← New search

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Santa Fe years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe are substantially higher than the model-year median of 212.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

268 reports with mileage · 694 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 643 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 161 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports23 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

962 reports
19,554 miles · Apr 20, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

DURING ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR LOW SPEED TURN ,CAR HAS NO OR LITTLE RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR, HAPPENS ON DRY PAVEMENT AS WELL AS WET, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES.AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO TRACTION ISSUES.REPORTED TO HYUNDAI DEALER CHECKED 3 TIMES AND SAID ALL WAS FINE ,NOT SATISFIED WITH ANSWER I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER…

Read full complaint

DURING ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR LOW SPEED TURN ,CAR HAS NO OR LITTLE RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR, HAPPENS ON DRY PAVEMENT AS WELL AS WET, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES.AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO TRACTION ISSUES.REPORTED TO HYUNDAI DEALER CHECKED 3 TIMES AND SAID ALL WAS FINE ,NOT SATISFIED WITH ANSWER I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE TO CHRIS WELLS OPENED A CASE WITH THEM #10059476 ON 3/15/2017.IVE HAD PHONE CONTACT WITH HIM ,HE SAID HE WOULD GIVE IT TO THE GUYS UPSTAIRS BUT STILL NO SATISFACTION.BIG SAFTEY CONCERN!!! PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ODI #10979441

4,000 miles · Apr 16, 2017
Engine

ENGINE STALLED (DIED) WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED 2 TIMES WHEN ON VACATION. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. DURING THIS TIME THERE WAS A NATIONAL RECALL ISSUED BY HYUNDAI FOR SANTA FE. I THOUGHT ARE PROBLEMS W…

Read full complaint

ENGINE STALLED (DIED) WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED 2 TIMES WHEN ON VACATION. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. DURING THIS TIME THERE WAS A NATIONAL RECALL ISSUED BY HYUNDAI FOR SANTA FE. I THOUGHT ARE PROBLEMS WOULD BE SOLVED. BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERED UPTO PRODUCTION YEAR 2015. WE RECEIVED A 2017 SANTA FE LOANER FOR USE DURING THE TIME THEY ASSESSED OUR VEHICLE, THIS VEHICLE ALSO STALLED. I REPORTED THIS TO THE SERVICE MAR. HE SAID HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL HYUNDAI AUTHORIZED A RECALL FOR 2017. I TOLD HIM THAT THEY PROBABLY WON'T UNTIL THEY SOLD OFF ALL THEIR NEW VEHICLE INVENTORY. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE HOME. 1 DAY LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN MY WIFE PULLED OUT ON TO A BUSY HIGHWAY. THESE VEHICLES ARE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10978717

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2017
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

2017 SANTA FE ULTIMATE 2.0T. CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND LAGS. HAPPENS AT A LOWER SPEED AND FROM A STOP. VERY SCARY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AND ENTERING FREEWAY.DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR A SECOND OR MORE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TAKES OFF. AT LOW SPEED IN PARKING LOT DEPRESS ACCELERATOR LIGHTLY AND CAR TA…

Read full complaint

2017 SANTA FE ULTIMATE 2.0T. CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND LAGS. HAPPENS AT A LOWER SPEED AND FROM A STOP. VERY SCARY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AND ENTERING FREEWAY.DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR A SECOND OR MORE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TAKES OFF. AT LOW SPEED IN PARKING LOT DEPRESS ACCELERATOR LIGHTLY AND CAR TAKES OFF. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP CAR WILL ACCELERATE QUICKLY WHILE DEPRESSING PEDAL GENTLY. DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT IS FREQUENT ENOUGH TO BE CONCERNED. HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW.

NHTSA ODI #10971093

980 miles · Apr 6, 2017
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

SOMETIMES, WHEN I PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, MY CAR DOES NOT GO. IT WILL MOVE FORWARD AT A SLOW PACE BUT THEN DOESN'T GO AS FAST AS I'M PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH MY RPMS ARE INCREASING. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT PERFORM AS IT SHOULD. HAPPENED TODAY FOR PROBABLY THE 10TH TIME SINCE…

Read full complaint

SOMETIMES, WHEN I PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, MY CAR DOES NOT GO. IT WILL MOVE FORWARD AT A SLOW PACE BUT THEN DOESN'T GO AS FAST AS I'M PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH MY RPMS ARE INCREASING. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT PERFORM AS IT SHOULD. HAPPENED TODAY FOR PROBABLY THE 10TH TIME SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR, LESS THAN A MONTH. PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE STREET, MY CAR MOVE'S FORWARD VERY SLOWLY THEN WHEN I GO TO INCREASE MY SPEED THE CAR DOESN'T GO FASTER.

NHTSA ODI #10970914

10,100 miles · Apr 6, 2017
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN THE MORNING, THE VEHICLE JERKED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN THE MORNING, THE VEHICLE JERKED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,100.

