Engine. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports9 fire reports12 injury reports

Steering complaints

6 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2026

Electrical SystemLane DepartureSteering

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Vehicle experiences severe, intermittent, un-commanded steering inputs from the Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) system at highway speeds (55-70 MPH). The steering wheel violently jerks toward adjacent traffic lanes/shoulders without operator input, lane drift, or warning, requiring immediate high-force manual intervention to overpower mechanical torque and prevent a collision or roadway departure. Chronology of manufacturer notice: - Oct 2024: Initial consumer dispute logs flagged steering safety concerns and unresolved campaign items. - Dec 2024: Opened Corporate Case 24164934, formally alerting consumer affairs to dangerous steering wheel jerking. - Jan 2025: Presented to an authorized dealer; an OTA software update was deployed, but intermittent tracking failures persisted, including failure to recognize lanes at night. - June 2026: Under Case 42680760, the system failed acutely on the interstate, jerking the vehicle out of painted lanes. The malfunction originates in the LKA steering control module and camera hardware, which are intact and available for inspection. Dealerships have not replicated the defect during brief diagnostic windows due to its intermittent nature. The manufacturer has deflected these notifications and refused a forensic diagnostic sweep or mechanical remediation. Instead, case managers attempted to close the file by offering partial financial goodwill for an unrelated cosmetic paint delamination defect on the same vehicle. No warning lamps or error messages precede these events; the system executes aggressive mechanical intervention with zero notice. This system error bypasses driver override thresholds, conflicting with vehicle crash avoidance frameworks. Because the computer fails to log diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) during these steering drops, the manufacturer exploits this data vacuum to deny structural remediation, creating severe multi-vehicle side-impact and rollover risks.

NHTSA ODI #11743968

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2026

EngineService BrakesSteering

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While driving, the engine catastrophically failed without warning, causing an immediate loss of power-assisted braking and steering. The failure occurred while traveling downhill. I was unable to slow or control the vehicle properly and was forced to proceed through a school bus’s flashing lights to avoid a potentially catastrophic collision, resulting in a traffic citation. My son was in the vehicle at the time. A sudden loss of engine power, braking assist, and steering assist while driving presents a serious safety defect. Vehicle was towed to Fred Beans Hyundai in Doylestown where it has been confirmed engine failure. This failure happened immediately and without warning.

NHTSA ODI #11716098

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2025

EngineService BrakesSteering

Engine oil disappear at 2,000 miles. Car dead stop while driving without any warning ⚠️ break fails at 95 degrees curves. Steering wheel loose and make noise. Hyundai dealer refused to fix the issue.

NHTSA ODI #11649290

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2023

Power TrainSteeringSuspension

La guagua a tenido problemas con el tren delantero. Comenzó con un sonido en el Guía. La Hyundai le reparo esa pieza y luego continuó con el mismo ruido. Ahora tienen que cambiarle el Rack and Piñogn. Mi guagua tiene solo 19,750 millas creo que vino mala de fábrica.

NHTSA ODI #11559501

1,000 miles · Feb 4, 2021

Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesSteering

TO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST.

NHTSA ODI #11394630

1,600 miles · May 27, 2020

Steering

STEERING WHEEL MAKES NOISE DURING BACK UP, FROM STOP TO MOTION (LOW SPEED) MAKING TURNS. SOMETIMES HAPPENED DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING AS WELL. THE FREQUENCY IS GETTING MORE AND MORE, VERY ANNOYING AND LITTLE BIT SCARY. WORRY STEERING WHEEL WILL BREAKDOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326236

Official recalls

23V181000 · Trailer Hitches

Mar 17, 2023

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in HEV and Santa Cruz vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 244. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-633.

21V00M000 · Visibility:windshield

Dec 28, 2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.

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

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.