Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2003)

308 consumer complaints on file.

#10081715August 5, 2004
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VIBRATION AND FLUTTER OCCURRED AT 40 MPH TO 60 MPH AND WAS MOST NOTICEABLE AT 50 MPH DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION (60 TO 40 MPH). THE FLUTTER/VIBRATION WAS FELT IN THE CONSUMERS HANDS ON THE WHEEL, FEET, AND FEET. THIS WAS AN INTERNAL VIBRATION/FLUTTER AND NOT JUST A ROAD VIBRATION. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080947July 13, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED MY SANTA FE IN MARCH OF 2003, AT RANDOM TIMES MY CAR BUCKED WHEN THE CAR WENT OVER 40 AND THEN WHEN IT WENT OVER 60. THE JERK IS STRONG ENOUGH TO THROW THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS FORWARD AND BACKWARD. WHEN I INFORMED THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE COMPUTER SYSTEM JUST NEEDED TO GET USE TO THE WAY I DRIVE. AS THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND I BECAME MORE WORRIED, I CONTINUED TO INFORM THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT HYUNDAI WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM;HOWEVER, THE TECHS HAD NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN EARLY JUNE OF 2004, I FINALLY WAS LISTENED TO BY THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND KOREAN TECHS HAD JUST BEEN IN REFLASHING COMPUTERS ON OTHER SANTE FE VEHICLES, TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE ANSWER. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN MY CAR WAS REPLACED WITH A REFLASHED COMPUTER, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS FOR TWO WEEKS. ON JULY 9TH, THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078797June 25, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON FEBRUARY 3, 2004, THOMAS ASHFIELD, MY HUSBAND, WAS DRIVING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL TO PICK UP OUR DAUGHTER. WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND TOWARD THE HIGH SCHOOL TWO VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING NORTH. THE FIRST CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THAN WHAT THE ELEMENTS CALLED FOR, HITTING THE SECOND CAR AND SHOOTING THE CAR INTO OURS, BROADSIDING TOM ON HIS DRIVER'S SIDE. TOM IMMEDIATELY HEARD A SNAP. HE SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS, A TORN MENISCUS , AND A HERNIATED DISC IN HIS C5/C6. (HIS FIRST SURGERY IS COMPLETE, WE ARE AWAITING THE SECOND.) THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY $8,400.00. DURING THE ACCIDENT, THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WANTED A RAPID REPAIR. WE NEVER THOUGHT TO GET ENGINEERS OUT TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE OR TO TAKE PICTURES. WE DID LEARN THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG AND SENSOR FROM THE BODY SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD RETAIN THE COMPONENTS SO THAT HYUNDAI COULD VIEW THEM. I WROTE TO HYUNDAI ON APRIL 14, 2004. A REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED US THE FIRST TIME IN JUNE AND THEN ON JUNE 22, 2004, HE CALLED AGAIN ASKING FOR THE NAME OF THE REPAIR SHOP. TOM GAVE HIM THE INFORMATION. THE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED US BACK AND TOLD TOM THAT THE REPAIR SHOP HAD GOTTEN RID OF THE PARTS. THAT WAS A SHOCK TO US BECAUSE UP UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD RETAIN IT. (WE CONFIRMED THIS WITH THEM WHEN THE REPRESENTATIVE FIRST MADE CONTACT WITH US.) IN ADDITION, FROM WHAT THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD TOM, THE STORY CHANGED ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I DO NOT HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA OF WHAT OCCURRED. SOMETHING IS HAPPENING. I WANT ANSWERS. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE MALFUNCTION HAPPENED. WAS THIS THE FIRST TIME OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT IS ONGOING AND NOBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION TO. MY HUSBAND SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. WE PAID FOR SAFETY FEATURES ON A NEW VEHICLE AND THEY DID NOT WORK. WHAT WILL IT REQUIRE FOR US TO RECEIVE ANSWERS...A DEATH? *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10075379June 14, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE PURCHASED OUR 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE NOVEMBER OF 2003. IT IS A 2003 MODEL WITH A 3.5 LITER ENGINE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE STARTED HAVING A LURCHING PROBLEM WHEN SITTING AT STOP LIGHT. IT WOULD FEEL AS IF SOMEONE BUMPED INTO YOU FROM THE REAR. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS DUE TO AN ABS PROBLEM. THEY SERVICED THE CAR FOR THE RECALLS THAT WERE CURRENT, AND EXPLAINED TO US THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT SHOULD BE OK NOW WITH THE RECALL SERVICING THEY HAD DONE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM, DOING IT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. JUST RECENTLY I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. I STARTED THE CAR, APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED VERY LOUDLY, AND THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS ABOUT 6 FEET, ALMOST HITTING SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE PARKED BEHIND ME IN THE OPPOSITE SPACES, PUTTING GROCERIES IN THEIR CAR. I HAD TO PLACE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID THE CAR GOING FURTHER THAN THE SIX FEET BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED REVVING. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALER, WHOM I HOPE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THE ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074011May 20, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
WHILE PLACING THE SEAT BELT ON IT BROKE. CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THE SEAT BELT BROKE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067662April 22, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
