1 recall and 353 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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Decode a VINAlmost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
A short circuit can occur in the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) unit. This increase the risk of the vehicle catching fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Vehicles may develop an electrical short in the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
The wiring harness mounted under the bench seat can be damaged by being pinched by the seat hinge when it is folded down. This can lead the curtain airbag not to work, increasing the risk of injuries in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Matched on brand and model name — Safety Gate publishes no VIN. Check the production dates, and quote the recall code to a dealer.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED OF FLAMES UNDER THE VEHICLE AS BLACK SMOKE POURED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED BRUISES ON THE FACE AND CHEST AND EXPERIENCED TROUBLE BREATHING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle began to shake. The vehicle merged to the shoulder of the roadway and suddenly another vehicle crashed into the entire driver's side of the vehicle while the contact was still in the vehicle. The driver who crashed into the contact did not stop at the scene and continued to drive after the crash. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to her neck and chest area that did not require medical attention. The vehicle failed to start after the incident and was towed to the contact's residence where it currently remained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) and had scheduled an appointment with the dealer prior to the crash. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 159,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Airbags for the ENTIRE car did not deploy in a car accident that rendered the car inoperable. Vehicle was going 40mph and nothing. There were NO service lights on or any issues prior to the accident. This resulted in contusions and a sprained neck.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY CROSSED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE. AS A RESULT, A HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED, CAR SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, AND RESTARTED. DURING INTERIM 20 SECONDS, ATTEMPTED TO PULL VEHICLE TO LEFT SHOULDER AS I WAS DRIVING IN FAR LEFT LANE. I FELT "ENGINE DROP" OR A FEELING WHEREAS THE CAR NO LONGER FELT POWERED, CUE THAT THE ENGINE HAD WENT OFF. POWER STEERING WENT MANUAL ALONG WITH OTHER POWER ASSIST DEVICES LIKE POWER STEERING. ON DIRT SHOULDER OF FREEWAY ATTEMPTING WITH MANUAL BRAKES AND STEERING TO BRING VEHICLE OFF ROADWAY. VEHICLE RESTARTED DURING MANEUVER. STILL MOVING AT SAFE SPEED ATTEMPTED TO MERGE BACK ONTO THE FREEWAY, HAVING NOT YET DECELERATED ENOUGH YET TO CONTINUE TO PULL OVER....CLEAR AND DRY CONDITIONS IN NORTH LA COUNTY. THIS VEHICLE HOWEVER HAS ALWAYS HAD "OVERLY RESPONSIVE" OR "VERY TIGHT" STEERING, FOR LACK OF BETTER TERMINOLOGY. I LEASED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT FULLY REALIZE, UNTIL SOME TIME PASSED, WHAT THIS 'STEERING CHARACTERISTIC' WOULD MEAN IN THE FUTURE, IN AN EVENT REQUIRING ACCURATE AND RESPONSIVE STEERING COMBINED WITH THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE SUDDEN ENGINE POWER RESUMING, COMBINED WITH, WHAT THIS WRITER WOULD DESCRIBE AS "TIGHT STEERING" TO BEGIN WITH, MADE THE VEHICLE ROLL. THE VEHICLE, WITH WHAT FELT LIKE A "HIGH CENTER OF GRAVITY" ALWAYS FELT LIKE IT WOULD ROLL IF ONE WERE TO HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY TO AVOID SOMETHING IN THE ROAD FOR EXAMPLE. I DID NOT REALIZE THIS FEATURE DURING MY TEST DRIVE. BEING A LESSEE I WAS OBLIGATED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS. THE VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE CROSSING 3 LANES OF AN OCCUPIED NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 14. A SUDDEN JOLT RESULTED IN A FRACTURE OF L1 VERTEBRAE. DURING ROLL, JACK BECAME UNDONE FROM WHERE IT WAS FACTORY MOUNTED UNDERNEATH LIFT UP COVER, AND HAD NEVER BEEN REMOVED. FLAILING AROUND IN THE VEHICLE NOW WAS THIS HEAVY SCISSOR JACK BOUNCING AROUND IN THE VEHICLE COMPARTMENT WITH ME. I AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE. *TR
ON 2/4/15, MY 2012 SANTA FE HAD AN UNEXPECTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND ME, THE DRIVER. I HAD BACKED INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK FACING A BUSY ROAD AND WHILE RE-POSITIONING VEHICLE, GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR PROPELLED FORWARD, GOING THROUGH A 4 FOOT SNOW BANK AND INTO A STONE WALL. THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND HIT ME DIRECT IN CENTER CHEST. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED IN ABOUT 2 SECONDS AND I HAD MY FOOT DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PUT MY LEFT FOOT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *JS IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I DID NOT HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER VEHICLE, WHICH WHEN I LATER PROCESSED THIS, WAS THE MOST FRIGHTENING PART.. AFTER GOOGLING THIS COMPLAINT, I WAS STUNNED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,347. ..UPDATED 01-10-14 *BF
The engine rod broke creating a big whole in the engine which caused the engine and underneath of car to start on fire. There was a massive recall for this same issue in 2021-2023 for the year car! It is available for inspection! Yes safety was at risk, the car was on fire on the Highway in the middle of rush hour. The problem was confirmed by Progressive and I contact Hyundai. The car was inspected by the police and insurance company. No lights, messages and the car was running fine before the fire!
