2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: won't start

Filed Oct 16, 2026 · Engine · SD

While driving home at approximately 60 mph in our 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, the engine suddenly shut off without warning. We were able to carefully maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road, but the vehicle would not turn over or restart. We were traveling with our young children at the time, and this sudden engine failure created an extremely dangerous situation that could have resulted in a serious accident. The engine failure occurred while the vehicle was in motion, leaving us in a potentially life-threatening situation on a busy roadway. We had the vehicle towed to a Hyundai dealership for diagnosis and assistance. We waited over a month without receiving an update. When we went to the dealership in person, we learned that they had been contacting the previous owner rather than us. After providing our correct contact information even though they were given this information upon vehicle arrival, we were told that the dealership would work on getting the issue resolved and would contact us with an update. We were subsequently informed that Hyundai would not replace the engine, allegedly due to severe negligence and a lack of maintenance service receipts. We perform our own oil changes regularly and have maintained the vehicle to the best of our ability. We believe it is unfair to classify this as negligence solely because we do not have receipts from a professional service center for work we performed ourselves. When we told them that we would have an oil analysis performed to prove that it was not negligence on our part, they accused us of possibly changing the oil before it was towed. This is an insane and unprofessional accusation. We understand that engine failures involving this vehicle may be covered by Hyundai engine-related recalls, warranty extensions, or class action settlement provisions. We are requesting a thorough and fair review of our case to determine whether the engine failure qualifies for coverage. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA

Filed Sep 3, 2023 · Brakes, Fuel system · OH

While driving at 65 mph on an urban expressway, the engine quit without warning and would not restart. This resulted in diminished steering and braking control as well as exposure near the edge of traffic on a narrow berm of an overpass bridge. Full tank of fuel, good battery, the engine would not crank or restart. All electrical accessories work fine.

Filed Nov 10, 2022 · Engine · TN

I bought a Santa Fe Sport made by Hyundai Theta Engine Settlement Ext Warranty on March 18, 2022. Also, I did the maintenance and changed the oil after about three months. On August 29, my vehicle shut off while driving without any alarm and did not start again. Imagine what a severe accident may happen to me; thankfully, no one was injured. I towed the car to the Hyundai Wolfchase dealership, in Cordova, TN, and they set an appointment for October 20, 2022. After waiting 50 days, I towed it again there, and their inspections showed the engine seized, and the estimation for repair is $8,200.00. I contacted Hyundai's customer care to use the vehicle warranty that can recall the engine for a vehicle less than ten years old. But they declined my request due to Campaign 953 software that should be installed in my car!!! I did not know about it, and it was not my fault that this car did not have this alarm system.

Filed Aug 21, 2022 · Engine · NY

Was driving like normal all of a sudden engine started loosing power and than started hearing grinding noise. Than engine overheated than RPM died brakes failed and slowly my car stopped in incline I was able to dodge a serious collision by taking safety precaution . Than my car did not start. Turns out engines has been seized due to mechanical failures in my engine. I performed oil change regularly and coolant was perfectly filled. There was no negligence from our end as a driver. My vehicle had 98k miles which was mentioned on Hyundai warranty that it's Powertrain warranty coverage is valid for 100k miles. I was denied my warranty because they mentioned I'm not a primary owner. How does a secondary owner affect this warranty? Secondary owner did not modified the engine to be declined warranty. How did that happen I have serious concern about Hyundai engine.

Filed Aug 10, 2022 · Engine · NY

My engine failed while I was driving with no warning. No lights or system check warnings prior. That day I was driving on a road at 50mph as I was accelerating I started to hear a knocking or sputtering noise, within 6 minutes of the noise starting my engine failed. I was driving at an incline with cars behind and beside me. I lost all engine power, my gas pedal went limp, and my brakes tightened. My engine light, battery light, and oil light came on and my exhaust from the rear was Smokey. Luckily I was able to pull over with out causing an accident. I turned the vehicle off and waited for a tow. My car electronics turn on but the engine will not start. The mechanic it was brought to confirms that the engine needs to be replaced. My 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe limited only has 47,692 miles and was serviced regularly. It had an oil change and passed the NYS inspection Jan 25, 2022 and engine failed August 7, 2022. Many similar issues with other owners of this vehicle, this engine should have been recalled, Hyundai won’t tell me if I’m entitled to the extended warranty coverage from the many lawsuits they’ve had from these vehicles.

Filed Dec 29, 2021 · Engine · LA

On or about October 16th 2021. After leaving a resturant I was unable to restart my car. It just would not turn over. I called a tow truck thinking It was possibly the starter. The vehicle was towed to Kia, where it was purchased. Upon inspection they(mechanics) also thought it was the starter. Being that the car is under an extended warranty, they contacted the appropriate company for the coverage. However the starter was or isn't the problem, they now believe it's the engine. Mind you I have less than 100,000 miles. I was told I would possiblly incounter a cost of 900.00 for them to determine what's wrong with the vehicle? At the time of me submitting this complaint, my car has been in the repair shop for 3 months. Can you imagine my rental expenses? I"ve read through several complaints of people expressing their concerns and complaints for this same or similar problem, It appears to me that Hyundai has a problem. I"m still without a vehicle.

Filed Oct 12, 2021 · Engine · PA

While driving home from work on a busy highway, the vehicle engine stopped without a warning. No noises no warning lights nothing. I am fortunate that I was in traffic and no one was behind me driving the normal 50 mph speed limit or I would have been severely injured. I was able to pull the car to the side of the road. The car would not turn over when pressing the ignition switch. The car was towed to a local repair shop and they thought it to be the starter, so that was replaced. They got the car to start, but it only ran with a very loud noise coming from the engine for approximately 20 minutes. The car no longer will turn over. It has now been towed again to a local Hyundai dealership and is awaiting a diagnosis. The local repair shop called again today letting us know that they just had another Hyundai Santa Fe in for the exact same issue and they have taken that car as well to the local dealership. There was no warning light, there were no loud noises from the engine, no smoke, nothing, it just stopped while I was driving it. I have had no issues with this vehicle, we have owned it for approximately 3 years and it has just over 100,000 miles on it. Doing research it appears that many others who own a 2015 Santa Fe are reporting the same problems. I will continue to research and escalate a consumer investigation into this issue.

Filed Apr 27, 2021 · Engine · 102,000 miles · NJ

Car was stationary and would not start, towed to dealer and dealer explained engine was blown. I searched google for recalls and many hyundai santa fe's between 2013-2019 had recalls, although they were sports model and ours is not a sports model, we believe that there would be other santa fe non-sports model with same issue. Hyundai informed us that it would cost $18000 for a new engine, they would cover half the cost, we purchased the car for around $21000 - this is ridiculous and taking advantage of consumers. I am waiting for paper work from hyundai with report but there is no way I can pay $9000 to get a new engine. Any assistance on this gauging and possible issue that others have encountered would be appreciated. I do not think they are being honest. We also brought the car in prior to 100000 mile warranty expired with 'check engine' light on, they diagnose some small maintenance has to be performed and we payed for that, we drove it home and a few days later 'check engine' light re-appeared, brought it back and they said nothing was wrong. Attached are invoices for above repairs