What 941 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev

Vehicle caught fire while driving on highway. The vehicle started to decelerate & would not go over 70 MPH. Driver pulled off at the next exit and turned the car off. She waited about 5 minutes and turned the vehicle back on, Vehicle was now normal, but still would not go over 70 MPH. There were no warning light or anything. Operating the vehicle 70 MPH for about 20 mins and then heard a clicking & banging. Vehicle started to losing speed. Driver turned on the flashers and the vehicle went to just under 45 MPH. Driver decided to merge to the upcoming rest stop. Vehicle then stopped just before the exit and driver got out of the vehicle she felt the hood. The hood was not hot, but saw smoke. Driver then grabbed the latch to open the hood & flames burst out from side to side. Driver put the hood down ran to removed her belongings out. A passerby called the police and vehicle was engulfed with flames.

NHTSA ODI 11452512

The owner had just left the driveway and was driving up the neighborhood block at low speed in the vehicle when another driver motioned that there was a problem with the car, pointing at the driver's side wheel well. The owner immediately pulled to the curb, exited the vehicle, and saw smoke pouring from the vehicle. Grabbed purse and moved a safe distance away. Spontaneously the car caught fire under the engine before the fire truck arrived 8 minutes later. Huge flames shooting from under the hood were captured on both video and photos. The car is a total loss. Had been well maintained.

NHTSA ODI 11441826

The engine in our 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 3.3L V6 has always had problems with lag/ hesitation when accelerating from a stop from the very beginning of ownership (first owner). This was always dismissed by Hyundai's mechanics as not actually existing, although it did lag constantly. I know many other have reported similar issues so, I include this only that it could potentially be an early sign of a manufacturers defect leading to larger problems later? Now, we regularly change the oil in our Santa Fe and have never seen a single warning light outside of tire pressure warnings. But on 7/29/21, with our vehicle just out of warranty at 112k miles, while accelerating to freeway speed from an on ramp at 60 mph multiple warning lights came and at the same time there was a very large bang from the engine and a large amount of smoke came from under the hood, enough to seriously affect the vision of drivers behind me. There was a very rapid lose of speed and I also observed things falling from the vehicle in the rearview. I luckily managed the vehicle to the shoulder and quickly got out. I thought vehicle was on fire, it may have been, the smoke kept up for 5-10 minutes. At this point the car would not start or run and a large pool of oil and or coolant formed underneath. It was towed to a Hyundai dealer and the prognosis was a broken connecting rod that had blew a large maybe 5" diameter hole through the bottom of the engine. And now, despite providing proof of recent oil changes, Hyundai has dismissed any manufacturing issues from causing the issue and sighting the problem was from lack of maintenance because of sludge in the engine. Although to my understanding sludge can also be produced rapidly when contaminants, like coolant, from bad valves or head gaskets, enter the oil. When I asked about this the technician literally just didn't answer. So, now we currently owe $7k on a vehicle needing repairs at the quoted price of $8-$14k and Hyundai has closed our case.

NHTSA ODI 11431571

Location: Apartment complex , driveway This morning I went to drop off my son at my parents place and when I made a U turn to turn around, the car accelerated on it’s own, I stepped on the brakes and it was too late, I hit the neighbors car on the corner and my right tire was on top of the sidewalk. Keep in mind the speed limit in the apartment complex is 5mph. I was going at 6mph and when the car accelerated it felt like if it was going 20mph! I bought my car last year on August 2020, since then my car has been giving signs of hesitations on the acceleration but never would of thought my car would actually drive off on its own. I have a 1yr old son and after this accident happen I don’t feel safe driving my car at all or even trust it at this point, I don’t want to be driving and it happens again and it could be worse.

NHTSA ODI 11423230

Smelled smoke at a stop light. Continued when light turned green. Pulled over about 30 car lengths later because smoke was coming in the vents. Jumped out of car and ran. Within 2 minutes, entire front engine was completely engulfed in flames. No indicator light came on before. Car was driving perfect.

NHTSA ODI 11419067

TAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY ,THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN SURGED AT A HIGH SPEED AND CRASHED INTO OUR HOME.BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED BUT COULD NOT STOP THE IMPACT.BELIEVE THE SURGE MAY BE RELATED TO THE TURBO ENGINE ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI 11386838

