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moderate Owners of the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe have filed 508 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 80,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Santa Fe | 208 |
| 2014 Santa Fe | 212 |
| 2015 Santa Fe | 130 |
| 2016 Santa Fe | 134 |
| 2017 Santa Fe (this page) | 508 |
| 2018 Santa Fe | 42 |
| 2019 Santa Fe | 42 |
| 2020 Santa Fe | 50 |
| 2021 Santa Fe | 15 |
Of the 508 engine complaints filed for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Of the 21 model years of Hyundai Santa Fe we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 508.
Engine accounts for 54% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. This service procedure describes to inspect the engine and perform the proper repair based on the results of the inspection. Utilize the flowcharts as a guide to ensure the proper procedure and repair is performed. The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement related to engine noise or damage has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first. Warranty coverage is valid for original and subsequent owners.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect the engine and perform the proper repair based on the results of the inspection. Utilize the flowcharts as a guide to ensure the proper procedure and repair is performed. The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement related to engine noise or damage has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first. Warranty coverage is valid for original and subsequent owners.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 26-EM-002H describes the procedure to inspect the engine and perform the proper repair based on the results of the inspection. Utilize the flowcharts as a guide to ensure the proper procedure and repair is performed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The warranty coverage of certain engines for repairs and replacement has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles (15years or 240,000km) from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first, and is valid for original and subsequent owners in Puerto Rico.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain Santa Fe / Santa Fe XL (NC) vehicles equipped with 3.3L Lambda II GDI engines may exhibit abnormal engine noise or damage. The vehicle will be repaired based on the results of the engine inspection. Hyundai is extending warranty coverage for the engine under this condition to 15 years/150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first. Warranty coverage is valid for original and subsequent owners.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners describe a pattern of defects that Hyundai has not adequately remedied. The most common complaint is excessive oil consumption—vehicles burn 1 to 5+ quarts per 1,000 miles with no visible leaks and no warning lights until the engine is nearly dry. One owner reported adding 2 to 5 quarts weekly at an independent shop; another discovered the dipstick completely dry 500 miles after a repair. Even when dealers conduct oil consumption tests, many deny coverage, claiming the consumption rate falls just barely within their threshold or that the vehicle is a second owner.
Rod bearing failure and engine seizure are catastrophic outcomes. Owners report loud knocking, then sudden loss of power on highways. One engine at 117,000 miles failed with only 1 quart of oil; another seized at 100,000+ miles despite regular maintenance. Multiple owners say they heard no warning sounds before the engine simply quit, forcing them to coast off busy freeways. Hyundai technicians have told owners these failures are "a very well known issue" with these engines, yet coverage is denied based on mileage, ownership history, or lack of prior software updates.
Burned exhaust valves also occur, often attributed to carbon buildup in the GDI fuel system. Dealership diagnostics have been incomplete—one owner was told a full engine replacement was needed without a bearing clearance test being performed first. Valve failures are often denied under Hyundai's class-action settlement because the settlement specifically targets rod bearings, not valves.
Owners consistently report no warning lights or sensors alerting them to danger. Hyundai representatives have admitted there is no low-oil warning sensor on these engines. This silence makes the sudden failures especially hazardous, as drivers have no way to know an engine is about to fail until power is lost on the road.
Same Hyundai Santa Fe engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Engine burns or loses oil rapidly between oil changes, often 1–5+ quarts per 1,000 miles, with no visible external leaks. Owners report checking oil frequently and adding quarts within weeks of oil service. No warning lights alert the driver to low oil until the oil is nearly gone or completely depleted.
When: Reported from roughly 30,000 to 100,000+ miles; some owners experienced it from early ownership, others after 60,000+ miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops 1–5 quarts per 1,000 miles between scheduled oil changes; No visible oil leaks under vehicle or on driveway; No check engine light or low-oil warning light until oil is critically low or engine damage occurs; Difficulty accelerating, limp mode, or engine hesitation when oil is depleted; Oil on spark plugs and carbon/soot buildup in exhaust
Codes mentioned: P0021, P1326, Low fuel flow, Crankshaft advance error
Repairs/costs cited: Oil consumption tests conducted by dealers (typically over 1,000 miles); valve cover gasket replacement (often ineffective); PCV valve replacement; combustion chamber cleaning ($700 typical cost, 20% success rate per owner reports); full engine replacement ($5,000–$21,000) when internal wear is confirmed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai Theta Engine Settlement (covers Theta II engines at 10 years/120,000 miles for rod-bearing defects); TSB 21-01-002H, TSB 24-EM-007H for extending coverage; 'Goodwill' denial in many cases; some owners directed to submit claims through dealerships; many claims denied due to lack of warranty, second-owner status, or mileage over 100k; dealers reportedly told to conduct additional tests before any authorization.
Internal bearing surfaces wear or fail, causing metal-to-metal contact, knocking, and eventual catastrophic engine seizure. Owners report a loud knocking or clunking sound, sometimes followed by immediate loss of power and oil starvation.
When: 100,000–150,000+ miles in most cases; some failures occur earlier (57,000 to 90,000 miles reported).
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking or clunking sound from engine under acceleration or load; Engine seizure (will not turn over, starter clicks only); Loss of power and acceleration, or sudden stalling; No warning lights prior to failure in many cases; Metal pieces or shavings found in oil pan or under vehicle after failure
Codes mentioned: P1326 (excessive connecting rod bearing wear), Bearing clearance test failure
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement ($6,000–$21,000+) required; short-block or long-block replacement under recalls in some cases; independent inspectors note rods exiting engine block, creating holes in the bottom; turbocharger replacement ($2,754 reported in one case) for secondary damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai Theta II Engine Settlement covers certain vehicles; recall 17V-578000 for 2017 Santa Fe 3.3L with crankshaft surface irregularities; recall 22V-056000 for brake issues; TSB 21-01-002H, TSB 24-EM-003H extend coverage for bearing failures to 10 years/120,000 miles for some owners; many claims denied if vehicle not original owner or exceeds mileage; some denials cite lack of prior software installation (Campaign 953) even though software was supposedly applied.
Intake or exhaust valves burn out, lose compression, or fail to seat properly. Often attributed to carbon buildup from GDI fuel system design or oil consumption causing coating on valve surfaces.
When: 86,000–103,000+ miles reported.
Symptoms owners cite: No compression in one or more cylinders (confirmed by compression test or borescope); Engine runs erratically, jerking, or hesitating; Black smoke from under hood; Check engine light; loss of power; Spark plugs burned and singed black; oil coating on spark plug tips
Codes mentioned: Low compression; Master Cylinder #2 loss of compression
Repairs/costs cited: Valve assembly rebuild ($4,600+) or full engine replacement ($6,000–$8,000+); some owners cite incomplete diagnostics by dealers (no bearing clearance test performed before recommending replacement); combustion chamber cleaning attempted but often ineffective.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action settlement (In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation) covers rod bearing failures but not all valve failures; burned valves denied in some cases as outside settlement scope; Hyundai National Consumer Affairs denies goodwill requests citing GDI carbon buildup as maintenance/design issue, not defect.
Engine seizes abruptly when oil level drops to zero or nearly zero. Despite regular oil changes, oil consumption outpaces detection and no warning systems alert the driver until the engine fails catastrophically.
When: Various mileages from 57,000 to 150,000 miles; often occurs within months of owner noticing excessive oil consumption.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine will not turn over, starter engages but engine locked; Clicking sound only when attempting to start; No warning lights prior to seizure; Dipstick shows zero oil; Vehicle loses power on highway, forcing coasting to shoulder
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replaced ($6,000–$21,000+); oil pan removal costs $600+ for extended warranty inspection; owners report having to choose between paying inspection fees or using pre-owned engines with short warranties ($7,920 for 1-year warranty).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty claims often denied due to second-owner status or mileage over 100k; Hyundai representatives state no low-oil warning sensor exists; some owners directed to file 'goodwill' claims which are subsequently denied; extended warranty (Assurance) may deny coverage if original warranty expired.
Timing chain breaks or tensioner fails, preventing proper valve timing and causing loss of compression and engine damage.
When: 130,000 miles reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power when accelerating; Check engine light and loud clanking sounds; Low oil warning alongside timing failure
Codes mentioned: P0021
Repairs/costs cited: Timing chain/tensioner replacement quoted at $4,363.20; owners note timing chains should last longer and failure at 130k miles is premature.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership initially stated not directly related to engine recall warranty extension; Hyundai requested closer inspection of timing parts; owners report claim submitted for Hyundai approval.
Vehicle hesitates or fails to respond when accelerator is pressed, particularly during turns or low-speed maneuvers. May resolve after releasing and reapplying throttle.
When: Present from early ownership (reported as early as December 2017 in one vehicle); recurring over several months.
Symptoms owners cite: No throttle response when accelerator is pressed; Vehicle lurches or hesitates when attempting to accelerate from stop or turn; Requires multiple attempts to get throttle response; No warning lights associated
Repairs/costs cited: Hyundai dealers dismissed complaints as non-existent even though owners reported consistent behavior; no repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers stated the lag does not actually exist despite owner complaints.
Hyundai issued recalls for potential engine fires in some 2017 Santa Fe models; however, owners report delays in scheduling service and risk of fire while waiting for parts and service appointments.
When: Recalls issued in 2023; owners report 3-month delays between recall notice and service availability.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on after delivery from dealership; Fire risk identified by Hyundai in recall notice (antilock/traction control module)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse or control module replacement under recall; one owner reported fire risk warning, then learned check engine light was actually due to separate leak issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 22V-056000 (brakes); owners report 3-month delay between recall notice and service appointment availability.
Synthesized from 508 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
The car stop running in the middle of the highway. Was taken to the dealership and they sled us to pay close to 700 for an inspection. Since then I have been part of numerous groups that report similar issues with certain types of engines.
Engine failed due to excessive oil consumption while driving. Safety was put at risk due to poor build leading to failure while driving. It has been inspected by the manufacturer and was determined it needed to be replaced entirely. Low engine oil light came on, replaced oil, then shortly after failed while driving, after codes disappeared.
Engine failed at 62k miles without any warnings lights or indication of an problem. The engine knocked and seized, creating incredibly unsafe driving conditions with ZERO indications from the car other than hearing the engine noise. The Hyundai dealer confirmed I need a new engine due to the knock, and it is not covered by any warranty as I am not the original owner and the warranty expired last…
Excessive build up of sludge, even with proper maintenance.
Auto was being driven and upon getting to destination knocking/tapping sounds where heard coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights notification or issues prior.
The vehicle lost power and started making a knocking noise from the engine. The vehicle would not accelerate at all, then quickly increase in RPMs and throttle forward. The knocking sound increased in intensity and volume. The RPM's continued to jump as did the power and acceleration. No check engine lights ever showed. After about a year of owning the vehicle we noticed it was burning through…
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. There was no warning light illuminated. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,500.
Check engine light came on Oil Light came on then the vehicle shut off while I was driving. Safety was not good as I was driving the vehicle. I then had it towed to a shop to have it looked at. That is when I was told I would need a new motor due to a Crankshaft failure. The check engine light had come on the night before but when turning the vehicle on the next morning to take it to get looked…
2017 Santa Fe with 115k miles had its last oil change in June. It still has another 4k before it is due again. The motor started making strange noises. I checked the oil and had to add 4 quarts! Engine started knocking bad. Left me and my family stranded 2 hours from home. I had oil issues previously before my warranty went out. Hyundai is refusing to address the oil consumption issue and…
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 508 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Across the 72 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 46,000 and 102,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 102,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.