
- 12/30/2018· STRUCTURE
SUNROOF EXPLODED DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAY,DRY,CLEAR,NO SNOW,NO VEHICLES NEAR,ESP IN FRONT OF VEHICLE.LOUD BANG,THOUGHT TIRE BLEW OUT,PULLED OVER,SAW ROOF GLASS BROKEN.WIND SCREEN WAS FORWARD,SO NO GLASS PARTICLES RAINED DOWN,BUT THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD AS L OFTEN DRIVE MY CHILDREN & GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE.
- 12/29/2024· SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The brakes and rotors need to be replaced every 3-6 months. They have been fixed at least 4 times under warranty. Every time I take the car in I get asked if I drove through the mountains because they are fried. This vehicle has never been in the mountains because I fear what will happen if it really were driven through the mountains. However, no excessive braking occurs to cause them to be ruined every 3-6 months. I am at the point I’m curious if automatic braking is causing it to heat up and burn them. The incident below is the last time I had them replaced. I’m currently looking to sell the vehicle because of the number of times I’ve had to go in and get them replaced.
- 12/29/2023· ENGINE
Engine failed at 62k miles without any warnings lights or indication of an problem. The engine knocked and seized, creating incredibly unsafe driving conditions with ZERO indications from the car other than hearing the engine noise. The Hyundai dealer confirmed I need a new engine due to the knock, and it is not covered by any warranty as I am not the original owner and the warranty expired last year and at 60k miles.
- 12/29/2023· ENGINE
Engine failed due to excessive oil consumption while driving. Safety was put at risk due to poor build leading to failure while driving. It has been inspected by the manufacturer and was determined it needed to be replaced entirely. Low engine oil light came on, replaced oil, then shortly after failed while driving, after codes disappeared.
- 12/29/2021· ENGINE
Excessive build up of sludge, even with proper maintenance.
- 12/28/2023· ENGINE
Auto was being driven and upon getting to destination knocking/tapping sounds where heard coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights notification or issues prior.
- 12/28/2022· ENGINE
The vehicle lost power and started making a knocking noise from the engine. The vehicle would not accelerate at all, then quickly increase in RPMs and throttle forward. The knocking sound increased in intensity and volume. The RPM's continued to jump as did the power and acceleration. No check engine lights ever showed. After about a year of owning the vehicle we noticed it was burning through oil at an alarming rate. At a Hyundai dealership we were told that it was normal for that engine to require oil top offs between oil changes. We had it looked at by a local mechanic and was told it is total engine failure due to an internal component and will require a new engine.
- 12/28/2022· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
***(NW Indiana)*** 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate FWD 3.3L - 64,000mi. Driven to and from work and around town. Purchased used with 31,000mi in July 2020 from Knauz Hyundai. On the afternoon of December 22nd, 2022 I went to accelerate from 35 mph at which point I heard "tick-tick-tick-tick-tick". I had never heard that sound before. I tried the accelerator again and the same "ticking" sound was there. It became progressively louder on the 15 minute ride home but only while accelerating. During this whole episode not once did any warning light come on. I got home and popped the hood to listen to it(I did video record the sound) and to check the oil. The oil was a bit low but I topped it off and then put a code reader on the vehicle. The only thing that came back was a low voltage on the battery. The next morning I started it up and the noise was even louder. After a few minutes the sound subsided a bit, albeit still loud. I was able to drive it to work so that our mechanics could hear it and all three said it sounded like a bearing went bad and that the engine might be a loss. I spoke to another friend that is a mechanic that hosts a local radio show and he said that he had a show recently about how he is seeing A LOT of Hyundai's coming in with the exact same problem. He told me about a recall from 9/19/2017 with the #17V578000. While I am not certain that this pertains to my vehicle, everyone that has read the recall says that can absolutely be the issue. I have tried calling Hyundai Consumer Affairs but sit on hold forever only to be finally disconnected from the call. I am taking it in to Hyundai on January 6th, 2023 for the ABS recall and they said they would charge me $199 to look at this issue. After reading through all of the complaints regarding this problem Hyundai needs to make it right for their "valued" customers.
