2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Aug 1, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · WI

After the recent "important service campaign" involving the THETA II Emissions Logic Improvement my vehicle no longer safety shifts into the lower gears. It will not shift into gear. I am unable to safely get up to a normal speed and the engine and vehicle start shaking. This is isolated to the initial start of the vehicle and any low speed driving after. The issue is resolved after restarting the car, suggesting it is a software issue. This issue immediately began after the ECU update for the THETA II emissions logic improvement on 5/12/2026.

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

We have a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport with a refurbished engine due to a past class act settlement, we were notified by Hyundai to bring in the vehicle for Service campaign 9C2 to update the Engine Control Module (ECM) Software for vehicles equipped with the (2.4 GDI) Theta II refurbished engine, which we have. The morning after we updated the 9C2 software, after starting our car cold for the first time in the am, our car went into limp mode, shaking very badly, it would not accelerate above 20 MPH, it had a lot of trouble shifting from 1st to 3rd gear and acted like it was going to stall out and then die in the middle of the road while I was in the car with my 2 children. The dealership we took it to was not able to duplicate the limp mode, but has documented that they did witness hesitation and sluggishness while test driving it. I cannot validate that it was test driven cold immediately as requested as all their test drives were done without me. Due to the vehicle not accelerating as it should normally, I feel the vehicle is very unsafe and unreliable as well. I’m willing to provide more documentation, and our car is available for further inspection. I did request the help of a Hyundai customer relations case manager who stated Hyundai is aware of all of the drive-ability issues I have stated and he said they are hoping to provide another software update, but that time frame is unknown. Dealership mechanic stated the same thing and believes our issue is related to the 9C2 update. The manufacture has not inspected the vehicle, but we would absolutely love them to if they would. There have been no check engine lights come on before or after this update, only misfire codes came up after the update which dealership has those, and since the dealership was unable to witness it going into limp mode while driving it, they could not gain the much needed data that pinpoints the exact problem. We were advised to warm up car and rev up the RPM to above 2,000 before driving.

Filed May 12, 2026 · Engine · NY

I was driving on a main road at 55-60 mph with my daughter and grandchildren in the car and had a sudden loss of power. I was almost hit from behind. The check engine light started blinking. And the car went into limp mode. I had to limp it to the nearest place to safely get off the road so as not to put my family in any other danger.There is not enough shoulder on the road to pull over safely. It was very stressful. Was able to get it in someone's driveway and then eventually towed to Auburn,NY Hyundai/Chevrolet where it is currently. It would not turn over to start again. It does have battery power. I am waiting to hear from the service techs as to what they think is wrong. They advised me that there is a $199 per hour diagnostic fee. I also told them that we noticed metal flakes in the oil when we checked it. I feel I should mention that the vehicle went into limp mode a few weeks ago also and the dealership told me the knock sensor was bad. I had that replaced at that time.

Filed May 5, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · NY

COMPONENT FAILED: Theta II 2.4L GDI engine connecting rod bearings. Vehicle has 95,000 miles. Engine available for inspection in [XXX] . SAFETY RISK: Engine knock + limp mode at 1500 RPM caused sudden loss of power on highway. Oil consumption 1L/700km risks catastrophic engine seizure while driving. CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Independent service center confirmed DTC P0010 from metal debris. Hyundai Motor America Case #42623761 confirmed recall coverage but refuses remedy. INSPECTION: Manufacturer aware via Case #42623761. Local Hyundai dealers non-responsive. No police/insurance inspection. WARNING SYMPTOMS: Engine knock started at ~94,000 miles. Check Engine Light with DTC P0010. Progressive oil consumption. Limp mode activated at 95,000 miles. HYUNDAI VIOLATION: Hyundai confirmed via email they refuse to honor Safety Recall 162 / Service Campaign 966 Lifetime Warranty for VIN [XXX] despite all symptoms matching recall description. Request the federal safety agency compel Hyundai to authorize Bearing Clearance Test and engine replacement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 3, 2025 · Engine · TN

On [XXX, I was driving on the interstate when my engine seized and the car lost all power, leaving me stranded on the side of the road on a busy exit at night. This was very dangerous to myself and others. I purchased this car in July of 2023 with 69,000 miles in good condition. I immediately made an appointment to take care of the recalls and updates to this car, which were performed February 2024 due to this being the first available appointment. Also, at my first oil change (3,000 miles after the previous oil change) I was told by the mechanic that there was absolutely no oil in my car. Since then I have had to put SEVERAL quarts of oil in between each oil change, costing me hundreds of dollars. Then June of 2024, the P1326 code flashed on my car and it went into limp mode also while I was driving on a busy street, putting myself and others in danger. I took it to the dealership and was advised to continue driving it and there was nothing they can do until my engine fails. I also brought up the oil consumption issue and was told that even if I did an oil consumption test (at my cost), there was nothing they could do. I was advised by my service advisor not to do a consumption test. I took his advice and continued to drive my car, adding countless quarts of oil weekly to my car. Fast forward to September 2024, when my engine light came on due to misfires in cylinder 3&4 and I took it to a local mechanic due to the incredibly long wait for an appointment at Hyundai. I was told all 4 spark plugs were oil fouled due to excessive oil consumption. This happened again July of 2025. My mechanic advised me that there was nothing to do about it, but that this would continue to happen due to the oil consumption issue. Now Hyundai is refusing to take responsibility for this engine that has had documented issues resulting in class action lawsuits and safety issues for myself and others and refusing any financial assistance. No warning lamps were on before incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

Filed Jun 27, 2025 · Engine · NC

While driving my vehicle, the check engine light came on, and the engine entered limp mode, severely reducing power and acceleration. This presented a significant safety risk while traveling on the highway, especially during lane changes and merges. The issue was later diagnosed by a certified Hyundai dealer as Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1326, which relates to the knock sensor detecting potential engine bearing wear. The dealer confirmed this issue and performed related inspection work under Hyundai’s Service Campaign T3G. No prior warning signs appeared before the incident. Hyundai has issued a known campaign for this issue, but no recall appeared under my VIN at the time. I incurred rental and rideshare costs due to the vehicle being held at the dealer for several days. This condition severely impacts the drivability and safety of the vehicle.

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 Apr 27, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · PA

I purchased my vehicle at 51,700 miles. Approx 2 months …1,000-2,000 miles later my car went into limp mode and wouldn’t exceed 20 mph. I also noticed that my vehicle was consuming 4-qts of oil every 1,000 miles since then and is experiencing engine failure. It’s a safety hazard to myself and others as the car just shuts off completely while driving. Hyundai won’t do anything about it. I have documents to show every oil change/maintenance on vehicle.

Filed Feb 21, 2023 · Engine · PA

My vehicle is consuming oil at an unacceptable rate. I have to put oil in it weekly and the oil indicator light doesn’t work. It has been ongoing since I purchased it and the Hyundai service center said it was carbon build up which they had cleaned. It cost me over $500 and didn’t solve the issues. It also doesn’t always want to shift gears and feels like it’s starting to go into limp mode. Which I had to have my vehicle towed last year and they said it was spark plugs. I am extremely disappointed and regret getting this “certified” vehicle.

Filed Oct 6, 2022 · Engine · 108,000 miles · CO

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that the dealer had previously performed Service Campaign: 953 (ECM & Cluster Update-Engine Monitoring Logic Product Improvement) however, the failure occurred after the service campaign was performed. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle went into Limp Mode. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the dealer replaced the engine; however, the failure recurred, causing the vehicle to shake violently while driving with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer determined that the engine had misfired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

Filed Dec 3, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 92,000 miles · WA

There has been a knock since the car was bought 3 yrs ago. It burns threw at about1-2 quart of oil every 2000 miles triggering the oil light to come on. Oil changes are done every 3000 miles with full synthetic always. It's also been taken into hyundai of olympia for acceleration issue while driving (doesn't shift up/down, shift very hard, stutters when shifting) also asked about oil consumption when taken in for recall and was told the oil consumption was normal.

Filed Apr 18, 2019 · Engine · NJ

I was doing errands in my town when my santa fe felt like it did not want to shift, went into limp mode and would not go over 15 MPH. Had to have it towed to wayne mazda (sister store of wayne hyundai) for them to tell me 2 days later the engine blew at 33k miles and I have only owned the car for 10 months. My case manager through corporate called me yesterday and stated engines are on back ordered and I probably wouldn't get my car back till mid june or later. Wayne hyundai will not allow me to have a free rental car so I am paying out of pocket for my rental which will be reimbursed however I am responsible for all taxes and fees that apply. Save your time and money from buying a hyundai. Biggest mistake of my life.