2014 Hyundai Santa FE Sport Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report engine trouble: sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, knocking or shaking, and oil levels running low between changes. Many say the engine was later found to need replacement, and several mention that their vehicle was not covered by the engine recall. Brake-system complaints, often tied to the ABS recall, are the next most common theme.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalling or losing power while driving

   • 71 complaints (43%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle losing motive power, hesitating or stalling at speed, sometimes with the check engine light on and an abnormal noise or knocking beforehand. Several owners say a dealer or mechanic later determined the engine needed replacement; some describe being told the engine failure was due to maintenance history or that the vehicle was outside warranty coverage. Some mention the engine had already been replaced once and the problem returned. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 16,000 to nearly 200,000 miles, often at highway speeds.

   Recall 17V226000Recall 18V934000

   What to check: Ask whether the engine has been replaced or repaired, keep records of oil changes, and have a pre-purchase inspection listen for knocking and check for stored engine codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Blown theta ii gdi engine at 108,500 miles... Well-maintained car. Car suddenly lost power and started shaking on the highway. A piston broke apparently. Hyundai won't repair. I can submit reports from the dealership when I get them.”

   NHTSA complaint #11233145, filed 2019-07, 108,500 miles

   “Incident occurred on I-65. My husband and I were traveling home from a quick road trip. While passing another vehicle at 75mph, our sante made a weird noise, then loud sound and went dead. My husband fought to control the car, barely avoided a possible fatal crash. We called Hyundai roadside assistance and was told they only tow 47 miles. The nearest dealer was 50 miles away. We were left stranded, no service or tow truck from Hyundai showed up. Had to call family to come get us (nearly 3 hours away). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11150666, filed 2018-11, 52,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS warning light and brake-system repairs

   • 25 complaints (15%)
   • median 52,006 mi at 7.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe the ABS warning light coming on, sometimes together with traction control or hill-start lights, and a burning smell or dragging brakes. Owners report dealers replacing wheel speed sensors or ABS components, and several mention that recall parts were unavailable or that the problem returned after recall service. Some describe the vehicle taking longer to stop. Often reported between roughly 20,000 and 90,000 miles.

   Recall 21V303000Recall 20V520000

   What to check: Confirm whether the ABS module recalls have been completed, watch for an ABS light on a test drive, and ask for service records on brake and wheel speed sensor work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The wiring harness which connects to the braking systems down hill and track, and ABS breaking and warning light of oncoming cars when passing wires which are made of soybean based causing wiring to be eaten by rodents. Second time to fix another $55 dollars. This is scaring me when driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11308940, filed 2020-02, 52,006 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that she noticed a trail of fluid leak on the driveway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. However, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH, the traction control, the hill start assists, and the ABS warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact smelled an abnormal burning odor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11507437, filed 2023-02, 21,703 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 67 complaints (41%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (45 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $8,600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the engine using far more oil than expected, in some cases finding little or no oil at an oil change with no visible leak and no low-oil warning. Some describe exhaust smoke, a fuel or oil smell, or a dealer running an oil consumption test. One complaint describes a service campaign for engine monitoring software having been applied but the problem returning. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 140,000 miles, with some cases under 45,000.

   Recall 17V2260002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the dipstick oil level and condition, look for blue or white exhaust smoke, and ask whether an oil consumption test has been done and whether any related software update was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle lost power when accelerating to go on interstate, it just had new software put in.I went to the dealer right away. They said that they could not work on it till the next day. I called hyundia and they know about it. Ido not think this vehicle should be on the street. They should fix the problem with the connecting rod, not software.”

   NHTSA complaint #11190368, filed 2019-03, 15,000 miles

   “Smell mixture of gas and oil after I start the engine and run for a while and run like a diesel engine and there is no power at all , there is smoke came from the dip stick after I shut off the engine”

   NHTSA complaint #11193625, filed 2019-04, 61,650 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Intermittent warning lights and electrical faults

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report multiple warning lights coming on at random, no-start or battery drain issues requiring jump starts and battery replacement, and in some cases the backup camera screen going blank. Complaints also mention a dealer being unable to find a cause after repeated visits. Separate service bulletins describe an anti-theft software upgrade and an occupant-classification sensor warranty extension tied to an airbag light. Reported from about 20,000 to 120,000 miles, with several cases near 40,000 to 50,000.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system tested, scan for stored body and ABS codes, and ask whether the anti-theft software update and any OCS sensor warranty extension have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had 2 issues with this vehicle and I believe that these might be a common recall issue. The back up camera on my Hyundai santa fe 2014 sport stopped working entirely I could still drive my car but it the screen turns blue when I put it in reverse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11143007, filed 2018-10, 50,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V303000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the malfunction indicator warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11442004, filed 2021-11, 93,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel odor and fuel line leaks

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a strong gasoline smell at start-up or while driving and, in some cases, a visible leak found under the hood, with a mechanic recommending high-pressure fuel line replacement. One owner linked the smell to work previously done during an engine replacement. Reported from about 15,000 to 200,000 miles, with several cases above 100,000.

   Recall 18V934000

   What to check: Smell for fuel around the engine bay after start-up and ask whether the high-pressure fuel pipe was inspected or replaced, particularly if the engine was ever replaced under recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have 2014 Santa Fe Sport with 2.4 engine, and have a serious hesitation problem. It happens quite often when waiting at light to make a left turn. When traffic allows me to go, the car will start the turn then it feels like the engine dies for about 2 or 3 seconds then kicks in and I am able to complete the turn. This is very scary when there is traffic coming at me. I am very worry that one day I will have an accident because of the serious hesitation problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10995811, filed 2017-06, 16,000 miles

   “I owned a 2014 Santa Fe Sport. It was blowing black smoke out of the exhaust. I would bring it in for an oil change and they would tell me the oil was bone dry. They could not see where the oil leak was, I had no spots in my driveway. The low oil light never came on. The time between oil change and no oil left was about 3 weeks. I brought it in, they told me I had an oil clog and needed a new motor. I filled it with oil and drove it home. The next day I was driving it to my mechanic, stopped at a convienance store on the way. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11062637, filed 2018-01, 42,000 miles

Buying note. Have any candidate inspected for engine noise, oil consumption and stored codes, and confirm that the engine, ABS and fuel-pipe recalls have been completed with records. Maintenance history matters here, since several owners report engine repairs were denied on that basis.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.