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, Aug 25, 2022, fire
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while the vehicle was at standstill to make a left turn, the brake pedal was rigid and the steering wheel seized. The contact stated the Unlock Your Steering Wheel message was illuminated. The contact stated she started to smell and saw smoke exiting from the hood. The contact was able to exit the vehicle safely and shortly after the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact stated a police officer came to the location of the incident but was not aware if a police report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle first to towing lot and then to a repair facility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
Engine, Aug 21, 2022
Engine failure. No warning lights prior. Car went into limp mode on interstate. Recall 953 was performed on car in 2019. Was never notified prior to purchase of this issue and purchased a $1700.00 extended warranty that the dealership knew I didn't need because car covered under lifetime warranty. Complete nightmare. Dealership has no loaner car to provide me and says up to 3 weeks to finish diagnosis.
Engine, Aug 20, 2022
Engine failure after 953 recall update. Engine stopped accelerating on highway.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Engine, Aug 11, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the passenger cabin would fill up with the odor of gasoline. The contact stated an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure occurred again, with the passenger cabin filling with the odor of gasoline. The vehicle was towed to another dealer who diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure re-occurred and returned the vehicle to the same dealer. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact felt that the fuel line had been damaged due to the first engine replacement repair. The contact researched online and related the fuel line failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V934000 (Engine, Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Aug 9, 2022
I HAVE A 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT THAT BURNS AN EXSESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I DO ALOT OF DRIVING MAYBE AROUND 36 MILES A DAY. EVERY TWO WEEKS ANOTHER OIL CHANGE IS NEEDED. BOUGHT THIS VECHLE IN 2017 WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES ON IT THE EVERYTIME I GOES TO JIFFY LUBE IT SHOWS THAT THE ENGINE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED. THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VECHILE SINCE DAY ONE OF HAVING IT. I NEVER GOTTEN A NOTICE ABOUT THIS INFORMATION. HYUNDAI HAS BEEN CALLED NUMEROUS OF TIMES CONCERNING THIS MATTER. THE ENGINE WAS NEVER REPLACED OIL STILL BURNING REALLY FAST. ITS CAUSING A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY. I DONT THINK ANY OF THE PROBLEMS WERE TAKEN CARE OF.
Power train, Engine, Aug 1, 2022
Engine started to make a knocking noise right at 100k miles. We bought the car used with 78k miles on it and kept up with oil changes and tires. Once we noticed the noise we changed the oil again just to make sure everything was lubricated correctly. There were a lot of metal shavings in the oil and the noise just kept getting louder and louder so we stopped driving it and it has been sitting for about 9 months now and everyone we talk to says that the engine has blown. After looking into it, Hyundai has had many vehicles with this exact issue. This model and year needs to be covered under the engine recall that is for the Santa Fe sports and Sonatas.
Engine, Jul 29, 2022
Engine blew out while driving through an intersection. Car turned off and could not use the break. Ended up coasting through the intersection. Oil change was performed at Hyundai and no information was given about potential engine failure. No issues with car previously and the check engine light did not turn on. Car still turns on and runs, but now the engine makes a loud noise. No check engine light still.
Engine, Jul 25, 2022
While driving on the highway, the car started stalling, then a check engine light turned on. When going up hill, and when at a stop sign or stop light, the vehicle fully shut down. On the side of the road, I checked the spark plugs - one was fouled. I replaced the spark plug and the ignition coil but that did not solve the issue. Prior to this, there was excessive oil consumption. I used a quart every 6oo miles. I had the vehicle towed to Healey Hyundai in Beacon, NY where they determined there was no compression in a cylinder and that it was not covered by any existing recall or warranty. I had the issue confirmed by a mechanic shop in Poughkeepsie, NY as well, same conclusion, no compression in a cylinder.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal clicking noise would emit from the vehicle without warning. As the noise persisted, the contact stated that the vehicle shut off upon the depression of the accelerator pedal while at a stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel during the failure. Upon restart of the vehicle, the vehicle began to hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the RPM's began to rev. The contact was able to reach her destination and upon inspection of her vehicle, she discovered that there was no oil in the engine. The contact called the independent mechanic where she had her recent oil change and they informed her of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which was linked to the failure. The contact notified the dealer about the defect and had the vehicle towed there for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or repaired. The failure mileage was 136,981.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 18, 2022, fire
My 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport broke down while driving home on 5/30/2022. No active warning lights at time of incident. Vehicle slowed down while driving on interstate and lost the ability to accelerate. A noise was made (may have been considered knocking). Once parked on the side of the highway, nothing happened when START/STOP button was pressed except random lights across dash (NO WARNING LIGHTS). Vehicle did not appear to be ON. Vehicle had to be towed to local Hyundai dealership. Dealership replaced the starter, performed an engine diagnostics, then parked vehicle on lot. The vehicle caught fire on 6/20/2022 after service tech exited it; considered a total loss. The vehicle was inspected by Hyundai Dealership representative, owner's insurance company, and vendor for Hyundai Motor America. HMA ruled incident as No Root Cause for engine seizing: no fault of workmanship nor manufacturer. In addition, in January 2022, this vehicle went into LIMS mode, no active warning lights were observed, and the same dealership replaced Knock Sensor. The vehicle passed engine diagnostics test.