NHTSA ODI #10970872

850 miles · Apr 5, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT, LEFT, OR U TURN THE POWER COMPLETELY CUTS OUT AND THE CAR IS LEFT DRIFTING WITHOUT POWER. THEIR IS NO RESPONSE TO PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDDLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AT THE SAME TIME ON THE DASH THE ORANGE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LAST FOR A NUMBER OF SECONDS AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTS TO ONCE AGAI…

Read full complaint

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT, LEFT, OR U TURN THE POWER COMPLETELY CUTS OUT AND THE CAR IS LEFT DRIFTING WITHOUT POWER. THEIR IS NO RESPONSE TO PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDDLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. AT THE SAME TIME ON THE DASH THE ORANGE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. THIS LAST FOR A NUMBER OF SECONDS AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTS TO ONCE AGAIN RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDDLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND MY WIFE12 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR 3-1/2 MONTHS AGO. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM A STANDING START AND A ROLLING YIELD OR U TURN. THE PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED ON A PAVED PUBLIC, CITY/COUNTY, STREET I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, ONE SEVERAL TIMES, AND BOTH TELL ME THAT THEIR ARE "NO CODES SHOWING" SO THAT THEIR IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE FRIGHT OF LOOSING POWER WHILE YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN WITH TRAFFIC COMING AT YOU FROM ONE OR BOTH SIDES TO APPRECIATE HOW TRULY DANGEROUS THIS CAR IS. THIS IS OUR 4TH OR 5TH SANTA FE, UP TO NOW ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN GREAT BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS NEW CAR WE HAVE NOW.

NHTSA ODI #10970721

1,200 miles · Apr 4, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

HIT POT HOLE AFTER STOP AND STABILITY CONTROL STOPS POWER TO TRANSMISSION...5-8 SECONDS OF NO ACCELARATION HAS CAUSED SAFETY ISSUE WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON USER BASED FORUMS.

NHTSA ODI #10970592

2,280 miles · Apr 1, 2017
Engine

WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF A VERY LOW SPEED TURN (SUCH AS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION OR PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO A ROADWAY) THE ENGINE SUFFERS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME. BUT FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO MAKE ONE WORRY ABOUT PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #10969897

1,000 miles · Mar 28, 2017
Unknown Or Other

APPLE CARPLAY COMPLETELY DISABLES ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S NATIVE AUDIO WARNINGS AND ALERTS WHEN IT IS IN USE. IN OTHER WORDS, IF ONE IS LISTENING TO MUSIC, USING SIRI, OR MAKING A PHONE CALL THROUGH CARPLAY, NONE OF THE CAR'S BUILT-IN SAFETY FEATURES WORK AS DESIGNED; THE AUDIO IS SILENCED AND CARPLAY COMPLETELY TAKES OVER THE AUDI…

Read full complaint

APPLE CARPLAY COMPLETELY DISABLES ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S NATIVE AUDIO WARNINGS AND ALERTS WHEN IT IS IN USE. IN OTHER WORDS, IF ONE IS LISTENING TO MUSIC, USING SIRI, OR MAKING A PHONE CALL THROUGH CARPLAY, NONE OF THE CAR'S BUILT-IN SAFETY FEATURES WORK AS DESIGNED; THE AUDIO IS SILENCED AND CARPLAY COMPLETELY TAKES OVER THE AUDIO SYSTEM. THIS WOULD INCLUDE BLIND SPOT MONITORING, LANE DEPARTURE MONITORING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, CROSS-TRAFFIC ALERT, ETC.. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WITH CARPLAY IN USE; IF HYUNDAI'S NATIVE SOFTWARE IS CONTROLLING THE SYSTEM AND THE PHONE IS ONLY CONNECTED THROUGH BLUETOOTH, THE SYSTEMS FUNCTION NORMALLY. HYUNDAI MAKES NO REFERENCE TO THIS IN THEIR MANUALS AND SEEMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. APPLE DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY PRODUCT SUPPORT FOR CARPLAY WHATSOEVER. THIS IS A CASE OF A NONESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM INTERFERING WITH SAFETY SYSTEMS. HYUNDAI AND APPLE SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT THIS, OR AT LEAST MAKE CONSUMERS AWARE OF IT.

NHTSA ODI #10968967

17,000 miles · Mar 27, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

CAR HESITATES TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, ACCELERATING WHILE COMING OUT OF TURN, OR SLOWING DOWN AND ACCELERATING AGAIN. ALSO SEEMS TO BE USING A LOT OF GAS. HAVEN'T CALCULATED IT YET BUT CAN SEE THE FUEL GAUGE LOWER AS I'M DRIVING. CAR ONLY HAS 17000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10968770

Official recalls

6

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.

17V578000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

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.

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.

17V142000 · Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems

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.

16V842000 · Electrical System:wiring; Trailer Hitches

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.

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

3

DP24001 · 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.