My 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe caught fire on October 29, 2025. Prior to this, the dealership completed one recall but left another open. Hyundai denied my claim and refused to provide the inspection report. I am filing this complaint because I believe the incomplete recall may be related and I want NHTSA to review the issue.
My engine caught on fire in the middle of the night ([XXX] on [XXX]). The fire department was called by my building’s security and they came to put out the fire. The security footage shows that the car engine caught on fire for no apparent reason. The fire department did not identify any foul play or vandalism nor did the security camera footage. Unfortunately since my car has been paid off, I only had liability coverage and could not get the coverage to assess. I had to junk the car. No one was hurt but there was broken glass and some parts around the parking lot due to fire and fire department having to shatter and pry open the engine bay. Please advise if someone can help me in my situation. Also this should be made aware to Hyundai. There was a recall but I was never notified. Nor does any recall history show up for this. See article: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at 40-45 MPH, she heard an abnormal ticking sound, and the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated she saw black smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether a warning light illuminated. The contact and her husband exited the vehicle. The contact stated as they walked back to the vehicle, they notice that the smoke has stopped. The contact and her husband did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle had been waiting to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (ENGINE) for five months as the parts for recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
On the way to get the recall fixed on this vehicle the car caught fire under the hood and was a total loss. This was a safety hazard to not only my family, but to the public passing by on the road. The fire service had to come put out the massive flames and the car was then towed to the dealer in Athens GA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF SMOKE. THE DETECTED LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AN INTERNAL PIECE OF MY ENGINE SHOT A HOLE THROUGH MY ENGINE BLOCK. FIRE STARTED SHOOTING OUT OF MY ENGINE AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT WITHOUT THE FIRE GETTING WORSE. THE DRIVER BEHIND ME PULLED OVER AND TOLD ME THAT HE COULD SEE THE FIRE UNDER THE CAR WHILE DRIVING BEHIND ME. HE STOPPED TRAFFIC UNTIL WE CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE FIRE WAS STILL VISIBLE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE MINUTES BUT IT STOPPED WITHOUT THE WHOLE CAR IGNITING. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO HYUNDAI USA. THEY ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER TO ME BUT TOLD ME THAT THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, THAT MY CAR WAS TOWED TO, DID NOT SEE EVIDENCE OF FIRE SO THEY DROPPED THE CASE. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD A WITNESS, THE DRIVER BEHIND ME FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SEE FIRE DAMAGE AND THEREFORE COULDN'T VALIDATE MY CLAIM REGARDLESS OF THE WITNESS. THE CAR HAD NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THE OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY, AND THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, BLOW OUT THE BLOCK AND SHOOT FIRE. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY ATTEMPTS TO PRESSURE HYUNDAI TO CHECK MY ENGINE AGAIN HAS ONLY LED TO THEM TO TELLING ME THAT IN 30 DAYS THEY COULD GET SOMEONE ELSE TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE TO VALIDATE MY CLAIM.
CAME HOME 8 PM. SON CAME HOME SHORTLY AFTER 10 PM. JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT MY CAR ALARM STARTED GOING OFF (CAR LOCKED AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY), I GOT OUT OF BED LOOKED THROUGH BLINDS AND SAW MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO KITCHEN GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT FIRE AND CALLED 911. FIRE DEPT DETERMINED FIRE STARTED INSIDE CAR AT WIRING AREA.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.