Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2004)
303 consumer complaints on file.
- #10435342November 12, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNINITIATED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING, TRYING TO STOP AND IDLING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425326September 13, 2011SERVICE 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
- #10421626August 26, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC AT A LOCAL GAS STATION, MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SURGED TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD BARELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE SPEED SURGED TO NEARLY 6000 RPM. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED AGAIN WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, BUT IT WAS A VERY SCARY AND UNCONTROLLED MANNER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE OPERATED IN. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10415539July 28, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD DEACTIVATE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 2/21/12 *CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10410018June 30, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,268.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10410063June 30, 2011STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STRIKER PLATE THAT CONNECTS TO THE TAPING PLATE WAS NOT PROPERLY WELDED ONTO THE DOOR FRAME; AS A RESULT, THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT REMAIN CLOSED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,289. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,580.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10408843June 24, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
5/25/2011, APPROX. TIME 8:45 A.M. 2004 SANTA FE LX, 38,828 MILES ON VEHICLE. ORIGINAL OWNERS, BOUGHT NEW. VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY, GOT IN TO LEAVE FOR DOCTORS APPT., MOVED ABOUT TWO FEET, WHEN WE HEARD THIS LOUD NOISE AND AIR GUSHING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF OUR CAR. WENT OUT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THE COIL SPRING HAD RUPTURED AND CUT THROUGH THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THANK GOD WE WERE NOT TRAVELING ON ANY ROAD OR INTERSTATE HWY., I WOULD NOT BE TELLING THIS. HYUNDAI MOTORS OF AMERICA, CORPORATE OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED OF MY ISSUE, AND THE FACT THE LEFT SPRING COULD RUPTURE AT ANY TIME. THEY OFFERED IN GOOD FAITH TO PAY FOR RIGHT SPRING AND TIRE, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE LEFT FRONT SPRING. HYUNDAI MOTORS OF AMERICA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DEFECTED COIL SPRINGS AND RECALL ALL 2004 SANTA FE TO REPLACE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND ANY OTHER MECHANICAL SYSTEMS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE RUPTURED COIL SPRINGS. MANY OWNERS OF 2004 SANTA FE ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, HOPEFULLY HYUNDAI WILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE THEIR ARE ANY FATALITIES, GOD BLESS US, AND I PRAY HE WILL KEEP US SAFE!!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10407472June 20, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS INFORMED BY SOMEONE DRIVING NEARBY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10403937May 31, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH SECTION OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY MY WIFE AND I HEARD A VERY LOUD BOOM, AS IF WE HAD HIT A LARGE ROCK OR SOMETHING. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION THAT AN IMPACT WOULD HAVE CAUSED. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD CAUSED THE NOISE. 2004 HYUNDAI, SANTA FE DROVE FINE. TWO DAYS LATER, WHEN MAKING A LOW SPEED RIGHT TURN, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. WHEN THE TIRE WAS REMOVED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN, MADE CONTACT WITH THE TIRE AND RIPPED IT ABOUT THREE QUARTERS AROUND COMPLETELY THROUGH. AFTER RESEARCHING THE TOPIC I WAS APPALLED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE WERE ABOUT BROKEN SPRINGS ON 2004 SANTA FES. IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. IF THE SPRING HAD RUPTURED THE TIRE WHEN IT APPARENTLY BROKE, ON THE HIGHWAY I HESITATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, OR HOW MANY LIVES WOULD BE AT RISK. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME HYUNDAI STEPPED-UP AND RECALL THE SPRINGS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10401885May 17, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, POKING A HOLE THROUGH THE SIDEWALL OF AN 8 MONTH OLD TIRE *TGW
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10397097April 22, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
ON APRIL 21, 2011 WENT TO BACK SUV OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WENT FLAT. AFTER REMOVING THE TIRE FOUND TIRE HAD A HOLE ON INSIDE WALL OF TIRE . THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE COIL SPRING PROTRUDING OUT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THE COIL SPRING BROKEN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. I FEEL VERY LUCKY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10396609April 18, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A BANG AND THE CAR VEERED OUT OF CONTROL. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE AND I NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE. THE FOLLOWING DAY I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY CHARGED AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT TO REPLACE. NOT VERY LIKELY THAT I WOULD PURCHASE ANOTHER HYUNDAI. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10394086April 3, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION
THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT 40,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND, MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY FELT LIKE IT JUMPED, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. I WRESTLED WITH THE WHEEL TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT I WAS STILL IN THE ROAD. THERE WAS A WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME GETTING OUT OF HER CAR WITH A TODDLER AND I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THEM AS I TRIED TO CONTROL MY TRUCK. I'M SO GLAD I WASN'T GOING FASTER THAN 10-15 MPH. THE REPAIR AGENT SAID HE'D NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN AT LESS THAN 100K+ MILES, AND IT TOOK OUT THE BRAKE LINE AND FUEL LINE ON THAT SIDE AS WELL. TOTAL COST WILL BE $1500. AS THE TIMING BELT ALSO NEEDS CHANGING. NOT HAPPY. I SEE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SITUATION (COIL SPRING GOING ON HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT LOW MILEAGE), BUT I DON'T SEE ANY KIND OF REPARATION OFFERED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY RECALL. THERE SHOULD BE - THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I'M NOT LIKELY TO BUY A HYUNDAI AGAIN. *TRW
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392936March 26, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT AT 8AM AND THEN BY 1PM MY COIL SPRING BROKE DESTROYING MY TIRE AND RESULTING IN MY GETTING TOWED. HAD MY COIL SPRING BROKE ON THE HIGHWAY I WOULD HAVE CRASHED *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392533March 22, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT WOULD WAIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSE BY THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,500.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10390434March 16, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SURGING NO TROUBLE LIGHTS ON. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE THROTTLE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, SO WE DID THAT. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THROTTLE SENSOR AGAIN, AT NO CHARGE. SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN WE WOULD NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. HAPPENED AGAIN, SO HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. HAPPENED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS WIRING THAT HAD TO DO WITH CRUISE CONTROL. WHICH I NEVER USE. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY 3/16/2011. NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS DROPPING OFF TONIGHT IN THE NIGHT DROP. I HAVE ALREADY PAID OVER $1000.00 FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW. WE MAXED OUT OUR TOWING WITH AAA, SO MY HUSBAND, WHO WORKS SECOND SHIFT AND HOUR AND HALF AWAY FROM WHERE WE LIVE HAS TO DRIVE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TONIGHT. IT STARTED TODAY WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 15 MINUTES AWAY FROM WORK. ALSO THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR, AND DEALERSHIP ALWAYS SAYS THEIR LOANER CARS ARE ALL OUT. JUST WANTED THIS DOCUMENTED AND AM PRAYING MY HUSBAND GETS BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP OK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386472March 4, 2011LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WERE DESIGNED AS CHROME OVER PLASTIC AND THE CHROME FRACTURED.. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSING THE EDGES TO BE EXPOSED, WHICH WERE EXTREMELY SHARP. WHEN THE CONTACT'S ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SHE CUT HER HAND WHEN SHE GRABBED THE DOOR HANDLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR HANDLES WERE DESIGNED AS CHROME OVER A NON-METALLIC SUBSTRATE. OVER TIME, THE CHROME CRACKED AND CURLED UP, THUS FORMING RAZOR SHARP EDGES WHICH COULD NOT BE OBSERVED WHEN THE HANDLE WAS IN ITS NORMAL POSITION. UPDATED 05.11.11
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10384873March 1, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AS SOON AS IT WAS STARTED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY YET THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITH AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM AS SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND SHE THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WHICH THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10384431February 24, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
WAS JUST PULLING THE CAR DOWN THE DRIVE WAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. I STOPPED THE CAR AND A FRIEND WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE TIRE. HE NOTICED THE SPRING HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY FOR 12 TO 15 HOURS BEFORE WE WENT TO DRIVE IT. WE HAD NOT EVEN MADE IT ON THE ROAD AND WAS ONLY GOING A COUPLE MILES PER HOUR AND ABOUT 15 TO 20 FEET. WE WERE ON OUR WAY, GOING OUT OF TOWN AND WERE THANKFUL THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WERE WE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR HURT SOME ONE ELSE. SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WE HAVE A NEW BORN AND A TWO YEAR OLD IN THIS VEHICLE. THANKFULLY THEY WERE NOT WITH US. THIS FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO BE AS LUCKY AS WE WERE. FOR US IT WAS THE DRIVE WAY AND NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY AT A HIGH SPEEDS WITH OUR FAMILY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10384928February 22, 2011SUSPENSION
DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING BROKEN. STRUT MOUNT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2004. AS THE MILEAGE WILL TELL YOU, I DON'T DRIVE IT MUCH. MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WHEN I WENT TO GO TO WORK. AS I STARTED BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I DECIDED NOT TO TRY DRIVING IT. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE SPRING BROKEN. THEY SAID I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING IT AT THE TIME AS IT COULD HAVE PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND CAUSED A BLOWOUT. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS TIME IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT, I HEARD IT. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO A NEARBY GARAGE AND FOUND THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WAS RUBBING ON THE TIRE. THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 25,000 MILES. HYUNDAI DOES NOT SEEM TO THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SPRINGS. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS PERTAINING TO THIS COMPLAINT, BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT AT 27,000 MILES I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR CONTROL ARMS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0