2012 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 353 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 25 involved a crash and 17 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineDec 1, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
Campaign 20V746000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
234 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Oct 28, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HANLEES HILLTOP HYUNDAI (510-222-8882, LOCATED AT 3285 AUTO PLAZA, RICHMOND, CA 94806) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 16263442. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
Engine, Oct 23, 2019
WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING. PULLED OFF EXIT RAMP AND CONTINUED TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. AFTER PULLING OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, THE KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WAS MUCH WORSE. CALLED FOR A TOW AND WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE REPAIR GARAGE STATED THE MOTOR HAD SPUN A MAIN BEARING. ( THE OIL FILTER WAS SAFED). AFTER THEY DID THERE WORK I DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE IT TO A DEALER SHIP. ON MY THERE THE PISTON ARM BROKE AND WENT THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK. NOW THE VEHICLE IS NO GOOD.
Engine, Sep 25, 2019
DRIVING CA I580 WESTBOUND, BRIGHT SUNNY DAY (2:45PM 9/24/19) IN 2012 SANTA FE WITH 111K MILES ON IT. GOING HIGHWAY SPEED, WITHOUT WARNING (NO KNOCKING, NO ACCELERATION ISSUES) THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN: OIL, BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HAVING NO POWER STEERING, I MUSCLED THE CAR DOWN THE NEAREST OFF-RAMP (COASTING 3/4 MILE, I WAS LUCKY TO BE IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE). I HAD ALSO OWNED A 2011 SONATA THAT WENT THRU 3 ENGINE FAILURES WITH SYMPTOMS (EACH TIME, ACCELERATION ISSUES, GEARING HESITATION AND KNOCKING OCCURRED). WITH THE SANTA FE, NO SUCH SYMPTOMS, IT JUST SHUT DOWN AFTER RUNNING PERFECTLY. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TRIED TO JUMP START THE CAR -- NO LUCK. A TOW TRUCK TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN DUBLIN, CA. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS FROZEN CAUSING AN ENGINE SEIZURE. I ASKED IF THIS CAR WAS COVERED UNDER THE VARIOUS ENGINE RECALLS THAT HAVE PLAGUED NUMEROUS OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS AND THEY SAID "NO". SO IT SEEMS I AM ANOTHER VICTIM (4 TIMES OVER; THE SONATA WAS LEMON LAWED) OF HYUNDAI'S ENGINE SHODDY MANUFACTURING ISSUES. I AM AWAITING THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICIAL REPORT AND COST ANALYSIS. I WILL BE CONTACTING HYUNDAI AMERICA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TOMORROW.
Engine, Sep 18, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 80 MPH, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE SOUND. A SOUND AS THOUGH IT HAD NO OIL. I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. I LEARNED THE ENGINE BLEW A ROD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 114,000 MILES ON IT.
Engine, Sep 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER WHO OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS DETECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Engine, Sep 13, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED WHEN MY 2012 SANTA FE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD RATTLING SOUND AND LOSING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP. THE ENGINE THEN STOPPED. I WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE A TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE ENGINE. IT WAS FOUND THAT ONE CYLINDER FAILED AND FILLED UP WITH OIL CAUSING A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE HAS 101,000 MILES ON IT. VERY EXPENSIVE $6000.00 ENGINE REPLACEMENT. CAR HAS RUN WONDERFUL UP TILL THIS POINT.
Engine, Aug 29, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE. IT IS AN ENGINE FAILURE AND HAS TO BE REPLACED.
Engine, Aug 28, 2019
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND CONTROL SO ABRUPTLY THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF THE TRAFFIC LANE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED, TWO SEPARATE MECHANICS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED DUE TO LOWER ENGINE FAILURE, LIKELY A DEFECT IN THE OIL SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE HAS 116,000 MILES, JUST BEING THE FACTORY WARRANTY LIMIT, AND HAD HAD REGULAR DOCUMENTED MAINTENANCE AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF ABNORMAL WEAR OR NEGLECT. I AN HAVING A COMPLETE AND COSTLY ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE.
Engine, Aug 19, 2019
CAR HAD 79000 MILES. WHEN DRIVING, MOTOR STARTED MAKING TICKING SOUND. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE OIL. IT WAS FULL. 2 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING, NO WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY KIND CAME ON ON THE DASH. BEFORE I COULD PARK IT OFF THE ROAD, A ROD WENT THROUGH THE BLOCK. THE BROKE ROD HAD A NUMBER 4 STAMPED ON IT.
Engine, Jul 7, 2019
WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM VACATION ON I75S WE HEARD A STRANGE RATTLING SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER. HAD TO COAST TO THE LEFT WHICH PUT US IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HIGHWAY PATROL HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE. BARELY. WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WAS OPEN. WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS WITH NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEMS. THERE ARE NO RECALLS. I'M HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME IN MS. CAR HAS 90,000 MILES. THERE ARE NO RECALLS BUT THERE SHOULD BE! THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT !
Engine, Jul 1, 2019
BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 139,000 MILES ON IT. HAD A CLEAN CAR VIN REPORT. DROVE IT FOR 3 MONTHS WITH NO ISSUES. SLOWED DOWN ON A DANGEROUS 2 LANE HIGHWAY FOR A CAR TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF ME AND SUDDENLY COULDN'T ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. I WAS STUCK WITH NO STEERING, NO POWER AND NO HAZARD LIGHTS HALF WAY OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY A TRUCK PULLED IN BEHIND ME FOR SAFETY AND 2 PASSENGERS HELPED ME GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP TO FUND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS KIND ENOUGH TO EAT THE COSTS OF LABOR, BUT WE ARE OUT ANOTHER $3,500 FOR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT ON A CAR WE'VE ONLY HAD FOR 3 MONTHS. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWS MULTIPLE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OF ENGINE FAILURES ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL YET NO RECALL HAS OCCURRED. WILL IT TAKE DEATH'S FOR HYUNDAI TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR KNOWINGLY KEEPING CARS ON THE ROAD WHERE ENGINES CAN COMPLETELY FAIL WITH ZERO WARNING?
Engine, Jun 12, 2019
DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN EVEN WITH NO ISSUES. PARKED IN THE EVENT VENUE GARAGE. CAR RAN PERFECTLY UP TO THIS POINT. AFTER THE EVENT AS WE WHERE LEAVING THE GARAGE WE HEARD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE AND HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING. WE THOUGHT WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN A BAD BATCH OF GASOLINE AS WE FILLED THE CAR UP ON OUR WAY TO THE EVENT. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITH VERY CAREFULLY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MONDAY. WE WHERE TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO HE TUNE OF $10,000. AS STATED BEFORE THE CAR RAN PERFECTLY ON OUR WAY TO OUR EVENT AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING WHEN WE STARTED IT BACK UP. THE CAR HAS 104000 MILES AND HAS HAD VERY MINOR ISSUES UP TO THIS POINT. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER SO I DO NOT HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION AS OF YET.
Structure, Engine, Jun 6, 2019
CAR ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED WHILE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS I AM CHOCKED MY CAR HAS BEEN PERFECT UNTIL NOW MY CAR BARELY PASSED 100,000 AND BOTH WARRANTIES EXPIRED ALSO BODY PANT IS CHIPPING OFF.
Engine, Jun 5, 2019
NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE, I AM WRITING TO INFORM THE NHTSA THAT OTHER HYUNDAI'S ENGINES OUTSIDE OF HYUNDAI'S 2012 AND 2013 ENGINE RECALL ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO ROD KNOCK, WHICH POSES A SEVERE SAFETY RISK AND THAT HYUNDAI IS NOT HELPFUL IN ANY WAY WHEN REPORTING THIS. OUR VEHICLE WHICH FAILED ON US 40 IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS IS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VIN # #[XXX]. ON APRIL 10TH AT 6 PM WHILE TRAVELING ON US 40 IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS NEAR CHANDLER, NORTH CAROLINA IN OUR 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE TOWARDS OUR HOME IN DOWNERS GROVE, IL., WE BEGAN TO HEAR A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE AT ANY SPEED GREATER THAN 65 MPH. SINCE WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO PLACE TO SAFELY PULL OFF SO WE SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO 60MPH HOWEVER THE KNOCKING SOUND BECAME WORST AND THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 55 MPH WITHOUT A TERRIBLE LOUD KNOCKING. THIS WAS OF COURSE VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. WITH HAZARD LIGHTS ON, WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT US 40 IN CHANDLER NC ONLY ABLE TO DO <30 MPH AND THE VEHICLE DIED IN ENTRANCE OF THE SUNOCO GAS STATION IN CHANDLER NORTH CAROLINA. DURING THIS WHOLE TIME NO CHECK ENGINE OR ANY EMERGENCY LIGHT WARNED US OF THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONING AND THE SAFETY RISK WE HAD ENCOUNTERED WITH THE ENGINE DYING. THE SANTA FE WAS TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP OF ASHEVILLE, NC AND DROPPED OFF AT 11PM WHERE IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE BAD ROD KNOCK AND NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. HYUNDAI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ENGINES THAT PUT THEIR CUSTOMERS AT RISK AND 2012 SANTA FE ENGINE SHOULD BE ON THE CURRENT ENGINE RECALL FOR ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO ROD KNOCK. SEVERAL MECHANICS AT VARIOUS SHOPS HAVE STATED THIS IS HAPPENING REGULARLY TO HYUNDAI'S ENGINES. PLEASE ASSIST US IN HOLDING HYUNDAI RESPONSIBLE AND MODIFYING THE ENGINE RECALL TO CORRECTLY ENCOMPASS OUR MODEL (2012 SANTA FE ENGINES) BEFORE SERIOUS HARM COMES TO SOMEONE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Engine, Apr 18, 2019
THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. I TRIED MANY TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WOULD KICK OVER BUT DID NOT. I THEN HEARD A KIND OF WHIRRING SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE HOOD. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE. THE SMELL WAS KIND OF ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD CATCH FIRE SO I WENT INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, ASKED FOR A BOTTLE OF WATER, THEN DOUSED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I LEFT MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AND WAS PICKED UP BY MY FAMILY. I AM QUITE AFRAID TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR AGAIN. I WILL HAVE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO HAVE SMOKED LIKE THAT.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 7, 2019
MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE TURNING DOWN A CITY STREET AT SLOW SPEED. NO SAFETY/WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I CRANKED IT BACK UP AND IT RAN FINE FOR A FEW WEEKS. IT SEEMS TO RUN FINE ON OPEN HIGHWAY BUT AT A STOP OR SLOWER SPEED IT WILL CUT OFF LEAVING ME IN DANGER OF A COLLISION AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS. WITH NO WARNING AGAIN IT DID THE SAME THING AT A RED LIGHT. I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO A GARAGE-THEN WAS ADVISED THAT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WOULD NEED TO FIX IT SO I HAD THE EXPENSE OF TWO TOWINGS. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP HAS NOW INFORMED ME THAT THE COMPUTER CHECK SHOWS A TIMING TOOTH MAY BE OFF AND THAT WITH THE EXPENSE IN WILL INCUR I AM BETTER LETTING THEM PUT AN ENTIRE NEW MOTOR IN. I AM SO UPSET THIS IS HAPPENING DUE IT BEING MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
Engine, Mar 30, 2019
FOR THE SECOND TIME OIL PRESSURE SWITCH HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED CAR ONLY HAS 58456 MILES ON IT ANOTHER 420 BUCKS
Engine, Mar 25, 2019
I HAD JUST MERGED ONTO THE INTERSTATE I-90 AT RUSH HOUR, AT ABOUT 55-60 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FROZE AND THE CAR TOTALLY STOPPED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT & MAINTAINED IT REGULARLY. THEIR MECHANICS CHECKED IT OUT. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE BEARING MATERIAL WENT FIRST, CAUSING A SEIZED CRANKSHAFT. NEED A NEW ENGINE AT 105,000 MILES !!! DEALER COST OF NEW ENGINE WAS STATED AT $8000. THEY ALSO GAVE ME THE ALTERNATIVE OF BUYING A USED ENGINE FOR $6000 BUT ONLY WITH A 3 YR WARRANTY. AT MY NORMAL USAGE, ASSUMING I CONTINUE TO DRIVE ABOUT 17,500 MI/YEAR, IT WILL COST ME $8000 PLUS REGULAR MAINTENANCE TO GET ANOTHER 52,500 MILES OUT OF THIS CAR. THIS IS A TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT HANDLING IN A PRO-ACTIVE MANNER. AT LEAST HYUNDAI COULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR MY CAR TO ALLOW THIS FIX TO BE DONE AT NO COST TO ME. THEY OBVIOUSLY KEPT THE SCOPE OF THEIR RECALL TOO NARROW BECAUSE PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS EXIST ON NHTSA WEBSITE ARE DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAD. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Engine, Mar 20, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN JACKSON, TN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 1, 2019
2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE PURCHASED AT 89,000 MILES FROM THE DEALER WITH CLEAN CARFAC. MAINTAINED WITH OIL CHANGES REGULARLY, EVERY 2-3K MILES. NO ISSUES. WENT TO START THE CAR 90 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING IT AND THE ENGINE FAILED, RUMBLED LOUDLY AND SHUT OFF. ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS TENSION TIMING CHAIN & REPLACED IT FOR $2,000. 2 MONTHS LATER (NOW) THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING, ONLY NOW IT'S A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND BLUE INDIGO SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I HAVE NOT EVEN DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AND I DO NOT DRIVE VERY OFTEN (LIVE AND WORK IN THE CITY). THIS SAME ENGINE IS IN THE 2013-2014 WHICH HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN RECALLED, SO WE ALL NEED TO PLACE A LAWSUIT ON HYUNDAI FOR THE 2012 SANTA FE! MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT SEAL THE OIL PAN PROPERLY SO THE OIL LEAKS OUT CONSTANTLY WHILE THE CAR IS IDLE. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE, AND AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH HYUNDAI CORPORATE TO GET THEM TO REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE! CAN ANYONE HELP!
