2017 Hyundai Santa Fe · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 59owner reports
- 13,000median miles
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Mar 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
59 of the 968 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 59 reports
Brake wear on other Santa Fe years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (11 reports) and the pads and rotors (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
All 6 recalls on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Santa Fe
Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 3,000 and 75,000 miles, from the 15 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
What owners wrote
“ABS doesn't work, traction control doesn't work, while it was raining the sensor lights came on and I began to hydroplane almost causing a wreck while driving on the highway. The sensors go off and on the emergency brake won't engage while this sensor is on also. Acceleration stall pulling out in traffic. I'm scared to even drive the suv”
Filed Aug 21, 2025
“My complaint is the dealership that said had completed the recall on my brake systems according to both your and state records was not completed. They gave me a service notice stating the work was done. Since then the braked have continued to act up and the vehicle as a strange acceleration problem. The dealership is Don Wood Hyundai in Athens Ohio.”
Filed Dec 1, 2024
“All safety lights AEB, TMPS, ABS, on. The car breaking as driven due to this issue. Reported to Hyundai Headquarters. They said it was a major safety issue but not willing to pay for repairs especially since it's a safety issue.There many reports online of people experiencing the same issue with new cars as well. Having to pay for this is not very noble of Hyundai.”
Filed Sep 9, 2023
“Itâs not a accident The car wonât start and brake and wheels keep locking by itself.”
Filed Apr 12, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 59 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 377 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 239 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 165 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 161 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 66 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 58 reports
- Engine leaks oil 45 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 26 reports