2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Feb 20, 2026 · Engine · CA · fire

The engine on my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe sport was deemed defective according to Downey Hyundai. They ran a diagnostic test on it and it failed the test. They offered to replace it for me at no cost to me. On December 11, 2025 the engine caught fire while the service technician from Downey Hyundai was “test driving” it in a drive-thru of 7 Leaves. He was using my vehicle for personal use when the engine fire occurred. Both Downey Police Dept and Downey Fire Dept made reports. I did file a claim with my insurance company, AAA. On 12/8/25, the engine oil light blinked once very quickly on the dash and that was it. I took my vehicle to Downey Hyundai the very next day to have it inspected.

Filed Dec 28, 2025 · Transmission · TN

I have maintained my car regularly. I use LOFSYNBLEND oil at 7500 mile intervals per car and oil manufacturer. At 70000 mile oil change the tech showed me that less than a quart of oil came out of the crankcase during the oil change. There were no visible leaks, no visible smoke coming out of the exhaust when I drove the car, and NO warning light. This was the first time that this issue was present to my knowledge. I am taking the vehicle to the dealer for an Official Oil Consumption Test.

Filed Aug 18, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · TX · fire

I am the current owner a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. While I was driving my SUV on the highway at highway speeds at 60mph, the oil pressure and the check engine warning light illuminated all of sudden after around 1 hour of smooth ride. In the meantime, suddenly the vehicle lost motive power, the steering wheel seized and smoke came immediately. Losing motive power in running conditions and smoke coming out during failure could have endangered our lives. The smoke came out due to leakage of engine oil probably. The vehicle was stuck in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then after Hyundai Dealership. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,245 only. Before reporting to NHSTA I have seen numerous complaints about high oil consumption and burnt valves on Theta II engines around 2017 santafe sport model and very similar occurrence of events happening to all while driving the vehicle on highways. Hyundai must need to provide support to this year model and make vehicles.

Filed Mar 25, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · NJ · fire

My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe had a new engine installed at the dealership, Fred Beans Hyundai Flemington, NJ. I picked it up on [XXX] on [XXX] (and after 134 miles) my car's check engine light came on. I rerouted to dealership about 8 miles. Sitting outside service bay, I smelled smoke and then saw smoke coming out of vents. I then jumped out of car and the car became engulfed in flames and subsequently exploded. The day I picked it up, I pointed out to the service manager that they had not reattached everything to the car properly, sloppy workmanship. Best guess is that they did not attach a valve correctly. Miracle no one was injured or killed! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 16, 2024 · Engine · 94,432 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the oil pressure warning light illuminated and was flashing on and off. The contact stated that while stopped at the next stop sign, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was notified that there was half a quart of oil in the engine. The oil level was topped off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer approximately 3 days later where it was diagnosed with a fractured ball joint, no transmission oil, and 1 quart of engine oil was depleted. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at undisclosed speeds, blue smoke came from the exhaust pipes. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer where a fuel consumption test was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,432.

Filed Apr 29, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · 139,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating while accelerating. Additionally, there were exhaust fumes entering the cabin of the vehicle with white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but no failure was found. The contact retrieved the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who later diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Also, after turning the vehicle off, the radio remained activated causing the battery to drain and the vehicle could not be restarted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 139,000.

Filed Jul 18, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · NY

I have need to get 3 oil changes within the past month and a half. Twice I was told I was driving with no oil in my car and the engine was getting ready to go. I notice when I start my car in the morning it is making a rattling noise, this also happens when I try to accelerate and the car will get stuck in gear and hesitate before speeding up. It's been dangerous trying to drive on this highway. I also notice a thick white smoke coming from my muffler. I'm constantly paying for unnecessary oil changes and diagnostic from independent service centers and was told my motor is bad and causing all this oil consumption. I was told to contact Hyundai but no luck.

Filed Mar 10, 2023 · Engine · 162,000 miles · IL · fire

The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle in stop-and-go traffic, a burning odor was suddenly present inside the cabin of the vehicle. After stopping the vehicle smoke and flames were coming from under the hood and the fire department was called to the scene to extinguish the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was taken and the vehicle was towed away. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the incident and later retrieved the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 162,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2022 · Brakes · 57,235 miles · IL · fire

The contact owned a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The stated while the vehicle was parked in the driveway of her residence, her husband attempted to start the vehicle using the key fob but the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that as her husband approached the vehicle, he noticed a significant amount of smoke and flames inside the vehicle. Additionally, the doors of the vehicle failed to unlock. The contact stated that her husband was able to open the doors and extinguished the fire with the assistance of the fire department. The contact stated that the front driver's side and passenger's side of the vehicle burned significantly. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was totaled. The contact later became aware that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), which she related to the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,235.

Filed Aug 23, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · NC

UNKNOWN It started with the engine suddenly reducing my speed down to 10 mph while I was driving on the freeway, the check engine light turned on. We then took it to the Hyundai dealership who turned us a way and told us they couldn’t see us for several months. So we were forced to take it to a repair shop who ran a compression test and told us it failed. We were able to speak to the dealership a few days later who asked us to take it in they re ran the test and told us it passed but they needed to do some updates to the knock sensor due to multiple recalls they had failed to inform us on (even though they had conducted an update back in 2019) after this they conducted several oil consumption tests which have averaged a liter or more consumed per 500 miles. During this time the vehicle repeatedly had knocking sounds, warning light flashes, sputtering of the engine, occasional stalling, and marked issues with acceleration from a stop, amongst other concerning issues. We then we’re required to have a combustion cleaning by the dealership, this not only didn’t solve any of the previous issues but increased the oil consumption to as much as 1.5 liters in around 330 miles. The dealership confirmed that the vehicle had been properly maintained and it hadn’t been tampered with but Hyundai continues to refuse to replace the engine. Even though many of the other engines with similar issues have since caught on fire and endangered the occupants. The vehicle continues to jerk when accelerating and consume oil at an alarming rate.

Filed Jun 2, 2022 · Brakes · 37,000 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light was illuminated along with other unknown warning lights. The contact stated that she turned the vehicle off and on however, the light remained illuminated. The contact stated that she decided to drive the vehicle to see if the light would turn off however, the light remained illuminated. The contact stated that she went to an independent mechanic who advised her to contact the Hyundai dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnosis. The contact stated that she had received a recall notice for over a month for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the letter stated that a remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The contact stated that she felt unsafe driving the vehicle and was concerned that the vehicle would catch on fire while driving or parked. The approximate failure mileage was 37,000.

Filed May 20, 2022 · Brakes · PA

Last year 2021, I was notified of a recall: the federal safety agency # 22V056000. I scheduled the repair with a dealer in Florida on March 30, 2022. Upon arriving at the dealership I was told that parts are not available. The recall is to prevent the vehicle from catching on fire and we are advised NOT to park the vehicle in the house. On May 20, 2022, I scheduled the recall repair with the dealership where I purchased the vehicle: Bowser Hyundai, Pleasant Hills PA 15236 and was told that HYUNDAI does not have a "fix" for this problem. Should I continue to park the vehicle outside and for how long?