2025 Hyundai Santa Fe: Recalls, Complaints & California Lemon Law

There is a severe and dangerous lag in acceleration when trying to merge into traffic. Praying the accelerator all the way down often result in the car not responding for a second or two before kicking into gear. This is significant when trying to merge onto a highway or onto a cross street with incoming traffic.

NHTSA #11745352

On 6/6/2026, my husband and I were driving on I70 west bound near the Golden CO exit. Out of nowhere, we heard a very loud pop sound and then heard wind over our head. The front sunroof spontaneously shattered. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? FRONT SUNROOF How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? YES! Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? YES Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NO Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO! NOT A SINGLE WARNING, NOTHING!

NHTSA #11742638

Spontaneous windshield crack

NHTSA #11736997

Component: TIRES Tire Brand: Pirelli Model: Scorpion (255/45R20) Vehicle: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Complaint Description: I have experienced two separate failures of the right‑rear Pirelli Scorpion 20" tire on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy within a four‑week period. Both failures occurred during normal driving on paved roads with no significant impact event. The first failure was a loss of air due to a puncture in the sidewall area. I was able to use the on board sealant kit to sufficiently repair the tire and get it to Belle Tire. The tire was replaced as the damage was on the sidewall on May 5, 2026. On June 6, 2026 while driving on HWY 75 in Ohio, the replacement tire on the same right‑rear corner also failed, again losing air rapidly and causing us to pull over to the side of the highway. Both failures occurred at low mileage and under normal driving conditions with no impact. This pattern suggests a potential safety‑related defect involving the OEM Pirelli Scorpion 255/45R20 tires used on the Santa Fe Calligraphy. I have since learned that many other owners of 2024–2025 Hyundai Santa Fe models equipped with these same 20" Pirelli Scorpion tires are reporting sidewall punctures, bulges, and repeated failures, often on the passenger‑side tires. Repeated tire failures on the same wheel position pose a serious safety risk, including the possibility of sudden blowouts at highway speeds. I am reporting this so NHTSA can investigate whether these tires or their application on this vehicle are defective.

NHTSA #11742527

My car has 11,000 miles and there is a bulge in the sidewall on the front passenger side. I did not hit a curb or pothole to cause this damage.Multiple people have complained of this same defect in their Hyundai Santa Fe around the same mileage.

NHTSA #11734022

P245/45/21 pirelli scorpion AS NCS sidewall on 3 tires has large bubble after 14,600 miles. Hyundai dealer advised of findings. Replaced tires at my cost. Many problems reported on this issue for the Hyundai Santa Fe 2025 Calligraphy model. No other tires options available to fix this on going problem.

NHTSA #11731424

I am reporting a safety hazard with the Driver Monitoring/Driver Assistance system in my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL (VIN: [XXX] ). The system frequently misinterprets my normal driving behavior as inattentiveness and triggers constant, loud beeping while I am driving. In many cases, it also disables assistance functions mid‑drive, which is dangerous and unexpected. The false alerts appear to be caused by the system misreading my eyes due to their natural shape and size. This issue does not occur with my wife, who has larger eyes, which indicates the system is biased toward certain physiologies and does not reliably detect all drivers. I have tested this repeatedly: if I strain my eyes unnaturally wide, the alerts stop, but this is extremely uncomfortable and only sustainable for a few seconds. The system is effectively pressuring the driver to adopt unsafe, unnatural behavior to avoid constant alarms. Environmental conditions such as sun glare, rain, and darkness make the false alerts even more frequent. The sudden loud beeping is startling and forces me to divert attention from the road. The unexpected loss of assistance features during driving further increases the risk of an accident. This system is not functioning as an assistive feature. Instead, it creates distraction, encourages unsafe compensatory behavior, and fails to accommodate normal variations in driver physiology. I request that NHTSA investigate whether Hyundai’s driver monitoring system meets safety and reliability standards and require corrective action if necessary. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11707370

The adaptive cruise control does not allow the use of sunglasses to be worn while the cruise control is engaged. The cruise control will immediately shut off when sunglasses, and some prescription glasses are worn. This is a safety issue as you are not allowed to wear sunglasses on a sunny day or when the sun is low in the sky and it is below the car's sun visor. The same camera that is looking at the drivers eyes also controls other safety features and disables them when the driver is wearing their sunglasses, and some prescription glasses as well

NHTSA #11702663

1. [XXX] – I went to get into the Satna FE, the lights blinked and mirrors moved into the unlock position, but doors would not open. I had to use my husbands car since he was out of town to get to work. I came home at lunch after calling my husband and my salesperson , Paula and used the valet key and was able to unlock and get into the vehicle. I then started the Santa FE and this is when the safety warning message appeared. I felt unsafe and Paula had the Hyundai of Statesboro tow the vehicle from my home, retained it for approximately three days, and reported the issue resolved after clearing diagnostic messages and conducting a 50-mile road test. Vaden of Statesboro contacted me on October 17th stating it was ready for pickup and all the codes were cleared. I picked it up on October 18th. 2. [XXX] – The same issued with the doors not opening and had to use the valet key again, the safety warning reappeared around midday while driving, accompanied by a hard shift / drivetrain shock. The vehicle was returned to Hyundai of Statesboro at approximately 5 p.m. The dealer acknowledged the repeated issue and provided a rental vehicle for me ([XXX]), while repairs continue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11699299

The windshield spontaneously cracked while parked. There are no signs of impact to explain the crack. This can be a safety concern as it can continue cracking, impede visibility and even burst possibly sending glass towards occupants.

NHTSA #11735723

I was sent a letter in the mail asking to bring in my vehicle for a safety recall involving the rearview camera. I scheduled an appointment with Key Hyundai of Milford, CT. After waiting for an hour, I was told that the dealership did not have the part needed to perform the repair and that they would call me when the part came in. It has been three weeks and I have not received a call or been contacted in any way. I got the sense that because this was not a paid service it was a very low priority for the service department. Because of that, I feel reluctant to trust the dealership with the repair.

NHTSA #11721831

Front wipers of the vehicle stopped working with snow buildup. This was solved once by tightening a bolt but happened again while driving

NHTSA #11713526

"My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has experienced repeated parasitic battery drain. Dealer diagnostic reports dated 5/12/26 and 5/14/26 document 'Excessive dark current draw condition identified' with dark current spikes well above the normal threshold of 50mA. Vehicle was at Kelly Hyundai of Stroudsburg PA for approximately two weeks. Dealer replaced fingerprint sensor module as best guess repair but could not confirm it was the definitive cause. Battery replacement was denied as battery did not meet Hyundai's replacement threshold despite documented drain. Service technician verbally acknowledged this is a known issue across 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. DTCs C173300 Undervoltage Detected were found on both front door handle sensor modules. Concerned about long term battery health and potential for repeated drain leaving vehicle inoperable."

NHTSA #11740209

My car was locked and battery had died. I was able to get in car with key from fob. I had to put car charger on battery in order to start car. This car is a year old with 18,531 miles

NHTSA #11708889

My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid with 1724 miles was unresponsive in the garage. Not able to get in the car because the 12v battery was completely drained. Hyundai dispatched a tow truck to take it to the local Hyundai dealership. A service provider did call me to let me know the car was there. He also told me that apparently this problem I had was a known issue with the 2025 Santa Fe Hybrids. I had no advance warning of any imminent problems with the battery.

NHTSA #11702075

The middle row left side seat belt does not buckle. We made sure everything is clear in it, it is not dirty. We have had issues with it clicking to lock since we purchased the car last March 2025. It does not work at all now.

NHTSA #11745481

The dealer is unable to remedy the defect within a reasonable time. It’s been two months with no fix and my family’s safety is in jeopardy.

