2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Engine Problems

Engine valve cover gaskets leaking oil, causing oil drip on pavement. Could cause fire and alternator failure. My mechanic pin-pointed the leak location. The google search indicated that other Hundai vehicle owners also had this problem. Mechanic estimated cost to repair the problem was quoted at $700.00 dollars. Thx, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

In 2015 Hyundai issued service campaign 936 for 2007-2009 Santa Fe valve cover & alternator due to the valve cover leaking & dripping oil onto the alternator, potentially damaging the alternator resulting in the charging system becoming inoperative. My 2007 Santa Fe was repaired under this campaign. Now with less than 30K miles since the repair the same problem exists, the valve cover is leaking oil onto the alternator again. I've contacted my local Hyundai dealer but they refuse to repair the issue under the campaign a 2nd time. The issue was detected by the local dealership during a routine oil change & they advised me that the cost to replace the valve cover gasket & the alternator would be in excess of $1,000.

Did oil change. Valve cover was leaking. Put in manufacturer recommended oil. Engine chatter after oil change. Also did valve cover gaskets at said time of oil change.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, excessive force was needed to depress the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle then stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact also stated that when he exited the vehicle, there was fluid leaking from underneath the engine compartment. The check engine and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted and was then taken to an unknown local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,169.

The contact’s mother-in-law owns a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated after charging the battery and at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a shopping center and purchased a quart of oil to add to the engine oil. When the contact opened the hood, oil had leaked all over the engine. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The contact was concerned after doing research that oil had leaked onto the alternator and caused the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

Oilfilter cap leaks all over transmission and won't stay sealed all cleaned and put new stuff still a puddle on the the tranny had to Bondo my filter cap she runs poorly when it's not sealed but it's tight

VALVE COVER RECALL WAS REPAIRED BUT THE SAME ISSUE SHOWING UP AGAIN. THE FORUMS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINTS. IT IS LEAKING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AGAIN. HAS NOT FAILED YET BUT WILL HAVE TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED TO REPAIR IT. IT IS ALSO LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SHIELD COULD CATCH FIRE.

AFTER EXTENSIVE TRIPS TO THE MAINTENANCE SHOP (PEPBOYS) MY SANTA FE IS NOW NEEDING TO GET THE ENGINE REBUILT. THE CAUSE SO I AM TOLD IS A FAILED OIL PUMP IN THE ENGINE. I WAS PICKED UP AFTER HAVING TO GO BACK THE THE SHOP BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED IN TO PEPBOYS, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A ONE OFF WITH THE STARTER AND ALL WAS GOOD NOW. I PICKED UP THE SUV AND DROVE IT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT DOWN THE STREET ONLY TO HAVE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF MID DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED BACK INTO PEPBOYS AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME IT IS A OIL PUMP FAILURE AND THE ENGIN IS LOCKED UP AND IT NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. IS THIS A FACTORY ISSUE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE SOUND MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONCENTRATE ON THE ROAD. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRED BEANS HYUNDAI (1106 E LINCOLN HWY, LANGHORNE, PA 19047), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

FAULTY GAS GAUGE. AFTER FILLING UP TO A FULL GAS TANK, GAS GAUGE WILL GO UP AND DOWN AND EVENTUALLY STOP AT AN INCORRECT READING. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE WHICH IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS!!! WHEN THE GAUGE GETS BELOW HALF A TANK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS AND NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF AT ALL NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS THE CAR HAS. THEN, CAR STARTED TO SMELL LIKE GAS INSIDE WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO FIX AND WAS QUOTED OVER $1,000. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED, THE GAS GAUGE ISSUE IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD RUN OUT OF GAS AND BE STRANDED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. "LOW FUEL" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. FUEL GAUGE INDICATED NEARLY EMPTY EVEN THOUGH TANK WAS CLOSE TO HALF FULL. CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ALWAYS ILLUMINATED.

WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR BEFORE IT WAS RECALLED.

