2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT Vehicle Speed Control Problems

My ABS and Traction Control lights keep going off, intermittently. They have been doing it for several years.It can be for hours or for days. I took a video of it happening a couple years ago, and photos, also. More recently my speedometer has started jumping. I had the ABS recall performed when it was first implemented. When I've taken my vehicle to Hyundai (twice now specifically for this) they say they can see no codes and will do nothing. From what I have read on the ABS recall, this is what are the symptoms of it. I am under the impression that I have somehow gotten a defective part, even when they did the recall. The recall was that it could cause an engine fire. Today driving home, for a second, downhill, the oil light came on for a second-then went off. I came home and parked. My husband checked. He said there is no oil in the car. That, I imagine is part of the other engine issue this model has. But you would think the oil light would come on sooner and STAY on. He is going to get some oil and then take it to a shop when he gets off work. My main concern is getting the ABS/speedometer fixed as I believe it is from the first recall. The second issue-that is probably a Hyundai "recognized" issue. They just keep telling me nothing is wrong with the ABS/speedometer though. I have photos spanning several year, it falls in line with the recalled issue. Just replace the part already. The last date I went to Hyundai was Monday last week, so I'll put that as the incident date, as I was there for the ABS/speedometer. I had to drive an hour each way to see them twice now to be told they can't do anything. Today the oil light came on.

While driving on a highway in April 2025, my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport suddenly lost all power after approximately 10 minutes of normal driving. All dashboard warning lights illuminated, and both the accelerator and brake pedals became unresponsive. I was forced to stop the vehicle using the handbrake in the middle of a 65 mph highway, creating an extremely dangerous situation for myself and other drivers. Prior to this incident, the vehicle had displayed the P1326 knock sensor code multiple times over a 10-month period, each time accompanied by hesitation when accelerating. The knock sensor was replaced twice under used car warranty by Honda. Despite these interventions, the same code and symptoms recurred. The Hyundai dealership(Dec 2024 at Montgomery, Jan 2025 at Enterprise) repeatedly stated that there was “nothing wrong with the engine.” After the highway failure, the vehicle was inspected by a collision center and an independent mechanic. They confirmed that Cylinder 4 had no compression and diagnosed a burnt valve. Full engine replacement was recommended. Hyundai initially indicated that the engine might be covered under the extended warranty but later denied the claim, stating that the damage was due to a cylinder issue and can not check bearing failure. They also claimed it was too late to determine whether the bearing was the cause. This is not an isolated issue. Many Hyundai owners across the U.S. have reported identical symptoms—P1326 code, hesitation, cylinder compression loss, and ultimately engine failure—particularly in vehicles equipped with the Theta II engine. These failures often occur around or after 100,000 miles, despite regular maintenance. This ongoing and widespread cylinder-related engine failure presents a serious safety risk and must be addressed through manufacturer accountability, improved diagnostic standards, and proactive repair or recall efforts.

am writing you today in frustration with my treatment at both your dealership Hyundai Streetsboro and Hyundai of Bedford. When I first purchased my vehicle I expressed concern regarding the hesitation while accelerating and the emense amount of oil this vehicle burns. When I scheduled all my services I expressed the same concern only to be told that it's normal rate or oil consumption. I am extremely nervous when merging into traffic because I never know when the car may decide to not accelerate. I have tired on numerous occasions to get this issue checked by two separate dealership but both dismissed my concerns. I have emails and expressed concerns when using the dealership online service request forms. In summary the vehicle hesitates when trying to accelerate, especially merging into traffic. The vehicle also burns oil at an unreasonable rate as a result of a faulty engine.

I have need to get 3 oil changes within the past month and a half. Twice I was told I was driving with no oil in my car and the engine was getting ready to go. I notice when I start my car in the morning it is making a rattling noise, this also happens when I try to accelerate and the car will get stuck in gear and hesitate before speeding up. It's been dangerous trying to drive on this highway. I also notice a thick white smoke coming from my muffler. I'm constantly paying for unnecessary oil changes and diagnostic from independent service centers and was told my motor is bad and causing all this oil consumption. I was told to contact Hyundai but no luck.

I was driving on the highway in a mountainous area going downhill. The cruise control was on with the speed set at about 80 miles/hour. Then the car was losing speed, the RPM needle started swinging from left and right. I stepped on the accelerator but the car continue losing speed to 40 miles/hour and continue losing speed. I turned on the emergency light to warn the other drivers and was able to move the car to the shoulder and stopped it without an accident. But the cars behind me could have smashed into my car that day and that would be the last day for my mother (in the car at that time) and me. The car had 41000 miles on it and we had the maintenance done just recently. I did not notice anything else abnormal before the incident. We reported the problem to the dealer and have to pay for the dealer to inspect the car. The inspection has been scheduled but not done yet.

