What 253 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Phev

Time Belt problem. Check engine, yellow.

NHTSA ODI 11660125

While I was driving on the highway in the left lane, smoke came from the engine, then it started coming from underneath the car. The car turned off. I was forced to stop on the left lane of the highway and exit the vehicle and walk as far away as possible. I called 911, then I noticed fire coming from the engine. This was unsafe for myself as well as other riders on the highway. Firefighters came and put out the fire. Once they left, I was left by myself waiting for the tow truck to arrive. No police officers helped to keep myself safe while waiting on the left shoulder once the highway re-opened. When asked if I needed a police report, the police officer said no because it wasn't a crash. The vehicle was inspected by my insurance company and it was deemed a total loss. There were no warning signs or messages or symptoms prior to the failure at all.

NHTSA ODI 11592719

The engine caught fire and the vehicle is a total loss. Acceleration became inconsistent at time of the incident while driving on the freeway. Once that was noticed, and at a speed of 50mph, I immediately heard a loud clicking noise coming from the engine. ALL warning lights also immediately went off. I noticed white smoke and pulled over on the freeway. Once parked, black smoke was emerging from the engine. I exited the vehicle to safety and within 30 seconds, flames emerged from the vehicle. The vehicle maintenance was kept current during the 7 months of ownership. There were no prior warnings of any issues before the incident occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11563641

Premature engine failure due to bearing. Car has oil consumption problem causing a ceased engine. Car stalled going 40 mph under a intersection, managed to pull over and car started fire and smoking. Fire Smothered itself.

NHTSA ODI 11479424

My car engine caught fire on 04/18/2021 and totaled my car. I just received a recall notice from Hyundai for this issue via the USPS yesterday 06/29/2021. I had only 60,000 miles and expected to own this car another 3-5 years. I am out a new car payment and this could have burned my condo down as I was 2 blocks away from it driving home and routinely park in my garage.

NHTSA ODI 11422892

2015 HYUNDAI SANT FE LIMITED 3.3L AWD, PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALERSHIP, 129,280 MILES. ROUTINE OIL SERVICE WITH MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC AND WIX FILTERS SINCE PURCHASED. TRAVELING 75MPH ON I-10 (FLORIDA) WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. NOT TOWING, TRAVELING STRAIGHT. AS THE VEHICLE STARTED UP A SMALL GRADE IN THE ROAD, THE CRUISE CONTROL SURGED (AS NORMAL TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED) I HEARD A BANG, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, OIL LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE DIED IMMEDIATELY. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND LOOKED OUT THE PASSENGER WINDOW TO MERGE ONTO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED AN ORANGE GLOW OUTSIDE (IT WAS NIGHT). ONCE STOPPED, OPENED HOOD AND NOTICED SMELL OF OIL, OIL POOLED IN THE UNDERBODY FAIRING. CHECKED OIL DRAIN PLUG AND FILTER, AS I HAD AN OIL CHANGE 700 MILES PRIOR. BOTH WERE STILL PROPERLY INSTALLED. TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC, DIAGNOSIS WAS SEIZED ENGINE. INSPECTED ENGINE BLOCK AND NOTICED FIST SIZED HOLE IN BLOCK (SEE PHOTOS). TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED THEY HADN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE ON THIS ENGINE. I INFORMED THEM I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 220K MILES ON IT AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING/MAINTAINING CARS FOR 30 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE EITHER. WAS INFORMED THAT THEY SUSPECT IMPROPER OIL MAINTENANCE. OIL AND FILTER BOTH REPLACED EVERY 5000 MILES. ALWAYS MOBILE 1 SYNTHETIC AND WIX (GOOD QUALITY FILTERS/OIL). I SUSPECT HYUNDAI HAS ENGINE RELIABILITY ISSUES. NO PRIOR ENGINE ISSUES NOTICED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS PRIOR. NO OIL LIGHTS ON PRIOR. WE JUST COMPLETED A TRIP TO NASHVILLE, TN (860 MILES ROUND TRIP) AND WERE RETURNING FROM JASPER, FL (460 MILES ROUND TRIP). OIL AND FILTER REPLACED RIGHT BEFORE TRIP. TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED. IN OTHER WORDS, I MAINTAIN MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11389546

TL* THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURNING OIL AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE OIL WAS CHANGED IN HOPES IT WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HERB CONNOLLY HYUNDAI, 520 WORCESTER RD, FRAMINGHAM, MA 01702, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL WAS PERFECT ON ARRIVAL AND WAS NOT REPLICATING THE FAILURE OF THE SMOKE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO MIRAK HYUNDAI, 1165 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, ARLINGTON, MA 02476, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TOO MUCH OIL WAS ADDED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT WAS TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE OPEN RECALL OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V520000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECTED. - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ODI 11360928

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, SMOKE AND FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A POLICE TOW YARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. DON MOORE HYUNDAI (3200 VILLA POINT, OWENSBORO, KY 42303, (270) 685-5555) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11290927