Was driving on the highway and heard a rattling/clunking, my RPM's shot up and I couldn't accelerate past 60. The check engine light came on and then shut off briefly. Then all of the lights on my dashboard came on and I pulled over but had no power steering. Once I pulled over the car began to smoke so I turned it off. I then heard a loud pop and saw a thick black smoke coming from the hood and within 30 seconds the front of my car was in flames. It is believed to be an issue with the engine and there is the start of a class action law suit on this engine.

- Fargo, ND, USA

It starting slowing down while driving and a really loud noise and then shut down.. had to have it towed to auto lenders that where I purchase the truck and they said the engine was done... second opinion and the mechanic indicated the same "needs a new engine"

- Mays Landing, NJ, USA

Catastrophic engine failure on the highway at 112K miles. Connecting rod through the block. This same engine has been recalled in sonatas and Kia sorentos of the same year, but for some reason not the Santa Fe. The sonata and sorentos were recalled due to manufacturing processes leaving metal debris in oil passages, which eventually blocks oil from reaching the rod bearings leading to the same failure our Santa Fe experienced. Hyundai needs to expand the recall to all effected models.

- Mooresville, IN, USA

I own a 2012 Santa Fe., my engine seized out of blue on a well maintained vehicle. The 2012 Kia sorento engine was recalled (which is the same engine as mine), and 2013 & 2014 Santa Fe engines recalled. Can you please tell me why the 2012 Santa Fe with same engine as the sorento and the 2013 Santa Fe, has not been recalled. I have found multiple reports of same problem on the internet and on this site!

- Lehi, UT, USA

When driving at approximately 40 mph, the engine seized causing the steering wheel to lock and the brakes became extremely difficult to push in. The vehicle was entering a turn on lake shore drive in Chicago il. The vehicle had to be towed off the road and will not start.

- Chicago, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving 65 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise and noticed black smoke coming from the hood. The contact pulled over, lifted the hood, and noticed flames. The contact was able to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer (mcgrath city Hyundai, 6750 w grand ave, Chicago, il 60707) was contacted and stated that no oil was going to the engine. The manufacturer was also contacted and unable to assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

On May 12th, 2018 I was driving down the highway when the car started to jerk, I keep my foot on the gas but could feel the car slowing down. I was passing a vehicle at about 60mph and another car was behind me. This car has about 140,000 miles on it. And now it's knocking. I had it towed to texan Hyundai in rosenberg, Texas. I was told I need a new motor. This one has internal problems. I was also told these motors are no longer made and one was found with 75,000 miles on it. Total repairs was close to $8000. I have kept it well maintained and never had problems with it.

- Hungerford, TX, USA

While driving up hill yesterday my car just died. The engine light went on and the car stopped. I am now learning that Hyundai engines have a default. They do not let enough oil in the engine regardless of oil levels and thus as you drive, the engine is disintegrating. The engines usually die a little after 100000 miles. My car has approximately 116000 miles. This is dangerous. Lucky this happened on a small back road so no one got hurt, but what if this happens on a major hwy? accidents/death even. We own another 2012 sante fe and I am scared to drive it now.

- Branchville, NJ, USA

Driving down the tollway at 75 mph the engine made a knocking sound and then completely shut down. My husband was able to coast if off the tollway. It was towed to the dealership where they came to the conclusion that the engine blew and recommended getting a new engine. However, with it being just at 102K miles its right outside of warranty. The dealership is telling me corporate wont cover it but I have filed a formal complaint with Hyundai corporate and they are in the process of reviewing the claim. After reading all of the other horror stories, I believe they will come back with some excuse. This has got to stop. They said it would be 3-5K just for a new engine alone... this is outrageous.

