2016 Hyundai Santa Fe: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Engine · NY · crash

Supplement to complaint 11743619. The 3.3L Lambda II GDI engine seized at highway speed on January 16, 2022 (connecting-rod-bearing failure, internal components through the block). The vehicle lost all power and power steering, left the roadway and crashed off-road while the driver tried to bring it to a stop, with four occupants aboard. Hyundai's TXX8 warranty extension covers engine repair or replacement for 15 years/150,000 miles and states eligibility is determined upon an inspection of the engine. Hyundai Motor America (Case #42605065) has refused to inspect the engine, citing rodent-related damage and outside influence. The engine has not been inspected under TXX8 and the failure cause has not been determined. Photographs of the block and the debris-torn front harness are available on request.

Filed Sep 4, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · TX

1. Component/System Failure & Availability: The failed component is the engine's internal Camshaft Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) phaser backing bolt within the 3.3L V6 engine assembly. An internal factory bolt unthreaded, backed out, and physically pierced directly through the upper valve cover. The vehicle and intact failed engine are currently located at an authorized Hyundai dealership service center in [XXX], and remain fully available for immediate physical inspection by federal investigators upon request. 2. Safety Risk: An internal engine bolt unthreading and puncturing through the valve cover creates an extreme safety hazard. A high-velocity metal bolt piercing the engine casing causes immediate engine seizure, sudden loss of motive power at highway speeds, loss of power steering/braking assistance, and massive pressurized oil discharge directly onto red-hot exhaust manifolds, posing a severe risk of sudden catastrophic vehicle fire and multi-vehicle highway collisions. 3. Dealer/Independent Confirmation: Yes. The failure was formally inspected, reproduced, and confirmed by an authorized Hyundai dealership service department. Dealership technicians logged official diagnostic findings under Prior Authorization Case #XXX. 4. Inspection by Manufacturer/Others: Yes. The defect was inspected and escalated directly to Hyundai Motor America (HMA) Corporate Engineering. Corporate engineering officially verified the defect and issued Techline Case #XXX, confirming that an internal factory CVVT backing bolt unthreaded and pierced the valve cover, recommending a full engine replacement. 5. Warning Lights & Prior Symptoms: There were no prior warning lamps, check engine lights, unusual sounds, or advance warning symptoms prior to the failure. The internal hardware failure occurred suddenly and without warning while operating the vehicle at standard operating parameters. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 11, 2026 · Engine · NY · crash

WHAT FAILED: The engine — the 3.3L Lambda II GDI V6 (engine family GHYXV03.31XE per the federal emissions label) — failed catastrophically: a connecting rod penetrated the engine block. The failed engine IS available for inspection on request. It has been preserved unrepaired since the failure, the rod penetration of the block is externally visible, and the vehicle is currently at Niagara Hyundai in New York. WHAT HAPPENED / SAFETY RISK: On [XXX], I was driving at approximately 65 miles per hour on [XXX] southbound near Bath, New York, with four occupants aboard, when the engine failed suddenly and without warning — no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms preceded it. The vehicle immediately lost all motive power at highway speed. I was forced off the roadway and through brush and debris to bring the vehicle to a stop. The sudden total loss of power at highway speed created an immediate loss-of-control hazard to my occupants and to surrounding traffic. CONFIRMED BY OTHERS: The tow was dispatched through a 911 emergency call. A New York State Trooper was at the scene and observed the debris trail. The towing company's invoice (T&R Towing and Service, Call #[XXX], [XXX]) records "Break Down," winch recovery, vehicle not drivable, and the tow operator's handwritten condition description: "Motor go Boom." The vehicle is now in the possession of a Hyundai dealership (Niagara Hyundai), and Hyundai Motor America has an open case (#[XXX]); however, Hyundai has refused to inspect or diagnose the engine unless I first pay to repair unrelated damage, so the manufacturer has NOT yet inspected the failure — leaving this safety defect undiagnosed by Hyundai. RELEVANT BACKGROUND: In 2024, Hyundai issued warranty extension TXX8 (15 years / 150,000 miles) for connecting rod bearing failure in this exact engine, acknowledging the failure mode. Mileage at failure was under 100,000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 4, 2025 · Engine · OR

My 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe lost all power, shutting off and stopping abruptly in the middle of the road with no warning lights or “limp mode” being set off requiring my partner and I to push it into someone’s driveway with our two children in the car to get them to safety. We took the vehicle to a mechanic shop where we were told that to engine was seized and needed to be fully replaced with an initial quote starting at 8 thousand dollars for a replacement engine. I contacted my local Hyundai dealership and was told over the phone that the vehicle would be covered under Hyundai service bulletin TXX8 that was issued last year due to ongoing issues with this engine (3.3l V6 Lambda II). We paid to have the vehicle towed to this dealership only to be told that the warranty would not be honored due to a lack of maintenance records. I was able to provide Hyundai with all maintenance records from my ownership as well as records on the CarFax report. They rejected the claim again stating that due to a lack of records not from my ownership they won’t cover it. After looking at the records I had access to again in critical detail I was able to find records that Hyundai missed, but they are unwilling to reevaluate the claim without me providing what they call additional records. I have contacted Hyundai, to try and resolve the issue and have gotten no resolution. The Prior Authorization team has stated that I have “adequate records” but still insist on denying the claim. The dealer has quoted me $12,000 for the repair that the warranty should be covering due to the engine not being manufactured in full anymore due to the issues that have come from it. The dealership (and private mechanic) would have to order individual pieces of the engine to build it themselves on site. If this engine is a big enough problem that Hyundai cannot provide a full engine replacement at market value then it should not be operating on the road at all.

Filed Oct 1, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · CA · fire

Driving on a slight upgrade, lost power and smoke started to come out of the vents and from under the hood. Had no brakes and by the time we were able to drift to a stop, the engine compartment was on fire. There was no warning lights. Witnesses saw fire under the car while we were coming to a stop. The car and all contents were totally consumed. Following some research on the federal safety agency vin decoder we found that this car has the same engine (GDI THETA II) that has been involved in many fires and is involved in class action suits. Even though this car has the same engine, it was never recalled. That may indicate that there are other cars out there that may have the same problem but have not been informed.

Filed Aug 16, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · MD

Was driving on a 5 hour car ride at 5pm on August 16th and was going up a hill, the vehicle quickly lost all power and the engine light lit. I was able to pull the car to the side of the road with the momentum that the car already had, but was not able to get the car to a safe space (its about 6 inches from an exit ramp lane), as the car would not drive. Once I got the car to the side of the road, I checked the engine and did not see any excessive heating or anything out of the ordinary. I tried to restart the car and the check engine light is lit and the battery system for the car turns on but the car will not start or try to turn over the engine. The car is currently sitting on the side of the road. My wife and my dog were in the car and we had to quickly move to a safer place away from the 70 MPH traffic. Calling a tow truck tomorrow to take it to a dealership. It was a little scary that the engine power cut out like that without giving an engine light notice in advance or giving time for me to navigate to a more safe space to park it.

Filed Jun 7, 2024 · Engine · OH

Was driving on the highway going about 65mph when the engine just lost power. Pressing the accelerator and there was nothing happening. Had the car towed home. And then to a mechanic who told me the rod was bent. I’ve always kept up on oil changes and maintenance. I just had an oil change less than a month prior. There were no warning signs leading up to this incident.

Filed Mar 19, 2024 · Engine · 87,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the engine began to knock and then the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Action Number: DP22003 (Engine). The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

Filed Jan 25, 2024 · Engine · OH

Engine seized at 116000 miles on one of the busiest roads in town in below zero weather. I was nearly hit by an suv and also an Oversized Load Semi. I'm so thankful the towing guys showed up within the hour. There was no warning when this happend, no check engine light or oil light on. Two days before, on the last time it had beenbdriven I walked out to find it had started on it's own. It was Friday night, so I wasn't sure what to do yet. The vehicle was making a cl8cking sound durimg accelation on the Sunday morning the seize occurred, so I made plans to call the mechanic first thing Monday morning. It seized before I had the chance. I just lost all power to accelerate and had to pull over. The car took several minutes and many attempts to even turn off. Then never restarted again. I had thought a belt had broken, but our mechanic informed us the engine seized. Please investigate these 3.3 litre engines, they need to be recalled. We refuse to make this some other families problem, or to pay Hyundai one dime more of our money, or waste our time, energy or emotions on diagnostics and fighting them. We could not trade it in, so we lost the trade in value and had to finance our next vehicle. We are arranging this Hyundai to just be sold to a salvage yard for parts. It is otherwise useless.

Filed Aug 30, 2023 · Engine · NE

On August 11, the car suddenly lost power/acceleration & the dashboard lit up with engine, battery, and oil lights. I coasted down the hill to our home without any power. On Monday, it started again without lights, but we called the dealer & were told it would be 4.5 weeks before they could see us & there was nothing they could do without lights on the dash. So we took it to a nearby service center. They performed an oil change & compression check & deemed everything fine. The car drove mostly fine, with an intermittent pause/hiccup at stoplights. August 26, at highway speed, the car shuddered loudly, & the engine light flashed. As I coasted to the shoulder, there was a POP sound. I parked, turned off the car, & inspected the tires. The rear passenger tire had a 3-in gash but didn't deflate. I tried turning on the car again & it just ground & jerked with the flashing engine light. I called AAA & towed it to the dealership, where it's waiting to be inspected. This is a Theta II engine & received the KSDS software recall update in 2019. My child was in the car with me. I wonder if the KSDS gave the first warning on Aug. 11 but failed to stay on to pass on the data to the service center.

Filed Aug 29, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

Already reported Engine Failure on August 5, 2023. After 3 weeks, Dealer informs us the engine seized and is defective and was provided oil change records. Engine is approved for replacement under warranty, instead of getting a repaired car back, dealer calls and now informs the car rides "rough" after the engine replacement, and the Knock Sensor is faulty, MAP Sensor is faulty, and Fuel Pump needs to be replaced. We question why none of this showed up on the original inspection and diagnostic, no answer to that. Knock Sensor obviously never worked because the engine seized without any warning, and despite having warranty on the knock sensor we are told none of these items are under warranty. The car never exhibited any symptoms related to fuel pump issues, or knock or MAP sensor issues. When we were driving on August 5th, the car lost power and engine died without any prior warnings that anything was wrong. We never had any rough "ride", never had any problem with fuel or starting the car, the check engine light never came on to warn of any issues at all. If the parts are all bad, either it is related to the engine failure or they are defective. No Sensors worked or gave us any warning. We fear the car will fail again, and it is unknown if Hyundai will cover repairs. We asked for written statement for repairs and received nothing from the dealer, we asked that repairs be submitted to Hyundai to have cost covered and we have had no confirmation if it has been submitted. The car broke down 3+ hours from our home, we can't even go to the dealer to discuss in person. Limited to unanswered calls, voicemail, and emails - no responses insufficient communication. All we want is the car to be repaired properly and Hyundai should cover cost of repairs considering the massive failure we experienced without warning while driving with our children in the car, we could have all died and no well maintained car should fail in every aspect after only 8 years.

Filed Aug 8, 2023 · Engine · FL

8/5/23 was driving on turnpike when 2016 Santa Fe lost complete power without warning. Was barely able to pull over to the side of the road and the car completely died. Was in the car with 3 small children all under the age of 7 and stuck for over 2 hours waiting for a tow no air conditioning and no safe place to wait on the side of the turnpike with barely enough shoulder space for the car. Had car towed to Napleton Hyundai in West Palm Beach. We have unfortunately had this happen before on our Hyundai Sonata, similar circumstances car lost all power while driving and would not restart. The Sonata turned out to have defective engine and was replaced at a different dealership under the class action, but we have had zero communication from Napleton Hyundai regarding the Santa Fe. We have provided everything that the dealer has requested, and not received any response from Napleton. We were told if the engine seized, engine is covered up to 150K miles and they are aware of the Santa Fe defect. But, we are stranded hours from home without a car and no one at the service department has called us back or informed us what are the next steps despite repeated requests from us to find out what is going on with the Santa Fe.