2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT Complaints

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact used a personal handheld scanner to scan the vehicle and retrieved DTC: P1326 which indicated a failure with the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V578000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle decelerated and lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The check engine warning light, the malfunction indicator light and two other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart, but failed to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine rod bearing failure. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced and submitted a claim to the manufacturer. The dealer later informed the contact that the manufacturer had denied the claim. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V578000(Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The contact filed an appeal claim with the manufacturer and was informed that the appeal claim was denied because the knock sensor detection system(KSDS) software update was not previously performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

This model engine is a common complaint easily found by quick internet searches. They have recalled SOME models, but not all. This car uses EXTREME amounts of oil. It is not normal. I have not had a car in my 38 years of driving that used anything even close. I do not have any leaks. This car requires 1 quart of oil every 500-700 miles. This is horrible for maintenance. It is very dangerous to an unsuspecting buyer. I found out about this when my engine light came on and to my surprise the oil was about empty after an oil change when I first purchased the car. This was only about 6 weeks in to having the vehicle! This is also horrible for the environment, expensive, and messy. Hyundai should be held accountable. The oil consumption is due to an engine defect that is not directly related to their current Lifetime limited warranty for connected bearing rods.

While driving my vehicle, the check engine light came on, and the engine entered limp mode, severely reducing power and acceleration. This presented a significant safety risk while traveling on the highway, especially during lane changes and merges. The issue was later diagnosed by a certified Hyundai dealer as Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1326, which relates to the knock sensor detecting potential engine bearing wear. The dealer confirmed this issue and performed related inspection work under Hyundai’s Service Campaign T3G. No prior warning signs appeared before the incident. Hyundai has issued a known campaign for this issue, but no recall appeared under my VIN at the time. I incurred rental and rideshare costs due to the vehicle being held at the dealer for several days. This condition severely impacts the drivability and safety of the vehicle.

I went to get my oil changed, and I've noticed that not even 2week after the oil change the truck is 2 or 2 1\2 quarts low on oil. So, I was wondering if you have any other problems with this truck and the oil. The Santa Fe isn't linking any fluids under it.

I was driving to work when I heard a loud knocking noise in my engine shortly after beginning my trip. My vehicle then lost all acceleration power as I was making a left turn at a light. Then, the check engine and oil pressure warning lights activated simultaneously. Had the driver behind me not been maintaining a safe following distance, I certainly would have been rear-ended. After having the vehicle towed to a mechanic approved by my insurance company, I was told that the issue was possible engine failure. There were no warning lights or symptoms before this issue arose, and I still had 400 miles before I was due for another oil change.

At approximately 65,000 miles the car started using excessive amounts of oil in the crankcase. I visited the local Hyundai dealer who changed my oil and began monitoring the condition. I was instsructed to come back to the dealer every 1,000 miles for an oil top off and to report the consumption. On the third visit, the engine is now using approximately 2 quarts of oil in 1,000-1,100 miles. Extremely excessive. I inquired about a warranty claim but was denied since I was the second owner. Yet, Hyundai acknowledges problems with this engine and have established broader coverage for engine problems stemming from the rod bearing which includes coverage for the second owner. The high oil consumption underscores another problem with this horrible engine, and high oil consumption should be included in a recall and repairs.

My ABS and Traction Control lights keep going off, intermittently. They have been doing it for several years.It can be for hours or for days. I took a video of it happening a couple years ago, and photos, also. More recently my speedometer has started jumping. I had the ABS recall performed when it was first implemented. When I've taken my vehicle to Hyundai (twice now specifically for this) they say they can see no codes and will do nothing. From what I have read on the ABS recall, this is what are the symptoms of it. I am under the impression that I have somehow gotten a defective part, even when they did the recall. The recall was that it could cause an engine fire. Today driving home, for a second, downhill, the oil light came on for a second-then went off. I came home and parked. My husband checked. He said there is no oil in the car. That, I imagine is part of the other engine issue this model has. But you would think the oil light would come on sooner and STAY on. He is going to get some oil and then take it to a shop when he gets off work. My main concern is getting the ABS/speedometer fixed as I believe it is from the first recall. The second issue-that is probably a Hyundai "recognized" issue. They just keep telling me nothing is wrong with the ABS/speedometer though. I have photos spanning several year, it falls in line with the recalled issue. Just replace the part already. The last date I went to Hyundai was Monday last week, so I'll put that as the incident date, as I was there for the ABS/speedometer. I had to drive an hour each way to see them twice now to be told they can't do anything. Today the oil light came on.

While driving on a highway in April 2025, my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport suddenly lost all power after approximately 10 minutes of normal driving. All dashboard warning lights illuminated, and both the accelerator and brake pedals became unresponsive. I was forced to stop the vehicle using the handbrake in the middle of a 65 mph highway, creating an extremely dangerous situation for myself and other drivers. Prior to this incident, the vehicle had displayed the P1326 knock sensor code multiple times over a 10-month period, each time accompanied by hesitation when accelerating. The knock sensor was replaced twice under used car warranty by Honda. Despite these interventions, the same code and symptoms recurred. The Hyundai dealership(Dec 2024 at Montgomery, Jan 2025 at Enterprise) repeatedly stated that there was “nothing wrong with the engine.” After the highway failure, the vehicle was inspected by a collision center and an independent mechanic. They confirmed that Cylinder 4 had no compression and diagnosed a burnt valve. Full engine replacement was recommended. Hyundai initially indicated that the engine might be covered under the extended warranty but later denied the claim, stating that the damage was due to a cylinder issue and can not check bearing failure. They also claimed it was too late to determine whether the bearing was the cause. This is not an isolated issue. Many Hyundai owners across the U.S. have reported identical symptoms—P1326 code, hesitation, cylinder compression loss, and ultimately engine failure—particularly in vehicles equipped with the Theta II engine. These failures often occur around or after 100,000 miles, despite regular maintenance. This ongoing and widespread cylinder-related engine failure presents a serious safety risk and must be addressed through manufacturer accountability, improved diagnostic standards, and proactive repair or recall efforts.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the side view mirror displayed an amber signal light; however, when the sun was extremely bright, the contact was unable to see the amber light. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the diagnosis was undetermined; however, the dealer informed the contact that the light could not be changed. The contact was informed the amber light could not be switched from amber to red. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.