There are 48 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. With no prior indications, the engine seized while driving on side street at 25mph. Engine blew hole in block and dumped engine parts, including piston rod, piston and engine block remnants, and oil on street. Very dangerous as power steering stopped and was unable to turn. Very low miles, 40,680, with all maintenance performed by dealer. Filed a report with Hyundai USA, no action taken.
The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a burning odor and the vehicle stalled. The contact idled the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle. The vehicle burst into flames after the occupants exited the vehicle. The contact's daughter and daughter's friend were occupants of the vehicle at the time of the failure. No injuries were sustained. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned to total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the charger indicator warning light illuminated and the engine seized. The battery was recharged. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed valve cover gasket leak and that the valve cover gasket and the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was scheduled to be taken to the dealer for inspection within the week. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 126,600. The VIN was unavailable.
I was driving the car on a 4 lane road when suddenly the engine shut off and the car was no longer functioning. I lost power steering and had to coast into a nearby parking lot, otherwise I would have caused a major accident in the middle of a busy intersection with another 4 lane road. Upon taking the car to Hyundai for evaluation, it was declared to be total engine failure. Given the other issues with Hyundai engines failing and the fact that I VERY NARROWLY AVOIDED A MASSIVE COLLISION, I would like NHTSA to be aware that this problem may go back farther than Hyundai has addressed so far.
My 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe had 75,000 miles on it in September 2022. It was bought and serviced by the same dealership and I am the original owner. It was last serviced at the end of June 2022. While returning from Corvallis, Oregon to Forest Grove, Oregon, the car's display light all turned on and a second late the car completely stopped. I am thankful that I decided to take the back road home, if I had been on the highway, I am positive I would have been in a serious accident. It has been determined by the dealership that there was a complete engine failure. It has been at the Hyundai dealership for four months now and there is no replacement engine available for it. Not only that, they can't get a reasonably priced replacement engine anywhere. This car would have been a valuable trade in on a new car. The Diagnosis was Engine crankshaft seized. Metal particles on Dipstick, large metal fragments on oil filter, Engine replacement required. The car is now worthless, expect for parts.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on six occasions over 12 months, the vehicle overheated while driving at various speeds. Additionally, the contact observed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe on the rear passenger’s side and the front of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated during the last failure. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle was taken to the residence, and on other occasions, the vehicle was towed to an independent dealer where it was diagnosed that the thermostat housing and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred several times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
UNKNOWN warning I’m the owner of a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and a week ago at 185k mikes all of a sudden driving on the freeway it started hesitating and sounded like metal grinding and smoking really bad. Pulled to the side of the freeway on a ramp at that. Tried to restart the vehicle and I heard a bang noise which upon later discovery the engine blew a rod with no warning locked the steering wheel couldn’t get the keys out of the ignition DO NOT buy this car still owe 5k on the vehicle
ENGINE STALLS
We have (had) a 2011 Hyundai Sante Fe. On 9/21/21, driving to Bozeman, just west of Livingston MT, on I-90, the car had a sudden stalling, loss of power (check engine light, oil light came on), then knocking sound that increased in volume and frequency. Smoke began pouring from under the hood as we pulled to the side of the highway, then very quickly accompanied by flames. We exited the vehicle. I opened the hood, the flames shot into the air. We moved away from the car. 911 had been called and the local fire department arrived within 10-15 minutes. Fire extinguished after about 20-30 minutes, but engulfed (destroyed) the entire engine compartment. Flames did not spread to passenger area of the vehicle. No one injured from the fire (although possible smoke inhalation before and as we exited vehicle). Car totaled, towed from highway. 1. Component: engine, all components in engine compartment (available for inspection, see photos uploaded); 2. Safety threat: smoke, fire quickly engulfed engine compartment, threat of spread to passenger area of vehicle; 3. Not yet confirmed by dealer or independent service center; 4. Inspection: by police/fire department that responded to the incident indicating mechanical malfunction, without further detail; 5. Warnings: check engine light and oil light occurred prior to or at time of incident and before severe knocking sounds began, but at same time as stalling/power loss.
ENGINE BLOWN SHORTLY AFTER 'SERVICE ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A LOW END ENGINE RATTLE DURING IDLE. THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY ON ACCELERATION. TODAY THE ENGINE FAILED. IT WON'T TURN OVER AT ALL. IT'S SEIZED UP. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE OIL IS FULL. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS 2 YEARS OLD. I'VE USED SYNTHETIC OIL AND CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3 - 4,000 MILES. THE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL TO THE ONES ON THE SONATA AND OTHER VARIOUS MODELS. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED HERE IN THE STATES. AN ENGINE IS A HUGE EXPENSE. ESPECIALLY IF IT'S DUE TO MANUFACTURER NEGLIGENCE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI OR KIA AGAIN AT THIS POINT.
