10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 19
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,927 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

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

problem #176

Aug 192022

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine failure after 953 recall update. Engine stopped accelerating on highway.

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #175

Aug 152021

Santa Fe

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the passenger cabin would fill up with the odor of gasoline. The contact stated an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure occurred again, with the passenger cabin filling with the odor of gasoline. The vehicle was towed to another dealer who diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure re-occurred and returned the vehicle to the same dealer. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact felt that the fuel line had been damaged due to the first engine replacement repair. The contact researched online and related the fuel line failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V934000 (Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #174

Aug 092022

Santa Fe

  • miles
I have a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe sport that burns an exsessive amounts of oil. I do alot of driving maybe around 36 miles a day. Every two weeks another oil change is needed. Bought this vechle in 2017 with only 20,000 miles on it the everytime I goes to jiffy lube it shows that the engine was supposed to be replaced. There has been multiple problems with this vechile since day one of having it. I never gotten a notice about this information. Hyundai has been called numerous of times concerning this matter. The engine was never replaced oil still burning really fast. Its causing a lot of time and money. I dont think any of the problems were taken care of.

- Wheaton , IL, USA

problem #173

Nov 302021

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine started to make a knocking noise right at 100k miles. We bought the car used with 78k miles on it and kept up with oil changes and tires. Once we noticed the noise we changed the oil again just to make sure everything was lubricated correctly. There were a lot of metal shavings in the oil and the noise just kept getting louder and louder so we stopped driving it and it has been sitting for about 9 months now and everyone we talk to says that the engine has blown. After looking into it, Hyundai has had many vehicles with this exact issue. This model and year needs to be covered under the engine recall that is for the Santa Fe sports and Sonatas.

- Perryville, MO, USA

problem #172

Nov 172021

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine blew out while driving through an intersection. Car turned off and could not use the break. Ended up coasting through the intersection. Oil change was performed at Hyundai and no information was given about potential engine failure. No issues with car previously and the check engine light did not turn on. Car still turns on and runs, but now the engine makes a loud noise. No check engine light still.

- Wildomar, CA, USA

problem #171

Dec 202021

Santa Fe

  • miles
While driving on the highway, the car started stalling, then a check engine light turned on. When going up hill, and when at a stop sign or stop light, the vehicle fully shut down. On the side of the road, I checked the spark plugs - one was fouled. I replaced the spark plug and the ignition coil but that did not solve the issue. Prior to this, there was excessive oil consumption. I used a quart every 6oo miles. I had the vehicle towed to Healey Hyundai in Beacon, NY where they determined there was no compression in a cylinder and that it was not covered by any existing recall or warranty. I had the issue confirmed by a mechanic shop in Poughkeepsie, NY as well, same conclusion, no compression in a cylinder.

- Congerville, IL, USA

problem #170

Jun 202022

Santa Fe

  • miles
My 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport broke down while driving home on 5/30/2022. No active warning lights at time of incident. Vehicle slowed down while driving on interstate and lost the ability to accelerate. A noise was made (may have been considered knocking). Once parked on the side of the highway, nothing happened when START/STOP button was pressed except random lights across dash (NO WARNING LIGHTS). Vehicle did not appear to be ON. Vehicle had to be towed to local Hyundai dealership. Dealership replaced the starter, performed an engine diagnostics, then parked vehicle on lot. The vehicle caught fire on 6/20/2022 after service tech exited it; considered a total loss. The vehicle was inspected by Hyundai Dealership representative, owner's insurance company, and vendor for Hyundai Motor America. HMA ruled incident as No Root Cause for engine seizing: no fault of workmanship nor manufacturer. In addition, in January 2022, this vehicle went into LIMS mode, no active warning lights were observed, and the same dealership replaced Knock Sensor. The vehicle passed engine diagnostics test.

- Mcleansville, NC, USA

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