SUV, hybrid, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Nov 20, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V-218 | Apr 6, 2026 | Driver and passenger seat belt anchors may detach | Seat belts | 294,448 | Part replacement |
| 25V-809 | Nov 20, 2025 | Side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended | Airbags | 258 | Repair or modification |
| 25V-808 | Nov 20, 2025 | Rearview camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and cause the rearview camera image not to display | Back-over prevention | 143,472 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
92 complaints on file, page 1 of 5.
I purchased my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid September 1, 2025. On June 24, 2026, I was driving on the interstate to work when my acceleration quickly dropped out and I wasn't able to go more than 30 MPH. This was terrifying to happen! I wasn't able to make it to an exit and had to pull off on the side of the interstate and await a tow. I took it to the dealership I purchased it from. Documentation stated that a fault code DTC P019100 (fuel rail pressure sensor) was identified. However, this sensor was not replaced. Instead, my paperwork indicates that the "air box was installed incorrectly at manufacturing and they fixed it." On August 13, 2026, I experienced a similar issue on a 45MPH secondary highway. I was able to restart it and get it to a Hyundai dealership a mile away (not the dealership I purchased from). After 5 days of no vehicle (and no loaner provided), the same code DTC P019100 presented and they replaced fuel rail pressure sensor. September 25, 2026, a critical error popped on my screen. Hyundai app says DTC P042000 (powertrain fault code). It's currently in the shop with the dealership I purchased from. I did put in a safety claim with Hyundai Customer Care and suggest all other users do the same to hold Hyundai accountable. I will attempt to update this if I can after resolution is hopefully identified. I'm very close to turning this car in and getting a more reliable vehicle. Which is unfortunate because I qualified for 0% APR financing when I purchased and I'll never get that deal again.
NHTSA complaint 11767373I have written and escalated to Hyundai Corporate about the same issue happening twice to me already and I just got the car in April. May, July, and now September 25th the car loses acceleration while on the interstate at high speeds. attaching letter sent to them in which they denied any assistance.
NHTSA complaint 11767018The primary component failure is within the hybrid powertrain control architecture, specifically involving the transmission control system or internal transmission clutches/modules (TCM/HEV control module). The vehicle utilizes a 6-speed automatic transmission integrated with an electric motor. During highway cruising, the transmission locks into a single gear ratio or a protective "limp mode," resulting in a total loss of normal acceleration despite high engine RPMs. The vehicle and its components are fully intact and available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at severe risk because the sudden, unexpected loss of acceleration occurred while traveling at highway speeds in active traffic. When the transmission locked and power cut out, the vehicle rapidly shed speed and dropped to a hazardous 20-35 mph on a high-speed roadway. This created an immediate, extreme risk of a high-speed rear-end collision from vehicles traveling behind me, forcing me to make defensive lane changes toward the shoulder without normal engine power to navigate safely. This happens without warning no notices or errors pop up when it happens. The issue is intermittent and has been presented to an authorized Hyundai dealership technician multiple times. Because the vehicle often resets its communication modules and temporary limp-mode parameters once the ignition cycle is turned completely off and back on, the dealership technicians have encountered difficulty pulling permanent historical diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). However, the failure patterns match a widely documented, repeating issue among 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid owners regarding HEV torque calculation or loose engine wiring harness pin tension
NHTSA complaint 11766539While driving on a highway at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle abruptly suffered a catastrophic loss of power and entered "Limp Mode," creating a severe safety hazard on the roadway. The vehicle was safely maneuvered and pulled over to the side of the road. Upon shutting the vehicle down and attempting to restart it after a few minutes, the powertrain completely failed to engage, refusing to shift into either Drive or Reverse. The vehicle became entirely disabled and required a flatbed tow to the dealership. Dashboard Warning Messages: - "Transmission Control System" - "Check Hybrid System" Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): - P177700 (Transmission / Hybrid Powertrain Control Malfunction) - P178400 (Transmission Control System / Electric Oil Pump or Actuator Circuit Fault)
NHTSA complaint 11765583**What component or system failed, and is it available for inspection?** The vehicle's electrical/power system failed, causing a complete loss of power while driving. This is the fourth occurrence of this failure. The vehicle is currently at the Hyundai dealership and available for inspection. **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The power failure occurred while driving on a busy road. The driver struggled to safely maneuver the vehicle (executing a U-turn) to get out of traffic and reach a safe location. The vehicle had to be towed as a result. **Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** The vehicle has been brought to the Hyundai dealership for this same issue four times. As of the most recent update, the dealership has not been able to identify the root cause or confirm a fix. **Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others?** The vehicle is currently with the Hyundai dealership (manufacturer-affiliated) for the fourth time for inspection related to this issue. No inspection by police or insurance has been reported. **Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?** There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. Warning lamps/messages appeared only after the vehicle lost power.
NHTSA complaint 11764110The car suddenly loses acceleration; the engine still runs and revs to ~3,000 RPM. The car can't drive over 35mph; no check engine light at all. The dealer said a high-pressure fuel pump caused it and replaced it under warranty; after 3 days, the same problem happened again. This is extremely dangerous if the vehicle is on a highway and suddenly loses acceleration. This could be fatal for the driver and other vehicles around it.
NHTSA complaint 11763033First Incident – XXX Weekend ([XXX]) Accelerating at an on-ramp to a major highway (I-37S) in [XXX], vehicle suddenly lost power. Speed dropped from 60 mph to 45 mph, then 28 mph, in a 65 mph zone during rush hour traffic. No apparent cause: had ¾ tank of fuel, a clean maintenance history, and no prior issues. Managed to reach the shoulder and, after several minutes, able to exit the highway. Vehicle would not accelerate above 35–45 mph and stayed around 30mph, and the hybrid battery showed less than 25% charge. Notified Red McCombs Hyundai (original seller). When a loaner vehicle became available, we brought the Santa Fe in. After a week, the dealership stated they could not duplicate the problem and returned the vehicle to us. Second Incident – XXX ([XXX]) On a planned trip from [XXX] to [XXX], again experienced a sudden and severe loss of power. While merging onto I‑10W, in [XXX], the vehicle speed dropped from 80 mph to 60, then 50, then 38 mph. Able to avoid a collision because of an unusually wide median where I could safely stop. Used GPS to find a local Hyundai dealer - Casa Hyundai of [XXX] - and drove there, using surface roads only. Turned vehicle in for maintenance and continued trip using a loaner vehicle. Casa Hyundai reported, days later, that despite logged error messages indicating problem with hybrid system and advising user to immediately stop, they were unable to isolate problem. Third Incident – XXX (Unknown location in [XXX]) Entering I-10E after fuel stop (80mph zone) and accelerating hard on a slight incline, again experienced sudden loss of power, slowing to less than 40 mph. Drove on shoulder for two miles to next exit 284 and stopped w/motor running to recharge. No error codes or warnings displayed on dash. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11762194The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the instrument panel went blank. The contact was able to pull over safely after the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V047000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not include in the recall. The dealer was contacted by phone. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,900.
NHTSA complaint 11761919While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power on the highway and would not accelerate beyond approximately 20 mph despite accelerator input. There were no warning lights or check-engine light. The condition created a safety hazard because the vehicle could not maintain normal traffic speed. Hyundai dealer has been unable to determine the cause on other vehicles with the same problem, and was trying to discourage me from reporting this. They also said that they'd keep the car for 3 days, and likely return it with no diagnosis, so do I really want to go through this? They seemed unconcerned that this is a very dangerous issue in a highway.
NHTSA complaint 11761734I've had this vehicle for 13 months, and it has roughly 13K miles on it. Since 7/3/26, it has been in the service department at Hyundai of Noblesville on three separate occasions. This all started on 7/3/26 when we were driving on the interstate and out of nowhere the vehicle lost critical power and would not go more than 20 MPH. There was some kind of warning message that momentarily popped up but then disappeared. We were so rattled, we didn't get a chance to take notice of what it said. It was towed to the dealership and they said they cleared the codes and drove it a little and the problem was resolved. It was driving OK and then on 7/15/26, we had just got onto the interstate and there was a sudden loss of power AGAIN. We had it towed to the dealership. They replaced the high pressure fuel pump and assured us that the problem was resolved. Then on 8/29/26, the same thing happened again on the interstate--critical loss of power. Had it towed to the dealership again. This morning, they say that it is the fuel pump railings that are the issue. I have placed a formal Hyundai Corporate Case and I am notifying you of this safety issue which presents major risk to the safety of anyone in the car.
NHTSA complaint 11760870When traveling home from work 8/27/26, my cruise control shut off and my car immediately went into “limp” mode. This almost caused me to get into an accident with a tractor trailer, in which, I may not have survived. Immediately pulled over and tried to find out what had caused this and how to get it fixed. Nothing worked to get it out of “limp” mode. There were no warning lights or messages, except LV3. Which was a completely different issue. This issue I was able to correct. Tried fixing the “limp” mode issue by doing as told by Google AI, turn car off, lock door with key fob, waiting 10-15 minutes for computer to reset. NOTHING. Also tried checking to see if there was a battery dump, in which this case would have been the fuel system not communicating with the hybrid battery system, NOTHING. I do have an appt with the dealership on 9/2/26 to have this looked at and inspected. I have not tried to start and or drive the car again, since. Do not want to be blamed by the dealership or manufacturer, that I did something wrong or caused more issues.
