10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
176 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.

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #5

May 152023

Santa Fe

  • miles

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

While driving under normal conditions with vehicle in Drive, transmission shifting into Neutral with no driver input or action and the engine remained running. Transmission indicator remained in Drive, and engine would rev, without forward propulsion. This occurred three times is close proximity, within 30 minute period. Each time, shutting down the vehicle, waiting approximately 5 minutes to restart, the vehicle would then shift into Drive normally and move under power. There were no warning messages or indicators prior to or during the three episodes. Dealer was unable to diagnosis any errors, even using GDS. If the vehicle had been moving at highway speed or on a more congested roadway, this could have posed a significant safety risk to the occupants and any nearby vehicles, as the driver may have not been able to safely pull off the roadway when the vehicle lost propulsion (shifted to neutral).

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #4

Mar 232023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Car was purchased January 21st had 3000 mile on it when service was needed for these issues. On march 23rd as I started driving my car wouldn't go above 30 mph, when pressing on the gas pedal the car wouldn't accelerate, the rpm gage would go to 4 but engine wouldn't make noise car wouldn't speed up. I put the car in park and back in drive with no improvement. I pulled off at a gas station restarted the car and it was fine. During this time the auto on off button was orange on the cluster which I had never seen it that color before. Was looked at by the dealer but wasn't reproducible. Not sure the cause, but safety was in jeopardy due to not being able to go with speed of traffic. Also a couple weeks after purchase brakes began to squeal, took car to dealer on march 28th was told brake pads were sanded and cleaned, upon leaving dealer brakes continued to squeal, car is now back at dealer, supposedly needing front rotors and pads replaced. Dealer won't drive car until rotors replaced. Safety was in jeopardy cause of possible brake failure and resulting accident.

- Wilmington, OH, USA

problem #3

Mar 012023

Santa Fe

  • miles
2023 Hyundia Santa Fe bought brand new from the dealership. During the course of the last month and a half the vehicle has done things with unknown origin. The panic alarm will randomly go off when the vehicle is turned off, no one is in it, or even near it. By locking the vehicle with the remote, the alarm will tend to go off about 20-30 seconds after the vehicle is locked and will sometimes not stop until the vehicle is restarted. The transmission will shift very roughly almost to the point that it feels like you are driving a manual transmission vehicle. The transmission lags in gears between 60-70 miles per hour and you feel a very rough back and forth shifting with in the transmission. Next the emergency break would engaging and then not releasing or reengaging when parked on a hill, flat service or anywhere. The break light on the dash would light up, blink, then it would go off, making it unknown if the emergency break was acting engaged or not. The dealership I purchased it from did replace the EMS module along with breaks and rotors on the vehicle. The auto shut off or the idle shut off will also randomly work, and not work. it will cut on and off even if the button is pressed to shut it off or prevent it from coming on. Now the air condition, along with the heat and heated seats has started to not work, randomly cut on, will not cut off etc. While driving i have had the heated seats turn on, along with the heat and not go off, nothing would cut off until the vehicle was physically turned off and restarted. No codes have ever been displayed or found by the dealership.

- Hope Hull, AL, USA

problem #2

Feb 072023

Santa Fe

  • miles
Car has a SEVERE Life threatening Hesitation, sometimes as much as almost 2 seconds delay from when you fully step on the accelerator to when it slowly starts to go. No warning lights or bells whatsoever. Regardless of driving mode it dose it. Seems to be especially pronounced when at a dead stop in sport mode. Problem seems to have gotten progressively worse the more we have driven it. The Dealership is denying that there's any problem or issue & didn't want to make an appointment to look at it & keeps trying to tell me this is normal. Car is unsafe to drive like this & has nearly gotten me & my family killed on numerous occasions. I have driven other hybrids by other manufacturers & none have had this issue.

- Palm City , FL, USA

problem #1

Dec 112022

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • miles
On December 11 and 12, 2022, my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Hybrid failed to accelerate in traffic. In both cases I was attempting gradual acceleration to change lanes, or merge onto an another high traffic street and when I pressed the accelerator nothing happened. On second occasion I could not get any power for several seconds. In both cases I activated hazard signals to avoid a collision by vehicles rapidly approaching me from behind in a 50 Mph speed zone. The vehicle has 900 miles on it and I took delivery November 14,2022. I see where this has occurred to other Santa Fr Hybrids, yet when I called the dealer they seemed unaware of any problems.I am scheduled for a long driving trip to Michigan in a week. 567 miles and I am very concerned about driving on the Turnpikes with this problem. I am going to Pohanka Hyundai of Fredericksburg VA tomorrow.

- Locust Grove, VA, USA

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