10.0

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

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problem #74

May 012023

Santa Fe

  • miles
This car has oil consumption issues due to a manufacturer defect, design of the engine 2.4L. This has been on going for the last three years and is getting worse. Now is affecting the catalytic converter because of it burning so much oil. The Hyundai dealership will do nothing for me. Now they want $4,500 for a new catalytic converter. I can-??t afford a new car and this should be an expense of Hyundai. In my research I have found there are thousands of cars on the road with this issue. They knew about this years ago and just kept making the cars and selling them. They should be helping me and all they are doing is denying that this has a problem. What recourse do I have. Why hasn-??t there been a recall?

- Brighton, CO, USA

problem #73

Jun 022025

Santa Fe

  • miles
back up camera operates very erratically. some times it works properly, some of the time it is very slow to engage. other times it comes on after i have completed my rearward movement, and some times it comes on after shifting into drive. then there are times t never comes on. i spoke to a dealer tech and was told there are a lot of them like that. if i wanted to spend about $900, they might be able to fix it. this has been going on for a couple of years.

- Wisc Rapids, WI, USA

problem #72

Sep 252024

Santa Fe

  • miles
2017 Santa Fe, car had fire in 09/2024 and was with dealership until 05/2025. BSD, ABS, TRACTION, and Parking Brake lights on the dash when vehicle was picked up. Dealership not complaint to pay as the assume it is an Outside issue

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #71

Jun 182025

Santa Fe

  • miles
All of a sudden my liftgate in the back will not stay up. The pistons for the liftgate are no longer working on either side, so kind of strange as they don't usually go like that Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Hanson, MA, USA

problem #70

Jun 052025

Santa Fe

  • miles
From the day we purchased this used vehicle, the check engine light came on. We had to have the catalytic converter replaced next. Now we-??re having oil leak issues. Multiple oil leaks have been repaired, and I-??ve most recently paid over $700 to have this issue resolved. A week after the Hyundai dealership repaired it, the vehicle is leaking oil again. We have to add oil about every 5-7 days. Today we were told that my [XXX] daughter needs to drive it until the engine goes out, and not to add any oil. This is not only unacceptable, it-??s also unsafe! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Brunswick , GA, USA

problem #69

May 242025

Santa Fe

  • miles
The engine had no oil. No indication was given by the dashboard lights. I heard a ticking noise soon after I started my car. My husband checked the oil; it was bone dry. I still had 200 more miles before my next oil change. Needless to say, the engine would have blown up if I hadn-??t payed attention to the noise coming from the vehicle. In fact, this happened about a year ago, I just thought it was a fluke. Since this is the second incident, this is not a fluke and something needs to be done. We can-??t afford to have a vehicle blow up on us. There was no sign of leaking on the driveway.

- Bement, IL, USA

problem #68

Apr 292025

Santa Fe

  • miles
On April 28, 2025 my car cut off in the middle of traffic. I turned the car completely off. I was able to turn it back on and move it out of traffic. I called my mechanic and he looked at it, He checked the oil and there was oil I'm it. He drove it around a parking lot and heard a rattling noise, He tried to get it to his shop, the rattling got louder and louder, He was scared the engine would lock up, We parked it and had to have it towed to my residence. In the last 6-8 months I had to put oil in my car EVERY week. I have taken to mi mechanic several times checking for leaks. I have been to the dealer checking to see if they there has been any recalls. Due to this situation I have NO transportation. I am already financially struggling and now I have to figure out what to do I have already paid out of pocket for the ABS to be replaced as well. My sun roof I cannot open due to the rollers r stop working. This has worst experience I have has with a brand new car, I previously owned a Hyundai and had a wonderful experience.

- Dudley, NC, USA

problem #67

Apr 032025

Santa Fe

  • miles
The engine in my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN [XXX] ) began knocking, losing power, and showing signs of imminent failure. These symptoms directly match those identified in Recall #168 (NHTSA Campaign 17V578000), which involves engine bearing wear due to crankshaft irregularities in Hyundai 3.3L GDI engines. However, my VIN is not currently included in the recall batch. Hyundai has denied engine replacement under warranty or goodwill, citing a gap in oil change records between 5,000 and 45,000 miles -?" mileage which occurred before I purchased the vehicle used at ~60,000 miles. I have since performed multiple oil changes, though not always on a tight schedule. The vehicle is now at ~89,000 miles and located at Murdock Hyundai of Logan, UT, where technicians confirmed the engine is failing. This defect poses a serious safety concern due to the risk of sudden power loss while driving. The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by Hyundai service technicians, but they declined coverage and repair despite the failure matching a known federal recall issue. There were no warning lamps initially; the knocking and loss of power began subtly, then worsened rapidly. The vehicle is available for inspection, and all failure symptoms are consistent with others affected by Recall #168. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this VIN for potential inclusion in the recall and take action to expand the recall scope, as this appears to be the same dangerous engine defect already recognized under federal recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Logan, UT, USA

problem #66

Jun 132023

Santa Fe

  • miles
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.