NHTSA #11745009

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V218000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the remedy parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA #11737020

My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid AWD was serviced under warranty on 4/22/2026 for a driveability concern after experiencing a loss of power while driving. The service history shows part HY35326-2M500 was replaced. On or about 5/25/2026, the same issue occurred again while driving at highway speed. The vehicle suddenly lost motive power and dropped from approximately 70 mph to approximately 30 to 40 mph, creating a serious safety risk because the vehicle could not maintain speed with surrounding highway traffic. No warning lamps, dashboard messages, or diagnostic codes appeared during the failure. The vehicle is currently at a Hyundai dealership for inspection and repair for the repeat issue and should be available for inspection upon request. The prior dealer record appears to describe the issue generally as a “driveability concern,” but the current repair diagnosis and full repair notes are still pending. It is unknown whether the dealer has reproduced or confirmed the failure during the current visit. I am reporting this as a sudden loss of motive power at highway speed involving the fuel/propulsion system, engine, and/or powertrain.

NHTSA #11740281

I had stopped and put gas in for a full tank. Pulled out onto the Hwy heading towards Houston TX and was accelerating up to speed limit of 50MPH when the warning on the instrument panel displayed HYBRID SYSTEMS DISABLED pull over and stop immediately. Which I did, but I could not accelerate and was losing speed in traffic. I got safely parked and turned the vehicle off. I let the car sit for a few minutes and started it back up. All warnings were gone and the vehicle has performed normally since up to the current mileage of 9374. I took the vehicle to Hyundai today, 4/13/2026 and they hooked it up to the diagnostic system and it showed NOTHING.

NHTSA #11730952

Vehicle exhibits delayed deceleration after releasing accelerator. Engine RPM remains elevated for several seconds, causing the vehicle to continue applying power unexpectedly. Issue began after recent repair and was not present before. Condition is intermittent but reproducible and affects drivability.

NHTSA #11729492

Second row power seats will operate even when a carseat is present & installed using LATCH system, crushing occupant. Power seat button at base of second row seats are easy to inadvertently press while entering/exiting the seat (i.e when seat belt is not on), causing the seat to move forward crushing occupant. This has happened multiple times since taking ownership.

NHTSA #11725839

The 2nd-row seats in the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy feature motorized recline and folding functions. My testing reveals a significant safety flaw: the motorized "Seat Slide Forward" and "Rear Cargo Fold Down" buttons do not appear to have functioning pinch sensors and do not automatically disable when a passenger or object is detected. Specific Incident: On [XXX], while my [XXX] son was entering the vehicle, the "rear access" button was accidentally triggered. The seat began folding and sliding with him in the path of travel; the motor did not sense his presence or stop automatically. Fortunately, he was not yet buckled and was able to jump out of the way before I manually reversed the action. Technical Findings: Based on further testing (see attached results), any car seat installation would be severely compromised if these buttons are pressed. While the vehicle's system is aware when a seat belt is buckled, it fails to use this logic to lockout the motorized folding functions. All motorized movement should be disabled for any seat where the buckle is engaged to prevent injury to occupants or the structural compromise of a child safety seat. This issue is similar in nature to the recent recall of the 2026 Palisade (NHTSA ID: 26V160000). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11730637

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the button was pressed to fold the second row passenger seat while the [XXX] daughter was still seated. During the incident, the electronic folding seat began to fold down onto the daughter, causing extreme distress to the child and crushing her into the seat. The button was pressed, which stopped the seat from continuing to fold down, and the child was freed from the seat. No medical treatment was required. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who examined the seat and determined no failure had occurred. The contact was informed that although the incident was extremely dangerous, the electronic folding seat had operated as intended. The contact was informed that the seat belt needed to be buckled to avoid the problem in the future. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance had yet been offered. The contact indicated that a similar incident resulting in a fatality had occurred in the Hyundai Palisade vehicle. The failure mileage was 20,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Allegedly reported: 1 injury (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11729052

After making right turn after being stopped at traffic light, when I attempted to accelerate the vehicle would not shift from low gear to higher gear(s). This caused very high engine RPMs for the time it took to pull the vehicle off to the side of the road and stop and turn of the vehicle . I looked at dash board for any indicator lights but didn’t see any. Restarted the vehicle accelerated back on to the road and the vehicle did change gears ok. Again looking for any dashboard indicator to be on but didn’t see any. The date of this incident was [XXX]. Made appointment on 2/10/26 for service to diagnose why this incident happened on 2/17/26 and to provide any necessary repairs at Columbia Hyundai, Cincinnati, Ohio. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11717013

After a maintenance service was performed at 16500 miles, we began to notice a high pitched whistling sound when pressing gas pedal doing highway driving above 75mph. The car was brought back to the dealer who couldn’t duplicate the complaint. We drove cross country, sound consistent until it began to make the sound at lower and lower speeds. We arrived at our destination and I took the car to the dealer we bought the car from. Their tech claimed it was normal coil whine. Since it was progressing I had the manager test drive the vehicle who agreed it was not normal. After a week we switched service advisors who immediately determined it was a failing transmission that needed replacement Now waiting for parts to arrive. I am requesting a buyback per California lemon law

NHTSA #11707236

Went By Lee Hyundai of Fayetteville my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe [XXX] my vehicle gave a warning check transmission oil immediately vehicle was sluggish. I was told to bring it back Monday October 6th they kept it for a week pick it up today October 10th, 2025 they worked on it I had to bring it right back. Went to Sam's club up the street got ready to leave message pops up check your transmission oil immediately call dealer had me to bring it back light stayed on driving there RPM wouldn't get over 2.5 I thought I was going to get run into stopping and going back made there dealership working on it again just purchased it [XXX] little over 3,6004miles I was scared to death INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11692565

The vehicle has gone into a limp mode unexpectedly while driving on the highway at 60+ mph. The first issue was on May 13, 2026. The car immediately stopped driving and went into limp mode and cannot go over 30 mph. It was taken to a service dealer. They could not replicate the problem, therefore the vehicle was given back as undiagnosed. This next incident occurred and almost caused an accident, and that was on June 3, 2026, again driving on the beltway around Maryland. The car went from 70 mph to 30 mph. The vehicle stayed at 25 to 30 mph the entire time. Could not get it to do anything else. Drove cautiously on the side of the road and got to the dealership after driving 30 minutes at 25 mph.

NHTSA #11741876

Sudden loss of power while driving on the interstate (65 MPH) , car would no longer accelerate and slowed down to ~10 MPH. Had to merge onto emergency lane, car struggled to power over 30 MPH. Warning light came up to "Park with engine On to charge battery". Parked car and restarted car and still did not resolve issue. Had to switch the car into "Sport" mode to drive home.

NHTSA #11741466

Immediately following routine maintenance performed at an authorized Hyundai dealership, my 2025 Hyundai Hybrid Santa Fe Calligraphy experienced a complete loss of engine oil, which resulted in the engine shutting down while driving on a highway. While traveling at highway speed with my minor daughter, the oil pressure and engine warning lights illuminated, followed by multiple error messages. The vehicle rapidly lost power, and I struggled to safely maneuver it onto the shoulder while high-speed traffic was passing. This created an immediate and life-threatening safety situation, with a real risk of being struck by other vehicles. We were stranded on the roadside for over three hours awaiting a tow, exposed to ongoing traffic danger. The dealership later advised that the incident was caused by a faulty Hyundai-supplied part, not driver error, misuse, or lack of maintenance. The vehicle had only approximately 4,000 miles at the time of failure. A sudden engine shutdown due to oil loss at highway speeds presents a severe risk of collision, injury, or death, especially when it occurs without warning. Given that a Hyundai component is implicated, I am concerned this may represent a broader safety defect affecting other vehicles. This incident caused extreme distress and endangered both myself and my child. I am submitting this complaint so that NHTSA may evaluate whether this issue warrants regulatory review or further investigation.

NHTSA #11712491

Hyundai's Forward Attention Warning is so aggressively annoying it makes me want to drive off a cliff to shut it up. Driving with an arm in the 12 o'clock position? "BEEP! Keep your eyes on the road!" Polarized sunglasses? "BEEP! I can't see your eyes!" Oh, there's a setting! Let's turn it off..."BEEEEEP! WHERE ARE YOUR EYES!". I just purchased and cannot use Cruise control I need to wear glasses It has a hard time seeing my eyes I cannot turn off I have tried many positions on steering wheel to no avail.

NHTSA #11680479

I purchased a new 2025MY Hyundai Santafe Hybrid. Since the day of my purchase there has been a constant error message that is displayed on dash saying "Driver attention warning system failure". this light stays on constantly and disables cruise control and adapative cruise system. This affects the usability of the vehicles. WHen asked Hyundai they say, drivers arent expected to wear sunglass if this system has to work properly, they even say constant blinking will cause system to fail and disable cruise control. This is a serious concern. How can people drive a car without blinking and how can a new car have disabled cruise control all the time.

NHTSA #11680700

Hyundai disabling critical vehicle safety systems if people wear sunglasses. I brought MY2025 hyundai santafe hybrid, this has driver attention monitoring system. Since the day i brought this vehicle i have been getting issues related to driver attention warning system. This error is being caused for no reason, this comes on when vehicle comes on and stays on (sometimes for days sometimes for weeks and sometimes for hours). HYundai says this issue is because i have a dash cam in car, error wont go away even when dash cam is removed. Recently hyundai engineers said its because you may be wearing sunglasses. What? Wearing sunglasses will disable AEB and cruise control !!!OMG. I removed sunglasses and tried still wont work. Hyundai sent me list of things not to do, including not to laugh, not to shorten your eyes and not to wink. this is a major safety concern, not allowing drivers to wear sunglass which will disable safety critical systems.

NHTSA #11680774

The car went from 70 miles an hour to 25 miles an hour all of a sudden on the highway and then would not allow to accelerate afterwards. Battery stopped charging and we had to stop it multiple times to get it to continue to drive no faults or issue on the dashboard.

NHTSA #11745451

Gas Motor is not engaging to assist electric drivetrain on a hybrid AWD 2025 Santa Fe. This resulted in a dangerous situation crossing a busy road from a stop sign. The Santa Fe rolled into the intersection at the drivers request, but did not accelerate normally (only to a maximum of a few miles per hour) and felt like an eternity to cross the road. Fortunately oncoming drivers from left and right were paying attention and slowed down and in one case honked aggressively to point out we driving badly. Pulling over to the side of the road, turning the vehicle off and then back on again has sometimes made it run normally, but we limited our trips at that point to first getting safely home and then delivering it to the dealer. The 20 mile drive to the dealer required pulling over twice to reset the vehicle so the electric motor would assist. We have had repeated warnings from the onboard system including "Follow up checks required - Engine Management System" and "There may be a problem with the engine management system Contact your Dealer". I will note that we have 11,000 miles and 11 months experience with the vehicle with NO problems. It may not be relevant, but these new faults began 2 days routine service for oil and tire rotation when recall was performed including ECU Software Update for Recall 25-01-028-1. Dealer is uncertain of problem and referring with outside tech assistance from Hyundai but we were told to expect 2 weeks for parts and repair and uncertainty as to whether that would fix it. In the meantime a vehicle with unreliable acceleration and top speed is unsafe and parked. I do note on this NHTSA website 2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID SUV AWD that there are 47 Complaints. 9 relating to this problem all beginning October 2025 and none prior back to the first post of Nov 2024 for this model. Complaints similar to this for engine management and speed and power loss account for 50% of complaints for this vehicle on the NHSTA website since October 2025.

NHTSA #11727705

Description of the Problem: I own a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited with approximately 3 months of use. While driving on highway, the vehicle suddenly stalled displaying “Hybrid System Failure-Stop by side”. I had to stop on shoulder and restart, drove it couple of days and it happened again. Engine would not start, leaving the vehicle stuck in EV mode only with no ability to accelerate properly, Vehicle wouldnt go beyond 35mph. The vehicle then stalled and became unsafe to operate on a public road. After restarting, the vehicle displayed a Check Engine Light. Tookk it to the dealer and the dealer reported DTC P1122000, but did not provide clear evidence of an internal system fault. The dealer claimed the event was caused by “20% ethanol in the fuel,” which is inconsistent with U.S. pump labeling laws. When I checked my credit card entries around the time for refuel, all of them are reputed gas stations with nothing lower than "87" gas which is in alignment with car manufacturer's recommendation. This sudden stall created a serious safety hazard, and I am concerned this may be a broader issue with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid drivetrain, fuel system sensors, or hybrid control module. I am requesting NHTSA to look into whether similar complaints exist, as this failure mode can result in loss of propulsion at speed, putting occupants at risk.

NHTSA #11703527

Driving home from church this morning, the vehicle experiences a sudden loss of power and the car went into “limp mode”. Even the pedal floored and the engine rpms high, the car would barely go about 25 or 30 mph. A message from the dash board told me to pull over and leave the engine running to charge the EV batteries. The batteries would charge enough for what I thought would get me home but quickly drained leaving repeat the action until I could limp the six miles home with flashers on and cars passing me to get around. No warning lights and no indication there was a problem until it happened leaving me baffled and frustrated. I was just thankful that I wasn’t going faster when it happened. If I had been going faster when this happened, it could have created a major accident. Dangerous! Since this happened on Sunday, the dealer wasn’t open. I hope to get it to the dealer tomorrow to find out what is going on and how to fix it. The car has only 14850 miles on it.

NHTSA #11736908

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 25 MPH with a “Vehicle Will Shut Down” warning message displayed. The contact stated that the engine then began to shut down, and although the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled. The failure occurred on multiple occasions, requiring the vehicle to be towed each time. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired and the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and multiple cases were opened, The failure mileage was approximately 3,300.

NHTSA #11736009

My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has recurring powertrain communication failures starting at only 67 miles and continuing at 5,300 and 6,200 miles. Diagnostic trouble codes include U010100 (lost communication with engine control module) and multiple U100xxx codes related to transmission and CAN bus communication failures. These indicate loss of communication between critical control modules. The issue has happened multiple times and remains unresolved. I am concerned this could cause drivability problems, warning lights, or sudden loss of power. This appears to be a system-level defect in the vehicle’s communication network.

NHTSA #11710618

On April 27, 2026, my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe experienced an intermittent electrical/system malfunction affecting multiple vehicle systems at the same time. Multiple orange warning lights/messages appeared on the dash, including driver-assistance warnings and the master warning triangle. At the same time, the front turn signal stopped working, causing rapid flashing; the power locks stopped working; the windows would not roll up or down; and the rear liftgate would not open using the key fob or exterior liftgate button. The vehicle/component is available for inspection upon request. This created a safety and access issue. The malfunction affected exterior signaling, locks, windows, and rear cargo access. My dog was in a crate in the rear cargo area, and I could not open the liftgate normally to access him. The failure of locks/windows/liftgate could create a serious emergency risk if a person, pet, or cargo needed to be accessed quickly, and the turn signal failure affected my ability to safely signal to other drivers. The issue lasted approximately 30–40 minutes and did not immediately clear after turning the vehicle off and back on. It later returned to normal on its own. This has happened more than once. The vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealership for inspection. The dealer has been working with Hyundai Techline, but as of now they have not been able to reproduce the issue or find active diagnostic codes. I provided video evidence of the dash warnings from the incident. The dealer advised that scans currently show systems operating as designed because the issue is intermittent and not occurring during inspection. There were no prior symptoms before the failure. The warning lamps and messages appeared at the time the malfunction occurred. Seek reimbursement for rental car fees and diagnostic fee.

