2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 21,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The car started having problems immediately after replacement with a new battery. The issue with the ISG (Idle Stop and GO System) started appearing. When the Auto Stop Indicator turns green, the car stalls which puts my life at risk. I have spoken to a number of mechanics and I am not getting a satisfactory answer on how to fix this…Owner complaint, filed 2026

2019 Santa Fe with 80,000 miles showed signs of excessive oil consumption. Service was scheduled with licensed Hyundai franchise service center. Known oil consumption issues on Theta II engines for that year. Testing requires 3 steps. First step is to change the oil and document levels. Engine is tested for 1000 miles then returned to…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 14,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

Driving at highway speed, vehicle stuttered/lurched. The check AWD, engine light, tire pressure warning lights came on. Check by mechanic resulted in error code P0741 (Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off). Search of error code P0741 indicates that there is a Technical Service Bulletin TSB-23-AT-005H regarding this…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Transmission was replaced under warranty by Hyundai in Nov 2024. Engine was replaced at 100600 miles in Nov 2025. Issues with the transmission were happening at that time but ignored by dealership as issues related to failing engine. Our mechanic confirmed in April that transmission was failing and told us to go to Hyundai. We went to…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

On August 14 2026, I drove my 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe approximately one mile from my residence to work at approximately 5:00 AM. The vehicle was operating normally and I experienced no warning lights, unusual noises, odors, smoke, or other indications of a problem. I parked the vehicle in an outdoor parking lot and the vehicle remained…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Fire while driving - Electrical - No Warnings Reference NHTSA Recall 23V181000 Fire Extinguished once by fire extinguisher (civilian) then again by Union, MO fire department. Hyundai had the vehicle towed to their inspection facility. Inspection report being withheld. Claim has been denied. Hyundai now refusing to return vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Parts named most: Body (14).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The door was completely shut - I was driving on the highway - no alarm on the instrument panel, fully stage 2 latched ( even if it is just stage 1 latched - the instrument panel gives an alarm - there was no alarms about door not fully closed) everything was normal. 15 minutes into the drive - I was exiting the highway, making a right…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Paint coming off of hood, no contact of any kind. Took to dealer and was told past its warranty sorry. Cost me over $1K to fix the problem.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 8,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owned a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that as his daughter was driving at 20 MPH on the highway, she depressed the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond, and the vehicle started to smoke from the engine and into the cabin. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's daughter then tried to depress…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 77,200 miles

The contact owns a 2019 hyundai santa fe. While driving 80 MPH, the brakes applied on their own and the bca brake system activated warning message illuminated on the instrument panel. The failure recurred two weeks later. The vehicle was taken to puente hills hyundai (located at 17621 gale ave, city of industry, ca 91748, (626)…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 1,656 miles

Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (6), Warnings (5).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

Issue with idle on-off. After idling at light etc. car will stall. First time would not re-start , I was towed. Mechanic replaced turbo feature but problem persists and I am not using the on -off feature in an attempt to not have this happen, yet it does.Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the check Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle veered into oncoming traffic. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensor in the windshield had malfunctioned. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 69,550 miles

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

My vehicle had a very strong gas smell inside and outside of the car. I found a gas puddle under the car coming from the back of the vehicle. Car was hesitating when I stepped on the gas. I was afraid it may stall. I drove the vehicle to my regular service station. Vehicle has an active fuel leak and this is a fire hazard. I was very…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Gas tank leak upon delivery. After inspecting the leak, technicians were able to identify the [VIN] had issued repairs on gas tanks that were too thin and as a result, the vehicle we purchased was not properly repaired and leaked fuel.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 367 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 2,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

This is the second time my 2019 Hyundai Santa has suddenly veer right out of the lane. The error message was BAC Active. The dashboard turned red and the vehicle shook for a few seconds. I'm scheduled to take it back to the dealer. I have problems with the engine making noise and have been told the noise is normal.Owner complaint, filed 2023

Electric power steering failed after starting car and beginning drive. No power assist was present. Concurrent with this failure the instrument panel displayed warnings that Blind Spot Detection System and Lane Keeping System were not working and needed attention. Codes for the later 2 problems were sent to central computer, but no power…Owner complaint, filed 2022

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving on the freeway at approximately 73 mph, I heard a very loud bang that sounded like something had struck my car. I initially thought a rock had hit my windshield, but I couldn't see any damage. Later, I remembered the incident and went to the garage to inspect my car. After checking the windshield and walking around the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Panoramic sun roof glass exploded and shattered as I was driving down the highway on a 50 degree F cloudy day. There was no known object that struck the roof nor did we hit a bump in the road or anything. The sound was like that of a shotgun blast. I've seen other posts and settlements for earlier Hyundai vehicle makes and models where…Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

At 1641, I was driving 55mph on tonganoxie rd with the right of way & no stop signed. The other driver did have a stop sign but did not yield and entered the intersection causing my vehicle to strike the middle of the passenger side and spinning my vehicle and stopped 90’ to my right facing the direction she was traveling. All of my air…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Front side airbags only came down maybe sun visor length. Broadsided a car that pulled out in front of me, I was going 55mph when I hit her and no time to brake. I am 5’4” and when I hit her my head hit below the bag and into the glass getting a concussion. This is a major safety factor. Progressive Insurance claim #[XXX], vin [XXX]. I…Owner complaint, filed 2022

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while the vehicle was either stationary, parked, or being driven, the seat belt buckle failed to operate as designed. The seat belt warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that during the colder months, the seat belt buckle was more difficult to latch securely. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 85,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 22 MPH, the vehicle struck a pot-hole which caused the driver seat to move out of place. The contact stated that while accelerating, the front driver seat would shift backward and while shifted into reverse the seat would move forward. The…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 92,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

While pulling into a parking space at an extremely low speed, foot tapping the brake, the car excelerated (uncommanded) at what appeared to be full throttle. Depressing the brake had little to no effect and the vehicle stopped after hitting a metal pole. The vehicle sustained severe damage and was determined to be a total loss. The…Owner complaint, filed 2021

The contact owns a 2019 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that after pulling into a parking space, when the vehicle's engine suddenly revved up, [VIN] independently causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a water pipe. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed. The…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 12,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact's son owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe equipped with KUMHO Tires, Tire Line: Solus, Tire Size: 235/65/R17, DOT Number: [VIN]. The contact stated that while his son was driving 35 MPH, the passenger’s side front tire had a blowout causing damage to the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a body shop and the front…Owner complaint, filed 2022

A year after I purchased vehicle the paint started peeling off the wheel. When I took it to the dealership they kept telling me they were still addressing problem and would get back to me. Contacted them several times and they still didn’t have the problem solved. Then the dealership changed ownerships. New dealership says not their…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Engine is burning a tremendous amount of motor oil. Dealer does acknowledge engine is burning oil. No warning lights on. Told burning motor oil is normal for a hyundai engine. Engine can seize during driving with no warning and is a safety issue. Front struts are also failing. No warning and is a safety issue: Currently trying to get…Owner complaint, filed 2026