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: power train
164 reports, newest first. Show all
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.
Power train, Jul 20, 2016
I AM EXPERIENCE A HESITATION IN THE ACCELERATION FROM EITHER A DEAD STOP OR A ROLLING STOP. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED, THERE IS A 1-2 SECOND DELAY IN POWER. THE ENGINE APPEARS TO CUT OUT AND THEN IT KICKS IN AND TAKES OFF. THE FIRST HAPPENED WITH 50 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAS HAPPENED OVER TWO DOZEN TIMES OVER THE NEXT 3700 MILES. NOT ONLY IS IT VERY ANNOYING, BUT HAS BEEN DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO ENTER A LANE TO GET UP TO SPEED WITH TRAFFIC.
Power train, Jul 20, 2016
HESITATES WHEN TAKING OFF. JERKS AT ABOUT 10 MPH AND THEN AGAIN AT ABOUT 20 MPH BUT NOT AS BAD AS AT 10 MPH. HESITATES WHEN GIVEN GAS AFTER JERKING. FEELS AS IF I HAVE GOT TO ABOUT 10 MPH THEN SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS BEFORE IT WILL START TO GO AGAIN. I'M SCARED TO TRY AND PULL OUT INTO BUSY TRAFFIC. I AM WORRIED I WILL GET HIT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO DEPEND THAT IT WILL GO WHEN I'M TRYING TO GO.
Power train, Jul 13, 2016
THE VEHICLE :"CHOKES" OUT AT LOW SPEED OFTEN WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR FROM A SLOW START. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER AND THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND DECLARED THEY DETECTED NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND MAY CAUSE AN ISSUE IF ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jul 8, 2016
BRAND NEW VEHICLE (1600 MILES) HESITATES WHEN I GO FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND START TO ACCELERATE AT LOW SPEEDS. MAINLY NOTICE IT WHEN TAKING A CORNER. IT SEEMS AS IF IT HAS TROUBLE SELECTING THE GEAR AND ONCE IT DOES, IT LURCHES FORWARD. DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AS THE HESITATION PUTS YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD JUST A LITTLE TOO LONG FOR COMFORT. ALSO, MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL COME ON AROUND CERTAIN CORNERS AND LEAVES ME WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE CAR. ALSO ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE AS AGAIN THE CAR HESITATES OR LOCKS UP BECAUSE OF THIS FEATURE AND DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO DRIVE FORWARD AS I WISH. IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER WITHOUT ANY RAIN AND DEFINITELY NO SNOW ON THE GROUND (I'D SAY PERFECT ROAD CONDITIONS) SO NO REAL REASON WHY MY TRACTION CONTROL SHOULD BE TURNING ON AROUND CORNERS. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE! ALSO, I SHOULD NOTE THAT THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN HAPPENING LONG BEFORE 1600 MILES. I NOTICED THEM THE FIRST WEEK OR SO THAT I TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME SO DEFINITELY LESS THAN 500 MILES AS I BOUGHT IT NEW. FOR A BRAND NEW, FAIRLY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE MY CONFIDENCE IN IT'S BASIC PERFORMANCE IS COMPROMISED.
Power train, Jul 5, 2016
TRANSMISSION NOT DOWN SHIFTING WHEN RE THROTTLING OUT OF CORNERS AS IN TURNING AND WHEN TRYING TO CROSS TRAFFIC, YOU SLOW DOWN THAN HIT THE GAS AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S IN A HIGH GEAR ,YOU SLOWLY CREEPS OUT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WAITING FOR THE DOWN SHIFT TO PUT YOU INTO 1 ST GEAR SO YOU WON'T BE KILLED BY ON COMING FLOW, VERY DANGEROUS, VEHICLE ONE WEEK OLD
Power train, Jul 5, 2016
2017 SANTA FE SE 3.3L V-6 (3 ROW) FREQUENTLY HESITATES/STUMBLES BADLY WHEN GIVEN NORMAL ACCELERATION AT 5-15 MPH. WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR ROLLING STOP, VEHICLE SEEMS NOT TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 3RD GEAR TO 2ND GEAR CORRECTLY. CAR IS UNRESPONSIVE FOR 1-3 SECONDS, THEN THERE IS A DELAY AND LURCHING FORWARD AS THE CAR FINALLY DOWNSHIFTS AND ACCELERATES. I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE CAR STUMBLED JUST AS I WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE WITH FASTER TRAFFIC. THE SELLING DEALER DROVE THE CAR AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM OR AN ERROR CODE IN ANY OF THE ONBOARD SYSTEMS. PROBLEM OCCURS IN ALL 3 DRIVE MODES. PROBLEM BECAME VERY NOTICEABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES. CAR NOW HAS 1300 MILES. PROBLEM HAS NOT IMPROVED OR CHANGED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN APRIL, 2016.
Power train, Jul 5, 2016
WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AT SPEEDS LESS THAN ABOUT 10MPH, THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT HESITATION/ENGINE STUMBLE - ABOUT 2 SECONDS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY NON-RESPONSIVE AND BOGS DOWN. HAPPENS EVERY TIME AT LOW SPEED TURNS, AND IS DANGEROUS WITH VEHICLES BEHIND. OWNED A 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.0 TURBO AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH IT. I HOPE AND PRAY THEY CAN FIX THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE HAS A LOT TO OFFER BUT THIS PROBLEM TAKES AWAY FROM ALL OF IT. ALSO RECEIVED A SURVEY FROM HYUNDAI ENGINEERS AND IN THE "ENGINE" CATEGORY THE ONLY COMPLAINT TO PICK FROM WAS "ENGINE STUMBLES" COINCIDENCE OR ARE THEY WORKING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE?
