What 604 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev

Unknown car was purchased in september started having engine problem in december

NHTSA ODI 11639485

The engine on our 2013 Santa Fe Limited has seized. We have maintained this vehicle with regular oil changes, breaks, tires, and anything else our trusted mechanic has recommended. While driving, the car slowed down considerably and was not accelerating. No dashboard lights appeared. This was during evening rush hour and became very dangerous. I pulled over to the shoulder and called for help. Once the tow arrived, we started the car and the check engine light came on. I checked the oil, it looked good. Tow truck driver took it to the dealership. Dealership said the car had no oil and that the engine has seized. I saw that there was oil before the driver took the car. So, that's not possible. The dealership said they added oil and that we would need a new engine. After discussing with the dealership my very expensive option, I have been researching the recalls and problems others have been having with the exact same thing happening. If there was no oil, why wasn't the oil light coming on? Why am I not due for an oil change for 1000+ mile? Putting my family at risk in a well maintained car that should last 75k-100k more miles is a huge problem. I will continue to fight this until myself and others receive the proper care from Hyundai.

NHTSA ODI 11605683

I was driving the vehicle on the left lane of the freeway and the acceleration suddenly gave out. The car began to slow even when I pushed on the gas. Heat gage was fine and no lights went on. I quickly got over 4 lanes of traffic to the next exit and was able to pull over to the side of the road. White smoke began to billow out of the hood on the offramp and all the emergency light indicators came on at once. I turned the car off and the smoke turned black. I popped the hood and flames leapt out from under the hood. I jump out of the car and ran, leaving everything behind. I got safety away from the car and called 911. All of this happened within 2 minutes of losing acceleration. I typically have my two children in car seats in the car for school drop off and, [XXX] , they weren't with me. The fire overtook the front quickly and spread to the main cabin. By the time the fire department arrived (appx. 5-7 min) the car was completely engulfed. Nothing was salvaged. There is a fire report with the fire department. The police were not called. The car had gone through a full inspection and oil change one month prior and had no warning signs or issues. I lost a number of things in the car, including my purse, work items, kid's items, car seats, etc. Just after the incident, I developed a cough and severe headache that lasted two days. I also twisted my knee while running away, exacerbating an old injury. I am also dealing with acute mental health symptoms and am seeing a psychologist. I have not yet returned to work due to brain fog and exhaustion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11581902

My car engine compartment fire while parked in front of my condo

NHTSA ODI 11551311

Our family 2013 Santa Fe was leaking fuel in June 2023. Hyundai of Chantilly failed to check on Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that were related to our 2013 Santa Fe. TSBs are circulated to “General Manager, Service Manager, Parts Manager, Warranty Manager, Service Advisors, Technicians, Body Shop Manager, Fleet Repair”. Per Recall 180: Hyundai is conducting a safety recall in the United States to confirm the high pressure fuel pipe was properly connected by Hyundai dealers to the fuel pump outlet during prior engine replacement. What is the safety recall? Certain model year 2011-2018 Hyundai Sonata, model year 2013-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, and model year 2014-2015 and 2018 Tucson vehicles had engines replaced. In some cases, during engine replacements, the high pressure fuel pipe may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, allowing fuel to leak. What will Hyundai do? Hyundai dealers will inspect the connections of the high pressure fuel pipe to the fuel pump outlet for fuel leaking. If leaking fuel is detected, the fuel pipe will be replaced and properly installed with a new one. This procedure will be performed at NO CHARGE. My daughter mentioned to Hyundai Service Advisor, that the engine had been replaced under the recall last Spring 2023. Why didn’t the Service Advisor or Service Technician check the TSB? That should have been the first thing to do, especially when fuel lines don’t go bad that quickly. The level of incompetence at Hyundai of Chantilly Service Department is staggering. I paid over $1300 at Hyundai of Chantilly, most of which is covered by a recall. Now, I’m in the process of requesting reimbursement from Hyundai Motor America, which could take 120 days to process/receive. Why should customers have to do research to find out whether their vehicle was impacted by a recall? Hyundai should be fined civil penalties for failures in fixing recall issues.

