10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,494 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #19

Mar 052019

Santa Fe

  • 46,921 miles
Carbon monoxide inside the cabin when traveling on the freeway about 70 miles an hour

- Laguna Niguel, CA, USA

problem #18

Mar 042019

Santa Fe

  • 1,200 miles
Navigation screen does not turn off after the ignition is turned causing the battery to drain and car will not start

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #17

Nov 192018

Santa Fe

  • 41,015 miles
When accelerating from a dead stop or nearly a dead stop the car does not accelerate smoothly. There seems to be a pause and then it accelerates quickly, this caused a family member to hit a car in a parking lot.

- Taylorville, IL, USA

problem #16

Sep 192018

Santa Fe

  • 6,766 miles
My 2017 Santa Fe sport with the 2.0 turbo engine, hesitates all the time while attempting to accelerate or make a turn for aprox. 1-2 seconds, thus it makes for a hazardous situation, especially when you're turning in front of on coming traffic.

- Bensenville, IL, USA

problem #15

Aug 282018

Santa Fe

  • 10,000 miles
When turning left or right from a stop or low speed (<10 mph) on a paved city street, intermittently the vehicle will not respond to my gas pedal. I can have the pedal all the way to the floor and the car will not accelerate. Only after 1.5 to 2.0 seconds will the car react, and when it does, it is violently fast. This causes issues when making left turns because you're going into oncoming traffic with a vehicle that is stalling for almost 2 seconds before the car begins to move forward (violently).

- Plymouth, MN, USA

problem #14

Jul 012017

Santa Fe

  • 4,500 miles
Very unsafe vehicle. Vehicle as intermittent acceleration problems when turning. December 15, 2017 1:57 pm 7/8 full tank engine normal temp outside temp 73 pulling out of publix shopping center, making right turn onto 103rd St. Very mild acceleration to get the vehicle moving made right turn press down on the accelerator nothing. Released accelerator and press down again nothing. Released accelerator a second time and press down finally had throttle response Feb 21, 2018 6:26pm just filled fuel tank and automated carwash at sam's wholesale club. Made a right turn from sam's parking lot onto youngerman drive. Parking lot has slight downward incline to street level, resulting in slight car body twisting. Very mild acceleration to get the vehicle moving made right turn press down on the accelerator nothing. Released accelerator and press down again nothing. Released accelerator a second time and press down finally had throttle response April 10, 2018 4:00 P.M. mileage 18092 outside temperature 60゚ over cast light sprinkle rain making a left turn in front of traffic stepped on the throttle only partial response; release the throttle; stepped on it again, still only partial response; release the throttle a second time stepped on it and finally had full throttle response. April 17, 2018 18545 miles temp 75゚ 3/4 fuel. Pulling out of lowe's parking lot turning right, no acceleration. Released the throttle reapply the throttle to get power. April 26, 2018 5:15 P.M. outside temp 80 degrees, sunny. 19056 miles. Making a left turn and failed to accelerate. Very limited acceleration despite full tank of gas. After about 10 seconds of mashing accelerator to the floor, it finally picked up and took off.

- Jacksonville, Fl, FL, USA

problem #13

Apr 012018

Santa Fe

  • 7,000 miles
Acceleration issues. On at least two separate occasions, acceleration from a stop resulted in the car staying at the same speed. Had to remove my foot from the gas pedal and reapply several times to get it moving. Normally, applying throttle pushes individuals back on their seats. Car was taken to laurel Hyundai and per the techs "unable to replicate customers concern on road test, no codes stored or present in system, no tab's for concern found". looking at getting rid of this vehicle due to this serious safety issue.

- Somerset, PA, USA

problem #12

Apr 122018

Santa Fe

  • 10,000 miles
Upon moving after complete stop and turning vehicle to right or left, there is hesitation before there is throttle response. It occurs more often if while initially making a turn and any size bump or pothole is encountered. A very dangerous situation as there is no way to make an avoidance maneuver if necessary since there is no immediate throttle response. The same situation occurs when at slow speeds a pothole or bump is encountered during a turn. Again, dangerous, because without a responsive throttle no avoidance maneuver is possible. N.B. I put today's date because the "field is required". it occurs on a daily basis, nonetheless.

- Sandy Hook, CT, USA

problem #11

Mar 312018

Santa Fe

  • 9,000 miles
Rim paint peeling at 9000 miles happening all over country rims need to be recalled I have 5 spoke Y rims 19 ' inch car hesitates from deadstop safety issue all over internet from other car owners

- Park Ridge, NJ, USA

problem #10

Mar 202018

Santa Fe

  • 12,200 miles
At low speed and pulling out to traffic, at tomes there is no power for 3 to 5 seconds, very dangerous when pulling into traffic.

