2014 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 494 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 16 involved a crash and 30 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 22, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
Campaign 23V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchJun 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 17V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, sidewallDec 16, 2013
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2014 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 5, 2013, through November 15, 2013, and equipped with P235/65R17 103T Continental Crosscontact LX tires. The tires may have a damaged sidewall.
The damaged sidewall may result in a separation between the belt edges which could cause tread detachment or rapid air loss, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai notified dealers to suspend sales of affected Santa Fe Sport vehicles equipped with the P235/65R17 103T tires, and replace them with alternative tires. All affected vehicles were remedied prior to retail sale. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 13V624000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
494 reports, newest first.
Engine, May 1, 2024
We were driving along the freeway at approximately 65 miles per hour. The car suddenly started to hesitate and then the engine cut completely out. We lost power steering and brakes when the engine cut out, but managed to get the vehicle to the shoulder of the road safely. There were no warning lights and the engine quit almost instantly. We had it towed to the Hyundai dealer and they said that the engine was destroyed and needed to be replaced.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Apr 18, 2024, crash
1) What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? I tried to park in the parking space next to it by making a slight right turn. As soon as I stepped on the brake to park, the car began to rush forward. I noticed again and again that my foot was slamming on the brakes, but the car didn't stop. My car went over the ledge between the parking lot and the store, slammed into the pillar of the building on the left, smashed all the glass in the dance studio, and hit the wall on the right before coming to a stop. It took six seconds from rushing forward to into the store. 2) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I must have been severe injured if the car didn't stop by hitting a right-side wall of the store. And if there were people, I was not able to avoid casualites. 3) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, the car was towed and reviewd by car insurance. Car insurance informed that th e car will be total loss. No information about reproducing the issue 4) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No 5) Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, that was suddenly occured 6) Request: I want NHTSA to investigate my car of sudden unintended acceleration. I would like to get EDR, X-ray of PCB board of electrical central unit(a.k.a ECU) managing brake and accelerator and car manufacturer's reliability sign-off report of the ECU board. I have a security footage taking the accident moment. I failed to upload the video. If you want, please let me know. Will send the video file with NHTSA.
Electrical system, Apr 17, 2024
I have a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. I was notified the ABS module may leak hydraulic fluid on electronics that can cause a fire while driving or parked. This SAFETY issue was found in September 2023. After 7 months a remedy still has not been found. How long is a suitable amount of time to wait for a solution? How long should I need to wait for this to either burn down or get fixed? A remedy has been found for the Santa Fe Sport. Will this same fix, work for my Santa Fe? If it will I am willing to pay for it and wait for reimbursement. The would be better than wondering if my vehicle is going to catch fire while I'm driving down the highway. Any help you can give me will be appreciated. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine, Apr 9, 2024
Check light flashing found dtc p1326 and the engine is knocking tech found tab Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Engine, Apr 8, 2024
Engine has excessive oil consumption. Many complaints on engines failing and Hyundai not doing anything about it. They won’t even run tests on the car.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 8, 2024
CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF ERRATIC GAUGE OPERATION AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS. CODE SCAN REVEALED MULTIPLE CODES STORED IN ABS FOR SPEED SENSOR INPUT. DATA LIST SHOWED VEHICLE SPEED SPIKING ON MUPLTIPLE WHEELS THEN UNIT STOPPED COMMUNICTING WITH SCAN TOOL. UNPLUGGED ABS CONTROL UNIT TO CHECK FOR POWER AND GROUND AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID AND BURNED CONNECTOR. RECALL HAS NOT BEEN EXPANDED TO THIS VIN YET BUT SHOULD BE.
Engine, Apr 6, 2024
While driving engine began to sputter and power ceased, stranding my wife on a busy highway in the dark. Engine suffered 2 out of 4 cylinders failure on the highway, engine is dead. Dealership quoted $18,000 all told to fix the damages. Routine maintenance performed and on top of that, constant topping off of oil for a bad oil consumption issue. Hyundai refused to warranty or help at all in any way even after stating over the phone that it has been a known defect for some time and should be covered. Hyundai has left me with a dead car, no help to fix it or replace it and a loan still to pay off.
Service brakes, Apr 3, 2024
I received a letter 6 months ago advising me to park my car outside and away from buildings because the car could catch fire even when not running. I've had to get permission from my HOA every month to park in the parking lot. I call the dealership every month to see if there has been a solution. Sometimes I have to drive my grandchildren and two of them are in car seats. Sometimes I have to drive my dogs and they are restrained in safety harnesses. I am afraid to drive with them because I'm not sure I'd be able to get them out in time if there was a fire. I called Hyundai customer service and they told me to ask my dealership for a loaner car. when I did, they said they would call me back. They did not. I have an upcoming road trip at the end of this month and I'm afraid I will have to cancel because of this safety issue. I feel that Hyundai is taking much too long to come up with a resolution and they are putting me and my family, my grandchildren, and my dogs at risk, not to mention the inconvenience and the worry.
