NHTSA complaint #11760193

Owner complaint summary

2020 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SEL WITH 2.4L THETA II ENGINE EXPERIENCES SEVERE OIL CONSUMPTION AND REPEATED ENGINE STALLING DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF REPEATED LOW-OIL CONDITIONS DESPITE REGULAR OIL SERVICE. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO THE ENGINE REPEATEDLY STALLING WHEN RETURNING TO IDLE. WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP OR WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE MAY STALL UNLESS THE DRIVER MAINTAINS ADDITIONAL THROTTLE. THIS CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE ENGINE CAN SHUT OFF DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED TO CENTEREACH HYUNDAI FOR DIAGNOSIS. ACCORDING TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE ADVISOR, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE ENGINE WITH VERY LITTLE/NEARLY NO ENGINE OIL DESPITE THE VEHICLE HAVING TRAVELED LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES SINCE ITS MOST RECENT OIL SERVICE/TOP-OFF. THE HYUNDAI TECHNICIAN REPORTEDLY SUSPECTS THAT THE ENGINE TIMING MAY HAVE JUMPED AND THAT THIS CONDITION MAY BE RELATED TO THE LOW-OIL CONDITION AND MAY EXPLAIN THE ENGINE STALLING. HYUNDAI HAS DIRECTED THAT AN OIL-CONSUMPTION TEST BE PERFORMED. THE INITIAL OIL SERVICE/ENGINE-FLUSH PROCEDURE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE OWNER AT APPROXIMATELY $400. THE PROCEDURE THEN CONTEMPLATES APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES OF ADDITIONAL VEHICLE OPERATION TO MEASURE OIL CONSUMPTION. THIS CREATES AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEING REQUIRED TO ACCUMULATE APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES IS THE SAME VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO REPEATEDLY STALL AT IDLE AND FOR WHICH THE HYUNDAI TECHNICIAN REPORTEDLY SUSPECTS A TIMING PROBLEM. THE OWNER HAS REQUESTED THAT HYUNDAI DOCUMENT WHETHER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EVALUATED FOR THE STALLING CONDITION AND WHETHER HYUNDAI CONSIDERS IT APPROPRIATE TO OPERATE FOR THE REQUIRED MILEAGE-ACCUMULATION TEST. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA CASE NUMBER: 43164946. VIN: 5NMS3CAD4LH173916.