NHTSA #11734834

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.

NHTSA #11733014

Since I bought the car the forward attention warning goes off constantly. I’ve taken it to the dealership multiple times. They took off my eztag, stated it was blocking my camera. This is not the issue. Now there are 56 cars ahead of mine. This will be the 3rd time for the exact same complaint. It affects everything in the car. My cruise control doesn’t work because of this issue. If you turn the toggle back on it has more warning. Just the beeping constantly is going to cause an accident. I’ve asked Hyundai to buy it back they refuse. This is a known issue.

NHTSA #11732200

Any of the airbags failed to deploy during a significant crash. It is not available for inspection due to it being investigated by insurance. The driver and passengers' safety were affected in that more bodily damage could have occurred if they had hit the steering wheel or any other part of the car. I do not know if the problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer, as i have tried to reach out to the dealer and they have not contacted me back. The vehicle is still being determined as if it can be repaired or it needs to be totaled. There were no indications of warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to failure.

Allegedly reported: 3 injuries (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11731387

NHTSA Complaint Summary Vehicle: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Issue: Airbag non‑deployment in a 40‑mph side‑impact collision On January 20, 2026, my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe was struck by another motorist directly along the driver side awaiting to make a left turn. The other motorist crossed the centerline at an estimated impact speed of approximately 40 mph, according to the police report. The collision caused significant damage along the front and entire driver side of the vehicle. Despite the severity and direct nature of the impact, neither the side curtain airbags nor the front airbags deployed. The impact was so much that the other motorist ended up behind my husband in the left turning lane once he stopped. My husband, who was driving, suffered a head abrasion and a concussion from the force of the impact. Since the crash, he has continued to experience persistent headaches and intermittent dizziness when standing, which began immediately after the collision and have not resolved. The lack of airbag deployment in a high‑energy side‑impact crash raises concerns about a potential malfunction in the airbag sensors or side‑impact detection system. This incident presents a significant safety risk, and I am reporting it so NHTSA can evaluate because as I've researched there have been other incidences of similar non‑deployment issues are with 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles. I can provide photos, the police report, medical documentation, and repair estimates upon request.

Allegedly reported: 1 injury (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11719728

The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a deer jumped out in front of the contact's vehicle. The contact's vehicle crashed into the deer, where it came to a stop by the side of the roadway. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A Police report was filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 10,024.

NHTSA #11693283

Traveling in a 55 zone on Rt 27 and my vehicle lost power and said pull over and charge vehicle with engine on. I did this once and the battery went up to half way charge then I could start to drive again. Less than a half a mile up the road climbing a good size hill by the town’s salt shed—the same issue occurred. I had to pull over again and allow battery to recharge. This is not a complete hybrid, it has a gas engine not sure why the hybrid and gas are not syncing up. Many users on the internet have reported the same issue that I have experienced. Someone needs to investigate this before major injury occurs.

NHTSA #11728099

While driving on the freeway at approx 65mph, the car suddenly starting de-celerating and forced me to pull over to emergency shoulder/lane and try to determine the cause. The car is a "Hybrid" and the dashboard stated to put car in Park and Idle the Engine over 2000rpm to charge up the Battery. ( i still don't know which Battery they were speaking of...Engine Battery or Hybrid Battery) I sat there Idling the Engine for 15 minutes and slowly proceeded to get off the freeway and limped the car back to my home. I then called my selling Hyundai Dealer, as the car was still in warranty, and told them of my sudden problem and asking them what could it be??? They said they did not know until they saw the car and tested it with their computer equipment...please have it towed into their shop. So i did and 2 days later they called to say..NO Computer Codes showed any problem. They could not duplicate problem. I said ..."look on the internet...many people have reported sudden lack of power and limp mode activation....all pointing to the High Pressure GDI Fuel Pump Assy failure". Dealer said ..Oh..thanks we will look into that. 5 hours later Dealer called and said I was right, we replaced the Fuel Pump and come pick up the car. 4 months later and 6,000 miles later car is performing normally. I felt compelled to come forward to discuss this part failure as this incident on the freeway could have turned into a tragedy. Thank you

NHTSA #11741374

My 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has experienced repeated, dangerously abrupt power loss while driving at highway speeds, causing the vehicle to go into "limp mode" without any warning or prior indication. This safety hazard occurred on three separate occasions: First Incident: 7/29/25; Mileage: 9,205. Situation: While traveling at 70 MPH on the interstate, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 35 MPH and entered "limp mode" without any warning lights or notifications. Dealer Repair: Replaced ignition coil assembly (Parts: 27301R1H, 27301-2M417). Second Incident: 8/27/25; Mileage: 12,898 Situation: While accelerating to 65 MPH on the interstate, the same loss of power and abrupt forced deceleration occurred, again with no warning. This sudden loss of speed created a serious safety hazard for me and other drivers. Dealer Repair: Replaced fuel pump & O Ring Assy-High Pressure (Parts: 35326-2M500, 35305-2m414 LH). Third Incident: 9/25/25; Mileage: 14,830. Situation: Traveling at 70 MPH on the interstate, the car abruptly decelerated, again entering limp mode. This caused surrounding vehicles to swerve to avoid rear-ending me, putting myself and others at risk. Dealer Repair: Replaced High Pressure Sensor (3534202M400), Packing Fuel Pump (31115-0W000), and Fuel Pump and Tube Assy (31119-L1400). In all three cases, there was never any warning light, check engine notification, or app alert before the incident. Hyundai and my dealership confirmed and replicated the issue during each repair. I have reported the vehicle to the Texas DMV, Hyundai and the dealer.These recurring “limp mode” incidents have repeatedly jeopardized my safety, my family’s safety, and the safety of the public due to the sudden, unanticipated loss of power at high speeds. Since the underlying issue persists and has required three separate major repairs, I am fearful for my safety while operating this vehicle and believe it constitutes a serious safety defect needing federal investigation.

NHTSA #11692982

I am submitting this complaint to formally report ongoing and unresolved vehicle safety defects involving a leased 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. These defects include persistent toxic or chemical odors inside the passenger cabin, electrical and body control system malfunctions, and unintended vehicle operations that present serious risks to occupant health, vehicle security, and public safety. Despite multiple service visits and repeated requests, Hyundai dealerships have refused or failed to conduct comprehensive diagnostic testing, leaving the vehicle in an unsafe and unreliable condition.

NHTSA #11707899

I’ve had several instances where putting the vehicle into park the system doesn’t register the shifter button being pressed and continues to be in the current gear. IThis seems to be a safety issue since it has happened multiple times ever since I bought the vehicle. I made sure to fully press the Park button but it continues to stay in the drive or reverse gear The first time it happened I did not notice the vehicle did not register the gear change and the car started to roll forward towards a building.

NHTSA #11696244

On more than 10 occasions the SUV gets stuck in neutral upon starting the car. You can only switch between Park and neutral and are unable to drive the car. It will not go into drive or reverse. Sometimes this problem lasts for 10 minutes. The car will not shut off during that time even when you press the stop button the screen just resets. The only solution is to wait or to press the hard reset button on the computer screen. It is a dangerous situation because if you need to go somewhere, you physically cannot drive the car. I took it to the car dealership when the car was almost brand new and they had it for eight days and they did a software update but I don’t think they found the problem. this problem is now having more and more frequently.

