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
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 2, 2017
THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE PAST THE INITIAL PRESS OF THE ACCELERATOR FROM A STOP LEAVING YOU COMMITTED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT POWER FOR AROUND 2 SECONDS. STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR FAILS TO PRODUCE ANY POWER. JUST HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY HYUNDAI WHO SAID THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. HYUNDAI ALSO SAID THERE ARE NO BULLETINS OR RECALLS. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF CHATTER FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THERE IS UNDER 6000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, INTERMITTENTLY.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Apr 20, 2017
DURING ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR LOW SPEED TURN ,CAR HAS NO OR LITTLE RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR, HAPPENS ON DRY PAVEMENT AS WELL AS WET, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES.AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO TRACTION ISSUES.REPORTED TO HYUNDAI DEALER CHECKED 3 TIMES AND SAID ALL WAS FINE ,NOT SATISFIED WITH ANSWER I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE TO CHRIS WELLS OPENED A CASE WITH THEM #10059476 ON 3/15/2017.IVE HAD PHONE CONTACT WITH HIM ,HE SAID HE WOULD GIVE IT TO THE GUYS UPSTAIRS BUT STILL NO SATISFACTION.BIG SAFTEY CONCERN!!! PLEASE HELP!
Engine, Apr 16, 2017
ENGINE STALLED (DIED) WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED 2 TIMES WHEN ON VACATION. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. DURING THIS TIME THERE WAS A NATIONAL RECALL ISSUED BY HYUNDAI FOR SANTA FE. I THOUGHT ARE PROBLEMS WOULD BE SOLVED. BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERED UPTO PRODUCTION YEAR 2015. WE RECEIVED A 2017 SANTA FE LOANER FOR USE DURING THE TIME THEY ASSESSED OUR VEHICLE, THIS VEHICLE ALSO STALLED. I REPORTED THIS TO THE SERVICE MAR. HE SAID HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL HYUNDAI AUTHORIZED A RECALL FOR 2017. I TOLD HIM THAT THEY PROBABLY WON'T UNTIL THEY SOLD OFF ALL THEIR NEW VEHICLE INVENTORY. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE HOME. 1 DAY LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN MY WIFE PULLED OUT ON TO A BUSY HIGHWAY. THESE VEHICLES ARE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. *JS
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 7, 2017
2017 SANTA FE ULTIMATE 2.0T. CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND LAGS. HAPPENS AT A LOWER SPEED AND FROM A STOP. VERY SCARY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AND ENTERING FREEWAY.DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR A SECOND OR MORE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TAKES OFF. AT LOW SPEED IN PARKING LOT DEPRESS ACCELERATOR LIGHTLY AND CAR TAKES OFF. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP CAR WILL ACCELERATE QUICKLY WHILE DEPRESSING PEDAL GENTLY. DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT IS FREQUENT ENOUGH TO BE CONCERNED. HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 6, 2017
SOMETIMES, WHEN I PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, MY CAR DOES NOT GO. IT WILL MOVE FORWARD AT A SLOW PACE BUT THEN DOESN'T GO AS FAST AS I'M PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH MY RPMS ARE INCREASING. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR DOES NOT PERFORM AS IT SHOULD. HAPPENED TODAY FOR PROBABLY THE 10TH TIME SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR, LESS THAN A MONTH. PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE STREET, MY CAR MOVE'S FORWARD VERY SLOWLY THEN WHEN I GO TO INCREASE MY SPEED THE CAR DOESN'T GO FASTER.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Apr 4, 2017
HIT POT HOLE AFTER STOP AND STABILITY CONTROL STOPS POWER TO TRANSMISSION...5-8 SECONDS OF NO ACCELARATION HAS CAUSED SAFETY ISSUE WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON USER BASED FORUMS.
Engine, Apr 1, 2017
WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF A VERY LOW SPEED TURN (SUCH AS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION OR PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO A ROADWAY) THE ENGINE SUFFERS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME. BUT FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO MAKE ONE WORRY ABOUT PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC.
Engine, Mar 10, 2017
THE SANTA FE SPORT TURBO ENGINE SEVERELY HESITATES TO ACCELERATE WHEN COMING OUT OF TURNS OR ROUNDABOUTS TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED! WHEN THE ENGINE CATCHES UP, IT JERKS YOUR HEAD BACK. THE OTHER DAY WAS THE WORST WHEN I ENTERED A PARKING GARAGE WITH AN INCLINE. UPON ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE HESITATED TO THE POINT I ALMOST STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. WHEN IT FINALLY KICKED IN, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AS IF THE ACCELERATION PEDAL WAS FLOORED. A PEDESTRIAN LITERALLY JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY THINKING MY CAR WAS GOING TO HIT HIM. THIS ENGINE IS A SAFETY ISSUE!
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 1, 2017
I HAVE A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ULTIMATE AND LIKE THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE CAR HAS HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ESPECIALLY AFTER A STOP, BUMP IN ROAD, SLOWING DOWN, ETC. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS SUCH AS TRY A DIFFERENT MODE, RESET TRANSMISSION COMPUTER, ETC. I'VE CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FILED A COMPLIANT OPEN BUT I DON'T WANT THE CAR ANYMORE IT HESITATES TOO LONG/TOO MANY TIMES AND SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. IT'S DANGEROUS AND NEEDS A RECALLED.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 17, 2017
WHEN DRIVING SUDDENLY THE CAR DECELERATES MAKING IT NECESSARY TO MASH HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO CONTINUE MOVING. THE USB PORT DOES NOT CHARGE WHICH RESULTS IN THE PHONE LOSING BATTERY LIFE YOU CAN ONLY USE ANDROID AND APPLE CAR ONN THAT PORT SO WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES YOU MAY BE WITHOUT DIRECTIONS. ITS AN ONGOING ISSUE.
