2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Engine Problems
- 130
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 130 stored complaint records:
- 5 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 7 indicate fire
What owners report
- engine light · 18 records
- lost power · 15 records
- check engine · 14 records
- power steering · 13 records
- without warning · 12 records
- shut down · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 50 |
| 100–150k mi | 33 |
| 60–100k mi | 27 |
| 30–60k mi | 11 |
| 150–400k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
I was driving 65 mph on the highway. I heard a clunk in the engine and my oil light and check engine light came on. The car lost all power and now i'm told i need a new engine. Car only has 108,000 miles on it.
ODI 11309321
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai santa fe. While driving 45 mph there was a loud knocking sound coming from the engine. Additionally, the vehicle decelerated without warning. The vehicle was towed to two independent mechanics who stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to coconut creek hyundai 4960 north, fl-7, coconut creek, fl 33073 [redacted] where it was diagnosed that metal…
ODI 11301108
Engine
Was driving on the highway and heard a loud knocking. Pulled off exit ramp and continued to find a safe place to pull over. After pulling over into a parking lot, the knocking in the engine was much worse. Called for a tow and was towed to a garage. The repair garage stated the motor had spun a main bearing. ( the oil filter was safed). After they did there work i decided to attempt to drive it to a dealer ship. On…
ODI 11270477
Engine
Driving ca i580 westbound, bright sunny day (2:45pm 9/24/19) in 2012 santa fe with 111k miles on it. Going highway speed, without warning (no knocking, no acceleration issues) the engine shut down: oil, battery and engine lights illuminated. Having no power steering, i muscled the car down the nearest off-ramp (coasting 3/4 mile, i was lucky to be in the far right lane). I had also owned a 2011 sonata that went thru…
ODI 11258229
Engine
I was driving down the interstate with cruise control set at 80 mph, when the engine started making a horrible sound. A sound as though it had no oil. I pulled off the interstate and had to have vehicle towed to the mechanic. I learned the engine blew a rod and needs to be replaced. 114,000 miles on it.
ODI 11256350
Engine
Tl* the contact called on behalf of her mother who owns a 2012 hyundai santa fe. While driving 55 mph, an abnormal noise was detected from the vehicle and the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.
ODI 11255819
Engine
I was driving on the interstate at speed when my 2012 santa fe began making a loud rattling sound and losing power. I was able to safely move to the shoulder and stop. The engine then stopped. I was towed to a local garage where a technician inspected the engine. It was found that one cylinder failed and filled up with oil causing a total engine failure. The engine has to be replaced. My vehicle has 101,000 miles on…
ODI 11255362
Engine
I was driving on the highway when the engine began to make a noise. It is an engine failure and has to be replaced.
ODI 11252288
Engine
Car had 79000 miles. When driving, motor started making ticking sound. I stopped the car and checked the oil. It was full. 2 miles later, the engine started knocking, no warning lights of any kind came on on the dash. Before i could park it off the road, a rod went through the block. The broke rod had a number 4 stamped on it.
ODI 11245110
Engine
While traveling home from vacation on i75s we heard a strange rattling sound and immediately lost all power. Had to coast to the left which put us in a very dangerous situation. Highway patrol had to stop traffic and we were able to get car to the right side. Barely. Was towed to the nearest chevy dealership because no one else was open. Was told i needed a new engine. I've owned this car for 2 years with no warning…
ODI 11229855
Engine
While driving straight at highway speed, the engine warning light came on and within 30 seconds the engine completely shut down. The vehicle lost all power and control so abruptly that i was not able to get it out of the traffic lane. After having it towed, two separate mechanics advised that the engine has seized due to lower engine failure, likely a defect in the oil sending unit. The vehicle has 116,000 miles,…
ODI 11251900
Body · Engine
Car engine completely died while on highway without any warnings i am chocked my car has been perfect until now my car barely passed 100,000 and both warranties expired also body pant is chipping off.
ODI 11218267
Engine
Drove the vehicle to an even with no issues. Parked in the event venue garage. Car ran perfectly up to this point. After the event as we where leaving the garage we heard knocking in the engine and had trouble accelerating. We thought we may have gotten a bad batch of gasoline as we filled the car up on our way to the event. We drove the vehicle home with very carefully and had the vehicle towed to the dealer the…
ODI 11219421
Engine
Bought the car with 139,000 miles on it. Had a clean car vin report. Drove it for 3 months with no issues. Slowed down on a dangerous 2 lane highway for a car turning left in front of me and suddenly couldn't accelerate and the engine lost all power, making a loud grinding noise. I was stuck with no steering, no power and no hazard lights half way off of the highway. Luckily a truck pulled in behind me for safety…
ODI 11228838
Engine
The vehicle was stationary in a private parking lot at a doctor's office. I tried many times to start the vehicle. The engine sounded like it would kick over but did not. I then heard a kind of whirring sound when attempting to start the engine and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I exited the vehicle and opened the hood. A significant amount of smoke was coming from the lower part of the engine. The smell…
ODI 11197233
Engine
Nhtsa representative, i am writing to inform the nhtsa that other hyundai's engines outside of hyundai's 2012 and 2013 engine recall are experiencing the same engine failure due to rod knock, which poses a severe safety risk and that hyundai is not helpful in any way when reporting this. Our vehicle which failed on us 40 in the smoky mountains is a 2012 hyundai santa fe vin # #[xxx]. On april 10th at 6 pm while…
ODI 11218097
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
My vehicle suddenly shut off while turning down a city street at slow speed. No safety/warning lights came on. I cranked it back up and it ran fine for a few weeks. It seems to run fine on open highway but at a stop or slower speed it will cut off leaving me in danger of a collision at busy intersections. With no warning again it did the same thing at a red light. I cannot drive my vehicle now because of the safety…
ODI 11194397
Engine
For the second time oil pressure switch has failed and needs to be replaced car only has 58456 miles on it another 420 bucks
ODI 11192593
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 hyundai santa fe. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle shut down without warning. The engine was restarted and the vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer in jackson, tn. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated there was no recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vin was unknown. The failure mileage was 100,000.
ODI 11190234
Engine
I had just merged onto the interstate i-90 at rush hour, at about 55-60 mph when the steering froze and the car totally stopped. Fortunately i was able to get the car into the breakdown lane and get out of traffic. The car was towed to the dealer where i purchased it & maintained it regularly. Their mechanics checked it out. I was told the problem was the bearing material went first, causing a seized crankshaft.…
ODI 11191341
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
2012 hyundai santa fe purchased at 89,000 miles from the dealer with clean carfac. Maintained with oil changes regularly, every 2-3k miles. No issues. Went to start the car 90 days after purchasing it and the engine failed, rumbled loudly and shut off. Engine lights came on. Mechanic told me it was tension timing chain & replaced it for $2,000. 2 months later (now) the same thing is happening, only now it's a loud…
ODI 11183562
Engine · Service Brakes · Steering
While driving the engine would decelerator then cut out. I can be on the highway going speed limits of 70 or on a side street going 30 or under. It even happened when i pulled out of my drive way and drove down my street (4 houses down) and got to my cul-de-sac and all power shut down. Neighbor had to stop to avoid hitting me because i was rolling and could not stop. All power to steering wheel and brakes would be…
Crash reported
ODI 11173180
Engine · Service Brakes · Steering
While driving on a busy street, i slowly turned a corner and suddenly lost my power steering and brakes and the engine stalled out. I immediately turned off the engine, sat briefly blocking the heavy traffic, after being slightly shaken in the incident, started it up again and proceeded to park and get lunch. After lunch, the car started up ok, i got on the road and shortly after, i noticed the engine light come on…
ODI 11183283
Engine · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
My vehicle is a 2012 hyundai santa fe with 131,000 miles. I was driving on the highway traveling about 65 mph and lost power steering, power breaks, and speed control. My car began to slow and would not accelerate and was difficult to steer. Fortunately i had enough power/speed still to get over into the breakdown lane. I was able to use my directionals and hazard lights once on the side of the road. I shut off the…
ODI 11164542
Engine
Motor started knocking while driving, took to shop and was told motor is no good. Needs to be replaced. Cost 6100.00
ODI 11160738