Engine. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

236 reports

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2022

Engine

Engine was using oil. Then dropped all engine oil, made noise then locked up.

NHTSA ODI #11486807

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2022

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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The engine control module (CPU) failed and at first the car experienced random warning lights thatwhen placed on diagnostic computer, no codes were noted. the next issue was a strong gasoline smell in the cabin. the cpu read this as a faulty fuel pressure regulator. when a second code pull was done it was reported as evaporator canister failure requires changing. The problem was in fact a leaking fuel injector rail and two injectors with defective improperly seated "O" rings. Explainig the gas smell and poor milage. "Ms. G" owns the 2016 santa fe sport with 2.0 GDI motor. There are about 80K miles The intermittent warning lights became and issue during the annual inspection/tag renewal. the DMV inspector saw the traction control, ABS, incline parking brake light and the service engine soon warnings intending to fail the car after the problemwas explained he connected his code reader, and found no codes. About April of 2022, a recal notice was recieved noting especially the 2,0 GDI MOTOR. I explained everything to the Huyndai rep. who informed me that the recall was directly related to the matters we discussed. When i described the final episode where the motor simply shut off. I explained it was towed to my shop ,again placed ot the full spectrum scanner / computer. At this time a complete systems diagnostic was preformed, ignition on - motor not running, including a complete sensor check. It was during this portion of the testing that I noticed that asensor was not reporting any data, or the existance of an oil pressure sensor. Now the ignition switch was then turned on/off the designated number of times and the car was started and a definite knock was detected. Ms. G is by no means uninformed regarding automobiles her parents restored several vintage Jags, And a 1966 330GTS Ferrari.The point being had she had any warning the vehicle was low on oil she would have checked and added as needed. In the end the Hyundai rep assured us the engine replacement was free.

NHTSA ODI #11485975

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2022

Engine

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On 3/20/22 I had my car towed to Jenkins Hyundai due to mechanical issues with no prior warning. So basically, I was driving home and noticed that my temperature gauge showed in the hot zone. At no time did any lights on the dashboard come on to notify that the engine was overheating. My vehicle is a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe with only 120k miles with regular maintenance performed. At no time did any dashboard lights come on to notify that there was a issues (problem one). Additionally, prior to this I had just had my vehicle serviced at the dealership at 117k miles in which a vehicle inspection was performed. Upon Hyundai looking at the mechanical issues they stated that they found RH Head Gasket leaking into combustion chamber and upon disassembly found 3 head bolts loose and pulled threads out of the block. All block threads were found to be compromised. Lucky my car was towed to the dealership because with the head bolts loose and coming out of the engine could have lead to a more serious injury. Seems that this is a mechanical defect in the engine.

NHTSA ODI #11483923

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2022

Engine

The engine stopped while driving on a back road. There were no lights or warnings. The car is now at the dealership for diagnosis.

NHTSA ODI #11482993

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2022

EnginePower Train

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One of the cam shafts failed, also the actuator. We had purchased an extended warranty so the repair is supposed to be covered. However when the dealership submitted a pre-authorization they were asked to remove the oil plan and check for metal. They did find metal in the oil pan so they required that the engine short block be replaced in order to cover the cost. That part- the short block - is back ordered and we have been told to expect a delay of at least 3-4 months. The warranty company will only cover a rental car for 10 days so we are stuck. We have spoken to multiple mechanics and dealerships who are telling us that they are seeing this all over - V6 CVT engines failing after 65-70k miles. Obviously the Hyunday Certified Pre-Owned warranty folks also know there is a problem since they made the mechanic check for metal. This is clearly problem and we will be without a car for months. We made were up to date on all regular maintenance. HYUNDAI Case# 19971861

NHTSA ODI #11476943

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2022

Engine

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I was driving and experienced a sudden loss of power, the engine siezed without any warning lights or symptoms and I lost brake assist, and power steering instantly. I barely managed to pull off the road. A few months ago I had an oil change and when I got it back it had a sound like new gears that aren't worn in. It appeared as though they had switched my oil pump out but they insisted nothing was performed other than a computer flash and an oil change. I believe the 2.4l i4 engine has a similar issue to the older version under recall. Had I been travelling on faster road, curve or adverse conditions this could have been much more dangerous. I had it towed to the dealership right away, they told me 3 weeks for diagnosis, it has currently still not been looked and and is sitting where the tow truck left it. There are no codes stored in the computer, there wasn't a light or warning of any kind, it was very sudden and even at low speed I struggled to stop and get out of traffic and I am trained to react to such incidents and very experienced.

