Hyundai Santa Fe shudder problems

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Brakes · NY

Despite having the DCT software recall repaired, today the parking brake disengaged after the car was idling for a few minutes at my son’s school. It lurched forward, startling me, and then I was alerted that the emergency parking brake deployed. The rollaway could have injured a child in the parking lot. No alerts or lights have been on prior. Additionally, after the rollaway incident, I was stopped at a red light, and my brakes depressed halfway. The last few weeks the acceleration from stop is difficult, and the brakes shudder and partially depress, especially when driving over a bump - feeling every minor flaw in the road rattling beneath my foot on the pedal. To also be mentioned - I have retained an attorney to pursue a Magnusson Moss cash & keep settlement on the car. From June - August 2026 the car was out of service, 4 repair orders, 2 dealerships, and a FSE I demanded finally found & diagnosed faulty O-rings causing the freon to leak and the AC to fail. The car also smelled strongly of fuel one full day, and the dash & steering wheel felt hot to the touch - but no defect was found or diagnosed.

Filed Aug 28, 2026 · Transmission · CO

Known as an issue with Hyundai, but unresponsive to correct because no diagnostic code is sent. Transmission will shift extremely hard from 1st to 2nd gear randomly. In keeping track of the mileage, this appears to happen every 200 miles or so. Also, it faild to upshift correctly, making the entire car shudder. Also, at times it will not go into reverse gear. On one occasion, after finally doing so, it slammed so hard into reverse I almost collided with the car behind me.

Filed Aug 10, 2026 · Transmission · 63,036 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle jerked and shuddered abnormally. Additionally, the transmission hesitated, and the vehicle almost stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the Service Campaign Number: 9C2 was completed. The contact was informed that the updated software was confusing the transmission and had caused the failure. The contact was informed that the remedy was not yet determined. In addition, the contact was informed that the dealer was waiting on instructions from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 63,036.

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · Transmission · 28,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and shuddered and lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was initially informed that the failure was not related to the transmission; however, the dealer later diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the contact was advised to pick up the vehicle; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact's Attorney notified the manufacturer, who proposed an unsatisfactory settlement. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

Filed Jun 17, 2026 · Engine · TX

We are the original owner of a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The vehicle is experiencing issues from internal engine oil consumption caused by a manufacturing defect in the GDI powertrain. In 2023, while driving under normal operating conditions, the vehicle began severely jerking, shuddering and hesitating during acceleration. This hesitation and sudden drop in power creates a severe and immediate traffic hazard, as the vehicle loses acceleration capabilities unpredictably while driving, merging, entering a highway or crossing intersections. I have since experience low oil volume due to this systemic oil consumption. On April 7, 2023 while I was under the 100,000 mile factory warranty (at 99,644), the issues were reported to the dealership but they found no issues. Since then the engine light come up regularly and we must add or change oil soon. On June 15, 2026 we took it back with the same issue and we have been told after checking it and filling it up we must repeat the process from 2023, drive it for 1000 miles without changing or adding oil, even if it dries up. This will create a safety hazard not only for the public but for my family. Now we are told the engine needs to be replaced but since we're out of warranty, we must pay $21,000. We were under warranty when we reported the issue and they purposedly led us out knowing the issues were happening to other Sonata and Santa Fe models. Now we are left with a dangerous vehicle which we cannot in good faith sell to any other family.

Filed May 29, 2026 · Brakes, Transmission · IA

My 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN: [XXX] ) was manufactured on March 14, 2024, in [XXX] . The vehicle is currently experiencing dual-clutch transmission (8DCT) juddering, shuddering, and extreme hesitation when trying to accelerate from a complete stop at traffic lights and intersections. This creates a severe lag in acceleration, leaving the vehicle dangerously exposed to oncoming traffic. This component failure directly mirrors the mechanical hazards outlined in the federal safety agency Safety Recall 263. Because my manufacturing date falls just outside the official recall window, this vehicle has not received a formal recall remedy, yet it actively exhibits the identical, dangerous powertrain defects, suggesting the recall's production scope may be too narrow. Furthermore, in November 2024, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic safety failure where it completely lost all propulsion power for approximately 30 seconds while moving through the middle of a live intersection. Most recently, on XXX, right after being released from an extended 38-day service stay at an authorized dealership, the electronic infotainment displayed an active warning screen stating the car should be shifted to park while the vehicle shifter was physically and securely locked in Park. Time-stamped video evidence of this active transmission/braking sensor failure has been captured and preserved. The vehicle remains an active, uncorrected threat to my physical safety on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 16, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

