Home · 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (941)Crash / fire / injury (42)Engine (627)Transmission & drivetrain (153)Electrical system (65)Brakes (58)Fuel system (57)Speed control (51)Steering (27)Engine & cooling (23)Airbags (20)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (9)

65 of 941 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 3 of 3

Feb 8, 2019Electrical system

VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES. STARTS WHEN IT WANTS TOO. CAR IS ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD 17,100 MILES. 2 DAYS IN ROW CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER BUT EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WORKED. LIGHTS, RADIO, POWER WINDOWS ETC. COMPUTER WASN'T DETECTING KEY THAT WAS IN MY HAND.

NHTSA ODI 11175139

Aug 21, 2018Electrical system

2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING OVER 45 MPH DURING COLD WEATHER. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI 11119111

Jul 27, 2018Electrical system

THIS IS THE THIRD OCCASSION WHERE MY 2017 SANTA FE WILL NOT START. WHEN I TURN THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION THERE IS NO SOUND AT ALL, NO ELECTRICITY IS BEING SENT TO START THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, ALL MY LIGHTS AND RADIO FUNTIONS WORK JUST FINE. AFTER A WHILE THE IT WILL WORK AGAIN. MY BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED AND SHOWN TO BE WORKING FINE. I LEAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTS ON AND CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT CHANGES TO MAKE IT START WORKING .

NHTSA ODI 11114223

Jun 30, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES SIMILAR TO A LOW OR DEAD BATTERY. WILL ONLY START WHEN IT WANTS. USUALLY HAPPENS AT FIRST START OF THE DAY OR LATE AFTERNOON. PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE IS HARDER THAN NORMAL. TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTS HAVE HARD JERKING FEEL.

NHTSA ODI 11104859

Feb 17, 2018Speed controlElectrical system

THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER DISAPPEARED AND THE SOFTWARE FUNCTIONALITY TO ENABLE IT ALSO DISAPPEARED WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11073369

Dec 13, 2017Electrical systemLights

WHILE DRIVING ON DECEMBER 11, 2017 AFTER DARK, DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS IN COLORADO, AT 55 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS - INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR - FAILED (TURNED OFF) MOMENTARILY. WHEN MY HUSBAND HIT THE BRAKES, HE COULD SEE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. AFTER PLAYING WITH THE HEADLIGHT CONTROLS FOR A FEW SECONDS, EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED AS MY HUSBAND WAS SWITCHING FROM THE HIGH BEAMS TO THE LOW BEAMS. EVEN THOUGH THE INTERIOR (DASHBOARD) LIGHTS WERE OFF, THE RADIO CONTINUED TO PLAY.

NHTSA ODI 11054551

Dec 6, 2017Electrical systemSpeed controlSeats

THE DRIVER SEAT MAKES SQUEAKING NOISES ALL THE TIME. I CANT MOVE IN MY SEAT WITHOUT THESE LOUD AND ANNOYING SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE SEAT

NHTSA ODI 11052878

Dec 6, 2017Electrical systemSpeed controlSeats

## VIN PASSED ## ## THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ON MY 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE OR BEEP TO NOTIFY ME OF LOW FUEL. I WAS DOWN TO ALMOST 10 MILES LEFT BEFORE I REALIZED I WAS ALMOST ON EMPTY. DEALERSHIP HAS CHECKED CODES AND TOLD ME THERE ARE NO FAULTY CODES. NOW INHAVE TONTAKE IT IN AGAIN AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IT STILL DOESNT WORK.. I AM LEAVING IT ON EMPTY SO THEY CAN SEE HOW THE LIGHT DOESNT TURN ON

NHTSA ODI 11052877

Jul 13, 2017SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING LOW TIRES, STEERING, OTHER CODES CONSISTING OF LETTERS. POWER STEERING FAILED, POWER BRAKES FAILED. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. STEERING WARNING LIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED AS WERE TIRE WARNINGS. THE TIRES WERE FULLY INFLATED, ENGINE STILL RUNNING. WE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, RAISED THE HOOD TO CHECK FOR THROWN BELT. BELTS WERE INTACT. TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, IT MADE A CLICKING AND A SIZZLING SOUND AND WOULD NOT START. CALLED DEALER, DEALER GAVE NUMBER FOR HYUNDAI ASSURANCE. THEY CAME AND PICKED UP THE CAR. IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ANY FASTER, OR IN TRAFFIC, THE AUTOMOBILE'S FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS WE WERE GIVEN A COURTESY CAR. AFTER A WEEK, THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED AS A FUSE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE. CABLE AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AT TIME OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11005132

Jun 23, 2017Electrical system

BLINKING AIRBAG LIGHT ON FRONT PANEL AND DASHBOARD WHILE CAR IS MOVING. THIS OCCURS WHEN THERE IS A DRIVER WITH OR WITHOUT A FRONT PASSENGER.