Power train, Engine, Jan 20, 2017
ENGINE STALLING AT SLOW SPEEDS. FURTHER, AT SLOW SPEEDS, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY OF SEVERAL SECONDS FOR POWER DELIVERY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF DRIVING SLOWLY, SAY AT 5 MPH, AND POWER IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY (SUCH AS IN AN EMERGENCY OR A LANE CHANGE SITUATION), NOTHING HAPPENS FOR OVER 3 SECONDS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, FOLLOWED BY A DANGEROUS LURCH WHEN POWER IS DELIVERED SUDDENLY. THIS IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE CONDITION. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER, WHO DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT AND CLAIMED THAT "ALL CARS ARE THE SAME THESE DAYS". THIS IS A REGULAR PROBLEM THAT OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES EVERY DAY.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Jan 6, 2017
TWO ISSUES: SEVERE PROBLEM - WHEN DRIVING AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 35MPH TODAY ON A MAJOR CITY THOROUGHFARE, OUR 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.0T ULTIMATE SUFFERED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER (ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING LIGHTING). AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN PLACE UNTIL IT WAS ABLE TO START UP AGAIN MANY MINUTES LATER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY HARMED AS THE INDIVIDUAL DRIVING BEHIND OUR VEHICLE WAS OBSERVANT ENOUGH TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE (DESPITE A LACK OF BRAKE LIGHTS OR HAZARDS) AND STOP IN TIME. NO VISIBLE ENGINE LIGHT OR FAULT CODE WAS TRIGGERED. LESS SEVERE PROBLEM: ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE VEHICLE SUFFERS ABRUPT AND SUSTAINED LOSS OF POWER IN MERGING SITUATIONS (ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING ON CITY STREETS FROM A STOP). THIS SEEMS TO BE FROM AN OVERACTIVE OR OTHERWISE INEFFECTIVE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM/PROGRAMMING. DESPITE EVEN PLANNING FOR THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF POWER, THIS HAS STILL RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF "NEAR MISS" SITUATIONS. A WARRANTY VISIT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THESE ISSUE AND WE WILL GLADLY PROVIDE THE RESULTS AND/OR OTHER UPDATES UPON REQUEST. WE ARE, HOWEVER, SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SELLING THE VEHICLE AT A LOSS DUE TO THESE TWO ISSUES. *TR
Power train, Engine, Nov 12, 2016
THE 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED WILL BOG DOWN WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED OR LOW SPEED WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC OR TURNING. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION - ALMOST TO THE POINT OF STOPPING WHILE MERGING - VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE BOUGHT 5/31/16
Power train, Engine, Sep 27, 2016
WE BOUGHT A 2017 SANTA FE SPORT WITH THE 2.0 T ENGINE IN JULY OF 2017. IT HAS ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NOW STARTED TO HESITATE BADLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN TURNING. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT EITHER LOSES POWER OR THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN THE CORRECT GEAR. THE RESULT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TRY TO TURN ONTO A ROAD WITH TRAFFIC. WE ARE GOING TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP WERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY FIX. I SEE FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE A COMMON ISSUE.
Engine, Sep 8, 2016
ENGINE STALLS AT ANY SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. TECH AT DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE ENGINE IS A 2.0T WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HYUNDAI CURRENTLY SETTLING CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR HYUNDAI SONATAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN MODEL YEARS 2011-2014 2.0T ENGINES. SPEEDS WHEN OCCURRING 40-65 MPH. ELEVEN INCIDENTS SO FAR SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE 4/8/2016.
Power train, Engine, Jul 23, 2016
SOMETIMES AFTER SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN THE CAR'S ENGINE SEEMS TO "STUMBLE" FOR A SECOND BEFORE ACCELERATION CAN BEGIN. COMES AS A SURPRISE AND BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION CATCHING ME OFF-GUARD I AM PITCHED FORWARD IN MY SEAT. NOTHING CATASTROPHIC, BUT VERY ANNOYING AND COULD BE DANGEROUS TO A DRIVER NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AFTER ONLY A DAY OR TWO OF OWNERSHIP. I SUSPECT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND CAN BE FIXED WITH A REFLASH OF THE ECU, BUT THAT'S JUST MY BEST GUESS. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP YET, BUT THOUGHT I'D FILE THIS COMPLAINT FIRST TO SEE IF A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
Engine, Jul 4, 2016
FROM STOP, OR NEAR STOP, ENGINE CUTS OUT (STUMBLES) DURING NORMAL ACCELERATION.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 16, 2016, fire
I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON 5/7/16. ON 6/2/16 I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 395 WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND EVENTUALLY DIED. WHEN I GOT IT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I GRABBED WHAT I COULD AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITHIN 5 MIN THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAD APPROXIMATELY 675 MILES ON IT. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO ME. I ORDERED A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT YET. I HAVE PICTURES THAT I HAVE ATTACHED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. THANKFULLY I DIDN'T HAVE GRANDKIDS IN THE CAR, I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT.