10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,494 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Jun 022019

Santa Fe

  • 50,000 miles
While driving westbound on I-80 on Sunday, June 2, 2019, at 2:33 pm the front portion of the panoramic sunroof exploded with the sound of a 12 gauge shotgun. The glass went flying and came into the vehicle. No prior damage to the sun roof and the air temperature was 64 degrees. We were traveling at 65 mph.

- Midvale, UT, USA

problem #13

Feb 072018

Santa Fe

  • 30,500 miles
I was pulling onto the highway and coming up to speed, going approximately 50 miles per hour, when I heard a loud noise, like a 'crack' or a 'boom.' It quickly became clear that my glass sunroof had burst and there were glass pieces raining down on the sun screen, which thankfully had been closed. No injuries were sustained.

- Davis, CA, USA

problem #12

Nov 112017

Santa Fe

  • 9,000 miles
The panoramic sun roof exploded while the car was parkerd and engine runningthe tempature was 77 degrees. After some internet follow up it seems this is the #1 problem in Canada and there has been and on going class action lawsuit in the usa for the past 5 years. Both the dealership and huyndai knew of the problem and it was fix under warranty, 1year old with 9000 miles. Had this happened a freeway speed we probally would have been killed along with others. They are replacing the glass roofs with the same glass roofs with no fixes done Hyundai and sister company Kia have know of this problem since before the class action suit started in 2012 and have send bullittens to dealerships but no recalls this is a major saftey issue and needs to be investigated and not just covered up by the car companys. I have aprox 100 photos and can not down load to your site for some reason currently I can try later or maybe if you have a email or something I can do that too, let me know. This happened November 11, 2017 the car was bought in the usa kept in the usa by usa citizens

- Pocatello, ID, USA

problem #11

Sep 302017

Santa Fe

  • 24,000 miles
It tries to stall or hesitate when making turns I live in Chicago and drive in traffic when turning into traffic it seems to hesitate for 2 or 3 sec before acceleration II am afraid to drive this vehicle in traffic from fear when making a turn I will. Cause a car accident

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

Aug 282017

Santa Fe

  • 8,000 miles
On May 31st I purchase a new Santa Fe sport AWD 2017 - 21 days after drving the card the dashboard light where coming on for tracking control and downward shifting - when I originally called the dealership I was told maybe I went through a large puddle if they come on again call them back - within three hours of hanging up the phone the same problem started again - I called the dealership - and brought the car in they kept the car for a month stating a master technician from Hyundai was looking into it, but they see where there was an issue with the shift. But they were not able to tell me the issue but it seemed to be cured for. While I was driving last week on the highway I hear a thumping sound, I thought I had a flat tire - pulled over no flat - I proceeded to drive and the sound came back - I immediately turned around and brought it back to a local mechanic shop - the mechanic shop informed me that the right front axle and shaft joint was broken and the car was unsafe to drive - I had the car towed to the local dealership who confirmed the same issue and replaced the parts required - they informed me that it was very possible that was the reason why the dashboard lights are coming on originally - the card is branch new and did not even make three months of ownership - I contacted Hyundai originally and made a complaint for the dashboard, lights but never received a reply - I sent an additional email in regards to the new issue and informed them that they should check to see if perhaps this make and model of the card is are experiencing a manufacturing defect ----- I also informed them that I could have died if this axle failed while driving on the highway. - I think there need to an investigation into the matter before someone does end up dying

- Fishkill, NY, USA

problem #9

Mar 252017

Santa Fe

  • miles
When the car start at the traffic lights and slowly accelerates while driving, there is a sound in the car. I head a sound from the engine or muffler.

- Leander, TX, USA

problem #8

Aug 162017

Santa Fe

  • miles
My brand new 2017 Santa Fe limited hesitates badly when coming out of turns at a slow speed and attempting to accelerate...just short of coming to a stop. It also occurs when vehicle is at a stop then I step on the accelerator. It is a safety issue as the vehicle lags when attempting to enter traffic or the vehicle could be hit from behind when attempting to accelerate and it momentarily does not respond. This occurs each time I drive it.

- San Marcos, CA, USA

problem #7

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 #6

Mar 272017

Santa Fe

  • 1,000 miles
Apple carplay completely disables all of the vehicle's native audio warnings and alerts when it is in use. In other words, if one is listening to music, using siri, or making a phone call through carplay, none of the car's built-in safety features work as designed; the audio is silenced and carplay completely takes over the audio system. This would include blind spot monitoring, lane departure monitoring, forward collision avoidance, cross-traffic alert, etc.. this only happens with carplay in use; if Hyundai's native software is controlling the system and the phone is only connected through bluetooth, the systems function normally. Hyundai makes no reference to this in their manuals and seems to be unaware of the problem. Apple does not provide any product support for carplay whatsoever. This is a case of a nonessential entertainment system interfering with safety systems. Hyundai and apple should be made to correct this, or at least make consumers aware of it.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #5

Sep 062016

Santa Fe

  • miles
I have a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe ultimate and like the other complaints, the car has hesitation when trying to accelerate especially after a stop, bump in road, slowing down, etc. The dealership has had the car several times trying different things such as try a different mode, reset transmission computer, etc. I've called Hyundai customer service and filed a compliant open but I don't want the car anymore it hesitates too long/too many times and scares the crap out of me. It's dangerous and needs a recalled.

- Monongahela, PA, USA

problem #4

Dec 022016

Santa Fe

  • 1,500 miles
My vehicle was in park on a flat surface. I reached in and turned the engine off the car began rolling backwards. I was dragged backwards down the driveway. The car stopped when it hit the neighbors curb.I got in the car was off and in park.I then drove car into garage and placed in park. I didi sustain a sever ankle sprain and was treated at a hospital.the car had 1900 miles on it and was a new car lease. The dealer inspected the car on Monday December 5 and found nothing. I contacted the national customer service center. They sent a third party to inspect car and on February 3,2017. I recieved an email. It stated that the transmission, gear shifter and brakes are normal it noted that in this car the driver always must place the emergency brake on every time it is placed in park. The salesman did not convey this, nor II is listed on the information checklist to review before customer takes car. Also when I test drove this vehicle it did not have the emergency brake on. Also. When test driving the car I commented that the brakes seemed strange. The salesman told me to stop and we returned to dealer.he informed me that raccoons on the property were eating through brake lines on several cars. I was told they would be repaired before I took possession four days later. I am scared to drive this car. I asked to be let out of the lease but that was denied.

- North Ridgeville, OH, USA

problem #3

Jan 232017

Santa Fe

  • 1,500 miles
While travelling home from work experienced an awful shotgun sound from the vehicle's sunroof, immediately pulled over and discover that the panoramic sunroof had exploded.

- Murrells Inlet, SC, USA

problem #2

Jul 162016

Santa Fe

  • 1,700 miles
Vehicle hesitates when entering flow of traffic from a stop or a turn.

- Ripon, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 022016

Santa Fe

  • 675 miles
I bought the vehicle on 5/7/16. On 6/2/16 I was driving on highway 395 when I noticed smoke coming out of the engine compartment. The car started losing power and eventually died. When I got it pulled over to the side of the road I noticed flames coming out from the front of the engine. I grabbed what I could and got out of the car. Within 5 min the front of the car was engulfed in flames. I had approximately 675 miles on it. I have contacted Hyundai but they have not responded to me. I ordered a copy of the police report but have not received it yet. I have pictures that I have attached. I am concerned about this happening to other people. Thankfully I didn't have grandkids in the car, I'm not sure I would have been able to get them out.

- Reno, NV, USA