Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle decelerated and stalled independently. The vehicle was restarted and while the contact continued to drive, the contact noticed that there was smoke coming from under the hood. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was pulled to the side of the roadway and the fire was intense under the hood. The contact jumped out of the vehicle and the vehicle exploded. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The contact was unaware of what started the fire. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The vehicle was destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and blinked intermittently. The contact stopped at a gas station. The contact filled up the fuel tank and checked the coolant reservoir. When the contact restarted the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH without shaking or vibrating. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The engine coils or the starter sensor and the O2 sensors were replaced before the independent mechanic informed the contact that the engine had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated she received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V303000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall repair; however, upon picking up the vehicle from the dealer, her husband noticed that several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the windshield was cracked. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the dealer advised the contact's husband that they could not repair the vehicle and he would be referred to another location for repair. The contact stated that as her husband was driving to the residence, the vehicle inadvertently lost power at the stop light. The contact stated that her husband was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving 63 MPH, the cruise control was activated, and the RPM fluctuated between 2,200 and 3,500. Additionally, there was a burning odor detected, and lots of smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe that filled both directions of the street. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the PCV valve had carbon and that the spark plugs were corroded with carbon. The dealer performed an oil consumption test but did not complete the test due to the spark plugs needing to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the PCV valve and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The dealer removed the PCV valve; however, the vehicle was not repaired. Prior to the failure, the contact had an engine block code that was reset twice without repair. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated and started shuddering significantly. Additionally, the engine was skipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure subsided while driving for an extended period of time. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that there was no oil leak. The vehicle was then taken to a second dealer, CMA's Colonial Hyundai (2200 Walthall Center Dr, South Chesterfield, VA 23834) where an oil consumption test was performed. The dealer advised the contact to bring the vehicle in every 1,000 miles in order to measure and record the oil consumption. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to restart. Due to the failure, the contact initially had the vehicle towed to his home and then towed to the dealer where he was informed that either the starter had failed or the engine had failed. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was also informed that the dealer had informed them that the cause of the engine failure was a result of no oil in the engine. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started to lose power while depressing the accelerator pedal, with black smoke coming from the engine compartment. The oil, check engine, and battery warning lights were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and discovered black smoke coming from under the hood. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the engine was replaced. Two weeks after the replacement, the starter failed to operate as needed, and the vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic, where the starter was replaced. Upon investigation, the mechanic discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); and associated the vehicle with the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle hesitated then stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's husband was able to maneuver the vehicle off the road and restarted the vehicle; however, the contact and her husband then heard a knocking sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle stalled again. The vehicle was towed to Kelly Tires Services; however, the mechanic was unable to perform a diagnostic test due to the knocking sound. The dealer was notified, and an appointment was scheduled for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The contact was advised to have the vehicle diagnosed by an authorized Hyundai dealer. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at 60 mph the vehicle began to shake violently, and the engine experienced a complete loss of automotive power, the service vehicle soon, ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered off an exit into the parking lot of an AutoZone where a diagnostic scanner displayed the code "P0302". The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the exhaust valve on cylinder two had dissolved and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to a local Hyundai dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the exhaust valve in cylinder two was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,687.
The engine was replaced under a recall related to an engine knock code. About two weeks later, the vehicle lost all power while driving. The dealership confirmed a failure in the high-pressure fuel line and that the turbo had failed at the same time. The same visit revealed oil leaks, and shortly after, the vehicle began emitting white and black smoke. Their technician stated the failures were due to "consequential damage from engine failure." The problems have continued to return, and I've been told the vehicle is unsafe to drive. Hyundai is now refusing to fully cover the cost of repair, offering only 15% off, despite all of the damage being directly linked to the replacement engine. I transport children in this vehicle. My safety and theirs have been at risk multiple times because of these unresolved and ongoing failures.
Related recalls
Engine
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Sonata and 2013-2014 Santa Fe Sport vehicles previously repaired under recall numbers 15V-568 and 17V-226. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement…
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Sonata and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine, replacing the engine short block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151.
NHTSA investigations
Engine Fires
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
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.
Engine complaints in other Santa Fe Sport years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport?
NHTSA has 104 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 63% of the model year's 164 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › emission control › crankcase (pcv) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-934 (engine, Dec 28, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-226 (engine, Mar 31, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 11 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.