2019 Hyundai Santa Fe

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

The Auto Stop feature will activate at a stop light and stop the engine. Occasionally it will not restart. I have to put the car in park, remove the key, wait a minute, reinsert the key and attempt a restart. It sometimes takes several tries before the engine will restart. I have nearly been hit by other cars multiple times. The dealer, Spokane Hyundai, has not been able to recreate the incident and has no clue as to why this happens. It is VERY dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11776077

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

While driving on the freeway at approximately 73 mph, I heard a very loud bang that sounded like something had struck my car. I initially thought a rock had hit my windshield, but I couldn't see any damage. Later, I remembered the incident and went to the garage to inspect my car. After checking the windshield and walking around the front and sides without finding any damage, I climbed up to inspect the roof. I noticed something unusual about the smaller fixed glass panel in front of the sunroof, directly behind the windshield. When I ran my finger across it, I heard a slight cracking sound and felt a rough texture. That's when I realized the entire panel had shattered. The shattered glass poses a potential safety risk due to the possibility of glass falling into the vehicle or further breaking while driving at highway speeds, going over bumps, closing the car doors etc. The panel is available for inspection. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealership or manufacturer, and the cause of the failure has not been determined. There were no warning lights or messages before the incident. After researching the issue, I found multiple reports from Hyundai Santa Fe owners describing similar incidents. Relevant NHTSA complaints include: Complaint #11502029 (2020 Santa Fe): Front sunroof glass suddenly shattered with no apparent external impact. Complaint #11548273 (2020 Santa Fe): Stationary glass panel in front of the sunroof shattered while parked. Complaint #11253008 (2019 Santa Fe): Panoramic sunroof shattered while driving with no evidence of an external impact. Complaint #11480753 (2019 Santa Fe): Rear panoramic sunroof panel reportedly exploded while driving approximately 70 mph. I believe these reports warrant further investigation into a possible recurring issue with Hyundai Santa Fe sunroof glass or its assembly, particularly given the potential safety risks of unexpected glass failure while driving.

NHTSA ID

11775342

Incident

Nov 2, 2026

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, XXX oil light came on but it wasn't time for my next oil change. I stopped by Advanced Auto to get code read, was told Camshaft sensor error. A week later, had my mechanic check code before doing oil change. He got the same code and ordered and replaced camshaft along with doing oil change. Drove two miles away from mechanic, oil and engine light came on. A week later I left my car with mechanic to check and replace oil sensor. The oil light was still on and he told me to take the car to the dealer because the engine is probably bad. Took car to the dealer, told them of all the previous work I just had done and asked them to check for any recalls or campaigns. Two recall/campaigns were updates, 9C2 and P33. Was told I needed Oil Flow Control valve Exh, got that replaced but lights were still on. Next, I was told I needed an Oil Pressure Switch, got that replaced, lights were still on. Dealer wants to do exploratory search to see if they can find out why lights are on but tell me I will have to pay for everything as they replace parts. What? I just paid them $1224.67 and nothing's fixed, lights are still on. Spoke with svc rep, [XXX] over the phone, she told me the engine light is still on and the oil light goes off during acceleration, I picked up my car as I can't keep getting nickeled and dimed after every part is replaced with no correction to the issue I came in for. Now the car runs like shit and burning gas like crazy. Engine is making sounds and acceleration is loud and slow. I believe this engine is going out and needs to be recalled as well. So many Santa Fe's are having this same issue and at 44,000 miles, I shouldn't be having any problems with this car. How is this allowed from the manufacturer? These engines are going to stop working, hopefully not while anyone is driving. Hyundai should be made to fix this asap. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11775194

Incident

Oct 28, 2026

After Hyundai 9C2 update the transmission bucks or searches for gear causing what seems to be up and down shifting.

NHTSA ID

11771805

Incident

Jun 20, 2026

Driving at highway speed, vehicle stuttered/lurched. The check AWD, engine light, tire pressure warning lights came on. Check by mechanic resulted in error code P0741 (Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off). Search of error code P0741 indicates that there is a Technical Service Bulletin TSB-23-AT-005H regarding this KNOWN problem. A stutter or lurch of the vehicle can cause the driver to over react, stop or swerve suddenly in traffic potentially causing an accident not to mention possible being struck on the side of the road while waiting for a tow/service truck. Vehicle/components have not been checked by manufacturer--only diagnostic code by Mechanic. Warning lights after incident included the AWD system, Check Engine Light, and Tire Pressure sensor light. Vehicle is being towed to a Hyundai Dealership as Mechanic advised it is not safe to drive.