NHTSA ODI 11530755

The vehicle started to stall and smoke started to come from the engine compartment. People started yelling the vehicle was fire. Vehicle stopped in the road and burst into flames. Fire department and police were called to scene. Vehicle was a total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11463549

Our Hyundai Sante Fe Sport smells like gasoline. The odor is very loud and nauseating. We parked it outdoors and the smell is still very loud and immediately noticeable from inside the vehicle and even walking by. We looked it up and saw an article in Consumer Reports (by [XXX] on May 18th describing this same thing. The article states the cars are being recalled however, we had our vehicle towed to Thornton Road Hyundai and were told there is no recall. They have diagnosed it as a leak in the top valve of the cover gasket and are charging $365 to repair it. Additional note - on July 8th, as we drove from Atlanta to Orlando, we witnessed a silver Hyundai Sante Fe Sport on fire (completely engulfed in flames) on the highway. We are very concerned and would like for this concern to be taken seriously. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11426946

We pulled off the highway to get gas and noticed smoke coming from the hood. We immediately parked at the gas station and my husband, our dog and I got out of the car and within minutes the entire front of the car was in flames. Several passersby stopped and sprayed the fire with their fire extinguishers. We called 911 and the fire department quickly arrived and put out the fire, but the entire front of the car was destroyed. The front of the car melted along with the windshield from the intense heat. The police inspector came and inspected the car and took photos. The car was then towed and our insurance company took possession of the car. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The only thing we noticed was a slight hesitation in power as we climbed a hill several times in the half hour preceding the failure. My husband, my dog and I would have been in mortal danger from the fire if we had not stopped immediately and gotten out of the car. The safety of other people nearby had also been at risk if the fire department had not arrived so quickly to put out the fire as the smoke began as we were entering the gas station and parked about 50 feet from the gas pumps to escape the vehicle. We have no idea what caused the fire. The engine had been replaced by Hyundai due to a defect that had caused it to fail about 2 years prior to the current failure.

NHTSA ODI 11420699

The problem related to the class action for the Theta II GSD engine happened to my engine (Rod Bearing Failure). This is causing the engine to knock. Will have to replace the entire engine with less than 100k on the vehicle. Ran the vehicle normally and then parked it. Once I got back in the vehicle, I tried to start it and it would not start. I brought it to the dealer, and they came back and said there is a Rod Bearing Failure causing the engine to knock.

NHTSA ODI 11418603

FIRST WE HEARD WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS MAKING A BELT LOOSE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN OUR LOCAL AREA OF DENVER, THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATION WAS NOT HAPPENING. GIVING IT GAS AND NOTHING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MADE IT HOME, THANK GOODNESS AS ACCELERATION WAS INTERMITTENT( AND NOTHING OVER 25MPH) BUT IMMEDIATELY HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC FIXED ONE SENSOR AND MORE PROBLEMS AROSE. HE FELT IT SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM BUT SURPRISINGLY ITS NOT. NOW HE THINKS THE RESOLVE WILL BE IN THE FORM OF REPLACING THE ENGINE AS HE'S RUN EVERY OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST HE COULD.

NHTSA ODI 11413581

THE MOTOR STATED TO ACT UP. IT WAS DRIVING REGULAR THEN ALL AT ONCE THE MOTOR STARTED TO MAKE A GRINING NOISE THEN THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 20 MPA. I GOT SCARED THEN CAME HOME IT WAS SMOKING TOO. I PUT MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED STILL GOING 20 MPA

NHTSA ODI 11386724

ON 11/02/2020 MY HYUNDAI SANTAFE SPORT BROKE DOWN. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC AT UNIVERSAL HYUNDAI THAT THE 4TH CYLINDER WAS MISSFIRING AND THAT GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING INTERNALLY. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR AND HAVE CHANGED OIL REGULARLY AND HAVE NEVER HAD A SINGLE ISSUE WITH THE CAR. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION I GOUND THAT HYUNDAI HAD TWO RECALLS ( 164 AND 194) I WAS TOLD BY THE REP AT UNIVERSAL HYUNDAI THAT MY CAR WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. HOWEVER HYUNDAI ENDED UP GOING BACK ON THEIR WORD AND SAID MY EGINE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11385697

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE UP A INCLINE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE LOST ALL ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329284

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THEY WOULD HEAR A KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK 20V1442TH SMOKE BENG SEEN DUE TO A FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE SMOKE WOULD COME OUT FROM THE EXHAUST OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND FUEL INJECTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP (HUNTINGTON BEACH HYUNDAI ADDRESS: 16751 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92647 PHONE: (714) 594-5604) WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE FAILURE: P0299, WHICH, STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S UNDER BOOST TURBOCHARGER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ODI 11319845

