Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2004)

303 consumer complaints on file.

#10102170December 5, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE, HYUNDAI SANTE FE, THE CAR HAS HAD TROUBLES. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND PULLING OUT FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE CAR HESITATES 3 TO 4 TIMES BEFORE DRIVING SMOOTHL. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BUCKING OR HESITATING....I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER ATLEAST 5 TIMES SINCE IT'S PURCHASE. THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TOLD THEM SPECIFICALLY HOW TO GET THE CAR TO DO THE PROBLEM HOWEVER THEY DO NOT FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE PARKED POSITION WITH FORCE. (AS IF PULLING INTO A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA OUT OF A PARKING SPOT) IT OCCURS MORE OFFEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, BUT ALSO MAKES THE SAME HESITATION IF THE CAR IS WARM. HOWEVER, NEVER AFTER THE INTIAL ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE PARKED AT STOP LIGHT WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. IT OCCURS WHEN INITIALLY TURNING THE CAR ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT TO DATE, HOWEVER IT COULD IF NOT RESOLVED. IF PULLING OUT INTO A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AND THE CAR DOES NOT ENGAGED AND GET UP TO SPEED, I CAN SEE BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098862November 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN SEPTMEBER OF THIS YEAR (2004). 2 MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE BLEW. HYUNDAI IS OFFERING ONLY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THEIR LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE IS APPALING. NO ONE RETURNS MY CALLS, I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THEM. WE INITALLY FELT THAT A NEW COMPARABLE VEHICLE WAS MORE APPROPRIATE. THEY SEEM VERY UNCONCERNED THAT THE CAR DIED ON A HIGHWAY IN THE DARK AND THAT MY HUSBAND AND 6 MONTH OLD SON HAD NO HEAT FOR AN HOUR NOR THAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE THE #1 PRIORITY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097056November 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE REVVED AT A HIGH RATE. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE TO TRY AND STOP THE ENGINE FROM REVVING. PLEASE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB ENGINE REVVED REPEATEDLY DESPITE BRAKE BEING PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND CAR LEAPED FORWARD WITH EVERY SURGE AT LEAST 6 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TRADED IN THE VEHICLE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098110November 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE: GAS GAUGE, ACCELERATION ISSUE, AND SEAT BELT SENSOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097384October 19, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ENGING RACING WHILE BRAKING. *BF *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093310September 29, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FEBRUARY WE PURCHASED A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FOR OUR SOON TO BE 16 YEAR OLD SON TO DRIVE. MOST IMMEDIATELY WE NOTICED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL STUTTER 3 TIMES AS IF IT WERE GOING TO DIE AND THEN IT RECOVERS. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES, THE MOST RECENT THIS MORNING. TODAY THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE THE CAR IN AS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO REPAIR. I TOOK COPIES OF OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINTS AND SERVICE BULLETINS WITH ME IN AN EFFORT TO HELP THEM WITH IDEAS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR US TO COME BACK ON OCTOBER 20, 2004 TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY UPDATES FROM HYUNDAI THAT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM THEN. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE PROBLEM AND MY SON WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS ONLY 3800 MILES ON IT!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091405September 21, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I PURCHASED A 2004 SANTA FE HYUNDAI 8-25-04. ON 9-3-04 I WENT OUT OF TOWN. ABOUT 75 MI FROM MYHOME,I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON I-35 AND THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG EXPLODED IN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT. I DID NOT GET HIT BY ANY CAR, I DID NOT HIT A CHUCK HOLE OR ANY DEBRIE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SEEN ON THE HWY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED ALLEN SAMUELS SERVICE DEPT, TALKED TO PHIL AND HE SAID HE NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING AND TO BRING IT INTO THE SERVICE DEPT ON 9-7-04 WHICH I DID. THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR; THEY SAID THE SEAT AIR BAG WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE AVAILABE. I HAD MY CAR THERE FOR 2 WEEKS. THEY CALLED ME ON 9-20 AND SAID THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND TO TURN MY RENTAL IN. I PICKED UP MY CAR AT THIS TIME. THE TECH TOLD ME I MUST HAVE HIT A SMALL OBJECT LIKE A PIECE OF WOOD AND IT HIT THE SENSOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091915September 13, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON 10 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088538August 25, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WAS PULLING INTO PARKING LOT OF SHOPPING MALL, AS I PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE I APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES AND THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING MY VEHICLE. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND APPLIED IT AGAIN, WITH THE SAME RESULTS. BEFORE I COULD USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I STRUCK THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086919August 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
THE NIGHT I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICAL I HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THIS WAS TO BE FIX BY DEALERSHIP, WELL NOW 8/15/2004 THERE ARE MORE ELEC. PROBLEMS THE FUSES ARE BLOWING AND THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING AS SHOULD BE.ALSO THE TRASMISSION WHEN APPLING THE GAS PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND BETWEEN 40/60 MPH JECKSING SENSATION TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086945August 16, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR SHUDDERS 3 TIMES WHEN GO TO DRIVE AFTER CAR HAS BEEN OFF. DEFINITE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ALSO, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE CORRECTLY WHEN TRYING TO PASS AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS. ONLY HAS 7500 MILES, DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON DOING RESEARCH, FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SANTA FE TRANSMISSONS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087194August 4, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD . DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082032July 15, 2004
