2023 Hyundai Santa FE electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle stalled while driving — unsafe loss of power. While driving at normal speed, the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning and the electrical system malfunctioned. I had to pull over and restart car. This created a dangerous situation and could have caused a collision. Prior to this incidenct, the vehicle had intermittent electrical issues during startup (flickering electronics). This is the first time the car has experienced during driving, and is now at the Hyundai dealership. The car has been reported as unsafe to drive. This appears similar to other Hyundai stalling/power loss issues and may indicate a developing safety defect. Requesting investigation.

NHTSA complaint #11746699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I was driving down the road and came to a stop at a stop light. After accelerating again my car lost the ability to increase speed above 20 miles/hour and would not shift gears. I was heading to the turn lane to get on the interstate and quickly had to change lanes to find an area to pull over as I could not reach highway speeds. I turned the car off. I turned the car back on and the problem resolved. This is the second time this has happened. I have seen this problem mentioned dozens of time on Reddit message boards including Hyundai buybacks on some of these vehicles. It doesn't sound like Hyundai has any idea what is causing this issue. This issue should be looked into further.

NHTSA complaint #11741734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My vehicle activates the emergency braking system while driving. It has happened several times now, almost causing a collision. I took it to the dealership, they held it for a week and gave it back to me telling me they could not find anything wrong with it. They did not fix anything at all. It has since done it once more.

NHTSA complaint #11740276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the horn was inoperable and inaudible when pressed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

NHTSA complaint #11731120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

During on driving, engine stopped 3 or 4times since Jan/2025 Last time engine stopped yesterday around 6:30pm on 3/30/2026 at [XXX] between [XXX] and [XXX] in Los Angeles INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11728083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The horn stops working which is a safety hazard in case someone is backing into you, etc. This horn has stop working 4 times and had to be replaced.

NHTSA complaint #11718566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Needed to use horn in an emergency situation and that's when I found out my horn no longer works. 20,000 miles on 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.

NHTSA complaint #11716823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Horn How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My horn stopped working - cannot use it when driving to warn other drivers - safety issue Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not reproduced, but dealership has confirmed the horn stopped working on three separate occasions. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Dealership - three times Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. Hyundai dealership said my fuse blown on three separate occasions causing the horn to stop working. My horn stopped working a few months ago, then about a month ago and again last week - all due to blown fuses to which the dealership has no explanation.

NHTSA complaint #11715329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving after dark, a different car traveling in opposite direction almost caused head on collision while driving in the wrong lane. Driver of the Santa Fe attempted to activate horn on vehicle to alert other vehicle that they were traveling in the wrong lane/direction, but horn failed to sound. Driver was narrowly able to avoid physical collision as a result. Driver took vehicle to dealership and it was determined both high and low horns had failed again (total horn system failure), and the dealership replaced under warranty. This is the second time in less than 2 years of ownership the horns have failed and needed to be replaced. Dealership stated horn failure is common in the 2023 Santa Fe, but is only covered under the 5 year/60000 mile warranty despite being a known defective part. Hyundai should offer a voluntary recall to repair affected vehicles with redesigned parts as the horns failing is a known issue and failure can result in severe safety risk while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11713619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Horn stopped working at 47,474 miles Check Tire Pressure System light is on, poor sensor at 45,650

NHTSA complaint #11713260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Horn completely out, yes available. I was unable to warn another driver from entering my lane several times. Warn a pedestrian from stepping out into traffic. Confirmed by the dealer. The horn was Inspected replaced at my own cost on March 2025 by December 2025 the part is no longer operational. I asked the dealer to honor the warranty they declined saying the mileage was passed the warranty terms.

NHTSA complaint #11709529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Both horns on my 2023 Hyundai Santa FE have failed 3 times. The first set was covered under warranty (3/24), the second set cost $499.64 (3/25). Now both horns are nonfunctional after just being replaced this Spring. After reviewing many complaints on the Hyundai community form, it is very obvious there is a major issue with their horns ( and not just the Santa Fe model). Twice this week I was in need of my horn to alert other drivers but instead had to make quick maneuvers to avoid an incident. My vehicle currently cannot pass a state inspection.