Engine, Apr 3, 2024
What component failed or malfunctioned? Vehicle's engine is burning oil. There are no leaks and no oil left behind after it has been parked for extended periods, yet the engine is bone dry when oil levels are manually checked with the dip stick. The vehicle's engine has been the subject of numerous lawsuits and settlements for connecting rod bearing failures, so it is likely that my vehicle is in the early stages of this failure. Despite the lawsuits, settlements, and known issues, the manufacturer refuses to inspect or test for these issues under warranty. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? One of the recalls that resulted from one of the previous lawsuits led to the installation of an engine knock sensor which is meant to stall the engine and place it into a "limp mode" when the failure is happening. If this is to happen while I am operating the vehicle (especially on the highway), it could put myself, my child, or others on the road at risk when the vehicle suddenly goes from operating at 65+ MPH to something much slower without warning. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The manufacturer refuses to test for these issues under warranty, despite the symptoms clearly pointing to early rod bearing failure. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The manufacturer refuses to test for these issues under warranty, despite the symptoms clearly pointing to early rod bearing failure. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There has been no warning aside from a simple "check engine" light. Had I not manually checked my oil levels, I would not have noticed the engine was bone dry before operating the vehicle.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 24, 2024
On [XXX] I was driving down [XXX] doing 80mph with my family in the car, including my 7month old son. As I was going down the interstate, the vehicle malfunctioned and seized up. I had to manually push to get the vehicle off the interstate to avoid getting hit. The vehicle lights all flashed on and cut off. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership to find out what is wrong with the vehicle, if needed I give permission to get information/inspect the vehicle. I am still trying to get clear answers from Hyundai about what happened to the vehicle and to get it repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Mar 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the oil warning light illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The manufacturer provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
Engine, Mar 14, 2024
While driving, came to a red light and stopped. When the light turned green, I pushed on the gas peddle and the car went completely black! No lights, no go, no warning, no nothing! It was the middle of afternoon rush hour, when people were getting off of work! No warning lights or problems prior warned me that something could be wrong. Up until that point, it drove smoothly, no issues at all. I had just had a routine maintenance check: oil and filter change, point checks, and anti theft installed, just a few months before, at this same dealership, and was told everything was good. The Hyundai dealership, where I had it towed, told me, after running the diagnostics, the replace engine code came up as the problem. But when I asked the service tech what could have caused it, all he said was, it could be a lot of things. I then asked the service tech as to why I had no warning at all, he responded, it could be a lot of things. They quoted me a cost from $7200 to $8000, not including tax, to replace the engine with a re manufactured engine. Unfortunately, I did not have an extended warranty, but I'm still very confused, angered, and stressed as to why I had no warning what so ever!
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 9, 2024
Same issue with my Santa Fe Sport with the engine burning oil. It left me stranded on a back road up hill when it just slowly stopped accelerating and shut off. I had it towed to Hyundai dealership who wanted me to purchase a brand new engine. After talking to a friend who is a mechanic he told me about the lawsuit going on. I confronted Hyundai with this new information I had gotten. I was able to get the engine replace but I’m appalled at Hyundais sketchy way of trying to bypass this. Had not for my friend told me then I would have paid for a new engine! Dealership kept my vehicle for 4 months because they were out of stock in engines due to the amount of vehicles having the same issue! Wow now the truth unfolds. Shortly after getting the car back the check engine light came on. When reversing the vehicle would buck and seem like it wanted to stall out. Autozone hooked up computer and said torque converter code showed. Autozone said if I just had my engine replaced then the dealership didn’t install it right or broke something during the process. I took it back to Hyundai and they verified converter code and said I needed a new transmission! Prior to the engine issue this car NEVER had problems. The second the engine was replaced everything went wrong! Seems very sketchy. The car started losing power when driving. I was on the highway and it would not accelerate. I was terrified I was going to get hit by all the other vehicles. Cars were dodging me and slamming on breaks and honking horns. I managed to make my way to pull over. Got the transmission replaced like I was told and the converter replaced. Car is still doing the same thing. Hyundai said I needed converter replaced AGAIN two months after they replaced it. Now everyone at Hyundai was fired… wonder why. Now I took it back to Hyundai again, car has not been driven in over a year. Now they are saying no issue with converter it’s the transmission! Hyundai needs to be out of business. They put us in danger!
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Service brakes, Mar 4, 2024
Hyundai Campaign 251 ABS Module may leak hydraulic fluid, internally, and could cause a fire while driving, or parked. Hyundai has known about this problem since, at least, August 2023. The recall paperwork says this leak may cause a fire in the engine compartment while parked, or driving. What is taking Hyundai so long to correct this safety issue? I can't park my car in the garage because it may start a fire and cause damage to my home. I'm concerned about driving it because it may start burning while I'm on the highway. If the ABS stops working it may result in the brakes not working properly. Is there anything the NHTSA can do to encourage Hyundai to find a resolution.
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the ABS warning light, the steering warning light, and the Hill Descent control warning light were illuminated. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, another vehicle in the left turn lane was intruding into his lane. The contact stated that he slightly swerved to the right; however, the wheels locked up, and the vehicle skidded before it came to a stop, nearly causing a crash. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which he related to the failure; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the ABS warning light, the Hill Descent control warning light, and the traction control warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine, Feb 21, 2024
Knock Sensor did its job and heard something in the engine and put the car in "limp mode". Car was "bucking" and would not go above 15mph in Atlanta area rush hour traffic. Barely coasted home. Towed the car to local dealership. Dealership stated the car passed the rod bearing test, so not eligible for a new engine, or any other repairs. But, they stated it does NEED a new engine. Said it needs a new knock sensor (we pay!) and new spark plugs (just replaced 2 months prior - once again, we pay!), and they stated oil is low (oil change done 1 month prior). Dealer stated nothing can be done until the engine completely fails/does not pass rod bearing test. We are expected to drive a dangerous car (assuming it will drive as it won't start at this point). Car has been sitting at the dealership since 11/15/23. Our other car is a Hyundai as well. That engine failed completely but luckily I was on a side road and not in traffic. Hyundai does NOT care about consumer safety.
Engine, Feb 18, 2024
I discovered the vehicle had an internal engine leak after finding that the engine oil was low after manually checking it. There was no warning light that came on to show the low engine. After refilling the oil and driving the vehicle for a couple of days, the engine developed a knock. The vehicle subsequently shut down and will not restart. This occurred while driving and I was unable to have enough momentum to pull to the side of the road safely.
Engine, Feb 17, 2024
* Unresolved Engine issues * My car no longer feels safe to drive * The problem has been confirmed by a dealer * I'm not sure if the vehicle or component was inspected by anyone outside of the dealership service area. * I wasn't due for an oil change until November 28 however on November 7th, my oil light appeared so I took the car to an auto center near my home which was Goodyear. They found that there was no oil in my tank and tested it for leaks. There were no external leaks. I made an appointment with the dealership and they confirmed an issue with the engine. They made some repair and advised that I drive no less than 1,000 miles and up to roughly 1,025 miles then return for service. I confirmed with the service technician that this engine is under warranty so when I return , I would like to have the engine repaired. . NOTE: I have dealership documents to share if needed. I returned within the required milage at 1,008 miles. As I was headed to the dealer, the service technician called me to say that I had to have an oil change on that day, and then return later after an ADDITIONAL 1,000 miles. My warranty will expire in a little over 3 weeks and I haven't been able to reach the 1,000 mile requirement for their testing purposes. Now that the car hasn't been driving too smoothly and also recently began to be very loud while idling, I don't feel safe driving it. At this point I want Hyundai to exam the engine and repair the engine now before the warranty runs out. Otherwise they aren't really honoring the warranty if they impose obstacles to consumers, denying them their use of the warranty. I've reached out to Hyundai, however I don't know how quickly they will act or if they will acknowledge my letter at all. I'm contacting you in an effort to get assistance in having this engine repaired as soon as possible.Thank you in advance for your assistance .
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 15, 2024
For months there was a knocking/rattling sound coming from under my hood… I never got my oil changed at Hyundai. I always went to 10 minute express for my oil changes. The one time i do decide to go to Hyundai for an oil change/ inspection my car engine seizes 2 months later. Found out it seized due to no oil, there was no low oil pressure light on no warning light nothing. Hyundai doesn’t and won’t fix the issue. Mind you I’ve been keeping my car maintenance every 3 months when it comes to an oil change. The day i decide to use Hyundai is the reason why my car stopped working. After taking the dead car to Hyundai they said after 200,000 miles the engine drinks a lot of oil. Again nobody told me this til after. I’m very upset with Hyundai cause they don’t see their fault in this. Since I’m not the original owner it’s nothing they can do. I got extended warranty on it and it was a waste of money
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.