2023 Hyundai Santa Fe: hesitation when accelerating

5 of the 216 complaints about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe describe hesitation when accelerating.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 16 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Hesitation when accelerating by model year

2026
1
2025
3
2024
4
2023
5
2022
8
2021
10
2020
5
2019
10
2018
4
2017
86
2016
5
2015
7
2014
13
2013
18
2012
5
2011
9
2010
17
2009
3
2008
4
2007
11
2005
3
2004
4
2003
3
2001
6

What owners say

Filed May 26, 2026 · Transmission · FL

Shifter malfunction has appeared since I bought the vehicle new. Once I took it in, they said it was the software. The vehicle now skipped and hesitate in the lower gears. When in high gears ride fine. But once it stops and start driving again, lower gears won’t drive properly. Drives with hesitation and skips.

Filed Sep 29, 2025 · Engine · PA

My 2023 Santa Fe Limited has 3,000 mils on it. At least four times it had low speed hesitation (lags then revs up for a few seconds). It’s a problem with the DCT (Dual Clutch Tranny) Hesitation pulling onto a highway poses a significant risk of a faster car colliding into my car. I called my car dealer and the service manager said they know they are having problems with this. He said they tried everything to remedy the problem but, there is no solution. They said the only way not to have the problem is to get a different car!!! Hyundai should have a recall on this hesitation matter before someone gets injured or killed. It’s a safety issue. The last time it happened will be the date of my incident report.

Filed Jul 21, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Driving up steep hill to my mom’s house car would not drive up, as it hesitated I pressed gas pedal to no avail. I turned off car, got out & nothing was blocking me. Turned car back on & accelerated, this time it went forward.

Filed Jul 6, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · CO

There is an extreme amount of hesitation/delay from when you depress the accelerator and when the vehicle accelerates. I have had multiple incidences (both from a complete stop and while already moving) where I depress the accelerator and there is a concerning amount of lag time before the vehicle initiates movement. This has almost led to multiple accidents. This defect happens in all drive modes. This issue appears to have gotten worse over the time we have owned the vehicle. We did not notice this issue earlier on. We bought the vehicle brand new in Dec. 23.

Filed Jan 1, 2024 · Engine · CA

Throttle randomly cuts off or hesitates. It has done it about 15 times Dealer says no problem found. There is a lot of reports on the internet of the same problem.