What 131 owners told NHTSA about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Hev

Hi vibration over 55 mph

NHTSA ODI 11734394

Hi vibration after 55mph, tire balancing and wheel alignment doesn't help

NHTSA ODI 11734398

The glass in the sun roof imploded. It it available for inspection. The glass would have been propelled into the vehicle if the sun roof was open. The problem has been reported to the dealer and acknowledged. There was no warning prior to the implosion.

NHTSA ODI 11732714

When the car is off and in park and you go to turn on the car on by pressing the brake and power button button, the electrical system doesn't register and wont turn the ignition on and the brake gets stuck and you cant start the car. The same thing happens when the cars auto ignition is turned off at a red light then you press the gas to go but it doesnt show the gear is in drive and the ignition turns off and wont turn back on. The major safety concern is when this happens at a red light or in traffic and my car stalls and I am at risk of getting rear ended. I have taken the car to the dealership twice now for the same issue. The first time they claimed it was fixed but it wasnt and now it is at the dealership again for the same issue and I have not received any remedy yet. There is no warning to this issue it happens out of know where and is extremely dangerous. The issue has been going on for several months.

NHTSA ODI 11732250

The digital screens that contain the gauge cluster and infotainment array intermittently flicker, black out, or go to static. Sometimes it's one side or the other and sometimes it is both. When the gauge cluster screen is affected, the heads-up display on the windshield also turns off. All of this can happen while the vehicle is idle or while driving. Sometimes the displays flicker and sometimes they just black out or go to static for the entirety of the drive. It is available for inspection. The biggest safety concerns are the complete lack of a speedometer or warning lights when this problem occurs. The problem did not have to be reproduced by the dealer because the screens and the HUD were completely blacked out when the vehicle was taken in for service. The problem was supposedly "repaired" with an "update". The problem has since resurfaced. The vehicle was inspected by service center personnel at a Hyundai dealership. When asked, a representative of that dealership stated that the problem is common amongst all Hyundai models featuring digital displays. There was no warning of the problem. One day the problem did not exist and the next it did.

NHTSA ODI 11730403

The vehicle experienced a significant failure of the Body Control Module (BCM). This resulted in multiple electrical malfunctions, including don't detected the Key, Despite the low mileage (12,000 miles), the electronic systems have proven unreliable, and the vehicle is currently undergoing warranty repairs at the dealership. "The sudden failure of electrical components could lead to a crash or leave the driver stranded in an unsafe location. I am concerned about the long-term reliability and safety of this vehicle’s electronic architecture." After arriving home and shifting the vehicle into 'Park', the car began to roll backward on its own. The vehicle continued to move until it struck my garage door. This incident occurred unexpectedly after the transmission was supposedly secured in Park. It was necessary to apply the brakes to make it stop. Although the physical damage was minor (scratches), this unintended movement represents a severe safety risk that could have resulted in a serious accident or injury." I've also noticed that it makes strange shifts in the transmission when going down a steep hill.

NHTSA ODI 11730294

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle's liftgate would independently open while idle without warning. The contact stated that while washing her vehicle on an inclined driveway, the liftgate opened without warning. In an effort to avoid being hit by the liftgate, the contact fell to her left side on a concrete driveway. The contact suffered pain and bruises to the left side of her body, with major pain in her left foot. The contact was home alone and managed to drag her body onto a chair before calling her husband for assistance. The contact's husband drove the contact to an urgent care facility, where an X-ray was performed; the X-ray showed no fractures. The facility stated that their equipment was not sufficient to treat her injuries, and they placed a boot on her left leg and referred her to an orthopedic doctor. The contact went to the orthopedic doctor, who performed another X-ray, which showed no fractures. The contact was given another boot; however, the pain remained days after the visit. The contact then went to her pre-scheduled primary care doctor's appointment, where her doctor saw her condition and referred her to another orthopedic doctor. While at her second orthopedic appointment, another X-ray was performed, which also did not show a fracture; however, the orthopedic doctor suggested an MRI scan. The MRI scan showed that the contact had suffered a left heel fracture. The contact also went to another facility for a CAT-scan, which showed that her heel was misaligned and that surgery would be needed to correct the left heel fracture. The contact had surgery for the heel fracture and had the foot wrapped and splinted; the contact was given several medications post surgery. The contact had been scheduled for a follow-up appointment to monitor the heel's progress. In addition, the contact sustained injuries to her left wrist, left buttocks, and left lower calf. Since the injury, the contact has had to use a knee scooter, a walker, and a wheelchair for assistance with her mobility. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had yet been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11729920

My daughter was sitting down on the middle row and the button to fold the chair down was accidentally pressed. When she screamed bc she was getting smushed I jumped out of the vehicle and pushed the button to stop the chair from folding. Thankfully she was able to lay down sideways or I am sure the outcome would of been worse. She is so traumatized and does not want to even sit in the vehicle any more. She is only 8!!! This is traumatizing as a parent as well. This needs to be fixed !!!