- Hamden, CT, USA

problem #65

Apr 032024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Backup camera and it is available for inspection. I had the car in the dealership for 2 recalls July 3. When I picked up the car backup camera was blank. Dealership states it was a coincidence and nothing they did. Immediately took the car back for repair. I was told they don't know what's wrong., they checked the wiring all good, replaced the camera and it still didn't work. I've been in contact for weeks with Hyundia they don't have any answers yet.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #64

Nov 242024

Santa Fe

  • miles
The engine seized due to an issue with the oil plug and another part, leading to a lack of oil in the system. The vehicle is currently with Hyundai and available for inspection upon request. How Safety Was Put at Risk: While driving on the highway, I suddenly lost acceleration (below 40mphs). I was forced to pull over to the left side of the highway where it was shallow, where I risked being hit by passing vehicles until there was a safe break in traffic, allowing me to maneuver to an exit. This created a hazardous situation for both myself and other drivers. Reproduction or Confirmation of the Problem: The issue has been confirmed by an independent automotive technician, who diagnosed the problem as a blown engine caused by a lack of oil. The vehicle is now with Hyundai for further inspection. Inspection by Others: The vehicle has been inspected by an independent service center and is currently being inspected by Hyundai. No other parties, such as the police or insurance representatives, have been involved. Warning Lamps or Messages Prior to Failure: The only warning sign prior to the incident was the check engine light blinking at the time of the failure. There were no other warning lamps, messages, or symptoms before the engine seized. The vehicle was within the oil range limit of 7,500 miles at the time of the incident. Additional Notes: The incident occurred suddenly, without prior warning or indication of an issue. Based on the diagnosis and known issues with the oil plug, I believe this failure was caused by a defect.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #63

Nov 102024

Santa Fe

  • miles
While driving down the road at around 50 mph with no one in front of us, we heard a loud bang above us, and our Panoramic Sunroof exploded. I continued driving to reach a safe area to pull off and look at the damage, and saw glass flying away behind me into oncoming traffic. When surveying the vehicle, there was a large whole in the middle of the panoramic sunroof. It seems to have simply exploded, as there were no cars in front of us and nothing could have hit the vehicle at the time. We were able to pull off safely and cover the hole with cardboard and duct tape to get home safely. However this is a huge safety risk. Had we been on the interstate, we would have had to drive for miles with a blown out sunroof creating unsafe conditions for ourselves and other drivers. Hyundai (so far) will not warranty this as part of their extended warranty even though there are numerous class action lawsuits against them for this part being defective. I believe that Hyundai should be held responsible for exploding panoramic sunroofs. This is not the first incident they have had as it seems to be a regular occurrence.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #62

Oct 112024

Santa Fe

  • miles
While driving a 1/2 second squeal came from engine compartment. Motor immediately stopped. No power steering or brakes. Vehicle is available for inspection. We were on an interstate We coasted to shoulder. There issue is frequent on Internet forums. A trusted mechanic old us the engine was totally seized. Could be turned manually. No oil in crankcase. At this time only aforementioned mechanic has inspected the vehicle. No warning sounds or performance changes prior to incident. No warning lights or notice warnings were seen prior coincident.

- Mill Creek, WA, USA

problem #61

Aug 172024

Santa Fe

  • miles
Current mileage is 80,000. For the last 30,000 miles the engine oil burns or leaks within a month of it being changed. When I return to the shop to get yet another oil change. They investigate for leaks and find nothing. They end up topping it off vs charging me. As I barely put a hundred miles on the vehicle since the last change. Even when I barely drive between oil changes, I end up checking the stick frequently to ensure it-??s not leaking or burning oil until the next change. Yet it always does. It also randomly acts like it doesn-??t want to start. Doesn-??t matter if it-??s cold, hot or normal kind of day. Take it to dealer or auto repair shop for a diagnostic check and nothing is found. They check the starter, circuits, battery, and alternator. Nothing. This happens multiple times a yr. I-??ve never owned a vehicle that does this before. Even my old 200+ mile vehicle never did this. This Hyundai is only 7 yrs old and under 85,000 miles. It-??s baffling.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

problem #60

Feb 072024

Santa Fe

  • miles
While getting up to speed on the freeway the full sunroof exploded. IT sounde like a bomb was going off and the entire sunrrof broke.