- Jjenison, MI, USA

problem #9

Feb 132018

Santa Fe

  • 12,000 miles
The Santa Fe sport was purchased in July of 2017. When taking off from a redlight or while driving at a steady momentum on the road, the acceleration drops significantly and the rpms begin to rev up high, bouncing up and down, but the Santa Fe sport will stall. While on the highway, the issue continues and panic sents in due to the cars behind us can rear end the Santa Fe sport. No matter how far or hard the gas pedal is pressed the Santa Fe sport will stall. All while no "engine light" turns on. Took the Santa Fe sport for service to the dealer over 6 times between 2017 and 2018 and only an ems part was replaced. The problem continues mostly in very bad traffic, again very concerning for safety. The Santa Fe sport needs to be turned off and back on in order for the problem to cease. No matter what drive mode it is in (eco; sport; normal) the issue persists. We purchased a brand new 2017 Santa Fe sport right off the lot which has been paid for and it is unfair that we are still paying what seems like our lives we continue to spend more with gas, tolls, travel and time from work to take the Santa Fe sport in for service and we do not get refunded for this.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #8

Jan 112018

Santa Fe

  • 5,100 miles
Purchased car in June 2017 and currently have approx. 5100 miles. When going from a standstill stop or a slow rolling start (exiting a driveway) the acceleration is lacking. Car will go high rpms but no speed. And when attempting to merge onto a road way it has become a safety concern as approaching cars from the rear close what was a safe distance to being on top of the bumper in no time since I can not accelerate. 0-40 can take upwards of 30 seconds with pedal depressed full. Car was taken in for service at dealer in December 2017 and was "corrected". now the problem has become worse and car will produce problem more freqently and in any driving condition to include being in traffic. The only way I can somewhat correct the issues (and figured it out during trial and error) is to turn the drive mode to sport and turn off traction control. When car is in eco the problem is much more serve and in normal it frequently happens. I do not feel I should have to adjust or turn off systems in a vehicle to make it safe to drive nor should I have a vehicle I can not drive at safe speeds.

- Middletown, NJ, USA

problem #7

Aug 012017

Santa Fe

  • 16,000 miles
Engine stumbles when accelerator is pressed at low speeds, especially from a stop or turning a corner. I call it throttle lag or stumbling.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #6

Jun 302016

Santa Fe

  • 150 miles
My new Santa Fe 2017 has a problem with the car not reacting to pressing the accelerator. Your press the accelerator and the car does not move and the engine does not rev. The hesitation is about 2 seconds long and is very scary. It happens intermittently and from a stopped position. I'm afraid at some point there will be a terrible accident from this problem. I've heard there is a recall 16-01-032 for the tcu update 60co61R1 but I reached out to dealership and they don't know anything about it. This is very dangerous and I did some research there are a lot of people having this same problem. I noticed this problary a week after purchase.

- Florence, AL, USA

problem #5

Aug 152017

Santa Fe

  • 2,000 miles
Car has serious, dangerous acceleration problems. It's most noticeable when turning left into oncoming traffic. Car appears to lose all power when accelerating - hanging for seconds while nothing happens. Engine hits redline all the time and it barely gains speed. Called dealer and was first told "dual clutch will learn driving style." After noting car has 2K miles was then told "the delay is a characteristic of that car." This is unacceptable and incredibly dangerous. I've almost been T-boned multiple times because of this. Googling led me to many other reports of the same issue. This vehicle needs to be recalled.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #4

May 102017

Santa Fe

  • 9,800 miles
My wife and I have had the same intermittent problem since acquiring our 2017 Santa Fe brand new in the late spring of 2016. When turning from a stop or making a very low speed turn, and then starting to accelerate, the vehicle will stall and hesitate, not moving or "catching" for 1-2 seconds. This has happened to us approximately 6-8 times. And I've nearly been rear-ended on several of those occasions because I was stalled in front of traffic behind me, also trying to make the turn. Once I barely cleared the intersection at a light when turning left, having the Santa Fe stall in the face of oncoming traffic. I was nearly broadsided by swift moving, oncoming traffic. Someone is going to be killed if this problem is not fully addressed as soon as possible. The public needs protection and a remedy. I can't imagine Hyundai is unaware of this problem. I did a quick google search on the topic, and found many, many postings regarding this exact same set of circumstances. There were Hyundai message board complaints, NHTSA complaints, "lemon" law firms whoa are advertising, seeking potential 2017 Santa Fe owning clients, citing this exact set of facts. It's difficult to confirm exact dates, as this has occurred multiple times. The most recent time it happened was in early May 2017, at an intersection less than a mile from our home, making a left turn from a stop, with traffic lined up behind us.

- Chico, CA, USA

problem #3

Mar 232017

Santa Fe

  • 8,000 miles
The "check engine light" indicator turned on, and there was a recognizable failure in engine when srtarting. Took it back to dealerand took nearlya month to find the inconvinience and two weeks to fix it. They call me back to annuonce me it was ready and by the time I was reciving I noticed the air conditionar not functioning at all. Once again one more week to find the missfunctioning and reparing, now the veihicle is consumming to much gasoline (almost half tank in 87 kilometer) the injectors problem plevails. I get the Santa Fe in mxico, ciudad juarez chihuahua at hyndai penta is the name of the Agency, as a brand new vehicle whit 0 kilometers and I pay it in cash I hope you can help me because they dont want to respond. Thank you.

- Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, TX, USA

problem #2

Mar 152017

Santa Fe

  • 17,000 miles
Car hesitates to accelerate from a complete stop, accelerating while coming out of turn, or slowing down and accelerating again. Also seems to be using a lot of gas. Haven't calculated it yet but can see the fuel gauge lower as I'm driving. Car only has 17000 miles.

- Somerset, NJ, USA

problem #1

Oct 152016

Santa Fe

  • 12,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle hesitated before accelerating. The failure occurred without warning. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer recommended that a fuel additive be added to the fuel tank, but that did not help. The failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

- Donna, TX, USA