NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
92 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Aug 16, 2023
EngineUnknown Or Other
Had oil changed July 5, 2023, Aug. 14 check engine light came on. Took it to shop and was told Hyundai vehicles are burning oil in the engine and the diagnostic code came back as Catalytic Convert and had to add oil. Have oil spots all over my drive so was told to check oil and make sure it's not low and see if light comes back …
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Had oil changed July 5, 2023, Aug. 14 check engine light came on. Took it to shop and was told Hyundai vehicles are burning oil in the engine and the diagnostic code came back as Catalytic Convert and had to add oil. Have oil spots all over my drive so was told to check oil and make sure it's not low and see if light comes back on. Repair shop checked for recalls and found none for this car, yet. Daughter has 2013 Kia Rio with same problem for past couple of years. Why do recalls take so long?
NHTSA ODI #11539020
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
On May 2023, while my husband was taking my daughter to go to school with 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, he noticed engine knocking noises emanating from the engine compartment. Shortly after, the vehicle's performance significantly deteriorated, and the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard, and the engine shut down. Get the…
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On May 2023, while my husband was taking my daughter to go to school with 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, he noticed engine knocking noises emanating from the engine compartment. Shortly after, the vehicle's performance significantly deteriorated, and the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard, and the engine shut down. Get the car towed to the nearest auto service, the mechanic told me that there’s an engine failure as result of abnormal oil consumption causing internal damage and need to be fixed by Hyundai. I called Hyundai USA, and was told that in order to have it covered under the warranty, it needed to be repaired by an authorized dealer. However, no authorized dealer had an available appointment for at least 2 months. Finally after 2 months, I had the car towed to the authorized Hyundai service center for diagnosis and repairs. Upon examination by the certified technicians at the Hyundai service center, I was informed that it needs and engine replacement that will cost around $20,000. I called Hyundai Corporation and had escalated my case to the case manager, but the manager never called back to give me an update. Their customer service department is also frustrating to deal with. They just sort of repeat the same phrases over and over again rather than having any sort of actual conversation with you. It's been more than 2 months after the incident and they finally they can’t do anything about it because it’s outside of warranty. It’s very frustrating
NHTSA ODI #11538150
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2023
EngineUnknown Or Other
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.4L automatic, took the car in for recall service. The following recall services were completed: (23-01-014H-5), (23-01-004H), (20-01-006H), (#17-01-050), (17-01-002). Service completed on 07/25/23, car was in perfect working order prior to recall service. Picked car up from dealer on the afternoon o…
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2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.4L automatic, took the car in for recall service. The following recall services were completed: (23-01-014H-5), (23-01-004H), (20-01-006H), (#17-01-050), (17-01-002). Service completed on 07/25/23, car was in perfect working order prior to recall service. Picked car up from dealer on the afternoon of 07/25/23, drove about 5 miles home. Next day (07/26/23), drove car about 20 miles and engine light came on. Took back to dealership 07/26/23 at about 3pm, stated nothing they did would cause engine light to come on and wanted me to leave with vehicle without checking it. Said 8/1/23 would be the earliest the could look at it to even check the code. Refused to leave with car in that state so they did check the code and stated it was a catalytic converter code and that mine might be going out. Stated that nothing was wrong with my car prior to recall services. Then they asked if my engine light was on before I brought it in for the recall service, I stated no. Then they said it could be the engine software update reading something wrong and cleared code. Told me to drive vehicle and if it came on again to bring it back. Drove car home again which is about a 5 mile distance. Did not drive car next day (07/27/23. Drove car on 07/28/23 for about 20 minutes and the engine light came back on. Called the dealership and they stated they would call me back but never did. Called the national Hyundai customer service number and explained the situation. Gave me a claim number and stated a case manager would contact me in 3-5 days. Called the dealership again on 07/31/23, and left another message with the service person but they did not return my call again. Called on 8/1/23 and asked for the service manager who stated earliest they can look at my car again is 8/7/23. Have not been contacted by a case manager yet as of 8/1/23. Hyundai forams online clearly state other owners having same issue as mine after having the Hyundai software updates completed.
NHTSA ODI #11535698
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2023
EngineUnknown Or Other
Hyundai corporate's engines on some vehicles has oil dissipating out of thin air. 2 to 3 quarts of oil can vanish between regular interval oil changes. Hyundai is lying saying that this is "normal." It is not. The other issue is the oil indicator light may just pop on and off but it does not stay on when the vehicle has several…
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Hyundai corporate's engines on some vehicles has oil dissipating out of thin air. 2 to 3 quarts of oil can vanish between regular interval oil changes. Hyundai is lying saying that this is "normal." It is not. The other issue is the oil indicator light may just pop on and off but it does not stay on when the vehicle has several quarts of oil that dissipated not warning the driver they have a serious problem. This leads to a safety concern because the vehicle could just stop working because the driver has no idea the oil is low. I urge the NHTSA to take action on this since so many vehicles with Hyundai are affected. Thank you.
