Hyundai Santa Fe 2018 — Reported problems

While driving, the vehicle developed a strong odor of engine oil, followed within minutes by illumination of the red oil pressure warning light. Inspection determined that a bolt had exited the engine's timing assembly, broken the timing chain, and punctured the timing cover, discharging engine oil throughout the engine compartment while the vehicle was in operation. Engine oil was sprayed onto hot engine and exhaust components while the vehicle was being driven on public roads. This presents a fire hazard. The same failure also risks sudden loss of engine oil pressure and seizure without warning, which would cause an abrupt loss of motive power in traffic. Approximately twelve days before this failure, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken for service within two days. The technician was unable to clear the code or identify the cause and advised a dealer inspection. No warning of imminent catastrophic engine failure was provided by the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a Hyundai dealership, which quoted $6,932.28 plus tax and characterized the work as a "timing repair." This vehicle is equipped with the 3.3L Lambda II GDI V6. I am aware that this engine is the subject of Hyundai Warranty Extension TXX8 covering engine damage on 2013–2019 Santa Fe vehicles, and of a federal class action alleging premature failure of internal rotating components in this engine. The dealership's estimate made no reference to that extension, and Hyundai's public VIN lookup tool returns no campaigns for this vehicle. The vehicle remains at the dealership and the failed components are intact and available for inspection upon request. The failure was confirmed by both an independent service facility and the Hyundai dealership.

See attached letter for complaint

On April 13, 2026, I arrived home and parked the vehicle, engaging the traditional shifter into the "Park" position and turning off the engine. After exiting and standing on the ground to retrieve a purse from the cabin, the vehicle spontaneously and rapidly began reversing. ​As the vehicle gained momentum, I was struck by the driver-side door, which knocked me down and resulted in the vehicle running over me. The vehicle only stopped its rearward movement once it collided with a neighbor's parked car. Only after the vehicle began moving did the horn begin blaring, indicating a delayed rollaway alert. ​This incident resulted in a fractured ankle that required surgical intervention. Despite the traditional shifter being placed in "Park" and the engine being off, the vehicle failed to remain stationary, representing a catastrophic failure of the parking pawl or transmission engagement.

My wife was driving the vehicle by the left lane on route 9A northbound on elmsford at a speed around 35 mph. The vehicle suddenly came to stop completely while driving. My wife tried to start it but it didn't start. We called the police to come help us due to the ongoing traffic while the towing was on its way. Our mechanic told us the engine was seized and needs a replacement. The vehicle is a 2018 and has only 118000 miles. We do oil changes periodically every 3000 miles.

Catastrophic Engine Failure - Cam phasers blew apart and severely cracked the valve covers. This occurred with no prior warning lights. Minutes before failure, there was engine hesitation and noise and then severely reduced power, causing a safety issue while driving. Vehicle was towed to local Hyundai dealer who identified the cam phaser failure ausing external engine damage of the valve covers and complete loss of oil. This occurred only 3,000 miles after an oil change.

Engine Issues: A week ago, on two separate occasions, my Santa Fe cutoff while driving suddenly. A day later, I noticed a rhythmic knocking upon starting my vehicle. The knocking would increase during acceleration and decrease when I let off. I am only at 83,000 miles on this 2018 vehicle. I took the vehicle in for an oil change and they didn't notice anything off about the oil. Afterwards it slightly improved; however, once I was able to get it to the shop they said there were metal shavings in the engine/oil and it was a complete engine failure costing $12,000 to replace. There were no indicators that there was an issue on the dash.

Was driving and car turn off on me and wouldn't start I got it towed to Hyundai and they said my engine went out it had oil and everything we don't know why can stopped working has been sitting in my drive way for 3 years because we don't have 13000 that Hyundai told us

In September 2024, my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe experienced an unexpected engine lock-up while driving, creating an immediate safety hazard. Vehicle lost power, began smoking, and posed a potential fire risk. Fire department responded to prevent the engine from catching fire and had to spray the engine compartment with high-pressure water. Following this incident, vehicle remained in Hyundai’s possession for ~9 months for engine-related repairs. When we picked up the vehicle after the prolonged repair period, front-facing camera had completely stopped functioning. This camera has always worked prior to the engine lock-up and was functioning the day of the incident. This was reported to the dealership, Hyundai Motor America. A case manager (Nemesh) took the case. Very supportive, helpful and provided a thorough process for investigating the situation. However, all the sudden case was assigned a new case manager (Bryan) and the process immediately changed and the claim was denied. Given the timing and circumstances, the camera failure appears to be the result of electrical or component damage caused during the engine failure/fire-prevention event. The dealership also confirmed that no independent inspector ever assessed the vehicle for secondary damage despite my repeated requests. Hyundai later denied responsibility without conducting any physical inspection of the damage. This sequence of events — sudden engine failure, required fire-response intervention, prolonged repair, and subsequent electrical component failure — raises significant concerns about safety and the potential for related electrical or wiring issues caused by the engine incident. I am reporting this because the underlying engine failure and fire-risk conditions represent a serious safety defect, and related component failures may indicate broader issues with damage resulting from these events. Also Hyundai not letting the independent inspector assess gives me great concern something was missed.

