10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,210 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems

engine problem

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2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments (Page 8 of 24)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #339

Oct 022023

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving down the freeway when all the hazard lights came on, the rpms went all the way to 6000 rpms and then I had no acceleration when I pressed the gas pedal. I somehow made it over to the right lane and pulled over. The car would not restart so I had a tow truck take it to the dealership. Hyundai will not honor their warranty because I couldn't come up with the receipts for my oil and filters. The engine, Theta II, is well known to consume too much oil and sieze engines.

- Fayetteville, AR, USA

problem #338

May 152023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine made knocking noises and was towed to a mechanic. Mechanic discovered metal shards in the oil pan and all signs pointed to being well maintained. We bought used from CarMax and are the 2nd owners. Mechanics best guess is engine failure due to defect and high oil consumption with no signs of leaks. No codes, no check engine light, no low oil pressure light. No warning. Oil changes were completed by us and valvoline at regular intervals. Safety risk of engine failure while driving and causing an accident. Car was successfully pulled to the side of the road. Hyundai dealership unable to help with repair assistance as we are second owners and warranty did not transfer. Researched community chat forums and this seems to be a common issue for this engine to fail.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

problem #337

Oct 122023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine light came on and then the engine lost power and had to be towed to dealership. Dealership said it was internal engine failure. Requested oil change documents for the past 6 years. First/original owner and vehicle only has 74,139 miles on it.

- Clarkston, MI, USA

problem #336

Oct 162023

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Morning of October 16th, wife said engine "clicked" at start and then stopped at idle. I checked oil as it had been changed week prior and all levels were normal, then performed diagnostic with Carista tool and app, no codes. That evening while on the way to my 4 year olds practice, the car stopped in a lane of travel on a main cross town thoroughfare in Charlotte NC in rush hour, my wife, 4 year old, and 1 year old in the car. No light or indicators AT ALL ever came on NOTHING, no check engine light, nothing. Had it towed to local shop and he said this is the 10th or 11th Santa Fe we have seen with the V6, it most likely is the motor. So he does prelim diagnostic and suspects a thrown bearing and recommended we tow to Hyundai dealership, just at 70k, how is this possible? We are second owners and our VIN does not qualify for campaign 168. Shocking to now realize this appears to be an ongoing issues with this engine

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #335

Oct 052023

Santa Fe

  • miles
We were driving down the road with zero warning noises started to come from the car and the entire car shut down. We drifted to the side of the road from the momentum. Tow truck was called and the mechanic states the engine is completely blown. How may people need to report before this is addressed?

- Round Lake, IL, USA

problem #334

Jun 032023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine failure. The vehicle was towed to Crenshaw Hyundai in Burlington, NC. Crenshaw Hyundai advised me the engine needed to be replaced due to rod failure. I cannot confirm if the parts are available for inspection. Engine failure while driving causing a stall. The problem has been verbally confirmed to me by Crenshaw Hyundai. The problem has not been inspected by police, insurance representative, or anyone else other than Crenshaw Hyundai. There were no warning lamps displayed prior to failure of the engine.

- Graham, NC, USA

problem #333

Sep 222023

Santa Fe

  • 100,004 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had just had my inspection done 8/31/23 (96,759 miles), they checked all fluid levels as a curtesy and engine oil was fine. on 9/17/23 my vehicle went into safety mode and would not go over 40 mph. No engine oil lights or check engine lights came on. I pulled over and checked the oil and there was barely any. I added two quarts of oil and it started running fine immediately. The next morning, I checked the oil again and added another quart. On 9/19/23 I took it to have the oil changed (99,534 miles). On 9/22/23 the car started making a funny noise, pulled off the freeway and as we were trying to reach a safe spot to stop the engine blew a rod (100,004 miles). Again, no engine oil lights or check engine lights came on. This is a reoccurring theme in the research I have since done. This could have blown while driving 70 mph on a freeway! It also left us in a bad part of town in the middle of the night. I owe $10k on the car, the dealership wants $14k to fix it, the car is only worth $15k when it's running.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #332

Oct 092023

Santa Fe

  • miles
I have had the 2017 hyundai santa fa for about 6 months. I've had regular maintenance on the vehicle and out of no where it got a loud knock and clunking noise. Upon researching I've found thousands or people with the same 3.3 engine as mine with the same exact problem. Maybe it's kind of the same deal going on as the 2016 engines. No there was not any lights on but now there is a engine light and loud knocking.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #331

Sep 292023

Santa Fe

  • miles
The engine of my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe started making a loud knocking sound on 9/29/2023. I took the car to a certified mechanic who said that the engine had -??thrown a rod.-?? I researched the NHTSA website and found NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report No. 17V-578 dated Sep 20, 2017. While I never received this notice, the Descriptive Information and Description Defect mirror the problem with my car exactly. The recall was for 3.3L -??Lambda-?? engines produced at the Asan Plant (Korea) between January 26, 2017 and February 13, 2017. My car was produced February 7, 2017.

- Greensboro, GA, USA

problem #330

Sep 252023

Santa Fe

  • miles
At approximately 74,000 miles, our 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate with the 3.3L V6 exhibited a total loss of power from the engine, while driving at non-highway speeds. As the vehicle decelerated to pull off the road, a catastrophic engine failure occurred with loss of all power and drivability. The vehicle was towed to our local repair shop, where it was diagnosed to need a full engine replacement. Maintenance was regularly performed on the vehicle, with no check engine lights or other diagnostic codes or warnings at the time of the incident. Oil changes and all other maintenance had been performed regularly by me or at the local dealership.

- Euharlee, GA, USA

problem #329

Oct 012023

Santa Fe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

During normal acceleration, the vehicle lost all power. I was able to coast to a safe stop. However, this occurred while accelerating to merge on to a major highway. Fortunately, I was able to navigate the vehicle safely to the shoulder. The vehicle would not turn on again. After towing the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership, it was determined that the engine had seized. This vehicle has been maintained regularly according to manufacturer recommendations, and has never had any negative symptoms or issues prior to this engine seizing up. No engine warning lights, no messages, nor any abnormal noises during engine operation prior to the event.

- Carrollton, TX, USA

problem #328

Oct 052023

Santa Fe

  • miles
When driving vehicle it turns off while driving. It simply cuts off. It has done this at least 3 times already.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #327

Sep 072023

Santa Fe

  • miles
On interstate 77 in west virginia when vehicle slowed, whent into Beckley, WV. Stopped at Autozone checked oil was OK, check engine light 0018 ( crankshaft position sensor), started to go to Beckley Hyundai about 2 miles away. Engine quit before getting there. Got tow to dealer who said engine seized and needs new motor. (Car has 78,000 miles) Apparently this has happened to a lot of 2017 Santa fe. Hyundai will not pay for repairs. The 3.3L G6DF motor has been discontinued, and rebuilt motors are in short supply, as so many other Santa Fe are waiting for motors. Hyundai had a recall of 2017 Santa Fe built between Jan. 26 - Feb. 13 because of engine failures, but problem appears to be wider than that.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #326

Mar 022023

Santa Fe

  • miles
The oil leaks every time I brake, and car engine and brakes get hot.

- Pearland, TX, USA

problem #325

Sep 282023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Paid off my vehicle at the end of 2022. Beginning of 2023, it started knocking. Had it towed to the Dealership and come to find out, the engine needed to be replaced. Well we had them replace it while I tried working with Hyundai. Explained that my 2017 has the 3.3 engine. Only 420 vehicles were recalled. However, mine was not one of them. It-??s the exact thing that was happening with the recall vehicles. Now they want to charge me another $11,000 to get it back from the dealership. This is clearly a problem but they won-??t assist.

- Midvale, UT, USA

problem #324

Sep 202023

Santa Fe

  • miles
After changing my oil, engine started knocking and now car has faulty engine that is very expensive to replace.

- New Iberia, LA, USA

problem #323

Sep 232023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Engine failure, crankshaft sensory did not go off and it will need a brand new engine. Only 94k miles

- Dandridge, TN, USA

problem #322

Jun 162023

Santa Fe

  • miles
In June, I was driving my Santa Fe down the highway with my children when it suddenly died. I had no control over the vehicle. There were no warning lights on, my engine temp was not high. I was able to get it off to the side of the road. I found that the oil was almost completely empty even though I have regular oil changes and have had no leaks. I took my vehicle to Vern Eddy on Sioux City, IA, where I originally bought this vehicle. (I bought this new) They confirmed it was the rod bearings. Which is a known manufacturers defect in many of their engines that are being recalled however, not in this particular model so, they are refusing to fix it. I've looked online and seen hundreds of others with this exact engine having the exact same issue. I just want them to fix it. My children could have been seriously injured.

- Lake View, IA, USA

problem #321

Jan 022023

Santa Fe

  • miles
I was driving the car and then all of a sudden I was getting a lot vibrations. It was very hard to control the car. I pulled over and had it tow to the dealer I bought it from, Herb Chambers Honda of Westborough, Massachusetts. They told me it was the fuel injection system. I had replaced, and then the same thing happened again, they sent me to Herb Chambers Hyundai of Auburn. They told me it is the engine. They refused to replace it.

- Holden , MA, USA

problem #320

Aug 052023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Car stopped suddenly and when I went to check, the oil had been completely depleted. The shop says the engine failed, most likely because the oil had evaporated. Low mileage, well maintained, so the car has a defect that can be life threatening. Thankfully, for me, it stopped in a quiet road and had to be towed. This could have happened in busy traffic and caused a bad accident.

- Fishers, IN, USA

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