- Tucson , AZ, USA

problem #59

Jun 032022

Santa Fe

  • miles
Purchased Vehicle 6/2022 has had an electrical problem since day one randomly does not start and must be jumped. I have taken in 2 times only to be told there is nothing wrong. I called Hyundai Corporate to see what steps I should take to resolve issues was told to take car in a third time and again told nothing wrong. A new battery was placed two months after my purchase date. And again this past February and issues still exist. Was given two option should problem not be resolved 1) Buy back vehicle 2) replace with different vehicle. Both options have been withdrawn. Explanation car has been on the road to long. I put $13500 down and have made payments for 2 years. There is still $12000 on the loan. Is there anything I can do to recoup at least my down-payment. I am a senior on social security and a part time job in which i am a caregiver and do not feel safe driving this vehicle. I and do not have a down payment to trade the car in. I do not want the vehicle there are other issues starting and with a parasitic draw there are bound to be additional issues down the road. Can you help please. Expected ResolutionHyundai take car back and return my down payment so I can purchase a reliable vehicle o Additionally just recently discovered vehicle was in 2 accidents which this information was never disclosed. I would not have purchased had I known.

- Lake Havasu , AZ, USA

problem #58

Oct 262023

Santa Fe

  • miles
I was driving down the highway when my vehicle shut off. After pulling off on the highway and opening the hood, there was a notice that the engine had overheated. Upon inspection, there was no oil nor any coolant left in the engine. I have records to demonstrate regular maintenance, and oil changes every 5000 miles

- Midway, GA, USA

problem #57

Dec 302023

Santa Fe

  • miles
We noticed that we had our airbag light was on in our dashboard along with that we also notice that the buttons and horn did not work in to the steering wheel. When we took the car to get checked by the Hyundai dealership in Lakewood. We were told that the clock spring was the cause of this problem to the airbag, horn, and the buttons not working. They told us that this clock spring part it was broken and it needed to be replaced. Our concern is the number one safety which making sure that all of the airbag and horn to be working. When this was communicated to the dealership person he response was that he could not say anything much about other then him saying that it was not under warranty and it was due to the mile of the car. Which I the moment we told them we totally understand about warranty and miles to the car but the safety of someone should not be put at risk just because of one part that connects all of this things. To us this is safety concern due to the airbag and horn not working. We are not sure by us reporting this would be something can be considered for a recall or be done about without costing any money to those who own a vehicle like this.

- Centralia , WA, USA

problem #56

Dec 152022

Santa Fe

  • miles
My Ex and I purchased a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Ultimate 3.3L engine. We always took the vehicle to the dealership for any and all services. We paid off our loan on the vehicle mid 2022. In December of 2022, the vehicle died. No warning lights or signs of damage. Beginning of 2023 I had the vehicle towed to the dealership. I was told that the engine needed replaced. After researching, I discovered 420 of the same vehicle had been under RECALL campaign 168. I believe wholeheartedly that my VIN was missed during this recall, as the engine in my vehicle died for the exact same reason as the other 420 vehicles. This is a recall! I-??ve been in contact with Hyundai and told that because the vehicle is no longer under -??warranty-??, it will not be covered. However, Federal Law says that any vehicle with a recall is covered for 15 years after the first purchase of the vehicle. I did approve repairs because when you pay off a vehicle, you hope that the corporate office of Hyundai will honor the contract of following through with recalls. I-??m in the process of getting disability. Im having surgery on my Back Nov. 2nd. I-??ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder this year and have many follow up appts and physical therapy that I have not been able to make the appts due to not having a vehicle. In April, my ex was going through some mental health issues and kicked me out. I-??ve been staying at a family members Airbnb but it-??s 1 hour away from all of my doctors. I feel that Hyundai is not honoring the Recall because they missed my VIN during their initial inspections of the defective parts. Many other complaints of Engine issues have been posted on the NTSB website along with my own. A Hyundai rep that I spoke to today suggested I contact the BBB in hopes there is something you could help me with. I feel this is a huge disruption in my life as I should be focusing on my health, however I have no means of transportation, even after paying off the car. Vin [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

- South Weber, UT, USA

problem #55

Nov 012023

Santa Fe

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle 05/05/2019 as a certified pre-owned vehicle from the dealership. I have kept regular maintenance on the car. Three same day of purchase, the engine quit as I was driving it. I was making a left hand turn and it quit while I was in the intersection. My children were in the car. Hyundai replaced the engine, but about a year and half later, that engine did the exact same thing. This time I was coming off the freeway. I can't imagine the possibilities if this had happened while on the freeway. Now, the engine is making the same sound as with the first two engines. I took it to Hyundai, and they claim it's normal. The car has issues where I will be trying to safely merge into traffic and it will hesitate. There are multiple intermittent issues that occur, but the scariest is knowing how the first two engines felt/ran and sounded prior to their failure, and once again experiencing those exact issues. How many times should an engine have to be replaced in a four year period? It is very likely that one of my children could be fatally injured depending on where we happen to be when this most recent engine fails, because it will - guaranteed. Online forums are full of thousands of people who purchased vehicles from Hyundai that have the EXACT same issue. No check engine warning. Just a rough sounding engine, and then it will just quit as they're driving. Something needs to be done. Lastly, June 18th, 2023 I had a collision with another vehicle. I collided with another vehicle, my front end to the other drivers driver's side. My air bags did not deploy. Nobody was injured, but I truly feel my airbags should have went off for the amount of damage to my front end. Pictures will be included.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

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