- 12/28/2021· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The engine had a catastrophic failure due to bearing failure with no advanced warning lights. The issue occurred while accelerating to merge into highway traffic. The engine had an immediate drop in power and produced a searing grinding noise. The drop in power forced my speed from 55 to 35 mph in a matter of secondS. I had to negotiate across 3 lanes of traffic in order to exit the highway to find a safe stop to contact roadside assistance. Some smoke was coming from the engine but no fire. Prior to the incident, the vehicle had been driven <3 miles in local stop/go traffic from a cold start. Roadside assistance towed to local Grayson Hyundai Dealer who inspected the engine and determined the bearing failure within two days. The check engine light came on at the same instance as the engine failure. There was no advanced warning even though Hyundai performed a recall that updated software to specifically detect and alert to potential failure. Car is still awaiting warranty repairs by dealer. Dealer will not provide any written details to me or provide any cost or timeline estimates for the repair. While the failure occurred within the manufacturer’s 5 year/60K mile warranty, the warranty has now expired in the 5 months it has been waiting to be repaired.
- 12/27/2022· ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. There was no warning light illuminated. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,500.
- 12/27/2016· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT VERY SLOWLY. VEHICLE WAS ALMOST PARKED.STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CONTINUED TO REV AND WOULD NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY WITH MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKE. IT RODE UP ONTO A CEMENT HANDICAP RAMP AND ITS RAILING AT THE HEAD OF THE SPACE .NOT INJURED, NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, CAR SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO FRONT AND UNDERCARRIAGE. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1200 MILES ON IT. NO ONE I TOLD WAS CONVINCED THAT I DIDN'T STEP ON THE GAS AND ASSUMED THAT MY FOOT MUST HAVE SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE AND ONTO THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS READY TO BELIEVE IT MYSELF AND OWNED THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY MY FAULT. AFTER STUMBLING (AND I MEAN STUMBLING-WASN'T LOOKING FOR ANYTHING LIKE THIS) ACROSS REVIEWS AND COMMENTS THAT DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, I FEEL VINDICATED. *TR
- 12/26/2025· ENGINE
Check engine light came on Oil Light came on then the vehicle shut off while I was driving. Safety was not good as I was driving the vehicle. I then had it towed to a shop to have it looked at. That is when I was told I would need a new motor due to a Crankshaft failure. The check engine light had come on the night before but when turning the vehicle on the next morning to take it to get looked at it was no longer on. Was driving it too the shop to have it looked at when it shut off on me while driving.
- 12/26/2024· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
T3G Campaign 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD, 116000 miles. Purchased from a dealer in VA [XXX]. Never would have purchased if engine issues had been disclosed. The letter re:T3G campaign went out to dealers/service managers from Hyundai (of which I have a copy) is dated for October 2019. We never received any information regarding a T3G campaign. We took my car to the dealership on 12/16/24. (Valdese, NC). In 5 hours, they said they ran diagnostics & found the P0302 Misfire code. Without running further tests, they adamantly claimed there was a dead cylinder & the only fix was to replace the engine. Note: Spark plugs were replaced 2 weeks before this visit on Dec 1, 2024. They refused to listen to my concerns about the T3G campaign. Said vehicle didn't have that issue. That they couldn't run the tests because the P1326 code wasn't present (but it was in Sept). They didn't do anything about the current open recalls. They said they didn't have time. Corporate confirmed that my vehicle has had the correct service campaigns completed to qualify for the T3G campaign. I have called corporate twice-No response. We are very upset over the lack of care and solutions. We gave consent for work & nothing was done. The service manager was practically shouting that this car would leave me stranded, it wasn’t safe to drive, & that the only option to fix was to replace the engine/get rid of it. I was basically told it wasn't worth fixing. Putting a new engine in would equal than the car is worth at trade in value. No one can give me a guarantee that a new engine (even brand new from the factory) would not have the same problem that is happening now. Make this right by immediately authorizing an engine replacement for my vehicle to include a loaner vehicle & tow charge cover. I am aware of the class action lawsuit from 2021. Hyundai refuses to issue a recall for this engine issue. Please see attached letter for more information. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- 12/26/2020· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
I HAVE HAD ON AT LEAST A HALF DOZEN TIMES WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING, AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. FOR EXAMPLE: LEAVING A PARKING LOT GOING ONTO A ROADWAY ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY TO GET UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT. ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT AT A FLASHING RED LEFT TURN LANE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL ABOUT 10-20', BUT WILL NOT ACCELERATE, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGING. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL REV TO 4000-5000RPMS. I WILL QUICKLY LET OFF OF THE THROTTLE, THEN IT WILL TAKE OFF. THE ENGINE DOES NOT REV EVERY TIME. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A MODULE ON THE TRANSMISSION APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, BUT IT DID NOT HELP. THEY HAD IT FOR ONE DAY IN JULY 2020, ATTEMPTING TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE WHERE THIS FAILURE TO ACCELERATE OCCURRED WAS 12/26/2020, WHERE UPON LEAVING A SERVICE STATION ONTO A FOUR LANE ROAD, IT ONCE AGAIN ROLLED TO 10-15 MPH, BUT WOULD NOT GO WHILE THE ENGINE RPMS WENT TO 4000. AS TRAFFIC WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE THROTTLE, AND IT FINALLY STARTED PICKING UP SPEED. THIS IS GETTING TO BE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE TO DRIVE.
- 12/25/2023· ENGINE
2017 Santa Fe with 115k miles had its last oil change in June. It still has another 4k before it is due again. The motor started making strange noises. I checked the oil and had to add 4 quarts! Engine started knocking bad. Left me and my family stranded 2 hours from home. I had oil issues previously before my warranty went out. Hyundai is refusing to address the oil consumption issue and replace my motor. Please help! This isn’t right.
- 12/25/2019· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, AND WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I'LL EXPERIENCE A 1-2 SECOND DELAY OR HESITATION, BEFORE THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION ENGAGE. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR MOSTLY WHEN THE WHEELS ARE IN A TURNED POSITION. IT CAN BE A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AT AN INTERSECTION, WITH NO POWER. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES.
- 12/24/2019· STEERING
NOTCHY STEERING, FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, REQUIRING YOU TO USE ADDITIONAL FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS CAUSES OVER-CORRECTING WITH THE POTENTIAL TO SWERVING INTO OTHER LANES OR OFF THE ROAD.
- 12/23/2023· VISIBILITY/WIPER
The panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving under normal conditions. It sounded like a loud gunshot and then shards of the glass fell into the car - luckily the liner caught the majority of the shattered glass. The vehicle is currently at a dealership to fix the damage. I am fortunate that no other cars were around me when the spontaneous shattering happened. The loud noise caused me to slow down considerably, and some glass shards fell backward. If the glass shards had fallen into the vehicle it could have cut me. The dealership has no idea why my sunroof spontaneously combusted, but after doing some research, I saw that Hyundai has had this happen to many other of their vehicles with panoramic sunroofs, and they have gone through a handful of class action lawsuits over the damage. As it is the holidays, I have yet to hear back from my insurance company, but I have started the process of filing a claim online - however, the online form said I would need to call since the damage is on the sunroof which fell under a specialty circumstance. There were no warnings, messages, or other symptoms before the failure. The shattered glass came out of nowhere and without warning.
