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, Jul 27, 2025
My car had a thrown connecting rod-the problem described under TSB22-EM-006H-2 (TXXM/6G) which extends engine warranty to 150k miles/15 years for this exact issue my vin is listed my mileage is 113k and KSDS was completed (or I am exempt) please submit prior approval under the extended warranty for engine replacement. Hyundai is refusing to repair my car.
Engine, Jul 26, 2025
This modle has a serious oil consumption caused by a manufacturerer design issure with the engine. As time goes by the oil cosumption get wores potentially seizing the engine while driving. I have to constantly fill with oil. This is a major safety concern with many hyundai vehicles.
Engine, Jul 22, 2025
Excessive oil consumption from metal shaving left in engine during production. causes accelerated engine wear and failure. Rod bearing failure. piston ring failure, high chance of fire in engine compartment.
Engine, Jul 18, 2025
Excessive oil consumption leading to p420 codes every 2000 miles. vehicle is consuming a half a quart of oil every 100 miles. could cause engine to seize while driving.
Power train, Engine, Jul 16, 2025
Was driving on [XXX] (approximately 130 miles from home), when a loud clunking and metal on metal sound was heard, the causing power loss, slowing of vehicle and necessitated immediate pulling over to the side of the road. The was a catastrophic internal engine failure which caused the spark plugs to blow out. There were no warnings. The car was just inspected and had an oil change earlier in the month. The vehicle suffered sudden power loss and violent metal-on-metal destruction while transporting my child on [XXX] (130 miles from home). Certified diagnostics from Kennett Square Quick Lane Auto confirm: "Multiple spark plugs forcibly ejected due to severe internal engine damage – full replacement required". Quick Lane said they would not be able to replace the Engine. so the Vehicle was towed to Reliable Car Connection (West Chester, PA). I had tried to make an appointment at Piazza Hyundai, but the did not have appointments until Mid August. Result: Stranded overnight requiring hotel and towing/tolls at personal expense (receipts available). This traumatic event directly stems from Hyundai’s acknowledged Theta II defects. Hyundai’s Documented Failures: Recall Compliance: Recall 996 (Piazza Hyundai, 4/12/24) Recall 953 (1/31/19) Recall 163 (7/18/17) Maintenance: All services performed per Hyundai schedules (records available). Unresolved Defects: This failure matches: Recall 20VH4 (Lifetime Warranty Extension) Recall 20VH5 TSB 20-01-033H Current Status: Vehicle at Reliable Car Connection (West Chester, PA) after Piazza Hyundai’s unacceptable 6-week delay. INOPERABLE & UNSAFE – Cannot transport children. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 15, 2025
The turbocharger failed on my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T. It is still on the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. The turbo failure caused a severe loss of engine power, making acceleration dangerously slow and unpredictable, especially when merging onto highways or passing vehicles. This sudden reduction in power could have caused a rear-end collision or made it impossible to avoid faster-moving traffic. Yes. The failure was confirmed by two independent service centers: Mavis Tires and Brakes, and Tires and Trust in Pensacola, FL. Both observed loss of turbo boost and excessive oil consumption consistent with turbocharger failure. Yes. The vehicle was also inspected by Allen Turner Hyundai in Pensacola, FL. They did not detect the failure during their inspection, but the issue persisted and was documented by the other two shops. The check engine light came on around 118,000–119,000 miles. After that, the turbocharger lost significant power, making the vehicle unable to accelerate normally. At the same time, the engine began consuming oil at an abnormally high rate, requiring frequent top-offs between oil changes. This suggests internal oil seal failure in the turbo or related component issues. These symptoms are consistent with failed turbocharger bearings or seals, oil starvation, or blocked oil lines causing overheating and damage. Such failures can release oil and metal debris into the intake and exhaust systems, risking further engine damage or even fire. Hyundai previously issued a software update (KSDS) to detect early bearing wear in these engines, which my vehicle received in 2019 (Service Campaign 953). Despite this, the turbo failure still occurred, suggesting the underlying design or manufacturing issue may not have been fully resolved. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this pattern of failures, given the safety risks of sudden power loss and potential fire hazard from oil leaks.
Engine, Jul 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 65 MPH, the contact heard a loud bang coming from the engine. The contact stated that immediately afterwards the vehicle started losing motive power with smoke coming from the front and the rear of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that additional diagnostic tests were needed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 152,530.
Engine, Jul 7, 2025
engine oil excessive consumption. We bought (Sept 2024) this 2017 vehicle used at a Hyundia dealership, beautiful, loaded orange SUV, for my senior college student. We have to add quart after quart after quart of oil in-between oil changes. She hardly drives the car as she walks to class and works 1/2 mile from her Apt. We are scared for her to take even a 2hr road trip due to this issue. She is devasted and scared to drive it much and we are furious that we are stuck with this issue.
Engine, Jun 23, 2025
Engine is consuming large amounts of oil in little mileage. Hyundai case reported but they will not assist. This has been affecting other 2017 Aanta Fe Sports reported on this website! These cars need to be included in oil consumption recalls from Hyundai.