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC BETWEEN 10-15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, WITHOUT BEING MOTIONED TO. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER'S SUSTAINING A STRESS LINE FRACTURE TO HIS LEFT WRIST. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10081811July 13, 2004
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE FOR REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. AS A RESULT, CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS NOT RESTRAINED PROPERLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081838June 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN
PROBLEMS WITH 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVE TRAIN.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP AND THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSITIONED FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AS IF IT LOST POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UP AND RUNNING, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER. THE CONSUMER ASKED IF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER BOARD COULD BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER REPLIED THAT THEY COULD NOT JUST THROW PARTS INTO THE VEHICLE IN HOPES THAT WOULD MAKE IT RIGHT SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074356June 23, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE SHAKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE CONSUMER COULD FEEL THE ENGINE SLIPPING. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES CONCERNING THE ENGINE. THE DEALER FOUND THERE IS A COMPONENT THAT IS MISSING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN WHAT THE COMPONENT WAS THAT IS NEEDED. *NM *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074848June 5, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REVIEW THIS LETTER. MARCH OF THIS YEAR I PURCHASED A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. I WAS MOTIVATED TO DO THIS BASED ON MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE, AS A FORMER OWNER, ALONG WITH THE COUPLED KNOWLEDGE OF HYUNDAIS IMPROVED WARRANTEES. IN THE PAST I HAD NO REASON TO BRING A HYUNDAI INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, OTHER THAN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE PROBLEM IM HAVING WITH MY CURRENT VEHICLE IS FOCUSED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN, SPECIFICALLY THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES. INITIALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF BREAKING THE CAR IN, AFTER WHICH POINT THINGS WOULD START TO WORK SMOOTHLY. THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WARMED UP THE SHIFTING, ON OCCASION BECOMES JERKY. ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRANSITIONED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE INITIAL TAKEOFF STUTTERS, AS IF THE CAR IS INTERMITTENTLY LOSING POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE IS UP AND RUNNING IN DRIVE, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. IT ONLY OCCURS FOR THE FIRST 20 YARDS OF INITIAL TAKEOFFS. THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ABOVE ARE INTERMITTENT. KNOWING THAT THE VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER HYUNDAIS WARRANTEE, I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. PRIOR TO THIS, I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE SHOPS MANAGERS AND DESCRIBED MY PROBLEM. HE INDICATED TO ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND HIS REPLY WAS YES. AFTER THE MECHANIC ROAD-TESTED MY VEHICLE THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I SAID, AFTER I LEAVE HERE ITS GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEMS, REQUIRING A RETURN VISIT. HE REPLIED, YES. I ASKED IF THEY COULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER BOARD. THEY REPLIED THAT THEY COULD NOT JUST THROW PARTS AT MY CAR IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074599June 1, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
I PURCHASED MY NEW CAR ON 02/09/04 AT BRONX HYUNDAI. IT IS A 4-WHEEL DRIVE 3.5 LTR ENGINE HYUNDAI SANTA FE. UPON DRIVING I FELT A HARD KNOCKING-VIBRATING SOUND WHEN I DRIVE ON LOCAL (DRY) STREETS AND THEN A FEELING THAT THE CAR JUMPS (LUNGE FORWARDS)AFTER I STOP. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ONLY WHEN I DRIVE LOCALLY. THE CAR HAS NEVER DONE THIS ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS PART OF MY DAILY COMMUTE. I WASN'T SURE WHY AT FIRST, THE CAR DID THAT AND I THOUGHT IT WAS PART OF THE TRACKING CONTROL SYSTEM(4-WHEEL DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. IN EVERY INCIDENT, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP, BUT IT DOES. I AM AFRAID BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR JUMPS AND IF I GET TOO CLOSE TO SOMEONE IT CAN HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, OR EVEN A PERSON CROSSING. SO, I WAS HAPPY RECEIVE MY RECALL NOTICE STATING THE EXACT PROBLEM I WAS GOING THROUGH I THEN CALLED AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I HOPED THE PROGRAMMING WOULD WORK SINCE MY PROBLEM WAS SIMILAR TO THE RECALL SYMPTOMS. THAT IS WHEN THIS NIGHTMARE BEGAN AND IT WAS ON APRIL 9, 2004. SINCE THEN, THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE BUT THEY SEEM AT A LOSS ALSO. MY CAR WAS PROGRAMMED TWICE AND THEN THE ABS SENSOR REPLACED AND A CHIP ALSO(THIS WAS DONE LAST MONDAY). I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR 5 TIMES AS OF TODAY. MY CAR CONTINUES TO DO THE KNOCKING/GRINDING SOUND AND ON 2 OCCASIONS THE LAST BEING ON MAY 29; THE ABS, TCS AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHTS ON THE INTERIOR CONTROL PANEL HAVE FLICKERED AND STAYED ON AS WELL. (WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY CAR DID THE KNOCKING/VIBRATING NOISE AS WELL.) IT HAS BECOME A DAILY OCCURANCE SO NOW I AM DOCUMENTING ALL OF MY INCIDENTS AND I AM GETTING AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. SO TODAY I GAVE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL CONTACT THE MAIN OFFICE AT HYUNDAI. ALL PARTS AND SERVICE WERE NOT CHARGED AND REPLACED WITH NEW HYUNDAI PARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064201March 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY WIFE HAD ENTERED A SMALL PARKING LOT AND WAS COMMING UP TO A CURB ABOUT 6" HIGH. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER THE CURB AND INTO A TREE. SHE IS SURE THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063585March 22, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND LUNCHED FORWARD. VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A CONCRETE WALL AND PEDESTRIANS. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 3 TIMES, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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