- 12/22/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
In June 2024, my vehicle suddenly lost power while I was driving on the freeway, almost causing a serious accident. I managed to restart the car after being stuck on the shoulder of the freeway for several minutes. The same issue occurred the following day, prompting me to have the vehicle towed to the dealership. Hyundai Motor was contacted since the vehicle is still under warranty. The dealership informed me they would conduct an oil consumption test three times to diagnose the issue. However, they also stated that for the test to be successful, I needed to replace unrelated parts, including the brakes and transmission oil, among other items. Reluctantly, I agreed and spent $1,800 on these replacements. After completing the first oil consumption test, I returned for the second test. However, the dealership informed me that no further tests were necessary and returned the car to me without addressing the underlying issue. I emailed the case manager assigned by Hyundai to report this, but I never received a response. A few months later, the car failed to start. I contacted Hyundai again, and they dispatched a tow truck. The tow truck driver managed to start the car. A few days later, the issue recurred, and the roadside assistance tow driver suggested it might be the battery. Out of frustration, I paid $300 to replace the battery. Despite this, the car continued to make unusual noises at startup, a problem I had repeatedly mentioned to the dealership and in my communications with Hyundai. The situation reached a critical point today when my wife was driving the vehicle on the freeway with our five children inside. While traveling at 60 miles per hour, the car suddenly lost power again, putting their lives in danger. This is the third time this hazardous issue has occurred, and I fear for the safety of my family.
- 12/21/2023· AIR BAGS
air bag warning light repeatedly goes on and off. code B1764, B1490, sometime both.
- 12/21/2023· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
My engine failed with regular oil changes at less than 120k miles with NO warning. It was 9 at night and it completely shut down on the highway. The hazards, brake lights, etc were not operable! I was almost hit by traffic three times due to not being able to turn on hazards and brake lights not working. I could not even place the car in neutral. Thankfully, the local police department was finally able to assist me but it was a frightening experience and Hyundai is doing absolutely nothing about it.
- 12/21/2022· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car seems to stall on slow turns, then after 2 seconds its back to normal. Dangerous when turning to avoid oncoming traffic. This vehicle belongs to my granddaughter (Britney N. Smith) I'm driving it as it's too dangerous for her. Dealerships have no solution for this problem!
- 12/20/2024· ENGINE
Problems with oil consumption/oil burning. Engine noise - mechanic said the timing chain socket is coming apart. Hyundai has had multiple issues with vehicles that have GDI LAMBDA II engine. In 2019, they recalled several makes with Lambda engine however my vehicle wasn’t one of them. Mechanic said it would cost $6200 to repair. Just to diagnose the issue was $440.
- 12/19/2023· ENGINE
Excessive oil consumption, loud knocking.
- 12/19/2016· POWER TRAIN
WHEN DOING A LOW SPEED TURN,AND DRIVE MODE SWITCH IS IN ECO MODE,WAY TOO MUCH LAG TIME BEFORE VEHICLE ACCELERATES.YOU PUSH ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN ,NORMALLY,AND VEHICLE DOES NOT SPEED UP ,INSTANTLY.SOMETIMES,IT IS A FULL SECOND BEFORE VEHICLE STARTS TO GAIN SPEED.THAT IS DANGEROUS WHEN VEHICLES ARE APPROACHING YOU.I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE ONLY THREE WEEKS,AND THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.I TRADED IN A LIKE MODEL VEHICLE,WHICH WAS A 2013 YEAR,AND IT DID NOT HAVE THAT ISSUE IN ECO MODE.THIS ISSUE MUST BE FIXED.
- 12/17/2025· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
While driving- in total movement- the car completely shut off. Without any prior warning or indication. Immediately after, the car restarted, drove a couple blocks over, continuing to shut off while driving. It was then towed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The warning lights did not appear until AFTER the car quit. They all came on & flashed & quickly went back out. Uncertain which component misfired or is affected- possibly related to an engine or fuel/ cylinder failure. Car is at mechanic for inspection. Our safety & lives were in critical jeopardy as the vehicle stopped without warning while driving in traffic congested area. It is unknown if this is a known issue or if this situation has been replicated however the current mechanic facility has experienced the same issue with this vehicle. Also strong odor of gas was experienced during shutoff.
