10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,877 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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problem #27

Feb 292024

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
My panoramic sunroof will not close and has become unaligned in the tracks. There was a loud "Pop" sound when opening and since will not come into complete closed position without physically moving the sunroof myself. Tracks have been checked for debris and lubricated to no effect. Previous years of this same model have reported that sunroof glass have spontaneously shattered. I believe that this same design flaw is evident in my vehicle.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #26

Dec 192023

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
While driving in the Highway, my car lost engine power and lead to my car run no more than 40 miles per hour, after this I took my car to the garage and the said it was the knock sensor that course this issue. After being in the garage, my car knock sensor was replace for a new one to make sure this was giving good reads and while driving in a two way street it happen again and I believe this could be very dangerous if it happen while passing another car on in a crossway. Yes. Yes. As soon it happen the check engine light started blinking. It happens 3 times end of Nov 2023, early December and late December 2023.

- Seminole, FL, USA

problem #25

Aug 102023

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
I had no warning lights or messages and then the engine threw a rod and my car just died on the side of the road. It had apparently been burning oil. I get it back after 2 months and it needs a battery. Now the check engine light is on and it has affected the catalytic converter.

- Paducah , KY, USA

problem #24

May 012023

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
In May, my vehicle began having issues with acceleration and was choking when going uphill, or would start choking when slowing to turn or start moving after being stopped. The engine light came on and had code P1326. Dealership did a system update and it went away. The car broke down not long after, wouldn't start. Replaced battery as it wouldn't charge and was drained. Still didn't work. Towed it to dealership. After several days, they said it might be the crankshaft position sensor. A local mechanic replaced it, it did not fix it. Spark plugs were completely burnt up and covered in gas. Changed spark plugs and it seemed fixed, until it broke down last week. Has code P0420 now. Checked oil, it has absolutely no oil in it and it has only been about 3000 miles since my last oil change. It is due for an oil change, but should not be completely out of oil. Burning oil can clog cat converter, causing P0420 code. My vehicle has a theta engine, which was involved in a lawsuit and settlement, which I only learned about yesterday, and have missed the deadline to file a claim. The vehicle has lost acceleration and died while driving, posing a risk to myself and other drivers. Vehicle is unreliable and unsafe. Dealership failed to tell me anything about my spark plugs, and did not mention my vehicle having oil issues. Non-dealership mechanics have been the ones to bring the issues to my attention. Corporate Hyundai will also not help.

- Jonesborough, TN, USA

problem #23

Jun 282023

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
I was driving 55 miles an hour down a major highway all of the sudden my vehicle jumps and lost all power. I did managed to make it onto the side of the road. I turned off the vehicle and turned it back on it was making a crazy noise. It is now not drivable due to the engine failure.

- Maben, MS, USA

problem #22

Feb 232023

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
Engine is burning 1-2 quarts of oil per 1000 miles. Car was purchased new and this problem began at the 86,000-87000 milage. Mark. Problem confirmed by my mechanic and a dealership mechanic. Car has been regularly serviced by my independent service center. Regular inspections have been conducted in order to renew tags. Oil lamp warning and emmission light warning came on at the onstart of this just as oil change was due. Car was found to be very low on oil, with no leaks being found. Within days, oil light came on again and emmissions. Have had oil consumption test run at dealership and waiting to see if Hyundai is going to honor warranty. Meanwhile, dealership is trying to convince me to trade in my car for a new car.

- Four Oaks, NC, USA

problem #21

Feb 132023

Santa Fe Sport 4-cyl

  • miles
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. Consumer writes in regard to parts being unavailable to perform safety recall.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #20

Nov 182022

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
I had to take my car to my local dealership (twice) because of an emergency situation with my gas door. My gas door would not open and I had to have looked at and was told that the gas door release solenoid stop working. As a result it had to be replaced. Also the inside fuel switch to open the door also had to be replaced. I have found out through research that this is a known problem on Hyundai Santa Fe-??s going back to 2013(maybe earlier than that) to present. and has not been properly fixed or addressed so the issue will stop occurring. Side note: Also due to my gas door not wanting to open I nearly did not make it to work because I could not get my gas door open, to be able to pump gas.

- Pace, FL, USA

problem #19

Jul 012022

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
My car is eating oil. My oil light flashed on my car and I happened to see it. Ignored it because it flashed and went away but have noticed my car stuttering when I go to start it. Had oil change done in July bust by September I had little no oil in my car. Went to mechanic and he couldn-??t find where it-??s as leaking and gave me an oil change and advised me to recheck the oil after so many miles. So I did, 1300 miles later I was low on oil again. I went to Hyundai and they told me to apply for an Oil Consumption test which I did and I was declined because of the mileage which was around 99,400. My continues to eat oil and Hyundai will not fix the issue.

- Kennesaw , GA, USA

problem #18

Jun 172022

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
I had damages during Hurricane Ida in Aug 2021. Mostly paint scratches and dents. I was finally called for repairs to body shop in May 2022. They refused job because I had a factory paint defect (existing paint is peeling off of e coat) and stated I need a whole new paint job. Two other repair shops say also it is a factory defect. Pearl white color. Dealership states I-??m out of warranty.

