10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 17
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,560 miles

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problem #196

Feb 082023

Santa Fe

  • 148,594 miles
Took my vehicle to get a abs module fixed and after that my truck had gave me problems, my vehicle was shaking and under hood smoking while me and my kids were in it. The engine light and battery light were flickering off and on. Almost got into an accident

- Jacksonville , FL, USA

problem #195

Jan 072023

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 121,005 miles
I brought the 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON MAY 10, 2022. On JANUARY 7, 2023 I was driving down the highway when the HYUNDAI shut down. No warning lights or nothing just stopped. We could not get it started no matter what we did. My son in law checked it out and found out it was the engine. Talked to the dealer and found out there was a recall for an engine in 2018. That was never taken care of. We never knew about the recall until after my HYUNDAI HAD TROUBLE. Took it to the HYUNDAI DEALER IS DES MOINES FEBRUARY 10, 2023 and they said there was 3 recalls that was not done. But they now said it is too late for the recalls. SO WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW IS ARE WE GOING TO GET THE RECALLS DONE OR JUST FORGET ABOUT FIXING THE HYUNDAI. I SEEN WHERE ENGINES OR MOTORS WAS FOREVER INSURANCED ON HYUNDAIS. ARE THEY YET.?? Please let me know as soon as you can if the recalls will be honored by email. And if so where could I take my HYUNDAI TO GET FIXED AS I DO NOT TRUST [XXX]. EITHER WATERLOO, IA OR MANKATO, MN. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Algona, IA, USA

problem #194

Jul 212021

Santa Fe

  • miles
The engine seized while driving. Had it replaced with warranty. 2 years later the engine seized again and the dealership and Hyundai refuse to replace it. Even with proof of proper maintenance.

- Stewartstown, PA, USA

problem #193

Mar 062023

Santa Fe

  • miles
I bought a brand new Hyundai Sanat Fe 2014 in August of 2014 in Indiana. On March 7, 2023, at 81,000 miles I brought it to my auto mechanic shop for its scheduled oil change. However,1 day prior, the engine light went on and I noticed a clinking noise coming from the engine. The mechanic noted "not even a quart of oil in engin. burning oil - no leaks present. if it's not under warranty from Hyundai - recommend getting new vehicle p0014 b camshaft position timing over advanced, p0024 b camshaft position timing over advanced." On the afternoon of March 7, 2023 I called my dealer and told the warranty person what my mechanic said. He said to make an appointment. The very earliest appointmet they gave me was Thursday, March 23, 2023. Every time I start my engine, I get a code on my display that says sending diagnostics failed. I'm starting to hear the clinking from the engine again.

- Munster, IN, USA

problem #192

Feb 132023

Santa Fe

  • miles
The oil needs to be changed monthly due to an engine issue. Recently the car went into engine failure despite regular maintenance. The engine's constant need for monthly oil changes due to a bad engine causes the car to go into "limp mode". This feature causes to car to immediately decrease speed endangering the people in the car and those around them as it is an uncontrolled decrease. The issue has been confirmed and inspected by a dealership, a third party chain maintenance company, and an auto repair company. The check engine light comes on everytime the car needs an oil change which is more frequently than the manual recommends. The check engine light comes on monthly as does limp mode however prior to the engine failure another dealership was not able to properly diagnose the issue as an engine issue. A recall has been issued for issues related to the engine previously and other makes of the same year have been recalled due to engine issues. This model was the only model not recalled despite similar issues.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #191

Mar 092023

Santa Fe

  • miles
While driving 65mph on the highway the Hyundai Santa Fe check engine light began flashing, and the car was immediately pulled over to the side of the road. A knocking noise was observed coming from the engine. A tow truck was called, but I had to wait approximately 40 minutes on the side of the highway, in the winter, for the tow truck. The car was then towed to a local mechanic, the mechanic inspected the vehicle and reported the code was P1326. The VIN number was checked for any recalls by the Hyundai customer service team, and there are no recalls for this Hyundai. Although, when looking at https://www.hyundaiengineinfo.com/faq/ the symptoms are identical to other vehicles that were included in the recall. The car is available for inspection upon request.