- 12/16/2024· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Catastrophic engine failure without warning. Rod bearings blew car unable to produce power.
- 12/16/2022· ENGINE
I am a 2017 SantaFe Sport owner. I purchased my Santa Fe in Florida in December 2016 to include all the premium options, including a 10-year powertrain warranty. I believed I was investing in a vehicle that I would have for years to come, at least 10 years. I have always taken my car to be serviced at the Hyundai Service Center and paid for all the recommended services. Earlier this year, I was about to take a long distance trip in my trusted car with my son and elder mother. As I checked my vehicle to make sure it was road ready, to my surprise, it had no engine oil although there was over 1K miles till the next oil change! The oil stick was completely dry. Feeling unsure about my car, I ended up having to make an unnecessary expense and rent a vehicle. After seeing my service advisor at Hyundai, he recommended we start an oil consumption test. After several failed tests, car rental expenses, time away from work, purchase of engine oil and oil funnels, and a recommended Combustion Chamber Cleaning, my car is still consuming the oil with over 4K miles (4 months) till the next oil change. My car was back again at the dealer for the past 3 weeks for another oil consumption test and another submission for an engine replacement. Yet, Hyundai refuses to replace the engine stating my vehicle is operating at standard. I personally don’t know of a vehicle, not even a race car, that consumes oil at the rate my Hyundai SantaFe is consuming oil. I have spoken with Hyundai, the service manager, and have proof of all of my documentation. It has been a week since I picked up my car from the service center and it consumed all 4 quarts and the oil stick is dry again. I have also done my research and learned this a known problem that have cause people’s cars to stall while driving in the highway and also causing fires. There are thousands of people worldwide affected by this same issue.
- 12/15/2022· ENGINE
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine failed and started losing power. It is available at the dealership it was towed to. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving with my family and had just accelerated onto the highway onramp when the engine started rattling and started losing power. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The dealer has confirmed the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The dealer technician has looked over the engine to determine the issue and claimed the engine's rod bearing(s) had failed and that they did not see signs of maintenance neglect to have caused it. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? At the time, no, there weren't any warning lamps until when the engine problem actually happened and the check engine light came on. There had been a couple check engine lights over the past 2 years where the car went into limp mode temporarily. The first one a dealer couldn't reproduce as the engine light had cleared itself. The second time they replaced a sensor which may have been causing it.
- 12/15/2020· ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS OWN A 2017 HYUNDAI SANT FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A RUBBING AND FRICTION SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V578000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SYCAMORE HYUNDAI (1380 DEKALB AVENUE, SYCAMORE, IL 60178, (815) 895-4584) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL FILTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. INVALID VIN.
- 12/13/2023· ENGINE
Oct 31 the car was diagnosed with very low to no oil. Dealership added oil and all problem went away. 1 month/2000 miles later, the car began to have a knocking sound while driving on the highway. I pulled over and the oil was low so I added oil to get my home. Re-entered the highway and the engine just stopped. I was able to pull safely to the side of the road.
- 12/13/2017· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING ON DECEMBER 11, 2017 AFTER DARK, DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS IN COLORADO, AT 55 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS - INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR - FAILED (TURNED OFF) MOMENTARILY. WHEN MY HUSBAND HIT THE BRAKES, HE COULD SEE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. AFTER PLAYING WITH THE HEADLIGHT CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS, EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED AS MY HUSBAND WAS SWITCHING FROM THE HIGH BEAMS TO THE LOW BEAMS. EVEN THOUGH THE INTERIOR (DASHBOARD) LIGHTS WERE OFF, THE RADIO CONTINUED TO PLAY.
- 12/12/2025· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
“My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.4 has been experiencing severe oil consumption issues for a long time. I previously completed a combustion chamber cleaning service as recommended, but the problem continued. On November 10, the Hyundai dealership confirmed the engine oil was low and topped it off. On December 10, the oil was completely empty again with no warning lights. The dealer has documented the issue and recommended an engine replacement, but Hyundai is refusing to approve the repair . The vehicle continues to lose oil rapidly, creating a serious safety risk of engine failure or stalling while driving. This appears to be a known safety-related engine defect affecting this model.”
