Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10430139October 13, 2011
AIR BAGS
AT 61,179 MILES THE AIR BAGS LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD APPEARED LITE. DEALERSHIP TROUBLESHOOT TO A FAULTY AIR BAG COMPUTER. COMPUTER NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOTICED ON NHTSA WEBSITE A FEW HIGHER MILEAGE VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO HYUNDAI'S QUALITY PRACTICES RELATING TO POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES. IF THE AIR BAG COMPUTER IS MALFUNCTIONING WILL AIRBAGS STILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT? NHTSA- QUESTION - IF NOT IS THIS A RE-CALLABLE EVENT. PLEASE ADVISE ALL HYUNDAI SANTA FE OWNERS WHETHER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WHAT PREVENTABLE MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN.? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429633October 12, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE HOWEVER, THE ESC AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AND WAS COASTED OFF ROAD AND SHUT OFF. AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429967October 12, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
WIFE'S CAR-DRIVING ONE DAY AND NOTICED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON. TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WHILE PART WAS ORDERED, WOULD NOT OFFER LOANER. CAME BACK AND HAD PART INSTALLED A WEEK-1/2 LATER, AFTER FINALLY GOT PART NOTICE IN MAIL. PART REPLACED-NO LIGHT ANYMORE. PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE TOO CONCERNED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429548October 12, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IN MY 2010 SANTA FE LIMITED WOULD OCCASIONALLY STOP RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR, USUALLY DURING HEAVY RAIN OR HUMID CONDITIONS. EVEN WITH THE A/C SWITCH AND INDICATOR LIGHT ON, THE COMPRESSOR WOULD STILL NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS CYCLED. THIS CAUSED THE INTERIOR WINDOWS TO FOG UP HEAVILY AND NOT CLEAR, LEADING TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH ONE INSTANCE MY OUTWARD VISIBILITY BEING REDUCED TO ALMOST ZERO AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AS I HAD NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE CONDITION TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE IN THE DASH. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESURFACED SINCE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429506October 11, 2011
VISIBILITY
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR CAME DOWN WHILE DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. IF YOU CONTACT COMPANY THEY WILL BE GLAD TO SELL YOU ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL BREAK. JUST A MATTER OF TIME THIS PART IS GOING TO BREAK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BY LOOKING AT THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. PASSENGER SIDE HAS BROKE TO. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429253October 9, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IN 01/2010, SHORTLY AFTER WE NOTICED SHUTTERING IN THE TRANSMISSION AND HARD SHIFTS FROM 2-3 3RD GEAR, AT 7800 MILE WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THERE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE. THEY CHANGED THE SHIFT SETTINGS OF THE ECU AND WAS TOLD NOTHING TO BE DONE, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED WITH MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALER, 2 WEEKS AGO THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANAFACTURED UNIT, LASTNIGHT THE NEW TRANSMISSION EXPLODED AND IT FELT LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF UNDER THE HOOD THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERYWHERE AND THE AND HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUND WAS NOTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WE ARE STILL AWAITING WORD. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428945October 6, 2011
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME CONTINUED SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF A CRASH WERE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,593.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428440October 4, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM NOTED ON 28 OCT 2009 BY DEALER UNDER RECALL. 3 OCTOBER 2011 THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL OFF SWITCH ILLUMINATES AND DEALER REPLACES STOP LAMP SWITCH AND CHARGES $71.00. HYUNDAI STATES THESE ARE VALID CHARGES ON THIS RECALLED ITEM SINCE IT WAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428340October 3, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,725 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,625.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428384October 3, 2011
AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR PROBABLY THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE NEVER NOTICED ANY EFFECT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE AND SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ESC WAS I DID NOT PAY IT A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION TO IT. MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO DOES THIS "COMING ON AND GOING OFF THING" SO I ASSUMED IT WAS A WEIRD DASH LIGHT GLITCH. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO VEHICLE STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (POWER DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES STOP WORKING). FINALLY TODAY I NOTICED MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON... OBVIOUSLY I WAS VERY CONCERNED AND CALLED HYUNDAI TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS. HYUNDAI GAVE ME A CASE # BUT SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER CURRENT RECALL, SO I AM NOT SURE IF ANYTHING IS WRONG? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428125October 1, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I ACCELERATED AND MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY BY ITSELF. I WAS GOING APPROX. 65MPH, AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS MY CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN TO 80 OR MORE MPH. I APPLIED MY BRAKES BUT THEY COULDN'T COUNTERACT THE ACCELERATION VERY WELL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. WHEN THE CAR EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN, THE GAS PEDAL MADE A LOUD SOUND LIKE IT HAD RELEASED ITSELF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS VERY SCARY EVENT IN TWO MONTHS, BOTH ON THE FREEWAY. THE FIRST TIME I WAS SO SHAKEN AND SHOCKED THAT I FELT I HADN'T HAD TIME TO OBSERVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME. THIS LAST TIME I WAS ABLE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THERE WAS NO INTERFERENCE WITH MY FLOOR MAT. IT WAS PURE AND SIMPLE: MY GAS PEDAL WAS DANGEROUSLY ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. I TOOK MY SANTE FE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND GAVE THEM A COPY OF MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SANTE FE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT INCIDENT, SOME RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. IN