Engine, Jul 11, 2022
We were driving at the interstate then all of a sudden it went on a limp mode. Then the check engine light came on. There's also a rod knock as well. We were able to pull on the side or the road. We were like 70 miles away from home so we had to towed my car back to the dealership. They still haven't diagnosed it. They said it would take 2-3 months before they could take a look at it. But I believe it was under the warranty under the Campaign 953 for Hyundai. They cant provide a loaner or even a rental car for me. Im out of car for the next 2 to 3 months and may affect my job. This is very frustrating. I only had 71000 miles on it.
Engine, Jul 10, 2022
We were driving in the highway and all of a sudden the engine started making a loud knocking noise. After safely pulling over, we checked the oil and there was none. There was no low oil light indicating a problem as well as no oil leaks or smoke. The oil just disappeared. We were lucky to get off the highway before the engine seized. The dealership confirmed the engine is blown and needs a replacement. The cost is $17,000 but Hyundai will only cover 50%. We are going the cut our losses and get a new car instead of repairing. To me this is a factory defect that should have been covered event though it’s beyond the warranty: we have service records showing an oil change every 5,000 miles. We are the original owner.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 6, 2022
When entering a busy intersection, the car seized with no power and would not restart.
Steering, Jul 6, 2022
Steering column coupler is failing. If it breaks completely, I could lose control of steering and it could lead to a crash. It is available for inspection and has been inspected by Hyundai and confirmed that it is a coupler failing. The only known problem, that I didn't realize was a problem, was vibration upon braking (I thought that was the rotors needing attention) and vibration when hitting speeds between 65-75 (which I thought was an alignment issue). It was when I tool it in for an alignment that I was asked if there was any "play" or clicking in the steering column and there was, but it was so slight, I had not thought anything of it. I was told there was a recall on this part for two models in 2014, but my Santa Fe was not part of that. There was also a recall for this part on a Santa Fe 2016 forward; again, it excluded my vehicle. The job is expensive, for a $24.00 part replacement. I am told the entire steering column needs to be replaced at a cost of $2800.00 and that was from the Hyundai dealer.
Engine, Jul 6, 2022
Driving on interstate when car went into limp mode and started ticking and knocking. Again. Flashing engine light. P1326 knock sensor code, again. Another $250 for towing to dealership and life without a car again As a single mom of a disabled child
Electrical system, Jul 5, 2022
Drivers side rear passenger door lock became inoperable. Door will not lock or unlock with key fob or from the drivers door arm rest door lock/unlock switch. Door lock on the door panel does not move positions when fob or door lock switch is operated. Door lock within the door handle on the inside is in between the locked and unlocked position. If the silver lock on the door is either pushed or pulled, the door lock will function. Power lock does not work.
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Other or unspecified, Jul 3, 2022
While driving normally, suddenly the vehicle will jolt and the RPMs go down to zero despite the vehicle still moving. Even with the gas pedal pushed down to the floor, and being able to hear the engine 'vrooming', the vehicle will not increase speed. It is extremely dangerous to not be able to speed up when on a highway or interstate. The check engine light does not come on, the diagnostic at the dealership does not throw any codes and the issue is intermittent so no one knows how to fix it since they can't duplicate the problem on demand. Usually turning the car off and on will 'fix' the problem until it happens again out of nowhere. The vehicle is extremely unsafe; this has been happening on and off for months. We do have videos of this occurring; no one at the dealership or any friends who are mechanics have any idea of what is wrong.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 30, 2022, fire
Car caught fire while driving.
Engine, Jun 30, 2022, fire
On June 1, 2022, the vehicle was towed into the dealership. Customer complained it stopped while running and wouldn't start. Initial engine Dx was completed. The battery and starter were replaced. Upon replacing both, the engine started, but was making a "clicking" sound. On June 20, 2022, another engine Dx was performed. Dx revealed DTC P1326 - Knock Signal Range/Performance and DTC B1688 - Cluster Ionizer Fault. Engine was under an extended warranty. Given known engine issues with these vehicles, Dealership planned to request Hyundai replace the customer's engine. Customer was the original owner and routinely serviced vehicle at the dealership. The vehicle was moved to the back of the storage lot. Several minutes after parking same, they observed smoke coming from the engine compartment. Three fire extinguishers were used in an effort to suppress the engine fire. The Fire Dept. was ultimately called to extinguish the blaze.