- 12/12/2023· STEERING
Steering wheel sticks and will not turn or adjust until forcefully manipulated , then snaps sharply causing a change in direction of the vehicle. Dangerous to our family while driving.
- 12/12/2023· ENGINE
after taking my Hyundai 2017 Santefe sport car to dealership and told them about engine being sluggish they replaced the sparkplugs and changed oil . Six week later the engine died as I was driving on a highway I was able to pullover but could have been worse. There was no warning lights it just died. Looking on line I seen that this company has had problems with engines failing and had a class action against them ( my vin was not part of that). Dealership never mentioned that this could happen to my car. I think the dealer was negligent in not informing me about potential problem. I now have no car to drive and I am still waiting for dealership to tell me what my options are.
- 12/11/2025· ENGINE
My vehicle has never missed an oil change or maintenance event yet at my last oil change my engine had burned through all its oil and no low oil light or check engine light came on. Hyundai is refusing to cover it under their warranty stating it occurred due to maintenance neglect even though all oil changes and maintenance events receipts were provided to Hyundai and are available in car fax.
- 12/11/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
The engine on my car was consuming oil at a rapid rate. The dealer service department gave me the run around for many month. Stating they could never duplicate the issue. when clearly the whitish blue smoke pouring out of tailpipe and horrible combustion fumes inside cabin of car. At some point bluish smoke turned to black smoke and that when the $800 combustion test was suggested. Which they say will tell me if the engine is bad. how do they not know the signs of a bad engine. my car sat in service department for 2 months for them to say it's not covered under warranty. I tried everything to hold the manufacture responsible and they was unwilling to budge and help. The car has the extended warranty and my car was under the mileage and years. My car been sitting in my driveway since May 2024 needing a engine replacement. The fumes in cabin of vehicle was unbearable which cause me to have to drive with window down. Vehicle never show any warning lights when engine oil was low or empty. another incident was with the radio not turning off even after the battery went died. The radio continue to work and connect to phone when battery was died. After charging battery radio would again kill battery and not shut off. The only way it would shut off is to disconnect radio. How dealer explained the issue was that of a modem. That the car probably need to be reset when radio was disconnected it worked. But after that it happen 3 more times. these cars need to be recalled and all customer should get there money back. To own a 2005 Santa Fe with over 216,000 miles with no oil burning / leaking or smoke out tailpipe say a lot on the manufacturing of this vehicle. I have no mechanical issues with this car and that was the reason i wanted to upgrade to 2017. Now I wish I had never brought the 2017. Beware before buying this brand because they are no good.
- 12/11/2023· ENGINE
My engine light has come on 5 times over last 6 months. Each time My car started hesitating as if it were going to just just stop in the the middle of the street. Each time I had it towed to dealership. The following were replaced: exhaust manifold, intake manifold, engine coil, head gasket. The oil consumption test could not be done because this occurred before it ever reached 1K. The engine is rapidly consuming oil. It is now at the dealership for the 5th time. Put 5 quarts of synthetic oil in car 3 days ago because dealership could not fit me in. Car began to suddenly decelerate again on MassPike . Fladhing engine light came on. Drove off ramp and had it towed. Waiting for a 5th diagnostic.
- 12/11/2020· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
MY VEHICLE WILL PERIODICALLY STALL WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. VIN DOES NOT SHOW RECALLS, BUT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER 2017 SANTA FE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN 2017,THE RECALL WAS IN NOVEMBER 2017; THEREFORE I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING THAT A RECALL IS WARRANTED AS THE PARTS WOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO MAKE IT. THIS CAN LITERALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. I WILL ALSO BE CONTACTING HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE.
