2023 Santa Fe Heater Problem
 

The heater in our 2023 Santa Fe Caligraphy model doesn't blow air out of the vents in the dashboard. It does blow warm air through the defroster vents so I'm assuming it's not a thermostat problem.

Has anyone else had this problem and gotten it resolved? We have a service call scheduled but I'd like to know more about this in case the mechanic hasn't run across the problem before.

Thank you
ScottC
Saluda, NC

Dealerships have access to all service bulletins and problems with fixes.. They should be able to find and repair whatever needs to be repaired.
They are required to have people factory trained or they don't get reimbursed for any warranty work. You can provide all the symptoms and conditions, but leave the diagnosing and repair to the tech that gets assigned the problem.

I have the same issue with a 2023 SEL.... The dealer diagnosed it as a failed mode door actuator. They ordered the part and I am scheduled for a 5-10 appointment to replace it.

If warm air is coming through the defroster vents but not through the dashboard vents, it suggests that there may be an issue with the airflow distribution within the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. Here are a few possible auto causes :

1. Damaged or disconnected air ducts: The airflow to different vents is controlled by a series of air ducts. If one of these ducts is damaged or disconnected, it could prevent air from reaching the dashboard vents. This could be due to a manufacturing defect or accidental damage.
   
2. Faulty blend door actuator: The blend door actuator controls the airflow between the heater core and the vents. If the actuator is malfunctioning or stuck in a certain position, it may not direct air to the dashboard vents properly.
   
3. Control module or switch issue: The heater control module or switch may have a fault that prevents it from sending the correct signals to the blend door actuator or the HVAC system. This could result in a lack of airflow to the dashboard vents.
   

Blend doors don't direct airflows between the various hvac outlets. The blend door system blends heated or cooled air with either fresh or recirculated air to reach the requested air temperature. The mode doors are responsible for changing the direction of the airflow between the various ducts/outlets. So, if the air temperature is responding to inputs it is not the blend door system.
In my case replacement of the mode door actuator (4+ hour job) resolved the issue described by the OP