2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

While driving, my vehicle displayed “Shifter System Malfunction! Service Immediately.” Immediately after, I was unable to shift the vehicle from Drive into Park, Reverse, or Neutral. The only way to park the vehicle was to turn the engine off while it was still in Drive, restart it, and then shift into Park. This is an extreme safety hazard. A driver who cannot change gears can lose control of the situation during an emergency, be unable to safely park, reverse, or place the vehicle in neutral if needed. Having to shut the engine off while the transmission is still in Drive is unsafe and not how the vehicle is intended to operate. This issue first occurred around 45,000 miles while the vehicle was under warranty, but it temporarily resolved on its own. It has now returned in June 2026 at approximately 65,500 miles, after the warranty expired, and is happening repeatedly. After researching online, I found many Hyundai owners reporting the same “Shifter System Malfunction” with identical symptoms, indicating this may be a widespread defect. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue, as it poses a serious risk to driver and public safety.

Vehicle: 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | Current Mileage: 140,000 Description of Safety Defect: While operating a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe at speed, the vehicle suffered a sudden, complete, and catastrophic loss of motive power in the middle of a live, active roadway without any prior warning or dashboard indicator lights. The transmission abruptly dropped out of gear and the engine shut down entirely, trapping the driver and three young children in active traffic and creating an immediate, life-threatening highway safety hazard. The vehicle was towed to Sport Durst Hyundai in Durham, NC, where technicians confirmed a total internal transmission failure where the gears fail to engage. This exact mechanical failure mechanism directly mirrors the severe engineering defect detailed in NHTSA Campaign Number 22V746000 (Hyundai Safety Recall 236) for electric oil pump failures causing a sudden loss of drive power. Hyundai Motor America Corporate Case Management has issued a flat denial of all safety and goodwill repair coverage based strictly on the vehicle's 140,000 miles, claiming that mileage absolves them of product liability for a catastrophic drivetrain safety defect that endangered three young children. Furthermore, the franchise dealership is actively withholding the GDS diagnostic failure scan codes from the consumer, calling them "internal documents" to actively suppress federal evidence of this safety failure. Further, the authorized Hyundai dealership engaged in deceptive practices by refusing to put anything in writing, and refusing my request for any diagnostic information, including any report indicating diagnostic error codes, technician summary, etc.

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway and approaching a stop sign, the message "Check Transmission Oil Immediately" was momentarily displayed. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be diagnosed unless the message was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving approximately 35 MPH the following day, and the engine power was reduced. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver contacted Bluelink and was advised to pull over safely. Bluelink and the dealer advised the driver to tow the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V746000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to cover half the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 74,900.

Vehicle: 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | Current Mileage: 140,000 Description of Safety Defect: While operating a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe at speed, the vehicle suffered a sudden, complete, and catastrophic loss of motive power in the middle of a live, active roadway without any prior warning or dashboard indicator lights. The transmission abruptly dropped out of gear and the engine shut down entirely, trapping the driver and three young children in active traffic and creating an immediate, life-threatening highway safety hazard. The vehicle was towed to Sport Durst Hyundai in Durham, NC, where technicians confirmed a total internal transmission failure where the gears fail to engage. This exact mechanical failure mechanism directly mirrors the severe engineering defect detailed in NHTSA Campaign Number 22V746000 (Hyundai Safety Recall 236) for electric oil pump failures causing a sudden loss of drive power. Hyundai Motor America Corporate Case Management has issued a flat denial of all safety and goodwill repair coverage based strictly on the vehicle's 140,000 miles, claiming that mileage absolves them of product liability for a catastrophic drivetrain safety defect that endangered three young children. Furthermore, the franchise dealership is actively withholding the GDS diagnostic failure scan codes from the consumer, calling them "internal documents" to actively suppress federal evidence of this safety failure. Further, the authorized Hyundai dealership engaged in deceptive practices by refusing to put anything in writing, and refusing my request for any diagnostic information, including any report indicating diagnostic error codes, technician summary, etc.

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the automatic emergency braking system engaged while there were no objects or vehicles near the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the pre-collision message was displayed while the vehicle was parked or was idling. The vehicle was taken to dealer on several occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the dealer assessment was most important. The failure mileage was unknown.