NHTSA #11703909

Engine Hood getting so hot it is bending or causing metal to bend , like someone sat on middle of hood. Popped it out and keeps forming a bend after driving. Not instelly but keeps coming back

NHTSA #11740722

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle new, it was discovered that all four doors had structural deformities that appeared as dents. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who indicated that the deformities were caused by improper stamping of the doors during the manufacturing process. The contact was concerned that the structural integrity of the vehicle was compromised during the manufacturing process and was concerned about the safety of the vehicle if the vehicle was in a crash. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side door failed to properly open and close due to structural deformities. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,000.

NHTSA #11713690

The engine has 1205 miles on it and seized up. Autofair hyundia of Manchester denied us. We did get a warning light a couple days before. But to late just the dealer inspected it.

NHTSA #11740391

Driving down the highway. Vehicle random alerts that there is a transmission error.

NHTSA #11735358

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the Apple CarPlay system unexpectedly interrupted the operation of the vehicle and initiated a live software update. The navigation system, infotainment system, and other vehicle functions became inoperable. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and continuously cycled on the instrument panel. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 2,774.

NHTSA #11744397

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that while parked and seated in the vehicle, the instrument panel was blinking on and off several times before going dark. The contact stated that the infotainment system also displayed a blank screen. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a recall repair, and the contact was informed that there was no failure with the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,000.

NHTSA #11697930

Sudden loss of power (multiple incidences in the first 3000 miles, multiple service visits). While driving normally there was a sudden loss of power. Once at an interstate on ramp while attempting to merge, and three times while driving on city streets. The first dealer visit resulted in no action due to no codes and the problem not replicating. When I pulled into the dealer and shut off the car; I received an alert that the vehicle was officially transferred to me. When I restarted the vehicle, it operated normally. The consensus was that the vehicle was left in “dealer mode” and it was several days after I purchased the vehicle before the system was updated. The second insident was deemed to be a bad catalytic converter which was replaced by the dealer. The third incident was said to be due to a bad fuel rail sensor which also caused the catalytic converter from the second incident. The fourth incident occurred the day after the vehicle was repaired from the third instance. The vehicle was not safe to drive and was towed to the dealer, where it is today.

NHTSA #11730277

Started car, reading paperwork and suddenly my car went into Neutral bycitself and rolled backwards in a parking lot. Thank goodness no one was walking behind my car. This is the 2nd time it has happened. Additionally, twice previously, my car screen blacked off. 1 other time while sitting at a traffic light, the car shut off. I have been patient but now I'm afraid ti drive this car with only 2,650 miles on it.

NHTSA #11707089

Since February 2026 I have had daily incidents of the hybrid system error where the vehicle is only relying on the hybrid battery to move. I've had a few near miss accidents as my car crawls through an intersection. Was almost rear-end after leaving a stop sign and the hybrid system error popped up and the car doesn't accelerate. In order to temporarily fix the system, the car must be shut off and restarted. There is not always a safe place to be pulled over to perform this shut down. It is a driving hazard and not safe to drive. It has been to the shop now a 3rd time with no resolution. I have reached out direct to Hyundai Corporation with my concerns and they have documentation. The car is a 2025 model and has less than 5,000 miles. I fear a serious accident from this system error and Hyundai needs to resolve ASAP.

NHTSA #11733192

While driving at highway speeds (59–75 mph), the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion power and entered a reduced-speed “limp mode,” rapidly decelerating and creating a dangerous traffic situation. The dashboard displayed a “Hybrid Power Control Unit” warning along with audible alarms. During the second incident, the vehicle failed to shut off when the engine stop button was pressed. Multiple adult witnesses were in the vehicle on each dangerous traffic situation.

NHTSA #11714689

I purchased a brand new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy from the dealer and I saw a the tire pressure drop from a normal 36 psi to 32 psi and the vehicle would vibrate. I filled it up right away thinking due to weather. Then, it dropped again after a couple of days to 32 psi and vehicle would vibrate again. I took the vehicle to Costco to get it inspected thinking it's some sort of a slow leak and vibration could be due to 32psi pressure. When Costco tried to repair the tire, the sidewall failed on the tire. Costco said I needed a new tire. When removing another tire, the same thing happened, the second tire sidewall broke as well. I ended up getting all new set of tires, which ended up costing me $1350. They informed me that these are Pirelli's tires and is known to have vibration at high speeds and could develop buldge and shows signs of early deterioration and abnormal wear problems. I found the same thing after doing some research. I provided the Costco report to Hyundai National Consumers affairs along with the pics of the tire. They told me go to the dealer first and upon arriving at Hyundai dealer, they weren't really interested in knowing what happened since I didn't purchase a tire warranty plan. I spoke to Hyundai consumer affairs and they said there's nothing they can do either since I didn't have tire protection purchased from them. This is a brand new vehicle with factory installed tires and for them to just not take responsibility for selecting a poor supplier that is known to have these issues shows they don't care about the customers at all. I have been a long time loyal customer of Hyundai for at least 10 years. This was my 3rd Hyundai vehicle and if they don't resolve this then this will be my last Hyundai vehicle

NHTSA #11720812

I’m reporting a recurring safety issue with the Pirelli Scorpion All Season MS tires (255/45 R20) factory-installed on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy. At just over 7,500 miles, I began experiencing significant vibration at highway speeds. The dealership diagnosed the issue as defective tires — two were replaced, but the issue returned within 24 hours. I stopped driving the vehicle due to safety concerns. This problem appears to be common: I’ve found numerous reports of Scorpion MS tires showing early failure, poor balance, bulging, uneven and premature wear — all within low mileage. These issues compromise the vehicle’s stability and may present a serious hazard in wet or winter conditions. I’m concerned these tires are not structurally reliable and should not be standard on family SUVs like the Santa Fe. Hyundai and Pirelli should investigate this tire line for potential safety defects or recall. It also appears that the it's the MS, verde and AS Plus 3 from pirelli that have these issues. You can find additional complaints regarding these with a google search. They will be on reddit and facebook.

NHTSA #11676155

Dear NHTSA Team, My car was in a minor accident Last. After that, the repair shop replaced my bumper and front camera. Don Franklin Somerset Hyundai performed a calibration on my new radar. They calibrated it six times, but there are still many issues with the HDA driving system. 1. False Dual-Side Warning When a vehicle is present only on the right side, the vehicle camera system incorrectly detects vehicles on both the left and right sides. In reality, there is no vehicle on the left side. In this scenario, both the radar warning and the camera detection are incorrect. 2. Wrong-Side Warning In some cases, when a vehicle approaches from the left rear, no warning is issued on the left side, while a warning is incorrectly displayed on the right side. In this scenario, both the radar warning and the camera detection are incorrect. 3. False Warning During Smart Driving While driving on the highway using the smart driving function, when the vehicle is required to turn left or right, the system may generate a false dual-side warning. As a result, the vehicle aborts the intended left or right turn and continues driving in the center of the lane. In this scenario, both the radar warning and the camera detection are incorrect. 4. while driving manually (without HDA engaged) or parking, the vehicle shows left-side or right-side collision warnings without clear cause. I reported these issues to Hyundai USA approximately three weeks ago. I was instructed to bring the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. However, during my recent visit, the dealership representative only reviewed the videos I provided and concluded that no issues were present, without conducting a physical inspection or test drive of the vehicle. Given the ongoing safety concerns and lack of proper diagnosis or resolution, I am submitting this complaint for your review and assistance. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Thanks, Best Regards, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11725223

The driver assistance warning system continuosly goes into shutdown mode. Eye monitoring system always states that you are not keeping your eyes on the road. I have tried using different glasses or no glasses. Changing the steering wheel settings also seem to have no effect. This is very dangerous as it will start decelerating and stopping in the middle of a freeway in heavy traffic when this warning is activated. This only happens with the lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control are on. Hyundai issued Technical service bulletin 25-GI-001H, but they did not solve the problem

NHTSA #11691077

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V808000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION) and 26V218000 (SEAT BELTS). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, and the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA #11742243

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle independently accelerated while the accelerator pedal was only lightly depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the pedal sensor was adjusted. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.