NHTSA complaint #11705523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On a clear road a sencor comes on detect comes on says detection collision. The breaks come on when you are traveling on interstate or two lane roads. When you are traveling 75 mph and breaks come on all of a sudden on the highway. We are lucky we never got hit in the back of the car going that fast. We will stop 75 to 35 mph in 10 seconds.

NHTSA complaint #11703865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

At stop sign and car with auto start stop on and at the time of releasing the brake, car was not able to start engine. Car had to be shifted to parking position to start engine.

NHTSA complaint #11700865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Horn has failed 4 times

NHTSA complaint #11700281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Component/System: Automatic Emergency Braking / Forward Collision-Avoidance (AEB/FCA) system and/or Electronic Parking Brake (EPB). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. What happened: While driving my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN: XXX) at highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly and aggressively applied the emergency braking system on two separate occasions within the same day (approximately 45–60 minutes apart). In both instances, the red emergency braking warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, and a warning sound activated. There were no vehicles, obstacles, or hazards in front of me either time. The braking was forceful and abrupt, causing rapid deceleration at highway speed. Both events occurred under normal, clear driving conditions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) Safety risk: My safety and the safety of other drivers were put at significant risk. Sudden unintended braking at highway speeds can easily lead to a rear-end collision since the deceleration was not caused by driver input and gave no warning. Reproduction / dealer confirmation: The dealer has not been able to reproduce the issue, and no diagnostic trouble codes have been found so far. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for inspection. Inspection: The vehicle has been inspected by the Hyundai dealership, but the cause has not been identified. No manufacturer field engineer, police, or insurance inspection has taken place yet. Warning lamps / prior symptoms: During the failures, the red emergency braking indicator and audible warning activated immediately when the brakes engaged. There were no warning lights or symptoms prior to either event. Assessment: Cause UNKNOWN. The problem appears to be an intermittent malfunction of the Automatic Emergency Braking system, forward collision sensors, or related braking components. No diagnostic codes were stored. This is a serious safety issue that occurred twice within one hour and could easily result in a collision.

NHTSA complaint #11699416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Horn No longer works in vehicle - A major safety issue

NHTSA complaint #11691482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On [XXX] in Rehoboth, DE, my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe experienced a sudden and complete power failure while reversing out of a parking spot. All electrical systems shut down—including propulsion, dashboard lights, and emergency brake—causing the vehicle to roll backward into oncoming traffic. No warning lights appeared beforehand. After about an hour, power returned on its own. A passing police officer witnessed the situation and a report was filed with the Rehoboth Beach Police Department. On September 6th, Hyundai service performed a diagnostic scan of the engine and transmission systems. No fault codes were found, and the issue could not be replicated. After sitting overnight, the vehicle restarted normally and passed a road test. The dealership documented the incident but returned the vehicle without repair, stating: “Cannot duplicate concern at this time.” I was advised to tow the vehicle in if the issue recurs and, if rolling occurs again, to use a wheel chock. I purchased this vehicle new in 2023. It has only 40,000 miles and is covered under a 10-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. A failure of this magnitude—especially during a basic maneuver like reversing—poses a serious safety risk. Despite the dealership’s inability to replicate the issue, I do not feel safe operating the vehicle until the root cause is identified and resolved. I am currently in the process of escalating to Hyundai corporate for further investigation, including a buyback review, replacement evaluation, or extended diagnostic protocol. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11686936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

horn has stopped working. Seems to be a systemic issue when looking online in Forums etc... I have scheduled the problem to be fixed and it is not a fuse issue. It will be a month before the dealership is able to get me in to assess the problem. This is a safety related issue and this needs to be addressed with the manufacturer.