LEAVING MY HOME TO TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST COMPLETED I WAS TOLD THE SENSORS IN THE GAS TANK ARE MALFUNCTIONING (P0464) AND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2007 HYUNDAI SANTE FE MODELS. THE GAUGE TELLING ME HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE IS NOT READING CORRECTLY DUE TO THE SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND CAN CAUSE ME TO RUN OUT OF GAS AT ANY TIME. THE DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME A $98 "DIAGNOSTIC FEE" EVEN THOUGH THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE ELSEWHERE. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THAT AS WELL. *TR

WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INDICATING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME, BUT NEXT DAY CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO DRAINED BATTERY. BATTERY WAS THEN RECHARGED AND CAR DRIVEN TO LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY DUE TO OIL THAT HAD LEAKED FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET. THE ALTERNATOR WAS HEAVILY CAKED WITH THIS OIL/GRIME. AFTER INSTALLING NEW VALVE COVER GASKET AND ALTERNATOR TODAY, CAR NOW RUNS FINE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO ME TO BE IDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED IN HYUNDAI'S RECALL NUMBER 121 WHICH COVERED CERTAIN VERACRUZ MODELS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V415000) AND THEREFORE I BELIEVE THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER AT LEAST MY CAR AND PROBABLY OTHERS. *TR

I HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED TWO DAYS EARLIER AND CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ESC AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS. THIS WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM MY INTENDED EXIT. AFTER THE EXIT MORE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. IF I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE TACH AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO. AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE DIED. I LOOKED TO SEE IF I HAD BROKEN A BELT BUT SAW IT WAS INTACT. I DID NOTICE THAT THE ALTERNATOR SEEMED TO BE SHINY FROM OIL. I WENT ONLINE AND SEARCHED FOR THE SYMPTOMS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VERACRUZ WITH THE VERY SAME SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY A LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET. THE RECALL IS NHTSA CAMPAIGN 14V415000. AS OTHERS HAVE STATED, IF IT'S THE SAME ENGINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL AND THE REPAIRS COVERED. *TR

I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT HYUNDAI HAD ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V415000) FOR 2007-2012 VERACRUZ VEHICLES WITH THE LAMBDA MPI ENGINE TO CORRECT AN OIL LEAK FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET THAT SATURATES THE ALTERNATOR AND CAUSES THE ALTERNATOR TO SHORT OUT. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR CAN QUIT ON THE DRIVER. OUR 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE USES THE SAME ENGINE AND WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS (I.E. OIL LEAKING FROM FRONT VALVE COVER ONTO THE ALTERNATOR), SO I CALLED HYUNDAI TO SEE ABOUT GETTING THIS ISSUE FIXED UNDER THIS RECALL. HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE TO CORRECT THIS FOR ALL VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME LAMBDA V6 ENGINE, NOT JUST A SELECT FEW. IF IT IS DANGEROUS FOR VERACRUZ OWNERS, HOW IS IT NOT DANGEROUS FOR SANTA FE OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ENGINE AND SYMPTOMS? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS SAFETY RECALL EXPANDED TO COVER ALL VEHICLES THAT USE THIS SAME ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONSTANT OIL LEAK CONCERNING THE VALVE COVER GASKET. THE PREVIOUS VEHICLE OWNER HAD THE GASKET REPLACED AND RESEALED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE PART WAS REPLACED AND RESEALED BY THE DEALER (LITHIA RENO HYUNDAI, 2620 KIETZKE LN, RENO, NV 89502, (775) 800-5703) AND REPLACED UP TO SIX TIMES TOTAL. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR DUE TO THE FAILURE CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO THE PART. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY PROVIDED A GOOD WILL SOLUTION OF COVERING THE REPLACEMENT AND RESEALING IT TWICE. IF THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

SAME OIL LEAK AS PROPOSED RECALL FOR OUR 2010 VERA CRUZ WITH THE SAME ENGINE (V6). *TR

2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OIL LEAK FROM FRONT CYLINDER VALVE COVER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A LEAK WAS FORMED, BECAUSE THE STUDS THAT HELD THE VALVE COVER IN PLACE WERE STRIPPED, THUS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK PAST THE GASKET, AND THEN OVER THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. *JB......UPDATED 09-03-14 *BF UPDATED 11/26/2014 *JS