2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Traveling the PA Turnpike with the cruise control on and traveling 73 mph. I was in the far left lane and just passed a slower car. There was nothing in front of me in the far left lane or the lane next for at least a half a mile. After just passing the slower car the forward collision avoidance came on and tried to stop the car. I put my foot on the brake as an instinctive action which I believe disengaged the Forward Collision Avoidance system. The dash board lit up saying it was the Forward Collision system. If there was another car/truck following me closely they would have hit our car and at that speed I am sure I would not be here writing this. Calling today the dealer to have this checked out. No one else has inspected or checked this problem yet.

NHTSA ID

11772919

Incident

Oct 19, 2026

Steering wheel makes a squeaking sounds after 5k problem. Widespread problem on the forums like in the Santa Fe Reddit page. Issue comes back even after new steering wheel replacement. Issue is believe to be the clock spring

NHTSA ID

11772601

Incident

Oct 1, 2026

This is the SECOND occurrence in the past two weeks. I was traveling on a HEAVILY trafficked 10 lane divided interstate, doing the speed limit on cruise control when the vehicle suddenly and inexplicably lost power. It went into "limp mode" (will not go over 30 mph). Thankfully i was able to negotiate to the shoulder but the maneuver was EXTREMLY dangerous as the rest of traffic was moving between 60 and 80 mph. It was harrowing and extremely frightening. Warning lights that were displayed- First, a "Check hybrid system" message appears. Accompanied by SEVERAL other warning lights. Eventually, a "stop vehicle and check power supply" message appeared and would not even move in "limp mode". This appears to be either a bent connection plug or fuel injector issue. The first time this happened ([XXX]) it was towed to Southern States in Raleigh, NC (I purchased it from Johnson in Apex) where they concluded nothing was wrong. They claimed no codes were available other than some low battery codes. This was a lie. The vehicle app showed two codes-POC7300 and P193700. They did nothing but recharge the battery by running the engine. I feel this dealership put me in danger by putting me back on the road without a proper diagnostic. A simple Google search shows that this is a problem with other vehicles of this make and model. I was told it wasn't their job to Google problems. It's only a matter of time before this serious defect kills someone with less luck and driving skill. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11771798

Incident

Oct 16, 2026

On October 9, 2026, a 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy with approximately 2,702 miles experienced abnormal braking and severe jerking/vibration while being driven at low speed in a parking lot. The brake pedal had to be pressed all the way down to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The tow truck driver independently experienced the same braking behavior while handling the vehicle. Multiple warning indicators appeared simultaneously, including ABS, brake system, electronic stability control, and driver assistance warnings. Dashboard messages included “Check Forward Safety System” and “Check Driver Assistance System.” Due to the impaired braking and drivability, the vehicle was not driven further and was towed to an authorized Hyundai dealership. Hyundai Bluelink history shows recurring engine/powertrain trouble codes P011400 dating to July 25, 2026, and P011300 first recorded September 18, 2026. The vehicle previously underwent a dealership repair for a sensor-related issue, reportedly involving an improperly connected component. It is unknown whether that repair is related to this incident. The dealership has acknowledged receipt of the vehicle, but at the time of this report, no diagnosis has been provided. The reported braking behavior was reproduced by the tow truck driver; dealer confirmation is pending. The vehicle is at the dealership for inspection. The exact cause remains UNKNOWN. The abnormal stopping response and unpredictable low-speed movement pose a risk of collision or injury, especially if they recur in traffic.

NHTSA ID

11770318

Incident

Oct 9, 2026

Vehicle lost power and went into "limp mode" at highway speed on a busy interstate. I was able to get to the shoulder and "limp" to the next exit (would not exceed 30 mph) but I was lucky to be able to safely get there. The dealership said it was a battery issue? They acted like it was no big deal. To unexpectedly lose power at highway speed on a busy interstate was very frightening. (I had to negotiate several lanes to get on the shoulder). I also feel Hyundai is not taking it seriously. The dealership (Southern States) said no incidents came up in the computer scan and they just ran the engine for an hour to recharge the battery. Nothing makes sense here. About 15 minutes before the incident a warning came on the screen reading "there may be a problem with the engine management system". After trying to "limp" home, it completely died, requiring a tow to the dealership. Another warning "stop vehicle and check power supply" came on the screen followed by the dash lights going crazy like a pinball machine. This could have ended a lot worse.

NHTSA ID

11770066

Incident

Sep 24, 2026

My digital instrument cluster is intermittently going black and displaying 'Lost Signal' while driving. I took the vehicle in a month ago and they stated they could not replicate and this was not a known problem, that I would need to record the issue in a video.

NHTSA ID

11768959

Incident

Oct 2, 2026

SUPPLEMENTAL FILING to NHTSA Complaint No. 11768270 (filed 2026-10-01 for this same vehicle, covering steering/suspension defects). This new complaint covers ONE separate, newly discovered defect only: the rear-view (back-up) camera shows NO image. On 2026-10-02 (defect discovered and photographed), shifting into Reverse produces only a solid green rectangle on the center display plus the text warning "Check surroundings for your safety." -- no camera image appears at all. The rear-view camera is completely non-functional, causing a total loss of rear visibility while reversing, a safety hazard under the rear visibility safety requirement (FMVSS 111). No crash, no fire, no injuries, and no warning lamps illuminated. Vehicle purchased new on 2026-09-14. The selling dealer previously refused to inspect or repair this defect.

NHTSA ID

11768565

Incident

Oct 2, 2026

Vehicle: 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, purchased NEW on [XXX] from Sports Durham Hyundai, Durham, NC. At approximately 1,000 miles, two steering-related safety defects have been present since purchase: 1) Abnormal noise coming from under the steering column while driving. 2) Wheel alignment problem: the vehicle pulls to one side while driving and the tires scrape the curb. Concerned about loss of steering control. The selling dealer refused to inspect or service the vehicle. Written notice of these defects was sent to Hyundai Motor America on 10/01/2026. The defects have not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center because the dealer refused inspection. No warning lamps or messages. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality has occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11768270

Incident

Sep 14, 2026

This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2026 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update Key Improvements and Additional Improvements tables in this TSB for a list of specific changes. The software can be downloaded via Navigation Updater (NAU) and updated by USB.

Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this procedure should only be performed when deemed necessary based on inspection and diagnosis of the vehicle as outlined in TSB 26-EM-015H, Engine Oil Consumption – Inspection & Repair Guidelines, or the latest revision.

Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and maintenance history. Hyundai recommends following the prescribed maintenance schedule and periodically checking the engine oil level using the dipstick to maintain proper engine oil level.

Some Santa Fe (MX5A) and Santa Fe Hybrid (MX5A HEV) vehicles may exhibit a 12-volt battery drain due to the passive entry feature of the Digital Key 2 premium causing repeated wakeup of the vehicle. This bulletin provides instructions to perform software updates for the Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) and Body Domain Control (BDC) modules.

Some Santa Fe (MX5A) and Santa Fe Hybrid (MX5A HEV) vehicles equipped with power seats with or without Integrated Memory System (IMS) may produce buzz, squeak, rattle noises when the driver’s front seat is adjusted forward or backwards due to friction within the motor’s tube. This bulletin provides instructions to remove the motor tube.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and underwent airbag replacement using non-genuine parts. These dangerous inflators have ruptured during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to metal fragments entering the vehicle cabin. To date, Hyundai is aware of three people who have died while driving a Hyundai vehicle with one of these substandard replacement airbag inflators that deployed in what likely would have been a survivable crash. NHTSA has issued a public advisory urging vehicle owners and service professionals to have vehicles inspected if there is reason to believe that a non-genuine replacement airbag may have been installed. Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, prior airbag deployments, or unknown repair histories may present a higher risk. NHTSA strongly cautions against self-inspection by vehicle owners and recommends inspection by trained technicians.