NHTSA complaint #11685313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

horn has stopped working twice. Had it replaced under warranty in January of 2024. Same incident happened where horn of vehicle does not work. Seems to be a systemic issue. This is a safety related issue and this needs to be addressed with the manufacturer.

NHTSA complaint #11683713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The car loses power. The battery and key ignition light keep coming on. A message displays auto engine off. Please shift to n or p and start engine manually. After communicating and showing video proof of the incident, the dealership replaced the alternator and battery. The issues started around 5000 miles. The infotainment system lags and the car lags. Sometimes I am left on the road because the case refuses to cut on or off.

NHTSA complaint #11657111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Every time it rains, one of the dual tone horns will fail. I have had the horn replaced 2 times. I am beginning to have a problem with the horn again after this last rain. It is a matter of time before it fails completely after a rain and becomes unusable. I feel this is a significant warning feature that MUST be reliable.

NHTSA complaint #11642538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the horn was inoperative. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the horn needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,600.

NHTSA complaint #11634597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Currently have 518 Diagnostic History Codes (DTC)in memory. Additionally, I have 3 Active DTC’s. The codes are: DTC C160C87 DTC System CHASSIS DTC Sub System LKAS, and DTC C160C87 DTC System CHASSIS DTC Sub System SCC, and DTC C163881 DTC system CHASSIS DTC Sub System SCC FIRST OCCURRENCE: during actual assembly in Montgomery, AL plant. I have asked three Hyundai Service dealers for help. All have tried. Noting noted that contributes to the issues above. At first, my dealer replaced the front camera. Was told it was a heating issue. I have contacted Hyundai BLUELINK service for help. An information report was filed, TWICE. The first report I received feedback that Hyundai’s engineers had corrected the issue. On the following day, the codes returned. A second concern was filed with Hyundai BLUELINK. Hyundai Motor America Case#: [XXX] to wit: “Thank you for contacting Hyundai Motor America. We are in receipt of your e-mail and one of our representatives will get back to you shortly. Sincerely, Hyundai Motor America” Is my vehicle going to fail and cause me injury while operating it on an Interstate highway? This is quite concerning as I drive my car. All I want from Hyundai is to get this issue repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11621650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The lower horn sound had dissipated. Then shortly after the higher horn stopped working. There was no sound when the horn pad was depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact about the cost for the repair, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA complaint #11612991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A few times recently our car has had a hard time starting even though it's only a year old. It's like it's having a hard time turning over. And then when driving, it has a hard time accelerating - it almost feels like the car is in neutral while trying to drive. It jerks and shimmies to the point where you have to pull over to see what's going on. We were on a pretty busy road and couldn't accelerate to the point of safely merging into traffic. An online forum said it was a "loose ground" that's causing the acceleration issues.

NHTSA complaint #11608866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Driving up steep hill to my mom’s house car would not drive up, as it hesitated I pressed gas pedal to no avail. I turned off car, got out & nothing was blocking me. Turned car back on & accelerated, this time it went forward.

NHTSA complaint #11603655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I have taken my vehicle back into the dealership because my car will sometimes unlock itself, I am constantly having to check the doors to make sure they are still locked and most of the time it has unlocked itself. Most of the time I hear it unlocking as I am walking away. It is very disturbing. It also beeps as if another vehicle is going to crash into me and most of the time there aren't any vehicles anywhere near me. The phone charger does not work, i have been having issues with this from the beginning. The steering wheel also says I have to put my hands on the wheel when I have them on the wheel. I have a video of the car going a lot of rpms and it barely moved, a golf cart passed me up. The car also locks up sometimes when I am backing up. I drive my parents to San Antonio for their Dr. appointments and am a little fearful of staying stranded either direction. My father is very ill and I am their driver. The dealer insists my car is the only one having these issues but I have read on reddit and other platforms of other Santa Fe's with similar issues. These issues do not occur ALL THE TIME, but this does occur at the most inconvenience time.

NHTSA complaint #11576901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.