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ProblemsByVin Index / 2014-HYUNDAI-SANTA-FE / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe owner complaints

491 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle . Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

engine 8 complaints shown

211 total in this category · severe · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
12/27/2020 90,000 mi ODI #11385128.0

Was stopped at a red light, and when the light turned green and stepped on the gas, the car moved initially and then stopped accelerating. It sputtered along, slowly accelerating a little bit at a time. This happened for the rest of the ride home. The engine light also was flashing this entire time.

12/23/2021 ODI #11444861.0

Driving vehicle on Interstate at 65 mph. With no warning, dashboard lights, or anything, engine just shut down. Heard banging when trying to restart, shut car off. Checked oil, not a drop in engine. Dealer says engine "threw a rod", says it will be $15,000 to replace. Hyundai said they'll pay $7,500 and want me to pay $7,500. After doing some research, I see that this is a recurring problem on this vehicle. I feel that Hyundai should replace engine since this has happened to a lot of these cars according to the many forums about Hyundai. Any help would be appreciated.

12/23/2019 113,456 mi ODI #11290792.0

I was driving on the highway, after picking up my grandchildren from school (about 15 miles away), and started to speed up so I could pass a semi truck and my SUV just went completely dead without warning. My accelerator stopped working and I lost power completely. It was a frightening experience, as I looked into the review mirror the semi truck was barrelling down upon us and I couldn't get the SUV started back up. As my car was slowing down, I quickly put my emergency lights on and the semi truck had to swerve around us, blaring his horn. Thank goodness, no one was coming towards us in oncoming traffic, or this would have been a horrible accident. My car slowed down and I managed to pull off the shoulder, I tried starting it but it puttered and went out. I had no warning lights on -on m

12/22/2023 ODI #11561524.0

On Monday, October 23rd at 5:30 pm my 2014 Santa Fe engine stalled without any warning. I was driving home during rush hour traffic when it slowed down and seized in the middle of five lanes. As cars flew beside me, I quickly realized that there was no where for me to safely get out of my vehicle. Where I was located on the freeway is one of the busiest and most dangerous areas to drive. Unfortunately, I was located on a slight bend of the freeway where oncoming traffic could not see me until the very last minute. This barely left enough time for them to safely move over. Many cars had to quickly swerve to either lane beside me to avoid crashing in to me. This was happening at very rapid speeds. While drivers were swerving to not hit me at the very last minute, there was barely enough tim

12/21/2018 78,000 mi ODI #11162950.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Hyundai santa fe. While driving 65 MPH, the contact heard a knocking and pinging noise. The contact pulled over, turned off the vehicle, restarted it, and the noises continued while driving 65 MPH. The vehicle lost power and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to rockland Hyundai (55 ny-303, west nyack, ny 10994, (845) 402-8623) where metal shavings were found in the oil pan. The dealer stated that there was no recall, but were reviewing all maintenance records to see if they would repair the vehicle via the current warranty. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 78,000.

12/18/2024 ODI #11631370.0

Crack was found in oil pan during regular maintenance. The engine was replaced by Hyundai and now has around 60,000 miles on it. At my expense, the oil plan was replaced.

12/17/2021 ODI #11444174.0

Car has been taking care of and routinely serviced. One day it was sluggish and two days later the engine light came on. Immediately took to mechanic who said engine oil was black (routine and timely oil changes). Changed oil and new spark plugs. Car was not any better. Took to dealership who said engine is 5 degrees off and needs a new engine for 15k!!! Car only has 112k miles on it and is in perfect condition. Took it to another mechanic and he stated the pin was broken in the camshaft causing the degree timing issue. This seems to be a recurring issue with this car and is unacceptable to pay that much for a car, take good care of it, and have the engine die and be quoted 15k to repair.

12/15/2019 78,000 mi ODI #11289148.0

Car completely shut off while driving on road. Was maki g loud ticki g noise. Had it diagnosed. Was told the engine is no good. Destroyed engine. Is this under recall

electrical 6 complaints shown

38 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/30/2021 ODI #11445629.0

One day Im driving to work and out of the blue, my car stereo stopped working, it turns on but no sound comes out of it. Tried replacing amplifier, speakers etc, nothing worked. After that, my car wouldn't start several times a month, had to jump start it frequently for about 4-5 months. Eventually it became if I didn't turn on my car atleast once a day, it would die and need to be jumped. So Ive been jumping my car almost every 2-3 days for the past month & 1/2.. Changed the battery multiple times. Took it to different mechanics and dealers, NOBODY knew what the issue was. Apparently something is draining my battery and no one knows how to figure it out!