MY CAR STARTED RUNNING HOT PERIODICALLY, THE THERMOSTAT GAUGE KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN. THERE WAS A BUBBLING SOUND IN RADIATOR RESERVE CONTAINER. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY CRANKED.
MY 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE CITY STREETS AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 30MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTING MAKING A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE. FOUND THE ENGINE HAS A BENT ROD. THE CAR HAS 110,000 MILES AND HAS HAD A REGULAR OIL CHANGE EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. ALL OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED OR OWN NOW LAST WELL OVER 200,000 MILES. HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE HOME 80 MILES. HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. NEVER HAD A WARNING THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THANK GOODNESS HE WAS ON A CITY STREET..
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING OR SYMPTOMS. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT NEEDED TO BE TOWED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED.
MY 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BEGAN TO DRIVE ROUGH ON THE FREEWAY, SLIGHT TUGGING, RATTLING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 60MPH, CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I EXITED THE FREEWAY AND IT STALLED AT RED LIGHT. STARTED IT UP AND THEN STALLED 3 MORE TIMES AT EVERY RED LIGHT ON THE WAY HOME. I ADDED OIL AND MADE SERVICE APPT. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE DIED ONCE ON THE WAY AND AGAIN AT THE SERVICE CENTER BUT DID NOT START BACK UP. MECHANIC SAID ENGINE FAILED DUE TO CRANK SHAFT SPUN BEARING. SENSORS DID NOT APPEAR IN ADVANCE SENSORS APPEARED TOO LATE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE. MY CAR IS ONLY 7 YEARS BOUGHT BRAND NEW OUT OF SHOW ROOM NO PREVIOUS MAJOR ISSUES. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE SHOWING SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHERS. UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS
WHILE DRIVING HOME ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12 2018 MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED UP THE WHOLE FRONT END.
ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND I CANNOT STEER THE WHEEL.
ENGINE NOISE AT COLD START. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT FOR OVER AN HOUR, A LOUD RATTLE NOISE IS HEARD FOR 3-5 SECONDS. THE NOISE IS COMING FROM OIL STARVATION. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED THAT IS A TIMING CHAIN AND GUIDE ISSUE. SEVERAL PEOPLE ONLINE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.
CAR STARTED SMOKING BLUE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST AT 45,000 MILES WAS NEVER TREATED FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS SUCH A THING WAS NOT ADVISED AT THAT TIME NOW 3 YEARS LATER SUV ONLY HAS 56,000 IT USED 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN 1700 MILES. SINCE I DON'T DRIVE IT MUCH THEY ARE SAYING I HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN SINCE I HAD NOT BEEN IN SINCE MAY 2020. IT IS NOW JULY DRIVEN IT 1300 MILE I WAS TOLD MUST START CONSUMPTION TEST FROM BEGINNING NOT WITH IN THE 1000 MILE RANGE . THEY NEVER FILED OUT ANY CONSUMPTION CHART TO START WITH . THIS CAR ONLY HAS ONE YEAR REMAINING ON WARRANTY AND THEY ARE TRYING TO RUN OUT THE WARRANTY WITHOUT FIXING IT. CAR SMOKES UP MY WHOLE GARAGE UPON STARTING , IT HAS COVERED PEOPLE UP WITH BLUE SMOKE IT THEY ARE BEHIND ME IN A PARKING LOT. I CAN NOT UPLOADED. A DOCUMENT
CAR SMOKING FROM EXAHUST SINCE AROUND 42000 MILES OIL SMOKE STARTED IN 2017 . I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT 8 TIMES IN 3 YEARS NOW OIL ALL IN THE SPARKPLUGS USING OVER A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES NOW HAS 56000 MILES AND UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. DEALSHIP TELLING ME THEY WILL HAVE CAR FOR ONE MONTH OR MORE WITH NO REPLACEMENT CAR GIVEN HAVE BEEN TOLD MAY NOT FIX REPLACE THE MOTOR I CALLED MAIN COMPANY EARLIER THIS YEAR. NOTHING WAS DONE.SMOKES AT START UP SMOKES OUT MY GARAGE . THEN CAR WAS SHIMMING WHEN DRIVING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON .
Showing 1–20 of 48 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026