- 12/10/2025· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
# **NHTSA Complaint Answers** ### **1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The **engine** failed due to **sudden and extreme oil consumption** that resulted in the engine being completely dry of oil despite regular maintenance. This caused internal damage including **CVVT (Continuous Variable Valve Timing) system failure**, bearing damage, and a complete engine seizure. Yes, the failed engine is fully available for inspection upon request. The vehicle is currently located at Dick Smith Hyundai in Greenville, South Carolina, where the dealership diagnosed the failure and recommended a full engine long block replacement. ### **2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The engine failure occurred **suddenly and without warning**, causing the vehicle to lose power while operating. The loss of engine function created the risk of: * sudden deceleration in traffic, * inability to accelerate or maneuver, * potential rear-end collision, * complete engine stall in unsafe conditions. The vehicle had **no oil warning light** prior to the failure, meaning I had no indication that the engine was at risk until the failure occurred. ### **3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** Yes. The engine failure was confirmed by: • **Schwab’s Automotive** in Fayetteville, NC – determined the engine suffered catastrophic internal damage and was not repairable. • **Dick Smith Hyundai** dealership – confirmed **high oil consumption and CVVT damage**, and recommended a full **engine long block replacement** (estimate: $8,160.60). The problem has been fully verified by both an independent mechanic and an authorized Hyundai dealership. ## **4.Yes.The vehicle was formally inspected by Hyundai Motor America through the dealership’s diagnostic report. Hyundai reviewed the case (Case #XXX) after receiving the dealership findings.The engine remains intact avai. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- 12/10/2025· ENGINE
Engine went into limp mode and a knocking sound was heard. Had car inspected and oil changed but no improvements occurred. Took car to dealership and it failed engine test. Hyundai will not cover replacement under open extended warranty.
- 12/10/2024· ENGINE
Over the past year, the engine light continues to come on. The first time this happened, there was no oil in the reservoir even though it had recently had an oil change. They did another oil change and sent us on our way. The next time.[XXX], the check engine light came there was a loud clanking sound and low oil again. This was the code the dealership said it was: Code P0021 [XXX] . He suggested a tune-up at this time. He says the engine light should stay off. We just need to continue to check the oil. [XXX]. Check engine light came on again as my son was driving. He lost pressure is the gas pedal. When he pushed it, the vehicle would not accelerate. We has it towed to the same dealership On 10/2/24, they were finally able to tell us what Hyundai felt was wrong: Timing components will need to be replaced- the timing tensioner or chain has failed $4363.20. We pushed back because our personal mechanic said the following: We were told by our mechanic and some of the research that we did that the breaking of the timing chain is connected to the loss of oil pressure that has been happening because of the default in the engine which is part of the recall for that vehicle. What can they tell us about that? Those timing chains are supposed to last a long time and not go out at 130,000 miles or whatever the odometer reading is now. Can this be considered in the recall information for replacing the engine? It does not seem that they're really working with us or helping us on this. Our contact person went back to his shop foreman who went back to Hyundai to ask about this. He then said his shop foreman said it doesn't seem to be directly related to that warranty extension TXX8 - but we will submit all information to Hyundai prior approval and see what they say. It then took him until October 14 to say the following: Hyundai is asking my master technician to remove the valve valve cover and inspect timing parts closer. We took it to another INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- 12/09/2024· ENGINE
