691 of the 2,092 complaints about the Hyundai Santa Fe (33.0%) concern Engine, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 1.5× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.
691Complaints · Engine
33.0%Share of complaints
1.48×vs. all vehicles
213Last 12 months
3.5%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
213 Engine complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 145 in the 12 months before — up 47%.
24 of these reports (3.5%) describe a crash or fire, with 6 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 25V549000 (2025-08-26, model years 2025 and 2026).
I do not know what caused this. Here is what happened. While parking the car suddenly accelerated, over the curb, on the sidewalk narrowly missing the building because I turned hard right to avoid the building and I was able to brake to a stop glancing off a…
Engine · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11768895 · Crash
My fiancée’s Hyundai Santa Fe has been taken in for service multiple times due to a serious and recurring safety issue.
Engine · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11768909 · Crash
The vehicle came to a complete stop filling cabin with smoke and wouldnt start in a bend on road blocking entrance ramp. Its available for inspection but at dealership. My safety was put at risk for collision as well as health with cabin filling with smoke.
Engine · 2026-10-10 · ODI 11770334
Vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate, usually happens after vehicle has been sitting 10 hours or longer. Had back to dealership 4 times, 3 times dealer was unable to reproduce concern.
Engine · 2026-10-10 · ODI 11770365
My 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe is burning oil and I run the risk of engine failure. I have to check my oil level daily. The mechanic who performed my last oil change said he is seeing this frequently with this age Hyundai Santa Fe.
Engine · 2026-10-09 · ODI 11770237
The vehicle is experience severe, progressive engine oil consumption, completely depleting its engine oil below the safe operating limit ("Low" mark on the dipstick) every 500 miles.
Engine · 2026-10-09 · ODI 11770071
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:CRITICAL FASTENERS Campaign 25V549000 · 2025-08-26 · Model years: 2025, 2026
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER Campaign 22V197000 · 2022-03-28 · Model years: 2022
Summary: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Santa Fe and Santa Cruz vehicles. The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall 222.
Why modern engines burn oil, and what owner complaints revealDesign choices linked to oil consumption in recent engines, the warning signs owners describe, what counts as normal, and which tracked models currently have the highest engine share in their complaints.