12/23/2019 60,000 mi ODI #11290855.0

Our vehicle had the turbo fail . After replacing the turbo, the engine died upon test drive. They replaced the engine and gave us the vehicle back. The next day it would not crank. Dealership jumped the vehicle off. The next day it would not start again . This time they had to tow it . It has been in and out of the dealership for 4 months and towed 3 times . Each time the vehicle would not crank with 48hrs of getting the car returned to us. They blames security system, key fob, brake switch , grounding, and now the starter. Each time they stated it was fixed and then we had the issue happen again . I filed a safety concern with Hyundai but they refused to address our concern. They said they were told by palmer's Hyundai that the vehicle was fine. I explained I was concerned of my families

12/21/2020 ODI #11384399.0

It was indicated by a letter from Hyundai motor america that the brake system on this car can possibly react to a electrical short in the anti-lock brake system, causing a fire within the engine compartment. Therefore a recall was initiated, but a solution for repair, for the past 4 months, is not yet available. It is my opinion that a car with this condition is not safe to drive and therefore Hyundai should furnish a loner car for the period it takes to make a safety repair or replace the car. The consumer referenced recall 21v-303. The consumer inquired about the purpose of the recall.

12/21/2020 78,000 mi ODI #11384469.0

I purchased my 2014 santa fe sport from Ford motor sales located@10700 Ford road dearborn,michigan in october 2020. After a week of driving it back and forth to work,it started not accelerating and I kept smelling like something was burning in it. I took it back and forth to the dealership for this same issue now the engine is knocking and the oil wont stay in it either,after its been changed too. Im heartbroken and its christmas and I have no transportation at all to get to work for me and my family. I'm a frontline worker for the covid-19 team here in michigan at the be well medical center for biotech laboratories and can lose my job if I dont get this fix immediately. This recall explains alot thats why my poor truck is dying. Please help

12/14/2020 16,635 mi ODI #11383430.0

Battery only five months old and something is bringing the battery down. Alternator has been checked as well as several other things including the battery. Nothing can be found that could bringing the battery down. Vehicle hadn't been started in 24 hours when this happened twice

12/13/2019 53,000 mi ODI #11288799.0

I just bought this vehicle two weeks ago and I purchased the carfax to find out that the liftgate has electrical promblems. The display behind the steering wheel keeps indicating that the liftgate is open, but I can see that it's closed.

other 2 complaints shown

12/28/2021 ODI #11445296.0

We drove the vehicle to the mountains and home around three thousand miles into an oil change and began experiencing our transmission slipping and shifting rough. My wife drove the car to work after returning from the trip and on the way home, the check oil light came on. When I checked it, there was no oil showing on the dip stick and a small burnt but at the very end. It took 5 quarts of oil to get it back to full. After doing the oil consumption test through Hyundai, they are telling me the transmission is not covered. We are waiting for the response from Hyundai in an engine replacement but I’m very concerned about the drivability with the transmission issues.

12/19/2014 1,252 mi ODI #10667379.0

I pulled up on the handle to adjust the driver's seat back. When I raised the lever, it broke off in my hand and the seat back went flying backward. Had this happened in traffic, I probably would have been injured/killed in a collision, as I was no longer secured by the seat belt and unable to see outside the vehicle (seat laid completely back). *tr

powertrain 2 complaints shown

35 total in this category · severe · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/22/2020 118,000 mi ODI #11384586.0

All wheel drive system does not engage. Was told by Hyundai service team that this is a recurring problem in the santa fe and a very expensive fix. I myself have seen hundreds of people with this issue on various forums. Car only has 123,000 miles as of 12/21/2020

12/20/2020 85,000 mi ODI #11384274.0

There is a significant leap or jerk when it shifts from 1st to 2nd gear. Seems to happen when the car is cold. I have taken it to the local Hyundai dealership that claimed it didn't do it when they drove it. After picking it up from them, the car ran beautifully for about two weeks. They don't claim to have done anything but from I can find out about this problem is that they reset the computer but it doesn't fix anything. This is a safety hazard. The car jerks violently when starting off at a stop light and jerks violently when it comes to a stop as downshifts. I have been able to make it stop when I put it in park, turn off the engine and then turn it back on. Seems to reset the computer and it's ok for a week. I believe Hyundai does know about this problem with the santa fe and the elan

body 1 complaint shown

12 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $1,500 · see body cluster analysis →
12/23/2019 ODI #11290898.0

Rear driver side door doesn't open from inside or outside of the vehicle. Based on everything I have been reading seems to be a common problem.

brakes 1 complaint shown

44 total in this category · severe · avg repair $450 · see brakes cluster analysis →
12/14/2020 ODI #11383734.0

Hyundai santa fe. Consumer writes in regards to anti-lock brake system safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time completing the recall repair. *js.

Showing 300 of 491 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Hyundai/Santa Fe#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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