2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

ENGINE

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.

My 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe caught fire on October 29, 2025. Prior to this, the dealership completed one recall but left another open. Hyundai denied my claim and refused to provide the inspection report. I am filing this complaint because I believe the incomplete recall may be related and I want NHTSA to review the issue.

My engine caught on fire in the middle of the night ([XXX] on [XXX]). The fire department was called by my building’s security and they came to put out the fire. The security footage shows that the car engine caught on fire for no apparent reason. The fire department did not identify any foul play or vandalism nor did the security camera footage. Unfortunately since my car has been paid off, I only had liability coverage and could not get the coverage to assess. I had to junk the car. No o

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle began to shake. The vehicle merged to the shoulder of the roadway and suddenly another vehicle crashed into the entire driver's side of the vehicle while the contact was still in the vehicle. The driver who crashed into the contact did not stop at the scene and continued to drive after the crash. A police report was filed. The contact sustained inju

Mileage: 159,000

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at 40-45 MPH, she heard an abnormal ticking sound, and the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated she saw black smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether a warning light illuminated. The contact and her husband exited the vehicle. The contact stated as they walked back to the vehicle, they notice that the smoke has stopped. The contact and her husband did not susta

Mileage: 70,000

On the way to get the recall fixed on this vehicle the car caught fire under the hood and was a total loss. This was a safety hazard to not only my family, but to the public passing by on the road. The fire service had to come put out the massive flames and the car was then towed to the dealer in Athens GA.

Airbags for the ENTIRE car did not deploy in a car accident that rendered the car inoperable. Vehicle was going 40mph and nothing. There were NO service lights on or any issues prior to the accident. This resulted in contusions and a sprained neck.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF SMOKE. THE DETECTED LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 144,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AN INTERNAL PIECE OF MY ENGINE SHOT A HOLE THROUGH MY ENGINE BLOCK. FIRE STARTED SHOOTING OUT OF MY ENGINE AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT WITHOUT THE FIRE GETTING WORSE. THE DRIVER BEHIND ME PULLED OVER AND TOLD ME THAT HE COULD SEE THE FIRE UNDER THE CAR WHILE DRIVING BEHIND ME. HE STOPPED TRAFFIC UNTIL WE CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE FIRE WAS STILL VISIBLE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE MINUTES B

Mileage: 140,000

THE 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT END HIT A GUARDRAIL ON A RURAL HIGHWAY. THE GUARDRAIL WAS CRUSH, AND THE IMPACT SPUN THE CAR AROUND 180 DEGREES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT, BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS AFFECTED DURING THE WRECK. PENDING NOTIFICATION IF CAR IS TOTALED.

Mileage: 184,000

CAME HOME 8 PM. SON CAME HOME SHORTLY AFTER 10 PM. JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT MY CAR ALARM STARTED GOING OFF (CAR LOCKED AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY), I GOT OUT OF BED LOOKED THROUGH BLINDS AND SAW MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO KITCHEN GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT FIRE AND CALLED 911. FIRE DEPT DETERMINED FIRE STARTED INSIDE CAR AT WIRING AREA.

Mileage: 107,500

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WOULD DECELERATOR THEN CUT OUT. I CAN BE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING SPEED LIMITS OF 70 OR ON A SIDE STREET GOING 30 OR UNDER. IT EVEN HAPPENED WHEN I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND DROVE DOWN MY STREET (4 HOUSES DOWN) AND GOT TO MY CUL-DE-SAC AND ALL POWER SHUT DOWN. NEIGHBOR HAD TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING ME BECAUSE I WAS ROLLING AND COULD NOT STOP. ALL POWER TO STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES WOULD BE NON OPERATIONAL. I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE WHEEL TO ONE SIDE TO AVOID TRAFF

Mileage: 125,000

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WOULD DECELERATOR THEN CUT OUT. I CAN BE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING SPEED LIMITS OF 70 OR ON A SIDE STREET GOING 30 OR UNDER. IT EVEN HAPPENED WHEN I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND DROVE DOWN MY STREET (4 HOUSES DOWN) AND GOT TO MY CUL-DE-SAC AND ALL POWER SHUT DOWN. NEIGHBOR HAD TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING ME BECAUSE I WAS ROLLING AND COULD NOT STOP. ALL POWER TO STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES WOULD BE NON OPERATIONAL. I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE WHEEL TO ONE SIDE TO AVOID TRAFF

Mileage: 125,000

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WOULD DECELERATOR THEN CUT OUT. I CAN BE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING SPEED LIMITS OF 70 OR ON A SIDE STREET GOING 30 OR UNDER. IT EVEN HAPPENED WHEN I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND DROVE DOWN MY STREET (4 HOUSES DOWN) AND GOT TO MY CUL-DE-SAC AND ALL POWER SHUT DOWN. NEIGHBOR HAD TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING ME BECAUSE I WAS ROLLING AND COULD NOT STOP. ALL POWER TO STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES WOULD BE NON OPERATIONAL. I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE WHEEL TO ONE SIDE TO AVOID TRAFF

Mileage: 125,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHTOWNE HYUNDAI (7665 US HWY 85, RIVERDALE, GA 30274, (770) 471-1000) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED C

Mileage: 121,000

WHILE DRIVING THE 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE TO TENNESSEE FROM ATLANTA, WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER AS PASSENGERS, I FELT A HEAVY BUMP ON THE INTERSTATE, AND WONDERED IF A TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, I SAW HEAVY SMOKE IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR, LETTING ME KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. A PERSON DRIVING IN A LANE TO MY LEFT TOLD ME THE CAR WAS ON FIRE, SO I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. I GOT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR, AND WALKED THEM TO A SAFE DISTANCE ABOUT 150 FEET FROM THE C

Mileage: 155,000

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE HAD A FAILURE AND A ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE OIL DUMP STARTED A FIRE.

Mileage: 71,000

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A RATTLING/CLUNKING, MY RPM'S SHOT UP AND I COULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 60. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN SHUT OFF BRIEFLY. THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON AND I PULLED OVER BUT HAD NO POWER STEERING. ONCE I PULLED OVER THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE SO I TURNED IT OFF. I THEN HEARD A LOUD POP AND SAW A THICK BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS IN FLAMES. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AN

Mileage: 95,600

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CHAPMAN SCOTTSDALE HYUNDAI (6601 E MCDOWELL RD #3, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85257, (480) 424-3558) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,143.

Mileage: 48,143

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER (MCGRATH CITY HYUNDAI, 6750 W GRAND AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60707) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NO OIL WAS GOING TO THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND UNABLE TO ASSIST.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY CROSSED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE. AS A RESULT, A HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO