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2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
26
Latest Aug 6, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical718.9%
  • Engine616.2%
  • Fuel system616.2%
  • Powertrain (other)410.8%
  • Steering38.1%
  • Other / unspecified25.4%
  • Airbags12.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I have taken my Hyundai Santa Fe 2022 PHEV under warranty for a fix of being in reverse, the function not working, the car revs aggressively not in gear and then put it in park and the car aggressively jolts forward in park like a hard gear change. Hyundai replaced pcm and said it was fine. I took car and immediately noticed grinding noises and straight back to Hyundai. They claim it's fine. Today same issue with reversing and aggressive car jolting. Hyundai is going to take it back tomorrow. I do not feel safe in this vehicle. It felt like the transmission was going to give out on the freeway. The rpm are maxing out at 5-20 mph and sometimes don't want to engage in drive. Extremely unsafe for freeway driving. There is something terribly wrong with this cars engine or transmission. Unsafe for Hyundai to release for use.

NHTSA ID 11674817 · filed Jul 20, 2025

The steering wheeled locked up and the dash showed error messages of check hybrid system and refill inverter coolant and car seemed to go into limp mode as I could barely accelerate forcing me to pull over. The messages and issue would go away upon turning off car and turning it back on, however the issue would eventually happen again. This has happened while driving on the highway and other various road situations without warning and making the vehicle very unsafe. I have taken my vehicle to Hyundai Ourisman in Bowie, Maryland (the dealership where I purchased the vehicle) three times over two years and they have failed to fix the problem. They have even replaced the battery in the car.

NHTSA ID 11663947 · filed May 30, 2025
All 8 reports naming driver assistance

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

First the vehicle randomly lost all power and engine function, so was taken to the Hyundai service center. It was a safety issue as we had to coast to the margin in heavy traffic. Hyundai attempted a fix and returned it to us. It developed issues before we even got home. Now it is has been 6 months in the service center with continuously new issues. Every time they assure us it is fixed and we try to take it home, it develops another failure and the check engine light returns. The technicians have told us they have no explanation for the multiple failures and are not confident they can permanently fix the vehicle. The failures are unrelated and are with the manifold, gasket, CVVD,, oxygen sensor, and battery. A bolt also sheared off in this time frame and had to be drilled out. In the last failure, the car began smoking heavily and dripping oil. We've requested a replacement. Hyundai said they will not replace the vehicle (nor buy back) and it is acceptable that multiple systems and parts fail within 3 years.

NHTSA ID 11698232 · filed Nov 7, 2025

Driving along, merging onto Interstate, various warnings such as check lane keeping assist, and warnings to stop vehicle and check brake systems. Driving approximately 50mph, the warning started to flash and speedometer dropped to zero then went back to full speed. Automatic braking was attempting to slow the car. Attached photo shows an indicated speed of 0mph, however was travelling approximately 50mph at this time. I also have video of the errors occurring, but there is not a way to upload video.

NHTSA ID 11634183 · filed Jan 5, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid, confirming the exact symptom “the gasoline engine continues running after the vehicle is switched off.” the vehicle is on and your burn fuel and if the fuel tank is full then some major issue may occur.

NHTSA ID 11755321 · filed Aug 6, 2026

First the vehicle randomly lost all power and engine function, so was taken to the Hyundai service center. It was a safety issue as we had to coast to the margin in heavy traffic. Hyundai attempted a fix and returned it to us. It developed issues before we even got home. Now it is has been 6 months in the service center with continuously new issues. Every time they assure us it is fixed and we try to take it home, it develops another failure and the check engine light returns. The technicians have told us they have no explanation for the multiple failures and are not confident they can permanently fix the vehicle. The failures are unrelated and are with the manifold, gasket, CVVD,, oxygen sensor, and battery. A bolt also sheared off in this time frame and had to be drilled out. In the last failure, the car began smoking heavily and dripping oil. We've requested a replacement. Hyundai said they will not replace the vehicle (nor buy back) and it is acceptable that multiple systems and parts fail within 3 years.

NHTSA ID 11698232 · filed Nov 7, 2025

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

First the vehicle randomly lost all power and engine function, so was taken to the Hyundai service center. It was a safety issue as we had to coast to the margin in heavy traffic. Hyundai attempted a fix and returned it to us. It developed issues before we even got home. Now it is has been 6 months in the service center with continuously new issues. Every time they assure us it is fixed and we try to take it home, it develops another failure and the check engine light returns. The technicians have told us they have no explanation for the multiple failures and are not confident they can permanently fix the vehicle. The failures are unrelated and are with the manifold, gasket, CVVD,, oxygen sensor, and battery. A bolt also sheared off in this time frame and had to be drilled out. In the last failure, the car began smoking heavily and dripping oil. We've requested a replacement. Hyundai said they will not replace the vehicle (nor buy back) and it is acceptable that multiple systems and parts fail within 3 years.

