2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

On June 20 2026 at 2:07pm Central Time there was a check engine light displayed on the dash of my vehicle 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, while it was parked in the garage of my home and was just powered up. I had then performed the vehicle diagnostics test (pictures attached) that showed that there was an issue with the 'Transmission Control System' with detail that a full system check is recommended and to schedule an appointment with a dealer. I had later proceeded to contact local dealer 'Huffines Hyundai McKinney' for service as I was due for an oil change anyway. As I was driving the vehicle from my home which was about 13 miles away from the dealership, I noticed that the vehicle had great trouble shifting from 1st gear to higher gears, that the speed would be 20mph or lower no matter how much the accelerator was pushed and I had to drive very carefully in traffic due to the low speeds. I was told at the dealership by 3pm that day that there were no active recalls on my vehicle, that the transmission related recall that was showing up on google search for that DCT code wasn't specific enough to my vehicle and to book an appointment for vehicle diagnostics and transmission repair/replacement at full cost to myself. The multi-point inspection report after oil change showed nothing about the check engine light issue or that the issue was even diagnosed by the dealership. From that day until today Aug 29 2026, I've noticed that the vehicle still has trouble shifting from the 1st gear, that the vehicle drives normally when increased time is allowed between power up and start of drive (~2min of engine running idle) and that the check engine light reappears after a trip of quick power up and drive. There was atleast one instance where I had to pullover onto the shoulder to avoid high speed traffic while driving in the right lane.

While accelerating, the 8-speed transmission sporadically hangs in 1st gear and will not change to 2nd. The motor revs to about 4000 rpm and will only travel at about 15 mph. This causes a safety hazard when attempting to enter fast moving traffic. After several attempts, the Dealer has said that they cannot duplicate this issue in their shop and has not made necessary warranty repairs to fix this vehicle. Hyundai assigned a case manager who says that since the diagnostic did not pull any codes and they could not replicate the problem, they would not make any repairs. There is about 5000 miles left on the factory warranty.

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway and approaching a stop sign, the message "Check Transmission Oil Immediately" was momentarily displayed. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be diagnosed unless the message was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving approximately 35 MPH the following day, and the engine power was reduced. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver contacted Bluelink and was advised to pull over safely. Bluelink and the dealer advised the driver to tow the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to cover half the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 74,900.

Vehicle: 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | Current Mileage: 140,000 Description of Safety Defect: While operating a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe at speed, the vehicle suffered a sudden, complete, and catastrophic loss of motive power in the middle of a live, active roadway without any prior warning or dashboard indicator lights. The transmission abruptly dropped out of gear and the engine shut down entirely, trapping the driver and three young children in active traffic and creating an immediate, life-threatening highway safety hazard. The vehicle was towed to Sport Durst Hyundai in Durham, NC, where technicians confirmed a total internal transmission failure where the gears fail to engage. This exact mechanical failure mechanism directly mirrors the severe engineering defect detailed in NHTSA Campaign Number 22V746000 (Hyundai Safety Recall 236) for electric oil pump failures causing a sudden loss of drive power. Hyundai Motor America Corporate Case Management has issued a flat denial of all safety and goodwill repair coverage based strictly on the vehicle's 140,000 miles, claiming that mileage absolves them of product liability for a catastrophic drivetrain safety defect that endangered three young children. Furthermore, the franchise dealership is actively withholding the GDS diagnostic failure scan codes from the consumer, calling them "internal documents" to actively suppress federal evidence of this safety failure. Further, the authorized Hyundai dealership engaged in deceptive practices by refusing to put anything in writing, and refusing my request for any diagnostic information, including any report indicating diagnostic error codes, technician summary, etc.

This vehicle has experienced: • Multiple roadside breakdowns • Three fuel injector system failures • 2 complete transmission failures and replacements • Loss of propulsion • Fuel and chemical odor safety risks • A cumulative total of over 60 days out of service, currently at dealer since 4-15-26. SUMMARY OF SAFETY-RELATED FAILURES AND REPAIR HISTORY Incident #1 — May 20, 2022 (Mileage In: 4,899 | Mileage Out: 4,909) Vehicle broke down roadside in an unsafe, unlit area, requiring towing. Failure attributed to fuel injector defect. Vehicle remained in repair until May 24, 2022. Incident #2 — July 19, 2022 (Mileage In: 9,316 | Mileage Out: 9,321) Vehicle emitted strong gasoline odor, creating a potential fire and safety hazard. Vehicle was not drivable and required towing. Released July 26, 2022. During a recorded phone call, Hyundai Case Manager provided a verbal assurance that this failure would not recur. Incident #3 — September 9, 2025 (Mileage In/Out: 65,232) Vehicle exhibited engine shuddering, suspected fuel injector failure, and transmission shifting defects. Dealer released vehicle without resolving the defect on September 9, 2025. Incident #4 — January 13, 2026 (Mileage In: 72,089 | Mileage Out: 72,098) Vehicle lost power and broke down, requiring towing. Dealer determined full transmission replacement was required. All four fuel injectors were replaced again, marking the third injector-related failure. Released January 23, 2026. Incident #5 — January 30, 2026 (Mileage In: 72,467 | Mileage Out: 72,487) Vehicle overheated, lost power, and emitted chemical odors, requiring towing. Dealer confirmed cooler hose failure and fluid leakage. Released February 5, 2026. Incident #6: 4-15-26 - Sent back to dealer. Dealer still has car in shop. Advising needing new transmission. Still no confirmation as of 5-16-26 if car is repairable.

