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Owner complaints · Engine

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems

63 of the 287 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 18 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.

63 complaints 22% of this model year’s 1 report a crash 1 a fire

What owners filed about the engine

Source: NHTSA complaint database
63complaints name the engine

1 of the 63 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 20 · 2026: 8

Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.

22%of this model year’s complaints

287 complaints in all about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →

Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Hyundai Santa Fe engine problems, every year on file →

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In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

On two separate occasions, I was a stop light in high traffic. I was unable to drive my vehicle when the light turn green because of no power. A message display prompting me to "shift to P or N to start engine." Unfortunately, that didn't work. I had to sit there for a few mins, signaling other motorists to go around me.
Engine Apr 28, 2025 NHTSA owner report
The purchase price was $35,800. As of today, I have paid a total of $24,590. The vehicle has a manufacturing defect that has significantly impacted its performance. The engine has been problematic, as it appears to be consuming oil, and it often fails to start on the first attempt, requiring me to press the button multiple times.
Engine Mar 24, 2025 NHTSA owner report
The car has shut down unexpectedly for at least six times while driving at roads and highways. When this happens, engine stalls and nothing works and all alarms and check lights turn on and activated.
Engine Mar 13, 2025 NHTSA owner report
I purchased a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid in November of 2023. Within a couple of months of purchase I had 2 incidents where without warning the car lost power and made a noise sounding like some sort of fan. One of the incidents was on in Massachusetts, the heavy traffic cleared, I was in the fast lane, and the car would barely move.
Engine Feb 5, 2025 NHTSA owner report
Automobile approached and stopped at stop sign. When accelerator pressed to continue, car remained in place, shuddering (as if transmission were slipping),and making significant noise. Car would not shift out of gear, nor move. Operator shut off car and then restarted car. Car started normally and was in park without shuddering.
Engine Dec 27, 2024 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the engine

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

18 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Trouble codes named on this system

P2118 P2181

Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.

Other systems with a record on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

Source: the same files
From here

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are engine problems common on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 63 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (22% of everything owners filed about it), and 18 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.

Is there a recall for the engine on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe?

No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 2 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.

When do engine problems show up on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.

What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?

The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.