2023 Hyundai Santa Fe: jerking or lurching

Filed Jul 12, 2026 · Acceleration, Transmission · TX

COMPONENT/SYSTEM: The powertrain launch control system — the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) and 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission paired with the 2.5T engine — fails to deliver engine power in response to full accelerator input from a stop. The engine does not rev and the vehicle does not move for approximately 1–2 seconds despite the accelerator pedal being fully depressed, then power engages abruptly and violently. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK: The failure occurs when launching from a stop into intersections and cross-traffic. In the most recent incident, I was turning left across the roadway from a stop with an oncoming vehicle approaching. I applied full accelerator and the vehicle did not respond at all for approximately 2 seconds — no engine response, no movement — leaving me stationary in the oncoming vehicle’s path. Power then engaged violently and without warning, causing the vehicle to lurch across the road. I was nearly struck. Similar events have occurred multiple times throughout my ownership; this was the closest to a collision. DEALER CONFIRMATION: Not yet inspected by a dealer. A dealer service appointment is being scheduled. OTHER INSPECTIONS: The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. WARNING LAMPS/PRIOR SYMPTOMS: No warning lamps or messages have appeared before, during, or after any of the events. The failure is intermittent and occurs without warning. The condition has been present since I purchased the vehicle in October 2022 and has occurred regularly throughout ownership — numerous occurrences over more than three years. No warning lamps have ever accompanied it. ADDITIONAL: Condition persists with Idle Stop & Go disabled, ruling out engine-restart delay. Same 8-speed wet DCT was subject to Recall 236 (the federal safety agency 22V‑746) on 2021–2022 models for similar throttle non-response; 2023 excluded despite identical hardware.

Filed Jun 11, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · OK · crash

We were at full stop with Auto Hold feature enabled. Car lurched / jumped forward with no depression of the gas pedal. This caused us to strike the car in front of us.

Filed Apr 15, 2025 · Driver assistance · CO

My car won’t shift on the highway and all of a sudden I can’t drive more than 40mph. It also has not wanted to let me press on the gas and make it go as I’m driving bc Its jerking 4 or 5 times before it’ll register and go. Also, not too long ago, I was in a parking lot and went to leave and my car never notified me that there was a huge pillar next to me and I crashed into it, it was in my blind spot and couldn’t see it. My car has had many many other issues in which I can’t list, but I truly bought a lemon.

Filed Aug 15, 2024 · Electrical · ID

A few times recently our car has had a hard time starting even though it's only a year old. It's like it's having a hard time turning over. And then when driving, it has a hard time accelerating - it almost feels like the car is in neutral while trying to drive. It jerks and shimmies to the point where you have to pull over to see what's going on. We were on a pretty busy road and couldn't accelerate to the point of safely merging into traffic. An online forum said it was a "loose ground" that's causing the acceleration issues.

Filed Sep 11, 2023 · Transmission · GA

when I tried accelerate, the car jerked and then the transmission began to slip and I coasted to a stop. I cranked the car and slowly began to drive the car while it felt like the transmission was slipping. My first thought was that the transmission was low on fluid but later found that this is a sealed transmission. Luckily there was no traffic during this incident. There was no warnings lights or any warnings whatsoever.

Filed Jul 6, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · VA

Over the last Tom th, I have encountered some pretty scary issues with my brand new Santa Fe purchased in April. Last week, while driving, after I turned on adaptive cruise control, the system alerted me that “smart crusade control conditions weren’t met” and kept trying to engage the front left brake — this occurred three days in a row. After turning off the smart cruise control and entering residential roads, the front left brake tried to engage in a manner that seemed consistent with ABS issue. I brought car in two days later to Dublin Hyundai and they said they couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I picked the car up yesterday morning and then last night while driving on the highway, it alerted me that I need to “check highway drive assist system” and a warning light came up. After about 5 minutes, the car jerked me incredibly hard to the left on the freeway and then athe light turned off. Then two days ago, I was driving my car on the highway the car randomly said “emergency braking system activated” twice, while going 70 on the freeway in the middle of nowhere. This was while driving safely and no cars nearby either time. I looked online and it appears this is a problem that’s occurred in many Santa Fe’s, so there is clearly an issue with manufacturing (which I’m assuming is the same case as the previous issues I’ve run into).