- Bourg, LA, USA

problem #17

Jun 082022

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
Second notice of recall that I received and Hyundai notified me that there is still no fix. Hyundai on central avenue NY. Manager I spoke with was Chris (service manager)

- Pleasantville, NY, USA

problem #16

Mar 192022

Santa Fe Sport

  • 97,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs were misfiring and the coil and spark plug wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

- Wyandanch, NY, USA

problem #15

Feb 082022

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
This vehicle has had regular oil changes and at 73000 miles the oil light came on. The oil had been changed recently, and it was only 1000 miles after that change so it should NOT have been out of oil. When checked, it was down 3.5 quarts. Added oil, and made an appointment to have it checked. Learned of oil consumption issue, and of a recall issued for up to 2017 with this engine but nothing for 2018. Dealership began an oil consumption test and vehicle was brought in at intervals to check consumption, which was excessively high at 2. to 2.5 quarts for 1000 miles. Continued the oil consumption testing, then moved on to an engine cleaning with a Valvoline product through the dealership and HPP as a recommended "fix" despite this engine being recalled in earlier years. After that cleaning the car stalled twice at stoplights, and if you sit long enough at a stop sign or light the engine feels as if it wants to cut out. The car shakes and sometimes makes a noise as it does this. Brought it to the dealer after 500 miles and it was down a half quart, and they told me that was not enough and to drive it more. They topped off the oil, and after 2000 miles the oil light came on every single time I turned left, and when checked it was down 4 quarts. Brought it back to the dealership and they said that is definitely problematic, started the process of going through HPP and are currently dropping the oil pan to check for metal shavings, etc. Car now has 88000 miles and is consuming oil excessively in a detrimental manner, shakes intermittently at stops (even when car is warm and has been driven for some time), sometimes hesitates between first and second gear, unsafe and worrisome to drive on the highway knowing that other cars have stopped with no warning after having identical issues. Currently awaiting word from the dealer and HPP, but would expect engine replacement as has been initiated for other cars of this make/model and engine.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #14

Jan 102022

Santa Fe Sport 4-cyl

  • miles
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe sport. Consumer writes in regards to parts being unavailable to perform safety recall.

- Hormigueros, PR, USA

problem #13

Dec 122021

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
There appears to be a problem with the intake manifold. Car is throwing a code of P200A. The baffles get stuck causing the car to lose power, usually 3 times in a row. I nearly got rear ended twice because of this and it threw my husband an myself toward the window.

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #12

Sep 212021

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
Purchased a new car from Plaza Hyundai dealership in Brooklyn NY 5/25/2019, had problems a year later but due to covid, dealership wasn't open. Called Hyundai Consumer affairs May 2020 as I also found out there was an open recall that was supposed to be done with the ecm & cluster update-engine monitoring logic product improvement for Santa Fes from 2011-2019. There was and still is an open recall listed from 08/09/2018 that the car was still at Plaza Hyundai dealership for. In 2020, I was told that a buyback wasn't possible due to there not being any record of active recalls. On September 22, 2021, our car broke down on the highway, with it being the engine issue that is currently on recall. We have an unusable car still being paid for, a car that shouldn't have been sold to us because it was on recall, a car that should've been buyback but wasn't due to greed, and no answers as Hyundai is saying that the buyback period has ended since the first use was February 2018, even though we became owners of the car 5/25/2019. The component that failed was the engine. Its currently in Plaza Hyundai's service lot. Our safety was put at risk not once but twice, but the most recent being 9/21/2021, we were on a major highway at 70mph when the engine started to slow down, smoke, and vibrate violently. The vehicle is currently being serviced for parts, but they don't think its the engine. There were previous issues but I would have to recollect on the memory of when.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #11

Sep 042021

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
The Pearl White paint is chipping from the hood of my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The issue is getting worse, with new chipped spots appearing monthly. This should not be an issue with a vehicle that is garage kept and barely 3 years old. This is due to poor paint quality and Hyundai should assume responsibility for correcting this painting defect. This issue is rampant across the country and significantly impacts a consumer's resale value.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #10

Sep 012020

Santa Fe Sport

  • miles
Where the air conditioning comes from is broken from inside.I tried to lock the air when it was too cold then vent went inside I did the same on the other part it went inside I took it to get checked day told me that it's broken from inside

- Brown Summit, NC, USA

problem #9

Jun 062020

Santa Fe Sport

  • 24,000 miles
The vehicle will occasionally stall and sometimes will not start without several attempts. Stalls occasionally when moving

- Wellton, AZ, USA

problem #8

Feb 022020

Santa Fe Sport

  • 10 miles
Everytime I accelerate there is a horrible. And sometimes when coming down from accelerating to stop it seem to be grinding. There is a slipping sound that comes and goes. On city streets and turning

- Mooresville, NC, USA

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