•Year/Make/Model: 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe •Mileage: ~91,502 •Date Purchased: April 2023 Description of Problem / Safety Concern: I am reporting a safety-related engine defect in my 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The vehicle has developed engine knocking, metal shavings in the oil, and potential timing chain/bearing failure, all of which create a serious risk of engine failure while driving. The vehicle was purchased at 50,855 miles and currently has 91,502 miles, demonstrating that these serious engine defects developed at relatively low mileage. I have attempted to have the issue addressed under Hyundai’s extended warranty, referencing the TXX8 Service Bulletin which provides specific instructions for inspecting, diagnosing, and submitting claims for this type of engine defect. Despite this, two Hyundai dealers have refused to inspect the vehicle or submit a warranty claim: •Hyundai of Trenton refused to inspect or submit any claim. •A second Hyundai dealer demanded nearly $2,000 in fees ($195 diagnostic, $550 additional, $1,200 bearing test) and then denied coverage citing “no codes,” even after acknowledging metal flakes in the oil filter and noisy valve train. I have also contacted Hyundai Corporate three times (two online complaints, one phone call), but the company continues to direct me back to the dealers without resolving the issue. Safety Risk: The ongoing engine defects jeopardize vehicle safety and could result in catastrophic engine failure while driving. Based on research and reports from other owners, these issues may affect other 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles with similar Theta II engines

Engine stopped abruptly without warning while driving vehicle.

I am writing to formally request your review and potential intervention regarding a serious and potentially widespread mechanical issue involving Hyundai vehicles, along with the manufacturer’s refusal to honor their well-advertised 100,000-mile powertrain warranty for subsequent (non-original) owners. I am the current owner of a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN: [XXX] ) that is experiencing a Continuous Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) system failure, which has led to a critical engine malfunction. The estimated cost of repairs exceeds $7,000, an unexpected and significant financial burden. Despite the vehicle being well within the 100,000-mile threshold, Hyundai has denied warranty coverage solely on the grounds that I am not the original owner. This policy effectively strips coverage from second-hand buyers and, in my view, is misleading given Hyundai’s extensive advertising of the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. It creates a false sense of long-term reliability and warranty protection. This is not an isolated case. Numerous complaints have surfaced from Hyundai owners experiencing similar catastrophic engine and powertrain failures—including CVVT malfunctions, rod bearing issues, and engine seizure—raising serious questions about: The safety and reliability of Hyundai's engine systems; The fairness and transparency of Hyundai’s warranty terms and advertising; Potentially systemic manufacturing or design flaws impacting thousands of vehicles on U.S. roads. I respectfully urge the NTSB to review whether such defects present broader safety implications and to assess whether Hyundai’s current warranty practices reflect responsible corporate and consumer protection standards. Please let me know if additional information is required, including repair estimates, maintenance records, or correspondence with Hyundai representatives. I appreciate your time and attention to this matter that is affecting many vehicle owners beyond my individual case. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

At 118,000 miles Downhill brake, transmission and 4 wheel drive were damaged from the hyundai dealership not fullfilling warranty. They disconnected my tow hitch and my transmission was burning .. smelled like a bon fire. Took me 1 year to repair and have transmission changed through warranty but they didnt change the other components that were damaged due to negligence from the hyundai dealership. The dealership was very rude and didnt dedication their attention or care to truly finding what was wrong with my vehicle.

The oil pressure switch has a faulty seal causing oil to leak out onto the engine block. This causes oil on the underbody and ground, smoke amd smell from oil on got surfaces, knocking noises from the engine, reduced power or hesitation, illumination or the check engine light and oil pressure light, high speed stall, and will also cause fire in the engine compartment resulting in death or sever injury. I have taken my car to the Red McCombs Hyundai dealership in San Antonio TX for repair and they have confirmed that it is the oil pressure switch seal that failed. The oil leak has also damaged electrical components causing a malfunction in the dash cluster and steering wheel control.

