What 352 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev

Engine stalled while driving in traffic on 1/17/2022. No warning lights or other symptoms. Hasn't been checked. First time happened but I know of other Hyundai Santa fe with engine recall. This is a very dangerous failure.

NHTSA ODI 11447922

The front coils of the vehicle were totally deteriorated and could have led to an accident. I noticed that earlier models were recalled due to this same condition. I paid ~2K to have this problem fixed and the garage stated the coils should have lasted to 120k miles. Hyundai has subsequently issued extended warrantees for their elantra vehicles of which we own one. I am concerned that this defect could affect more cars than Hyundai has identified similar to the engine recall situation that was recently repaired.

NHTSA ODI 11446640

We were told by a mechanic that the engine needs to be replaced because the rod bearings wore out and are now inside the engine. This is similar to a current recall by Hyundai except our VIN is not included. Hyundai is unwilling to help us and the cost of an engine is more than the car. The car is not driveable and could have cause serious injury if the engine had blown up. It is currently being stored and is available to inspect. The check engine light came on initially which is when we brought it to the mechanic.

NHTSA ODI 11445312

I have a 2012 Hyundai Santa fe the engine started making knocking sounds and had loss of power. Did some research on the safety recall for the engine and found it on there site. Vehicle was taken to local Hyundai dealer like there site stated for inspection on 10/15/21. Dealership then called 3 hours later and said it was not covered and found noise coming from lower engine crank as stated on the receipt. I then filed a case file with Hyundai #18907069 and phone number 8334628722 ext 65091. After numerous calls and leaving messages I never once spoke to my Case manager. She said in a email that salvage title voids warranty, I sent evidence Hyundai calling it a safety recall witch is still covered. I received the email on November 24 haven't heard a thing since. There site said the engine can start on fire and could lock up at high speed causing a accident they called it a safety recall.

NHTSA ODI 11443510

On Aug. 9 2021 I took my vehicle into the dealer in Phoenix, Az. for recalls that were given to me from emissions testing. One recall was for engine knocking and premature wear of piston rods/bearings. The software update was done so the vehicle could warn me of engine failure. On or about Dec 1st 2021 my vehicle was making noise under the hood and slowing in power to safety mode. It stalled at a major intersection near my home and I slowly made it back to safety. The software that was installed failed to warn me in time to not cause engine damage. The are metal shavings in the engine oil and it will not run. If it does you can hear knocking very loudly. This recall was supposed to have the engine replaced by the dealer and no such repair was done. The dealer on Aug 9 only notified me of a leak from the radiator that was never seen before. They tried to charge me 1203.00 dollars for a new radiator and upper and lower hoses. The leak was never there before and when I got home i inspected the garage floor and the floor was clean and dry. Now 4 months later my engine is having problems from this recall not being corrected. The dealer also has no loaner vehicle for me and I am a disabled man with one leg. Im being told I will be without a car for up to 2 months with no guarantee that the engine will be replaced at no cost to me.

NHTSA ODI 11442695

In July, I took my 2012 Hyundai to Hyundai Service Department for Recall over defective connecting rod bearings that can wear out prematurely and damage engine. The service department inspected the engine and closed our case. no damage was found. In November 2021 just three months later our car engine completely gave out and we broke down on the road. the service department said it was the connecting rod bearings which caused the damage. but Hyundai refuses to cover the engine under the recall. They say we no longer have an open case. They also say it is not a recall but a Service Campaign and we are over the 150,000 miles warranty. Is this true or should they be honoring the recall? Also they put our safety at risk by not replacing the rod bearings back in July.

NHTSA ODI 11440484

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at 40-45 MPH, she heard an abnormal ticking sound, and the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated she saw black smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether a warning light illuminated. The contact and her husband exited the vehicle. The contact stated as they walked back to the vehicle, they notice that the smoke has stopped. The contact and her husband did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle had been waiting to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (ENGINE) for five months as the parts for recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11439383

On the way to get the recall fixed on this vehicle the car caught fire under the hood and was a total loss. This was a safety hazard to not only my family, but to the public passing by on the road. The fire service had to come put out the massive flames and the car was then towed to the dealer in Athens GA.