NHTSA ID 11698232 · filed Nov 7, 2025

Loss of acceleration while driving. This has occurred multiple times (always while moving or actively driving). The first time we were driving up a significant hill and the car slowed, lost power and we had to pull over and coast back down the mountain to a repair center. The second time, I was on the freeway and lost acceleration causing me to pull off the road in median. The third time, I was at a stoplight and when the light turned green, I had almost no movement after edging into the intersection. Eventually, at about 5 mph, the car regained speed. The check light went on in the first event and the car was supposedly repaired at the second dealership by re-tensioning "pins". However, no lights or warnings went on for incident #2 or #3 that occurred after the earlier repair effort. The vehicle is currently at the dealership service center for it's 7th day of "unable to replicate the problem" after incident #3.

NHTSA ID 11580960 · filed Apr 3, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Loss of acceleration while driving. This has occurred multiple times (always while moving or actively driving). The first time we were driving up a significant hill and the car slowed, lost power and we had to pull over and coast back down the mountain to a repair center. The second time, I was on the freeway and lost acceleration causing me to pull off the road in median. The third time, I was at a stoplight and when the light turned green, I had almost no movement after edging into the intersection. Eventually, at about 5 mph, the car regained speed. The check light went on in the first event and the car was supposedly repaired at the second dealership by re-tensioning "pins". However, no lights or warnings went on for incident #2 or #3 that occurred after the earlier repair effort. The vehicle is currently at the dealership service center for it's 7th day of "unable to replicate the problem" after incident #3.

NHTSA ID 11580960 · filed Apr 3, 2024

From park to Drive or reverse there’s an issues with changing in between doing so. Loud noise and shake to the car when engaging in the new gear. Then it sounds like the cars accelerating but parked, not moving. When you put it back in drive a loud thud then revving noise occurs. Once driving again just after there’s little to no movement when you put your foot on the pedal. When you drive it’s slow to go. You can hear the car trying but you’re hit going the same pace as the other cars on the road. Seems unsafe. This has happened more than once. I mentioned it to the delayer they said it was fine. No issues.

NHTSA ID 11577757 · filed Mar 16, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The steering wheeled locked up and the dash showed error messages of check hybrid system and refill inverter coolant and car seemed to go into limp mode as I could barely accelerate forcing me to pull over. The messages and issue would go away upon turning off car and turning it back on, however the issue would eventually happen again. This has happened while driving on the highway and other various road situations without warning and making the vehicle very unsafe. I have taken my vehicle to Hyundai Ourisman in Bowie, Maryland (the dealership where I purchased the vehicle) three times over two years and they have failed to fix the problem. They have even replaced the battery in the car.

NHTSA ID 11663947 · filed May 30, 2025

I was driving on a road approaching a right turn to enter into my neighborhood that has a 3 way intersection where only cars exiting the neighborhood have a stop sign. I turned my right turn signal on as I began to slow down and approach the turn (without stopping as there is no stop sign for my path). As I was about 1/4 way into the turn, an alert for either lane keep assist or driver assistance warning appeared and the steering wheel suddenly could not turn and I was forced to drive straight. Luckily, there was no car waiting at the stop sign or I would have hit them. I hit the brakes and was on the wrong side of the road pointed towards the curb. I saw multiple error messages for lane keep assist and drivers assisted warning but could still not turn the wheel. I slowly drove the car forward, wrestling the wheel to turn enough so I could park on the wrong side of the road. I tried putting the car in park and then drive again but it did not help. I turned the car off and on and the errors cleared and I could turn the wheels again. I then proceeded to slowly start driving home and less than 1/4 mile later as I was rounding a gentle curve (I did not use any turn signals), the same error occurred and I suddenly could not turn the wheel so I slammed the brakes and stopped in the middle of the road. I again turned the car off and on to reset and proceeded to drive the remaining 1/4 mile home and park in my driveway. I immediately contacted the Hyundai dealer and was recommended to have the car towed to the local dealer as it was unsafe to drive. Upon towing the car to the closest dealer, I was able to back the car off the tow truck and park it. While parking, the steering locked up again and I took the attached pictures of the error messages and showed the technician. The dealers in the area all indicated they were so backed up they could not diagnose the car immediately. I called Hyundai to open a case. It has been 2 weeks and they still have not diagnosed the car.

NHTSA ID 11527845 · filed Jun 20, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V181000 (Trailer Hitches); however, the parts for the repair were unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID 11542087 · filed Sep 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle started jerking. The contact was driving uphill when the jerking occurred. The vehicle functionality of switching from the electric hybrid mode to the engine failed, and the vehicle lost motive and electrical power. The contact was able to glide down the hill safely. The hybrid system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed a failure with the hybrid switching over the engine. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000.

NHTSA ID 11466134 · filed May 25, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

During the accident, the airbag in the steering wheel, barely deployed and threw sparks in the air. Passenger door airbag ruptured. I have pictures of the torn airbag. The cab of the vehicle filled with smoke and sparks came out around the steering wheel. Driver felt like their pants are on fire. To the best of my knowledge, there has been no inspection of the airbag system.

NHTSA ID 11525980 · filed Jun 8, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .