What happened: While driving in Montana on September 21, 2025, the cabin suddenly filled with gasoline fumes and the accelerator pedal stopped responding. After pulling over, flames erupted from under the hood and the vehicle was completely destroyed within minutes. The passenger-side door could not be opened from the inside at first, delaying escape and creating a serious safety risk. No warning lights or messages appeared before or during the fire. (1) While driving, gasoline suddenly filled the cabin and the accelerator pedal stopped responding. Within seconds, the vehicle caught fire. The cause appears related to the fuel system, and possibly the ABS module. The vehicle was completely destroyed but remains available for inspection in a private tow lot. (2) The fire spread extremely quickly. Both occupants were nearly trapped inside when the passenger-side door would not open from the inside, delaying escape. The vehicle burned on the shoulder of a busy highway in Montana, posing danger to us and to surrounding motorists. (3) Not after this fire, but a similar problem occurred in 2023 when gasoline filled the cabin and caused the engine to stall. At that time, Hyundai replaced the engine under warranty. (4) No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. It is secured in a private tow lot and is available for inspection. (5) No. There were no warnings at all before or during the failure. Even as gasoline filled the cabin and the vehicle caught fire, the check engine light stayed off and no alerts appeared. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Madison, WI, USA

The engine was replaced under a recall related to an engine knock code. About two weeks later, the vehicle lost all power while driving. The dealership confirmed a failure in the high-pressure fuel line and that the turbo had failed at the same time. The same visit revealed oil leaks, and shortly after, the vehicle began emitting white and black smoke. Their technician stated the failures were due to -??consequential damage from engine failure.-?? The problems have continued to return, and I-??ve been told the vehicle is unsafe to drive. Hyundai is now refusing to fully cover the cost of repair, offering only 15% off, despite all of the damage being directly linked to the replacement engine. I transport children in this vehicle. My safety and theirs have been at risk multiple times because of these unresolved and ongoing failures.

- South Charleston, WV, USA

My vehicle started running hot, the coils were replaced, it continued to run hot periodically, then I had to keep putting water in radiator reserve container and made this bubbling noise when I was driving or stopped with the car running. The starter was replaced. My vehicle became difficult to crank and eventually the engine shut down and it wouldn't crank at all.

- Mobile, AL, USA

I was driving down the road about a week after the dealer supposedly fixed two recalls with the engine on my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe sport base. Suddenly, and without any audible warning, my ECM light came on and my vehicle starting lunging and lurching forward like it was about to stall. I pulled over and read the manual, and it noted that it was the ECM sensor and that I should immediately drive the vehicle to the dealership, so I did. Driving there, I was only able to maintain a speed of 60 mph on the interstate, which put me and my 8 -year-old daughter in danger from faster-driving cars, especially since it was a torrential downpour. Any time I stopped or slowed down, the engine would shutter like it was about to stall and then would get better just past 10-20 mph until I approached 60 again, where it would not accelerate again. When I got to the dealership, they immediately knew the problem and ordered a knock sensor harness. However, in reading the variety of lawsuits, issues, and service campaigns, it appears as though Hyundai is knowingly allowing people to continue driving cars they know are defective, thus putting us and our children's lives in jeopardy. These vehicles need to be recalled and have all of the engines and related parts replaced, or they need to buy the vehicles back at original msrp so we can purchase a functional, safer vehicle.

- Burlington, NC, USA

After driving the vehicle 15 miles on the highway, we drove on residential street for about 1.5 miles. As I was turning into a parking structure the engine stopped and the vehicle lost power. I glided the vehicle to a red zone no parking area on the street and stopped the vehicle. Black smoke quickly appeared from under the hood and flames quickly appeared. The front of the vehicle soon became engulfed in flames shooting 4-6 feet high. The fire department arrived and sprayed the front of the vehicle with a foam fire retardant. Then they cut the hood latch and open the hood. The entire engine compartment, windshield and the front passenger area were completely destroyed. The vehicle was melted to the street and the tow driver had to smash it loose.

- Arroyo Grande, CA, USA

I have 2014 Santa Fe sport with 2.4 engine, and have a serious hesitation problem. It happens quite often when waiting at light to make a left turn. When traffic allows me to go, the car will start the turn then it feels like the engine dies for about 2 or 3 seconds then kicks in and I am able to complete the turn. This is very scary when there is traffic coming at me. I am very worry that one day I will have an accident because of the serious hesitation problem. It also hesitates it when driving with the flow of traffic and when I want to speed up little bit, it does not accelerate but kinda bogges down. I have to push the gas peddle down fast and then let it up and then I can accelerate to the speed I wanted to go. I have taken the car to the dealer 2 times and they could not solve the this problem.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA