2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: engine failure

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · FL · fire

There was a low noise when I got in the vehicle in the morning. I looked at the engine and it was coming from the abs system. I took it to the mechanic shop and the noise was even louder, the abs part on the passenger side of the firewall in the engine blew up and catch fire. Luckily they were able to put the fire down right away. I’m glad that didn’t happen while driving or while in the driveway of our house were there’s more vehicles parked. There was an Abs light on the dashboard due to an abs sensor for the rear right wheel.

Filed Sep 28, 2026 · Engine · FL

1. 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Theta 2 Engine Failure It was available for inspection upon request at local dealer and service After engine failedXXX abruptly while driving, it was towed to the service for inspection. 2. The Theta 2 engine in countless 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe models has been a safety risk for all citizens on the roads. This has been an unannounced recall failure due to manufacture shards of metal found within the engine, causing vehicle damage and failure. My car stopped abruptly on the road. I have maintained it through due oil changes and service. 3. The independent dealership that serviced my vehicle has verbally recognized that Theta 2 engines are a safety risk, after my family and I did research to expose underlying cause of engine failure. 4. It has been inspected by Allen Turner Hyundai in [XXX]. No known national manufacturers have been present or documented in case. 5. No, abrupt stop while driving along with burning smells and smoke coming from hood of vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Engine · 120,577 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started to lose power while depressing the accelerator pedal, with black smoke coming from the engine compartment. The oil, check engine, and battery warning lights were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and discovered black smoke coming from under the hood. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the engine was replaced. Two weeks after the replacement, the starter failed to operate as needed, and the vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic, where the starter was replaced. Upon investigation, the mechanic discovered the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); and associated the vehicle with the recall. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,577.

Filed Jul 3, 2026 · Engine · CO

On March 20, 2026, while driving, my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (VIN: [XXX]) equipped with a Theta II 2.4L GDI engine, the car experienced a catastrophic, sudden loss of motive power. The engine suffered a total mechanical failure/seizure, creating an immediate highway safety hazard. This vehicle is part of the "In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II" settlement population due to known factory manufacturing defects where residual metal debris blocks oil flow to the connecting rod bearings. Hyundai Corporate has issued a blanket refusal to honor the lifetime safety warranty extension, using an unverified allegation of "outside influence" to avoid executing the mandatory engine replacement protocols required under the federal safety agency Campaign T3G. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 23, 2026 · Engine · NY

The engine failed completely and is currently available for inspection at my residence. While traveling on a family vacation at highway speeds, the engine suffered a catastrophic connecting-rod bearing failure and seized. This caused an immediate loss of motive power, braking assistance, and steering control, nearly resulting in a fatal multi-car collision with my child in the vehicle. Warning lights illuminated on the dashboard during the failure as a sudden metallic knocking sound occurred and the engine died. The vehicle became completely disabled and had to be limped off the highway and towed. The VIN has a completed Campaign 953 from September 2019 qualifying it for the Lifetime Warranty Extension under the Theta II settlement.

Filed Dec 23, 2025 · Engine · 167,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and blinked intermittently. The contact stopped at a gas station. The contact filled up the fuel tank and checked the coolant reservoir. When the contact restarted the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH without shaking or vibrating. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The engine coils or the starter sensor and the O2 sensors were replaced before the independent mechanic informed the contact that the engine had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the engine had failed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was under a service warranty and the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. However, the manufacturer refused to replace the engine and offered the contact monetary compensation. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

Filed Dec 19, 2025 · Engine · CA

Engine seized while driving. Recall-covered failure mode. Hyundai denial despite recall. Screenshots showed recall with VIN for engine recall and suddenly removed by Hyundai next day.

Filed Nov 4, 2025 · Engine · KY

I purchased this vehicle in November 2022. Hyundai and all affiliates were well aware of the engine recall. I was NEVER informed of the recall, if I was, logically I never would have purchased it. This is fraud by Toyota South in Richmond Kentucky. 6 months or so after purchasing, I began noticing the oil loss, without any oil on the ground where I park the vehicle. I researched and found the recall. I fought with the dealership and Hyundai corporate for 4 months before they said they would replace the engine with a new engine, I was told this early November 2023. I received my car back on 11/24/23. I was told the new engine came with a 12,000(?) mile warranty. I am still looking for this paperwork and will have it available soon. Fast forward to September 2025, as I am driving on I75N to Lexington from Berea, my car shudders and a smoke cloud larger than my vehicle appears behind my car. I check my oil and I am down 2 quarts, which I thought was odd considering I had checked it 2-3 weeks prior to this. I checked it in another week, and it is down 2 quarts again!! There is still no leakage, no oil on the ground, immediately I knew it was another recalled engine. Which is beyond comprehension, why would Hyundai replace a recalled engine, with a recalled engine?? So I go to the dealership and am told I have to do the 3 stage consumption test, drive 1000 miles or be down 1.5 quarts and come back. I was back within 2 days, I drove 150(?) miles and was down 1.5 quarts. The dealership and Hyundai determined the oil consumption issue is present, meaning its a recalled engine. Through phone calls with Hyundai I was told it is also remanufactured, but if you recall, I was told it was a NEW engine. Fraud #2. They refuse to fix it. This is the only vehicle in my household, and my means for income. Hyundai is costing me the right to live, the right to work. They are despicable, awful people to work with. The constant threat of fire is very stressful!!

Filed Sep 26, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · WI · fire

What happened: While driving in Montana on September 21, 2025, the cabin suddenly filled with gasoline fumes and the accelerator pedal stopped responding. After pulling over, flames erupted from under the hood and the vehicle was completely destroyed within minutes. The passenger-side door could not be opened from the inside at first, delaying escape and creating a serious safety risk. No warning lights or messages appeared before or during the fire. (1) While driving, gasoline suddenly filled the cabin and the accelerator pedal stopped responding. Within seconds, the vehicle caught fire. The cause appears related to the fuel system, and possibly the ABS module. The vehicle was completely destroyed but remains available for inspection in a private tow lot. (2) The fire spread extremely quickly. Both occupants were nearly trapped inside when the passenger-side door would not open from the inside, delaying escape. The vehicle burned on the shoulder of a busy highway in Montana, posing danger to us and to surrounding motorists. (3) Not after this fire, but a similar problem occurred in 2023 when gasoline filled the cabin and caused the engine to stall. At that time, Hyundai replaced the engine under warranty. (4) No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. It is secured in a private tow lot and is available for inspection. (5) No. There were no warnings at all before or during the failure. Even as gasoline filled the cabin and the vehicle caught fire, the check engine light stayed off and no alerts appeared. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 10, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · OH

Owner: [XXX] VIN: [XXX] Vehicle: 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport My daughter purchased this vehicle in April 2025 from a licensed Chrysler dealership. On [XXX], the engine suddenly seized while driving, without warning, and would not restart. This VIN was part of Recall 17V‑226 (Hyundai Campaign 162). Dealer records show the recall was closed with inspection only (“engine inspection, oil, dipstick”), not an engine replacement. The failure matches the defect description of the recall (bearing wear from restricted oil flow). Hyundai is refusing to repair it, claiming sludge and “maintenance neglect,” despite my daughter only owning it for 5 months and having an oil change at Hyundai in May 2025. This engine failure proves the prior “inspection” remedy was ineffective. Hyundai is also denying coverage under the lifetime warranty extension (TXXI), which explicitly applies to subsequent owners for bearing failures. This is a serious safety issue. My daughter lost power in traffic, and the vehicle is still unrepaired. This complaint is being submitted on behalf of the registered owner, [XXX] , by her mother [XXX] , who is the primary contact. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 5, 2025 · Engine · CA

While driving on a steep, narrow grade with no safe shoulder, my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport suddenly lost all forward power. The engine would rev but the vehicle would not accelerate. I was left stranded in traffic, with cars behind me and nowhere safe to pull off, creating an immediate risk of being rear-ended or rolling back into other vehicles. I had to call for a tow to avoid a serious crash. The vehicle was marked as having all recall campaigns completed, including the rod bearing inspection and knock sensor update, which were supposed to protect against catastrophic engine failure. Clearly, those campaigns were not sufficient to prevent the failure I experienced. At the time of failure, the vehicle displayed the check engine light and drivability symptoms consistent with abnormal combustion and potential bearing damage. Hyundai denied lifetime warranty coverage under the Theta II engine settlement without performing the required inspection. Instead, I was left with an estimate for engine-related repairs that exceeded the value of the vehicle, effectively rendering it a total loss. This failure is exactly what Hyundai’s recall notices describe as a risk: sudden engine failure, loss of motive power, and increased risk of crash. The fact that this happened to my vehicle despite “completed” recall campaigns raises serious concerns about whether the defect remains unresolved and whether Hyundai is adequately honoring its recall and settlement obligations. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate whether Hyundai is improperly denying warranty coverage without inspection and whether vehicles that were marked as repaired under these recalls are still at risk of catastrophic engine failure, stalling, and loss of motive power on public roads. The settlement administrator also works for Hyundai is just referring customers back to Hyundai Customer Care. They are not honoring this CLASS ACTION lawsuit and acting in BAD faith and putting lives at risk.

Filed Aug 12, 2025 · Engine · AL

My 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport suffered a blown head gasket that required me to pay $9,000 for a full engine replacement. Hyundai is aware of ongoing problems with their 2.0 turbo motors, but the recall only covers the rod bearing failure/knock sensor issue. Many owners, including myself, are experiencing blown head gaskets, and several believe this failure is directly related to the same underlying engine defect. This is not an isolated case—numerous complaints online and in owner forums describe the same problem. Despite the high repair cost and known engine vulnerabilities, Hyundai refuses assistance because my vehicle is outside the mileage limit, even though the defect is widely reported and appears to be a design/manufacturing issue, not normal wear and tear. I believe the federal safety agency should investigate whether the head gasket failures in these 2.0 turbo engines are linked to the same defect that prompted Hyundai’s engine recalls, as it presents significant safety risks (engine overheating, sudden power loss, potential for fire). In 2018, the Center for Auto Safety formally petitioned the federal safety agency to investigate 2011–2014 Hyundai Santa Fe models (among others) due to a high number of non-collision fire complaints, including reports of melted wires, smoke, and burning odors in the engine bay . While this isn’t directly about head gasket failures, it underscores a pattern of serious safety-related issues affecting that generation of Santa Fe vehicles.