2021 Hyundai Santa Fe: engine stalls while driving

Filed Nov 1, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · NJ

For approximately the past year, my 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, currently with about 23,000 miles, has experienced intermittent engine and fuel-system problems. During start-up, the vehicle sometimes makes an abnormal rattling/cranking noise, followed by noticeable engine and vehicle vibration. Warning lights may appear, and on some occasions the engine does not start successfully on the first attempt. When it does start, it may initially run rough. The vehicle has also stalled intermittently and has had repeated incidents where pressing the accelerator produced little to no engine response or acceleration. This creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, lose power, or fail to accelerate when needed while driving. The vehicle has been at an authorized Hyundai dealership for more than one month. The dealership has been working with Hyundai Tech Line and has replaced or evaluated the low-pressure fuel pump, high-pressure fuel injector, high-pressure fuel pump, MPI/port fuel injector, and valve cover. The latest recommendation is to drain, clean, and refill the fuel tank. Despite these repair attempts, the root cause has not been clearly identified or permanently resolved. I am concerned that the repair process has become trial and error, with additional components being replaced while the underlying safety-related issue remains unresolved. I am also being asked to pay out-of-pocket for some of these unsuccessful repair attempts. The vehicle is currently at the Hyundai dealership and is available for inspection if needed.

Filed May 11, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

My 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN [XXX] ) is experiencing severe engine instability, including rough idling, hesitation upon acceleration, and intermittent stalling. These symptoms align with TSB 26-FL-001H regarding defective GDI fuel injectors. The vehicle has stalled in traffic, creating an immediate risk of a rear-end collision. Despite being within the 100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty, the manufacturer is refusing to perform the required diagnostic tests (GDS Fuel Pressure Drop Test) to identify the leaking injectors. This failure to diagnose a known fuel system defect poses a significant safety risk to the driver and other motorists. The primary safety risk is unexpected engine stalling while the vehicle is in motion or stopped at intersections. Additionally, the loss of power during acceleration prevents the vehicle from safely merging into high-speed traffic, significantly increasing the likelihood of a collision. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 14, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · MA

First instance at 50-55 mph the transmission violently shook the car when downshifting to accelerate on multiple occasions. Dealership diagnosed the problem as a faulty transmission and replaced it at 44064 miles on March 18, 2025. Second time the car failed to accelerate when merging into traffic while the engine revved very high. Again it was taken to the dealership and the diagnosis was faulty transmission. A second transmission was in stalled at 51331 miles. Second transmission began downshifting hard upon accelerating at highway speeds. Retuned to dealership and diagnoses was faulty fuel injectors and all four were replaced on April 7 at 52960 miles. On April 10, 2026 the car displayed a check engine light after the car began shuttering at highway speeds and was immediately returned to dealership where it’s pending a diagnoses. Failure to safely accelerate when merging make this vehicle a safety risk.

Filed Sep 14, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

During low speeds the car stalls out which could cause a safety issue for my family

Filed Aug 16, 2023 · Transmission · TX

Once again on 7/18/2023 (P1C2D03) and 8/15/2023 (P1C2E92) DTC for TCU issues VERY DANGEROUS condition, fails to accelerate from stops at signs and traffic lights, then nearly stalls in traffic lane bogging down, and cuts out decelerating when accelerator pushed to floor, risking being rear-ended by following cars. By the time car is ready to take to dealer for analysis the fault has corrected and there is no active code for diagnosis – been repaired twice but continuing TCU codes. SEEMS to be same issue as Recall 236, don't believe the fix is effective

Filed Apr 19, 2023 · Engine · 37,500 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was not able to restart and was towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred two weeks later. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as a computer mapping failure which was resolved by the replacement of an unknown part. The contact stated that the dealer informed her that they could not provide a detailed repair bill without contacting the manufacturer for permission to provide it to the owner. The manufacturer was notified, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 37,500.

Filed Feb 2, 2023 · Transmission · 13,483 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was stalling with the transmission, check engine, and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer on two occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer, where it remained awaiting parts for the repair. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,483.

Filed Dec 12, 2022 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CT

I was accelerating after being at a stop sign onto a major two lane road when all of the warning systems came on and the car stalled while the front of the car was partially on the major two lane road. The alarms, including the collision warning were going off, and it took me several minutes to restart the engine. I was very lucky that I was not hit by oncoming traffic. This was immediately reported to our local Hyundai dealer. They took two weeks to schedule our appointment and then told us nothing was wrong and that everything "checks out". Today, I receive the recall notice telling me the loss of power "could increase the risk of a crash" and yet they do not yet have a fix for it. This means I am paying for a car that is unsafe to use with no remedy in sight. Had this occurred on the highway, I would have been killed.

Filed Dec 12, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · 13,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to coast off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V746000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

Filed Oct 22, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · PR

Car was bought approximately a year and a half ago and it was working fine until last September 2022 when it started to stall the engine when having ISG (Idle Stop and GO) ON. It has no pattern, but during the last 2 months it has shut down more than a dozen times. I've taken the car for inspection at Hyundai (2 times so far) and they can't find any faults when running a scan and said that they car is just fine. They assured that an ECM update would solve the issue but it has not improved anything in the car. The car has continued the pattern , when you stop the car it starts to shudders before stalling the engine, all without any error lights. Next November will be the third time bringing the car for the same issue without any resolution. Also, as a minor problem, it has started disconnecting the cellphone from the apple car and you can't reconnect it unless you turn off the car.

Filed Aug 17, 2022 · Engine · NH

This car since 6/7/22 has been plagued with issues where is starts cutting out and stalling followed by the check engine light coming on flashing. This has happened many times and just happens while driving down the road. It is a very dangerous condition as you can not predict when it's going to stall out. The car has been in the dealership 3X for this problem and spent over 40 days there. Hyundai replaced the fuel injectors claiming that was the problem. It was over 35 days to get the back ordered parts. They were replaced and the car seemed to be running OK. I drove it for about 150 miles and it ran like new. Then on 8/13/22 while driving in traffic on NH Highway US1, it started doing it again. I went into the Hyundai dealership since was right there. I brought the technician out and showing him my running car with the running car with blinking CEL. They pulled into into the shop and ran a scan on it. They said there was no active codes. I asked to leave the car with hem so it could be investigated and there response we "we don;t have a car for you until next Tuesday". I was forced to drive off in a confirmed dangerous car. I pulled out into traffic on US1 and the car immediately lost power and started cutting out and the CEL was back on and blinking. I turned around on the very next street, turned the car off and back on and the CEL cleared. I pulled back onto US 1 and the car immediately lost power and started cutting out and the CEL was back on and blinking again. This very nearly caused a 2nd accident as ad zero power to accelerate. My concern is Hyundai has no idea what the problem is. They know there is a dangerous problem. The service manager drove the car/confirmed himself there is a serious issue. My other concern is the Hyundai dealership knowingly sent me away in a car they had confirmed for themselves was unsafe nearly causing a accident on the highway. I had to speak with the General manager to get a loaner to leave my defective car.

Filed May 9, 2022 · Engine · VA

My Santa Fe has less than 14k miles. In many instances, the car has stalled when turning on. The engine would tremble and then shut the engine off while the dash lighting/symbols stay on. It will idle for a quick second and then drop to zero. Another instance is when driving into a parking spot and driveway and we applied the brakes. At that moment the engine shut off while the dash lights/radio and everything else stayed on. In all instances, if we apply the brake and then hit the start button, the car will typically turn on and act like nothing ever happened. In 2 instances, the blind side detection would turn off while driving and all the warning lights would come on the dash. After turning it off and letting it sit for a few minutes it would disappear. One time the front detection would go off and there was no car in front of me for about 8ft. The beeping continued after we drove off and it eventually reset itself and never happened again. I’ve notified the Hyundai dealer but they claim if they can’t recreate it then they can’t fix anything. My previous Santa Fe did the same thing and they had it for 2 weeks with no results. Although my blue link app showed the car was never moved from the parking spot which made me wonder if they even tried anything. I have videos of the Santa Fe stalling.