Hyundai Santa FE Sport Engine Problems
Owners have filed 692 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Hyundai Santa FE Sport across 6 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (207). The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (17% of reports).
- 692engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $3,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 59%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 115 of 692 complaints (17%)
- Motive power: mentioned in 42 of 692 complaints (6%)
- Knock sensor: mentioned in 38 of 692 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Hyundai Santa FE Sport at $3,100, and half of them between $1,100 and $9,100.
Based on 23 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 308 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 692 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 42 a fire, 3 an injury.
Hyundai Santa FE Sport engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Santa FE Sport | 198 | 61% | 74,500 |
| 2017 Santa FE Sport | 207 | 58% | 62,082 |
| 2016 Santa FE Sport | 43 | 61% | 94,000 |
| 2015 Santa FE Sport | 41 | 49% | 90,088 |
| 2014 Santa FE Sport | 94 | 57% | 70,000 |
| 2013 Santa FE Sport | 109 | 55% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Model years: 2013, 2014
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles previously repaired under recall numbers 15V-568 and 17V-226. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, allowing fuel to leak from the pipe.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's recall number for this recall is 180.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2013, 2014
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine, replacing the engine short block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 162.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Started car to reverse out of parking space and it started jerking as I accelerated. Drove jerkily the few blocks I had to go to make it home. Did not drive again but upon starting it the check engine light came on. Contacted Hyundai customer care who told me my car was covered under two extended…
This is in reference to the Hyundai 9C2 ECU software update for Theta II engines that have caused my 2017 Santa Fe Sport to hesitate, surge and run poorly the first few minutes after a cold start! I contacted my dealership but they have not offered any resolution as of yet even though Hyundai…
I was driving my car and it showed no signs of any issue but the engine light came on and started blinking so I pulled over and got it towed to a mechanic. He told me that I would need a new engine that would cost me $8000. I looked into it and found that there was a defect with my vehicles engine…
While driving I smelled gasoline then it turned to a burnt smell, engine turned off. Got to side of the road and engine caught fire. Firetrucks and police arrived. Car is totaled entire engine bay was up in flames. Car has been towed.
My 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe is burning oil and I run the risk of engine failure. I have to check my oil level daily. The mechanic who performed my last oil change said he is seeing this frequently with this age Hyundai Santa Fe. He said Hyundai should be willing to replace my engine but of course they…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Santa FE Sports have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 692 owner complaints about engine for the Hyundai Santa FE Sport. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Santa FE Sport engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Hyundai Santa FE Sport?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,100 (half paid between $1,100 and $9,100), from 23 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Hyundai Santa FE Sport?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 115 of 692 complaints, followed by “motive power” (42).
Other Hyundai Santa FE Sport problems
See all Hyundai Santa FE Sport problems.