Problems · NHTSA complaints

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid problems

Owners filed 58 complaints about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid with NHTSA between Dec 2022 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (24).

Complaints
58
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine24
  2. Power train15
  3. Electrical system14
  4. Fuel/propulsion system13
  5. Forward collision avoidance10
  6. Vehicle speed control7
  7. Lane departure4
  8. Service brakes3
  9. Structure2
  10. Back over prevention2
  11. Visibility2
  12. Suspension1
  13. Exterior lighting1
  14. Engine and engine cooling1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20221
202317
202428
20259
20263

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

24 reports
“The vehicle came to a complete stop filling cabin with smoke and wouldnt start in a bend on road blocking entrance ramp. Its available for inspection but at dealership. My safety was put at risk for collision as well as health with cabin filling with smoke. The dealer still has vehicle going on 3rd day without answers. The vehicle had warning come on for hybrid system failure appearing shortly before dying completely with smoke filling cabin.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11770334

Power train

15 reports
“I am reporting an URGENT REQUEST IMMEDIATE ACTION REGARDING A SERIOUS UNRESOLVED, RECURRING PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. IT IS POTENTIALLY THE FAULT OF ALEXANDRIA HYUNDAI'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT (in Alexandria, VA) WHO HAD JUST SERVICED MY VEHICLE FOR WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A ROUTINE SERVICING (on May 7). My car had a catastrophic and complete failure on a high speed highway (the car quickly decelerated) which represented an incredibly danger situation for myself and other drivers on the road. My car was purchased in 2023 and has 15,241 miles. It has been perfectly maintained. On [XXX], I was returning to my home in Virginia from Maryland on an 8 lane highway with a 55mph speed limit when I had a very dangerous complete failure of my car. Simultaneously, the car started bucking back, the speed was decelerating regardless of my pressing the accelerator to keep my speed the same as traffic, and I received a flashing large red message that said "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM - STOP SAFELY." Fortunately I was in the far right lane and was able to veer it over to a narrow shoulder. It was 8pm and getting dark. After a short while, the car lost all power so I was on a…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2025Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11662286

Electrical system

14 reports
“One two separate occasions while driving the car has lost the ability to accelerate. There is no acceleration power even when completely flooring the gas pedal. The dash displays a red circle warming that states "Check Hybrid system. Stop Safely". I have had to coast to the side of the road and then the car shuts off. It has taken several minutes before it can start again, and then displays a warning "Park with engine On to charge battery" before being able to shift the car into drive. I immediately took the vehicle to the dealership at which I had purchased the car. They have run a diagnostic on it and did not find any error codes stored in the computer. I picked up the vehicle from them and immediately upon pulling out of their lot it happened again. After losing power, coasting to the side of the road, and waiting for the engine to be able to restart I took it immediately back to the dealership. They have had my car for 5 weeks and cannot diagnose the problem or offer any recommendations for repairs.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2025Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11706383

Fuel/propulsion system

13 reports
“Own a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and have experienced the following issues over the past year and a half. Beginning after maybe 40,000 miles we pulled out onto a roadway and the engine immediately lost power and started flashing a glaring red warning that the hybrid system was failing and to pull over. We luckily were able to and turned the car off and waited. I tried to turn it on and it came back to life as if there was never an issue? We drove off. it left no warning code or did not update my Bluelink App. I took it to the dealership and they could not find any issues. Fast forward another 5 or 6 months and it happens again. Take it to the dealer and they keep it a week to go over it but still nothing. Within a week of getting it back it happens again and this time I am videoing it happening to me. Back to the dealer and provide the video because again the car did not log the event nor did it update my app. They hold it again for a week and try different things. They still cannot figure it out and I get it back.... it happens again.... This time the dealership was able to come up with an answer and that the oil level was too high. I got the car back and it…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2026Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11719697

Forward collision avoidance

10 reports
“The Automatic Emergency Braking System, on multiple occasions now, has slammed on its brakes at highway speed when there are no obstacles, barriers, or even vehicles in sight ahead of my wife. This happened to me the other day also when exiting the highway onto an exit ramp when it "Detected Collision" when *nothing* was around me, no vehicles or barriers within any reasonable distance. It's going to end up causing someone to rear end me or her - absolutely unsafe and 100% putting my wife and child at risk. We're taking it to the dealership on Saturday and have verbally informed them of the issue. No warnings, no messages, no nothing prior to incident - the car is practically brand new.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2024Forward collision avoidanceODI 11619621

Vehicle speed control

7 reports
“The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30-35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle worked as designed for several miles before the failure recurred. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was due to the accelerator switch. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH in the driveway, the vehicle lost motive power. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 6,800.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2024Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11602691
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.