Q: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A: Two fuel injectors on bank 2 are failing intermittently causing the engine light to flash and stay on (P0300 errors) and the car loses power.  Q: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A: Driving to Newark airport on [XXX] the car suddenly lost power and was quickly coming to a halt. LUCKILY I was was in the middle lane and was able to get to the shoulder without incident. This also happened to my daughter when she was in WA state, driving to work on the highway (the car was serviced but the fuel injectors were not replaced - see attached receipt). Q: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? A: Yes. An independent service center performed a injector value load test which determines the amount of blocked pressure the injector is performing under load. The values and the math show that more than 1 injector on bank 2 are failing. Q: Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A: I had the vehicle in the Hyundai dealer but they did not do the injector load test and only wanted to replace all the coil packs and plugs. I had two other independent service facilities confirm the issue is with fault fuel injectors. Hyundai has the parts on hold and is not releasing any due to this issue. I do NOT understand how this is not a recall circumstance. I am fortunate that in both instances an accident did not occur. Q: Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A: Yes, the engine light comes on - at first blinking, then steady. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

All of the bolts that hold the CVVT assembly backed out and one came completely out. It punctured a hole in my valve cover. Oil sprayed all underneath my hood and leaked out on the road. The car went into limp mode while I was driving, and had I not already pulled off the street, this would have caused a multiple vehicle accident. I had the vehicle towed to the manufacturer dealer and they confirmed the issue. The only warning lamp that came on was the check engine, and that didn't happen until i had already pulled over. Thus all happened within a matter of 10 minutes of driving.

Seems to be having ignition switch problems. Bought a new battery a couple times now thinking that was the problem but car won’t start at times. It won’t turn and won’t click and all the electrical (radio lights…) just seems to turn off as I turn the key with no sound following. I have to attempt 3 or 4 times with 3 minute breaks in between and then it will eventually turn and start. This has been happening about 2-3 times a week for about a year.

Engine burned 3-4quarts of oil within 3,000 miles. Can result in vehicle failure while driving in city or highway. Vehicle has had all manufacture recommended service and issue started under warranty, but manufacturer has declined to repair issue.

Rear reverse camera stopped working. Image became grainy, then flickered, then went to a blue screen. Can't see anything behind the vehicle when backing up is a big safety hazard.

Significant oil consumption and engine noise.

My engine failed on 11/21/24. I brought it to dealership to confirm the failure on 11/22/2024. I was driving on the highway when the car started to violently shake and then shut off. The dealership sent pictures of the engine and other components to Hyundai to confirm the engine failure. No lights came on prior to the failure.

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while her son was driving 60 MPH in the far-left lane with the contact seated in the front passenger's seat, the contact and the driver noticed a burning odor. The driver was able to pull into the median. The driver and the contact exited the vehicle. The Fire Department was contacted and arrived on the scene and confirmed that there was no fire. Additionally, the contact stated that there was no smoke. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being towed to the residence, she noticed that there was oil leaking onto the flatbed of the tow truck, and there were metal shavings in the oil. The contact stated that after the vehicle was towed to the residence, a mobile mechanic inspected underneath the vehicle and noticed that there was a hole in the engine. The contact took photos of the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that upon checking the engine oil dipstick, the dipstick was abnormally dry. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed an oil consumption test over 1,000 miles, and found that the engine was consuming 2 quarts of oil. The contact was informed that the excessive oil consumption could cause damage to the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Was on my way home from work, and suddenly my engine threw a rod and now my engine is blown.

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while conducting a routine inspection on the vehicle, the contact noticed that the coolant was low in the coolant reservoir. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer where the vehicle was inspected. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer suggested that the vehicle remain at the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that there were holes underneath the front driver’s and passenger’s side seats. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the seats were removed; however, the seats were not replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

See attached document for complaint.

I am the original owner almost at the end of my powertain warranty. At 93 - 94,000 I started to notice whe accelerating, like a distinct shift into different gears at anywhere between 5-7miles and in incrediments up to 40-45 mph. I have brought to the dealer and this week, will be the four time, which they keep telling me if they can not get a code or necessarily re enact there is nothing they can do. I currently have 97,000 and am bringing it back in this week. PLease help.

My driver side passenger door will not open from the inside or the outside. You can hear the locking mechanism lock and unlock, however the door is stuck shut. It locked my 2 year old in. Put her in, drove about 15 minutes down the road then was no longer able to open her door. This is obviously not safe for anyone of any age. There are multiple forums of multiple people with the same issue with a malfunction of Hyundais doors. Hyundai needs to make their vehicle safe.

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe SE with 98000. miles lost power while driving, would not accelerate. No warning prior to event. No check engine light prior.Had the vehicle towed to Dealership for diagnostics. Dealership technician pulled codes P0018; P0300; P0302; P0304; P0306. I was told the repairs needed were: Replace left intake camshaft, CVVT, and timing chain tensioner. I had requested the dealership contact the National Consumer Affairs for Hyundai Motor America to put in a claim on the 100,000. mile warranty. After several weeks they declined to fix or offset the repair costs for this claim. they stated the following; "HMA Is Declining To Provide Assistance Due To The Malfunction Being Out Of Warranty Caused By The Time In Service And Mileage Of The Vehicle. No Goodwill Assistance Is Being Offered At This Time." I believe that that this issue is a common occurrence after reading many other customer complaints with the same issues. Why would HMA state "no assistance at this time". It appears that they would rather ignore this concern until the car is past the warranty period.

June 21, 2024. During travel at high speed (70mph) on NYS Thruway, engine began making loud noise. sounded like something was loose and flapping. WITHOUT WARNING- no instrument warning lights came on, engine seized and power stopped. At no time during my drive did I observe any instrument warning lights. I was able to get over to the side of the road. The temperature gauge remained unchanged. I was concerned about fire in the engine and got as far away from the car as possible. I was 200 miles into my 300 mile journey. After waiting over an hour to have my car towed to the dealer, I was told that there were 3 Hyundai's with similar issues the week before and that the car would likely need an engine replacement due to "excessive oil consumption". This issue is a safety risk as it could have resulted in catastrophic engine fire, as well as safety issues on the Thruway with other cars and lots of traffic. Engines are backordered. Dealer did a full inspection and submitted paperwork on June 28, 2024 to Hyundai for a decision on whether this is covered under warranty. I was told we would have an answer within a few hours. Have been assigned a "liason" with Hyundai and have been in regular contact. However, Hyundai has asked for an additonal time in order to make a decision. No word as of July 11, 2024.

I was driving going around 50 and put on my brakes after that the abs light Epb light and cruise control lights all came on and my car wouldnt stop unless I preessed very hard on brakes. and other lights on my dashboard came on then the next day I was driving to work and almost wrecked and my car wouldn't stop I had it towed in to cooks automotive and the seals had exploded on the master and cylinder and the booster.also the abs motor would not turn off and my cruise control went out I paid over 1300.00 to get my car fixed but the mechanic informed me that it should have not happened and there was a recall on my year hyundai. Now after almost paying and loosing a weeks worth of work because of malfunction in the vehicle.

May 26, 2024 I was driving on a freeway with my grandson. I heard a knocking/clicking sound from my 2018 Santa Fe. No warning lights came on. The car lost all power. I had to navigate the traffic and coast to a stop. Unfortunately we were on the side of the freeway right before a very busy entrance ramp. An 18 wheeler swerved to avoid hitting us. That's when I decided it was not safe to wait in the car for a tow truck. My car was taken to a Hyundai dealership. We received a call that the engine needs to be replaced and was quoted $20,000 for a new engine.I have spoken with a case manager at Hyundia corporate. He says they are waiting on the dealership to request a goodwill warranty because my car was 3,000 miles outside of the 100000 mile warranty. The dealership was suppose to submit it last week but as of today it has not been done. I looked to see if there were any recalls or class action suits for my make and model. That's when I discovered my vehicle has some outstanding safety recalls. I was never notified of these recalls.

1)CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS,2)STOP DRIVING IT,3)YES,4)YES,5)NO THIS IS THE 3.3 LITER ENGINE AND IT START KNOCKING

I stepped on the brakes and all the aeb warning collision warning went on and I turn my car off and it still sounds like something is running

The engine started exhibiting consumption of oil and knocking around 84,000mi had the car towed to the shop. Don’t have much faith they will do anything even though it is a certified preowned.

