Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints
8,019 consumer complaints on file.
- #10630489September 3, 2014STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME AND CONTROL ARM WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF A POTENTIAL FRACTURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10630500September 3, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY FUEL SENSORS TO MY SENDING UNIT NEEDED REPLACED. UPON DOING RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH MY SAME VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR THIS PART TO BE RECALLED? ALSO AFTER BEING REFERRED TO THIS WEBSITE FROM MY LOCAL NEWS STATION I SEE THAT MY COMPLAINT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS ON HERE ALSO. WHY HAS THIS SENSOR NOT BEEN RECALLED? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629978September 2, 2014ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SHIFTING 1-2ND GEAR, AS WE SLOW DOWN TO ENTER OUR GARAGE AND WAIT FOR DOOR TO OPEN, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WITH HUGE AMOUNT OF FORCE, ALMOST AS IF WE ARE HIT FROM BEHIND, THEN IT GOES INTO GEAR AND PROCEEDS. HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY NOW. I READ MANY CONSUMER BLOGS SAYING THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE SANTA FE MODELS. DEFINITELY A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629911September 1, 2014SUSPENSION
HI, I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER A ISSUE THAT I'M STARTING TO HAVE AND THE OUT COMES HAS NOT BEEN GOOD AND I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY DRIVING IN THIS VEHICLE. I'M HEARING A SCRATCHY RUBBING SOUND IN THE REAR SO I JACKED IT UP TO FIND MY TRAIL ARMS ARE RUSTED SO BAD THEIRS HUGE HOLES IN THE TRAIL ARMS AND ROTOR COVER ARE RUSTED ALMOST OFF. I SURE DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE A CALL MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HURT IN A ACCIDENT SO IS WHY I'M CONTACTING YOU OVER THIS MATTER. I WOULD APPRECIATE TO BE CONTACTED TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629815September 1, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE REAR WIPER WILL TURN ON EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS OFF AND THERE IS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. EVEN AFTER PULLING THE FUSE THE WIPER WILL NOT TURN OFF. ALSO, CAME HOME LAST NIGHT AND THE DRL ON THE CAR WERE ON. ONCE THE CAR IS TURN OFF THE LIGHTS WILL ALWAYS GO OFF AFTER THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR IS OPENED THEN CLOSED. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN SEVERAL DAYS BUT YET THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE CAR THAT MAY CAUSE A PROBLEM WHILE EITHER MYSELF OR MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629350August 29, 2014SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I WAS IN TN WHEN I HEARD A SLIGHT "THUNK" AND THEN A CONTINUOUS RATTLE UNDER THE VEHICLE. I ASSUMED A BROKEN EXHAUST BRACKET AND LEFT TN ON 8/17/2014 TO RETURN TO MY HOME IN SAINT LOUIS MO. I TRAVELED I55 IN SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH AND LISTENED TO THE RATTLE FOR ABOUT 100 MILES. AND THEN THE RATTLE STOPPED AND I ASSUMED THAT THE BROKEN BRACKET HAD FINALLY COME LOOSE AND IS NOW LOCATED SOMEWHERE ON I55. I TOOK MY CAR TO FIRESTONE AND WAS STUNNED TO LEARN THAT MY RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING WAS MISSING AND MY RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS BROKEN. AN INSPECTION OF THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING ALSO INDICATED SIGNIFICANT CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY. HYUNDAI HAS RECALLED 419,000 VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE IN DC AND 20 OTHER STATES SPECIFICALLY STATING EXCESSIVE CORROSION AS A RESULT OF ROAD SALT--THIS LIST EXCLUDED THE STATE OF MO WHICH HAPPENS TO ALSO USE ROAD SALT. MY HYUNDAI HAS BEEN IN MO FOR 12 YEARS. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND EXPAND ITS RECALL TO ALL STATES THAT USE SALT AND PERHAPS TO COASTAL STATES THAT HAVE OCEAN SALT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629357August 29, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC READ THE CODES AND SAID THAT IT WAS THE FUEL SENSOR (FUEL LEVEL SENDER). SINCE THEN, THE FUEL GAUGE CONTINUOUSLY MOVES GIVING AN INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE HYUNDAI COMPANY IS NOT WILLING TO DO A RECALL ON THE PARTS AFFECTED. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A COMPANY TO RECALL A DEFECTIVE PART? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629458August 29, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SANTA FE BLINKER SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. I HAVE A VIDEO AS EVIDENCE OF THE SMOKE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. HYUNDAI REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO ME AND MY FAMILY. BLINKERS STARTED STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN IGNITION WAS ON. BLINKERS WOULD GO LEFT AND GO RIGHT, BUT WHEN IN THE CENTER POSITION THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ON OR THE AUDIBLE PART OF THE BLINKERS COULD BE HEARD WITH NO SIGNAL LIGHT. SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE VEHICLE SMELLED AND STILL SMELLS OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I TOOK A VIDEO THAT CLEARLY SHOWS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BLINKER SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE ASK IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE VIDEO. I CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOLD THEM AND I ALSO ASKED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF IT. BOTH REFUSED AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 4,755 MILES AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH MY FAMILY WAS IN CLEAR DANGER. THEY CHARGED ME $179 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THEIR PARTS AND IS A DANGER IN BOTH BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT FROM FAULTY SIGNALS AND INTENTIONS BEING SENT TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629489August 29, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A/C HAS HAD A PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD THE COMPRESSOR REPLACED, BECAUSE THE "MECHANIC" TURNED THE BOLT THE WRONG WAY AND WRUNG IT OFF, I HAD TO REPLACE. HYUNDAI WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THEIR MECHANIC. THIS REPAIR DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AS IT STILL HAPPENS NOW, 8 YEARS LATER. IT WILL COOL GOOD, THEN THE COMPRESSOR WILL OUT AND NOT COME BACK ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. HYUNDAI SAYS THIS IT NOT PROBLEM WITH THEIR PARTS OR PROCEDURES. FINALLY GOT TIRED OF THEIR LIES AND FAILURE TO TRY TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS MY ONLY AND LAST HYUNDAI, THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER BACKED CAR COMPANY IN THIS WORLD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629066August 28, 2014ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,137.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629115August 28, 2014ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. AN ONLOOKER ASSISTED WITH EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE TIME THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. NEITHER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR NOR THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629130August 28, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I WENT TO START VEHICLE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAME ON BUT DID NOT TURN THE STARTER,THIS HAPPENED MAYBE TWICE LAST YEAR.SO FAR THIS YEAR IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMES ON WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START BUT NOTHING HAPPENS,I FINALLY FOUND OUT IF I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TAKE THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK AND WORK IT THRU ALL GEARS THEN SHOVE IT BACK TO PARK IT WILL START.WE TRAVEL UP TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FROM HOME EVER YEAR AND WOULD HATE TO GET STRANDED SOME WHERE ALONG THE ROAD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10629158August 28, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
CAR HAD A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SO IT COULDN'T STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE LIGHT POLE AFTER PUMPED OTHER CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10628908August 27, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK AT THE PUMP AND THEN STARTING THE ENGINE, I NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY, WITH THE "LOW FUEL" INDICATOR LIGHT ON. DRIVING AROUND FOR 5 MILES DID NOTHING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE. AFTER A DAY OR SO THE GAUGE SLOWLY WORKED ITS WAY UP TO REGISTER A FULL TANK. THIS SAME PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER 6-8 WEEKS, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ACTUALLY IN THE GAS TANK. AT ONE POINT THE "CHECK ENGINE" INDICATOR CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR A DAY AND A HALF BEFORE TURNING OFF. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE THEY EVEN INSPECTED THE CAR, EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL LEVEL SENSORS AND THAT THEY'VE REPLACED "HUNDREDS"..."IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAIS". REPLACING TWO SENSORS COST A JOLTING $650, BUT I COULDN'T IGNORE THE SAFETY RISK OF NEVER KNOWING WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW I MIGHT RUN OUT OF GAS. WHEN I ASKED WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED, THE SALES MANAGER SAID THAT THERE HAS TO BE A "SAFETY ISSUE" INVOLVED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10628301August 26, 2014ENGINE
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 1 HOUR EAST OF ASHEVILLE, NC IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AT APPROXIMATELY 230 PM ON 8/20/2014 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR SHUDDERED AND LOST ALL ACCELERATION. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER MANAGED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED CAR OFF. RESTARTED AND DROVE TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN ASHEVILLE, NC ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY. THEY PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND STATED PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. CONTINUED DRIVING ON HIGHWAY (TRAVELING BACK TO DAYTON OH), AND WITHIN 1 HOUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AT ABOUT 700 PM, A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND NO ACCELERATION, AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTART THE ENGINE, ETC. AGAIN, INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. THE SAME EXACT SITUATION HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES ON OUR WAY HOME ON THE INTERSTATE, UNTIL WE COULD FINALLY TAKE IT TO OUR DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL ASSEMBLY AND DID ANOTHER SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT AND MERITS INVESTIGATION. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10628327August 26, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1ST. TIME; DRIVING ON I-75 ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING COMPLETELY NO POWER, (BRAKES, A/C, STEERING OR SIGNALS) 2ND. TIME: 4/07/2012 ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH SAME RESULTS 28000 MILES. 3RD. TIME; 03/03/2013 ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON I-75 CAUSING CAR TO HAVE TO PULL OVER INTO MEDIAN / STARTED UP AFTER 15 MINUTES & WAS TAKING TO HYUNDAI DEALER WHO STILL COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM 37500 MILES. 4TH. & LAST INCIDENT; 08/25/2014; ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING NO POWERIN STEERING, A/C, BRAKES, WINDOWS OR SIGNALS. WAS ABLE TO GET INTO TARGET PARKING LOT BEFORE TURNING OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED VEHICLE 35 MINUTES LATER AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP WHO TIGHTENED BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION & WAS TOLD TO MONITOR! AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW VEHICLE... *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10627935August 25, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AT 70MPH AND COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED. USE OF HARD BRAKING AND EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING STOPPED VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE AND TO AVOID A REAR END COLLISION, DROVE ONTO EMERGENCY PARKING LANE AND WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET IT UNSTUCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULD IMMEDIATELY UNFREEZE THE PEDAL BUT THIS TIME NOTHING WORKED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION. I NOTIFIED MY PARENTS WHO INSTRUCTED THAT SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULL OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AS I ENTER THE EMERGENCY LANE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND TO EXPECT HARD STEERING ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10628009August 25, 2014ENGINE, SUSPENSION
THE DRIVE AXEL BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. WHEN IT BROKE, THE BALL JOINT PULLED OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE WHEEL, A PIECE OF METAL FLEW UP AND TORE THE SERPENTINE BELT. THERE IS A RECALL #112 FOR THE 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE THAT THE DRIVE AXEL CAN BREAK BUT I WAS TOLD IT DOES NOT AFFECT MY CAR. HOW DOES THE DRIVE AXEL JUST BREAK. THE RECALL AFFECTS THE FRONT RIGHT AXEL. PRIOR TO IT BREAKING, I WAS GOING DOWN I70 AT 70MPH, THANKFULLY, IT DIDN'T BREAK AT THAT TIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10628033August 25, 2014STRUCTURE:BODY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK BETWEEN TWO CARS AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO CUT THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO FINISH THE PARK, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (WITHOUT MY DOING) INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD NO TIME TO COMPENSATE AND ULTIMATELY CRUSHED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT/FRAME OF THE CAR BEHIND ME. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10628048August 25, 2014STEERING, SUSPENSION
CAR WONDERS WHEN TRAVELING ON FREEWAY GOING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. CORRECTING FOR THIS DARTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE SEEMS SCARY AT THESE SPEEDS. CHANGING THE DRIVING MODE SELECTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T CHANGE THE PROBLEM. I STILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME WONDERING AND DARTING THAT I AM CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CORRECT. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TIRES BUT THEY ARE NEW AND NO SIGNS OF UNUSUAL WEAR. ACTS LIKE A WORN BALL JOINT OR TIE ROD OR THE NEED FOR AN ALIGNMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0