I have videos of these two incidents and others that I could not upload. While driving on the PA Turnpike at 4:25PM on 5/22/26 75 mph my accelerator pedal stopped responding, my front collision warning light, engine, EPB, and numerous other lights came on across my dashboard despite there being no contact with any object and my speed rapidly dropped. The front camera came on as if there was an object too close. I was in the middle lane. While I was trying to move to the shoulder there were tractor trailers behind me and to my right that began flashing their lights because my speed drastically dropped and was unable to safely stay with the flow of traffic in the heavy rain. While still in Drive car started changing through notices on my digital screen "Check Blind-Spot Safety system" "Check Forward Safety system" with the car crash icon, and "Check Driver Attention Warning (DAW) system." Then I began trying to press the accelerator pedal again and the car would not move at all but the tachometer was going to 2x1000rpm. When I turned the car off and turned it back on again the engine light was still on, but the accelerator pedal was responsive. About an hour later when the tow truck driver from AAA attempted to drive the car on to the flat bed the accelerator pedal was unresponsive again. This was at least the fifth time my vehicle had lost propulsion without warning. Every prior time Bowser Hyundai had different reasons for the failure, made a repair, and said it was safe to drive. Another incident occurred 4/7/2026 using cruise control at 84 mph when the car unexpectedly lost propulsion. The accelerator was again unresponsive, I was on the turnpike with two children in the vehicle. I steered towards the shoulder and the car slowed to a stop. After that incident, Bowser Hyundai replaced the transmission on the car. They notified me on June 18 that they believe they fixed the problem again but I don't feel the vehicle is safe for my family and worry it will be deadly

The horn has now stopped working in my vehicle twice. It was replaced 01/27/2023, and is now non-functional again. I believe this to be a safety issue as I have no way to warn other drivers or pedestrians of my presence, if necessary. One example of this, was that a vehicle was proceeding into my lane on the interstate yesterday afternoon and I had to avoid them hitting my vehicle by driving onto the shoulder of the road, as I could not use my horn to let them know they were coming into my lane while I was on the side of them.

I did a navigation update as requested by the infotainment system on the Hyundai. After the update, the air conditioner would not turn on when the ac button was depressed . I took the vehicle to my local Hyundai dealer and they found the ac blower and ac button working intermittently. After further inspection, the mechanic found the multi fuses that sit on the PCB bloc had one burnt fuse that did not blow and was still hot and the PCB block had melted around where the fuse connected to it. ( Hyundai stated that they required the damaged PCB fuse, the PCB block and the harness). I'm concerned that the electrical short discovered by the Hyundai mechanic could have progress and burnt my car or my house since I keep my car in the garage. The Mechanic working for the Hyundai dealer found the burnt fuses and PCB block and kept them after replacing them with new parts. The ac was working fine until I did the navigation update and there were no warnings whatsoever.

Latch system for fuel tank door failure.

Engine light for car read codes PO 304 303 420 prior to sale of car per code read out taken when engine light went off shortly after my purchase. Not addressed prior to sale. Codes read and called to dealership. Car taken for service. Reported fuel smell, exceleration issues, short stallings. Same codes. Stated car was " fine." Drivable. Asked for brakes/ rotors to be checked. No documented brake service given. Stated they were "fine." Taken to local brake place next day that confirmed brake rotors needed repair. Car returned after began sputtering. Reported as fuel injector failure. A known issue with this makr and model that shown codes point to that were given to, and read at service center by mechanic at dealership twice. They did not mention replacing catalytic converter, that is damaged from injectors and an emissions issue at time of call regarding repair report. No brake report or inspection requested multiple times to be checked. Did not follow correct protocol to ensure engine was clear of fuel sprayed by injectors into pistons, intake valves, ect. They placed my self at risk for engine fire, sudden car failure. Consistently mislead and failed to do proper reseach and care regarding car issues and hazards it presented. Being a known issue with this make and model it was a failure to inspect for issue. An emissions failure and violation to allow a damaged catalytic converter to be on road. This issue with the car is in class actionable suit. It is not on the recall list. As it damages the whole car systemi including emissions, it should be forced to be on the recall list so dealerships cannot allow potential harm to their customers as well as violating emission laws.

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the glass panoramic sunroof suddenly exploded, causing glass shards to fall into the cabin of the vehicle. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that there was no impact on the panoramic sunroof glass to cause the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle only operated in LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel injector was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The fuel injectors were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 55,000.

The panoramic sunroof of a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited spontaneously shattered while in transit on the highway. A resoundingly explosive “bang” preceded large shards of falling glass — leaving a massive hole in the sunroof’s front panel. The incident seemingly occurred without direct contact of any kind…no flying debris, no overpass roads, no inclement weather.

