2012 Hyundai Santa Fe: engine failure

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 May 27, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · FL

In November 2024, my car engine failed. I came out of a store, turned key, all the dash lights lit up, and loud clanging but unable to drive. Car towed several times and told by 2-3 places the engine was “out” and there was a Hyundai recall aon 2012 Santa Fe. A Hyundai dealer had my vehicle, contacted Hyundai and was told it “wasn’t in recall.” Had to pay repair entirely myself on disability income. The vehicle subsequent to this had electrical problems and the car shut off while driving countless times, even highway doing 65-70. Paid for alternator twice and new battery, two battery jump boxes, and car continues to have severe electrical issues and highly unsafe to drive. I am broke and facing losing the car altogether and suffered lack of housing for 2 months and inability to pay my bills. All invoices are not included with this complaint.

Filed May 20, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · NV

Purchased this used 2012 Santa Fe directly from Hyundai last January (2023) We have had to continually fill it up with oil. Two months ago, driving to work and the car stops accelerating and felt like the “power was going out”. I was on a busy highway early in the morning when it died on me. Took it to a nearby mechanic and it threw engine failure pins. There was no oil so we added more oil and it drives but will not exceed 50 mph and goes out at any given time.

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 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 Mar 22, 2023 · Engine · 199,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, she heard an abnormal popping sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The contact was unaware of a warning light being illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The mechanic advised the contact that there had been a recall for the year, make and model of vehicle however, the VIN was not included. The mechanic related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.

Filed Sep 7, 2022 · Engine · FL

Engine stalled, shutting down both power steering and power brakes, restarted, stalled again and then never started again, while driving 70 mph on a major extremely busy thoroughfare (SR202 in Jacksonville, Fla.) in 05/13. Had vehicle towed to regular mechanic 05/16 who said engine blown, but under recall. Then towed to Jenkins Hyundai 05/19. They inspected vehicle, confirmed engine replacement based on TSB 21-01-022H testing (they gave me a copy) for recall 198. Jenkins then contacted me, replacement was denied approval by [XXX] PA#[XXX], because it listed as "scrap", that 198 is only a "recall campaign, not a safety issue", engine would cost $12,000,00. I found the 198 SAFETY notice online and took it to them, they said they couldn't do anything, I would need to contact Hyundai corp. Contacted Hyundai 06/01, assigned case number [XXX]. [XXX] from HMAusa (833‑462‑8722 x [XXX]) emailed asking for info, I returned email same day (06/01). [XXX] then emailed 06/07 and I responded both via phone and email same day. Jenkins Hyundai has since called asking what I intended to do. I called [XXX] and she confirmed vehicle listed as "scrap", but that Hyundai does safety recalls on rebuilt title vehicles to talk to dealer again. I uploaded to HMAusa photos of my insurance, registration, tags and even photos of my car at [XXX], copied also to [XXX] (the prior approval email for dealers) on 06/15. Told [XXX] "[XXX] confirmed safety work on rebuilt title vehicles", but they are waiting on HMA approval. It has now been 4 months and nothing. I emailed Center for Auto Safety 08/18 and they confirmed repair is required by federal law even on salvage title. I emailed [XXX] 08/19 about noncompliance and again on 08/24, uploaded to HMAusa. New HMA #20221366, received 08/30 [XXX] "response in 48 hours". the federal safety agency #[XXX], spoke with [XXX]. As of 09/07 still nothing. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Jun 27, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

Got a recall notice about an engine component had it checked they said it was fine. 7 months later it lost power and throw the piston through the bottom of the engine, oil and gas poured all over the road and we had just changed the oil. Called Hyundai and talked to them. They said it would be covered for a new engine cause they had lost a class action lawsuit. It wasn’t the matter if it went out but when it would go out. I towed it to Hyundai where it sat for 4 months before inspection. Then I was told it had to many miles on it so there for it wasn’t covered. But they was quick to offer to order me a new engine at my expense. My issue is a bad part is a bad part. Mileage doesn’t matter. They figured out what mileage most of them was going out at and set a lower mileage so they wouldn’t be responsible. I’ve only had the vehicle 4 yrs and I’m disabled.

Filed May 20, 2022 · Engine · NY

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact jumped started the vehicle however, the vehicle stalled again. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where he informed the contact that the engine had seized. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 25, 2022 · Engine · 120,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the oil sensor flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil sensor was leaking oil onto the engine and exhaust. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the starter needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the engine seized during the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

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 Dec 4, 2021 · Engine · AZ

On Aug. 9 2021 I took my vehicle into the dealer in Phoenix, Az. for recalls that were given to me from emissions testing. One recall was for engine knocking and premature wear of piston rods/bearings. The software update was done so the vehicle could warn me of engine failure. On or about Dec 1st 2021 my vehicle was making noise under the hood and slowing in power to safety mode. It stalled at a major intersection near my home and I slowly made it back to safety. The software that was installed failed to warn me in time to not cause engine damage. The are metal shavings in the engine oil and it will not run. If it does you can hear knocking very loudly. This recall was supposed to have the engine replaced by the dealer and no such repair was done. The dealer on Aug 9 only notified me of a leak from the radiator that was never seen before. They tried to charge me 1203.00 dollars for a new radiator and upper and lower hoses. The leak was never there before and when I got home i inspected the garage floor and the floor was clean and dry. Now 4 months later my engine is having problems from this recall not being corrected. The dealer also has no loaner vehicle for me and I am a disabled man with one leg. Im being told I will be without a car for up to 2 months with no guarantee that the engine will be replaced at no cost to me.