2012 Hyundai Santa Fe: check engine light

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Engine · NY

Engine light was blinking. Hearing grinding from the front. Steering locked up. I was able to pull over safely. Called tow truck. The mechanic diagnosed it said it needed a new engine. The car has 106,000 miles on it.

Filed Mar 17, 2025 · Engine · IL

I was contacted by Auffenberg Hyundai in OFallon IL in October of 2024 to schedule recall work. On 10/23/24, the car was dropped off in working condition to the dealership for that recall (engine software update). The day after the vehicle was returned, the check engine light came on and the vehicle went into "limp mode". I returned it to the dealership 10/24/24. They changed the knock sensor and I picked it back up on [XXX]. On the same date, the check engine light came on and vehicle went back into "limp mode". Car was returned to dealership 10/28/24, due to the issue being after hours and on a weekend. They tested it and reset software. I did not get vehicle back until 1/3/25. On [XXX], the check engine light came on again and vehicle went into "limp mode". Car was returned to the dealership and now it is 3/17/25 and I still have no resolution. The vehicle is unsafe to drive because in "limp mode" you cannot go above a certain RPM level. Pulling out into traffic is dangerous when your vehicle just will not accelerate. If this were to happen on the interstate, then it could be catastrophic. The dealership has been able to reproduce this issue, but offers no fix as they state that they are being limited by corporate Hyundai. A corporate claim was made but Hyundai is unwilling to fix an issue they caused. In essence, the recall broke my vehicle and corporate Hyundai has decided to do nothing. Note: All records for repairs and dealership/corporate communications are with Auffenberg Hyundai, 1050 Berg Blvd, Ofallon IL 62269; phone 618‑622‑9001; contact is John Koch. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 20, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Engine will RANDOMLY CUT OFF AND IT WOULD DO THAT EVEN WHEN IN DRIVE LIKE IT WASNT GETTING GAS. The dash board would light then continue going WOULD START RIGHT BACK AWAY AND HAS DONE THAT EVER SINCE.i purchased it I ALSO HAD THE O2 CENSOR REPLACED AS WELL. THE TIRES ARE AWFUL THE SUSPENSION. Electrical Problems I have to hit my headlight to come on before I leave when it's dark. Sometimes when I first start driving it pulls me to the right not like wheel balancing . But pulld then back to driving . One last thing I went in for recall update or something. The mechanic say hell do the update and drive the car if it has a problem going in drive they had to replace a sensor or something my car wouldn't move they were going to fix it and give me a loaner car . The guy said let me try something he did then the car started to drive. They were supposed to replace something and didn't. My engine light came on and stayed on I complained to him he just cleared the code it came back on and has been on every since. I told him it want on before I got here he said well it wasn't from anything they did. But it was.

Filed Mar 13, 2024 · Engine · WI

My 2012 Santa Fe check engine light came on a few weeks ago and put the car into engine protection mode. This car is less than 15 years old, has under 150,000 miles, has had reasonable upkeep. I am only the second owner. I was able to check the code myself and did so. It was P1326, which in a Hyundai vehicle means that there's a problem with the connecting rod bearings and it needs to be taken to the Hyundai dealership while in limp mode. I did so and they replaced the knock sensor, cleared the code, and sent me on my way. The check engine light came back less than a week later, same issue. The dealership told me that at this stage the Hyundai tech repair line suggests replacing the engine at an enormous cost. However, because my car can pass the BCT (bearing clearance test) Hyundai will not pay for the replacement of the engine because it cannot be said that the connecting rod bearings are the issue. When I asked why I needed to replace the engine, the service advisor was unable to explain which part of my engine was broken and just that it all needed to be replaced or the car would continue to show code P1326 and go into engine protection mode, rendering it unusable. This has been incredibly unsettling for me as a recently separated mother of two. I have been without my vehicle and without income for weeks while trying to contact Hyundai. They are claiming this repair has nothing to do with the THETA II engine recall out for my model year. All advisors have been pressuring me to purchase a new vehicle, but I do believe the reason I cannot use my vehicle is because of the THETA II engine defects and the P1326 code that will continue to render my car unusable. This code when cleared without fixing the problem, has caused my car to go into engine protection mode (unable to accelerate past 2,000rpm) on the freeway, which was dangerous for myself and other drivers on the road as well as terrifying.

Filed Dec 4, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

coincidentally after 11-months after a software update for that knock sensor now I do have a problem with that knock sensor by having to be replaced. Total cost of repair: $643.90 (Vehicle broke down, my SUV went into limp mode meaning loss of power/acceleration, I needed a tow. The engine malfunction indicator light in the dashboard was blinking on & off.)

Filed May 10, 2023 · Engine · TX

I took my 2012 to Baytown Hyundai for a recall update. MPI Inspection (1) had no problem with the car before taking it in. They did inspection then it started running super slow would not pick up speed. They were going to give me a loner car. The mechanic tried update again then the car drove ok. Didnt even leave the parking lot engine light came on turned around he checked with BDO. Code P200A came up. They are saying it's my responsibility to fix it. There were no codes when I brought my car in. I read I should not drive the car with this code could damage it more . My heart is bad I have to get back and forth t my doctor appointments. How are they not responsible . It's to dangerous to drive it now.Please help.me

Filed May 1, 2023 · Engine · 73,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, the oil displayed full. The contact then stated that the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that no oil pressure was detected, and the contact was informed by the technician of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) which was associated with the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

Filed Apr 12, 2023 · Engine · NJ

In June 2021 vehicle experienced engine failure at approximately 152,000 miles. Vin# not under Hyundai Engine recall however Hyundai covered new engine replacement under warranty extension due to failure. In November 2022 received notice for mandatory Knock Engine Sensor Detection Campaign, vehicle had approximately 163,000 miles. Was told this must be performed to prevent catostrophic engine failure. Once campaign was installed in December 202 vehicle immediately went into Drive Safe mode and Engine light came on. Returned to dealership 2 more times and each time vehicle went into Drive Safe mode with engine light. Diagnosis was the new engine was defective and needed to be replaced. New engine has under 12,000 miles. Vehichle is now unsafe to drive as it's in Drive Safe mode and needs engine replacement. Hyundai only agreed to cover 85% of the new engine cost as a goodwill. This is not satisfactory to the customer as a brand new engine, under 12,000 miles and 14 months failed and I do not feel I should be responsible for 15% of the cost to replace a defective engine. The fact that the engine light came on and vehicle went into Drive Safe mode immediately following the KSDS campaign installation means there was an existing defect in the engine that was only detected once the campaign was installed.

Filed Feb 4, 2023 · Driver assistance, Engine · MA

Driving on highway and car engine light came on then car engine kicked down like it was going to stall then drove normally then kicked down again . Kept kicking down , drove it home and shut it off. The car starts but is knocking and the engine light comes on and blinks constantly .

Filed Jun 22, 2022 · Engine · 159,000 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle began to shake. The vehicle merged to the shoulder of the roadway and suddenly another vehicle crashed into the entire driver's side of the vehicle while the contact was still in the vehicle. The driver who crashed into the contact did not stop at the scene and continued to drive after the crash. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to her neck and chest area that did not require medical attention. The vehicle failed to start after the incident and was towed to the contact's residence where it currently remained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) and had scheduled an appointment with the dealer prior to the crash. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 159,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Dec 28, 2021 · Engine · NC

We were told by a mechanic that the engine needs to be replaced because the rod bearings wore out and are now inside the engine. This is similar to a current recall by Hyundai except our VIN is not included. Hyundai is unwilling to help us and the cost of an engine is more than the car. The car is not driveable and could have cause serious injury if the engine had blown up. It is currently being stored and is available to inspect. The check engine light came on initially which is when we brought it to the mechanic.

Filed Sep 15, 2021 · Engine · 130,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that upon driving at 55 MPH, the contact stated that the vehicle shut off as the check engine and oil lights illuminated on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to her home. The contact was able to restart the vehicle the next day as the check engine and oil lights disappeared off the instrument panel. The contact had an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle; however, since the check engine light did not appear, the vehicle could not be diagnosed. The contact then received a recall notice for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) and took the vehicle to a dealer where they informed her that her vehicle was fine and safe to be driven. A few months later, the contact received a second notice for the same recall and returned the vehicle back to the dealer. After a second inspection, the dealer informed her that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer for four months and upon return of the vehicle, the check engine warning light appeared twice on the instrument panel. The contact had informed the dealer of the failure and was informed not to worry about the check engine light unless the light started flashing. She was also informed that her vehicle could not be inspected for another two weeks. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.