NHTSA ID

11769096

Incident

Oct 4, 2026

On August 14 2026, I drove my 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe approximately one mile from my residence to work at approximately 5:00 AM. The vehicle was operating normally and I experienced no warning lights, unusual noises, odors, smoke, or other indications of a problem. I parked the vehicle in an outdoor parking lot and the vehicle remained parked and turned off for approximately four hours. At approximately 9am, I was notified that my vehicle was smoking. A person who was walking past the vehicle observed the smoke, obtained a fire extinguisher, and extinguished the fire. The fire department subsequently responded, disconnected the vehicle battery, and opened the rear of the vehicle to ventilate it. The fire and resulting heat damage were concentrated on the driver's side rear of the vehicle, directly behind the driver's-side rear tire and in the area of the rear bumper. The plastic at the base of the bumper melted, and melted bumper material was observed dripping onto the ground. The responding fire marshal inspected the vehicle and indicated that the electrical box located in this area may be associated with the origin of the fire. Wiring from this area runs to a non-original/non-Hyundai-installed trailer/tow attachment. The exact cause and origin of the fire have not yet been conclusively determined. The vehicle had otherwise operated normally during my ownership, with little to no significant problems prior to this incident. The vehicle is currently being preserved for inspection by my insurance company and mechanic. I am reporting this incident to NHTSA because the vehicle caught fire while parked and unattended after having been driven only approximately one mile, and because the suspected area of origin includes electrical components and wiring associated with the rear of the vehicle. No collision preceded the fire. There were no injuries. I am requesting that NHTSA consider this incident as a potential vehicle/electrical safety issue and investig

NHTSA ID

11768525

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

On 03/26/2026, my 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe received Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2 (TSB 26-01-013H-1), which included an Engine Control Module (ECM) software update for Theta II emissions improvement. The vehicle did not have the following drivability problem before this software update. Immediately after the 9C2 update, the vehicle began jerking/bucking slightly at low speeds, most noticeably around 10-20 mph when coasting with no accelerator input or when applying very light throttle. Acceleration response also feels slower than before the update, with noticeable hesitation when the accelerator is pressed. The problem is most noticeable during the beginning of a drive when the vehicle is cold. After driving for some time and the vehicle warms up, the symptoms improve, although the change in drivability remains noticeable compared with operation before the update. There have been no warning lights or warning messages associated with the problem. The issue began immediately following the ECM software update. The vehicle has not yet been returned to the dealer for diagnosis or confirmation and is available for inspection. I am concerned about the safety implications of delayed or unpredictable acceleration response, particularly when entering traffic, crossing an intersection, or merging when timely acceleration may be necessary. I am reporting this because the condition began only after Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2 was performed and I believe NHTSA should evaluate whether this ECM software update is causing similar drivability and acceleration problems in affected vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11766397

Incident

Mar 26, 2026

The vehicle experienced a sudden, intermittent engine stall while driving, specifically when slowing down or coasting to a stop in live traffic. When the engine dies, the vehicle immediately loses engine power, power steering, and power braking assist, creating an extreme safety hazard. After stalling, the vehicle refuses to restart for several minutes. An authorized Hyundai dealership previously replaced the high-pressure fuel pump under warranty to address this issue, but the dangerous stalling has persisted over the last 2,000 miles. The vehicle continues to randomly shut off without throwing a permanent check engine light or diagnostic trouble code, and the manufacturer has failed to correct this critical safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11765740

Incident

Apr 9, 2026

n certain areas, a vehicle’s underbody may exhibit corrosion due to road salt usage. As a preventative measure, cavity wax coating is applied to the internal surfaces of underbody components, and an undercoating spray is applied to exterior surfaces of specified underbody components. This service campaign describes the procedure to perform this preventative service on certain Santa Fe (NC) and Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles.

Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the PDW sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. This condition may be a result of external damage to the PDW sensor membrane or sensor cover from rock chips or road debris, a collision, or previous vehicle repairs or modifications.

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.

Certain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2013 – 2019 model year Santa Fe, and 2012 – 2017 model year Veloster vehicles may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may be set. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment, the warranty coverage for the Occupant Classification System (OCS)/Occupant Detection System (ODS) under these conditions has been extended to 18 years/unlimited mileage from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use (whichever occurs first) and is valid for original and subsequent owners.

Certain Santa Fe (TMA), Santa Fe Sport (AN), Sonata (LFA), and Tucson (TL) vehicles equipped with Theta II engines may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions. This bulletin provides instructions for updating the Engine Control Module (ECM) to address this condition.