The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly lost power and decelerated to 30 MPH. While in heavy traffic, the contact pulled over to the side of the road, waited for the battery to charge, and drove to the dealer at a slow speed. The dealer inspected the vehicle and associated the failure with low ethanol and heavy contaminants in the fuel. The fuel pump was replaced, and a fuel injector service was performed, but 30 days later the failure reoccurred. The high-pressure fuel pump and the high-pressure fuel pump sensor were replaced and repaired. The contact stated that several days after the repair, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the same dealer, and the contact was informed of a catalytic converter failure caused by the contaminated fuel. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 14,362.
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid check engine light comes on
27 of the 286 owner complaints about the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid describe check engine light, most of them for the 2025 model year.
- owner complaints
- 27
- worst model year
- 2025
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
own a 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SEL, VIN [XXX], purchased new. On XXX with only 345 miles on the odometer, the vehicle began making a very loud chainsaw-like noise while I was driving in [XXX] at low speed at the same time, the check engine light and a red hybrid system warning light appeared on the instrument cluster. I stopped driving the vehicle immediately because I was concerned about safety and further damage. The vehicle was towed to Jenkins Hyundai in [XXX], on XXX. Because the vehicle could not be driven, I paid about $150 for a rideshare home to [XXX]. On XXX the dealership told me its shop foreman had confirmed the hybrid starter generator must be replaced, and that the repair would be covered by the factory warranty. The dealer said the grinding noise was consistent with this fault. The vehicle was out of service from [XXX to still in the shop. I have photos of the warning lights and odometer, the tow and rideshare receipts, and the dealership's written diagnosis. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving at freeway speeds in normal traffic conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden, complete loss of motive power and rapid deceleration. The accelerator pedal became entirely unresponsive. No warning messages, check engine lights, or diagnostic indicators appeared on the dashboard during or immediately after the failure leaving me blind to the vehicle's state. This loss of propulsion on a high-speed live freeway created an immediate, extreme safety hazard, forcing an emergency maneuver across active lanes of traffic without predictable vehicle control. Component or System: Engine / Powertrain / Fuel System (High-Pressure Fuel Pump / Fuel Rail Sensor) Recurring / Prior History: This is a severe, recurring safety defect. The exact same highway power loss and deceleration event occurred last month. The vehicle was brought to an authorized Hyundai dealership where a repair was allegedly completed on 9/11/2026. However, that repair failed to address the root cause, and the dangerous failure has now repeated itself. The lack of a dashboard warning light masks a systemic component failure (strongly suspected to be the high-pressure fuel pump or associated pressure sensors failing to maintain adequate rail pressure under load
On September 28, 2026 our 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe would not accelerate while in the drive, while driving. My husband tried to accelerate and while pushing the gas pedal, it would not accelerate. On the screen it told him to pull over, and charge hybrid battery. He pulled off, let the car charge, and all indicators seemed find to drive again. Upon starting to drive again after 10mins of letting it sit and charge, and driving 15mins, the car again would not accelerate, and gave indicators to charge the battery. The vehicle was towed to the nearest Hyundai dealership. At this dealership, they replaced the Throttle Body System (TPS) and 12-v battery which they indicated was drained. Upon asking about the hybrid battery, we were told that those tests or indicators did not flag while running the assessments on our vehicle. Our car was out of service until 10/8. We received the car with a new TPS and brand new 12-v battery. The vehicle was driving, starting, and charging fine for 4 days, until the acceleration once again became an issue. On 10/13, I was driving the car and it would not accelerate, and the check engine light was on. I pulled over, turned off the car, turned the car back on--at this point the car was able to accelerate however still had a check engine light on. Approximately 10mins of driving, the car once again would not accelerate. I tried the same process, called the dealership, and drove the vehicle to the Hyundai dealership in that area. While driving the vehicle on the interstate, the same acceleration problem occurred. YES--multiple people including children have been in danger/safety put at risk due to this. The dealership/mechanic forman was able to drive the car while I was inside, and noted the same acceleration issues on 10/13. Our 12-v battery dying has been a constant and consistent issue since 4/2026, however this is the first time we have experiences loss of acceleration, leaving at time myself, husband, children stranded.
The vehicle has a recurring intermittent failure that can leave it completely undriveable. When starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster displays “Check Hybrid System,” “Check Emergency Stopping function,” the check-engine light, and multiple warning indicators. The vehicle remains in Park and will not shift into Drive. This has happened multiple times. Disconnecting and reconnecting the 12-volt battery temporarily restores operation, but the problem later returns. After a reset, the check-engine light may remain illuminated for approximately one day before disappearing. During the most recent occurrence, the vehicle became disabled at approximately 8:00 PM in a retail parking lot while my family, including two young children, was with me. The vehicle would not move. We had to leave the vehicle and walk in the rain to obtain tools so the 12-volt battery could be disconnected and reconnected in order to get the vehicle operating again. The problem was reported in writing to a Hyundai dealership before an August 10, 2026 service appointment, including a request to retrieve and document stored and history diagnostic trouble codes. The condition remains unresolved and continues to recur. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Separately, this vehicle also has an unrepaired Safety Recall 288 involving the rearview camera. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer for recall service, but the recall remains incomplete because the dealer stated the required part was unavailable.
