Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints
8,019 consumer complaints on file.
- #10442265January 3, 2012SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10442121January 2, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHT FAILURE HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE FAILED 7 TIMES IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS. FOG LIGHTS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS. BULBS CONTINUE TO BLOW AFTER REPEATED REPLACEMENTS BY TECHNICIAN AND OWNER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10441290December 27, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 LAST NIGHT, WHILE CHANGING LANES AND ACCELERATING FROM 35 TO 40 MPH, MY SANTA FE SUDDENLY FLOORED ITS OWN ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. TRIED TO 'FIGHT IT' WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT NOTHING WOULD RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR, INCLUDING PUMPING IT SLIGHTLY. THE WAY WE GOT THE CAR TO STOP WAS BY PUTTING ON THE PARKING BRAKE, PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT THE CAR IN DRIVE (BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT LET US PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL). WHEN IT GOT SLOW ENOUGH (15 MPH OR SO), WE CUT THE ENGINE AND THE CAR SCREECHED TO A HALT, BURNING RUBBER SMELLING SURROUNDING US. ONLY THEN COULD WE PUT THE CAR INTO 'PARK'. ONCE WE RESTARTED THE CAR IT DID NOT DO THE ACCELERATION AGAIN. OUR DEALER IS PRETENDING THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE, THOUGH A VERY QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS VERY MUCH IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THEY ARE IGNORING. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR DEATHS TO HAPPEN BEFORE ACTING ON THIS ISSUE AND FIXING IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING IMMEDIATELY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10441303December 27, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ESC OFF LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK (SEEM TO BE ALWAYS ON). I GOT THE PROBLEM CODE FROM THE VEHICLE, DID SOME RESEARCH, AND FOUND HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN 092 COVERED THESE CONDITIONS CAUSED BY A FAULTY STOP LAMP SWITCH. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI, AND THEY INFORMED ME MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED (JULY 2006) PRIOR TO THE RECALL DATE RANGE (WHICH STARTED IN OCT 2006), AND WOULD NOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE BY A DEALER. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS WAS COVERED IN THE RECALL, AND HYUNDAI SHOULD BE LIABLE TO FIX IT! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10441124December 23, 2011AIR BAGS
HI, I TOOK MY CAR TODAY TO HYUNDAI OF WHITE PLAINS FOR "AIR BAG" WARNING CAMPAIGN "CAMP 103". THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME 119 USD FOR THIS. I AM TRIED TO CONTACT HYUNDAI AS I DID NOT GETS SATISFACTORY ANSWER WHEN I CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CONNECT. I AM WRITING MY CONCERN TO NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION BY THIS COMPLAINT. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL LETTER THIS CHECK/REPAIR SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE AND THIS IS MISS LEADING PART ON HYUNDAI MOTORS, USA. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER AND HELP ME AS A CUSTOMER OF VEHICLE WITH RECALL. [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
- #10440956December 22, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ASSISTING THE CONTACT WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,650.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10440638December 20, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DEC 16, 2011 AROUND 9:45AM MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST PICKED MY SISTER AND BROTHER IN LAW UP FROM THE AIRPORT AND HAD DECIDED ON GRABBING SOME BREAKFAST FROM WAFFLE HOUSE. I HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO TURN RIGHT INTO THE RESTAURANT PARKING LOT; I THEN DROVE ABOUT 15 FEET GOING MAYBE 5 MPH TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO THEN TURN RIGHT TO GET READY TO ENTER INTO THE PARKING SPOT. ONCE I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE BREAK (NOT NEEDING TO APPLY THE GAS AS MY PARKING WAS MAYBE 20 FEET TO MY RIGHT AND THE CAR SHOULD ACCELERATE AT A LOW SPEED ON ITS OWN) THE 2010 SANTA FE TOOK OFF AT AN ALARMING SPEED I PRESSED MY FOOT ALL WAY BACK DOWN ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I THEN LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE IT WAS DOWN TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE SANTA FE WENT OVER THE PARKING SPOT AND INTO THE BUSHES THEN STOPPED ITSELF. THANK GOD BECAUSE THE ROAD WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUSHES. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A VEHICLE DOING THIS? I THEN CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT HYUNDAI WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY HAPPENS TO TOYOTA THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT HAPPENING TO THEIR VEHICLES. MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE E-MAILED AND REVIEWED OF THE PHOTOS WITH MARK ODAT AND 2 OTHER MANAGERS SHOWING THE DAMAGE THAT ACCRUED WHILE GOING OVER THE CEMENT CURB. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY DAMAGES UNDER MY CAR, I NOTICED SCRATCHES TO THE PAINT AND A BENT LICENSE PLATE (WHICH I BENT BACK INTO PLACE). I HAD BROUGHT MY SANTA FE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP BACK IN LATE AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER 2011 WITH A COMPLAINT AND SPOKE DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICE MANAGER JR THAT TWICE WHEN I WAS ON MY TRIP FROM HOUSTON, TX TO ATLANTA, GA WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ONCE I TOUCHED THE BRAKE TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF THE SANTA FE WOULD ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF DECELERATE AND THAT IT HAD A HARD TIME GOING UP HILLS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10440400December 19, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED AND LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE CONSUMER STATED DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE LEAK FROM THE RUSTED GAS TANK, SHE WAS FORCED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439712December 13, 2011ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ESC OFF INDICATOR STAYS ILLUMINATED PROBLEM: NO BRAKE LIGHTS. DEALERSHIP STATES MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE MANUFACTURE DATE RANGE INCLUDED IN THE TSB CAMPAIGN # 092 / 09-01-018 AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH UNDER WARRANTY. (MY SANTA FE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JUNE 2007). APPROX. $75 REPLACEMENT COST FOR A KNOWN ISSUE. ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO THE MANUFACTURE DATES INDICATED IN THE TSB. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE; ONE THAT I WOULD HAVE HOPED HYUNDAI WOULD TAKE MORE SERIOUSLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439287December 11, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS BACKING UP AND AS I TURNED THE WHEEL THE CAR ENGAGED IN A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AS THE MOTOR STARTED TO REV. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT PLOWED THROUGH A BRICK WALL AT MY SCHOOL. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439047December 8, 2011WHEELS