NHTSA ODI #11530914
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2023
Unknown Or OtherVisibility
While driving down a California freeway, the sunroof of my wife's 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport exploded without warning. Glass rained down on my niece and nephew in the backseat and caused my wife to swerve a bit in surprise. Luckily there was no one else on the road and no one was hurt by the glass. She was not near anyone or an…
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While driving down a California freeway, the sunroof of my wife's 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport exploded without warning. Glass rained down on my niece and nephew in the backseat and caused my wife to swerve a bit in surprise. Luckily there was no one else on the road and no one was hurt by the glass. She was not near anyone or anything, plus nothing fell into the backseat so we know that it wasn't anything that impacted the glass causing it to break. Upon further review, this is a problem with Hyundai vehicles and it looks like they are the subject of multiple class-action lawsuits for it. This is the second time something like this has happened. In 2016, my wife was leasing a Sonata and the sunroof exploded unprovoked. The dealership took responsibility that time and one of the mechanics stated that it was "a known issue".
NHTSA ODI #11530812
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2023
EngineUnknown Or Other
Hello. I don't know if this is even something you look into, but I wanted to see. Yesterday when I came home from work my oil light came on and all of my oil suddenly dumped in the driveway. I am thankful I was at home because this could have been a nightmare somewhere else. I had my car towed and was advised that the rear m…
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Hello. I don't know if this is even something you look into, but I wanted to see. Yesterday when I came home from work my oil light came on and all of my oil suddenly dumped in the driveway. I am thankful I was at home because this could have been a nightmare somewhere else. I had my car towed and was advised that the rear main seal needs replaced as well as the oil pan gasket. I don't know if this is a safety issue, but if my engine would have seized on the highway that could have been a nightmare. Oil maintenance has been at regular intervals. There was no warning until my light came on in the driveway and then the immediate dump of oil. I'm happy to answer any other questions. Thank you. Brooke
NHTSA ODI #11530667
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2023
EngineUnknown Or Other
Engine failure occurred. Engine began making a knocking noise. The check engine light failed to initiate. No warning lights of any kind came on.
NHTSA ODI #11528616
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2023
EngineService BrakesUnknown Or Other
It’s not a accident The car won’t start and brake and wheels keep locking by itself.
NHTSA ODI #11516659
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire
Car began to smoke from engine compartment. Stopped car in a driving lane on interstate 78 where construction barriers had closed both shoulders. Car then burst into flames. Car was a total loss before fire trucks were able to arrive. Just prior to the fire the Warning light for the abs system malfunction appeared on the das…
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Car began to smoke from engine compartment. Stopped car in a driving lane on interstate 78 where construction barriers had closed both shoulders. Car then burst into flames. Car was a total loss before fire trucks were able to arrive. Just prior to the fire the Warning light for the abs system malfunction appeared on the dashboard.
NHTSA ODI #11503664
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2022
Unknown Or Other
My Hyundai Santa Fe 2017 has an acceleration / pedal issue which has left me stranded in the middle of traffic several times. This is a safety concern as it has left my acceleration unresponsive on highway at times. It takes about 60-90 seconds for the acceleration pedal to respond again. The issue does not seem to be at cold/wa…
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My Hyundai Santa Fe 2017 has an acceleration / pedal issue which has left me stranded in the middle of traffic several times. This is a safety concern as it has left my acceleration unresponsive on highway at times. It takes about 60-90 seconds for the acceleration pedal to respond again. The issue does not seem to be at cold/warm conditions of the engine. No check-engine code nor fault codes have been prompted. I have taken to the dealership 4 times in Long Island with multiple revisions of the vehicle and they advise they have not been able to reproduce. The issue keeps coming back unpredictably and my vehicle is still under full warranty with less than 40k mileage. All of my family members have attested to this safety issue and I am dumbfounded that this has not been prompted as a safety recall / concern by Hyundai.
NHTSA ODI #11474612
Official recalls
6Feb 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.
Sep 20, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.
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.
Mar 6, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may not have been set in the correct mode during vehicle assembly, and therefore will not provide an appropriate warning in the event of an underinflated tire. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TPMS sensors, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 159.
Nov 21, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Trailer Hitches
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Electrical System:wiring
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
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
3DP24001 · 3.3L Engine Loss Of Motive Power (lomp)
Opened Feb 8, 2024 · Closed May 16, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on February 2, 2024, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the "engine" on the following vehicle model: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles equipped with the 3.3L V-Shaped GDI Lambda-II engines. The petition cites allegations of a loss of motive power, often resulting in an engine seizure. The stall is preceded by a knocking sound, decreased performance and no warning lights. An analysis of the subject vehicle population was undertaken using complaints submitted to ODI along with manufacturer data. It was determined that the frequency of events is low for the subject population, while those that specifically report a loss of motive power event have a high mileage at the time of incident. The 2017 Santa Fe is equipped with a service interval reminder for the consumer that must be set by the consumer themselves or at a dealership. A Technical Service Bulletin (19-EM-002H) instructs the dealership to set the maintenance reminder at the completion of routine maintenance service or anytime a repair is performed that requires new engine oil. This maintenance reminder will help reinforce the need for proper oil maintenance intervals. Additionally, the Santa Fe vehicles with 3.3L V-shaped Lambda-II engines will be added to Hyundai’s existing Technical Service Bulletin (23-EM-007H) related to combustion chamber cleaning. These actions will help limit negative consumer incidents related to loss of motive power. Lastly, Hyundai has extended the limited engine warranty for MY 2013-2019 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L V-shaped Lambda-II engines included in the Petition. The updated coverage is 15 years, or 150,000 miles and details are contained in Technical Service Bulletin 24-EM-003H. In view of the service interval reminder, combustion chamber cleaning, and extended warranty actions being taken by Hyundai, ODI is denying this Defect Petition. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the report cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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.
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