Engine light for car read codes PO 304 303 420 prior to sale of car per code read out taken when engine light went off shortly after my purchase. Not addressed prior to sale. Codes read and called to dealership. Car taken for service. Reported fuel smell, exceleration issues, short stallings. Same codes. Stated car was " fine." Drivable. Asked for brakes/ rotors to be checked. No documented brake service given. Stated they were "fine." Taken to local brake place next day that confirmed brake rotors needed repair. Car returned after began sputtering. Reported as fuel injector failure. A known issue with this makr and model that shown codes point to that were given to, and read at service center by mechanic at dealership twice. They did not mention replacing catalytic converter, that is damaged from injectors and an emissions issue at time of call regarding repair report. No brake report or inspection requested multiple times to be checked. Did not follow correct protocol to ensure engine was clear of fuel sprayed by injectors into pistons, intake valves, ect. They placed my self at risk for engine fire, sudden car failure. Consistently mislead and failed to do proper reseach and care regarding car issues and hazards it presented. Being a known issue with this make and model it was a failure to inspect for issue. An emissions failure and violation to allow a damaged catalytic converter to be on road. This issue with the car is in class actionable suit. It is not on the recall list. As it damages the whole car systemi including emissions, it should be forced to be on the recall list so dealerships cannot allow potential harm to their customers as well as violating emission laws.

Vehicle purchased 9/1/24 from Courtesy Hyundai of Tampa. Dealership failed to file registration/tags until 10/4/24. 7/12/25: Vehicle experienced involuntary acceleration and braking, resulting in impact with my mother’s home. 7/16/25: Dealer issued written report stating vehicle was operating normally and documented a recall-related display/audio/camera software update. 8/14/25: Hyundai engineering inspection performed without my knowledge. No report has ever been released. 8/27/25: Hyundai issued corporate denial, blaming driver error and stating braking/acceleration systems were normal. 12/5/25: Second involuntary braking incident at highway speed on I-275. Five uncommanded braking events over ~20 miles. Service Manager stated failure was due to sensor/camera malfunction and instructed that the vehicle should not be driven and to tow immediately. Despite this, the vehicle had been released into roadway operation. VIN lookup shows an open, unrepaired federal recall (24V879000 / Recall 271) for the rearview camera system, marked Recall Incomplete, despite the dealer’s documentation that recall-related camera/software work was completed on 7/16/25. BBB Auto Line denied my claim only because the vehicle was outside Florida Lemon Law eligibility. No safety determination was made. Hyundai released no engineering, sensor, or camera data despite an engineering inspection. This vehicle has experienced repeated involuntary braking and acceleration at highway speed, involving braking, camera, and automatic emergency braking systems, creating a serious risk of loss of control, collision, injury, or death. Despite repeated failures, contradictory diagnostics, withheld engineering data, and an open federal recall, the vehicle was released back into public roadway operation. I request that NHTSA formally investigate this safety defect.

This email serves as a formal dispute of the warranty denial issued by [Lester Glenn Hyundai Toms River NJ] regarding the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) passenger airbag sensor in my 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe.The dealership has refused coverage, attributing the failure to "water damage." I strongly dispute this finding and am formally requesting a Corporate Goodwill Repair Exception or a tier-two engineering review of my vehicle due to the safety-critical nature of this component.

The airbag sensor is on in the car. When I told the dealership they stated that the sensor is not covered under the warranty even though it was over by a fe hundred miles. None of the airbags will deploy if there is an accident. I don't see why a safety issue is not covered by the warranty. For the dealership to fix it, it is going to be over $800.

Fuel access door does not open correctly. Fuel door does not have a lock or a require pressing of a button to open; you would normally just 'push' on closed door to make it pop open. Over the past (3) months, this has not always been working. Sometimes it requires multiple high-pressure pushes (or a light bump) for door to open. On other occasions, unlocking the vehicle (all doors) and not just the driver's door that unlocks when exiting the vehicle has somehow contributed to getting the fuel door open. Multiple online Hyundai Santa Fe forums make mention of the fuel door being a widespread issue and suggest requiring replacement of an actuator in fuel door by dealership or prying the fuel door open with a screwdriver. Prying door open, in my opinion, is not an option because of potential damage to door and painted surfaces around the fuel door.