Power train, Jul 2, 2016
TRANSMISSION HESITATES BADLY FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR TO MOVE CAR AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE/ROLLING STOP OR IN SLOW TURNS. TRANSMISSION DOES THIS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY OR STREETS DUE TO FACT THAT CAR WILL NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO DRIVER ACCELERATION INPUT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW 3 WEEKS AGO.
Power train, Jun 23, 2016
I HAVE A 2017 SANTE FE LIMITED ULTIMATE AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO BETWEEN 10 TO 15 MPH AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE 3.3 LITER MOTOR 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3RD GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. THIS HESITATION LEFT ME IN INTERSECTIONS A FEW SECONDS LONGER THAN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING THE CARS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ME. I'VE BEEN TO TWO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS AND AFTER TEST DRIVING THE CAR WITH ME THE HYNDAI MECHANICS TOLD ME THIS WAS THE WAY THE CARS WERE DESIGNED AND WITHOUT CODE LIGHTS COMING ON THEY COULD NOT FIX THE CAR. HEARING THIS FROM HYUNDAI MECHANICS WAS NOT CONFIDENCE INSPIRING TO LEARN THAT WITHOUT A CODE LIGHT COMING ON THEY COULD NOT FIND OR FIX A PROBLEM. ALSO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF YOU STEP DOWN ON THE GAS TOO FAR THE CAR WILL DOWN SHIFT TO MUCH AND THE MOTOR WILL REV UP TO 6000 RPMS RESULTING THE CAR NOT ACCELERATING. I HAD A 2011 SANTE FE GLS WITH A 6 CYLINDER MOTOR AND IT SEEMED TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE THE TRANSMISSION FOR THAT YEAR SEEMED BETTER MATCHED FOR THE MOTOR AND WORKED FLAWLESSLY. HOPEFULLY HYUNDAI FINDS A FIX/UPDATE FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT THIS CAR.
Power train, Jun 22, 2016
PURCHASED NEW ON APRIL 17TH OF THIS YEAR. VEHICLE CONTINUALLY HAS A PROBLEM ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED....ROUGHLY BETWEEN 2 AND 10 MILES AN HOUR. IF YOU SLOW DOWN BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A LONG PAUSE THEN LURCH INTO CORRECT GEAR. RENDERS CAR NEARLY UNDRIVEABLE AT LOW "PARKING LOT" TYPE SPEEDS. DEALER STATES THAT WITHOUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. CLEARLY THERE IS SOME SORT OF PROBLEM AS EVERY COMPLAINT I SEE IS REGARDING THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO FIX THIS OR I WILL TERMINATE MY LEASE AND SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR MONEY SPENT ON THIS VEHICLE.
Power train, Jun 17, 2016
WHEN SLOWING DOWN THEN ACCELERATING TO A HIGHER SAY (SAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC) THE TRANSMISSION FREQUENTLY LUGS AND STRUGGLES TO SELECT A GEAR, RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION DELAY. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE AS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION COULD LEAD TO A COLLISION. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW.
Power train, May 10, 2016
WHILE IN SLOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION STRUGGLES TO SELECT THE PROPER GEAR. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE FASTER TAN NORMAL, SPECIALLY WHILE TURNING AFTER REDUCING SPEED. YOU HAVE TO CONTROL THE ACCELERATION USING YOUR DRIVING EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. TESTED USING, ECO, NORMAL AND SPORT DRIVING MODES, THE ONLY TIME I COULDNT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE WAS WHILE ON SPORT MODE (I WANT TO DRIVE ON ECO WHILE IN THE CITY) HOPEFULLY HYUNDAI WILL TACKLE THIS ISSUE.
Power train, May 7, 2016
THERE IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHERE IN LOW OR SLOW SPEED SITUATIONS WHEN YOU APPLY POWER THE TRANSMISSIONS STUTTERS OR STUMBLES. IT IS MOST PREVALENT WHEN TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE YOU NEVER QUITE STOP OR WHEN ROLLING AT STOP SIGN. WHEN YOU APPLY THROTTLE THE CAR SHIFT LOGIC SEEMS CONFUSED AT WHAT GEAR TO GO INTO SO IT JUST SITS THERE OR LURCHES, THEN TO GET GOING YOU HAVE TO APPLY FULL THROTTLE SO IT PICKS THE CORRECT GEAR TO ACCELERATE IN. THE CAUSES A HIGH SPEED REACTION IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS NOT SAFE EITHER. THIS VEHCILE HAS THREE DRIVING MODES. THE DEFAULT, NORMAL SETTING. ECON, AND SPORT. SPORT SETTING SEEMS TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT HAS TO BE TURNED ON EACH TIME THE CAR IS RESTARTED. SPORT MODE THEN LOCKS OUT OVERDRIVE SO YOU MUST THEN PHYSICALLY RETURN THE CAR TO NORMAL MODE TO GET IT TO RETURN TO 6TH GEAR OR OVERDRIVE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MORE THAN 23 YEARS AND HAVE HAD PROBABLY 40 DIFFERENT VEHICLES, THIS TRANSMISSION RENDERS THE VEHICLE NEARLY UNDRIVABLE IN SOME SITUATIONS. IN CERTAIN SCENARIOS WHEN YOU REALLY NEED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE IT MAY NOT AND YOU MAY BE HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC, A TRAIN ETC. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT.