Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while the vehicle was at standstill to make a left turn, the brake pedal was rigid and the steering wheel seized. The contact stated the Unlock Your Steering Wheel message was illuminated. The contact stated she started to smell and saw smoke exiting from the hood. The contact was able to exit the vehicle safely and shortly after the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact stated a police officer came to the location of the incident but was not aware if a police report was filed. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle first to towing lot and then to a repair facility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. …
[redacted] and is leasing the car. We received a notice of 8:18-cv-02223. I called the dealer for help. They promise to return my called to book a appointment .They never contacted me to fix the issue. The same week my fianc was helping my sister move in Baltimore. When she returning home the car turned off in the meddle of the hi way. Other car where close to hit her. That when shecalled 911. When they arrived they notice she was few asthma attack to the situation. They where nice to ask me to wait inside of they state car. I was in the car for few minutes. When a officer came over to do the report. He asked for my documentation when suddenly she hurt a big impact in the officer car.Shewas having intense headache. She was transfer to the nearest emergency room.The incident is causing a-lot financial and health issues. One of the those issue is the car. …
On December 31, 2021, at approximately 12:30pm CST, I was driving my fathers 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe down I-94 in Michigan City/ LaPorte area of Indiana. In the vehicle was my father, my wife and my brother. I was driving at approximately 70-75 mph and I started hearing a rattling noise when I accelerated. It sounded as if the vehicle had a loose heat shield on the exhaust, so I didn't think too much of it. About 45-60 seconds after that, all the dash lights came on and I pulled off to the side of the highway. I turned the vehicle off and waited about 30 seconds and tried to start it back up, which it did not do. I then noticed smoke coming from under the hood, so I told everyone to get out of the vehicle and I popped the hood latch. …
I was driving to pickup my dog from daycare centre and when I arrive to house, put my car in Park then a huge amount of smoke came out from the front hood of car. The smoke got bigger and bigger within 30 seconds I couldn't see anything from front of car and around driver's seat. There was no Hazard alerts or signs on my car that my car was overheating. There was no signal or emergency shut off on the car when the overheating began. My boyfriend was in car at time. My dog was walking outside with daycare caretaker when a flame started on Driver's side engine. The flame lit and sparked into a huge flame. I ran out of car while my boyfriend yelled for everyone to back away from car before it explodes. The flame grew and engine bursted into flames, a loud explosion followed. …
On July 29, 2023, while driving in McAllen, Texas, our 2014 Hyundai engine failed, to wit: head gasket. Typically, this would not be a national issue and on first blush, seems related to a singular, isolated incident. However, this does not appear to be the case. Last summer, Hyundai settlement included a new engine for this car. (See class action settlement). The engine was replaced, however, it has come to light that Hyundai has set aside defective replacement motors. Indeed, there are consumers nationwide, complaining of the same. On July 29th, the unit began to catch fire, in that the wiring harnesses, and other wiring which are adjacent to and connected to the block, and its appendages, experienced extreme heat, melting, and burning. If not for my quick and necessary reaction, it is possible and likely that a catastrophic fire would have ensued. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH on a highway exit ramp, she depressed the brake pedal and the "ABS" and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not slowing and was vibrating while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the brake pedal was very soft while being depressed and the vehicle was stalling. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the brake seals and other unknown brake parts. The vehicle was repaired. …
I brought the 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON MAY 10, 2022. On JANUARY 7, 2023 I was driving down the highway when the HYUNDAI shut down. No warning lights or nothing just stopped. We could not get it started no matter what we did. My son in law checked it out and found out it was the engine. Talked to the dealer and found out there was a recall for an engine in 2018. That was never taken care of. We never knew about the recall until after my HYUNDAI HAD TROUBLE. Took it to the HYUNDAI DEALER IS DES MOINES FEBRUARY 10, 2023 and they said there was 3 recalls that was not done . But they now said it is too late for the recalls . SO WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW IS ARE WE GOING TO GET THE RECALLS DONE OR JUST FORGET ABOUT FIXING THE HYUNDAI. I SEEN WHERE ENGINES OR MOTORS WAS FOREVER INSURANCED ON HYUNDAIS. ARE THEY YET.?? Please let me know as soon as you can if the recalls will be honored by email. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal clicking noise would emit from the vehicle without warning. As the noise persisted, the contact stated that the vehicle shut off upon the depression of the accelerator pedal while at a stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel during the failure. Upon restart of the vehicle, the vehicle began to hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the RPM's began to rev. The contact was able to reach her destination and upon inspection of her vehicle, she discovered that there was no oil in the engine. The contact called the independent mechanic where she had her recent oil change and they informed her of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which was linked to the failure. …
My 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport broke down while driving home on 5/30/2022. No active warning lights at time of incident. Vehicle slowed down while driving on interstate and lost the ability to accelerate. A noise was made (may have been considered knocking). Once parked on the side of the highway, nothing happened when START/STOP button was pressed except random lights across dash (NO WARNING LIGHTS). Vehicle did not appear to be ON. Vehicle had to be towed to local Hyundai dealership. Dealership replaced the starter, performed an engine diagnostics, then parked vehicle on lot. The vehicle caught fire on 6/20/2022 after service tech exited it; considered a total loss. The vehicle was inspected by Hyundai Dealership representative, owner's insurance company, and vendor for Hyundai Motor America. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the passenger cabin would fill up with the odor of gasoline. The contact stated an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure occurred again, with the passenger cabin filling with the odor of gasoline. The vehicle was towed to another dealer who diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure re-occurred and returned the vehicle to the same dealer. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact felt that the fuel line had been damaged due to the first engine replacement repair. …
NHTSA investigations
Scope and Timeliness
NHTSA opened Recall Query (RQ) 17-004 to investigate the timeliness and scope of Hyundai?s Theta II GDI engine recalls (Recall Nos. 15V-568 and 17V-226), and Hyundai?s compliance with reporting requirements. On November 23, 2020, the Agency entered into a Consent Order with Hyundai to administratively resolve NHTSA?s assertions of violations of law in connection with RQ17-004.
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 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 277 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, 56% of the model year's 493 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 21 fires and 3 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.