NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I purchased this vehicle less than a year ago from a dealership, used. I noticed the oil consumption after the first few months was unreasonably high. I have to keep a large jug of oil in my car and add the oil at least every two weeks or so depending on the miles I drive. I noticed other Hyundai owners complain of the same issue and some being resolved. However, my VIN is showing no open recalls at the moment.
Have had car for 8 months, just hit 70,000 miles and now need to replace my timing chain kit. Will cost 1,500 to 2,000 estimated.
I am not sure what is wrong with my Hyundai Santa Fe 2016 because it is at the dealer at this moment waiting for a diagnostic test. I started the vehicle and heard a revving-up noise. I went to the doctor and on my way back to the house I accelerated and heard a rattling sound and the oil light, the check engine light, and the battery light all came on. The car slowed down and when I tried to accelerate again there was no acceleration power. I drove the car as far as I could go, then it stopped in the middle of a road. Thank God I was in my subdivision. I had to ask a UPS truck driver to push it to the curb. It was towed to the dealer 12/26/2023. That was the earliest appointment because it was the Christmas Holiday weekend. this is my only form of transportation. I am so glad I was not on a main street. UNKNOWN because I am waiting for the diagnostic test results. I am requesting a manufacturer's warranty because I am under 100,000 miles. I did file a claim with my insurance but haven't heard from them as yet.
The company has stopped supporting their Bluelink function that is causing the screen to do a continuous search for a connection and remaining blank so the controls and cameras are not visible. The company has sent out patches for some models as the old service was on 2g and 3g which are discontinued but they are not sending an update for my vehicle. I have engaged the dealer and they say they've had numerous complaints on this matter with no fix available. This is an absolute safety hazard and needs to be addressed. Please help me; I am an [XXX] Veteran and should not have to buy a new car to be safe! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) Please help me; I am an 83 year old Veteran and should not have to buy a new car to be safe!
Engine seized while driving
Engine is consuming oil at an alarming rate. After 2000 miles, 3 quarts of oil was consumed
Engine threw a rod and damaged the whole engine. No warnings. Same exact issue my friends 2015 did. Her engine was replaced.
Engine threw a rod
Ever since I bought This 2016 hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0 Turbo from Advantage Hyundai, in Hicksville New York in December 2017, I have been having Battery problems, especially when the temperature falls below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The alarm goes off by itself, it does not matter what time of day, draining the battery in the process. I took it back to the dealership they held the car, while giving me a loaner. I have taken the car to them no less than 6 times each time they assured me that the battery problem was fixed, yet the problem continued. I spoke to their Headquarters in California. They gave me the run around until the warranty expired.I recently changed the battery and alternator and the problem continues.
The vehicle will not accelerate over 30mph. I was entering the interstate on ramp and am not able to accelerate to the speed limit. The cars approaching had to slow down significantly to avoid a rear end collision. This happens every time whether I am at a stop light on a normal roadway or entering the interstate. There are never any warning lights or sensors indicating that there is a problem. I have completed all of the recalls and system updates required by the manufacturer. I have completed the oil consumption and engine cleaning multiple times and it has not helped the issue.
Oil burns through engine Oil light doesn’t work when I need an oil change. So I’m having to put 4 quarts of oil in myself every week Need towing as I’m unable to drive because I don’t want to take a risk of engine blowing up
This is to update case 11541562, submitted electronically to NHTSA on 8/29/2023, 10:48:33 PM and 11537141, submitted electronically to NHTSA on 8/8/2023, 12:54:24 PM Napleton Hyundai of West Palm Beach and Hyundai Motor Services have repaired the Sanata Fe vehicle and replaced the engine along with some other repairs. At this time, we withdraw any complaints we had against Hyundai and Napleton Hyundai of West Palm Beach. The Service manager, Mike Clancy went above and beyond our expectations and we have no issues currently with the dealership. Mr. Clancy's service in the end turned out to be outstanding. The vehicle was returned to us and is currently in working condition, please close out these cases. Thank you for your time attention, and help with this matter.