THE CAR WENT OF FIRE ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11318025

THE FUEL GAUGE ISN'T GIVING THE CORRECT READINGS. TWICE MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE SHE WAS THINKING SHE HAD 70/75 MILES TO GO AND GET TO A STATION. 1ST TIME, SHE WAS DRIVING HOME AND IT SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF AND 2ND TIME IT SHUTS OFF AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IF IT'S READING 75 TO 84 AND YOU ADD GAS, IT STAYS ON 75 TO 84 UNTIL YOU GO BACK AND ADD MORE. SO EVEN AFTER ADDING GAS, SOMETIMES SHE'S SCARED THAT THE CAR MAY BE GOING BY THE GUAGE READING INSTEAD OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE TANK AND MAY STILL SHUT OFF. P HYUNDAI SAYS IT'S NOT A DANGER BUT HOWS YOUR CAR SUDDENLY KILLS ON THE HIGHWAY AWAY FROM FAMILY OR FRIENDS OR MAYBE STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, NOT DANGER?

NHTSA ODI 11299972

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL, IT BEGAN LEAKING FUEL AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SHAKER'S FAMILY HYUNDAI (674 STRAITS TURNPIKE, WATERTOWN, CT 06795) TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 11291646

ON SEPTEMBER 20TH 2018 AFTER HAVING THE CAR A WEEK, THE CAR MADE A NOISE WOULD NOT START ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF THEN NEVER CAME ON AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO SAY IT WAS A BATTERY, WHICH THEY NEVER GAVE A SERVICE RECEIPT FOR NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I ASKED. THEN AGAIN ON AUGUST 7 2019 MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STOP WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE EXPRESSWAY WHICH WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. AFTER ABOUT 30 MIN THAT DID RESTART BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OF 60 MPH. AS WE COASTED THE REMAINDER OF OUR TRIP. THEN AGAIN ON OCTOBER 7 THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP. THIS TIME SMOKING AND STALLING AND NEVER COMING BACK ON AGAIN. THE BRAKE WOULD BE PRESSED WHEN THE PUSH TO START BETTON NEVER WENT TO THE ON POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 11278151

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUDDLES WERE VISIBLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS WET. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO NUMBER ONE COCHRAN HYUNDAI (4520 WILLIAM PENN HWY, MONROEVILLE, PA 15146, (877) 211-5526), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD A SALVAGED TITLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,080.

NHTSA ODI 11234823

MY 2.0T ENGINE WHICH I HAVE MAINTAINED RELIGIOUSLY PER THE FACTORY SEVERE SERVICE SCHEDULE WITH SYNTHETIC OIL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN A COLLISION AND WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH WHAT LITTLE MOMENTUM I HAD. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I FEEL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ODI 11173881

I OWN A 2013 SANTA FE AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH IT, THE ENGINE BEING REPLACED DUE TO FAILING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS SERVICED WITH A FEW OTHER ITEMS DEALER FOUND TO BE NEEDED FOR SOME RECALLS. BUT NONE I CAN RECALL FOR SURE WAS REGARDING THE ENGINE ITSELF, WILL NEED TO CHECK SERVICE RECORDS. THEN LATER IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP(INJECTOR) NEED TO VERIFY SPECIFICS, BUT GAS FUMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THIS WAS REPLACED, THEN LATER AGAIN HAD TO TAKE IN AGAIN FOR REPAIR DUE TO SERVICE ERROR OF TUBING BEING BENT ECT WHEN INSTALLED, NOTICED THE HIGH AMOUNT OF GAS FUMES AND SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE AND INTO THE CABIN. THIS WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO, THEN NOV 9 2018 MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED BY FLAMES. I HAD JUST SECONDS TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND PUT IN PARK, GRAB MY 6 YEAR OLD SON AND GET OUT BEFORE FLAMES COVERED THE ENTIRE ENGINE THEN THE ENTIRE CAR. I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I WOULD LIKE TO START AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS MATTER, I FEAR I AND MY SON COULD HAVE DIED DUE TO THIS KNOWN AND NEGLECTED ISSUE THESE SANTA FE'S HAVE BEEN HAVING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP SO I WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPLY THE SERVICE REPORTS AND THE CASE NUMBER FOR THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF REPORT OF THE FIRE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS NEEDED. MY CELL [XXX] PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE IF I MISS YOUR CALL AND EMAIL INSTRUCTIONS AND OR INFORMATION NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11150942

