Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2004)

303 consumer complaints on file.

#10381163February 8, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I TRIED TO START MY 2004 SANTA FE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER (IT CRANKED FINE SO WE KNEW IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY). WHILE IT WAS BEING DRAGGED ONTO THE TOW TRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE DEFLATED. THE WHEEL DID NOT TURN WHILE BEING DRAGGED UP THE TRUCK RAMP. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND TRIGGERED A KILL SWITCH TO THE FUEL LINE WHICH PREVENTED THE CAR FROM STARTING. I NEVER HEARD ANY AWFUL SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING SO THE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING MUST HAVE SNAPPED WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AS DOES THE TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379779January 31, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I WENT INTO GARAGE TO MOVE MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE OUT SO MY HUSBAND COULD PUT OUR 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA INTO IT. THE SANTA FE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE GARAGE FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS UNDRIVEN. WHEN I STARTED TO BACK UP, IT WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE WAY. NOT SEEING ANYTHING IN MY WAY, I CONTINUED TO BACK THE SANTA FE OUT TO THE STREET STILL HEARING A LOUD NOISE. MY HUSBAND CAME OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS MAKING THE NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WAS RESTING ON THE TIRE. UPON RAISING IT WITH THE JACK, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSPENSION COIL WAS BROKEN. I EVEN TOOK PICTURES OF IT WHILE IT WAS JACKED UP. THE UPSIDE TO THIS WHOLE THING IS THAT WE WEREN'T DRIVING IT AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I'M SURE WE WOULD HAVE FLIPPED THE VEHICLE AND BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. WE HAVE 84,647 MILES ON IT AND WERE ALWAYS VERY METICULOUS WITH MAINTENANCE. WE WILL CALL THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW, BUT FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, IT LOOKS LIKE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378820January 26, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2004 SANTA FE AND JUST THE OTHER DAY MY DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE, LUCKY I WASN'T DRIVING IT AT THE TIME HOWEVER IT GOING TO COST ABOUT 1250.00 TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378508January 24, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FAILURE OF FRONT COIL SPRING WHILE DRIVING. COIL SPRING SUDDENLY BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379008January 22, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AT 84,360 MILES OUR SUV WASN'T SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, WOULD GO FROM 1ST TO 3RD. A BIG KLUNK WOULD OCCUR AROUND 20 MPH. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP (WITHNELL HYUNDAI, SALEM, OR) IN JUNE 08, AND THEY RESET THE COMPUTER. HUSBAND ARGUED WITH SERVICE DEPT., SAYING HE WANTED A NEW TRANSMISSION, GUY SAID IF IT WENT BAD AGAIN THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN, AND HE SAID IF IT WENT BAD, WOULD GO BAD BY 100000 MILES. TOOK SUV BACK IN 8-2010 WITH 99960 MILES, WAS SHIFTING HARD AGAIN, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE REAR MOTOR MOUNT, AND THEY REPLACED THAT. THEN AT 105000 MILES JAN. 2011, SHIFTING HARD AGAIN, TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY AGAIN RESET THE COMPUTER..AT NO CHARGE TO US, AND TOLD US "TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING".
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378893January 18, 2011
AIR BAGS
I TOOK MY CAR INTO MY NEW LOCAL DEALER WALLACE HYUNDAI , STUART FL. MY AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON ALL THE TIME. AT THE TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, MY VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS DEALER TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY $100.00 TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER IN THE LIFE OF OWNING 2 HYUNDAI SANTE FE'S (THIS BEING MY 2ND) DID I EVER HAVE TO PAY UP FRONT FOR BUMPER TO BUMPER ISSUES. I AM DISABLED AND DID NOT HAVE THE $100.00 SO I LEFT AND THEN THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, SO MY ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. TO THIS DAY, MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND I AM CONCERNED IT WILL EITHER DEPLOY OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 03/23/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376727January 14, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
PASSANGER SIDE SPRING SEPERATED CAUSING TIRE DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376378January 12, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I DRIVE A USED, 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE GLS. VERY RECENTLY, I WAS JUST LEAVING WORK WHEN A SEEMINGLY VERY ORDINARY THING HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WAITING TO TAKE A LEFT TURN. AS SOON AS I ACCELERATED AND BEGAN TO TURN, MY VEHICLE SUFFERED A BLOWN-OUT FRONT-PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. AS THE TIRE BLEW OUT, I HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK"AND THEN A "POP". SURPRISED, I PULLED THE CAR OVER AS SOON AS I COULD, OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD. I HAD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE COME OUT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, BECAUSE I FOUND THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS REQUIRED IN MY CAR TO CHANGE A TIRE. AFTER THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER PUT ON THE SPARE, I PAID HIM FOR HIS SERVICES AND WENT TO LEAVE. AS I TURNED THE WHEEL TO LEAVE, MY VEHICLE SUFFERED ANOTHER BLOW-OUT, SAME SIDE. MY CAR THEN HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SHOP TO BE LOOKED AT. TURNS OUT, MY FRONT-RIGHT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PIERCED MY TIRE(S). I CURRENTLY HAVE 73,000 MILES ON MY CAR, WHICH IS A GOOD AMOUNT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, COIL SPRINGS DO NOT JUST SNAP FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE IS 7 YEARS OLD, NOT TWENTY. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? I FOUND OUT THAT WHEN THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED, IT ALSO SNAPPED THE STRUTS AND THE STRUT MOUNT, ON TOP OF MY TWO TIRES. THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THE DAMAGE WAS ABOUT $1200.00, AS BOTH SIDES NEEDED NEW PARTS TO ENSURE THE BEST HANDLING OF THE CAR. ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS, WHAT IF I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 65? IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT TO KNOW THAT I MAY NOT HAVE COME OUT OF THIS ALIVE. I AM VERY LUCKY IT HAPPENED AT SUCH A LOW SPEED, WITH HARDLY ANY CARS AROUND, OR ELSE I WOULD NOT HAVE LIVED TO TELL THE TALE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AND GOD FORBID, MAYBE EVEN MORE THAT HAVE NOT LIVED TO TELL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373981January 3, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BROKE THE RIGHT AT 22,000 MILES AND THE LEFT AT 32,000 MILES. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370512December 13, 2010