RUSTING BRAKE ROTORS ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE AND UNSAFE BRAKE FUNCTION. HYUNDAI WANTS TO REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU, RECALL 04V131000, INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WITH PARTS THAT WILL NOT RUST. THE REPROGRAMING WILL PREVENT THE ABS SYSTEM FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT LOW SPEED AND IN MY OPINION COMPROMISES THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066386April 17, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED ONE DAY. NOTHING HAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS A SMALL ARC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ABOUT 3" FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT SOMETHING HIT IT AND THE HEAT INSIDE THE CAR CAUSED IT TO CRACK. THE PLACE WHERE THEY SAID SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD ONLY THE POINT OF A PIN COULD FIT IN. I KNOW NOTHING HIT IT. ONE A FEW OCCASIONS I HAVE NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE ABS ENGAGE WHEN THE BREAKS WERE NOT BEING APPLIED AND THE ROAD SURFACE DRY. THERE WASN'T A REASON FOR THEM TO ENGAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067203April 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V131000 CONCERNING ABS BRAKE FAILURE. ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS), IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PAD FRICTION SURFACES ARE WET, A VIBRATION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISCS AND PADS, CAUSING ABS SENSOR ELECTRONIC SIGNAL NOISE TO DEVELOP. AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE ABS SENSOR SIGNAL NOISE MAY CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS RECALL FAILED, DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067175April 14, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME FOR AN INSPECTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065884April 10, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WINDOE WIPER BOLT BECOMES LOOSE ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063848March 25, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SLOWING DOWN ON A DECLINE THE CAR RAN OVER A ROUGH POPRTION OF ROAD, THE ABS ENGAGED (CLICKING SOUND) AND THE BAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR - CAR DID NOT STOP. DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN ON THIS BUT NO FIX AS OF YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063905March 25, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM A ROCK OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE CRACK STARTS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES ABOVE THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD EDGE AND MAKES AN ARC TOWARD THE CENTER A FEW INCHES THEN UPWARDS ABOUT 12 INCHES. THE VIEW THROUGH ONE SIDE OF THE CRACK IS DISTORTED AS COMPARED TO THE VIEW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CRACK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061036March 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059665February 19, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES, AND HAS THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *LA THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE WIPER BLADES BUT BE LOOSENED FROM THE WINDSHIELD MANUALLY BEFORE THEY ARE TURNED ON OR THEY WILL NOT WORK. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD THE CONSUMER TO TRY AND FIND ANY LOOSE NUTS AND RE-TIGHTENED THEM, WHICH THE CONSUMER DID, WHICH DID NOT KEEP THE WIPERS FROM STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE RUNNING BOARDS AND HAD THEM REPLACED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE HEATER MADE A NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT IN THE FAN BOX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058436February 18, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057931February 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHILE SITTING AT A STOP ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH BRAKE ENGAGED VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. DRIVER ENGAGED THE BRAKES FURTHER, AND FELT VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL. THEN, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057435February 3, 2004
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH LEFT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056462February 3, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THR CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATES THE CAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING DISLODGING ALL PASSANGERS. THE ACCELERATER TAKES A FEW MOMENTS TO GET THE CAR GOING. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAPPEN AT ALL SPEEDS, WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ROAD CONDITIONS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055546January 20, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE READS DIFFERENT MILEAGE THAN WHAT ITS SUPPOSE TO BE. *PH THE VEHICLE LOCKS ITSELF. (KEYS ON PEG IN THE HOUSE AND IT LOCKS. PER CONSUMER) *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052823January 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE HAS HAD A HIGH PITCHED WHINE AT 35 MPH, COASTING, ACCELERATING, OR BRAKING. NOTICEABLE TO ALL DRIVERS/PASSENGERS, BUT NOT TO DEALER TECHNICIAN/SERVICE MANAGER. HAVE HAD IT IN THREE TIMES WITH NO CONDITION FOUND. AS TIME GOES BY I AM NOTICING THAT ALONG WITH THE NOISE, THE BRAKES FEEL WEAK AND I NEED ONLY MOVE MY ANKLE WITHOUT TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCAISIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IN THE RAIN, IT WOULD NOT STOP AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I REPRORTED IT TO HYUNDAI, AND WENT BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD (WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CAR) BY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I AM WASTING THEIR TIME AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS NEVER EVEN SEEN THE VEHICLE CALLED TO SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE ANTILOCK BRAKES CORRECTLY ( I DO KNOW HOW TO USE THEM, I'VE ALWAYS STOPPED WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SO I HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT). HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA 800 633 5151 X45017 FILE#785260 NEVER GOT ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED ON MY BEHALF AND NEVER CALLED BACK, NEVER DID ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. I AM CONCERNED THE CAR WILL NOT STOP WHEN I WANT IT TO SO I ONLY USE IT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, NOT EXACTLY WHAT A NEW CAR IS MEANT FOR. ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT I CANNOT GO TO THE NEAREST DEALER AS THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT IT UNDER HYUNDAI'S OFTEN MENTIONED 5 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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