The engine has been reported as failed. It is available for inspection. The safety of the persons in the vehicle and on the road around us were at risk, specifically with the loss of acceleration and power while driving in traffic and merging. Vehicle became unsafe for use for our family to use so we towed it to be evaluated at odometer reading of 97,181. What happened: Vehicle suddenly started making knocking noise. While driving the vehicle a sudden loss of acceleration and inability to accelerate. Engine started to shut off when it had been in park and then placed into gear. Towed vehicle to be assessed by a mechanic. When assessed at a mechanic, the problem was confirmed and it was also noted that oil had been consumed and noted to be loosing oil internally and has burn on dipstick. No oil spots noted in area where car had been parked or leaking oil on engine. Mechanic assessed that there was engine failure and the engine would need to be replaced. Mechanic also ran diagnostic testing and noted to only have active codes for the tire pressure monitor system of C1212 VSS. Diagnostic health report noted to have no issues. Readiness monitors completed with no issues. Diagnostic health report available. Transported vehicle to dealership, where it was inspected and engine issue was confirmed as well as identical health diagnostic report. It was reported that this model was not part of the recall and warranty extension because it is a V6 engine and not a 4 cylinder so manufacturer would not be replacing engine. Due to being the second owners of this vehicle, we do not meet criteria to utilize the 100k mile warranty. All of this has occurred with out an engine warning light turning on the dash or service code being found when computer was interrogated.
The vehicle had 67000 Aprox miles. The rack and pinion and the intermediate steering colum needed to be replaced. This was done before any accident.
We recently had the car to the local dealership for engine problems. It took over 3 months, but they finally determined that the camshaft was "bent" and they had to remove the engine to replace it, costing almost $5000. We had it back for about 3 months but didn't drive it much since my wife works remotely from home now. My son was driving it on the interstate and the engine threw a rod, spilling oil onto the exhaust, which caught on fire. He managed to pull over and get out of the car and by then another motorist had called 911. There was a firetruck at the exit he had just passed who showed up in just a few minutes and put the fire out before the fuel system caught on fire, thankfully. While I'm glad my son was uninjured, I'm still very upset by this, especially since they just worked on the engine. After some searching on the internet, I have found that this is a very common occurance for this vehicle (and other Hyundais) yet the company is not doing anything about it. I also read that there is a separate class action lawsuit for this particular engine (in addition to the one for the smaller 4 cylinder engines), but I'm afraid it will be settled too late to help us out.
The seat belt indicator on the console of a vehicle is illuminated the vehicle has not been any accidents or any problems other than that. I took it to the dealership and they stated it will take 2 to 3 weeks just a diagnostic this problem I think it should not be a problem.
Already reported Engine Failure on August 5, 2023. After 3 weeks, Dealer informs us the engine seized and is defective and was provided oil change records. Engine is approved for replacement under warranty, instead of getting a repaired car back, dealer calls and now informs the car rides "rough" after the engine replacement, and the Knock Sensor is faulty, MAP Sensor is faulty, and Fuel Pump needs to be replaced. We question why none of this showed up on the original inspection and diagnostic, no answer to that. Knock Sensor obviously never worked because the engine seized without any warning, and despite having warranty on the knock sensor we are told none of these items are under warranty. The car never exhibited any symptoms related to fuel pump issues, or knock or MAP sensor issues. When we were driving on August 5th, the car lost power and engine died without any prior warnings that anything was wrong. We never had any rough "ride", never had any problem with fuel or starting the car, the check engine light never came on to warn of any issues at all. If the parts are all bad, either it is related to the engine failure or they are defective. No Sensors worked or gave us any warning. We fear the car will fail again, and it is unknown if Hyundai will cover repairs. We asked for written statement for repairs and received nothing from the dealer, we asked that repairs be submitted to Hyundai to have cost covered and we have had no confirmation if it has been submitted. The car broke down 3+ hours from our home, we can't even go to the dealer to discuss in person. Limited to unanswered calls, voicemail, and emails - no responses insufficient communication. All we want is the car to be repaired properly and Hyundai should cover cost of repairs considering the massive failure we experienced without warning while driving with our children in the car, we could have all died and no well maintained car should fail in every aspect after only 8 years.
On August 11, the car suddenly lost power/acceleration & the dashboard lit up with engine, battery, and oil lights. I coasted down the hill to our home without any power. On Monday, it started again without lights, but we called the dealer & were told it would be 4.5 weeks before they could see us & there was nothing they could do without lights on the dash. So we took it to a nearby service center. They performed an oil change & compression check & deemed everything fine. The car drove mostly fine, with an intermittent pause/hiccup at stoplights. August 26, at highway speed, the car shuddered loudly, & the engine light flashed. As I coasted to the shoulder, there was a POP sound. I parked, turned off the car, & inspected the tires. The rear passenger tire had a 3-in gash but didn't deflate. I tried turning on the car again & it just ground & jerked with the flashing engine light. I called AAA & towed it to the dealership, where it's waiting to be inspected. This is a Theta II engine & received the KSDS software recall update in 2019. My child was in the car with me. I wonder if the KSDS gave the first warning on Aug. 11 but failed to stay on to pass on the data to the service center.