- Sterling, CO, USA

problem #190

Jan 072023

Santa Fe

  • miles
The engine seized while driving 55MPH. Vehicle suffered complete loss of power. There was no advanced warning and no warning lights displayed. Had to pull over to safety and have the vehicle towed to the dealership. The vehicle is inoperable. Dealer offering a $23K replacement of engine which is astronomical.

- Pittsboro, NC, USA

problem #189

Feb 102023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine failed, left us on the road. This engine is under class action lawsuit and recall. Took the car to the Hyundai dealer, they said it failed due to sludge that it wasn't serviced regularly, I produced proof of regular service then the claim was denied due to the lack of a knock sensor recall being performed. I never got a letter regarding the knock sensor recall and the previous owner had moved 3 times during the time they owned the car and had no recollection of getting a notice. So a knock sensor recognizes a knock but it locked up on the side of the road, knock sensor or not the motor would have been junk even if the knock sensor had detected the issue. Regardless the engine would have to be replaced. Also this engine is under recall for being a junk engine to begin with so why is Hyundai denying a claim on an engine that they clearly knew they had an issue with. I thought the point of a recall on an engine was to protect the consumer of future issues with the recalled component so why can they get out of doing what is required by law" Also if they can deny responsibility for a recalled item what is the point of having a recall"

- Algona, IA, USA

problem #188

Feb 062023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine seized. The car just stopped running. No power steering or brakes. Luckily I was o. A residential street driving slow. Otherwise very much a risk of crashing. There were no warning lights. My mechanic said the engine seized and there is a recall. Hyundai should not wait for the engine to stop. Everyone's safety is at risk.

- Santa Clarita, CA, USA

problem #187

Jan 222023

Santa Fe

  • miles
I was driving down the street when the engine suddenly seized up. My wiring caught fire and my starter blew apart. No warning at all

- Brownville, ME, USA

problem #186

Jan 022023

Santa Fe

  • miles
I was driving my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS (Lambda II, V6 3.3L, 104k miles) late at night with my wife, daughter (age 2), and son (age 6 months). No notification lights alerted me to any problems. We missed our turn on the highway and had to drive through a neighborhood with a high crime volume. We stopped at a red light and the engine seized. When the light changed, I tried to start the car, but the engine wouldn't budge. We were stranded in the dark in a dangerous area. I said to my wife, "This is one of the worst places and times for a car to go kaput." Two good samaritans with car knowledge stopped to help. First, they tried charging the battery. No luck. Then they checked the oil. To our surprise, the oil tank was nearly empty (again, no notification lights alerted me, and we never saw leakage). We tried filling it with oil, hoping it might solve the engine seizure. No luck. I had it towed to my family's mechanic. Once he checked it, he immediately realized it needed replacement (once it turned on, it was making knocking sounds). He said a new engine would cost $10k-€"more than half of the car's value at the time of purchase. I called Hyundai corporate, and they said to bring it to my local dealer to get examined. They checked it and chose not to repair, giving a pretty nondescript reason for denial. They wouldn't give many details; they just said the motor suffered a mechanical failure, showed sludge, and needed to be replaced. They quoted me $9k for a USED engine. Later I learned that countless others have experienced the same problems with this vehicle. I'm preparing paperwork to seek help from higher-level Hyundai mechanics. I will update NHTSA if their response is helpful or not. I believe Hyundai and Kia are in deep water with many GDI engines from the last decade. Countless others have reported similar engine failures; a whole Facebook group documents it (FB search "Engine Failure- Kia/Hyundai"). Here's praying NHTSA swoops in and enforces a recall.

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #185

Jul 012021

Santa Fe

  • miles
The dealer has confirmed that my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe has an oil consumption issue. This results in the car randomly losing power from the accelerator while driving. You can push the accelerator all the way down to the floor and there is no power in the engine. The car then slows down drastically which results in potential car crashes from behind since there is no warning to the driver or to drivers of other cars. My car started having this issue in July 2021 when it had about 129,000 miles on it. It took Hyundai until late 2022 to determine the issue and deny responsibility for it. The attached documents do not include the multiple times that I had to bring the car in every 1000 miles to check the oil (they didn't document that). They said it would cost me $21,575 to fix the engine which is almost as much as a new car would cost! I have seen many complaints online about this same issue happening with other car owners and I feel that Hyundai should be held responsible for correcting this known safety issue. I was planning to drive this car until 200,000 miles which would be at least another 3-4 years before I had to replace it. At this point I am having to add a quart of oil every 500 miles and hope that the engine doesn't seize up and cause an accident.

