CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe has a problem with the engine stalling while driving. Both our data & the NHTSA's complaint data show a significant defect trend at low mileage.
In a 2-page letter sent August 2014 to Santa Fe owners, Hyundai claims the engine stalling only occurs under a "specific set of operating conditions".
However a class action lawsuit filed around the same time details multiple claims from Sante Fe owners that claim the engine stalling happens at any time, under any conditions.
In September of 2014 the check engine light came on and the vehicle was 3 quarts low on oil. It had been blowing smoke after sitting for several hours but prior to this no low oil level was indicated between oil changes. I had a mechanic flush the engine and they put some kind of oil conditioner in but it did not help the blue smoke emitted out the exhaust during start up. I took it to Hyuandai and they spent three months doing an "oil consumption test." They told me it only consumed 1 quart every 1200 miles and to be considered under the warranty it had to consume 1 quart every 1000 miles. So I was told to just keep driving it. About a month later I took it back because the blue smoke was so much on start up it was fogging the parking lot after work and they decided to do another oil consumption test. During that test it started the blue smoke even when it hadn't been sitting for over an hour, it just blew out blue smoke every time it was started and I was putting in 3 quarts of oil between every oil change. They finally decided to look in the engine and took the head off. They told me one of the cylinder had low compression and blamed it on owner neglect saying that there was sludge in the engine. They told me the engine needed to be replaced and it would cost me $11,000. I told them to put the engine back to together and I would drive it until it dropped if they would not cover it under warranty. At 94,000 miles the engine started getting low oil pressure lights so I started talking to a mechanic about having the engine rebuilt which I paid for myself. $4200. The new oil pump that I bought from Hyundai failed after 1,000 miles and blew the engine. Hyundai offered to replace the oil pump but would not refund my money even for the oil pump. I ended up buying an LQK Engine for $4400 and $200 in supplies and the mechanic that rebuilt my engine put it in at no charge. So altogether I got a new engine for $8,800 and Hyundai offered to pay zero under the 100,000 mile warranty.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
burning oil and blowing smoke
In September of 2014 the check engine light came on and the vehicle was 3 quarts low on oil. It had been blowing smoke after sitting for several hours but prior to this no low oil level was indicated between oil changes. I had a mechanic flush the engine and they put some kind of oil conditioner in but it did not help the blue smoke emitted out the exhaust during start up. I took it to Hyuandai and they spent three months doing an "oil consumption test." They told me it only consumed 1 quart every 1200 miles and to be considered under the warranty it had to consume 1 quart every 1000 miles. So I was told to just keep driving it. About a month later I took it back because the blue smoke was so much on start up it was fogging the parking lot after work and they decided to do another oil consumption test. During that test it started the blue smoke even when it hadn't been sitting for over an hour, it just blew out blue smoke every time it was started and I was putting in 3 quarts of oil between every oil change. They finally decided to look in the engine and took the head off. They told me one of the cylinder had low compression and blamed it on owner neglect saying that there was sludge in the engine. They told me the engine needed to be replaced and it would cost me $11,000. I told them to put the engine back to together and I would drive it until it dropped if they would not cover it under warranty. At 94,000 miles the engine started getting low oil pressure lights so I started talking to a mechanic about having the engine rebuilt which I paid for myself. $4200. The new oil pump that I bought from Hyundai failed after 1,000 miles and blew the engine. Hyundai offered to replace the oil pump but would not refund my money even for the oil pump. I ended up buying an LQK Engine for $4400 and $200 in supplies and the mechanic that rebuilt my engine put it in at no charge. So altogether I got a new engine for $8,800 and Hyundai offered to pay zero under the 100,000 mile warranty.
- kbrix, Tonganoxie, KS, US