2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Engine failure, crankshaft sensory did not go off and it will need a brand new engine. Only 94k miles
In June, I was driving my Santa Fe down the highway with my children when it suddenly died. I had no control over the vehicle. There were no warning lights on, my engine temp was not high. I was able to get it off to the side of the road. I found that the oil was almost completely empty even though I have regular oil changes and have had no leaks. I took my vehicle to Vern Eddy on Sioux City, IA, where I originally bought this vehicle. (I bought this new) They confirmed it was the rod bearings. Which is a known manufacturers defect in many of their engines that are being recalled however, not in this particular model so, they are refusing to fix it. I've looked online and seen hundreds of others with this exact engine having the exact same issue. I just want them to fix it. My children could have been seriously injured.
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.
While driving my 2017 Santa Fe, a ding from the instrument cluster preceded the vehicle stalling during a turn in a busy intersection. The vehicle would not respond to attempts to restart. I had the vehicle towed to the local Hyundai dealership for inspection. I authorized a teardown of the engine. They reported their findings to Hyundai Motors America (HMA) for authorization under an extended warranty. That request was denied. I have read the case, Davy Cho v. Hyundai Motor Company, Ltd., 8:22-cv-00448, (C.D. Cal.). My vehicle is in the correct year range and engine class represented in the suit. This vehicle is also under NHTSA investigation (DB22-003) for a separate defect that can cause the vehicle to stall without prior notice. The Hyundai dealership has now quoted $19,900 to repair. This is a gently driven and well maintained vehicle. I have reached out several times to HMA who states, the vehicle is beyond the original manufacturer's warrantee. I have tried several times to have the case reviewed. I'm told these decisions are final. HMA Case # 21352488 I was lucky to have had the traffic lights and traffic in a condition that I could drift through my turn, apply hazard lights and get assistance from the Police Dept. who closed the road allowing me to coast the vehicle backwards off the interstate bridge to place me and my vehicle in a safer place to manage. In different circumstances, this could have been catastrophic.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled while making ticking sounds. The engine overheats message was displayed, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle in a parking space, where it remained. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that an independent mechanic had previously replaced the battery and performed an oil change for the recurring failure, and the vehicle had not been driven for 5-months. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V578000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 130,099.
Car stopped suddenly and when I went to check, the oil had been completely depleted. The shop says the engine failed, most likely because the oil had evaporated. Low mileage, well maintained, so the car has a defect that can be life threatening. Thankfully, for me, it stopped in a quiet road and had to be towed. This could have happened in busy traffic and caused a bad accident.
I've owned my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3L V6 since late 2021. I haven't noticed it using oil. Stopped at a traffic light, the engine lost power. It was so scary! No warning lights were on my dash. I was thankful to not be rear-ended...although I could have filed an insurance claim if I had been. As it is, my insurance says it is a 'mechanical failure.' The car would not start but luckily some strangers pushed me out of the highway. I tried two different jumper cables and was able to roll up my windows but not much else. The car was towed back to hometown. At a repair shop, the mechanic told me the engine was locked. It has 97,000 miles on it and I'm the second owner so the 100K warranty doesn't apply to me. I called Hyundai and they instructed me to have the car towed to a Hyundai dealership where they 'might' help. The car sat for 2 weeks before anyone looked at it. This week, I heard from the repair shop that the engine is seized and not repairable. This model has no open engine recalls. I don't understand how this engine isn't being recalled like the other Hyundai models. I have to say that I will no longer purchase Hyundai's or recommend them to anyone else! As I still owe quite a bit on this car, I still don't know what I am going to do. The shop said they would look for an used engine with lower miles. I still haven't heard anything additional. Seems like the hens are guarding the henhouse pretty tight!
Driving down the highway and vehicle just shut off at a stop light. No lights of any kind on the dashboard. Started it up stayed running, checked all the gages, everything was normal. Was waiting at the red light and it turned off again. When I started it up again noticed that the oil light was on longer than the other lights, but it went out. Pulled over and checked the oil, no oil on the dip stick. Put 2 quarts of oil in it and tried to limp home. Turned off again and wouldn't restart. No warning lights. Took it to a dealership and was told the engine was seized and they knew about the oil consumption issue, but they told me that 3.3L engines weren't covered. No I still have half my car to pay for and engine replacement costs as much as the car is worth. I currently still have the vehicle and trying to figure things out.
I've owned my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.3L V6 since 2017, the last year, the engine has been consuming oil at a higher rate than normal. Performed an oil change in early June, it has burned 3 quarts of oil in two months. Last Thursday, 08/17/2023, the engine started knocking bad, and it lost power as the vehicle was being parked. Towed to a repair shop, waiting on inspection but it sounds like a camshaft knock, but it's terrible. It has 103,000 miles on it and I just paid it off last year. I don't understand how this engine isn't being recalled like the other Hyundai models. I have to say that I will no longer purchase Hyundai's or recommend them to anyone else.
Blown engine in the middle of the highway. The car have been consuming excessive amounts of oil. I though that, if the car has the oil change done more often, the engine would be fine, but that was not the case.
