Hyundai Santa Fe brake failure problems

Filed Sep 2, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · TN

I was travelling at 50mph a car pulled in front of me and stopped unexpetedly. I braked hard. My car began to slow, but the brake pedal went to the floor and did not slow, AFter a few seconds, the brake pedal came up from the floor and braking was resumed. I held the pedal to the floor the whole time trying to stop. It was as though the braking system failed and recovered. There was no pulsing felt on the brake pedal typical of ABS working. After my car resumed braking thte collision avoidance system took over and the car stopped just inches from the stopped car in front of me. I had just taken the car in for dealer service at 24,200 and everything was supposedly checked out as required by maintenance. I have contacted Hyundai but have not gotten a response yet.

Filed Aug 7, 2025 · Engine · WI

My vehicle is a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD with a GDI Theta II 2.4L 4 cylinder engine. We purchased it in Feb. 2024 with 120,310 miles. Since then we have only put approximately 8,000 miles on it in 17 months. On Aug. 1st 2025 while driving up a hill out in the country the engine suddenly quit. Of course the steering and the brakes failed to operate. However I was able to coast to the next road and barely able to turn the wheel but made the corner and coasted to a stop. Without a nearby corner I would have been stuck on a state highway with many semi-trucks traveling on it. Could have been much more dangerous for my wife and I especially since we had to have the car put on a flatbed to be hauled home. The person who came to haul it checked the battery which was fine. You could hear the starter engage and try to turn the engine but it would not turn one bit. Once home we had a mechanic with many years experience have a look and listen to it. He could not get the engine to move even when trying to turn it by grabbing the engine belts and pullies. By all appearances the engine is seized. No warning lights were one and the oil was checked that very morning before leaving home. The vehicle was using about 1 qt of oil every 200 miles or so. Always used a high quality oil of proper weight/viscosity. Had no visible oil leaks on ground where it was parked every night. Hesitate to spend hauling fees to take it to the dealer 40 miles away if they are not going to do anything but offer to replace it for many thousands of dollars. For a couple living on social security this can absolutely turn things upside down as we only own one car (which we still owe on).

Filed Jun 26, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · NY

Vehicle will stall out while driving at speeds Loss of braking capability and steering capabilities all lost when this happens. Vehicle will roll until stop. No control to steer or brake

Filed May 19, 2025 · Brakes, Transmission · AZ

Front brake failure at 3k miles. Rotors warped so badly they failed to properly stop the vehicle. Vehicle shaking immensely Transmission failure at 11k miles. While vehicle is in Drive mode the transmission is stuck in first gear and will not shift. The tachometer was redlining at 6k I had to use the paddle shifters to get the transmission to shift. I was driving the vehicle as a manual transmission when I own an automatic.

Filed Mar 17, 2025 · Brakes · 77,200 miles · PA · crash · fire · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that as his daughter was driving at 20 MPH on the highway, she depressed the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond, and the vehicle started to smoke from the engine and into the cabin. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's daughter then tried to depress the brake pedal again, and the contact's daughter then jumped out of the vehicle on the ramp. The vehicle was coming down on the intersection unoccupied, engulfed in smoke, initially hitting a stop sign and then another unknown sign and sequentially coming to a stop. The contact then saw the vehicle at the hillside engulfed with fire and smoke and tried to break a window, however, the contact heard his daughter and stopped. The Fire Department and Police Department were on scene and extinguished the remaining of the fire and the hillside. The origin of the fire was on the engine. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was consumed by the fire and the remainder were taken to Lenzi Automotive. The contact was the only occupant in the vehicle and sustained scrapes and bruises to her elbow, finger, right thigh, buttocks, and back rib that require medical attention. The failure mileage was approximately 77,200.

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 Jun 20, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · PA

My 2014 Santa Fe was scheduled for a Recall 251 ABS Brake Failure-Fire hazard. the federal safety agency and Hyundai both advised owners of vehicles associated with this recall to park away from structures and recommended the vehicle not to be driven. Hyundai did not have a solution for roughly 6 months. During that time I kept my vehicle parked and away from structures as recommended for that 251 safety concern. I periodically would start the car and let it run to keep it from failing. I went through an entire winter season waiting for a solution a recall. My car just sat. Extreme weather and susceptible to dirt as it sat outside parked. Finally in May 2024 I was informed that Hyundai had a solution and parts were ready for the 251 recall repair. Well the day I was scheduled to bring my vehicle in to be repaired I went out and attempted to start the vehicle but could not. I tried to jump the battery and it still wouldn’t start so I called the dealer and told them that I couldn’t get the vehicle started. They would not provide a tow so I rescheduled the appointment and I called a tow service the next day. Tow came and checked the battery. The battery was fine. They jumped the battery and the vehicle turned on. the vehicle to a local dealer and they repaired the recalls. The vehicle was driven to the dealer that week. My vehicle’s recalls were completed and I picked up the car a week later. All of a sudden when I went to start the car it would not turn over. I stalled in the lane of travel and avoided a collision. I called a private tow again, towed to the same dealer that did the recall. Engine light came on and they were able to determine that the crank position sensor failed as to the reason for stalling and intermittent starting. $600 later they repaired it. I left and the next day my car wouldn’t start again. I associated this with the 251 recall and wear as it sat dormant for too many months. Hyundai refused to provide Goodwill or reimbursement for the crankshaft repair.

Filed May 6, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · 92,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH on a highway exit ramp, she depressed the brake pedal and the "ABS" and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not slowing and was vibrating while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the brake pedal was very soft while being depressed and the vehicle was stalling. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the brake seals and other unknown brake parts. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the brake failure reoccurred along with the engine stalling. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Dec 16, 2023 · Brakes · PA · crash · 4 injuries

While parking, the brakes failed. Although the brake pedal was correctly and completely depressed the car failed to stop until it hit the building causing damage to structure and injuries occurred to passengers. The brake pedal pulsated but the car did not stop. Prior to this, the brakes would sporadically pulsate while braking. There were vehicle health issues that were reported.

Filed Nov 21, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · TN

Upon braking hard and suddenly due to being cutoff on the interstate, it felt as if the antilock brakes did not properly engage but rather grabbed/grinded/scraped. Only when I let off the brake did they disengage. This happened the first time within 2 months of owning the car and with less than 2k miles on it, at highway speeds (65-70 MPH) and this sensation has happened probably 4 times in the 7 months I have owned the car under various scenarios of stopping quickly. In addition, it recently happened when driving 25-30 MPH and coming to a normal stop approaching a stop sign - where it felt as if the brake on the front passenger tire grabbed/grinded/scraped (but not on the 3 other tires). I have taken the car back for inspection at the dealer twice, neither time have they found any issues. In addition, one evening the stability control light flickered, sounded as if the dash was frying/sizzling with no reason - roads were not wet, no leaves, grass or other debris, etc. and speed was 25-30 - this happened twice within 3 miles. Dealer found no issue with car after performing visual inspection of wiring, check of system for code errors, nor driving test to reproduce issue. Had the brakes failed, I could have been in an accident causing serious harm to me/my passengers or whomever I could have hit. I believe the ABS system needs to be replaced or reprogrammed but the dealer refuses to acknowledge a problem exists. Online forums indicate similar (and worse) issues, also with people stating they cannot get a dealer to resolve their problems. This is a serious malfunction of either the electric or braking system in some capacity and should be fixed before people are severely injured or killed.