VISIBILITY
2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BROKEN - HANGS IN FRONT OF DRIVER. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL HYUNDAI MODELS FROM 2000 - 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369376December 6, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY HYUNDAI SANTE FE. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HOME) MY VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING RAPIDLY AND SURGING WHEN I WAS TRYING TO KEEP IT FROM LUNGING FORWARD. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE BRAKES TO STOP IT AND THAT STILL DID NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION FROM CONTINUING. I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE SHOP WHERE I WANTED TO HAVE IT FIXED. IT COST OVER $500 TO HAVE A THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACED AND NOW IT'S DOING IT AGAIN? I HAD IT TOWED LAST NIGHT BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP IT AGAIN WITHOUT ALMOST PUTTING IT IN A DITCH. WHEN IT STOPPED IT THEN STARTED NOT WANTING TO GO AT ALL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR SURE WITH THIS VEHICLE. SINCE LAST MONTH WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I HAVE BEE READING LOTS OF INFO FROM OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. HYUNDAI DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE ME ANYTHING FOR THIS DANGEROUS REPAIR AS THEY DON'T WANT TO ADMIT ANY FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366863November 19, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FORTH TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. DURING THE LAST FAILURE, THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE VEHICLE BURNED AND WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT KNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362615October 27, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER CRASHING, SHE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS AND THE ENGINE ROARED EXTREMELY LOUDLY UNTIL SHE REMOVED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE POLICE APPEARED ON THE SCENE BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,600.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349641August 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
3RD TIME CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WENT IN 1 YEAR/5 MONTHS. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ALL 3 TIMES, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN APPEARS AND SECONDS LATER THE CAR SHUTS OFF. TWICE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND LUCKY WE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN. 3 TIMES IN A YEAR AND 5 MONTHS, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN... ALSO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR THE LAST YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349035August 12, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 3-15 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD SURFACE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, FOLLOWED BY RESISTANCE AND CAUSED A BOUNCING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. SUDDENLY, A GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGING UNINTENDENTLY WHICH RESULTED TO AN INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND PROGRESSED TO WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION UNDER ANY ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTI-LOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED THE FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346888August 2, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN YET THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOLD RETURN LINE AND TRANSMISSION LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343119July 14, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340733June 30, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS AGAIN REPROGRAMMED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS BEING EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335789June 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE WERE BEHIND A CAR GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR THE CAR AHEAD OF US TO TURN INTO A LANE AND INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN OUR CAR - A HYUNDAI 2004 SANTA FE - SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ONCE AND THEN AGAIN HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF US, TWICE. AFTER WE HIT THE CAR THE FIRST TIME WE TRIED TO BRAKE BUT EVEN THOUGH HE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN. WE REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES - TOOK THE SUV TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP - REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO THEM - THEY DID SOME KIND OF A TEST AND TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL THE RPMS RACE HIGH - AND SINCE THAT ACCIDENT I HAD THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT STARTED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AGAIN. WE LOOKED ON THE IN INTERNET AND THERE ARE MANY OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS SO WHY IS HYUNDAI DENYING THIS HAPPENS TO THE CAR? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328759May 4, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE IDLING WHEN A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE COMPLETELY ENGULFED FRONT OF VEHICLE BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE BLAZE. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. CAUSE OF THE FIRE NOT DETERMINED. VEHICLE RECEIVED PERIODIC SERVICE ONE MONTH EARLIER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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