ALL CASES THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED NOR EXPLAINED. SURE ENOUGH, IN MY CASE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NEITHER DUPLICATE, EXPLAIN, NOR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I AM NOW FEARFUL TO DRIVE MY CAR, AND I WILL SELL IT SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427998September 30, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE REAR BUMPER REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE REAR TRAILING ARM DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V123000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427867September 29, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD APPROXIMATLY 20 MPH FOLLOWING A BACKHOE. AS BACKHOE MOVED TO BERM AND I WAS CONSIDERING PASSING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I PLACED ALL OF MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKES AND WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A HALT AND FORCIBLE PUT IN PARK. AS I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AT A VERY FAST RATE. I CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT AND GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS NOTED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE FLOOR MAT WAS A FACTOR IN THIS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT NEEDS INVESTIGATED. THE VEHICLE IS WITH THE DEALER NOW. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426412September 20, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A GROCERY WHEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING AND MY VEHICLE HIT THE SIDE OF A CAR IN THE NEXT PARKING SPACE WHICH IN TURN WAS PUSHED INTO THE SIDE OF A SECOND AUTO PARKED IN THE THIRD SPACE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT HAS HAPPENED 5 OR 6 TIMES IN THE PAST BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY 2007. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DEALERSHIPS AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANY VEHICLE. THIS TIME WHEN IT HAPPENED, THE AUTO COULD NOT BE STOPPED USING THE BRAKES AND THE AUTO COULD NOT BE STEERED. THE OTHER TIMES WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN AND THE VEHICLE WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND WERE NOT AWARE OF A STEERING PROBLEM. DO KNOW THAT THE BRAKES JUST BARELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AFTER STANDING ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET. I NOW FEAR SERIOUS INJURY TO ME, MY WIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE. THIS VEHICLE COULD VERY WELL TAKE US OUT INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426280September 19, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS, TURNS OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC LANES, WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED AND THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED, AT RANDOM TIMES THE CAR HESITATES AND ALL POWER IS LOST MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE SEEMS AS IF IT HAS OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF STALLING OUT. AT FIRST, IT FEELS AS IF ALL POWER HAS BEEN LOST AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RE-ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, AND THE ENGINE APPARENTLY DOES NOT "DIE," SINCE THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR AN IGNITION RE-START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS SPORADICALLY (ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK--BUT SOMETIMES ONCE OR MORE IN THE SAME DAY). THE VEHICLE STARTS WELL, IDLES WELL AND OTHERWISE PERFORMS IN AN OKAY FASHION. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR DID NOT DO THIS FOR THE FIRST 20,000 OR SO MILES. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, THIS "STALLING OUT" HAS ALMOST CREATED AN ACCIDENT SITUATION. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425437September 14, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR BEGAN RACING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE CAR RACED FORWARD, ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD MY FEET ON THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING FORWARD CRASHING INTO A NEIGHBORS YARD AND DEMOLISHING THEIR LANDSCAPING BEFORE I MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT OFF. I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT IT COULD HAVE ENDED MUCH DIFFERENTLY AS I CROSSED A MAIN HIGHWAY BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO REST. BECAUSE I HAVE FLOOR MATS OTHER THAN THOSE ISSUED BY HYUNDAI, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FLOOR MAT CAUSED THE GAS PEDAL TO BECOME STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED AND WOULD ALSO NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10425504September 14, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SEEMS TO HESITATE THEN HAS A MINOR ACCELERATION. IT SEEMS AS IF ITS ABOUT TO STALL BUT CATCHES AND ACCELERATES OR INCREASES TO ORIGINAL SPEED. THIS IS CONCERNING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT OCCURS DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. IN ADDITION, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AT 24, 348 MILES AS THE CAR DIED ON ME TWICE WHILE TRAVELING. I PURCHASED A BATTERY FROM O'RIELLY AUTO PARTS AS IT WAS CLOSER TO MY HOME. THE DEALER WOULD ONLY STATE THAT BATTERY FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE SANTE FE HOWEVER SINCE I DIDN'T BRING MY CAR TO THEM THE BATTERY IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT BATTERY LIFE IS THIS SHORT. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425181September 13, 2011
SUSPENSION
RATTLING UNDERNEATH FRONT ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT. STABILIZER BAR REPLACED AT 79,000 MILES. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425326September 13, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ON 9/13/2011, IN SAN JUAN, PR, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 P.M., MY MOTHER (74 YEARS OLD) WAS DRIVING HER 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT A VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED ON A WET CONCRETE ROAD. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, AND WHILE STILL FAR AWAY FROM IT, SHE APPLIED HER VEHICLE'S BRAKES WITH NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AND STOP ONLY AFTER HITTING A CAR WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE GREEN. THAT IMPACT CAUSED THIS VEHICLE (V-1) TO MOVE FORWARD AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE (V-2) WHICH WAS ALSO WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGED. MY MOTHER RECEIVED A HEAVY IMPACT FORCE TO HER CHEST, SHOULDERS, AND NECK AREA PRODUCED NOT ONLY BY IMPACTING THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HER BUT ALSO BECAUSE HER VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. HER SANTA FE WAS ALSO BADLY DAMAGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10424615September 10, 2011
VISIBILITY
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVE VISOR SO I COULD SAFELY DRIVE HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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