NHTSA #11733094

The 2025 Hyundai Hybrid Santa Fe SEL has experienced two instances (Nov 2025, 11k miles & Apr 2026, 14k miles) where the combustion engine fails to provide power to the vehicle’s wheels. The engine continues to run, but only enough to maintain a charge to the hybrid battery system. When accelerating to speeds above 30 miles per hour or when traveling up inclines, the combustion engine’s rotations per minute (rpm) spiked, however the vehicle’s power-train still rapidly lost power and the hybrid battery drained significant charge. During one instance in November 2025, while attempting to accelerate to 55 mph up an incline, the hybrid battery drained enough that the vehicle was required to be pulled off the road to allow the battery to charge. During the April 2026 event, while containing a family of four (including to young children under six years of age), the vehicle failed to accelerate to 60 mph up an incline on an interstate freeway bridge. The vehicle rapidly slowed to between 20 and 30 mph, putting the family in grave danger from high-speed collisions. Following both instances, the on-board diagnostics computer was reset, “resolving the issue” and the Hyundai technicians elected to make no further repairs or replacements. The onboard diagnostics code P0191 was reported following the April 2026 event, however no codes or errors were identified by the Hyundai technician following the November 2025 event. No additional follow-up was performed, even though the vehicle remained under the manufacturer’s warranty.

NHTSA #11730891

While I was driving on the highway, a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) related to the blind-spot safety system appeared.

NHTSA #11730986

Vehicle would not accelerate in high speed zone.

NHTSA #11726542

All normal sounds completely stop working, no audio or volume at all: no turn signal, no collision warning, no GPS audio, no radio; no hands-free phone volume. Hyundai Service department advised they have never heard of this type of incident. All warning systems are completely silent.

NHTSA #11720379

Vehicle went in to limp mode in the middle of driving. Would not accelerate past 30mph. Was able to turn around and pull in to a neighborhood when the vehicle stopped responding altogether and had an additional warning about letting the engine recharge the hybrid system. Restarting the car got it home. This would have been extremely dangerous had it happened on the highway, at highway speeds. Dealership replaced the high pressure fuel pump. Got it back yesterday, we will see if that fixes it.

NHTSA #11720923

Side view camera that displays blind spot area in dash screen cluster, screen intermittently shows just a green screen and not the blind spot.

NHTSA #11718964

Vehicle experienced sudden loss of power while driving. Transmission warning and ABS warning lights appeared at the same time. The vehicle would not shift properly and began skipping and dropping gears. Smoke was visibly coming from the center underside of the vehicle near the transmission area. There was a strong burning oil or rubber smell inside and outside the vehicle. This created a serious safety risk due to loss of acceleration and potential fire hazard from smoke and burning odor. The issue has been intermittent since early ownership, including jerky shifting and hard engagement. The dealer documented dual clutch transmission communication faults and ABS faults but returned the vehicle the same day stating it was a loose ground. The problem has continued after repair. Vehicle is available for inspection. The defect involves the powertrain and related electrical systems.

NHTSA #11720517

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has had multiple occasions, most recently on February 3, 2026 with 12,330 miles on the car, where the gas-powered engine fails to provide any power to the drivetrain. The car experiences vast power loss and enters "limp mode" where only the small hybrid battery is powering the vehicle. Max speed ranges from 10 - 25mph and there is little, if any, acceleration, even when the gas pedal is pegged to the floor. It is necessary to pull over, engage the flashing safety lights and try to find a safe place to park. After turning the vehicle off and on several times, eventually, the gas engines re-engages. The first incident of this type for this vehicle was on August 7, 2025 with approximately 4,400 miles on the vehicle. It was taken to the dealer, Key Hyundai of Salem, who could not find any DTCs and could not replicate the problem. They said "bring it back if it happens again." They next time was on February 3, 2026 where it happened several times on a trip to and from a local restaurant. This time, at DTC code of P088000 POWERTRAIN / POWERLOSS was recorded and reported. However, by the time the car was seen by Key Hyundai of Salem on February 5, 2026, the code has cleared itself. Hyundai's corporate policy is that historical codes can not be used for Warranty claims. So, the dealer tried one potential fix, cleaning the TCM connectors under the driver's seat, and returned the vehicle stating that Hyundai corporate would not authorize warranty work unless/until the car was presented to the dealership with a current / live DTC or visible broken parts. It seems unsafe to put a vehicle back on the road that could lose power and drivability at any time for no apparent reason. I am aware that there have been several other reports of similar POWER LOSS / LIMP MODE situations by owners of 2024-25 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrids. At the moment, I am told that there is no current Technical Service Bulletin on this from Hyundai.

NHTSA #11716187

I tried to drive my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid; the vehicle displayed a gear selection error message stating something like "gear already selected". The vehicle would not shift properly and would not power off or restart. I attempted multiple shutdown and restart attempts using the Start/Stop button with no success. The vehicle remained in this condition for about 30 minutes and would not allow normal operation or shutdown. Due to safety concerns, Hyundai roadside assistance was contacted and a tow truck was dispatched. Before the tow arrived, the vehicle spontaneously allowed shutdown without any intervention. This was a safety related failure involving the shift-by-wire system and vehicle power-down logic. The issue occurred without warning and left the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle had app 7150 miles at the time of the incident.

NHTSA #11714997

This car was in a BBB binding Arbitration and Hyundai was told to fix: speed control malfunction, speed linit not posting to hub arbitrary fan engagement. The Dealership ALM West had the car 2 weeks and the car sat on their lot. They said we are unable to duplicate the problem. Now in addition I showed them the cracked windshield and they were not responsible. I had an insurance complaint I took it to Safelite and replaced the windshield yesterday and I got it back with a new windshield and it also had a Crack in the replacement windshield. I think Hyundai knows there's a problem with the glass which is also part of the safety system of the car.

NHTSA #11711053

The vehicle intermittently fails to reverse properly, hesitates, jerks, and at times locks despite no obstruction present. This occurs during normal use and creates a serious safety concern, particularly when backing out of parking spaces or into traffic. In addition, the vehicle exhibits ongoing electrical issues, including intermittent warning lights, rearview camera distortion or failure, inconsistent system operation, intermittent inability to unlock using the key fob or door handle, and the vehicle fan or air system continuing to run for extended periods after the vehicle has been turned off. These issues occur without consistent warning and have not been resolved despite multiple service visits. The vehicle is also subject to an active safety recall (NHTSA Recall 26V218000, Manufacturer Recall 298) involving the front seatbelt anchor. The recall remains unrepaired, with no remedy currently available. I have personally experienced the seatbelt becoming stuck and not releasing properly, which presents an additional safety risk. The vehicle also experienced a battery failure. I was initially informed that the battery could not be replaced without cost; however, it was later replaced. Despite repeated concerns, the hybrid battery system was not tested or evaluated, and this remains an unresolved issue affecting vehicle reliability and safety. Additionally, the vehicle has experienced tire tread separation and peeling requiring replacement. This is not consistent with normal wear and may indicate alignment, suspension, or other underlying vehicle-related defects. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership multiple times; however, the issues were not reproduced and no corrective repairs were performed. These problems are intermittent and occur during regular day-to-day operation. Collectively, these unresolved issues present an ongoing safety risk to the driver and others.