NHTSA complaint 11760351While driving in the evening around 9:00 pm with AC on crash detection lights came on along with other emergency dashboard lights . Speed was limited to 23 miles per hour .
NHTSA complaint 11759322My vehicle randomly slows it self down while driving. I would be pressing the gas and the car would voluntarily slow down on its own with no warning. This problem can lead to plenty of accidents due to me or any other driver around me being unaware when my vehicle will brake on its own. The problem has been confirmed by Hyundai Patterson of Tyler, Texas and they have worked on my car twice to fix the issue and it still hasn't been fixed. The issue started about a month ago and when the incidents would occur in the beginning their would be no warning lights on my vehicle’s dash. As of recently there maybe a check engine light that will pop up when the incident occurs. It's a hit or miss.
NHTSA complaint 11759187Our family was driving on the highway at 55mph (I-495 in Alexandria, VA), the car instantly began to decelerate, despite having my foot completely on the accelerator and we had to limp over to the side of the road onto the shoulder. We had to wait multiple times for the hybrid motor to re-power itself to get off an exit at 10-15 mph. The car is now in "limp mode" and will not drive above 35 mph. This is the 4th time that we have had the same issue occur. Hyundai has provided a different fix each time, but they have yet to find an answer as to why this instant loss of acceleration keeps occuring. In the wrong circumstance. This instant loss of acceleration could be deadly and cause severe injuries to the individuals in the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 11758911On 08/22/26 at approximately 11:45 AM I was stopped at a traffic light and struck by a Ford Pickup truck whose approximate speed was 45 mph as described in the police officer who witness the accident totaling my Hyundai 2025 Santa Fe. No airbags were deployed. According to the police officer the frame was bent as well. Please see attached vehicles pictures
NHTSA complaint 11758892sudden loss of propulsion / limp mode, particularly under load or at highway speeds.
NHTSA complaint 11758162On XXX, at approximately 6:30 PM, my wife was driving our 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid on [XXX] when the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion power. It would not accelerate past approximately 55 mph. With the accelerator pedal pressed fully to the floor, the vehicle did not gain speed. I drove the vehicle myself the same day, immediately after she arrived home, to verify the problem, and I reproduced the identical condition. The vehicle accelerates normally from a stop, but at approximately 40 to 50 mph it stops accelerating and will not exceed approximately 50 to 55 mph regardless of accelerator input. No warning lamps illuminated and no messages appeared on the instrument cluster before, during, or after either event. The vehicle health check in the official Hyundai application reports the vehicle status as normal. The driver receives no indication that anything is wrong. This is a serious safety hazard. Sudden inability to accelerate in traffic creates a substantial risk of a rear-end collision and makes it dangerous to merge onto a highway, pass, or clear an intersection. Because there is no warning, the driver cannot anticipate it. The vehicle has approximately 13,741 miles and was purchased new on XXX. Scheduled maintenance was performed at the selling dealer on XXX at 7,924 miles. The vehicle has not been driven since XXX and is available for inspection on request. It is scheduled for dealer inspection on XXX. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer. I am aware of numerous owner reports of a similar loss-of-power condition in 2025 Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles in which the gasoline engine reportedly fails to engage and the vehicle operates on hybrid battery power alone. In several of those reports the trouble code cleared itself before the dealer inspected the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11755812The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts to repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number 25V808000 (Back Over Prevention) were on backorder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was able to confirm that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint 11754472Everything normal when parked in store parking lot. When vehicle was started to leave I noticed the vehicle had no sounds ... no radio sound from any source at any volume setting, no turn signal clicks, no parking proximity beeps, no navigation voice guidance, no sounds at all. All dashboard/visual displays were normal. Parked vehicle in garage when I got home and the next morning the battery was dead. Had to jump start the vehicle (the dead battery "fixed" the sound problem). An AI search shows this is a known issue for the 2024 & 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and I found AI & You Tube fixes saying to "soft reset" the Infotainment/Sound system by turning the ignition to the "On" position (not starting the vehicle ... foot off the brake and push ignition once, then again). Use a paper clip or pen to press and hold the little dimple reset button just below the right side radio knob until the system resets, then foot on the brake and start the vehicle. If this does not work, disconnect the starting battery's Negative battery cable for 15 minutes. This is a mid level safety issue because audible warning systems will not work. Took the vehicle to the Hyundai dealer we bought it from but they didn't offer any acknowledgement that other same model vehicles have had similar problems and said they could not check or do anything since the vehicle wasn't currently having the problem. I had to argue like hell just to get them to record that the issue had occurred.
NHTSA complaint 11754202Vehicles accelerated on its own when going under 10mph and no pressure on pedals.
NHTSA complaint 11753171Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.