NHTSA ODI 11728156

Vehicle will not brake assist in the front even though all of the settings are selected it to work and assist in the event of needing to brake suddenly.

NHTSA ODI 11726392

When the power button on the seat is pressed to move the seat forward or fold it down, the second row captains chairs fail to stop from folding if someone or something is in the seat.

NHTSA ODI 11726394

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the camera had become inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V808000 (Back Over Prevention). The dealer was recently contacted and informed that the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.

NHTSA ODI 11725759

I purchased my new vehicle in June or July of 2024. I had to replace my windshield on September 26, 2024, then again on December 13, 2025 due to a crack. I recently have received another chip in my windshield on or about March 18, 2026. I am unsure whether all of these were due to rocks, but it seems unbelievable that a windshield would need to be replaced so often. I have safety concerns that the windshield is easily breakable and if it were in a crash, what would happen. I also had to pay $100 each replacement and now my insurance is going up because of these claims.

NHTSA ODI 11725551

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe purchased new in May 2024. On three occasions since December 2025, while driving, the dashboard went completely black as if the vehicle shut off. The Hyundai startup logo then reappeared while the vehicle was still moving, and the vehicle lost acceleration. The most recent event occurred at highway speed, approximately 65-70 mph, requiring us to coast to the shoulder. No warning lights appeared before the event. A video of the most recent incident is available. Dealer inspected vehicle but could not duplicate the problem and reported no error codes.

NHTSA ODI 11725263

A child was exiting the vehicle from the second row driver-side seat, and the seat fold-up button (on the shoulder of the seat) was accidentally tapped. The seat began to tilt forward to collapse, squeezing a toddler in a rear facing child seat between the seat and the back of the front driver seat. Thankfully, the child seat bore the brunt of the pressure, but the incident clearly demonstrated an absence of sensors or logic to disallow the button to function when a child seat (using latch) is installed. We then tested the passenger seat in the second row and found that, even if a seat occupant is present, if the seatbelt is not buckled, the button WILL continue to operate and crush the passenger. That is to say the collapse function of the seat is uninhibited by the weight or resistance of a seated passenger. This is especially alarming given our elementary age children enter and exit the car on their own with little assistance requested from us.

NHTSA ODI 11725023

Rear bucket seat crushes occupant of seat belt is not buckled. Rear facing car seat is crushed posing huge risk to baby

NHTSA ODI 11725035

This is related to the recent issue with a '26 Palisade Calligraphy and the stop sale due to the 2nd row seat killing a [XXX] . I just went out and tried this on my ’24 Santa Fe Calligraphy with the 2nd row captains chairs and the electric button on the top of the seat. First off, if the seatbelt is secured, the button is disabled. Our rear facing car seat is a Britax click tight which uses the seatbelt to secure it. If the seatbelt is not secured, the button works. I sat in the seat (adult male), reached back and pushed button, and the seat started to compress me while sitting in it. Once I started to resist, the seat stopped, but it did not back off. I had to use more pressure than expected. I had to reach back and push the button again to get out. I did the same test again this time using my arm and I had to put moderate pressure to get the seat to stop. More pressure than I expected was required. I don’t know many details on the tragic death of the [XXX] old but I believe they were in a rear facing car seat that was not using the seat belt and instead using the latch connectors to secure it to the seat. This means the button in the Palisade was operable (assuming it’s like the Santa Fe) and I can totally see the seat back coming down onto the rear facing toddler. Whatever fix Hyundai does for the Palisade needs to be done on the Santa Fe as well as it is dangerous for small kids with how it works currently. There has to be a way to detect pressure on the seat and render the button inoperable just like when the seatbelt is secured. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11725045

When making a right turn from a complete stop, the vehicle intermittently exhibits noticeable hesitation and reduced acceleration compared to normal straight-line launches. This has occurred approximately 5–6 times. The delay in power delivery creates an unsafe condition when merging from on-ramps into higher-speed traffic, as the vehicle does not accelerate as expected. This mismatch between expected and actual acceleration can lead to misjudgment of traffic gaps. No warning lights or diagnostic messages have appeared. The issue appears intermittently and specifically during right-turn launches from a stop.

NHTSA ODI 11722281

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Unsure, but likely transmission. I no longer own the vehicle, it is at Tom Ahl Hyundai in Lima, Ohio. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the vehicle was put in reverse, without pressing the gas the car would rapidly accelerate and jerk as if it was going to stall. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the dealership. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The manufacturer was working on a fix but unable to figure out the issue, so I returned the car. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, no warning lights.

NHTSA ODI 11721258

I put my vehicle in park but it kept going anyway and hit a car in front of me.

NHTSA ODI 11720532

Both driver and front passenger seat belts are nearly impossible to snap it and it is just as hard to get them to release. Sometimes you think it is snapped together and it comes out going down the road. I have taken it to the dealer and they said the parts are on back order and have been for a long time. This is a serious safety issue. It looks to me like they would be on top of something like this. If there is an accident I don't trust the seat belts to protect me and my family. It has not been listed as a recall yet so I do not understand why they would be on back order for so long.