when vehicle accelerates from stopping position motor immediately increases rpm's from 700 to about 4,000 and increases and decreases with jerking motion. sometimes much difficulty controlling speed and controlling car when there are approaching vehicles. the transmission does not perform safely there is the same problem when passing other vehicles and travelling uphill , sometimes 50 to 75 mph. the selling dealer informed me this may be this transmission's way of learning how to accelerate.I don't believe this. I am [XXX] old, never a ticket with two safety classes in my first 30 years of driving heavy vehicles for my employer. the selling dealer was unable to completely reproduce problem. I have this problem when vehicle is first activated in the morning as I begin driving also. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1. Component/System: 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), specifically the transmission oil pump or hydraulic pressure system. Inspection availability: The vehicle is currently at McGrath City Hyundai in Chicago and can be made available for inspection upon request. 2. The transmission exhibited slipping gears, delayed gear engagement, loud mechanical noise, and a transmission warning light. These conditions create the risk of sudden loss of drive power, unexpected stalling, or inability to control the vehicle, which could cause accidents, collisions, or injury to the driver, passengers, or others on the road. 3. A technician at McGrath City Hyundai initially informed us that the transmission oil pump had failed, which aligns with the symptoms. Later, another dealership representative claimed there was no issue, and the fluid was simply low. No written diagnostic confirmation or independent verification has been provided to date. 4. Hyundai corporate has been contacted and opened a case, but they refused to provide documentation or details of any inspection or repair, and did not assign a supervisor to provide clarification. No police, insurance, or third-party inspections have been performed. 5. Symptoms first appeared on March 9, 2026, including: Transmission warning light; Delayed gear engagement; Slipping gears; Loud mechanical noise from the transmission

While driving at normal roadway speeds, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of power during acceleration. The engine remained running, but the vehicle failed to respond appropriately to throttle input, resulting in a significant reduction in forward movement. This created a dangerous situation, particularly in traffic conditions where consistent acceleration is required. The issue appears to be related to the transmission or powertrain system, though the exact component failure is UNKNOWN at this time. This condition poses a serious safety risk, as loss of power while driving can increase the likelihood of rear-end collisions or inability to safely merge or clear intersections. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealership; however, they were unable to reproduce the issue during testing and therefore did not perform a repair. Despite this, video evidence of the incident exists and clearly shows the loss of power event. There were no warning lights or messages prior to or during the incident. The failure occurred unexpectedly during normal operation. The problem has not been resolved and may occur intermittently, making it difficult to reproduce under standard inspection conditions. The vehicle remains in service and available for inspection upon request.

1. The transmission warning symptoms first appeared on March 9, including a transmission warning light, delayed gear engagement, slipping gears, and loud mechanical noise. 2.5-liter turbo engine use an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). It has been in McGrath City Hyundai since March 10 for inspecton. 2. We were not harmed, but were very concerned about the safety of the car. 3. We only tried and waiting for this dealer for a ddiagnosis, but they verbally gave 2 conflicting diagnoses today. No written diagnosis report, no repair report. 4. This morning (9am), a staff informed us by phone that the vehicle has a failed transmission oil pump and that the dealership was waiting for approval for the replacement part. However, during a later call (1pm) today, another staff member stated that there is no issue for the transmission oil pump, and that the transmission fluid was simply lower than normal, with no leaks. We were told to pick up the vehicle today. We refused and waiting for them to email us a diagnosis report and a repair report. 5. The transmission warning symptoms first appeared on March 9, including a transmission warning light, delayed gear engagement, slipping gears, and loud mechanical noise. This conflicting information is extremely concerning, especially given the transmission symptoms described above. Hyundai issued Safety Recall #236 specifically for 2021–2022 Santa Fe vehicles due to the high-pressure electric oil pump in the 8-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) potentially malfunctioning, causing a complete loss of drive power. And there is an active class action about it too.