2023 Santa Fe Hybrid - 2 Critical Life Threatening Highway Failures, Hyundai Refusing Repair or Reimbursement, SAME AS Numerous Other Postings on Hyundai Hybrids

DO NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE - HYUNDAI LACKS CORPORATE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN LIGHT OF A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE

This posting on DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE HYUNDAI HYBRID SYSTEMS is consistent with NUMEROUS OTHER POSTINGS, I experienced two serious potentially life-threatening hybrid system failures on 55mpg highways in my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (15,200 miles) - May 11 and May 19, 2025. There was 1) sudden unexpected bucking 2) loss of acceleration, and 3) rapid and dangerous deceleration with an inability to control the vehicle speed. Both times, I was forced to veer into the shoulder to avoid a multi-car collision. On Mother’s Day (May 11) at night, I was especially frightened when the vehicle lost all power. I had no hazard lights to alert other drivers to my presence, requiring me to immediately call 911 for police assistance. I was incredibly scared both times.

Despite these safety-critical incidents, two Hyundai dealerships, in coordination with Hyundai Corporate, completely dismissed the issue saying that their diagnostics were not adequate enough to find the cause. They insisted that I take this unsafe vehicle back (back on the highway) with NO consideration for my life or the life of others on the road.

Although I escalated the issue to the President and CEO of Hyundai North America and his staff, they have ignored the issue and the risk. They demonstrated recklessness, irresponsibility, unseriousness, and even pettiness as they sought to have me pay for their “un-diagnosis.” It was appalling that, after two potentially catastrophic mechanical failures of their hybrid system, they insisted (after no repairs, no diagnosis) that I drive this verifiably unsafe vehicle on the road, endangering public safety.

I informed Hyundai on numerous occasions that I would not drive that vehicle again unless repaired. They have ignored my reasonable request for reimbursement of my purchase price less a usage fee.

BBB Auto Line has accepted my complaint. I have also filed complaints with the National Highway Transportation Association, and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL, GET THEIR DANGEROUS HYBRID SYSTEM VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THE SYSTEMS TO PREVENT DRIVERS FROM BEING IN SIMILAR FRIGHTENING SITUATIONS (OR WORSE). IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT HYUNDAI ACT RESPONSIBLY AND FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.