Hyundai Santa Fe

The Smartstream 2.5 piston rings have by design increased ring gaps. This results in high blow-by and oil consumption of up to 1 L/1,000 km. Hyundai acknowledged the design issue.

Symptoms: Dropping oil level between changes, blue exhaust smoke clouds, oil consumption above 1 quart per 1,000 miles.

Extended oil change intervals cause lacquer formation in the turbocharger oil supply line. Bearings run dry and turbine shaft play develops.

Symptoms: High-pitched whine from the turbocharger, boost pressure drop, blue exhaust smoke, oil consumption.

The G4KN uses piston rings with twice the clearance of older engines to reduce friction. This design leads to measurable oil consumption of up to 1 quart per 1,600 km in many vehicles.

Symptoms: Dropping oil level between changes, slight blue smoke, oil smell from exhaust, occasional stumble.

GDi direct injection leaves soot deposits on the intake valves, worsened by blow-by from worn piston rings. Early cleaning is strongly recommended.

Symptoms: Rough idle, misfires, cold-start power dip, P030x fault codes.

The G4KN's dual MPI/GDI injection system switches modes depending on load. In cold operation with GDI mode active, fuel can condense on cylinder walls and dilute the oil.

Symptoms: Rising oil level (fuel smell), thin oil on the dipstick, increased fuel consumption, mild stumble.

Dirt and moisture can penetrate the ABS module and cause a short circuit leading to fire risk. 91,900 vehicles affected worldwide, of which 2,778 in Germany.

Faulty control of the electric oil pump causes pressure drop in the dual-clutch transmission and loss of drive force. Recall 21D155 affects production March 2021 to April 2022, 1,701 vehicles in Germany.

Steering wheel can separate from the steering column while driving, leading to complete loss of vehicle control. Recall NHTSA 18V118000 affects 41,070 vehicles.

Recall on the Santa Fe TM due to inadequate fuel tank reinforcement that poses a fire risk in certain crash scenarios. Affected vehicles received reinforcement plates.

Worn camshaft bearings on the 2.0 CRDi have been documented from as little as 33,000 km. A material defect in the cylinder head causes severe running noises and engine damage without any obvious prior warning.

The high vehicle weight of over 1,900 kg puts disproportionate stress on the braking system. Rear brake discs and pads wear faster than expected and need replacing sooner.

The vehicle identification number (VIN) stored in the eCall emergency call system may be incorrect and transmit wrong vehicle data in an emergency. Correction by dealer via software.

Leaking shaft seals at the transmission driveshaft are reported on the Santa Fe TM. Brown-rusty transmission fluid leaks out; the seal must be replaced multiple times if the shaft is worn.

Control arm ball joints and boots wear on the Santa Fe TM due to the high vehicle weight. First knocking noises after 40,000–80,000 km; MOT criticises axle joints.