NHTSA #11733146

While driving on a service road at approximately 45 mph, the corner side glass on my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe shattered suddenly and without warning. There was no impact from a rock or object, and no other vehicles were present that could have caused debris. We had just entered the service road, and road conditions were normal. My [XXX] was seated in the front passenger seat at the time of the incident. The glass shattered inward, and the only thing preventing glass from entering the cabin was the window tint holding the shattered pieces together. This presented a serious safety hazard, as occupants could have been injured if the tint had not contained the glass. Once parked in my garage, I took pictures and tried to examine the damage but the window was still crackling and popping. My husband was able to inspected the window immediately after he returned home and confirmed there is no visible rock chip or point of external impact. The fracture pattern appears to originate from inside the glass or along the edge, consistent with a stress fracture or defect rather than road damage. This failure occurred under normal driving conditions with no accident, no debris strike, and no extreme temperature change. The sudden shattering while driving posed a significant risk to driver control and passenger safety, especially with multiple children in the vehicle. I am also aware of other owner complaints involving unexplained glass cracking or shattering on Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles, which raises concern that this may represent a broader defect rather than an isolated incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11709794

Supplemental Update – Ongoing Safety Concerns and Extended Loss of Use Since submitting my initial complaint, my leased Hyundai vehicle (VIN [XXX] ) has now been presented for service for the third time for the same unresolved safety-related issues. The vehicle has been held by the dealership for eight (8) consecutive days during this service visit with no resolution and no clear timeline for return. Safety concerns remain unresolved, including: Persistent toxic/chemical odor inside the cabin Random rear hatch opening while vehicle is parked and locked Repeated false “windows open” alerts Electrical/body control system irregularities To date, I have not been provided with documentation confirming that cabin air quality testing, exhaust intrusion testing, or comprehensive electrical diagnostics have been performed. These unresolved conditions present ongoing safety risks and loss of use. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11708797

Sitting at stoplight and attempted to go. Car wouldn’t go above 10mph even with pedal all the way down. Drove for a bit trying to figure out what was wrong. Then flashing red lights and beeping telling me to pull over safely. Pulled over and turned the car off. Restarted and car said charge battery. Apparently this is called “limp mode” and happens when there is something seriously wrong with the car in order to prevent further damage. Very dangerous to not be able to go about 10mph on the highway. Took to dealership. Vehicle isn’t throwing any codes and blue link shows nothing of the incident. Dealership supposedly checked battery and connections. Nothing done

NHTSA #11709080

There is a terrible squeaking noise coming from the steering column. It feels like the car is unsafe to drive

NHTSA #11730520

I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, I proceeded to apply the gas and accelerate. I quickly noticed that the vehicle began accelerating at a faster rate than I was intending. The vehicle continued to accelerate without me applying my foot to the gas pedal. Nothing would stop the continued acceleration (application of brake). I crashed into the rear of a vehicle in my lane going approximately 50-60mph (estimate). I am unsure what the issue was that resulted in this crash. In doing some internet searching, it seems it could have something to do with the transition from electric to gas when I was stopped temporarily at the intersection. It could have been a faulty sensor (throttle position) or software glitch. These components have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The crash resulted in the airbags being deployed, I was taken to the hospital with a likely concussion and moderate injuries to my chest and hand. The vehicle that I rear ended was a [XXX] woman with a [XXX] old in the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Allegedly reported: 1 injury (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11707043

Battery/Electrical: 3 separate occasions the battery drained completely overnight, requiring mechanical key to open and jumpstart services from AAA (covered under Hyundai services). Risk of leaving me stranded on isolated areas. Problem confirmed via 3 requests for AAA to jumpstart my vehicle. Hyundai service dept inspected vehicle, confirmed low battery levels, unable to reproduce issues overnight, reported no electrical or mechanical issues that would cause battery drain. No warning messages, lamps, or symptoms prior to each failure. Steering wheel column has friction squeak when using driver assist and adjusting direction. No issues at this time.

NHTSA #11701696

There have been several times that I have been driving and either turning onto a 4-lane road (2 lanes going each way) or driving on the parkway, where my car has slammed on the brakes by itself. Not only was I not prepared for this to happen, but neither were the cars behind me. I tend to drive with at least 1.5 car-length space between myself and the car in front of me. Last week, I was making a right hand turn (going north) into the right lane from a residential street. The only other car near me was the one driving in the left lane (also going north). My car drove about 100 ft and maybe realized that there was a car next to me and just slammed on the brakes. I was suddenly thrown forward. My seat belt locked and I was thrown back into my seat. I had a bruise from my seat belt and came too close to slamming my head on my steering wheel. Thankfully, the car behind wasn't tailgating. About a month ago, I was driving on the parkway going east. I was originally in the right lane. I put on my blinker and when it was clear, I changed lanes to the middle lane. After I was clear and my blinker was off, my car started screaming to tell me that there was a car in my driver's blind spot (this happens EVERY time I switch lanes). I drove for maybe 1.5 - 2 miles and then suddenly, my car slammed on the brakes. Someone must be watching over me because the Escalade behind me (definitely tailgating) was somehow able to swerve into the left lane and then swerve around me to cut me off in revenge. They were screaming and honking at me, while I was screaming and yelling at my car. They could have easily have plowed into me (we were driving at least 60mph) and could have caused a horrible accident that could have killed myself or others around me. I have notified Hyundai of this issue and have read many similar complaints online. Hyundai claims they cannot "replicate the situation" and therefore, Hyundai Corp is unable to fix the problem.

NHTSA #11705955

SantaFe Hybrid Calligraphy 2025 with about 9000 miles purchased new from Hyundai dealer. Several times and unpredictably, the vehicle loses power while driving mostly on highway 60-70 mph. operator can push the gas pedal to the floor and the car does not accelerate more than about 25 mph. My wife was on an off ramp with no shoulder to pull off. Very dangerous situation. A message on the dash states to "park and let battery charge". The battery is suppose to charge itself while the gasoline engine is operating.A search engine query reveals many folks are experiencing this same situation.

NHTSA #11697767

Wearing any kind of polarized sunglasses prevents you from seeing the Heads-Up display and will abruptly disable the adaptive cruise control. The Santa Fe forum has hundreds of complaints about this, yet Hyundai has not done anything to correct the problem. I have asked three different dealers about this problem, and they just repeat the company line (you need to find sunglasses that don't cause a problem). This situation is dangerous and unacceptable.

NHTSA #11692363

My wife was parking our vehicle near the front of our home, simply rolling forward toward the car in front of her to complete parking on the left side of the street when the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated on its own. The vehicle turned hard to the right, struck the bumper of the parked car she was pulling up behind, continued right across the traffic lane where it hit two parked cars on the other side of the street with significant impact, lifting and turning one onto the sidewalk, at which point our vehicle went across the sidewalk and stopped after hitting a fence. The forward collision avoidance that we have experienced engaging previously, never engaged, despite hitting multiple vehicles on the lefft side and then right side of the street. The collision avaoidance alarms that we have experienced sounding previously, also never went off. The airbags never deployed, despite hitting 3 cars at two different sides of the street, as well as an iron fence that never moved. The vehicle went from traveling less than 5 mph while completing the last few feet of parking to a high rate of acceleration within a path of less than 40 feet, as evidenced by the significant damage it left. Had my wife not come to a stop as quickly as she did, she could have been seriously injured. If anyone had been on the sidewalk - there are 3 shcools on this block that children are often present - someone could have been killed. The vehicle is currently at a body shop being evaluated by insurance adjuster and likely a total loss. We reported tot the manufacturer and they intend to repsond to us by 9/16 and inspect the vehicle in its current state.