SINCE MAY I HAVE BEEN DEALING UP TO AUGUST MY CAR ME ET S THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LEMON L AW N I FILED IN MAY MY CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BURNS 2 QTS OF OIL A WEEK SINCE THEY DID RECALL BETWEEN THIRD PARTIES IN ATTORNEY GENERAL N SERVICE MANAGER MY CAR IS INHUMANE FOR NEARLY TWO MONTHS OF THEM CONSUMER ADVOCATE FALSIFYING DOCUMENTS N NOT GETTING THIS CAR SERVICED WHEN THE ENGINE HAS A RECALL ON THE 2013 AND I'VE RECORDED CONVERSATIONS N MADE COPIES WHEN ACTION SHOULD BE IN A 30 DAY WINDOW SINCE AUGUST 8TH PLEASE HELP!!!

NHTSA ODI 11132394

TRYING TO PULL OVER AT PARKING LOT, THE ENGINE WAS SUDDENLY STOPPED AT ABOUT 16:00 ON THE DAY OF MAY 15, 2016. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES FOR RESTART, BUT IN VAIN. BATTERY STATUS WAS GOOD. CALLED SERVICE DEALER AND THEY COULDNT GET THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION, THEY SENT MY CAR TO THE UPPER LEVELED SERVICE WORKSHOP. THE SHOP MANAGER SAID HIS HANDS ARE TIED IN THIS CASE AND EXPLAINED ACCUMULATED METAL(ALUMINUM) PARTICLES BLOCKED THE FUEL FLOWS OF HIGH PRESSURE PUMP OF THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM. AND THE CAR NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF WHOLE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM FROM FUEL TANK TO FUEL PRESSURE PUMP. DURING THE 4 YEARS OF OCCUPATION OF THE CAR, I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR IN VERY NORMAL AND REGULAR MANNER. AT EVERY 7~8,000 KM, FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED WITH NEW ONE. THE ACCUMULATION OF THE METAL(ALUMNUM) PARTICLES SEEMED COME FROM THE DEFECTIVE PART DURING THE MANUFACTURING BY FACTORY. IF THIS OCCURRED DURING THE ROAD OPERATION, SUDDEN ENGINE STOP MAY CAUSE A CRASH, INJURIES, DEATHS. NOW THE DRIVERS IS IN A SERIOUS MENTAL CONDITION OF DEEP CONCERN ON THE POSSIBLY FATAL CRASH, EVEN NOT OCCURRED. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THEY DONT KNOW THE EXACT REASON OF THE METAL PARTICLES ACCUMULATION IN THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM. BECAUSE THEY DONT KNOW THE REAL CAUSE AND THE WARRANTEE PERIOD COMPLETED, THE CAR OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST, MAKER IS INSISTING.

NHTSA ODI 10872879

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RPMS GO TO ZERO. BEEN IN SHOP TWICE - ONCE CANT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, 2ND TIME REPLACED FUEL PUMP NEAR GAS TANK. CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10873113

AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, TURNING LEFT ONTO A TWO LANE 35MPH ROAD, THE CAR SEEMED TO DOWNSHIFT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. IT CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AT NO MORE THAN 10-15MPH JERKING AND LUNGING UP A HILL, CAUSING A HAZARD FOR APPROACHING CARS. THE AWD LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH ANOTHER LIGHT PERTAINING TO THE DRIVETRAIN/AXLE. WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE A FEW HUNDRED YARDS UNTIL A SAFE SPOT TO PULL OVER WAS FOUND. THE ROADSIDE ASSIST TECH SUSPECTED THERE MAY BE WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, HOWEVER WHEN LOADING THE CAR ONTO THE TRUCK, NOTICED THE JERKING MOTION AND INSISTED IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION. IN OUR FIRST CONVERSATION WITH THE MECHANIC HE MENTIONED RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. WE SAID THAT WE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE CAR AFTER LEASE, 2 MONTHS PRIOR, AND DURING THAT PROCESS WE ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND WERE TOLD THERE WERE NONE.

NHTSA ODI 10836246