On Tuesday, August15, 2023 while driving my daughter to graduate school in Tallahassee Florida from Buffalo New York, my 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport with approximately 84,000 miles abruptly lost accelleration on Interstate 20 in Augusta Georgia. I was fortunate that I was able to safely exit the highway without being struck by other vehicles driving at high speeds during the morning rush hour. I was able to locate and drive my vehicle to the Taylor Hyundai dealership a mile up the road at 3233 Washington Road in Augusta. Upon my arrival the service advisor asked if my car has ever has a bearing clearance test, it had not. I am thankful that they were able to squeeze me into their schedule and they were able to perform said test which my vehicle failed. I was then advised that my car would need a new engine and that the request would be sent to the Hyundai corporate office for approval. Hyundai would not provide a rental vehicle until the process is approved which I was told could take up to 12 days. I was then advised that Hyundai would reimburse me for a rental that I would have to arrange on my own. One week later, I reached out to the advisor and she has not heard anything from Hyundia corporate. I am hoping that I will not be stuck with a massive rental bill and that my car will be fixed and delivered to my daughter in Florida.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure had reoccurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
I was driving home from work, no warning lights flashed. My car abruptly stopped and my engine started misfiring and making loud noises. After the experience the engine light started to illuminate.
Vehicle is at 106,000 miles. Coming to a stoplight the vehicle completely shut down. Upon inspection seeing the drive belt was missing. Vehicle will not turn over, battery is fully charged no other issues. Check engine light is now flashing AFTER it shut down NOT before like NHTSA recommends..
please merge this additional information with Complaint Number: 11537141, submitted electronically to NHTSA on 8/8/2023, 12:54:24 PM earlier today. Napleton Hyundai of West Palm Beach finally confirmed moments ago that the engine on the 2016 Santa Fe is defective and did seize causing us to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in the engine shutting down and fail while we were driving with our family on the turnpike on 8/5/2023. We already submitted the requested documentation to the service department to show that we have maintained the vehicle and completed regular oil charges. We are now awaiting approval from Hyundai corporate to allow the dealer to repair the defective engine under warranty/per the class action. It is shocking to us that we have now had this experience with two separate Hyundai vehicles. We purchased the Santa Fe brand new and expect it to last. Our lives, the lives of our children were completely put at risk - and it is a miracle that there was no accident, no injuries, and no one died. We suffered stranded on the side of the road waiting for a tow for two hours while the vehicle reached 100 degrees with no safe place to seek refuge while tractor trailers and other cars passed us at high rates of speed; hoping that no one would hit our car and that we would survive. We hope that Hyundai will approve and complete the repairs quickly. At this time we are without a vehicle and were informed that Hyundai also has to approve a loaner or rental while the repairs are completed, we ask that Hyundai does so immediately. It is hard to believe that we had to have a near death experience for the defective engine to be addressed. At this point, we just ask that Hyundai please make the repairs quickly and grant us a loaner vehicle in the meantime.
8/5/23 was driving on turnpike when 2016 Santa Fe lost complete power without warning. Was barely able to pull over to the side of the road and the car completely died. Was in the car with 3 small children all under the age of 7 and stuck for over 2 hours waiting for a tow no air conditioning and no safe place to wait on the side of the turnpike with barely enough shoulder space for the car. Had car towed to Napleton Hyundai in West Palm Beach. We have unfortunately had this happen before on our Hyundai Sonata, similar circumstances car lost all power while driving and would not restart. The Sonata turned out to have defective engine and was replaced at a different dealership under the class action, but we have had zero communication from Napleton Hyundai regarding the Santa Fe. We have provided everything that the dealer has requested, and not received any response from Napleton. We were told if the engine seized, engine is covered up to 150K miles and they are aware of the Santa Fe defect. But, we are stranded hours from home without a car and no one at the service department has called us back or informed us what are the next steps despite repeated requests from us to find out what is going on with the Santa Fe.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact’s wife then drove back to the residence, and the contact added oil to the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Hyundai Campaign Number: 966; however, the dealer informed the contact that the campaign had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
After a recent oil change and while driving from Utah to Wyoming, the engine began sputtering and seemed to be on the verge of seizing. Fortunately, we could make it to a gas station and check the oil. The oil was so low it did not measure on the dipstick. This occurred less than 1,000 miles since the last oil change. I subsequently learned that my sister, who also owns a 2016 Santa Fe, had a similar problem, but her engine completely seized while on the freeway. The local dealership acknowledged this was a problem and managed to replace her engine at no charge. We have been unable to get our local dealership in Colorado to make such an acknowledgment. My son uses the car now for college. His local dealership in Grand Junction told him that all we can do is have them perform an oil change, drive the car, and come and see them when the engine seizes before it's due for another oil change. The implication was that they were aware of the problem, but couldn't apply for an engine replacement unless the engine had seized. This seems wrong and unsafe. My son is currently having to add oil every three weeks.
Passenger Side Front and Driver's Side Back Seatbelt latches fail to latch.
I was driving my 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and first noticed that when I stepped on the gas pedal, the car hesitated and then finally kicked in and would accelerate. I was approximately 60 miles from home when the engine totally failed. Luckily I was not on an interstate or I could have been in a severe accident and injured or died. I had the car towed to a Hyundai dealership, who determined it was a complete engine failure and the car needed a new engine. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms to indicate a problem.
The engine completely gave out all of a sudden on the highway while coming home from vacation. We were stranded on the highway and had to have someone come help my husband push the car off highway to the nearest convenience store. The car would not take a jump so we paid $427 to have it towed from Bay St. Louis, MS to Kenner, LA to our reputable mechanic to find out the problem. Per our mechanic the engine has completely gone out. This car is not even 10 years old, is well maintained, gets regular oil changes and only has about 87 or 88K miles on it. It has not been inspected by anyone other than our mechanic. There were no warning signs at all on the car prior to this or when it killed and died. Completely killed. We have called Corporate Hyundai office and they gave me a case number of [XXX] and said I would have to deal with the Hyundai of Metairie location and it would be 3 weeks before they could even inspect the vehicle after I incurred another towing charge. I did call the Service Dept. and left a message for Mr. David Porter to call me but he has not called back. I cannot believe a car does not last more than 10 years and at least $125,000 miles. Therefore, I would like to report a problem so this does not happen to anyone else and recoup some of my expense costs as my car is valued at like $13,500 if it was running and only a 1,000 if not running. A refurbished engine is anywhere from a $3500 to $4800 plus the cost of a warranty and labor. I have read there were some engine complaints on Hyundai and there is a pending investigation. Mechanics name David Mills, 627 Oxley Street, Kenner LA.504-466-8776. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
-my engine seized. It has been inspected and they agreed it was due to the known faulty engine. -my engine failed in the middle of the highway endangering my family and anyone else on the road. -the dealership confirmed that this is a recurring problem in my vehicle and has been inspected. -the engine light nor the oil light came on to alert me that was engine was out of oil. Yes I did have an up to date oil change. No other symptoms were present to indicate I had no oil left. Hyundai has refused to replace my engine or help me at all as I did not get a software update. I was never aware of this update nor had any correspondence via mail, email, or phone to tell me that I needed to get it. This update also does not stop your car from engine failure it just helps alert you that it will fail soon.
On the morning of June 26, I dropped my daughter off at camp. Not far from the house, the engine light begins blinking with no warning. I pull over to look under the hood; there was no smoke and the oil level and color looked ok. I was able to get back home but on the way began to lose acceleration. This would have been much worse if I was on the highway traveling at a higher speed as opposed to a residential area. Later, I was able to tow it to an independent service center who said the code for repair is P1326 for a knock sensor. In the mechanic’s research of the code, he said this is an issue for a Hyundai certified mechanic. I too did some research and saw all the Hyundai owners with the exact same issue. I called all the Hyundai auto shops in my area and none of them have appointments just to look at the car until the end of July. Now I am stuck with an immobile car that I just purchased in January and was told I’m not entitled to a loaner or rental because the vehicle isn’t being repaired yet.
My 2016 Santa Fe engine spun a rod bearing at 130,900 miles. Took to dealership and they diagnosed it and refused any warranty.
The car was being driven by our daughter south on Interstate 75 in Florida when the engine seized. It just froze. All power was lost while in the middle lane. Our daughter had to glide into the shoulder using only the momentum of the vehicle and carefully avoid traffic. The car was towed to our local mechanic who found nothing wrong with the battery, starter, alternator or oil. The oil was in fact checked prior to the trip that day. I called our local Hyundai dealer who stated that this was a "known problem". He also added that the engine would probably have to be replaced and he had "10 cars in front of mine that needed engine replacements." We are still waiting for Hyundai Corporate to agree to the repair. The vehicle only has 47,000 miles on it and has the balance of the drive train warranty. We are without a car and are currently renting a vehicle so that we can have transportation. I have no idea why this vehicle and others like it have not been recalled. This is an extremely dangerous problem with these cars. The driver, our daughter , could have been in a dangerous accident.
Accelerated after stop sign and felt like the vehicle hit a pole. Stuck in 4th gear.
Car lost power/pressure will not accelerate and has an engine knock
While driving my Santa Fe sport I have an issue with loss of power when accelerating. I was getting on the freeway and attempting to merge with freeway traffic. When I was pressing the gas to accelerate the car the RPM's rose but my speed would not. I had to pull off as my vehicle could not get up to speed. It has happened twice now and only when trying to get on the freeway. No warning lamps. It is terrifying and dangerous. My Santa Fe engine was replaced around 84,000 for the failed engine issue it has about 134,000 (50,000 on new engine) now. I am concerned that this engine is possibly defective as well. My MPG has declined and now this issue.
I was driving my 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe to my morning job, & noticed a slight trembling of the vehicle initially. Upon approaching a stop sign at a 2 way stop, I noticed that my brakes were not fully engaging so I pumped them a couple times. Immediately my car started accelerating on its own faster and faster until my brakes were not stopping the car at all even with my foot pushing the brake pedal down as far as possible. My foot wasn’t on the accelerator at all. I noticed a pickup truck about to cross the intersection for which I needed to stop. Because I had no control over the car to get it to stop, I slammed the car into park, & it finally stopped just before my car crossed through the intersection. If I had not done that I would’ve been hit directly on my drivers side door by a truck going at least 55 mph. The car revved really high for several seconds after putting the car in park. I drove 10 mph to my work destination, & experienced exactly the same symptoms when I was pulling into my parking spot. As soon as I started braking to come to a stop to park, the car immediately started to accelerate again beyond my control & the ability to engage my brakes, even with my brakes pushed down as far as they would go. Again I slammed the car into park, otherwise my car would’ve run through the side of a barn & a horse stall with a horse and the barn owner inside. I checked to make sure nothing was impeding the movement of my accelerator and braking pedals, and nothing was. No warning lights came on at any time. I am very concerned as I am reading multiple reports of almost identical incidents for other Hyundai Santa Fe owners of a variety of years, & because this issue can’t be reproduced, there is no recall, and no code comes up, owners are not being given a solution or any type of support by Hyundai dealers or the manufacturer itself. I absolutely do not feel safe driving my car for my own safety & the safety of those on the road with me. I was almost killed today.
I left my house and vehicle was perfectly fine. NEVER any warning lights since I owned the vehicle. It was not due for an oil change. I was traveling about 60 mph and after about 5 miles, vehicle just stopped running. At that point, I looked at dash and all the lights were on and vehicle was completely unresponsive. No steering, brakes, nothing. I was able to drift off of road and that was it. Tried one time to restart it and nothing. Had it towed to hyundai dealer and first they said it was the starter and today, after being there for a month, they said engine had seized.
I posted when this happened but didn't know what it was. On 5/16/23, I was driving on highway going about 60 mph when my vehicle completely shut off with no warning. I lost all control except I could steer a little. Thank God, I was able to get off the road safely. I had no brakes and had to drift to a stop. It never started again. I had my granddaughter with me. I'm 62 years old and I've been driving since I was 16 and this is the most dangerous thing that has ever happened while driving. Please do something about these vehicles! I know people have had to have lost lives from this.
EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSOMPTION AND THE BRAKE LIGHTBULL KEEP BURNING FREQUENTLY.
As I was driving home from work at night on May 4, my engine suddenly started making noises, then the engine light started flashing and the engine stopped working and I had to coast to the side of the road. I had to get it towed back to my residence late at night. I had an independent mechanic verify the catastrophic engine failure. To date the vehicle has not been repaired due to the high cost and unavailable replacement engines.