- Coppell, TX, USA

My issue is that my 2012 Santa Fe died while I was driving at about 55 miles per hour. I was somehow able to muscle the steering wheel a bit to the right to get out of heavy traffic and get to the side of the road. This took place on Saturday, May 5th, 2018. I came very close to suffering physical harm and even death. I had the car towed to a mechanic. The charge was $800 and they then told me my engine was blown due to a rod lodging or going through the engine. I also incurred about $50 in uber fees to go back and forth. I know that there is not a recall for the Santa Fe in 2012 though I also know that Hyundai lost a class action suit covering this same issue among others for the 2012 Santa Fe. I was advised to have the car taken to the dealer for evaluation and then the dealer will contact Hyundai. I will have to have the car towed again. This will be the 3rd tow. Each tow cost about $50. I am confident that the issue was a timing chain being loose or malfunctioning causing the destruction of the engine. I would like Hyundai to provide me with a replacement engine free of charge and reimburse me for my expenses. I would also like to express that this event has been very upsetting and that it was just good fortune that my wife or 2 daughters were not driving the vehicle at the time.

- Phoexin, AZ, USA

Intake manifold runner code P200A makes car bog down went to dealer the part is not avail for 8 weeks seems to be a big problem they have several cars at dealership that dont run now mine does not warranted part but cannot get please help bogs down cant go over 20 mph

- Lynn, MA, USA

Faulty theta II engine. Driving on the freeway, heard knocking noise in the engine. Took the car directly to the dealer, service advisor heard the same noise, said the car was unsafe to drive. He said some of their engines have this known problem & he'd check for a recall. Said mine was not recalled, I'd have to pay for a new engine. He sent the car back to the mechanic who put it on a lift, heard the noise, brought it right back down, agreeing it was the known problem. The sa said he would submit a request to corporate to pay for the engine. The fact that he recognized the problem immediately and knew to do a Corp. Approval request to pay to replace the engine proves he knew it was a faulty engine & hma should pay for it. I rented a car to drive the 2 hours home.my car has been there 10 weeks. Hma denied my claim 3 times (once after the dealer escalated through his district manager). After much research I realized this engine has been recalled for millions of cars - Hyundai & Kia, different models, different years. Mine is not recalled - yet. The engine was manufactured so that shavings drop on to the engine and eventually cause the failure (it is much more detailed & technical that that). If I had continued driving, the result would have been the engine seizing while driving or throwing a rod out of the engine while driving. Hyundai has this engine on the road right now in millions of cars, it is extremely dangerous, they refuse to take responsibility (except in the lawsuit they lost). They are under NHTSA investigation for the delayed recalls. The other 2 excuses given to me by hma were: My car is 1K mi out of warranty & I did not buy it from a Hyundai dealer. All 3 reasons (no recall being the first) are completely invalid. They manufactured a faulty engine. When the defect appears, where the car was purchased and whether it is recalled yet, are not valid excuses.

- Sonoma, CA, USA

This vehicle has a problem with stalling and hesitation when coming out of turns and at speeds between 60-80 mph. I have mention this to the dealer several times and they continue to say they cannot find anything wrong. Because there is never any lights on and no codes. This is a very bad problem someone is going to get hurt from this or die from this. But no one will know because the symptom will not show up as a code on the system, if they die the story cannot be told. Please look into this, I bet if you check with owners of this vehicle you will find the same problem not only the same yr of mine but newer ones. This problem has been happening ever since I have owned this vehicle. I have now a 109,000 miles on it now. On 01/28/2018 it done it several times on the highway.

- Hammond, IN, USA

Vehicle began producing a loud knocking sound while accelerating. Mechanic advised that connecting rod bearing was damaged. Vehicle had approximately 100,000 miles and had received regular oil changes. Mechanic recommended replacing engine.

- Fort Smith, AR, USA

Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). Driving car at 25 mph - loud bang in engine area followed by short burst of banging. Car thru a connecting rod thru the motor block. This is a 2012 AWD sante fe model - here is the connection this engine was made in Alabama the 2.4 ltr four cylinder and was recalled due to debris in engine crankcases.....the sonata was the recall. This same engine is in my sante fe. My mileage is only 59+ K miles. They wont replace it. Your NHTSA reported this on September 25, 2015, a report written by [xxx] of consumer reports, this same engine was produced for sante fe, Kia optima, Kia sorrento etc. Don't you think that this 2.0 ltr and 2.4 ltr "theta II" engine, which in sonatas alone was a 470,000 car recall... is the very same engine that is failing in other models of Kia and Hyundai. This catastrophic engine failure at only 59K miles could have killed my daughter if she was on the freeway. Your report states this engine is the same engine built in the same us mfgr plant in Alabama and that it was also used in the Hyundai sante fe my vehicle- between their production of 2009 and 2012 - still a coincidence --- I don't think so. There are numerous reports of this engine failure in the internet and the pricing gauging of the consumer from $4,500 to over $8,000 when this defective engine should be replaced from Hyundai for free. They are hiding the truth here look at this NHTSA written report. I don't have specific photos but can get them. Today the Hyundai dealership on rt 130 burlington looked at my vehicle and declared that I need a new engine and then suggested a used low mileage engine. I want a new replacement just like they replaced in the sonatas with the very same engine, if you can help me at all or reopen this can of worms that Hyundai is leaving under the rug it would help other people who have been hurt by Hyundai. My contact [xxx]- cell [xxx]

