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

On November 28, 2025 at approximately 2:20am, I was involved in a multi-car pile up crash on Interstate 85 south near Durham NC. At least 5 vehicles were involved and significantly damaged. At least two drivers were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. Fortunately I was not one of them. I was driving in the left lane of the 2 lane southbound interstate. It happened right in front of me and I had no chance of completely avoiding it so I veered to my left onto the shoulder to attempt to avoid a direct hit on the large Nissan SUV that was now straddling both lanes. I hit the front of the Nissan and the guardrail almost simultaneously at somewhere around 50 to 60mph which caused considerable damage to the front right quadrant and the entire drivers side of my vehicle, but my airbags never deployed and I sustained moderate to significant injury to my arms, shoulders, chest and neck, most likely due to how I was gripping the steering wheel in anticipation of the impact and from the seat belt. I did not require medical treatment at the scene but have since received treatment at home. I believe the airbags should have deployed given my speed at impact and where my vehicle came in contact with both the Nissan SUV as well as the guardrail. I believe this was a clear failure of the airbag system in my vehicle, which has since been deemed to be totaled by my insurance company.

NHTSA ODI 11702606

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

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

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