This is an ongoing SAFETY ISSUE. We purchased this 2016 Hyundai SantaFe Sport used in July 07, 2022 with 98493 miles on speedometer. 30 days give or take after purchasing I checked the oil and no oil was showing on the dip stick even though the dealer we purchased the car from had changed the oil prior to selling the car. I had to add 3 1/2 quarts of oil to show on the dip stick to the first mark. I then started checking oil frequently and to date am using oil at a rate of approx. 1 quart of oil every 256 miles. On 1/19/2023 I went to my local Hyundai dealer (Jenkins Hyundai) in Bridgeport WV and informed them of the problem. The Service Writer checked the car and offered to run an Oil Consumption Survey for 1,200 to verify oil usages. On 2/23/2023 I checked the oil and found it just touching the dip stick, notified the Dealer and they said to being it in so they could add the oil during the Test. Dealership added 2.06 quarts of oil and INFORMED ME THAT HYUNDAI DENIED PA REQUEST GIVEN THAT THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. Hyundai dealer would not continue with the oil test as Hyundai Corporate wouldn't pay for labor and parts. As reported in social media, TV news, newsprint, etc. Hyundai and Kia have millions of engines with oil consumption safety issues that are catching fire, blowing engines, stranding owner/drivers in the middle of the highway, and the list goes on. The trade-in and resale value of Hyundai/Kia vehicles has diminished/reduced in value to................ I and millions of HYUNDAI/KIA owners/drivers are asking for the NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADM. (NHTSA) to please investigate and issue a RECALL for all HYUNDAI/KIA products with an oil consumption problem. Thank You.
2016 Sante fe and this is not the first engine I seen go back I seen 2011 ,2012 ….. and this one 2016 happen to me. Had oil oil change done have record of it but no sign engine just blow
Car began to misfire. Took it to the dealership and found that it didn't have any oil in it even I just had the oil changed less than 2,000 miles before. The timing was out and the valves were bent causing the misfiring. All of this is because it was burning oil without any indication or warning. This engine has less than 100,000 miles and Hyundai won't claim this on warranty even though they have a 100,000 mile warranty on there vehicles.
The engine in the vehicle is a DGI engine which Hyundai has had problems with in other vehicles. The bearings on the engine are damaged and the engine is failing. It can no longer be driven because the engine could fail as it is being driven.
On July 26, 2021, I purchased a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe SE. I purchased the vehicle with 90,168 miles on it, a current inspection, and a 3,000 bumper-to-bumper warranty. It has a 6 cylinder 3.3L engine. Since then, I’ve put 38,266 miles on it, and it’s ran without a problem. I’ve done all preventative maintenance, made my oil changes mostly around when needed in accordance with mechanics, and overall maintained the car as per recommended. On March 25, 2023, I was driving to work, and I felt a sudden loss of acceleration. I heard a knocking that I hadn’t heard before, yet no lights came on. No check engine light, no oil pressure light. My dashboard was not indicative of any problem. I ended up getting it towed to my personal mechanic, who was able to tell me that although the engine hasn’t seized up yet, it was surely not far from it. I was also informed that it was nearly empty. Now, I’ve had oil changes before and at no point has any mechanic, including those at my Hyundai dealership ever told me that I was short on oil. I had no puddles anywhere, at home or at work. I’ve had no smoke emissions from the vehicle to indicate that it was burning oil. To this day…I don’t know where 5 quarts of oil went out of my engine in two weeks. It is my belief that the only way this amount of oil could just vanish out of thin air is a glaring engine defect leading to near-catastrophic engine failure.
Engine oil consumption is outrageous. I am having to add oil every 200-300 miles. Just had an oil change in march and have had to add oil twice. There is a recall on the 2013-2015 models for the Santa Fe and 2011-2019 for the Santa Fe sport but the 2016 model that I have is not included in this recall. The recall is specifically for engine oil consumption issues which is exactly what I am having but Hyundai wont issue a recall for the 2016 model unless it is the sport. Very frustrated and potentially going to have to spend thousands of dollars for a new motor since mine is starting to have issues related to excessive oil consumption.
While driving the car experienced a catastrophic engine failure as well as loss of steering and brakes. Was able to get to the side of the road without injury. This could have resulted in injury or loss of life if the drivetrain would have locked up. The vehicle is at the dealer now, after a 250-mile tow. The dealer said that they have eight cars at their dealership with the same blown engine issue. No warning lights came on prior to the incident.
2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is using excessive oil. Three days after getting a fresh oil change, I have to add oil to my vehicle. It continually has a fire burning smell. I've taken to a certified Hyundai facility; however, I'm always turned around and told you'll have to replace your engine soon.
In three separate occasions this month, my car has cut off on me on a major highway. Also one of those times when this happened I almost got into a car accident.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026