NHTSA ODI 11438491

Airbags for the ENTIRE car did not deploy in a car accident that rendered the car inoperable. Vehicle was going 40mph and nothing. There were NO service lights on or any issues prior to the accident. This resulted in contusions and a sprained neck.

NHTSA ODI 11437031

The engine on my 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is locked up right now due to the engine recall with the rod bearings. I have had this vehicle at my local Hyundai dealership in Colonial Heights, Virginia for 2 months now. The dealership is not providing service in a timely manor to fix this issue. My car has been sitting up there for 2 months and they keep telling me they need to take more pictures and videos of the engine to send to corporate. I think two months is plenty of time to get the required information up to corporate for them to accept this recall. I am very frustrated with this dealership because they will not even provide me with a time frame as to how long this process will take.

NHTSA ODI 11435688

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that upon driving at 55 MPH, the contact stated that the vehicle shut off as the check engine and oil lights illuminated on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to her home. The contact was able to restart the vehicle the next day as the check engine and oil lights disappeared off the instrument panel. The contact had an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle; however, since the check engine light did not appear, the vehicle could not be diagnosed. The contact then received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) and took the vehicle to a dealer where they informed her that her vehicle was fine and safe to be driven. A few months later, the contact received a second notice for the same recall and returned the vehicle back to the dealer. After a second inspection, the dealer informed her that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer for four months and upon return of the vehicle, the check engine warning light appeared twice on the instrument panel. The contact had informed the dealer of the failure and was informed not to worry about the check engine light unless the light started flashing. She was also informed that her vehicle could not be inspected for another two weeks. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11433015

I received a engine recall notice and quickly went into Hyundai in April 2021 to have it inspected for thus recall. They performed the diagnostic testing and they informed me that my car does have the recall but passed the inspection so it’s fine. I didn’t feel comfortable knowing my car might fail but had no choice but to listen to the dealership. Fast forward to August, my husband and I were driving down to my parents on I-95 going 70 miles an hour when we suddenly heard a loud strange noise, then within seconds a loud bang. Smoke pouring out the back of the car, the car shuts down, engine light comes on, and we now have a potential deadly situation. Thank God my husband was driving, he used all his power to turn the wheel and safely get us off the hwy. I am upset that Hyundai knows ppl have bad engines and sends us off after an apparent awful diagnostic test to potentially die in an accident. If I was driving I know we wouldn’t be here today. Tow truck driver says he sees it all the time and we are lucky to be alive. I will attach a picture of the engine that we took when we pulled off the hwy. I pray no one has to go thru this but I know many people are. It’s just not right.

NHTSA ODI 11432565

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud knocking and screeching noise coming from the engine and the vehicle struggled to accelerate and then stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer and the manufacturer's insurance agent diagnosed that metal shavings from the ball bearings had gotten into the engine, causing engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer waiting for a complete engine tear down to verify the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,268.

NHTSA ODI 11431268

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer and was diagnosed with needing the throttle body module to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 11429636

A connecting rod bearings in the engine wore out prematurely and damaged the engine while driving with my family. The car was not responding almost causing a catastrophe, I experienced mental distress and triggered my PTSD. When taken to the mechanic for inspection the damage showed a connecting rod cause a hole in the engine spilling and burning oil. There was no sound or warning lights until after the car's engine was damaged by this manufacturer fail. I did my research and I found others with the same engine issue. What's Hyundai next step in this case?

NHTSA ODI 11426073

The contact's sister-in-law owns a 2012 HYUNDAI Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact also stated that the vehicle would shut-off intermittently while driving at various speeds without warning. Neither the contact nor his sister-in-law had taken the vehicle to be serviced or diagnosed for the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) which he linked to the failure. The contact called a local dealer who informed him that her vehicle was not included in the recall due to the date the engine was manufactured. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 202,000

NHTSA ODI 11423713

Exiting a parking lot on a slight decline coming to a stop between 0-7 mph without any warning the engine just stops. It starts right back up and have taken to a few different mechanics and they can't find any problems.This has happened 3 times within a two week period. I am just over 100,000 miles on the car. I'm thankful this has not caused and accident yet but scared that it will.