This vehicle has experienced: • Multiple roadside breakdowns • Three fuel injector system failures • 2 complete transmission failures and replacements • Loss of propulsion • Fuel and chemical odor safety risks • A cumulative total of over 60 days out of service, currently at dealer since 4-15-26. SUMMARY OF SAFETY-RELATED FAILURES AND REPAIR HISTORY Incident #1 — May 20, 2022 (Mileage In: 4,899 | Mileage Out: 4,909) Vehicle broke down roadside in an unsafe, unlit area, requiring towing. Failure attributed to fuel injector defect. Vehicle remained in repair until May 24, 2022. Incident #2 — July 19, 2022 (Mileage In: 9,316 | Mileage Out: 9,321) Vehicle emitted strong gasoline odor, creating a potential fire and safety hazard. Vehicle was not drivable and required towing. Released July 26, 2022. During a recorded phone call, Hyundai Case Manager provided a verbal assurance that this failure would not recur. Incident #3 — September 9, 2025 (Mileage In/Out: 65,232) Vehicle exhibited engine shuddering, suspected fuel injector failure, and transmission shifting defects. Dealer released vehicle without resolving the defect on September 9, 2025. Incident #4 — January 13, 2026 (Mileage In: 72,089 | Mileage Out: 72,098) Vehicle lost power and broke down, requiring towing. Dealer determined full transmission replacement was required. All four fuel injectors were replaced again, marking the third injector-related failure. Released January 23, 2026. Incident #5 — January 30, 2026 (Mileage In: 72,467 | Mileage Out: 72,487) Vehicle overheated, lost power, and emitted chemical odors, requiring towing. Dealer confirmed cooler hose failure and fluid leakage. Released February 5, 2026. Incident #6: 4-15-26 - Sent back to dealer. Dealer still has car in shop. Advising needing new transmission. Still no confirmation as of 5-16-26 if car is repairable.

Filed Apr 22, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · ID

The vehicle has two display panels, molded into a single frame. There is an infotainment panel on the right that handles music, maps, and phone interaction. There is an instrument panel on the left. The infotainment panel has not issues. The instrument panel blanks out for 3 - 5 seconds every few minutes, and then reappears. Occasionally the words "No SIgnal" in big red letters will appear. Occasionally the gear selection letter will remain on the otherwise blank screen. The screen also shudders / tears occasionally before blanking. It does this whether the vehicle is moving or parked. I purchased the vehicle used, Jan 2 2026. I noticed the problem a couple of days later. It has continued. It is not getting any worse or any better.

Filed Apr 16, 2026 · Engine · TX

Around Feb 15, 2026, at ~85,000 miles, the oil pressure warning light began illuminating at idle and extinguishing above idle speed. The vehicle had also been experiencing intermittent hard starts and occasional shuddering at idle — symptoms too subtle for a typical owner to connect to imminent engine failure. An independent mechanic performed a manual oil pressure test: 4 PSI (Hyundai minimum spec is 13 PSI). The authorized dealer confirmed 6 PSI and found metal shavings in the oil pan — the signature of connecting rod bearing wear documented in Theta II GDI engine failures. Dealer recommended full engine replacement ($8,500). Vehicle has been inoperable at the dealer since Feb 19, 2026. SAFETY CONCERN: At 4 PSI with metal debris in the oil system, this engine was at imminent risk of catastrophic seizure. I avoided highway driving after the warning appeared (max 50 mph, city streets only). Had the engine seized at highway speed, loss of power steering and brake vacuum assist would have created serious crash risk. The symptom profile — warning only at idle, clearing at speed, no knocking, no check engine light — is the pattern that puts less-vigilant drivers at risk of seizure at highway speed with no warning. KNOWN DEFECT: The 2.4L G4KJ Theta II GDI is identical to the engine subject to a $210M the federal safety agency civil penalty (2020), multiple recalls, and a ~$1.3B class action settlement extending lifetime warranties through MY 2019. The 2020 uses the same engine but was excluded. My failure mode is textbook Theta II. Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2 (ECU update for 2019-2020 Theta II, issued Nov 2025) was incomplete on this vehicle — I was never notified. Completed after the engine had already failed. Manufacturer denied coverage (Case #XXX). BBB AUTO LINE claim #XXX filed Apr 16, 2026. No crash. No injuries. No fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 25, 2025 · Transmission · CA

Transmission issues with DTC light coming on, dealership did software update which did not resolve the problem. Transmission has rough shift and shuddering. Dealership is recommending complete transmission replacement.