What 199 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

I have attached a photo since I couldn’t save it

NHTSA ODI 11722136

The horn stops working which is a safety hazard in case someone is backing into you, etc. This horn has stop working 4 times and had to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11718566

1. The factory-supplied scissor-type jack that came with my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe failed. While changing a flat tire on the side of the road, the jack collapsed three times and could not hold the vehicle. Yes, the jack is still available for inspection. I have it in my possession and have provided photographs of the jack, its capacity label, and the incident location as evidence. 2. My safety was put at serious risk. The vehicle fell off the jack three times while I was attempting to change the tire on the road. The car remained on the ground without a tire until roadside assistance arrived. If I or a family member had been under or near the vehicle when it fell, we could have been seriously injured or killed. My wife and three toddlers travel in this vehicle, making this a major safety concern for our family. 3. No. Rosen Hyundai dismissed my concern. Service Manager Jeff Bravieri claimed the jack is rated for 3 tons (6,000 lbs) and blamed user error. But my photo shows the jack's label states 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs). The road was flat. The dealership dismissed my safety concern and refused to replace the jack unless I paid for it. They have not inspected the jack despite my request until the involvement of Hyundai Motor America. 4. Not sure, that vehicle and jack have been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. However, manager later agreed to inspect it and instead blamed user error. I am reporting this directly to NHTSA because the dealership and Hyundai have not taken this safety defect seriously. 5. No. No warning lights or signs. The jack looked normal. It failed the first time when I used it in an emergency situation. 6. The jack label says 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs). My vehicle weight is 1,724 kg (3,801 lbs) . The jack is under-rated and unsafe. It failed on a flat road. The dealer ignored the evidence. I fear this could happen to others and cause serious injury or death.

NHTSA ODI 11718300

Needed to use horn in an emergency situation and that's when I found out my horn no longer works. 20,000 miles on 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.

NHTSA ODI 11716823

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Horn How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My horn stopped working - cannot use it when driving to warn other drivers - safety issue Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not reproduced, but dealership has confirmed the horn stopped working on three separate occasions. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Dealership - three times Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. Hyundai dealership said my fuse blown on three separate occasions causing the horn to stop working. My horn stopped working a few months ago, then about a month ago and again last week - all due to blown fuses to which the dealership has no explanation.

NHTSA ODI 11715329

Total horn failure, both horns. Took vehicle to the dealership, diagnosed both horns need to be replaced. None in stock. Horns ordered , no dates known by Hyundai when they will be in stock. Hyundai admits it h. Known with many models Driving a car in Buffalo NYwith. Out a horn driving a vehicle,r Nissan , is VERY DANGEROUS and scary. I do not think that Hyundai is taking this issue seriously and they need a recall and plan to fix this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11714950

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy repeated horn failures since purchasing vehicle new. Will be having 5th and 6th horns replaced with no effective remedy as vehicle has less than 11K miles on it and this urgently safety failure needs to be corrected. There is no warning of the horn failure until you need them to prevent an emergency/collision warning.

NHTSA ODI 11714851

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while there was snow on the roof of the vehicle, the windshield wipers failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer because there was space between the hood and the windshield where the snow was collected, causing the windshield wipers to fail to operate as intended. The dealer tightened the wiper blades; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11713548

Component/System Failure: The electronic throttle control system malfunctioned. The vehicle is reporting powertrain diagnostic trouble codes P2118 and P2101 through the Hyundai manufacturer mobile application (Bluelink), indicating an electronic throttle actuator / throttle control motor issue. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: This malfunction poses a safety risk because it can cause sudden loss of throttle response, reduced engine power (limp mode), or stalling while driving. Loss of throttle control increases the risk of a crash, especially in traffic or at intersections. Reproduction / Confirmation: The issue is ongoing. The check engine light remains illuminated and the fault codes continue to be displayed in the Hyundai mobile application. The problem has not yet been diagnosed by a dealership due to lack of immediate service availability. Inspections Performed: The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a Hyundai dealership or the manufacturer due to delayed service appointments. No inspections have been performed by police or insurance representatives. Warning Indicators / Symptoms: The check engine light illuminated and remains on. Diagnostic trouble codes P2118 and P2101 are displayed in the Hyundai mobile application. The warning light first appeared in late January 2026. Current Vehicle Condition: The vehicle is considered unsafe to drive due to the active electronic throttle control fault and risk of sudden loss of power.

NHTSA ODI 11713618

While driving after dark, a different car traveling in opposite direction almost caused head on collision while driving in the wrong lane. Driver of the Santa Fe attempted to activate horn on vehicle to alert other vehicle that they were traveling in the wrong lane/direction, but horn failed to sound. Driver was narrowly able to avoid physical collision as a result. Driver took vehicle to dealership and it was determined both high and low horns had failed again (total horn system failure), and the dealership replaced under warranty. This is the second time in less than 2 years of ownership the horns have failed and needed to be replaced. Dealership stated horn failure is common in the 2023 Santa Fe, but is only covered under the 5 year/60000 mile warranty despite being a known defective part. Hyundai should offer a voluntary recall to repair affected vehicles with redesigned parts as the horns failing is a known issue and failure can result in severe safety risk while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11713619

Horn stopped working at 47,474 miles Check Tire Pressure System light is on, poor sensor at 45,650

NHTSA ODI 11713260

My panoramic sunroof spontaneously blew while driving on freeway

NHTSA ODI 11711408

Horn completely out, yes available. I was unable to warn another driver from entering my lane several times. Warn a pedestrian from stepping out into traffic. Confirmed by the dealer. The horn was Inspected replaced at my own cost on March 2025 by December 2025 the part is no longer operational. I asked the dealer to honor the warranty they declined saying the mileage was passed the warranty terms.