UNKNOWN It started with the engine suddenly reducing my speed down to 10 mph while I was driving on the freeway, the check engine light turned on. We then took it to the Hyundai dealership who turned us a way and told us they couldn’t see us for several months. So we were forced to take it to a repair shop who ran a compression test and told us it failed. We were able to speak to the dealership a few days later who asked us to take it in they re ran the test and told us it passed but they needed to do some updates to the knock sensor due to multiple recalls they had failed to inform us on (even though they had conducted an update back in 2019) after this they conducted several oil consumption tests which have averaged a liter or more consumed per 500 miles. During this time the vehicle repeatedly had knocking sounds, warning light flashes, sputtering of the engine, occasional stalling, and marked issues with acceleration from a stop, amongst other concerning issues. We then we’re required to have a combustion cleaning by the dealership, this not only didn’t solve any of the previous issues but increased the oil consumption to as much as 1.5 liters in around 330 miles. The dealership confirmed that the vehicle had been properly maintained and it hadn’t been tampered with but Hyundai continues to refuse to replace the engine. Even though many of the other engines with similar issues have since caught on fire and endangered the occupants. The vehicle continues to jerk when accelerating and consume oil at an alarming rate.

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced shaking and vibrating while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

Mileage: 45,000

MY CAR HAS STARTED JERKING WHEN UP SHIFTING AND SEEMS TO ONLY BE HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR HAS NOT WARMED UP. THEN TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 78MPH MY CAR LOST POWER. NOT COMPLETELY. ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING "GAVE OUT" AND I LOST THE FORWARD FORCE I WAS GOING. IT ALSO BECAME LOUDER, ALMOST LIKE A LID HUM. WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GO

Mileage: 133,000

JUST GOT THIS CAR 2 WEEKS AGO AND IT HESITATES WHEN TURNING OR TRYING TO GET OUT INTO TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY! HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AT RANDOM UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE OF TURNING OR MERGING..

Mileage: 28,000

TAKATA RECAL: WHILE MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY ONRAMP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. IT WON'T GO ABOVE 50 MPH EVEN WHEN I FLOORED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN GRADUALLY ACCELERATE. THIS WAS DANGERS AS I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED, SPEED LIMIT WAS 65 MPH. IF YOU HAVE TO GUN-IT, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO REGISTER THE ACCELERATION PROPERLY. IT'S LIKE IT SKIPS A GEAR AND GETS STUCK AT THE LOWER GEAR SETTING. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN YOU FLOOR THE ACCELERATION PEDAL.

Mileage: 24,800

WHEN DRIVING IN NORMAL AND SPORT MODE, ON ACCELERATION THERE IS A DELAY AND WHEN THE GAS IS LEFT OFF, THE ENGINE IS REVVING HIGH BUT PROPULSION, SPEED IS DIMINISHED, HAVING A STALL OUT AFFECT AT VARYING SPEEDS. RPM IS HIGH BUT ENGINE IS NOT RESPONDING . THIS HAS HAPPENED WEEKLY AND NEARLY DAILY WHEN DRIVING IN CITY ENVIRONMENT WITH SPEED FROM 30 TO 50 PLUS MILES PER HOUR.