Engine, Jun 19, 2022
While driving to an appointment on 6/16/22, i went to pass someone in the left lane. I was able to accelerate enough to pass the vehicle. After that, my vehicle lost power and I was able to coast to the side of the road safely. I was stuck on the side of the road for a few hours and was finally able to be rescued. Got the car home, took it to the local maintenance shop where they couldnt find anything wrong with it. I got my car back the next day, only to have the engine start a tick noise in the engine. I checked the oil level and it was below the L on the dipstick. No low oil light or check engine light ever came on. I put 2 quarts of oil in. Started the car up to now have a loud knocking noise when i accelerate. Since this just happened over the weekend, i havent made it to a shop to have the car inspected.
Steering, Jun 14, 2022
I have a Steering Coupler failure on a 2014 Santa Fe with 67k miles. Hyundai has already recalled the Steering Coupler in the Elantra and Sonata models, however this same part is used across multiple models including the Santa Fe and Azera. My family is forced to replace this on a 2014 Santa Fe and 2013 Azera. The defective part causes a heavy clunking in the steering column which could lead to an accident. Below is the recall notice. https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/TXX7/MicroSiteTemplate/MicroSiteTemplateVINValidate/2687 The part being replaced is below, which as you can see is across multiple models. MDPS Flexible Coupling Replacement 56315- 2K000-FFF Applicable Vehicles: 2010~2014 Sonata (YFa), 2011~2014 Sonata Hybrid (YF HEV) 2007~2017 Elantra (HD, MD/UD), 2009~2012 Elantra Touring (FD), 2013~2014 Elantra GT (GD), 2013~2014 Elantra Coupe (JK) 2013~2018 Santa Fe (NC) 2012~2017 Azera (HG) 2012~2017 Veloster (FS) I wanted to report this to ensure that the government agency responsible knows that this part is used in more than 2 models. This is a common complaint against Hyundai if you read online about their complaints. It is unsafe and unfair for other models to not be included in this recall.
Engine, Jun 10, 2022
The engine began to knock when accelerating from stop signs and green lights then engine quit entirely. Check engine light came on but did not flash. Vehicle was towed to Hyundai dealer service department. Service department says engine needs to be replaced. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE MANUFACTURER HONOR THE WARRANTY DESPITE IT BEING EXPIRED.
Engine, Jun 6, 2022
We were not advised that the vehicle was burning oil when serviced and there were no signs of leakage in the garage where kept. On an extended road trip the engine began to make a rattling noise that got worse as we drove. I stopped at an automotive store and checked the oil just to be surprised that no oil was in the engine. Again, no external damage or leaks. I serviced the vehicle with oil and continued driving home. On the interstate in traffic the vehicle stalled and I coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The engine would not turn over and we had to be towed. Hyundai says they don't have parts to fix the vehicle, but that when they do it will cost $14,000 to replace the engine. This engine model needs to be put on re-call just like the other engines that Hyundai has been penalized for bad and unsafe engineering.
Engine, Jun 5, 2022
A worn connecting rod bearing which produced a knocking noise from the engine and engine warning light. Engine had 80 thousand miles with routine oil changes using 100% synthetic oil
Electrical system, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, May 27, 2022, fire
I was driving to pickup my dog from daycare centre and when I arrive to house, put my car in Park then a huge amount of smoke came out from the front hood of car. The smoke got bigger and bigger within 30 seconds I couldn't see anything from front of car and around driver's seat. There was no Hazard alerts or signs on my car that my car was overheating. There was no signal or emergency shut off on the car when the overheating began. My boyfriend was in car at time. My dog was walking outside with daycare caretaker when a flame started on Driver's side engine. The flame lit and sparked into a huge flame. I ran out of car while my boyfriend yelled for everyone to back away from car before it explodes. The flame grew and engine bursted into flames, a loud explosion followed. I did not have any time to even gather what was going on before my eyes, I was trembling in shock and could not speak clearly. Immediately, I called police to come put out the fire. The fire department was transferred into my phone call. I was able to give address and they arrived on scene within 3-4 minutes. Fire department put out the flames with a water hose. The car was completely damaged, falling apart into pieces, front hood was on fire to the back seats, doors were on fire, steering wheel was gone, entire front dashboard and chairs were melted and gone in pieces. I started feeling sick and overwhelming stressed.