NHTSA ODI 11422628

when a bluetooth device is plugged into the available plug(auxillary plug) in the front dash of the vehicle the radio/CD/phone connections work on and off(mostly off) if lucky you might hear the stereo for a few minutes then it goes off again for days. when unplugged the radio keeps working. My drivers side power window has not worked a few times. The available connection for the cell phone does not work all the time. There is some kind of electrical problem in my vehicle. These ongoing problems have been going on for about 1 1/2 years after I bought the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11420454

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. Consumer writes in regard to NHTSA Safety Recall 20V-746. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AS IF IT WERE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11417669

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED HIS SON WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FINDLAY HYUNDAI ST. GEORGE (1405 SOUTH, SUNLAND DR, ST. GEORGE, UT 84790, (435) 688-7272) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11416502

I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING ON WED APRIL 21,2021 CAME OUT TRIED STARTING MY 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AND IT WOULDN'T START I PROCEEDED TO TRY AGAIN AND IT STARTED MAKING THIS HIGH PITCHED NOISE ,PEAKED OUT REALLY LOUD A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH MY HOOD AND THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHERE HE REPLACED THE STARTER THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WHICH IT WASN'T HE INFORMED ME THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED UP . I THEN HAD THE SANTA FE TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER ALL SERVICE FROM DAY ONE HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WE BOUGHT THIS CAR KNOWING THE SERVICE RECORDS AND HISTORY OF CAR WE ALSO KNEW IT CAME WITH A 10 YEAR 100000 MILE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY. MOTOR FAILED AT 96128, WOULD OF BEEN COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURES DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY IF I WAS ORIGINAL OWNER I WAS TOLD. AFTER DOING RESEARCH WE HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE MOTORS LOCKING UP. SERVICE WRITER ADVISED US TO CONTACT HYUNDAI DIRECTLY WHICH I DID MY CASE #18222696 WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME WITHIN 3-5 BUSINESS DAYS WHICH I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE.

NHTSA ODI 11416214

RIDING ON A 6 LANE VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE ON MY 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE JUST QUIT. ONLY VERY LUCKY WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE. CARS WERE FLYING PAST, AND RIGHT LANE TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP TO KEEP FROM REAR ENDING US. I CALLED POLICE DEPT TO SEND A CAR WITH BLUE LIGHT TO HELP KEEP US FROM BEING HIT. ALSO CALLED TOW TRUCK TO MOVE US TO DEALERSHIP. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HYUNDAI CORP. STATING MY CAR WAS IN THE RECALL FOR BEARING DAMAGE. INFORMED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, MODERN HYUNDAI OF CONCORD ,N.C. OF RECEIVING THIS LETTER. THAT WAS (10 )WEEKS AGO. STILL WAITING ON MODERN HYUNDAI TO SERVICE MY CAR. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THE CORP OFFICE IS REQUESTING MOR E PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. BEEN HEARING THAT SAME LINE FOR OVER 3 WEEKS NOW. JUST KEEP GIVING US THE RUNAROUND. THEY SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH PICTURES TO MAKE A MOVIE BY NOW. THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST SCARIEST SITUATION, AND THE MOST DISPARAGING I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH.

NHTSA ODI 11413590

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BROWN HYUNDAI OF LAREDO (2420 JACAMAN RD, LAREDO, TX 78041) FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. UPON RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAP SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,519.

NHTSA ODI 11413093

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE DETECTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE AND REFERRED CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ROSEN HYUNDAI OF ALGONQUIN (771 S RANDALL RD, ALGONQUIN, IL 60102, (847) 854-6700) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11408122

2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WERE STRANDED OUT OF STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11406596