Model year record

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls & problems

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe has 6 safety recalls and 971 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (650 complaints).

Recalls6safety recalls

Complaints971filed by owners

Crashes · fires14 · 23reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths18 · 0reported in complaints

1 recall for this model year carries an NHTSA park outside advisory. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicFeb 3, 2022

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module

Recall 22V056000357,348 vehicles

NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from buildings until repaired (fire risk).

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.

Engine and engine coolingSep 20, 2017

Engine

Recall 17V578000420 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 3.3L engines. The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.
Risk: The engine bearing wear may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify all owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 168.

Latches/locks/linkagesJun 5, 2017

Hood › Latch

Recall 17V358000437,400 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Risk: If the hood is not securely closed or the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary latch cable, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owner's may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for the recall is 163.

TiresMar 6, 2017

Pressure monitoring and regulating systems

Recall 17V142000190 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may not have been set in the correct mode during vehicle assembly, and therefore will not provide an appropriate warning in the event of an underinflated tire. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: An underinflated inflated tire can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the TPMS sensors, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for the recall is 159.

Trailer hitchesNov 21, 2016

Trailer hitches

Recall 16V8420006,172 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Tucson vehicles manufactured May 19, 2015, to November 14, 2016, and 2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured November 28, 2015, to November 14, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness that, due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, may result, in the trailer brake lights being constantly illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected accessory trailer hitch wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 153.

Components: Trailer hitches; Electrical system › Wiring

Seat beltsMar 10, 2016

Front › Warning light/devices

Recall 16V14500034,200 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015 to February 12, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses may be damaged by the seat's height adjuster mechanism, resulting in a failure to provide an audible warning when front seat occupants do not fasten their seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Without a warning to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reroute the wires in the front seat belt buckle harnesses to their proper locations, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 141.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV AWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV FWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Santa Fe FWD

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Santa Fe Ultimate FWD

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Santa Fe AWD

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Santa Fe Ultimate AWD

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine	650	1	13	2	45,000 mi
Power train	166	0	3	1	5,350 mi
Unknown or other	93	2	6	3	16,500 mi
Electrical systemInstrument panel › Speedometer/odometer; Instrument cluster/panel	70	2	10	4	18,550 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	60	2	1	0	10,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlCruise control; Accelerator pedal	54	3	1	2	6,750 mi
Service brakes	34	4	4	5	7,050 mi
Steering	27	0	0	0	15,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor	24	0	0	0	75,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv); Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor	24	0	0	0	100,000 mi
Air bags	20	4	0	6	35,000 mi
SuspensionRear	10	0	0	0	20,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system › Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 45,000. However, when the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a trade-in, it was discovered via a Carfax report that the mileage was over 109,000.
Aug 22, 2026 · 109,000 miles
Engine
On [XXX], Laguna Niguel Hyundai performed Service Campaign 9C2 (ECU software update for Theta II emissions improvement, Hyundai TSB 26-01-013H) on my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Immediately after the update, the vehicle developed drivability problems that did not exist before: rough/harsh shifting, hesitation, and loss of power during cold-start operation (the first 1-3 minutes after engine start), plus intermittent infotainment and navigation system failures. Hyundai's own dealer notice dated 05/18/2026 acknowledges vehicles may exhibit 'hesitation or rough shifting' after the 9C2 update and states the matter is 'currently under review' â no permanent fix has been released. The…
May 28, 2026
Unknown or other
On XXX, [XXX] Hyundai performed Service Campaign 9C2 (ECU software update for Theta II emissions improvement, Hyundai TSB 26-01-013H) on my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Immediately after the update, the vehicle developed drivability problems that did not exist before: rough/harsh shifting, hesitation, and loss of power during cold-start operation (the first 1-3 minutes after engine start), plus intermittent infotainment and navigation system failures. Hyundai's own dealer notice dated XXX acknowledges vehicles may exhibit 'hesitation or rough shifting' after the 9C2 update and states the matter is 'currently under review' â no permanent fix has been released. The dealership that performed…
May 28, 2026
Engine
Was driving down road car went into limp mode about caused a big wreck, check engine was flashing and heard a loud noise as I was trying to get to safety. Had the car scanned and was for code p1326 and looking at all the recalls nothing is for the 2.4l but y'all have been having a lot of issues with these theta 2 engines.
Sep 27, 2026
Engine
Immediately following the mandatory Hyundai Servie Campaign Update 9C2-ECU THETA 11my vehicle began exhibiting severe hesitation, very rough idling, jerking at slow speeds and when gear changes, difficulty going up inclines and almost feel at times as though it is about to lose power which poses life threatening situations especially when turning into traffic. I have reported it to the dealers who never once test drove the vehicle but said to me that they did and could find no problem, however they did make me pay for repairs which never fixed the problem. I returned three times with the same issue. They recommended a Fuel Induction Service and a Auto Trans Service. Spark plug change.…
Jun 17, 2026
Engine
Component/System Failed: Engine assembly (Theta II 2.4L GDI) and Exhaust/Catalytic Converter. Description: The vehicle suffered a failure associated with the known Theta II engine defects. Engine oil consumption and internal engine wear directly led to unburned fuel and debris entering the exhaust stream, resulting in severe catalytic converter restriction/failure. Safety Risk: The combined failure caused sudden loss of power while driving, engine stalling, and significant driveability hazards, creating an immediate risk of a rear-end collision on public roads. Confirmation & Inspection: The failure was confirmed and diagnosed by a certified service facility. Replaced components and…
Sep 2, 2026
Engine
My son was driving the vehicle normally. There were no issues, warning lights, abnormal feel to the drive, and no odd noises. Suddenly, all of the warning lights on the dashboard lit up, acceleration dropped and he could no longer accelerate. He pulled off the main road and there was a burning smell and the vehicle was inoperable.
Sep 11, 2026
Engine
Service update 9C2. Car hesitates or slightly bucks on a cold start. No remedy to fix yet.
May 6, 2026

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on February 2, 2024, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the "engine" on the following vehicle model: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles equipped with the 3.3L V-Shaped GDI Lambda-II engines. The petition cites allegations of a loss of motive power, often resulting in an engine seizure. The stall is preceded by a knocking sound, decreased performance and no warning lights. An analysis of the subject vehicle population was undertaken using complaints submitted to ODI along with manufacturer data.Â It was determined that the frequency of events is low for the subject population, while those that specifically report a loss of motive power event have a high mileage at the time of incident.Â The 2017 Santa Fe is equipped with a service interval reminder for the consumer that must be set by the consumer…
DP24001 · opened Feb 8, 2024 · closed May 16, 2024
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kiaâs defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements;…
AQ23002 · opened Nov 17, 2023
Loss of Motive PowerClosed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003)…
DP22003 · opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023