- Rockingham, VA, USA

problem #184

Oct 072022

Santa Fe

  • miles
I purchased this 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3L V6 with what I think must be the Lambda II engine in 2020 from a Honda Dealership in Louisville Kentucky. Upon purchase, I was not made aware of any recalls, Manufacturer Communications, Investigations, or class action law suits with this model. On May 27, 2021 I took the car in for an oil change and again was not made aware of the above issues. Not enjoying my service experience at that dealership, I took my car in to a Hyundai dealership for an oil change on June 15, 2022 it was reported the engine only had 1 quart of oil. Upon leaving, once again, I was not informed of the above issues with Hyundai, specifically the engine and engine cooling in various models and engines. On October 3, 2022 I took my car into a Good Year for an oil change and was told the car had zero oil. Ironically, Good Year is who told me about the class action law suit regarding the engine and oil issues. They told me to keep checking the oil and adding oil as needed to avoid a problem. 4 days later on October 7, 2022 I was driving on a highway when all of a sudden and without warning my engine blew, my accelerator deactivated and white smoke billowed from under my hood and I could not see. Thankfully I was able to quickly pull over to the side of the highway. I feared the engine was on fire but the smoke eventually cleared. I took pictures underneath the engine (attached) and of the large pool of oil that spilled from the car (attached). The car was towed to the nearest Hyundai dealership where they told me the car experienced a catastrophic engine failure and I would need a new engine. I do not have warranty and it appears my model and year are not included in any of the recalls or investigations. However, my car did experience the exact failure and I want my year, model and engine to be included in the investigation, recalls and remediation. I would appreciate a response with advice for next steps. Thank you!

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #183

Oct 202022

Santa Fe

  • miles
On October 20, 2022 my husband was driving the vehicle traveling around 40mph. He said he noticed that the engine light went on and then it sounded different and the vehicle struggled to accelerate. He quickly pulled into the first parking lot that was available and he parked, turned off the car and went to get out and within seconds, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. Had he waited and kept driving, he probably wouldn't be here today. Thank goodness my baby wasn't in the car. I can't imagine ripping a child out of her carseat while the car is on fire!

- Mokena, IL, USA

problem #182

Aug 012022

Santa Fe

  • 101,128 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while his father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized and then lost motive power. Additionally, the vehicle made rattling sounds while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer declined the engine replacement due to a lack of oil change records. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,128.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #181

Jun 282022

Santa Fe

  • 142,800 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic stated that the sway bar needed to be replaced. While the sway bar was being replaced, the mechanic checked for the clicking sound the contact heard coming from the vehicle and stated that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 142,800.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #180

Oct 172022

Santa Fe

  • miles
The engine began making a strange noise last week. We brought it to the dealer and they reported we had internal engine failure. We took it to another service center for a second opinion and the diagnosis was confirmed. We have been told we need a new engine or an engine rebuild. The vehicle has 110K miles and received routine maintenance since we purchased it in 2014. The vehicle did not produce a check engine light or any other visible signs of engine failure. The only symptom is the engine noise. The vehicle is not safe since it is on the verge of failure at any moment. Hyundai has not offered to help pay for engine repair services. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

- North Plainfield, NJ, USA

problem #179

Aug 292022

Santa Fe

  • miles
My air bags don-€™t work and the brake system fails. Motor went out recalled and dealership not working on

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #178

Aug 132022

Santa Fe

  • 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while the vehicle was at standstill to make a left turn, the brake pedal was rigid and the steering wheel seized. The contact stated the Unlock Your Steering Wheel message was illuminated. The contact stated she started to smell and saw smoke exiting from the hood. The contact was able to exit the vehicle safely and shortly after the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact stated a police officer came to the location of the incident but was not aware if a police report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle first to towing lot and then to a repair facility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

- Broadlands, VA, USA

problem #177

Aug 192022

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine failure. No warning lights prior. Car went into limp mode on interstate. Recall 953 was performed on car in 2019. Was never notified prior to purchase of this issue and purchased a $1700 extended warranty that the dealership knew I didn't need because car covered under lifetime warranty. Complete nightmare. Dealership has no loaner car to provide me and says up to 3 weeks to finish diagnosis.

- Canton, GA, USA

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