[XXX] this engine was replaced under the Hundai Theta Engine Settlement at 91,654 miles. I am the original owner. This problem first started when oil light was on and my regular mechanic sent me to Hyundai because engine required excessive amts of oil. Oil usage test conducted, engine replaced under the NATIONAL RECALL. I have maintained car with regular service before and since that time. 10-14/2024 Good Year Center did my routine oil change at 190,027 on this replacement engine. At time of service, this second engine had 91,463 miles since being replaced in 2022. I did service in readiness for upcoming Thanksgiving vaca. 11/29/29. on [XXX] [XXX] at Greenville, Ala...check engine light began flashing... car was vibrating, shaking, making noise...oil light also went on, I began losing power . I pulled off hwy at [XXX} exit..still making noise, slowing down.. got to bottom of ramp was able to coast into parking lot of station/rest. 189 miles from home. Checked oil...none on dipstick, still vibrating and making noise. man from station came to help and told me to shut it off. he checked oil, looked under car. nothing running out, filter on tight. He worked at restaurant was also a mechanic... Got his meter and read the codes...saying that spark plugs 3 &4 were bad. Spark plugs changed 1/18/24 at Good year service center. He put in 4 qts of oil. tried to start car, oil light and check engine light still flashing. When he removed 3 and 4 plug tips were burnt and singed black. replaced plugs, started car... both check in light (now steady on) and oil light still on. still idling very rough and vibrating with noise. checked spark plugs again.. when he removed plug, it was coated in oil. Car towed 189 miles. dealer said burnt valve, not related to oil all over engine. Engine cost at 7000-9000. Not warranty issue per dealer. reported to corporate, still no response INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- 12/08/2025· ENGINE
At 70,000 miles the Santa Fe was consuming oil at 1.5 quarts per 1000 miles. It is a 2.4 engine. The Hyundai dealership did an oil consumption test and verified the consumption. They want to do a combustion chamber cleaning and have me run it 1000 miles. The vehicle is unsafe because this defective engine could seize up at any time. I am trying to have Hyundai USA replace the engine asap. I have all my maintenance records and two warranties.
- 12/08/2023· ENGINE
knocking noise. check engine light came on. took to my mechanic and its a total engine failure. ball bearings are loose and leaking oil and could have catastrophic damage at any moment.
- 12/08/2023· STEERING
The car has a steering defect. The defect causes the car to wonder from lane to lane requiring the driver to constantly make corrections. This is especially dangerous when you are between two vehicles. The car has been back to the dealer numerous times and they state that there is no problem with the steering. Hyundai National claims claims that the defect does not exist.
- 12/08/2021· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
We consistently had issues with losing power on turns. My wife questioned Hyundai many times. They took it for a test drive and said they could not duplicate the issue and that they did not receive any complaints from anyone. We believed them until I saw many complaints on various websites including this site. Then the major issue occurred. I was merging onto an interstate making a big right hand loop and while I was in the middle of the right turn loop, the car lost power and then it did not come back. I had multiple cars behind me and many on the highway with nowhere to pull over. Top speed was 45 mph. It turned out to be a blown Turbo. The car is under warranty. That was in July of 2021. It is now December 2021 and I still do not have my car with no idea of when it will be fixed. After telling us they would have the part in August (which didn't happen) then September (which didn't happen) then November (which again did not happen) they said they didn't even show a ship order any longer for the part. We were told to call customer affairs. I called them on 11/22 and again on 12/8 - still no one is calling back. I'm stuck driving a small car while I'm paying for an SUV that no one will give any feedback. There were many cars at the dealer lot which appeared to be the same issue - same model. This has to qualify for the lemon law. The loss of power suddenly is extremely dangerous so if you have one, be careful.
- 12/07/2022· ENGINE
Cvvt timing malfunction causing over advanced bank 1 shaft to blow
- 12/07/2022· ENGINE
The engine failed and is available for inspection upon request. The failure caused the vehicle to stall dangerously on the interstate and almost crashed. The problem was due to engine bearing (as diagnosed by third party repair shop) and matches a safety recall (17V578000) for Hyundai 2017 Santa Fes. The VIN, however, does not fall under this safety recall. But it should and I wish to dispute. The vehicle now is at the Courtesy Hyundai of Tampa. No warning messages appeared before stalling to my knowledge. This happened 4-5 weeks ago and has been in the shop since. There was a delay in reporting a safety problem because I tried working with the manufacturer directly. There was miscommunication and they submitted a case on my behalf to check the car for warranty but not to investigate the safety recall. Repair invoices yet to be provided. Courtesy Hyundai of Tampa should have more information: 813-356-7576