Engine, Jun 19, 2025
Driving home from work loss engine power. Got it towed to my local shop and they informed me that my engine was seized.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 17, 2025
The car started jerking and the check engine light came on. I had to have it towed to my house. We can't get the car to do anything now. We get it started for 5 seconds, the engine completely dies
Engine, Jun 14, 2025
The car has been experiencing significant problems with oil consumption. During a routine oil change on 2/27/25 I was told my oil was significantly low and I had it refilled. When I checked the following weekend [XXX] it was significantly low again after only 500 miles. I took it to Take 5 in Lebanon, Tennessee, weekly for 3-4 weeks, near where I was working at the time, who topped off the oil again with 2 to 5 quarts weekly. On April 14, 2025, I brought the car to Hallmark Hyundai. They started an oil consumption test and a 20-point check when the mileage was 69,752. After 500 miles was driven, the oil tank was almost empty. Another check revealed the oil was leaking in 4 different places, that they (Hallmark Hyundai) reportedly fixed, including the valve cover gasket. On [XXX] while driving back to New Jersey from Nashville, I checked the oil after roughly 1000 miles of driving since the repair, and the dip stick was dry. (The service light did not go on.) Upon returning to New Jersey approximately 5/13/25, I took the car to Circle Hyundai in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, was told the valve cover gasket was still leaking, and replaced it again; I was charged a second time for this service. At another 500 miles I checked the oil, and it was again very low. Miguel at Circle Hyundai told me I needed to wait 500 more miles or when the service light comes on; I informed him the service light had stopped working (this was first noticed in Tennessee). On 6/2/25 I emailed Miguel again at 539 more miles and the dip stick registered oil halfway below the low line again. I was instructed to drop the car off and they would submit the claim to Hyundai; Hyundai reportedly responded that they were no longer responsible for a repair because the warranty had run out and I wasn't the original owner. I was told to continue to drive until an engine malfunction for my extended warranty with Assurance to cover repairs; I am concerned about the safety of the engine seizing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 9, 2025
I bought this vehicle at Enterprise car sales back in [XXX] and it's been having issues for a while now recall after recall I bought this vehicle at 7745 Indiana avenue Riverside California 92504 I actually bought this vehicle without realizing that this car had a recall prior to buying it off the lot therefore in California law this company should have not sold the vehicle with a recall as Hyundai has warned me about this as he advised they cannot sell a vehicle with a recall on it. When I had to Google search my recall as I have not received a letter Enterprise car sales gained the letter for the recall prior to my buy and did not mention anything as this recall was sent out on the letter way prior to buying ever since buying this vehicle I have had numerous recalls as to now there is a GDI issue with the engines as I have made many complaints through the financing company Santander consumer USA, Hyundai, Enterprise car sales, and it seems like no one has listened to me on the lemon I have gained as I'm sure it sounds just like a complaining customer. I pay a very high interest rate and very high monthly payments 523 a month is expensive let alone expensive to pay for a vehicle that I constantly have to put in maintenance and now my engine is gone my VIN number somehow is not on regards to the recall but yet my VIN number has been on every recall Hyundai has ever given out when it comes to my vehicle as the GDI 3.3 l should be really considered on regards to a recall as well as the 2.4. I'm not very happy as I would like to have a voice on to what is fair I am sick of this vehicle having issues after issues as I do take care of my vehicles with good maintenance routine all I can ask for is to have someone here my voice and to take action either from Enterprise car sales to Hyundai which I believe Enterprise car sales is more reliable at this point than Hyundai since Hyundai let me be aware of the California law they cannot sell a vehicle with recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Jun 7, 2025
The engine is experiencing excessive oil consumption. A Hyundai dealership performed an oil consumption test 8 months ago and confirmed the vehicle is burning around 2 quarts of oil every 500 miles, which is far beyond normal operating limits. The engine is still installed in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. This level of oil consumption puts the engine at high risk of failure while driving, which could result in a sudden loss of power, stalling, or even engine fire. The need to constantly monitor and refill oil creates an ongoing stressor and safety concern. There was no warning light or indicator before the oil levels dropped dangerously low. The Hyundai dealership that inspected the vehicle (Maguire Hyundai in Ithaca, NY) verified that the engine is burning oil at a rate consistent with known defects in Theta II engines, but stated the vehicle does not qualify for engine replacement under current recall or warranty guidelines because I am the second owner — despite the fact that I purchased it Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) through Hyundai in 2019 and I'm still under 100,000 miles.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 5, 2025
From the day we purchased this used vehicle, the check engine light came on. We had to have the catalytic converter replaced next. Now we’re having oil leak issues. Multiple oil leaks have been repaired, and I’ve most recently paid over $700 to have this issue resolved. A week after the Hyundai dealership repaired it, the vehicle is leaking oil again. We have to add oil about every 5-7 days. Today we were told that my [XXX] daughter needs to drive it until the engine goes out, and not to add any oil. This is not only unacceptable, it’s also unsafe! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 27, 2025
The engine had no oil. No indication was given by the dashboard lights. I heard a ticking noise soon after I started my car. My husband checked the oil; it was bone dry. I still had 200 more miles before my next oil change. Needless to say, the engine would have blown up if I hadn’t payed attention to the noise coming from the vehicle. In fact, this happened about a year ago, I just thought it was a fluke. Since this is the second incident, this is not a fluke and something needs to be done. We can’t afford to have a vehicle blow up on us. There was no sign of leaking on the driveway.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 25, 2025
The act is consuming all the engine oil only after 500-700 miles. It has been recored and tested at Town Hyudnia dealership in Danville, NJ after it failed 2 engine oil composition tests but the dealership did not replace the engine nor put in a. request to Corporate Hyundai to replace the engine as it should be covered by the 2.4L engine lawsuit a fe years ago.