NHTSA ODI 11709529

Fuel injectors are bad. The car misfires, I smell gas, runs rough. They fixed one the second week of December 2025. I had the same symptoms when my light came on again on December 23,2025, they said they couldn’t find anything and gave me the car back. On January 3, my engine light came on again, I had warnings sent to my email and phone app about potential engine failures they said today ( 1/6/26) that it was another fuel injector and was told they would not replace the rest until they went out. When I asked them how safe I would be on an upcoming trip, I was told to just check the car every day before I go!

NHTSA ODI 11709104

I stopped to fill the gas on my road trip and the gas panel would not open. As a single women driving alone this is not ideal. It took 45 min of continuous unlocking/locking with pushing to get it to pop open. There needs to be an alternative/emergency handle to pull so this does not happen again. I was standing in 32 degree weather the entire time! NOT SAFE

NHTSA ODI 11708546

Both horns have failed for the second time since the vehicle was purchased new in November 2023 and is currently showing 25,000 miles. The first set was replaced under warranty at a Hyundai dealership approximately 1 year ago. Not having a functioning vehicle horn is a safety hazard that would fail annual vehicle safety inspection testing in my state.

NHTSA ODI 11707137

My back up camera is not working properly. The picture at times is scrambled and starts floating around on the screen. This was not the first time this has happened. I reported it to the dealership service department when I first noticed, about a year ago or longer. They updated the software and told me that would correct the problem. Clearly it did not correct the problem, if it is continuing to have issues.

NHTSA ODI 11706758

Both horns on my 2023 Hyundai Santa FE have failed 3 times. The first set was covered under warranty (3/24), the second set cost $499.64 (3/25). Now both horns are nonfunctional after just being replaced this Spring. After reviewing many complaints on the Hyundai community form, it is very obvious there is a major issue with their horns ( and not just the Santa Fe model). Twice this week I was in need of my horn to alert other drivers but instead had to make quick maneuvers to avoid an incident. My vehicle currently cannot pass a state inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11705523

The horn has broken 4 times. I was told that it is a design defect in the car and there is no permanent fix. Water gets in to the horn when it rains and because of the location of the horn it would have to be moved to fix it. Hyundai is aware of this safety issue and has not issued a recall because there is no permanent fix. They are supposed to be buying back my car but are dragging their feet. I'm sure this is an issue in more than just my car and it's very unsafe for the horn to just stop working.

NHTSA ODI 11704405

The vehicle cannot pick up speed, and it is displaying the DTC- P1C2D03. This is similar to the issues that led to "Safety Recall 236 to repair a condition involving the 8-Speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) system" in earlier model years (till 2022) for certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles. NHTSA should issue a recall for 2023 model years also as Hyundai has not addressed this issue to the fullest extent in 2023 model years.

NHTSA ODI 11704184

On a clear road a sencor comes on detect comes on says detection collision. The breaks come on when you are traveling on interstate or two lane roads. When you are traveling 75 mph and breaks come on all of a sudden on the highway. We are lucky we never got hit in the back of the car going that fast. We will stop 75 to 35 mph in 10 seconds.

NHTSA ODI 11703865

At stop sign and car with auto start stop on and at the time of releasing the brake, car was not able to start engine. Car had to be shifted to parking position to start engine.

NHTSA ODI 11700865

Horn has failed 4 times

NHTSA ODI 11700281

Horn has needed to be replaced twice. Stops working for no apparent reason.

NHTSA ODI 11700193

Component/System: Automatic Emergency Braking / Forward Collision-Avoidance (AEB/FCA) system and/or Electronic Parking Brake (EPB). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. What happened: While driving my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN: XXX) at highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly and aggressively applied the emergency braking system on two separate occasions within the same day (approximately 45–60 minutes apart). In both instances, the red emergency braking warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, and a warning sound activated. There were no vehicles, obstacles, or hazards in front of me either time. The braking was forceful and abrupt, causing rapid deceleration at highway speed. Both events occurred under normal, clear driving conditions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) Safety risk: My safety and the safety of other drivers were put at significant risk. Sudden unintended braking at highway speeds can easily lead to a rear-end collision since the deceleration was not caused by driver input and gave no warning. Reproduction / dealer confirmation: The dealer has not been able to reproduce the issue, and no diagnostic trouble codes have been found so far. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for inspection. Inspection: The vehicle has been inspected by the Hyundai dealership, but the cause has not been identified. No manufacturer field engineer, police, or insurance inspection has taken place yet. Warning lamps / prior symptoms: During the failures, the red emergency braking indicator and audible warning activated immediately when the brakes engaged. There were no warning lights or symptoms prior to either event. Assessment: Cause UNKNOWN. The problem appears to be an intermittent malfunction of the Automatic Emergency Braking system, forward collision sensors, or related braking components. No diagnostic codes were stored. This is a serious safety issue that occurred twice within one hour and could easily result in a collision.

NHTSA ODI 11699416