2014 Hyundai Santa FE Problems

What owners report

The 2014 Santa Fe's complaint record is dominated by engine troubles: owners most often describe loud knocking, oil that disappears between changes, and engines that seize or lose power while driving, frequently around 80,000-150,000 miles but sometimes much earlier. Secondary themes are steering column noises and play at relatively low mileage, ABS-related electrical problems, and occasional loss of motive power tied to transmission or speed-control behavior. Many owners say no warning light appeared before the engine trouble.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, oil consumption and seizure

   • 187 complaints (38%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (72 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $7,350 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe a knocking or ticking sound that starts on startup or at highway speed and often worsens over days, with the engine sometimes shutting down, seizing or losing power afterward. Several say oil was found to be very low or empty at the shop even though no leak was visible, and that the oil or check-engine light only came on after the damage was done. Complaints describe dealers or independent shops diagnosing failed bearings, rod knock or a locked engine and recommending replacement, with some owners told the repair was not covered and others reporting a warranty or recall review. Reported from as low as about 24,000 miles upward, with most complaints clustering between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles, often during highway driving.

   8 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burning smell on the dipstick, and ask for oil-change records since oil consumption is the recurring theme. Ask whether any engine inspection or extended-coverage program has been applied to the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was driving my 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe when out of no where it started knocking loudly, took it to a mechanic and they said I needed a new motor it had 146k on it. Replaced the motor with a brand new motor with only 7 miles on it 2 weeks later the same thing happened, knocking noise and motor seizing up. It's my understanding that the Hyundai manufacturer should replace the 2014 sante fe like they did the sonota's and sante fe sports cause this vehicle has the same problems!”

   NHTSA complaint #11374672, filed 2020-11, 146,000 miles

   “The car is a 2014 Santa Fe and out of the blue I started to hear a strange noise from my engine area. Multiple dealerships confirmed that it was the engine that needed to be replaced. One dealership assured me that it would be covered due to a recent recall on Santa Fe engines but come to find out the recall was for a different engine type and not mine. While researching online I have seen several complaints of engine failure for the same type of engine that my Santa Fe has. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11363578, filed 2020-10, 145,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Limp mode, stalling and loss of power

   • 116 complaints (24%)
   • median 81,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,850 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle dropping into a reduced-power or limp mode, refusing to accelerate above roughly 25-60 mph, or cutting out entirely while driving. Owners report shuddering, sputtering and a flashing check-engine light, sometimes with no warning beforehand. In several cases shops blamed the engine itself, while other complaints mention repeated visits where the fault was reset or described as a software or sensor matter. Spread from roughly 40,000 to 120,000 miles, with several reports during highway driving or acceleration from a stop.

   What to check: During a test drive, accelerate from a stop and on an incline and note any hesitation or shudder. Ask whether any stored fault codes were read and cleared, and request the service history for repeated loss-of-power visits.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I'm in the last 2 weeks, as I was driving, 3 different times, it felt and sounded like the SUV was going to die out. Last week, when I came to a stop, the SUV started shaking for less than 5 seconds.”

   NHTSA complaint #11366831, filed 2020-10, 71,000 miles

   “My 2014 Santa Fe went into limp mode and wouldn't travel more than 5 miles an hour. I was told that my engine had no oil and was part of a safety recall. After months of jumping through the hoops with a series of oil consumption tests, I was told that if I replaced a slightly drippy oil pan gasket (a leak so small that it never hit my concrete carport) that Hyundai of cumming would send our paperwork to Hyundai corporate for a recall of the engine. I never knew that the car completely-shutting-down while driving was a possibility. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360462, filed 2020-09, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering column clunk, play and control buttons

   • 77 complaints (16%)
   • median 35,322 mi at 3.5 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,250 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe a clunking or fluttering noise from the steering column while driving, play in the steering wheel and, in some cases, a steering shaft that a dealer said needed replacement. Other complaints say the steering-wheel buttons act erratically or stop working, with the dealer attributing it to the clock spring, and one owner reports cruise-control buttons doing the opposite of what was pressed. Several complaints mention concern about losing power assist while driving. Mostly reported under about 60,000 miles, often at low mileage, and on winding or uneven roads.

   What to check: With the engine running, turn the wheel slowly and listen for clunks or ticking, and check for free play. Test every steering-wheel button, including cruise control, volume and phone controls.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving up a steep winding road my car began making a fluttering noise like a paddleboat. There was a lot of play in the steering wheel with a small squeak to only the left, in the play of the steering wheel. The dealership has let me know I need to replace the steering shaft. What actually makes the steering shaft go out, isn't that a component that has a long life? The noise was more intense driving up the road than going down. As reached a city level the drumming noise was still happening, but inconsistent.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406623, filed 2021-04, 98,000 miles

   “The electrical prompts on the face of the steering wheel begin to malfunction. First the volume control stopped, next the hands mobile phone controls. Then the cruise control functions and the menu for user settings stopped as well as airbags. When turning calls are dropped , all functions are inoperable whether car is in motion or stationary.”

   NHTSA complaint #11302158, filed 2020-01, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   ABS and warning-light electrical faults

   • 43 complaints (9%)
   • median 56,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe multiple warning lights appearing at once - ABS, traction control, skid control - along with a service-engine light, and in one case melted wiring and ash around the ABS unit that a dealer said required replacement. Other owners report the battery draining within a day or two with no cause found, and a rearview camera that failed in reverse, possibly from water entering the housing. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 90,000 miles, with several cases at low mileage.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS module recall work has been completed, and look under the hood near the ABS unit for scorched or melted wiring. Check that no warning lights stay lit after startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Took the car in for a recall and service engine soon light on february 4th. When I got almost home there were 4 more lights on. Rear wheel sensors, skid control, downhill and car approaching light. Made an appointment to get these fixed and I explained I had car shield and they said they accepted car shield. Today, may 5th when I took the car back (first appt. I could get) after I sat there for 1-1/2 hours they came back and told me more things were wrong and informed me at that time they no long use car shield. I'm done with Hyundai. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415305, filed 2021-05, 28,091 miles

   “Battery only five months old and something is bringing the battery down. Alternator has been checked as well as several other things including the battery. Nothing can be found that could bringing the battery down. Vehicle hadn't been started in 24 hours when this happened twice”

   NHTSA complaint #11383430, filed 2020-12, 16,635 miles

Buying note. The engine is the main thing to verify on this model year: get oil-change records, check the oil level and condition, and listen for knocking on a cold start. Also confirm that the ABS and hood-latch recalls have been completed, and budget for potential engine work if the service history is thin.

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.