NHTSA Complaint #11632030 — 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

In June 2024, my vehicle suddenly lost power while I was driving on the freeway, almost causing a serious accident. I managed to restart the car after being stuck on the shoulder of the freeway for several minutes. The same issue occurred the following day, prompting me to have the vehicle towed to the dealership. Hyundai Motor was contacted since the vehicle is still under warranty. The dealership informed me they would conduct an oil consumption test three times to diagnose the issue. However, they also stated that for the test to be successful, I needed to replace unrelated parts, including the brakes and transmission oil, among other items. Reluctantly, I agreed and spent $1,800 on these replacements. After completing the first oil consumption test, I returned for the second test. However, the dealership informed me that no further tests were necessary and returned the car to me without addressing the underlying issue. I emailed the case manager assigned by Hyundai to report this, but I never received a response. A few months later, the car failed to start. I contacted Hyundai again, and they dispatched a tow truck. The tow truck driver managed to start the car. A few days later, the issue recurred, and the roadside assistance tow driver suggested it might be the battery. Out of frustration, I paid $300 to replace the battery. Despite this, the car continued to make unusual noises at startup, a problem I had repeatedly mentioned to the dealership and in my communications with Hyundai. The situation reached a critical point today when my wife was driving the vehicle on the freeway with our five children inside. While traveling at 60 miles per hour, the car suddenly lost power again, putting their lives in danger. This is the third time this hazardous issue has occurred, and I fear for the safety of my family.