2025 Hyundai Santa FE Hybrid Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 22, 2026 · Filed: October 23, 2026

While driving at freeway speeds in normal traffic conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden, complete loss of motive power and rapid deceleration. The accelerator pedal became entirely unresponsive. No warning messages, check engine lights, or diagnostic indicators appeared on the dashboard during or immediately after the failure leaving me blind to the vehicle's state. This loss of propulsion on a high-speed live freeway created an immediate, extreme safety hazard, forcing an emergency maneuver across active lanes of traffic without predictable vehicle control. Component or System: Engine / Powertrain / Fuel System (High-Pressure Fuel Pump / Fuel Rail Sensor) Recurring / Prior History: This is a severe, recurring safety defect. The exact same highway power loss and deceleration event occurred last month. The vehicle was brought to an authorized Hyundai dealership where a repair was allegedly completed on 9/11/2026. However, that repair failed to address the root cause, and the dangerous failure has now repeated itself. The lack of a dashboard warning light masks a systemic component failure (strongly suspected to be the high-pressure fuel pump or associated pressure sensors failing to maintain adequate rail pressure under load

Incident: October 7, 2026 · Filed: October 22, 2026

Beginning in early October 2026, my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy has repeatedly experienced a sudden and complete loss of propulsion while driving. During these incidents, dashboard warnings appear stating "Check Driver Assistance System" and "Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely." The vehicle indicates EV mode and completely loses the ability to accelerate or maintain speed. This is not reduced performance or hesitation. The vehicle loses all usable propulsion. The vehicle continues moving briefly while slowing, providing only a short window to reach the roadside. In moving traffic, this creates an extremely dangerous situation because there may be insufficient time or space to safely change lanes before the vehicle slows substantially. The failure occurs without advance warning. Shutting the vehicle off and restarting it temporarily restores normal operation, but the malfunction continues to recur unpredictably. On October 21, 2026, I brought the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealership specifically for this problem. The service department reported finding no diagnostic trouble codes and no applicable software updates. No cause was identified, and no repair was performed. The identical failure occurred again the following morning, October 22, 2026, less than 24 hours after the dealership inspection. The underlying cause remains unidentified. The dealership has not reproduced the malfunction, and the vehicle remains available for further inspection. This recurring complete loss of propulsion presents a serious collision risk to occupants and surrounding motorists, particularly in heavy traffic or at highway speeds.

Incident: September 28, 2026 · Filed: October 17, 2026

I initially reported a rattling noise near the B-pillar to an authorized Hyundai dealership. A repair order was created documenting my complaint. Following further investigation, I was informed that spot welds in the B-pillar area had separated, requiring structural body repairs.

Incident: September 28, 2026 · Filed: October 17, 2026

On September 28, 2026, my 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (49,682 miles) experienced a second sudden loss of propulsion while driving on the highway. The vehicle would not accelerate normally, the hybrid battery gauge dropped to a very low level, and the dashboard displayed a warning instructing me to stop the vehicle and leave the engine running to recharge the battery. I pulled over and waited with the engine running until the battery recharged sufficiently to drive to the dealership. This was the SECOND occurrence of a dangerous loss-of-propulsion problem. On August 21, 2026, while driving approximately 70 mph on I-75, the engine RPM increased dramatically despite the vehicle slowing down, as though the transmission had shifted into Neutral. There were no warning lights. The vehicle slowed to a stop and required towing to Hyundai of Kennesaw. Following the first incident, the dealership identified diagnostic code P0191 and replaced the fuel-rail pressure sensor under warranty. However, the September 28 failure occurred despite that repair. During the second dealership visit, technicians again identified P0191, confirmed the previously replaced sensor was functioning properly, and reproduced the problem during a road test. Live diagnostic data showed fuel pressure dropping to low-pressure pump readings. The dealership diagnosed a failing high-pressure fuel pump and replaced it under warranty. I retrieved the vehicle October 7, 2026, after the dealership reported a successful 10–12-mile road test. I am concerned that this repeated, sudden loss of propulsion presents a serious highway safety hazard, particularly because the initial repair did not prevent recurrence. I previously filed an NHTSA complaint regarding the August 21 incident.

Incident: October 14, 2026 · Filed: October 14, 2026

While driving on the interstate at highway speed, the power driver's seat began moving forward on its own without any switch being pressed. It didn't stop and kept moving toward the steering wheel. I am 6'3" and normally sit far back, so the seat was pushing me into the steering wheel and I could no longer sit safely or control the vehicle normally. I had to exit the highway abruptly and pull onto the shoulder to avoid a crash. This put me and other drivers around me at risk. Since the incident, the power driver's seat does not respond at all. None of the seat switches (forward/back, recline, height, tilt) produce any movement or sound. I checked the fuses and they are all intact. I have video of the switches not working. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealer. It is under warranty and will be taken to a Hyundai dealer for diagnosis and repair. The vehicle and the failed seat components are available for inspection. Warning lights or messages before the failure: none Suspected cause: UNKNOWN, possibly a seat motor, seat control module or wiring fault. I have videos to share.

Incident: September 15, 2026 · Filed: October 14, 2026

On 2 seperate instances while driving down the highway the car suddenly loses power and goes into limp mode. The battery and the engine are not communicating to power the vehicle. It will no go over 30 MPH and then says to pull over and charge the battery.

Incident: June 28, 2026 · Filed: October 14, 2026

Vehicle went into “ limp mode” It is a hybrid and the electric motor was in operative and top speed is around 35 MPH Unsafe to drive

Incident: September 29, 2026 · Filed: October 12, 2026

The vehicle has a recurring intermittent failure that can leave it completely undriveable. When starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster displays “Check Hybrid System,” “Check Emergency Stopping function,” the check-engine light, and multiple warning indicators. The vehicle remains in Park and will not shift into Drive. This has happened multiple times. Disconnecting and reconnecting the 12-volt battery temporarily restores operation, but the problem later returns. After a reset, the check-engine light may remain illuminated for approximately one day before disappearing. During the most recent occurrence, the vehicle became disabled at approximately 8:00 PM in a retail parking lot while my family, including two young children, was with me. The vehicle would not move. We had to leave the vehicle and walk in the rain to obtain tools so the 12-volt battery could be disconnected and reconnected in order to get the vehicle operating again. The problem was reported in writing to a Hyundai dealership before an August 10, 2026 service appointment, including a request to retrieve and document stored and history diagnostic trouble codes. The condition remains unresolved and continues to recur. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Separately, this vehicle also has an unrepaired Safety Recall 288 involving the rearview camera. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer for recall service, but the recall remains incomplete because the dealer stated the required part was unavailable.

Incident: January 9, 2026 · Filed: October 12, 2026

Vehicle was turned on and in park. I placed my child in the back seat, opened the driver door and was able to enter the vehicle. The car began to roll down the driveway, while in park, and ran me over. It continued to roll backwards into a tree and was stopped by rolling into my neighbors home.

Incident: October 10, 2026 · Filed: October 10, 2026

Vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate, usually happens after vehicle has been sitting 10 hours or longer. Had back to dealership 4 times, 3 times dealer was unable to reproduce concern. 4th visit dealer installed injectors, concern seemed to be gone for about 2 months but is back again.