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE 2006 THE LUG NUTS HAVE COME LOOSE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. EACH TIME THERE HAD BEEN SOMEONE DIFFERENT ROTATING THE TIRES. OWNER, DEALER, TIRE SHOP. EVERY TIME IT HAS BEEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. NONE OF THE OTHER WHEEL POSITIONS HAVE COME LOOSE. THE LAST INSTANCE WAS 12/7/2011, THE LAST TIME THE TIRES WERE REMOVED OR REPLACES WAS 4/19/2011 AT THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TOPEKA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439058December 8, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF MY SON TO SCHOOL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STARTED TO REV UP AND AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF IT CONTINUED TO DO SO UNTIL I GOT CLOSE TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE MORE AND I HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING IT I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AND WAS PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME, AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I WENT OVER A PARKING BUMPER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF! IT SCARED THE DAY LIGHTS OUT OF ME I COULD HAVE IF NOT KILLED SOMEONE, BUT SEVERELY HURT SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AND NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLY MY SON....I HAD MY BOSS CHECK IT AND THE CABLE THROTTLE CAME OUT HOW I DO NOT KNOW...I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND I LOOKED UP TO SEE IF OTHERS WHO OWNED THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY DID!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438751December 6, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V122000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE LIGHT). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438540December 5, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED; THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE AND SHE ALSO HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR ABRUPTLY AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE DEFECT WAS A COMMON ISSUE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2011 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V613000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION DISC: CALIPER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,100.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438598December 5, 2011EQUIPMENT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS ACTIVATED AND ONCE IT BECAME HOT, IT EJECTED FROM THE HOLDER INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE LIGHTER FROM THE FLOOR TO PREVENT STARTING A FIRE AND WAS BURNED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438165December 2, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT HOLD PRESSURE, CREATING DANGEROUS SITUATION IN EMERGENCY BRAKING. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER ON NOVEMBER 29 FOR WARRANTY REPAIR. DEALER FOUND MASTER CYLINDER HAS INTERNAL LEAK. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND RE-BLED THE SYSTEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10437960December 1, 2011SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEING REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS ASSISTING THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 153,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10437555November 28, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FRACTURED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,714.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10437606November 28, 2011TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. WENT TO DEALER FOUR TIMES ON THIS ISSUE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS NORMAL AS THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR CAN BE AFFECTED BY HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES, RADIO FREQUENCY FROM AN AIRPORT, A POLICY STATION, AN INTERNAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE ATTACHED, ETC. ETC. HOWEVER, UNDERSTAND FROM MY FRIENDS WHO DRIVE TOYOTA AND HONDA THAT THIS ISSUE DOES NOT EXIST. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10437635November 28, 2011POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CAR WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL GEAR ALL ON ITS OWN AND THEN SLIP BACK INTO GEAR LUNGING THE CAR FORWARD. OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR WILL GET A WHIPLASH EFFECT. THE CAR IS USUALLY IN 2ND OR THIRD GEAR WHEN IT NO LONGER HAS POWER. THIS CAN BE VERY VERY DANGEROUS IN A MERGING TYPE OF DRIVING SITUATION. THE DRIVER IS COUNTING ON THE CAR TO BRING THEM INTO TRAFFIC, MAINTAINING A CERTAIN SPEED AND CONTROL. ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RESPONDING. IT IS A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION. FOLLOWED BY THE LURCHING OF THE CAR. IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR HAS JUST BEEN HIT IN REAR. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE ON MANY MANY WEB SITES. EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING. THEY BRING IT TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER USUALLY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN SOME CASES THE DEALER HAS TEST DRIVEN THE CAR AND HAS FELT THE PROBLEM AND HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, ONLY TO HAVE THE NEW TRANSMISSION DO THE SAME THING. USUALLY THOUGH, THE DEALER AND OR HYUNDAI GET AROUND THIS PROBLEM BY SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS AS BEING AN ISSUE, THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL THE DEALER EXPERIENCES THE PROBLEM OR SEES THAT THE COMPUTER REGISTERS IT IN THE CARS COMPUTER SYSTEM. BUT THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. NO CHECK LIGHT COMES ON, NOTHING REGISTERS. SO, ALL OF THESE UNSAFE CARS ARE OUT THERE. A SITUATION WAITING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE HAD A FRIEND'S CAR BEHIND US WHEN WE LOST POWER, AND THEY SAID THEY ALMOST ENDED UP REAR ENDING US. IT'S NOT A SAFE CAR. HYUNDAI SAID "THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING FOR US EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE. THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPLAIN". THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL. IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN TAKE SOME ACTION. I DO NOT WANT TO SELL THIS CAR OR TRADE IT IN, IT WOULD BE PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE ON THE LINE. HYUNDAI IS BRUSHING US ALL OFF. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0