Engine, May 8, 2025
Engine failed and yes available for inspection. Car stalled and stuttered while driving. Problem was confirmed by an independent service center. Vehicle component has not been inspected yet. Check engine light came on two days ago
Other or unspecified, Engine, Lane departure, May 1, 2025
On April 28, 2025 my car cut off in the middle of traffic. I turned the car completely off. I was able to turn it back on and move it out of traffic. I called my mechanic and he looked at it, He checked the oil and there was oil I'm it. He drove it around a parking lot and heard a rattling noise, He tried to get it to his shop, the rattling got louder and louder, He was scared the engine would lock up, We parked it and had to have it towed to my residence. In the last 6-8 months I had to put oil in my car EVERY week. I have taken to mi mechanic several times checking for leaks. I have been to the dealer checking to see if they there has been any recalls. Due to this situation I have NO transportation. I am already financially struggling and now I have to figure out what to do I have already paid out of pocket for the ABS to be replaced as well. My sun roof I cannot open due to the rollers r stop working. This has worst experience I have has with a brand new car, I previously owned a Hyundai and had a wonderful experience.
Engine, Apr 25, 2025
Was driving down the freeway when the check engine light went on. I tried to pull over but car lost power and I heard a loud bang noise. Smoke came from the engine and the car stopped in the fast lane. Luckily i was not hit by any other cars. Once we got the car towed you can see a hole in the bottom of the engine. these 2017 hyunadi santa fe's have crankshaft failure, we even received a letter from Hyundai stating this.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 25, 2025
The vehicle started to stall/drive in limp mode. I took it to the Hyundai dealership, and they quoted me $5000 for repairs. The repair recommendations were as followed: ensure connecting rod bearings are within spec, recommending performing timing job w/replacement of intake camshaft, e-cvvt motor/gear, e-cvvt cover, and other components necessary for repairs. This engine burns/consumes oil and the engine code that shows up in P00100. All of this after I paid it off. Not within warranty anymore either. $22,000 down the drain it seems... called hyundai customer service to see if there was anything that could be done but they said there is nothing they can do and I have to fix it even though it is a manufacturing issue.
Engine, Apr 17, 2025
In 2023 my vehicle’s engine seized without warning. I had brought it to the dealership in Jan 2023 to replace a recalled issue. After that my vehicle had started acting strange, prompting us to bring it in where they noticed it was extremely low on oil and “dirty” where it shouldnt be. They performed tests and required us to drive 1k miles to see how low the oil would be once brought back in, it did not make it back to the service department by the 1k miles as it completely failed beforehand with no warning light.
Engine, Apr 14, 2025
Engine let go due to a bad rod bearing
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 7, 2025
The engine in my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN [XXX] ) began knocking, losing power, and showing signs of imminent failure. These symptoms directly match those identified in Recall #168 (NHTSA Campaign 17V578000), which involves engine bearing wear due to crankshaft irregularities in Hyundai 3.3L GDI engines. However, my VIN is not currently included in the recall batch. Hyundai has denied engine replacement under warranty or goodwill, citing a gap in oil change records between 5,000 and 45,000 miles — mileage which occurred before I purchased the vehicle used at ~60,000 miles. I have since performed multiple oil changes, though not always on a tight schedule. The vehicle is now at ~89,000 miles and located at Murdock Hyundai of Logan, UT, where technicians confirmed the engine is failing. This defect poses a serious safety concern due to the risk of sudden power loss while driving. The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by Hyundai service technicians, but they declined coverage and repair despite the failure matching a known federal recall issue. There were no warning lamps initially; the knocking and loss of power began subtly, then worsened rapidly. The vehicle is available for inspection, and all failure symptoms are consistent with others affected by Recall #168. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this VIN for potential inclusion in the recall and take action to expand the recall scope, as this appears to be the same dangerous engine defect already recognized under federal recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Apr 3, 2025
I was driving home to Foresthill, CA on [XXX], got off at my exit, I was 8.5 miles from home and the engine just stopped. I pulled over, had no cell signal so I had to walk about a half mile to get a couple bars on my cell phone and called my fiancé to come get me & car home. When he started it up the next morning it made a ticking sound it never made before and the oil was very low. No oil light came on. It didn’t show sign's of over heating, no changes in temperature gauge the night before. No oil where I park my car. No sign of any issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)