NHTSA ODI 11000849

Feb 17, 2017Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

WHEN DRIVING SUDDENLY THE CAR DECELERATES MAKING IT NECESSARY TO MASH HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO CONTINUE MOVING. THE USB PORT DOES NOT CHARGE WHICH RESULTS IN THE PHONE LOSING BATTERY LIFE YOU CAN ONLY USE ANDROID AND APPLE CAR ONN THAT PORT SO WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES YOU MAY BE WITHOUT DIRECTIONS. ITS AN ONGOING ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10955299

Jan 13, 2017Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. THE POWER RETURNED WITHIN SECONDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.

NHTSA ODI 10945053

Jan 6, 2017Electrical systemLightsEngine

TWO ISSUES: SEVERE PROBLEM - WHEN DRIVING AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 35MPH TODAY ON A MAJOR CITY THOROUGHFARE, OUR 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.0T ULTIMATE SUFFERED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER (ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING LIGHTING). AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN PLACE UNTIL IT WAS ABLE TO START UP AGAIN MANY MINUTES LATER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY HARMED AS THE INDIVIDUAL DRIVING BEHIND OUR VEHICLE WAS OBSERVANT ENOUGH TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE (DESPITE A LACK OF BRAKE LIGHTS OR HAZARDS) AND STOP IN TIME. NO VISIBLE ENGINE LIGHT OR FAULT CODE WAS TRIGGERED. LESS SEVERE PROBLEM: ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE VEHICLE SUFFERS ABRUPT AND SUSTAINED LOSS OF POWER IN MERGING SITUATIONS (ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING ON CITY STREETS FROM A STOP). THIS SEEMS TO BE FROM AN OVERACTIVE OR OTHERWISE INEFFECTIVE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM/PROGRAMMING. DESPITE EVEN PLANNING FOR THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF POWER, THIS HAS STILL RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF "NEAR MISS" SITUATIONS. A WARRANTY VISIT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THESE ISSUE AND WE WILL GLADLY PROVIDE THE RESULTS AND/OR OTHER UPDATES UPON REQUEST. WE ARE, HOWEVER, SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SELLING THE VEHICLE AT A LOSS DUE TO THESE TWO ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10940204

Jul 12, 2016Electrical systemAirbagsSeats

IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLE, THE WIRES IN THE CAN WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY AND AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY MAY BE DAMAGED BY THE PASSENGER SEAT'S HEIGHT ADJUSTER MECHANISM. A METAL 3RD PARTY POWER INVERTER WAS POSITIONED UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT. PRIOR SEAT ADJUSTMENTS CAUSED THE SHEATH AROUND THE HARNESSES TO BECOME BARE, EXPOSING THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE METAL POWER INVERTER BECOME LODGED AGAINST THE WIRING CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING AND CAUSING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE EPB (ELECTRONIC PARKING BREAK) BECAME ENGAGED AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE 3RD PARTY POWER INVERTER WAS UNDER THE SEAT, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 4 TIMES WITH IT UNDER IT, TOTALING LESS THAN 800 MILES. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR THAT BOX TO RUB AGAINST THE SHEATH ON THE HARNESS AND BARE THE WIRING, THEREFORE IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THE POWER SEAT ADJUSTER CAUSED THE WIRES TO BECOME BARE AND THAT RECALL #141 SAFETY CAMPAIGN #16V145000 MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY RESOLVED. WE BELIEVE THE SEAT ADJUSTER CAUSED THE WIRES TO BECOME BARE, PRIOR TO THE INVERTER BEING PLACED UNDER THE SEAT. THE INVERTER WAS POSITIONED SUCH THAT IT WASN'T MAKING CONTACT WITH THE BARE WIRE, UNTIL THE SEAT WAS ADJUSTED ON 7/2/2017. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN ON 7/3/2016. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 7/4/216 AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS. IT IS BELIEVED THE INVERTER WAS THEN JARRED AGAINST THE BARE WIRE, CAUSING THE SHORT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT VALIDATED THIS; THEY ARE SUGGESTING IT WAS THE INVERTER THAT CAUSED THE WIRES TO BECOME BARE. OUR OPINION IS THAT THE INVERTER WAS NOT THERE LONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE THAT WIRING TO BECOME BARE. IT WASN'T UNTIL I DISCOVERED THIS PREVIOUS RECALL THAT EVERYTHING STARTED TO MAKE SENSE. IT IS A $5,300.00 REPAIR BECAUSE THE OTHER WIRES INVOLVED THAT ARE BARE ARE FOR THE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ODI 10884368

Jun 16, 2016Electrical systemEngineFire

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

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Working with the data? Download all 941 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev verdict →