Previous to the day of this incident there was no check engine light showing. I was driving and heard a knocking /grinding sound that progressively got worse. I was trying to get home and the engine suddenly died , all of the warning lights came on and the engine couldn’t start. Took it to the dealership. The third party extended warranty didn’t cover it because all of the oil was missing ( no oil leak was present). Still waiting to see if the dealership will repair.
While driving on the highway my engine seized up and stopped working altogether. My dashboard went completely red with warning lights and I could get to the side of the road to call for assistance. The day prior while getting an oil change I was told by the mechanic that some Hyundai cars have been consuming oil quickly and that I had less than a quart left while I just was a little of the 3000-mile mark. The previous oil change I was also told I was at a very low level as well. I called the dealership about the concern and they were willing to run some tests on the car, but that afternoon the engine seized up. The car was towed back to the dealership and I was able to have the engine replaced by the manufacturer. I was very concerned for our safety when the incident happened because I was on a highway traveling at a high-speed rate (posted 60mph) but was glad to safely make it to the shoulder of the roadway.
knocking noise. check engine light came on. took to my mechanic and its a total engine failure. ball bearings are loose and leaking oil and could have catastrophic damage at any moment.
OIL EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION PROBLEM I BOUGHT IT WITH 65,000 MILES AND I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN I SERVICE THE CAR THAT DID NOT HAVE OIL HYUNDAI KNOWS THAT THE 2017 SANTA FE SPORT HAVE THOSE FACTORY PROBLEM I ADDRESS THAT POBLEM TO HYUNDAI AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THAT 2.4 L ENGINE CEASED SUDDENLY AND THAT IS A DANGEROUS PROBLE THAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NEED HYUNDAI TO BE REPONSIBLE AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY REPLACING THE ENGINE. PS. I NEED HELP ON THIS PROBLEM
This is an OIL CONSUMPTION & ENGINE FAILRE Car was being serviced by Hyundai for oil consumption test, and failed, 1 quart of oil consumed every 400 miles. On 7/23/23, engine failed on PA turnpike while travelling 70 MPH, and almost caused an accident. At 65k miles Hyundai agreed to to conduct oil consumption test, and submit for engine replacement, First part of oil consumption test failed, and car was set for engine under Hyundai warranty, but 2 days prior to cleaning engin failed. Engine has had high pressure fuel pump replaced, and I reported gas smell from oil Catalytic convertor was replaced @ 55k miles, as oil consumed burned out convertor. Now that the engine valves are burned, Hyundai is not honoring the good faith engine replacement.
The engine was making a knocking sound and the check engine light came on. I did not have the time to get it to a mechanic (approx 2 days of driving with knocking) before the knocking stopped and the engine stopped. The car stalled out in the middle of the street and I was able to coast to a complete stop on the side of the road and push it to safely back home.
Catastrophic engine failure at 86,200 miles. Engine making chugging and ticking sound and metal flakes in oil. Normal oils changes at Hyundai dealers every 5-6k miles (or 6 months). Hyundai wouldn’t cover because 2nd owner (should have covered up 100k power train.
Engine failure - Engine had failure while highway driving (approx 60mph). Complete loss of power in roadway. Mechanic diagnosis indicated piston rod had disconnected and caused hole in engine block.
While driving on freeway there was a clicking sound coming from the engine area but no other strange sounds or sensations, no warning lights or changes in the dash gauges. Finished 30 mile trip back home. Next morning when starting the car the same noise was happening so we checked oil. Oil reservoir was empty so added 4 quarts and let it sit for awhile then idle before leaving. The clicking noise seemed be random, sometimes louder and faster and sometimes not clicking at all. Approximately 15-20 miles down the freeway (about 60 mph) the RPMs spiked so I moved to slow lane and braked. At this time a large commotion from the engine that shook the car with large amount of smoke coming from behind the car and an oil trail. Car was towed to mechanic where engine failure/hole in engine was diagnosed. Waiting for appointment now at dealership. Fortunately never lost control of the vehicle.
At 80,000 miles, transmission went out. Then, 91,000 miles the motor locked up. Hyundai refuses to repair
At ~126k miles, my 3.3L Santa Fe started knocking and then stopped running. There were no warning lights whatsoever. Regular service records are available to show oil changes/maintenance and all repairs done at the dealership. Mechanic says the engine is toast. Hyundai dealership told me no need to even bring it in bc it will not be covered.
The engine failed in our 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe earlier this year (March). They replaced our engine after finding out it was part of the rod bearing engine failure recall. The check engine light came back on as soon as we got it back (April) and the car has not worked properly since. Shaking badly, it also died after I started it. After them telling us for two months, they were too busy for us to bring it back to them. We finally brought it back this week and dropped it off for them to fix anyway (July). The Hyundai repair people told us the problem is not covered under the warranty (vcm motor on the side of the intake) and not related to the engine recall even though the problem happened immediately after they rebuilt the engine and now we must pay $1000 out of pocket.
Engine started knocking pretty bad during a trip. Just over 80,000 miles not covering due to 2nd owner.
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.
While Driving home the car just lost power while going 50mph. The engine started knocking then the engine light started flashing and the car wouldn't go above 37mph. This is definitely not good. I was holding up traffic trying to pull over while not being able to even do the speed limit. Also the oil consumption is outrageous! I have never owned a vehicle where I had to add oil as much as I do in this one.
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The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe has 464 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.