2017 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 967 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 14 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 18 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideFeb 3, 2022
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
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 multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.
Campaign 22V056000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineSep 20, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.
The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.
Campaign 17V578000 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, pressure monitoring and regulating systemsMar 6, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may not have been set in the correct mode during vehicle assembly, and therefore will not provide an appropriate warning in the event of an underinflated tire. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TPMS sensors, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 159.
Campaign 17V142000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringNov 21, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.
Campaign 16V842000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, warning light/devicesMar 10, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses may be damaged by the seat's height adjuster mechanism, resulting in a failure to provide an audible warning when front seat occupants do not fasten their seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.
Campaign 16V145000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
668 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Dec 4, 2023
Driving on highway going about 75 mph and engine powered down and went into limp mode and that is when check engine light came on. Had my kids and myself in the car and had to switch over multiple lanes at slow and unsafe speeds on highway with other vehicles traveling 70-80 mph. Have had oil consumption issues (go through a quart a week) that no dealer would look into unless covered by Hyundai. Diagnosed that cylinder 2 is dead in engine and engine is no good anymore. Only 107,000 on vehicle.
Engine, Dec 2, 2023
The engine failed all of the sudden going down the freeway at 70 miles per hour. The engine has been maintained and there were no issues with it. The engine is available for inspection. My life was put at risk as I was on the freeway and the engine stopped working all of the sudden, I actually avoided an accident while driving because of this issue. The vechile has not been inspected by the manufacture since it got towed to my apartment and my insurance will not cover mechanical issues so they have not inspected it. No lights engine lights were on prior to this incident. Please help me.
Engine, Nov 27, 2023
The engine head has cracked. It is very difficult to find a motor because it is such a common problem.
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 19, 2023
I was driving on the highway, and suddenly oil and battery light came on and engine stopped and I had to pull over. The only warning was the check engine light came on when I started it 10 minutes before the engine died.
Engine, Nov 16, 2023
The engine had oil consumption issues that were addressed with dealership. The engine then just seized up and stopped working one day while driving down the road.
Engine, Nov 14, 2023, fire
While I was stopped at a stoplight turn lane in my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport, smoke started to come out of my engine. I removed myself from the turn lane and got my car into a parking lot, and within a minute, flames appeared from the engine. I do not recall a warning light alerting me, as I was focused on getting the car to a safe place. I called 911 and the fire dept put out the flames as it consumed the front of my car. The whole engine area is toast, so not sure of the cause, and insurance will be processing the claim as a 100% loss. I was up to date on my service/recalls and the car had just hit 90,000 miles. We had recently checked fluid levels, so that was fine, but I did notice when driving the day before and that morning on my way to my destination, that the engine/ car seemed to be a little off or running a little rough. That may have been the precursor to the engine fire I experienced.
Engine, Nov 13, 2023
Without any warning the car stopped running was able to pull over. Called for tow to dealership who after 30 days said it was the engine. Less than 50,000 miles
Engine, Nov 10, 2023
Engine seized while driving
Engine, Nov 10, 2023
Engine failure at 145,000 miles. Has been having extreme oil consumption and taken to the dealership a dozen times. Repeatedly told there is not an issue. Car shut off at 70 miles per hour on the highway with myself and three passengers inside. The check engine light came on mere seconds before cutting off. Dealership now states there are two holes in cylinder 2.
Engine, Nov 9, 2023
My vehicles 3.3l engine suddenly seized while pulling out from a stop sign in the intersection. Thankfully a group of guys saw this and were able to assist me in moving the vehicle out of traffic. Prior to this occurring I had noticed that it had begun to burn a bit of oil but I routinely checked it. Sounds similar to issues that Hyundai has had with some of their other engines that are now being covered under an extended warranty.
Engine, Nov 7, 2023
The engine oil drained out almost all at once. An independent mechanic found a hole in the valve cover. He said it would be expensive to take the entire engine apart but that something had clearly come apart and flown through the engine, causing a large crack. Oil had splashed all over the top of the engine. There was no fire, but there could have been. We stopped driving it right away. We have not yet brought it in to the manufacturer, but we have read that there are many failures of this engine (3.3 liter) around this mileage (124,000). The emission control warning light had come on a few days earlier, but not the engine oil warning light.
Engine, Nov 6, 2023
11/06/2023 I was driving down the hwy when I heard a loud knocking sound coming from the engine, so stopped at a gas station only to find out that the engine had no oil in the motor and the oil warning light did not come on and the engine started losing power so we had it towed to a dealership to have them diagnose the problem and they said we are going to have to put a new engine in the vehicle in which I'm going to have to do cause I have a loan on this vehicle. Good thing we were getting off the freeway before the vehicle started to loose power and catch us right in the middle of traffic. I was not alone in the vehicle at the time of this issue.
Engine, Nov 6, 2023
I wrote two documents outlining my complaint and information about the service on this vehicle that might be helpful in understanding the big picture. I have filed a consumer complaint with the Attorney General's Office. They suggested I also file a complaint with NHTSA. I have uploaded my written statements and supporting evidence for this complaint. There was no fire in the vehicle but there was so much smoke coming from the engine the person driving could not see the rode, other vehicles, or a clear path to safely get the car off the freeway. Luckily she was able to move the car onto the shoulder of the rode as she was driving in the far left lane. She did not crash the vehicle into the median.
Engine, Nov 6, 2023
The car has 77k miles on it and has received regular maintenance and oil changes at or around every 5k miles. It was brought to the dealership after the engine was making noises and a check engine light came on. This is where they diagnosed it with a timing chain issue and metal shards in all of the engine fluids. We are the second owners of the car and because it was out of Hyundai’s warranty they would not cover it, leaving us with a $15000 lemon. Without getting it repaired, the engine can stall or combust at any time. There is no reason why this engine should need to be replaced other than faulty parts produced by Hyundai.
Engine, Nov 5, 2023
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 7 seater died from engine failure due to no oil. Oil was checked by Earnhardt Hyundai 4,000 miles/10 months prior. Car never gave any indication that oil was needed or engine problem was imminent. It just died in the HOV lane and would not start up. Obviously it's very dangerous and unnerving when your car just stops out of the blue. Also since it's past 100,000 miles Hyundai is not offering any help with engine repair. On the internet there are numerous reports of this same thing happening to other 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe owners.
Engine, Nov 3, 2023
While driving home one day my car lost all power. All the warning lights on the dash came on and then my car was dead. I managed to safely get off the road but had trouble getting the car to stop. Once stopped safely, my car would not restart. It would crank but would not turn over. My car ended having to be taken to the dealer for diagnostic, only to be told me engine was seized. My car had 58,415 miles on it. No indication that there was anything wrong with the engine.
Engine, Nov 2, 2023
In October of 2022 my check engine light came on when I took it to Oreily's error code P1326. When I searched code it was part of a recall indicating excessive connecting rod bearing wear. I called Hyundai of Del Rio which is about 80 miles from where I live. They told me to bring it in to address the issue they fixed the issue and advised me that there was an additional recall for the breaks. (recall 22V056000) They told me the parts were ordered and they would call me when the parts arrived. Now October 2023 my check engine light is on once again, called Hyundai Corporate and opened a case with them. They told me to take it to the dealership, called the dealership and asked for a tow they said they did not have one available. They advised me to get a tow and a rental car if the problem was with the warranty I would be reimbursed. My car was towed 10/24/23 and as of today no one tell me what the issue with my car is. When I call, they give me the run around. Hyundai corporate said they have not heard from Hyundai of Del Rio and Hyundai of Del Rio says they are waiting on Corporate. Corporate assigned me a case manager who stated I will not be reimbursed for tow or rental which is placing me in a financial hardship. I have spent 1K so far case #[XXX], case manager said we do not know what's going on and have not heard from dealership yet. He stated I can call I asked him not too since I am afraid, they will delay the process more. 11/1/23 I spoke with Dewayne at the dealership he stated yeah, we heard you opened a case and Hyundai said you will have to wait until they decided what's going to happen. How can they do this? It's my car do I not have a say in what they do to it? Do I not have a right to know what's wrong with it? am I not entitled to reimbursement? I have asked repeatedly for a loaner to cut the cost of the rental which is almost $70 dollars a day. The parts for the break recall were there and I was never contacted to take my vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 1, 2023
I purchased this vehicle 05/05/2019 as a certified pre-owned vehicle from the dealership. I have kept regular maintenance on the car. Three same day of purchase, the engine quit as I was driving it. I was making a left hand turn and it quit while I was in the intersection. My children were in the car. Hyundai replaced the engine, but about a year and half later, that engine did the exact same thing. This time I was coming off the freeway. I can't imagine the possibilities if this had happened while on the freeway. Now, the engine is making the same sound as with the first two engines. I took it to Hyundai, and they claim it's normal. The car has issues where I will be trying to safely merge into traffic and it will hesitate. There are multiple intermittent issues that occur, but the scariest is knowing how the first two engines felt/ran and sounded prior to their failure, and once again experiencing those exact issues. How many times should an engine have to be replaced in a four year period? It is very likely that one of my children could be fatally injured depending on where we happen to be when this most recent engine fails, because it will - guaranteed. Online forums are full of thousands of people who purchased vehicles from Hyundai that have the EXACT same issue. No check engine warning. Just a rough sounding engine, and then it will just quit as they're driving. Something needs to be done. Lastly, June 18th, 2023 I had a collision with another vehicle. I collided with another vehicle, my front end to the other drivers driver's side. My air bags did not deploy. Nobody was injured, but I truly feel my airbags should have went off for the amount of damage to my front end. Pictures will be included.
Engine, Oct 27, 2023
I was driving my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe with 70,039 miles on the odometer. The engine shut off without warning while I was driving it. No check engine or any indication of a problem was displayed. This created a dangerous situation for myself and my 5-year-old daughter as I had no choice but to manage to push the vehicle out of the roadway to a safe place without power steering. Exiting the vehicle with a child in a car seat was equally dangerous and not a viable option. Capital Hyundai in San Jose CA inspected the engine and reported the engine siezed and required replacement.
Engine, Oct 27, 2023
Engine failed while driving. No warning lights. No check engine lights. Lost complete power whole driving at normal speeds. Complete engine failure. Regualr maintenance records kept. 104k miles
Engine, Oct 27, 2023
Vehicle has 139k miles, regular maintenance, and engine had catastrophic failure at city street speeds when crankshaft and/or connecting rods failed. Hyundai advises that our vehicle VIN is not covered by their recall for this same issue. They say it only pertained to a small footprint of that manufacturing year. We still owe several years on this vehicle, and the cost to replace engine (with an equally problematic engine) will cost almost as much as we still owe, basically causing us to purchase the car twice. There should be some kind of recourse on these 3.3l engines with all the same issues. Reddit is full of people with the exact same issues. Our local shop quoted us at $11k to replace the engine.
Engine, Oct 26, 2023
I bought the vehicle used and have had it for less than 2 months (to the date of the incident). I checked the oil before a long drive which was 2 weeks before the incident. Oil was topped off and looked and smelled fresh. I began to notice a knock followed by a check engine light for camshaft position sensor. I shut the car off immediately. When I checked the dipstick (2 weeks after our trip) there was not a drop on the dipstick. There are no signs of oil leaks to be seen. I drained what was left in the crankcase (less than a quart) and it was silver, thick, with metal flakes all in it. I refilled the crankcase and did not solve the knock (I ran it for 2 seconds after refilling it to test it). I contacted Hyundai with the issue and they asked that we make an appointment with our local dealer to have it inspected (closest appointment was 2 months out). The car has not run since I changed the oil (2 months ago). I checked the dipstick yesterday and it was still topped off. This rules out any oil leaks. The engine is eating the oil with no oil smell or smoke. There were no warning lights for low oil or low oil pressure. Our inspection is tomorrow so I am hoping they can do something about this.
Engine, Oct 25, 2023
I was driving down the freeway when all the hazard lights came on, the rpms went all the way to 6000 rpms and then I had no acceleration when I pressed the gas pedal. I somehow made it over to the right lane and pulled over. The car would not restart so I had a tow truck take it to the dealership. Hyundai will not honor their warranty because I couldn't come up with the receipts for my oil and filters. The engine, Theta II, is well known to consume too much oil and sieze engines.
Engine, Oct 21, 2023
Engine made knocking noises and was towed to a mechanic. Mechanic discovered metal shards in the oil pan and all signs pointed to being well maintained. We bought used from CarMax and are the 2nd owners. Mechanics best guess is engine failure due to defect and high oil consumption with no signs of leaks. No codes, no check engine light, no low oil pressure light. No warning. Oil changes were completed by us and valvoline at regular intervals. Safety risk of engine failure while driving and causing an accident. Car was successfully pulled to the side of the road. Hyundai dealership unable to help with repair assistance as we are second owners and warranty did not transfer. Researched community chat forums and this seems to be a common issue for this engine to fail.
Engine, Oct 19, 2023
Engine light came on and then the engine lost power and had to be towed to dealership. Dealership said it was internal engine failure. Requested oil change documents for the past 6 years. First/original owner and vehicle only has 74,139 miles on it.