ON DEC 5, 2019 AT 7:50 AM, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WAITING TO TURN WEST AT A CITY INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED AND DROVE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SO I CONTINUED AND WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN I GOT HIT BY 2018 FORD ESCAPE. THE DRIVER RAN THE RED LIGHT AND HIT MY VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE QUARTER PANEL, CAUSING VISIBLE DAMAGE TO MY FENDER, WHEEL, PANEL AND BUMPER (MORE DAMAGE WILL BE DETERMINED BY INSURANCE ADJUSTER). THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THAT IT MOVED MY CAR, PUSHING THE FRONT END OF MY CAR TOWARDS EAST OF THE INTERSECTION. I HAD MY TWO CHILDREN AND MY DOG IN THE CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AT ALL. THE OTHER VEHICLE HIT US HEAD ON AND THEIR AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. MY HEAD AND UPPER BODY SLAMMED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. EVERYONE IN MY CAR HAD THEIR SEATBELT ON AND MY DOG WAS TIED, BY HIS LEASH, TO AN ANCHOR IN THE BACK. THE IMPACT TO MY HEAD WAS SO HARD, I WENT TO THE ER AND THEY DID A CT SCAN TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO FRACTURES OR BLEEDING. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION DUE TO THE IMPACT. I AM ATTACHING PHOTOS OF THE SCENE AND THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11287668

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND STATED THAT THE FIRE INITIATED AROUND THE BATTERY AREA. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED A WEEK PRIOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11257848

CAN WAS SITTING FROM 7:00 PM ON 5/2 AND WE WOKE TO FULL ON FIRE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE AT 4:50 AM ON 5/3 - FIRE CO BELIEVES ELECTRICAL

NHTSA ODI 11205494

I PARKED MY CAR PARALLEL TO THE CURB ON A CITY STREET. I MOVED THE SHIFTER FROM "DRIVE" TO "PARK". I DID NOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE BECAUSE I WAS ONLY GOING TO GET OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS TO OPEN THE DOOR BEHIND ME TO LET SOME SENIOR CITIZENS TO GET IN THE CAR. I RELEASED MY SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND PROCEED TO OPEN THE DRIVER-SIDE CAR DOOR. AS SOON AS MY FEET WERE ON THE GROUND AND MY BODY WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE DIRECTION. THE CAR WAS MOVING FAIRLY QUICKLY BECAUSE WITHIN A SPLIT SECOND, I WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND BY THE CAR DOOR WITH THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ON TOP OF MY LEFT FOOT. THE WHEEL PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER MY LEFT ANKLE, LEG, THIGH, HIP, ABDOMEN, CHEST, AND FINALLY MY RIGHT UPPER ARM AND SHOULDER JOINT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO TRAVEL IN REVERSE BY JUMPING THE CURB ONTO THE SIDE WALK AND FINALLY STOPPED BY HEAVY BUSHES IN FRONT OF A BUILDING. UPON INSPECTION, THE SHIFTER HAD SLIPPED INTO THE "REVERSE" POSITION. BASED ON THE GRADIENT OF THE ROAD SERVICE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE REMOVAL OF MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY ALLOWED THE CAR TO MOVE BACKWARD HAD THE SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE WHICH WOULD MAKE EXITING MY WHOLE BODY OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT NOTICING CAR MOVEMENT VERY UNLIKELY IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, PARTICULARLY FOR A 72 YEAR OLD MALE WHO IS RECOVERING FROM AN OPEN HEART SURGERY AND TWO BRAIN SURGERIES. THE SHIFTING MECHANISM AND THE ASSOCIATED CONTROL MUST BE FAULTY RESULTING IN THE "FALSE PARK" POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 11176511

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP OR NEARLY A DEAD STOP THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PAUSE AND THEN IT ACCELERATES QUICKLY, THIS CAUSED A FAMILY MEMBER TO HIT A CAR IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI 11153036

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING APPROX 20MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN I HYDROPLANED AND HIT A STATIONARY LIGHT POLE HEAD ON. MY FRONTAL AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY HEAD STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD, CREATED SIGNIFICANT WINSHIELD DAMAGE. THE OVER ALL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, WINSHIELD, FRONT END UNDER THE CAR DAMAGE THAT RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING TOTALED OUT. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY FRONTAL DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED

NHTSA ODI 11076045

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO GAIN SPEED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION STRUCK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER RECEIVED A CITATION FOR FAILING TO YIELD. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT WRIST, CUTS TO THE LEFT HAND, AND BRUISES TO THE UPPER BODY/TORSO. THE CONTACT (PASSENGER) SUSTAINED A BROKEN NECK THAT REQUIRED SURGERY DUE TO INTERNAL BLEEDING, SEVERE BRUISING FROM THE CHEST DOWN TO THE LOWER TORSO, AND BRUISING ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT ARMS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE CONTACT HAD SURGERY TO HER RIGHT HIP TO REMOVE A BONE TO PLACE IN HER NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (A1 WRECKER 1601 PARTIN DR N D, NICEVILLE, FLORIDA 32578). THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10991346

MY VEHICLE WAS IN PARK ON A FLAT SURFACE. I REACHED IN AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THE CAR BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS . I WAS DRAGGED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR STOPPED WHEN IT HIT THE NEIGHBORS CURB.I GOT IN THE CAR WAS OFF AND IN PARK.I THEN DROVE CAR INTO GARAGE AND PLACED IN PARK. I DIDI SUSTAIN A SEVER ANKLE SPRAIN AND WAS TREATED AT A HOSPITAL.THE CAR HAD 1900 MILES ON IT AND WAS A NEW CAR LEASE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR ON MONDAY DECEMBER 5 AND FOUND NOTHING. I CONTACTED THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER . THEY SENT A THIRD PARTY TO INSPECT CAR AND ON FEBRUARY 3,2017. I RECIEVED AN EMAIL. IT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION,GEAR SHIFTER AND BRAKES ARE NORMAL IT NOTED THAT IN THIS CAR THE DRIVER ALWAYS MUST PLACE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON EVERY TIME IT IS PLACED IN PARK. THE SALESMAN DID NOT CONVEY THIS,NOR II IS LISTED ON THE INFORMATION CHECKLIST TO REVIEW BEFORE CUSTOMER TAKES CAR. ALSO WHEN I TEST DROVE THIS VEHICLE IT DID NOT HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. ALSO. WHEN TEST DRIVING THE CAR I COMMENTED THAT THE BRAKES SEEMED STRANGE. THE SALESMAN TOLD ME TO STOP AND WE RETURNED TO DEALER.HE INFORMED ME THAT RACCOONS ON THE PROPERTY WERE EATING THROUGH BRAKE LINES ON SEVERAL CARS. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE REPAIRED BEFORE I TOOK POSSESSION FOUR DAYS LATER. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I ASKED TO BE LET OUT OF THE LEASE BUT THAT WAS DENIED.

NHTSA ODI 10953796

PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT VERY SLOWLY. VEHICLE WAS ALMOST PARKED.STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CONTINUED TO REV AND WOULD NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY WITH MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKE. IT RODE UP ONTO A CEMENT HANDICAP RAMP AND ITS RAILING AT THE HEAD OF THE SPACE .NOT INJURED, NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, CAR SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO FRONT AND UNDERCARRIAGE. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1200 MILES ON IT. NO ONE I TOLD WAS CONVINCED THAT I DIDN'T STEP ON THE GAS AND ASSUMED THAT MY FOOT MUST HAVE SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE AND ONTO THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS READY TO BELIEVE IT MYSELF AND OWNED THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY MY FAULT. AFTER STUMBLING (AND I MEAN STUMBLING-WASN'T LOOKING FOR ANYTHING LIKE THIS) ACROSS REVIEWS AND COMMENTS THAT DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, I FEEL VINDICATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10937587

ON APRIL 15, OUR BRAND NEW SANTA FE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEED TRAFFIC SUDDENLY, WHILE MY FIANCE REAR ENDED SOMEONE. TO THIS DAY SHE CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. SHE IS A CAREFUL DRIVER, DOES NOT SPEED AND KNOWS THAT THE AREA WERE SHE WAS DRIVING IS HIGH TRAFFIC AND WAS COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT. BOTH OF HER HANDS WERE ON THE WHEEL AND SHE WASN'T ON A PHONE OR ANYTHING. SHE BELIEVES SHE HIT THE BREAKS, AND AS STATED BEFORE STILL DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER READING THESE COMPLAINTS WE ARE WONDERING IF WE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS SOMEONE ELSE WHO REPORTED AND IS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. WE FIGURED WE WOULD REPORT THIS. WE ARE ALSO WONDERING IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING SIMILAR ACCIDENTS SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE GETTING PARTS TO REPAIR SAID CAR (CAR HAS NOW BEEN OFF THE ROAD FOR 11 WEEKS MOST PARTS REQUIRED FOR REPAIR HAVE BEEN EXTERNALLY BACKORDERED AND HYUNDAI HAS BEEN EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL TO HELP US GET OUR CAR REPAIRED). THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, WHILE SLOWLY DEPRESSING THE BREAKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 11/2/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10881942

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON 5/7/16. ON 6/2/16 I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 395 WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND EVENTUALLY DIED. WHEN I GOT IT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I GRABBED WHAT I COULD AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITHIN 5 MIN THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I HAD APPROXIMATELY 675 MILES ON IT. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO ME. I ORDERED A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT YET. I HAVE PICTURES THAT I HAVE ATTACHED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. THANKFULLY I DIDN'T HAVE GRANDKIDS IN THE CAR, I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM OUT.

NHTSA ODI 10874600