NHTSA ODI 11720134

Auto dimming headlights. The headlights have stopped auto dimming. I feel like this is a safety issue because if you have them on you have to push the switch forward and then pull backward to change them back to dim. It is not something that happens occasionally it is every time they are on. Not only is it dangerous for me but also on coming vehicles. I have taken it to the dealer and was told they were waiting on some way to test what the problem is.

NHTSA ODI 11720142

One of the original OEM tires (Pirelli Scorpion MS KS NCS XL - 245/45R21) had the acoustic dampening foam on the inside of the tire fall apart. Dealership indicated that there was 'no impact damage or modifications found with the tire during inspection; meaning this was likely a manufacturing defect due to adhesion issue. Despite the problem and the fact that this tire has less than 12K miles on it at the time of the incident, the local Hyundai dealership, Hyundai corporate and Pirelli all refused to cover the cost to replace the tire. Hyundai dealer said to file a complaint with Hyundai corporate, Hyundai Corporate said that this was a Pirelli tire warranty issue (no paperwork provided about Pirelli tire warranty at time of purchase) and Pirelli indicated that only the local dealer or an authorized dealer of their tires can submit warranty claims, and that it is contingent upon a Pirelli inspection and prorated based on the remaining tread of the tire. This leaves the consumer in a difficult position having to bear the burden of the tire replacement cost upfront, and little chances of recourse as these 3 parties skirt responsibility of the OEM tire. When the acoustic foam fails, the car shakes violently at high speeds, for us this stats at ~50mph. There is no warning light that appears for this, dealer originally thought this was related to ice build up which did not rectify the problem causing us to have to go to the dealer twice for diagnostics. Online forums seem to point that this acoustic foam adhesion issue is especially common in colder climates. Symptoms of problem first appeared in early January, with full diagnosis confirmed early Feb.

NHTSA ODI 11719072

On November 18, 2025, at 24,370 miles, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic powertrain failure, triggering a dashboard warning: "Transmission system error! Check transmission oil immediately." The vehicle suffered a loss of reliable motive power. This sudden failure is a severe safety hazard that presents a high risk of stalling or stranding in active traffic, which is especially dangerous as this vehicle is used for a 40-mile round-trip school commute four days a week on local highways. The dealership replaced the transmission, keeping the vehicle out of service for 27 days. However, the exact same critical failure occurred a second time on December 24, 2025, at 24,878 miles. The vehicle was once again completely incapacitated and required a second transmission replacement as well as a new TCU, resulting in an additional 50 days out of service. Two catastrophic transmission failures within a 500-mile span on a brand new vehicle demonstrate a highly dangerous defect that puts the driver, passengers, and other motorists at unreasonable risk of a crash due to sudden loss of power.

NHTSA ODI 11719267

-I had just exited from the highway and was driving into my town. While doing so, I had both hands on the steering wheel and suddenly the car started beeping and flashing warnings/ alerts indicating that my hands were not on the steering wheel, which they were. Within seconds the car began to deaccelerate and pull me off the road to my right hand side. I initially had no control over the vehicle. Then again- without explanation it began to register hands on the steering wheel and I was able to resume control of the vehicle. I believe the lane assist feature was on at the time. It all happened very quickly. Had I still been on the highway as I was moments before, there was enough traffic that I would have been pulled into another vehicle or caused an accident if people saw me suddenly rapidly deaccelerating/braking in front of them because they would have no warning and a very tiny amount of time to react. Then, in an other instance that followed shortly thereafter, my boyfriend was driving with one of the lane assist on. While driving, the weather changed and it began snowing and freezing rain that was freezing when it hit the windshield. The lane assist began to have trouble seeing the lines on the road since the snow and ice were obscuring them somewhat. It began to beep and gently correct the car- which was not appropriate in this case (we understand that the road conditions were beyond its abilities to safely discern things accurately). My boyfriend who had two hands on the wheel trying to carefully navigate this sudden burst of weather so at not to slide. He tried turning it off, but it wasn't turning off, and couldn't troubleshoot it without taking his hands off the wheel. He instructed me to turn it off through the settings menu in the infotainment system, which seemed to disable it. Prior to these dangerous problems, I had experienced some seemingly sensor- related malfunctions with the tire pressure monitoring system. I'm out of room to write more.

NHTSA ODI 11716466

when using lane following the system repeatedly warns you to pay attention, usually when in heavy traffic and after repeated warning shuts of the cruise and lane following system. when using the cruise control system the system will suggest you take a break. both problems appear to be associated with an in cabin camera. i have driven my vehicle almost 25,000 miles and taken two cross country trips. the warning system has almost never warned me of a real problem. 99 percent of the time it is a false reading by the camera and occurs under challenging driving conditions when the last thing you need it to be told to pay attention when you truly are. during this winter i have driven more at night and the vehicle is basically un drivable because of false notifications. this has repeatedly happened in the 14 months i have owned the vehicle - the date below is just for when it happened today. i am more than willing to share details and would welcome a call

NHTSA ODI 11716017