Mileage: 5,000

THIS INITIALLY STARTED AROUND 3K MILES. WE THOUGHT THE VEHICLE ADJUSTING TO OUR DRIVING PATTERNS; HOWEVER OVERTIME IT BECAME A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. & THEY'D NOT HEARD OF THIS OCCURRING. IT'S GETTING MUCH WORSE AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY AT NO SPECIFIC SPEED SEEMS TO EITHER GET STUCK IN A GEAR OR TRY TO STALL TURNING LEFT, RIGHT (DRY CONDITIONS) OR AS I'M ON THE HIGHWAY MOVING LANES; NO SPECIFIC MPH. (THIS IS A DRIVING DEATH MACHINE AND FOR SAFETY PURPOSES I REFUSE TO PUT OTHER LIVES AT RISK) THERE'S A 2-4 SEC. DELAY, FORCING ME TO PUNCH THE GAS (MY GRANDFATHER OR FATHER WOULD HAVE STATED; "SOUNDS LIKE SAWDUST IN YOUR ENGINE") TO GET MY VEHICLE TO MOVE; ULTIMATELY A NEAR MISS OF A FATAL INCIDENT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND BECOMING VERY CLOSE TO GETTING T-BONED DUE TO THIS DANGEROUSLY "UNPREDICTABLE & EXTREMELY UNSAFE" VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND WAS FED UP AND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP.WE PROVIDED DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF OUR EXPERIENCES. YESTERDAY RECEIVED BACK FROM SERVICE TECH OUR INVOICE OF SERVICE WORK AND THEY STATE NO PROBLEMS; & UPDATE CAUSE TO RESOLUTION :TSB 17-BR0002 TCS UPDATE. IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FROM 5 MPH TO 20MPH THE RPMS SHOULDN'T SUDDENLY INCREASE TO 5K WITHOUT FORWARD MOTION. THIS OCCURS IN NORMAL, ECO, AND SPORT AT SPORADIC TIMES. MY VEHICLE HAS 10,223 MILES THIS MORNING.I SPOKE WITH HYUNDAIUSA & INQUIRED OF A BUYBACK FOR VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY AND BECAUSE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE'S NO FIX NOW OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AN ENGINEER FROM HYUNDAI CORP WOULD HAVE TO COME AND THERE'S NO IDEA WHEN (?). SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS SAFETY. IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL OF PREVENTING LOST LIVES OF CHILDREN AND BABIES, PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 3,007

I'M STOPPED AT A STREET, WAITING TO TURN ON A MAIN ROAD. I JUST HAVE A STOP SIGN, BUT THE CROSS TRAFFIC DOESN'T HAVE TO STOP. I START TO TURN OUT WHEN THERE'S AN OPENING, AND MY CAR STALLS FOR A FEW SECONDS. SOMETIMES IT'S LONGER, SOMETIMES IT'S SHORTER. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT MY CAR DOESN'T GO QUICK ENOUGH, I COULD GET HIT. I'VE NOTICED THIS IS THE WORST WHEN I HAVE IT IN ECO MODE. THIS EXACT THING HAPPENS WHEN I'M ALSO TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONCE I'VE MERGED ONTO A HIGHWAY. IT'S LIKE MY CAR IS STOPPING WHEN I'M TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO GET TO THE PACE OF THE TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 13,000

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN JULY OF 2016. SINCE THEN I HAD ISSUE WITH THE ACCELERATION. SOMETIMES CAR TAKES LONGER TO START FROM THE STOP POSITION AND WHEN IT STARTS, IT JUST ACCELERATES. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE CAR FEELS LIKE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND THEN PICK UP THE SPEED AGAIN. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND I HAD BOUGHT TO THE SALES PERSON'S KNOWLEDGE AT THE BEGINNING, WHEN HE DROVE AROUND TO FEEL ABOUT THE SAME, IT DIDN'T OCCUR AT THAT TIME. BUT, EVERY NOW AND THEN THIS SEEMS TO BE THE ISSUE WITH ME.

Mileage: 150

I'M HAVING A RANDOM PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WHICH RELATES TO THE ACCELERATION. THE CAR SOMETIMES FAILS TO RESPONDS TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN PRESSED. I HAVE NOTICED THIS WHEN THE CAR IS IN ECO DRIVE MODE AND THE REVS SEEM OK AND THE ENGINE FAILS TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR BUT ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR JERKS FORWARD WITH DRIVER HAVING LITTLE CONTROL UNTIL IT EVENS OUT AGAIN. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY PATTERN TO IT AND AS A RESULT IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DUPLICATE. I HAVE TALKED TO HYUNDAI USA AND ALSO WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AS OF YET I HAVE NO FIX. WILL BRING IT INTO DEALER ONCE MORE AND TAKE IT FROM THERE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AS A FATHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN AND WORRY

Mileage: 5,600

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN NOT FULLY WARMED UP. DEALER CAN DUPLICATE THE SITUATION ON THIS VEHICLE AND OTHERS IN THEIR INVENTORY.