- Moorestown, NJ, USA

Mileage around 82,000 miles | always had routine, on time, maintenance | no engine light on (or any others) | on a trip driving down the highway going around 65mph with cruise control set (2 adults and 1 child in the car, not towing anything), our SUV started making a strange noise when accelerating, then progressed to a consistent noise whether accelerating or not. We decided we needed to stop in the next town (about 20 miles away) to take a look, but before we could reach the next town the car without warning shut down, started smoking, and pieces of the car fell from below the car. My husband raised the hood and noticed the engine was on fire, and quickly put it out. We had the car towed to a Hyundai dealership and just by raising the hood the mechanic knew the engine exploded, and informed us it would be around $6500 for a used engine. From the time the noise first started until the engine blew up we drove 12 miles. We have tried contacting Hyundai to notify them of the issue, after waiting on hold for 30+minutes all they can say is there is nothing they can do since we are out of warranty, when we ask to speak to a manager one is never there and they promise that will have the manager call us back, but we have not received a phone call. After researching this issue, it seems we are not the only ones having issues with the engine. My husband used to sell Hyundai's and knows for a fact that the Santa Fe and sonata's have the same engine - the 2011-12 sonata engine had a recall, why didn't the Santa Fe have a recall? the Santa Fe is my second Hyundai to own, I will not buy another due to the issues with my Santa Fe and lack of customer service. Side note, why would I spend $6500 on another engine, when there seems to be an exploding pattern.

- Westphalia, MO, USA

Engine failure on interstate while travelling 70 mph. Knocking noise and complete loss of power. Would not restart. Dealership advised the motor locked up.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving approximately 25 mph, there was a tapping noise occurring from the engine. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and then later taken to ettleson Hyundai (6420 joliet rd, countryside, il 60525, phone number: (708) 231-4586) where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that the dealer placed a title brand on the vehicle and would not repair the vehicle due to the expiration of the warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Purchased vehicle new 6/15/12. We changed oil at proper intervals. I noticed when we first started car a tappet noise coming from engine. No lights shown on dash. I immediately took it to the nearest Hyundai dealer in fear of causing damage to engine. They kept car for about 4 hours. They called and told us engine was gone. We purchased extended warranty at time of purchase. They told us sludge was in engine. This was caused by owner neglect. Found numerous owner testimonies on line which the same thing. Hyundai has numerous class actions suits on them. They have major manufacturing problems with the cleaning process with metal filings left in engine. Look on line under Hyundai engine failures there are numerous websites regarding this issue. Consumer needs to be made aware of this if they don't already. Word of advice, stay far away from Hyundai. They don't stand behind their so called warranty. The extended warranty is not even worth the paper its printed on. The best thing they could do is take care of all complaints against them and then go bankrupt.

- Chicago, IL, USA

My Santa Fe has only 78,000 miles on it and has been maintained very well. Despite this, during our evacuation for hurricane irma, the engine completely locked up on the highway, driving about 70 mph with cruise control. The vehicle was not under strain, we were not towing anything and only had 2 persons in the car. We were left having to get the vehicle towed to a repair shop where I was informed the the theta II 2.4L engine that was in my vehicle was on recall. However the recall only covered this engine in the Hyundai sonata models and for some reason was not covered in the Santa Fe. I can't imagine why an identical engine would be recalled for this problem in one model vehicle but not in another. I had even had the oil changed 3 weeks prior, which the mechanic confirmed that everything appeared fully functional and in good working order with the oil, transmission and cooling system.

- Kingsland, GA, USA