NHTSA ODI #11476668

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2022

Engine

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Car died on the highway and I had it towed to the Hyundai dealership. Smoke was pouring out of the engine. After 3 weeks the dealer said it was a bad rod bearing. The dealership sent the info to Hyundai for a replacement engine under the class action recall. Hyundai is asking for oil change records and ask the dealership to send pictures of the valve train. The dealership sent pictures and Hyundai is asking for more pictures. It seems they are trying to avoid replacing the engine which is clearly their fault. The is another lawsuit starting on Hyundai's engines due tonoil burning. Sadly this is a very comment issue with Hyundai engines and they are avoid the inevitable replacement.

NHTSA ODI #11476663

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2022

Engine

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My wife and I were driving on the highway with our 4 kids in a construction zone the vehicle lost power to accelerate. We went from 70MPH all the way down to 35MPH fully pressing the accelerator pedal. We were able to coast to a spot to stop in a merge lane. Turned off. The vehicle and restarted it. It worked as normal letting us accelerate only moments later to do it again. It happened on and off multiple times so we took side streets all the way home. It worked normally for a day or two then it happened again only this time an oil light appeared. It was the first time any warning light came on no check engine or service lights prior to. We pulled over to check the oil it was completely out of oil well before her service was do as we normally do oil changes before the scheduled time. We added 3 qts at the first gas station we pulled to when we checked it. The vehicle drove normally then no sputtering like it was before. Only the next day we performed a full oil change to ensure it had adequate oil. It ran great for a day and then an awful rattle came from the engine compartment. Started as a ticking more light sounding then became a louder clanking. We since parked the vehicle in the driveway but being around 91,000 miles it doesn't qualify for Manufacturers 100,000 warranty since we bought it pre-owned at a dealer in Texas. We are currently looking into what it takes to fix it at a mechanic since Hyundai won't warranty it. After some research it seems this same rattle and engine malfunction as well as oil consumption issues has happened on many Hyundai models. We weren't aware of this before but certainly feel there is a Manufacturers issue just reporting as I'm sure there is many others out there. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions from anyone.

NHTSA ODI #11474630

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2022

Engine

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My 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport's engine just stopped on me on Friday afternoon June 17th. I was driving home from work, going about 45mph when the engine started making a loud clicking noise & the engine light started blinking and then died , I was able to coast into a neighborhood but the car wouldn't start back up so I had to have it towed to the dealership I bought it from. The car has since been at the Dealership that I bought it from used in February 2021 with 87K miles on it. The dealerships service department says that the engine seized and that it needs to be replaced. They submitted a request to Hyundai USA to replace the engine but Hyundai USA has denied the request twice now. Unfortunately We owe $11k still as we have not even had it a year & a half. I discovered , upon some reserching that many people across the country have had or are currently experiencing the same issue with Hyundai USA. Looking for any help to solve my issue. I've been without a car since 6/17/22.The Dealership has no loaners & renting a car out of pocket is $400 - $500 per week. Please help

NHTSA ODI #11474237

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2022

Engine

My car just started making a noise and the check engine light came on. The car shortly there after stalled. I tried to restart the car but it sounded terrible. I later had the car towed to a mechanic who told me of a common engine problem with Hyundai's. He recommended taking it to a dealer for further evaluation.

NHTSA ODI #11473778

Official recalls

22V056000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Feb 3, 2022

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.

17V358000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Jun 5, 2017

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.

16V145000 · Seat Belts:front:warning Light/devices

Mar 10, 2016

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses may be damaged by the seat's height adjuster mechanism, resulting in a failure to provide an audible warning when front seat occupants do not fasten their seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities

Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.