My Hyundai Santa Fe’s engine blew up while I was driving it and everything shut down without warning. I was stuck in the middle of a busy 4 way stop until I was pushed into a parking lot so I could get towed. There was no warning lights such as oil, engine lights, no sensors what so ever!!! It had begun burning oil and I made an appointment to get it checked but the oil was not low this time. I was told that the 3.3/6 cylinders engine isn’t in the recall list and is out of warranty at 123,000 miles so they won’t help replace the engine!! This is a $40000 vehicle!!! I’ve looked online and from what I’ve read there are many many people suffering the same issue with this engine but it’s not part of the class action lawsuit. PLEASE PLEASE HELP. I cannot afford a new engine or a new car.

My vehicle was turning off without any warning, last oil change was in October 2023, and had the oil changed this month. Engine started making loud noises from top, and eventually louder knocking noises from below. We towed vehicle to the dealer where we purchased at Balise Hyundia in Springfield MA. The vehicle has 84,000 miles and we've always maintained it. There were no warning indicators that there was an issue with the engine. After further research I've discovered numerous articles and complaints regarding Hyundai's 3.3-liter engine after certain number of miles. The engines are failing, and I'm concerned we may be victims of an issue that has existed with these engines. This is a safety issue because there is no warning the engine is failing, the car turns off without warning, and the potential of an overheating engine causing a seizure and fire is always a concern.

Driving at 70 mph and the car’s RPMs dropped. Coasted to exit the highway to find out the car was not accelerating as it should. Took car straight to dealership to drop it off. Have 100,139 miles on the vehicle. Was told by dealership that car was consuming oil. No check engine lights came on, no oil lights on. Nothing. No warning, no smoke, etc. have been told that the car is consuming oil. I was told when I dropped the car off on Saturday there was 1 qt of oil, and by Monday when they test drove the vehicle there was none and the engine had seized up on them in the parking lot. It has now been two weeks. The initial quote given was 11k (if warranty didn’t cover anything). The dealership submitted all maintenance records, registration and the form stating I am the only owner of the vehicle. Friday (XXX) was told warranty would pay 90% and I would be responsible for 10%, did not have an explanation as to why they did not cover all. Ask to get that information. Saturday (XXX) was told warranty would cover 95% and I would cover 5%, awesome. Agreed to get the ball rolling and order parts. Hear from service advisor on XXX, stating that the repairs are now quoted at $23k, so my portion is more. Still no reasoning why. Later found out that Hyundai has discontinued the 11k long block engines, so they are having to order short block engine + all parts to build it. The huge concern is that is ZERO warning. This could have been dangerous had I pulled out in front of a car! I know there are multiple complaints against Hyundai, so I know I am not alone. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

About a week ago the engine started making a strange sound when accelerating at low/mid speed through 2nd and 3rd gear. Best I could describe the sound was "a leaf in a fan blade". About 3 days after that sound started I just happened to be driving with the windows down around 10mph and heard a slight ticking sound. I returned home and immediately checked the oil. Upon opening the hood of the car I saw oil sprayed all over the left side of the engine compartment. When I checked the oil level it was completely empty, but there was standing oil on the skid plate underneath. There were never any warning lights of any kind. Both of the sounds were quiet enough that when the radio was on I couldn't hear them - thankfully I drive with it off most of the time! I parked the car for the weekend, put 4quarts of oil in it Monday morning and drove it to the dealership to drop off. They inspected it and (according to them) found a snapped cam shaft and a cracked timing cover which is where the oil was leaking from while driving. There was also a high amount of metal shavings found when they did a contamination check. This is the primary family car. We use it to go out of town almost every weekend and had just returned home the night before I found the oil leak. With how the oil was spraying across the entire engine compartment and all over the belts this could have very easily resulted in an engine fire at worse or have left us stranded on the side of a busy interstate with a bricked engine along with two adopted foster children with severe PTSD, anxiety, ADHD and extreme behavioral issues when confronted with stressful situations.

Vehicle started normally except for a few chirps that began today, belts are due for replacement so assumed this was it. No unusual noises, behaviors, sounds or performance issues until an hour later; coming to a light where a left turn was to be made, the car started stalling - still no noises or indicators lit. Upon starting the turn the engine shut completely off, and was just barely able to coast to the shoulder. The vehicle’s power completely cut, and attempting to start the vehicle did nothing. Checked the oil, and the dip stick was completely dry, however it was above the low level notch when checked 2,000 miles previously. Upon filling the oil up and jumping the battery which had depleted from sitting with the hazard lights on, the vehicle started but has a very loud knock. With the help of police who had stopped to assist I was able to get the vehicle off of the road and to a safer place to be towed to a nearby shop; have not yet contacted them as they were not open today but I expect the low oil may have caused damage to the engine.