The vehicle repeatedly loses motive power while being driven at highway speed. It slows even with the accelerator pressed to the floor, does not shift into higher gears, and drops to 40 to 50 mph. On [XXX], the vehicle lost power at highway speed while I was driving. I had to stop on the shoulder of the hwy. The vehicle could not be driven and was towed to the dealer. The dealer opened R.O. No. [XXX] on 9-3, recording mileage in of 23,595. It inspected the vehicle and confirmed the concern. It replaced the fuel rail pressure sensor (Part No. 35342-2M400) under warranty, confirmed a good idle with no codes, and performed a test drive of about three miles. The dealer reported the vehicle ready on 9-15-26; mileage out 23,596. On [XXX], within a few miles of picking up the vehicle after the first repair, the malfunction indicator lamp illuminated. We returned the vehicle to the dealer the same day; the dealer recorded the mileage in as 23,602. The MyHyundai app shows active Diagnostic Trouble Code P00BD00 (Mass or Volume Air Flow "A" Circuit Range/Performance — Air Flow Too High), powertrain system, recorded at 23,600 miles, with a listed date of [XXX]. The dealer returned the vehicle on [XXX]. On [XXX], four days after the 2nd repair, we brought the vehicle back to the dealer. We reported that it was idling high, at about 1,200 to 1,900 RPM while stopped, and that we had heard a low clicking sound since the repair. The dealer did not keep the vehicle. The next morning, [XXX], about 7 miles from home, the vehicle lost power on a bridge on [XXX]. It slowed to about 50 miles per hour and did not appear to shift. I stopped on the bridge with my [XXX] daughter in the car. VDOT responded. My husband and I switched cars. [XXX] then drove the vehicle. After about two miles it again lost power, and he had to leave the highway and use secondary roads at low speed to get to the dealer. The car is currently at the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The car suddenly loses acceleration; the engine still runs and revs to ~3,000 RPM. The car can't drive over 35mph; no check engine light at all. The dealer said a high-pressure fuel pump caused it and replaced it under warranty; after 3 days, the same problem happened again. This is extremely dangerous if the vehicle is on a highway and suddenly loses acceleration. This could be fatal for the driver and other vehicles around it.
While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power on the highway and would not accelerate beyond approximately 20 mph despite accelerator input. There were no warning lights or check-engine light. The condition created a safety hazard because the vehicle could not maintain normal traffic speed. Hyundai dealer has been unable to determine the cause on other vehicles with the same problem, and was trying to discourage me from reporting this. They also said that they'd keep the car for 3 days, and likely return it with no diagnosis, so do I really want to go through this? They seemed unconcerned that this is a very dangerous issue in a highway.
My vehicle randomly slows it self down while driving. I would be pressing the gas and the car would voluntarily slow down on its own with no warning. This problem can lead to plenty of accidents due to me or any other driver around me being unaware when my vehicle will brake on its own. The problem has been confirmed by Hyundai Patterson of Tyler, Texas and they have worked on my car twice to fix the issue and it still hasn't been fixed. The issue started about a month ago and when the incidents would occur in the beginning their would be no warning lights on my vehicle’s dash. As of recently there maybe a check engine light that will pop up when the incident occurs. It's a hit or miss.
The vehicle has gone into limp mode multiple times with no check engine indication displayed, causing significant safety issues in that the sudden loss of power occurred while traveling on the interstate highway. Each time, by loosing power and trying to get to the side of the road to safety was terrifying and very unsafe to us and the cars/trucks around us. The issue began on 11/5/24 and continues up through 11/12/26. Videos of vehicle performance are available upon request since they are unable to be uploaded via this form. The vehicle has been towed to three different Hyundai service departments. No diagnostic codes show up, nor have they been able to duplicate the issue. We have provided videos of the display screen and the performance of the vehicle while in limp mode. We have been told by Hyundai Service that unless a code shows up in the diagnostics, there is nothing they can do for us. At this point, since most of our driving is on the interstate, we are afraid to drive the vehicle for fear of a serious accident occurring when it loses power.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid check engine light
Why does the check engine light come on in the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid?
Owners who report it most often also describe sudden loss of power, stuck in gear or won't shift and fuel pump failure.
Which Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid years have check engine light problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2025 (10 complaints), 2023 (7 complaints) and 2021 (4 complaints).
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history