Mileage: 20,000

EXCESSIVE ENGINE BRAKING ON DOWNHILL ROLL WITH CRUISE ENGAGED, WILL DOWNSHIFT THEN DOWNSHIFT AGAIN. WHILE REDUCING THE SPEED THE CRUISE WILL CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO UP-SHIFT STILL ROLLING DOWN THE SAME HILL AT THIS POINT THE CRUISE REALIZES THE SPEED INCREASE AND DOES A DOUBLE DOWNSHIFT FROM WHERE IT WAS. AT THIS POINT THE RPM HAS JUMPED TO JUST UNDER 5000 WITH THE ENGINE WHINING LIKE ITS IN PAIN. I LIVE IN AND TRAVEL, TO AND FROM WORK IN THE LOWER SAVANNAH RIVER AREA OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE HILL THAT I WAS ON IS ABOUT THE LENGTH FOOTBALL FIELD AND THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55MPH UNSURE OF THE GRADE, BUT AS I EXPLAINED WHERE WE LIVE. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS ISSUE THE ODOMETER HAD JUST OVER A THOUSAND MILES AND JUST THOUGHT IT WAS AN ANOMALY BUT NOW IT HAS JUST UNDER THREE THOUSAND MILES AND IT STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A WEDDING GIFT FOR MY WIFE AND SHE'S SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ISSUES. SHE WOULD RATHER DRIVE HER 2007 SANTA FE THE CRUISE CONTROL IN IT ACTS NORMAL AND FEELS DEPENDABLE, EVEN WITH 114,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE CONTACTED HYUNDAI MOTORS AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WITH NO RESULTS. HYUNDAI ASSIGNED ME CASE WORKER ANGELA GODBEY (714) 965-7049 SHE CLOSED THE CASE 8/23/17, BUT NOT WITHOUT GIVING INDICATION THAT THE PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURERS INSTALLED DEFECT.

Mileage: 2,900

I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 SANTA FE SPORT ON 5-26-17. ON 7-19-17 AT AROUND 7100 MILES I RECEIVED A MESSAGE WARNING ME OF THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. I PUT A PHONE CALL IN THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT INTO THE SHOP 7-20-17 (THUR). THAT AFTERNOON I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY SERVICE ADVISER STATING THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE. I THEN RESTATED IT WAS NOT AN ENGINE LIGHT BUT AN ACTUAL MESSAGE STATING THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATNG. HE THEN CALLED ME BACK 10 MINUTES LATER STATING THERE IN FACT WAS A LEAK IN THE WATER PUMP AND THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE GASKET AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE THE PART UNTIL 7-25-17 (TUES). WHEN I FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK ON THE 26TH (WED) ALL SEEMED FINE AGAIN. ON FRIDAY 7-28-17 WHILE DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MILES PER HOUR I FELT THE CAR DOWN SHIFT AND RPM'S STARTED GOING WELL OVER 5000 AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO PUSH ON THE BREAK THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHEN AN HOUR SPAN. I CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD TO BRING CAR BACK. NOTE THEY ALSO HAD TO FIX A SCRATCH PUT ON MY PASSENGER MIRROR FROM WHEN CAR WAS SERVICED THE FIRST TIME. I BROUGHT MY SANTA FE BACK IN ON MONDAY 7-31-17 AND FINALLY DECIDED TO CONTACT SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON WED 8-2-17 WHEN NO BODY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW OF ISSUES. SINCE THEN TODAYS DATE IS 8-10-17 I CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN TO FIND OUT STATUS AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET , REPROGRAM CRUISE CONTROL AND REPLACE THERMOSTAT ON TOP OF THE GASKET THEY ALREADY REPLACED ON WATER PUMP. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO STATED THEY STILL SMELL COOLANT IN MY SUV WHICH CONCERNS ME STILL SINCE I AM 5 MONTHS PREGNANT. I DID START CASE WITH HYUNDAI USA AND AM WAITING TO HERE WHAT OPTIONS I MAY HAVE BUT KNOW I DO NOT WANT THIS SUV BACK FOR MY SAFETY.

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED OR SLOW SPEED, SUCH AS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR A SECOND OR MORE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP, YOU HIT THE GAS & NO RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE. HAVE TO KEEP PRESSING GAS PEDAL BEFORE CAR FINALLY RESPONDS AND ACCELERATES. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME SO SELECTING A WHEN IT HAPPENED DATE IS N/A

2017 SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T ULTIMATE AWD - HESITATION OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS, MOST FREQUENTLY OBSERVED WHEN MAKING TURNS. STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TO BLINK AND THE ENGINE TO EFFECTIVELY STALL OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN THE THROTTLE DOES ENGAGE AFTER THE HESITATION, IT IS IN A VIOLENT MANNER. THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN NOT, AND IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR AND HAVE 20,000+ MILES ON IT. THIS IS A REOCCURRING ISSUE. HAD I BEEN AWARE OF THIS SITE, I WOULD'VE FILED A COMPLAINT IMMEDIATELY.

Mileage: 100

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATION WHEN TURNING SOMETIMES. IN SPORT MODE ITS FINE BUT ECO AND REG IT ACTS UP. I WAS ALMOST T-BONED CAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT A INTERSECTION.

Mileage: 1,200