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

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

The ABS sensor failed on my vehicle, causing it to no longer accelerate past 20 mph on the highway. This put my safety at risk, as well as my passengers and others on the road because it happened suddenly while I was on the highway. My car could no longer accelerate suddenly while all cars around me were traveling at high speeds. The ABS light came on my dash, as well as the traction control and incline warning. I can no longer drive my vehicle so it has not been inspected yet.

NHTSA ODI 11566409

I was driving on a highway going 65mph when my engine suddenly, and without warning, failed. My foot was on the gas pedal when it suddenly went to the floor, but my car stopped accelerating. My check engine light began blinking as well. I was in the far left lane and, without the ability to accelerate, had to merge over through 3 lanes of highway traffic in order to safely pull my car over on the side of the highway. This put not only my own safety at risk, but also that of every car around me while I tried to maneuver my car safely to the side of the highway without the ability to accelerate. There were no signs or lights illuminated prior to the incident that would of given me any warning to the impending failure. My car was towed to the closest mechanic then towed to my local Hyundai dealership. Both the mechanic and the Hyundai service department found the engine knocking and determined it was a total engine failure and my engine needed to be replaced. I discovered my engine was affected by the Hyundai engine recall 162.

NHTSA ODI 11545351

On January 20, 2023 I was on my way home from work and was stopped at a traffic light. The light turned green. As I tried to accelerate forward the engine light started blinking and the vehicle moved slow and lost a lot of power and a knocking sound began. As I tried to accelerate more the knocking sound became louder. I found an engine issue after entering my vin# on the Hyundai site. It was found that for the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport there was an engine issue. I have attached this issue pertaining to my vin#. I printed this information and took these to my nearest Hyundai dealer, who stated to me that these were not official recall papers and they can't use them. I am the 3rd owner of this vehicle so I never would have received an official recall paper. I proceeded to email consumer affairs at Hyundai and sent these same attachments showing the vehicle issue with my vin#. Hyundai has emailed me back stating and I quote "We have determined your vehicle is not currently affected by any campaigns." I do not see how they determined there isn't a campaign that affects my vehicle when I have proof on paper there is an issue with these engines. My vehicle is a 2013 and under 10 years old. I found a local independent auto garage to look at my Hyundai and they have stated I need a new engine. I am at this time stuck paying out of pocket for a new engine that has clearly an issue Hyundai has had with this particular engine. Thank you for you time. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11505179

While driving abs light, stability control light, and hill decent light came on. ABS and stability control are important safety features to prevent loss off control and potential collisions. Seems to be a common problem for hyundai.

NHTSA ODI 11470457

When the cruise control shuts down, the tachometer cuts out and the vehicle seems to go into limp mode. Brightening or dimming the headlights causes an intermittent bright flash to the interior lights. This could be potentially dangerous seeing as you have no acceleration, which could cause very extensive damage to person and property. The intermittent bright flash could be a result of an unregulated power surge, which could cause damage to person and property.

NHTSA ODI 11451712

When I engaged the Cruise Control it caused the vehicle RPM's to quickly jump from about 3 up to over 5 RPM's and the gear would slip not accelerating but slowed down in traffic.

NHTSA ODI 11451452

EL PROBLEMA DE MI SANTA FE ES EL SIGUIENTE,ARANQUE NO SUBE SU NIVEL DE ACELERAR Y SE QUEDA BAGA NO QUIERE ACELERAR,EN OCASIONES ESTA CORRIENDO Y LUEGO BAJA LA VELOCIDAD Y SI MOVIMIENTOS ESTA MUY LENTO,,SI VAS A ENTRAR A UNA INTERSECTION TIENES QUE TENER SUMAMENTE EL CONTROL QUE NO VENGA NINGUN VEHICULO POR QUE ELLA NO QUIERE CORRER LO SUFICIENTE SE AHOGA EN EL ARRANQUE Y APARTE EN UNA SUBIDA NO QUIERE CORRER ELLA BAJA VELOCIDAD Y SE AHOGA SUBE LA REVOLUTION MAS DE 5,000 Y NO CORRE ESTO ME SUCEDE DESDE QUE LA COMPRE DESDE LA MISMA SEMANA Y APARTE ELLA NO TIENE BIEN SUS DIRRECCION SIEMPRE CORRE MUY INESTABLE...*DT ..*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326267

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

MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING EVERY TIME I START IT . IT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APRIL AND I JUST BOUGHT IT IN SEPTEMBER.

NHTSA ODI 11243903

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CAR, WHILE IN MOTION, FEELS LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTS CAUSING DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS TO BE PUSHED FORWARD IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS ALSO FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED WHILE CAR WAS ALREADY IN MOTION. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11219990

AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR OVER 1 1/2 HRS, LOSING ACCELERATION AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO PAY TOLLS. IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE GAS PEDAL TO FLOOR WILL NOT GO PAST 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY THAT IS 65 MPH. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. TWO OTHER TIMES HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING 2 HOURS ON TURNPIKE. CAR LOST TURBO BOOST AND WOULDN'T GO VERY FAST.. NO LIGHTS ON DASH. GAS PEDAL TO FLOOR AND RPMS WERE READING A LOT HIGHER. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHO RAN DIAGNOSTIC. WANTED THEM TO CHECK THE TURBO ACTUATOR. WAS CHARGED $120.00 AND TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11218733

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10924860

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE REMOTELY STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITH NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10850765

THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. IT SEEMED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS THERE WAS NO LABORING OF THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 10744787

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SET A SPEED, THE CRUISE CONTROL INDEPENDENTLY DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 7/28/15*CN UPDATED 10/11/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10712711

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, IT ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN INTO A SNOW BANK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 10681600

HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2013 PURCHASED NEW, SINGLE OWNER VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ISSUES. 1.FAILED TO ENGAGE 2.FAILED TO DISENGAGE 3.MADE THE CAR ACCELERATE WHEN TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN CONSISTENTLY BUT IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR ME AND THE OTHER DRIVER WITHIN MY HOME. MOST RECENT INCIDENT TOOK PLACE 9.10.2014. I?M FILING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAR ACCELERATING WHEN I?M INTENDING FOR IT TO SLOW DOWN BY TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND SINCE IT DID NOT HAPPEN DURING A TEST DRIVE THEY DID NOT PURSUE THE ISSUE ANY FURTHER. THE INABILITY TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE DURING A TEST DRIVE DOES NOT REDUCE THE SAFETY IMPACT OF THIS SOFTWARE ISSUE WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10632682

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS , THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,060.

NHTSA ODI 10545395

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

NHTSA ODI 10534127

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE RPMS INCREASED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT REGAIN ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,086 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,088.

NHTSA ODI 10495248