2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

Rear subframe suddenly collapsed and broke due to extreme corrosion. Incident occurred while driving, allowing rear wheel to turn out causing loss of control. Luckily I was traveling at a low rate of speed and nobody was hurt. Found rear subframe was completely rotten out and collapsed on the driver side. Vehicle is now completely undrivable and has to be towed. Found that there was a recall/service program from Hyundai (campaign #947) and my vehicle was affected. I called my local dealership to schedule an inspection appointment regarding the recall. Dealership told me I had to call Hyundai customer care. I called customer care on Tuesday and my claim was escalated. The representative told me that I would be contacted by Hyundai within two days. I have not received any correspondence from the case manager. Called Hyundai Customer Care once more and the representative told me that they can't contact claims representatives directly and I would have to wait until they decide to call me.

The engine rod broke creating a big whole in the engine which caused the engine and underneath of car to start on fire. There was a massive recall for this same issue in 2021-2023 for the year car! It is available for inspection! Yes safety was at risk, the car was on fire on the Highway in the middle of rush hour. The problem was confirmed by Progressive and I contact Hyundai. The car was inspected by the police and insurance company. No lights, messages and the car was running fine before the fire!

My 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe caught fire on October 29, 2025. Prior to this, the dealership completed one recall but left another open. Hyundai denied my claim and refused to provide the inspection report. I am filing this complaint because I believe the incomplete recall may be related and I want NHTSA to review the issue.

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud banging sound, and there was smoke coming from underneath the hood and through the A/C vents, which blocked the visibility of the roadway. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that a significant amount of oil was leaking from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The dealer was contacted about the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to tow the vehicle to the dealer for repair, and a case was filed. The manufacturer informed the contact that the repair could not be covered under the recall due to the vehicle having a Branded Title; however, the contact stated that the Branded Title was issued because the vehicle had sustained cosmetic damage from hailstone impact. The failure mileage was 133,000.

Engine light was blinking. Hearing grinding from the front. Steering locked up. I was able to pull over safely. Called tow truck. The mechanic diagnosed it said it needed a new engine. The car has 106,000 miles on it.

The carrier bearing failed and caused the engine to lock up while driving, thankfully we weren't on a busy road and were able to coast off the road. There was no prior light that appeared. We are just thankful it wasn't our 16 year old, newly licensed driver for whom we purchased the vehicle, driving. It has not been looked over by the dealership yet as they have failed to return any phone calls. I have made 4 calls in the last two weeks that have gone unanswered. To which one person i spoke with (not the one i needed to speak with) said 'your should go get your money back'.

My engine stalls while driving. Now engine is knocking real loud. Then stall again. My safety and others drivers safety because my engine stalls could cause a crash, wreck. Mechanic listened to engine, said engine is knocking and stalling, this is a safety issue. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, or others. No warning lights, symptoms, Monday December 30, 2024.

NHTSA Recall #20V746000 2012 Hyundai Sonata Manufacture Recall #198 Connecting Rod Bearing failure leading to possible road side fire. Possible risk of injury or death. Hyundai has been contacted twice about recall. Claim they have no responsibility to comply with recall. They closed the dealership where the car was purchased new. They offer two other dealers that are located in other cities. One requires driving a distance of over 200 miles. The other requires round trip ferry travel. Mileage would still be approximately 150 miles plus ferry expense plus fuel expense and possible an over night lodging at $150 to $200 per night and one to two day obligation. It is a total lie that Hyundai will correct their negligence at no cost to the owner. Their first representative informed me that all transportation cost were the owners responsibility. Regardless of the apparent negligence and obvious risk to the public safety, the company apparently disregarded an engine flush after maching as a cost saving practice. I believe every qualified machinest would know that metal chips left over from this process could not left in a finished motor. Just stupid but might have saved a few dollars. I'm a [XXX] man with [XXX] and [XXX] that make sitting for hours impossible. There is no one willing or able to spend this time commitment no money laying around for this expense. Hyundai knows that. Very fast to say "Not my PROBLEM. Car has very low mileage. Engine check light is on. Hyundai will not guarantee if the car is safe or even able to be driven that far. The solution is very simple....... The local deal handles many different auto brands. I'm sure the Hyundai qualified mechanics are still employed. Knowing this, Hyundai refuses to allow local people to install this device that does not correct the problem. Just lets the driver know it's serious. Another cost saving decision due I'm sure because they don't want to pay. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

In November 2024, my car engine failed. I came out of a store, turned key, all the dash lights lit up, and loud clanging but unable to drive. Car towed several times and told by 2-3 places the engine was “out” and there was a Hyundai recall aon 2012 Santa Fe. A Hyundai dealer had my vehicle, contacted Hyundai and was told it “wasn’t in recall.” Had to pay repair entirely myself on disability income. The vehicle subsequent to this had electrical problems and the car shut off while driving countless times, even highway doing 65-70. Paid for alternator twice and new battery, two battery jump boxes, and car continues to have severe electrical issues and highly unsafe to drive. I am broke and facing losing the car altogether and suffered lack of housing for 2 months and inability to pay my bills. All invoices are not included with this complaint.

My engine caught on fire in the middle of the night ([XXX] on [XXX]). The fire department was called by my building’s security and they came to put out the fire. The security footage shows that the car engine caught on fire for no apparent reason. The fire department did not identify any foul play or vandalism nor did the security camera footage. Unfortunately since my car has been paid off, I only had liability coverage and could not get the coverage to assess. I had to junk the car. No one was hurt but there was broken glass and some parts around the parking lot due to fire and fire department having to shatter and pry open the engine bay. Please advise if someone can help me in my situation. Also this should be made aware to Hyundai. There was a recall but I was never notified. Nor does any recall history show up for this. See article: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was contacted by Auffenberg Hyundai in OFallon IL in October of 2024 to schedule recall work. On 10/23/24, the car was dropped off in working condition to the dealership for that recall (engine software update). The day after the vehicle was returned, the check engine light came on and the vehicle went into "limp mode". I returned it to the dealership 10/24/24. They changed the knock sensor and I picked it back up on [XXX]. On the same date, the check engine light came on and vehicle went back into "limp mode". Car was returned to dealership 10/28/24, due to the issue being after hours and on a weekend. They tested it and reset software. I did not get vehicle back until 1/3/25. On [XXX], the check engine light came on again and vehicle went into "limp mode". Car was returned to the dealership and now it is 3/17/25 and I still have no resolution. The vehicle is unsafe to drive because in "limp mode" you cannot go above a certain RPM level. Pulling out into traffic is dangerous when your vehicle just will not accelerate. If this were to happen on the interstate, then it could be catastrophic. The dealership has been able to reproduce this issue, but offers no fix as they state that they are being limited by corporate Hyundai. A corporate claim was made but Hyundai is unwilling to fix an issue they caused. In essence, the recall broke my vehicle and corporate Hyundai has decided to do nothing. Note: All records for repairs and dealership/corporate communications are with Auffenberg Hyundai, 1050 Berg Blvd, Ofallon IL 62269; phone 618-622-9001; contact is John Koch. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I have complained about this previously to recall, and it's doing it again. My engine shut off while driving its happened on the Fred harrman bridge twice now. All the dashboard lights come on and the engine shuts off I had to put it in neutral and restart it. It very dangerous and scarey experience. Also one of my passerger head light doesn't come on sometimes and the back driver side tail light. I can get out and hit it then it will come on. I have been pulled over by the police for it once before I told them it works just hit it. He did told me to get that fixed and gave me a warning. I can't afford to eletbeledtrical done little alone an engine please help. Call should have the first report as well.

I took my 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe into the dealership on March 7, 2024. The engine had failed due to the failure of the connecting rod bearing that is under recall. On April, 6th 2024 I was called that my car was ready. As I got into the car there was a coffee cup, a water bottle, and a long nose plier left in my vehicle. Then I noticed that the tire pressure warning light was on. I went back to the service department, and they went to refill the air. Note the paperwork shows that it had already been done. I got the car back and proceeded to leave, I traveled about two blocks before turning around. The right front turn light was out, and the car made a vibrating noise, and didn't have the same feel as before I had the engine problem, they took it back in to look at the vehicle again. They fixed the turn light. Told me the problem with the TPMS was the batteries inside it. As for the vibration and poor handling I was told the vehicle needed new motor mounts, and said they would fix it for three thousand dollars. Looking up the part numbers of these motor mounts, they are labeled as engine mounts, the engine is what was replaced. None of these problems existed before I brought my car in. The last item on the paperwork was that of a multipoint inspection. If they had inspected my vehicle, these problems would have been found before returning my car to me. I don't feel safe driving my car.

Purchased this used 2012 Santa Fe directly from Hyundai last January (2023) We have had to continually fill it up with oil. Two months ago, driving to work and the car stops accelerating and felt like the “power was going out”. I was on a busy highway early in the morning when it died on me. Took it to a nearby mechanic and it threw engine failure pins. There was no oil so we added more oil and it drives but will not exceed 50 mph and goes out at any given time.

My 2012 Santa Fe check engine light came on a few weeks ago and put the car into engine protection mode. This car is less than 15 years old, has under 150,000 miles, has had reasonable upkeep. I am only the second owner. I was able to check the code myself and did so. It was P1326, which in a Hyundai vehicle means that there's a problem with the connecting rod bearings and it needs to be taken to the Hyundai dealership while in limp mode. I did so and they replaced the knock sensor, cleared the code, and sent me on my way. The check engine light came back less than a week later, same issue. The dealership told me that at this stage the Hyundai tech repair line suggests replacing the engine at an enormous cost. However, because my car can pass the BCT (bearing clearance test) Hyundai will not pay for the replacement of the engine because it cannot be said that the connecting rod bearings are the issue. When I asked why I needed to replace the engine, the service advisor was unable to explain which part of my engine was broken and just that it all needed to be replaced or the car would continue to show code P1326 and go into engine protection mode, rendering it unusable. This has been incredibly unsettling for me as a recently separated mother of two. I have been without my vehicle and without income for weeks while trying to contact Hyundai. They are claiming this repair has nothing to do with the THETA II engine recall out for my model year. All advisors have been pressuring me to purchase a new vehicle, but I do believe the reason I cannot use my vehicle is because of the THETA II engine defects and the P1326 code that will continue to render my car unusable. This code when cleared without fixing the problem, has caused my car to go into engine protection mode (unable to accelerate past 2,000rpm) on the freeway, which was dangerous for myself and other drivers on the road as well as terrifying.

coincidentally after 11-months after a software update for that knock sensor now I do have a problem with that knock sensor by having to be replaced. Total cost of repair: $643.90 (Vehicle broke down, my SUV went into limp mode meaning loss of power/acceleration, I needed a tow. The engine malfunction indicator light in the dashboard was blinking on & off.)

Per the mandated law in September of 2001 all vehicles sold in the United States are required to have a trunk release on the inside. The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe does not. The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe small SUV are very known for the lights to go out due to condensation in the tail lights. So needless to say it was built poorly as an owner like myself has to constantly change the tail lights or be rear-ended because I have NO brake lights. To me this is a serious issue. One that Hyundai has failed to correct. However, I recently took my vehicle in to be serviced and to have the tails lights changed. The dealership Lithia Hyundai of Alaska informed me they could not do them because I had to much water in the tail light cover and that they couldn't get into the trunk due to my junction box having failure. Well I suggested they fix the light cover and change the bulbs so I wouldn't get hit from the back. Service advise there was NO way to open the trunk from the inside. That I had to pay 5000.00 to fix one part to be able to open the trunk. I advised that was illegal per NHTSA and they stated they never heard of that. I would like to make this complaint because even though I cannot get one thing fix I should still be able to get my trunk open from the inside, to fix my brake light bulbs.

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. No warning light was illuminated. The contact looked in the rear-view mirror and became aware that the spare tire had detached from the vehicle. The contact was able to drive to the dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed due to a diagnostic fee being charged. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,250.

Brake lights keep failing. Have replaced wiring harness, bulbs and brake switch twice now. Super unsafe to not have brake lights on your vehical

Vehicle would not go in park only drive and neutral.