About this problem
Every engine burns a little oil, but some designs burn a quart every 1,000 miles or less. The usual cause is piston rings that stick or wear, letting oil slip into the combustion chamber. If the owner does not top up between changes, the oil level drops low enough to damage the engine. Carmakers have issued bulletins and, in some cases, extended warranties for this.
Across all owner complaints filed about the Hyundai Santa Fe since 2012, 508 (9%) describe oil consumption, the second most reported problem we track on the Santa Fe. The reports cluster on the 2013, 2017 and 2018 model years, and the 2017 drew the most, with 242. It tends to show up at higher mileage: half of the owners who gave a mileage were between 68,000 and 120,000 miles. 6 reports describe a crash or fire linked to it. No recall covers it, but Hyundai has sent dealers service bulletins about it, listed below.
What owners report
Santa Fe owners report engines burning oil between changes, low oil warnings and oil leaks. It is often an early sign of the same engine bearing problem behind the recalls. The 2017 and 2018 cars drew the most reports.
How it gets fixed
Hyundai dealers run an oil consumption test, and engines that fail may be replaced under the warranty extension.
Typical cost: Testing is free. A replacement engine costs $4,000 to $7,000 if not covered.
Complaints by model year
In owners' words
"Originally I drove this vehicle which is mostly driven by my wife on the week of 27oct20. I noticed a few times something smelt like it was burning, I couldn't decipher if it was a burnt oil or electrical smell."
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, 126,000 miles
"Vehicle began burning through 3-4 quartz of oil every 1,000 miles after vehicle got close to 75k miles. When the issue first began, the cause was unknown. After running multiple oil consumption tests, it is now believed to be an engine deficiency."
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, 75,000 miles
Excerpts from public owner complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lightly trimmed.
Service bulletins
Hyundai has sent dealers 4 bulletins that mention this problem on the Santa Fe. A bulletin tells technicians how to fix a known fault. It is not a recall, so the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty or covered by an extension.
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption.
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption.
This bulletin provides information related to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) software update for Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid (TM PHEV) vehicles to improve the following symptom: 1.
Certain Palisade (LX2) and Santa Fe (NC) vehicles equipped with Lambda II 6-cylinder engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption.
Before you buy a Santa Fe
- Ask for oil change records; long gaps are a red flag on these engines.
- Listen for knocking or ticking at idle and when accelerating.
- Check by VIN for open engine recalls and for any extended engine warranty.
Questions
Which Hyundai Santa Fe years have oil consumption?
Complaints are highest for the 2013, 2017, 2018 model years. The 2017 drew the most, with 242 reports.
At what mileage does it usually start?
Among owners who gave a mileage, the middle figure was about 97,000 miles, and half reported it between 68,000 and 120,000 miles.
How much does it cost to fix?
Testing is free. A replacement engine costs $4,000 to $7,000 if not covered.