On [XXX] at [XXX], my [XXX] daughter was locked inside my 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN: [XXX] ) while holding the Smart Key fob in the back seat. She pressed the lock button, and the vehicle completely locked — with her and the key fob still inside. This violates the Smart Key safety feature described in Hyundai’s owner’s manual, which says the car should not lock if the key is inside. That system failed. There were no warning lights or alerts. I had no way to unlock the doors. I experienced a full panic attack. I feared my child could die from heat exposure. I was forced to break the rear window to rescue her. I was terrified the glass might injure her, but I had no choice. Since then, I have been emotionally traumatized and avoid driving out of fear it will happen again. To my knowledge, this has not yet been inspected by a dealer or Hyundai. I am reporting this because the Smart Key locking system failed in a dangerous way that put my child’s life at risk. This system should be investigated for defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Steering made clicking sounds when turning. Injectors caused the car to run very rough!

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. In addition, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was almost involved in three crashes due to the failure. The contact had to drive the vehicle onto a curb to avoid a crash on one occasion. The contact stated that during the failure, the rear hatch switch became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer replaced several unknown sensors; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure had occurred six times. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the dealer after the first failure due to the steering failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was at the dealer and scheduled for an inspection by the manufacturer’s engineer. The failure mileage was approximately 17,500.

See attached document from complainant

The contact called on behalf of her daughter who owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe equipped with Kumho Tires, Tire Line: Crugen Premium, Tire Size: 235/60/R18, DOT Number: 000CMYANH. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear passenger’s side tire became deflated. The tire was replaced with the spare and the vehicle was taken to a tire retailer and the contact was informed that the other tires had low tread and needed to be replaced. The tires were not replaced. The contact stated that the manufacturer was sent an email and she was awaiting a reply. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000. The VIN was not available.

2021 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL INVOLVING THE 8 SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION.

2022 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER REMOTE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY ALERTED "TRANSMISSION SYSTEM ERROR, CHECK TRANSMISSION OIL IMMEDIATELY". THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE RANSMISSION FAILED ON JUNE 24, 2022. AS OF AUGUST 15, 2022 THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BOUGHT BACK AND GIVEN ANOTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, AND PRICE.

When reaching between the seats to get a dropped item hand gets stuck on a sharp edge and cannot be pulled out. This happened to me once while driving and to my diluaghters very small hand while parked. Assistance was needed to dislodge hand.

When my wife sits in the passenger seat the seat is so low she cannot see over the dashboard. When she uses a cushion the air bag off light goes on indicating she is not protected from collision. This is an obvious safety issue which my dealer claims to know nothing about and has no solution. Please contact Hyundai and have them address this issue. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Ever since I bought by car in 2022 brand new the car has been shaking when I press on the brakes going around 70 mph. I took the car multiple times to the dealership and all they do is resurface the rotos. One time they refused to even look at the car so I called corporate and they got the dealership to do the same thing as before. But still the car shakes. I called corporate and they said to take to dealership to once again get the rotos resurfaced (how many times are they planning to resurface the damn rotors?) I took to dealership because the car was saying it was overheating. They ended up changing the thermostat or something related to it. And I asked them to once again look at the rotors because of the issue. The guy came back and said “we didn’t look at your rotors but you need brakes and that’s $500”. They refused to guarantee me if doing the break job will fix my issue. And I’m fed up. I looked online and as it turns out, the Santa Fe’s have a lot of possible manufacture defects. Such as: -Breaking System (Shudder / Vibration Common Issue) -Cooling System (Common Failures) - Suspension & Steering Components -AWD / Drivetrain (If AWD) -Electronics & Software - TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) Audit - Turbo oil-supply pipe crack / oil leak risk -Fuel-system pipe / fuel-rail hose leak (on certain turbo models -Transmission oil-pump / transmission-system recall (power-train issues) -Rear-view / backup-camera defect (visibility / electronics issue) (this actually did happen to me and they fixed it, but they denied it was a recall when I asked if this was common. So they lied) -Trailer-hitch wiring harness fire-risk recall And possibly more issues I’ve yet to come across other owners having. These are pretty serious issues. Some causing even the car to catch fire. This is extremely worrisome and I need peace of mind. Please help me out Thank you for your time

On delivery the vehicle pulled to the left on the highway. Vehicle returned to dealer next day and 4 wheel alignment supposedly done. Car no longer pulled to left. Vehicle seemed very unstable in wet weather but owner assumed it was ok. At 3000 miles owner discovered all 4 tires wearing severely while adjusting tire pressures. Called dealer and dealership wanted a month to get back into service dept. Took vehicle to a local tire dealership for wheel alignment check. Front tires toe was -2 degrees. Rear tires plus 1.7 degrees. Owner parked vehicle when driving in icy weather became too dangerous as vehicle would try to spin out without driver input. Alignment assumed to be off from factory and dealer staff only corrected what they thought was wrong with front tires instead of doing a full re-alignment.