NHTSA #11686958

I own a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe that was purchased on 08/15/2025. The first malfunction occurred on 08/25/2025, only days after purchase, and the vehicle has experienced repeated safety-related issues since then. The vehicle has repeatedly displayed false Forward Collision Warning alerts, Blind Spot Warning failures, Park/Neutral errors, and intermittent disabling of safety features. The most serious incident occurred when the vehicle unexpectedly entered “Limit 20 MPH” mode while I was pulling into active traffic with my toddler in the vehicle, limiting acceleration and creating a safety risk. I have also experienced false collision alerts while parked and after the vehicle was shut off. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership multiple times for diagnosis and repair attempts. Some issues were duplicated by dealership personnel, while other visits were documented as “could not duplicate.” A front ultrasonic sensor was replaced, but the vehicle continued experiencing safety-related concerns afterward. During the repair process, I was informed and observed that dealership personnel appeared limited in what repair actions could be taken after consulting Hyundai through their diagnostic system. I was also informed that Hyundai influenced what could be included on service reports and that dealership personnel were instructed to “print the book” rather than fully document observed concerns. I believe this may have affected repair efforts and documentation of ongoing issues. The vehicle has been out of service for extended periods and the issues continue despite repeated repair attempts. Due to the ongoing malfunctions and inconsistent operation of the safety systems, I no longer feel safe driving the vehicle because I am concerned it may not function properly during a real emergency situation. Attached are photos of various dashboard errors and warning messages that occurred during these incidents to document the alerts and malfunctions experienced.

NHTSA #11740141

The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the driver's front door was making an abnormal creaking sound. The contact stated that while driving, but at a standstill, a 2008 Toyota Camry rear-ended the vehicle. There was significant damage on the driver's side of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The alert was making the normal dinging sound for the approaching vehicle. The driver sustained a concussion. The passenger sustained injuries to her hip, back, pelvis, and orthopedic system, and medical attention was provided. The contact's daughter was occupying the passenger-side seat, and the seat belt dislodged near her waist from the outside near the door (the seat belt retractor connected to the vehicle's structure). A police report was filed. There was no fire or airbag deployment. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, as they were having mechanical issues at the time. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The Hyundai inspector was able to inspect the vehicle, but the findings were unknown. The vehicle was taken to a collision center, and the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

Allegedly reported: 2 injuries (as reported to NHTSA). NHTSA #11691252

Purchased new 2025 Hybrid AWD Santa Fe with 47 miles on 8/3/25 at 6pm. By 6:30am on 8/4/25 I noticed an occasional knocking when coming to a stop, reversing, turning and at times driving forward. The knocking became more frequent and noticeable as the day went on with more driving and not once did a service message or warning light display. At 1pm on 8/4/25 with an added 100 miles, I drove it to Hyundai Service Department to have them diagnose the issue which they immediately heard. After 8 days, I was told it was a control arm issue which them lead to a complete suspension rebuild on the driver side. I could have lost total control of the vehicle due to the bad control arm. They claimed the passenger side was fine and I picked up my car on 8/12/25 4pm. By 6:30am on 8/13/25 the knocking was back and car is pulling to the right. Car is back in the service shop to further investigate the knocking. I believe Hyundai is trying to cover up this issue as the service report they initially gave me had no mention of the control arm or suspension rebuild. I refused to sign and asked for another service report stating what the issue was and how it was repaired.

NHTSA #11680412

Bought this brand new Santa Fe in July 2025 and on day 5 after purchasing this vehicle, car stopped accelerating while driving on highway, which is a serious safety concern. Took the vehicle back to the dealership and turned out the issue is with failed catalytic converter and they had to replace it. Since then, the acceleration has not been that great and had continuous issues with random engine noises etc

NHTSA #11695081

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while stopped and making a left turn from a cross street, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and traffic allowed the contact to make the turn; however, the steering wheel jerked to the right, and the vehicle jumped over a median strip. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the right front passenger’s side tire rolled over the median strip, and then the rear passenger’s side tire next. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped in a parking spot on the side of the street. The contact shifted the vehicle to park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The contact observed that the right front passenger’s side tire was flat. The contact called Roadside Assistance, and the technician informed the contact that there was a cut on the inside side wall of the front passenger’s tire. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the passenger’s side front suspension arms and other parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the vehicle was difficult to steer while the steering wheel was vibrating. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer, who removed the aftermarket parts and replaced the parts with OEM steering and suspension parts; however, there was still a vibration in the steering wheel. The contact stated that several times, while turning to the left, the vehicle would turn to the right instead. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.

NHTSA #11686422

Check emergency, stopping function alert. Check hybrid system stop safely. Both alerts came on the dash the steering wheel vibrated 11 other alerts popped up in the car steered me to the side of the road. It would not start again and This has happened four times in the 7 months I’ve had the car Hyundai cannot figure out what the issue is. In fact they tell me there is no issue because it’s not happening to them while it’s been there for almost a month.

NHTSA #11679969

I am reporting a critical safety defect involving my brand-new 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving on the freeway, the vehicle experienced a complete brake system failure, nearly causing a serious accident. My boyfriend was driving at the time, and when he tried to brake, the vehicle did not stop. He had to take immediate evasive action to avoid crashing, which put both of us — and nearby drivers — in immediate danger. The vehicle was purchased about a month ago and had never been serviced or modified. After the failure, it was towed to Hanlees Auto Mall Hyundai in Richmond, California, where the service department inspected it and confirmed the problem was caused by a missing clamp, which is a critical component of the braking system. This appears to be a manufacturing or dealership oversight. They took photos, documented the issue, and made the repair — but they also told me they cannot guarantee this won’t happen again. There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms before the failure — the brakes simply stopped working during operation on the freeway. As of now: •The issue has been confirmed by Hanlees Hyundai in Richmond. •I have not yet received a loaner vehicle. •The car is currently in my possession, but I do not feel safe driving it. •I have been in contact with Supervisor Steve at Hyundai of Vacaville, who has offered to pick up the vehicle and provide a loaner, but that has not yet occurred. This is an extremely dangerous failure that occurred on a brand-new vehicle. I am requesting a formal investigation into this issue to determine if it’s isolated or part of a broader manufacturing defect with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. A missing brake component that results in total failure at freeway speeds is a life-threatening safety hazard and should be taken seriously by the manufacturer and federal safety officials.

NHTSA #11671982

Intermittent and variable vibration/shaking at all speeds ranging from mild to severe. Worse when cold. TSB 25-SS-002H-1. Despite multiple balancing attempts (hunter road force balancer) and complete set of tire swap there was no resolution. TSB indicates this is a known abnormality/issue and present across all models. Vehicle inspected by 2 different hyundai dealerships and independent dealership without resolution. Began at 7500 miles and has persisted.

NHTSA #11703429

The “consider taking a break” warning comes on far too much and has almost made me wreck twice due to being startled.

NHTSA #11681474

I was on a semi residential-commercial street that turns on to a freeway entrance. I was turning right and unavoidably entered the freeway when the sudden loss of power occurred. The car slowed down to about 20 mph and pressing on the gas medal didn't yield any more power. I immediately pulled over to the emergency lane upon entering freeway to let fast moving vehicles pass me on the left side. I turned off the vehicle and turned it back on. It seemed to turn on as normal so I proceeded to drive home slowly, staying on the slow right lane of the freeway driving under the speed limit until I took my exit to get to my home. All seemed ok until I turned onto residential street near my home. Again the car slowed down suddenly to 20mph and giving it more gas did not make a difference. The time difference between the first and second (recorded) incident was 25 minutes apart, having driven the vehicle only 140 total miles. The dashboard flashed a 20mph speed limit even though I never set those parameters, didn't set cruise control, and I didn't have auto stop or hold buttons engaged. The car simply slowed down to a 20mph speed limit without my input to the vehicle settings.

NHTSA #11664480

Stopped for gas, vehicle started but would not go into gear, engine lights indicated 'Check hybrid system', warning lights shown. 1/2 hr on the phone with dealership to assist. No problem detected when returning to home dealer. Second episode occurred, vehicle at dealer for the past 4 weeks. Episode repeated at dealership yet "no abnormalities are detected with diagnostics ".

NHTSA #11674691