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Feb 28, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET, I SLOWLY TURNED A CORNER AND SUDDENLY LOST MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, SAT BRIEFLY BLOCKING THE HEAVY TRAFFIC, AFTER BEING SLIGHTLY SHAKEN IN THE INCIDENT, STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND PROCEEDED TO PARK AND GET LUNCH. AFTER LUNCH, THE CAR STARTED UP OK, I GOT ON THE ROAD AND SHORTLY AFTER, I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SO I IMMEDIATELY LIMPED INTO A NEARBY CAR REPAIR PLACE . THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS VERY HEAVY SLUDGE CLOGGING THE OIL FILTER, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE AND NEVER HAD ANY ENGINE INDICATORS EVER COME ON BEFORE. THEY CLEANED OUT THE SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND REPLACED THE FILTER AND PUMP. NOW THAT I AM READING ABOUT EVERYONE'S ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH OIL NOT GETTING INTO THE ENGINE, AND AFTER HEARING ON TV ABOUT HYUNDAI REFUSING TO RECALL MY PARTICULAR CAR, I AM VERY AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT, SINCE RECENTLY I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWICE A CERTAIN SLUGGISHNESS/DRAGGING WITH A SLIGHT KNOCKING FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I NOTICED THIS EFFECT TWICE AFTER HAVING DRIVEN THE CAR AT SPEEDS OF 60-70 MPH FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. EACH INSTANCE, I SLOWED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CHECKED TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING OBVIOUS, WHICH I DIDN'T, STARTED UP AGAIN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE WEIRD DRAGGING AND SHIMMY CONTINUED, SO I DROVE AT OR UNDER 50 MPH UNTIL IT SLOWLY DISSIPATED AND WENT BACK TO WHAT FELT NORMAL. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY HYUNDAI SANTAFE 2012, WE BOUGHT IT SECOND-HAND FROM ENTERPRISE CAR SALES. I RELY HEAVILY ON THIS VEHICLE TO DRIVE 2 1/2 HOURS EACH WAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO CARE FOR MY ELDERLY MOM'S NEEDS IN BALTIMORE. I DON'T WANT TO DIE ON THE HIGHWAY BEFORE MY MOM DIES IN THE NURSING HOME!
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 30, 2019, crash
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WOULD DECELERATOR THEN CUT OUT. I CAN BE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING SPEED LIMITS OF 70 OR ON A SIDE STREET GOING 30 OR UNDER. IT EVEN HAPPENED WHEN I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND DROVE DOWN MY STREET (4 HOUSES DOWN) AND GOT TO MY CUL-DE-SAC AND ALL POWER SHUT DOWN. NEIGHBOR HAD TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING ME BECAUSE I WAS ROLLING AND COULD NOT STOP. ALL POWER TO STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES WOULD BE NON OPERATIONAL. I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE WHEEL TO ONE SIDE TO AVOID TRAFFIC, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, OR FROM BEING HIT BY HEAD ON TRAFFIC. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2017 AND THE MOST RECENT WAS JANUARY 18TH ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. IT HAS HAPPENED TO US OVER A DOZEN TIMES AND FOUND BLOGS THAT STATE THAT HYUNDAI DENIES THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 2, 2019
MY VEHICLE IS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 131,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH AND LOST POWER STEERING, POWER BREAKS, AND SPEED CONTROL. MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOW AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. FORTUNATELY I HAD ENOUGH POWER/SPEED STILL TO GET OVER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. I WAS ABLE TO USE MY DIRECTIONALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AS WAS THE OIL LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT. THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE WARNING THAT WOULD HAVE INDICATED AN IMPENDING ENGINE FAILURE. I HAD ALREADY DRIVEN 75 MILES OF MY TRIP AND IT SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY! THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN TO ME AND CURRENTLY UNKNOWN TO MY MECHANIC. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED 50 MILES TO THE MECHANIC. GETTING IT TO A DEALER WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN FATHER.
Engine, Dec 11, 2018
MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING, TOOK TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD MOTOR IS NO GOOD. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COST 6100.00
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 24, 2018
WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. EXITED AND SLOWED TO ABOUT 35 MPH, AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. ENGINE STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND RAN OK REST OF WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL, ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTINUED ON TO AN AUTOZONE WHERE I HAD IT CHECKED WITH A CODE READER. CODE RETRIEVED WAS P0014 WHICH IS B CAMSHAFT TIMING OVER-ADVANCED OR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE BANK 1. REMOVED VALVE COVER AND FRONT COVER AND INSPECTED THE CAMSHAFT AND TIMING COMPONENTS. THESE CHECKED OK, REMOVED OIL PAN AND DISCOVERED THAT THE #4 ROD BEARING HAD SPUN ON CRANKSHAFT. I THEN FOUND THAT HYUNDAI HAD HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR 2.4L ENGINES AND THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A RECALL ON SOME. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI BY EMAIL AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT I OWE ON AND THAT WILL COST ME AT LEAST $5,000 TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED, WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD.