Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints
8,019 consumer complaints on file.
- #10509926April 29, 2013SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, A LOUD POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE COIL SPRING AND DEFECTIVE TIRE WERE REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED MOST RECENTLY WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509986April 29, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS IS A 4 CYLINDER GAS ENGINE. WHEN IN TRAFFIC STOP AND GO, THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS AT A STOP SIGN OR AT ANY TIME THERE IS A LOW SPEED STOP AND GO. IT HESITATES AND THEN TAKES OFF BECAUSE YOU NATURALLY GIVE IT MORE GAS BECAUSE IT ISN'T RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS, AS IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN YOU PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509799April 27, 2013SUSPENSION
REAR TIRES EXHIBIT EXTENSIVE "CUPPING" WHICH SUGGESTS DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION PARTS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. INFERIOR PARTS OR DESIGN ARE SUSPECTED AS THE DEFECT APPEARS BILATERALLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509806April 27, 2013VISIBILITY
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, 65MPH I HEARD A LOUD BANG AS IF SOMETHING HIT THE CAR. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. I LOOK UP THAT BACK FIXED PANEL TO THE PANORAMIC MOONROOF, THE BACK PAIN OF GLASS HAD CRACKED INTO A "MILLION LITTLE PIECES" BUT STILL REMAINED INTACT. THE BACK SEAT WAS NOTED TO HAVE NUMEROUS GLASS SHAVINGS ALL OVER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION WHEN I PULLED OVER, THERE WAS A HOLE NO BIGGER THAN A DIME SHAPE. THIS HOLE, ASSUMING WAS THE POINT OF IMPACT, WAS LOCATED ON THE BACK OF THE SECOND PANEL, NEAR WHERE THE GLASS MEETS THE SHEET METAL. ASSUMING THAT A PIECE OF DEBRIS HIT IT, I HAD IT FIXED AS A GLASS CLAIM THROUGH MY INSURANCE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT THIS WILL BE THE SECOND COMPLAINT FOR THIS MODEL YEAR, WITH ANOTHER HYUNDAI MODEL WITH AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509683April 26, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ACCELERATING TO PASS A CAR, MY ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK AND I COULDN'T GET MY CAR TO STOP WITH THE BRAKES. THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT 'UNSTUCK' BY PUMPING BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T 'RECREATE' THE ISSUE AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY MY FLOOR MATS. I BASICALLY CHALKED IT UP AS A FLUKE, ALTHOUGH I NEVER AGREED WITH THE FLOOR MAT SCENARIO. WHEN IT HAPPENED THIS TIME, I TRIED PUMPING BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, DOWNSHIFTING, ETC. AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN SOME, BUT WOULDN'T ACTUALLY STOP UNTIL I RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. EVEN THEN, THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET IT TO STOP WAS TO TURN IT OFF. I WAS TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN SO IT WAS TOWED AND IS BEING CHECKED FOR MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. I SEE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL!! *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509371April 24, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATES AND ALSO CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON AN OFF. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509478April 24, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL LINES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,350.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509276April 23, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, I ATTEMPTED TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY TAPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT TURN OFF EVEN WITH HOLDING THE BRAKE DOWN HARDER. I WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL USING THE OFF SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL. UPON EXITING THE INTERSTATE AND REACHING MY DESTINATION, I COULD NOT GET THE SHIFTER TO GO INTO PARK. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES, I GOT IT TO GO INTO PARK. IT HAS ONLY DONE THIS ONE TIME AND NEVER HAPPENED SINCE THEN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS DRIVING AND NOT MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WHO NORMALLY DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. HER LACK OF EXPERIENCE MAY HAVE CAUSED HER TO PANIC WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DEACTIVATE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509062April 22, 2013ENGINE
WHEN I'M STARTING UP FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AS IF I HAVE "FLOORED IT." I AM A REALTOR AND DRIVE 100'S OF MILES A WEEK. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY, ON AVERAGE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509065April 22, 2013SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SHE HEARD A POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,425. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508954April 21, 2013STEERING
SEVERE LEFTWARD PULL ON HIGHWAY. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON HIGHWAY OR UNDIVIDED ROADS, BECAUSE CAR PULLS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508933April 20, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE SHOWS DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. FULL TANK OF GAS MAY SHOW ON THE GAUGE AS EMPTY. THE NEXT TIME MAY SHOW 1/2 A TANK OF GAS. HAVE TO TRACK MILEAGE TO KNOW WHEN TO GAS UP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508781April 19, 2013SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ON A MAJOR LOCAL INTERSTATE, MY CHECK BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, BUT FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD GONE SOFT AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD TO GET ANY RESISTANCE. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP A MILE AWAY WHERE THEY REALIZED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS EMPTY DUE TO A RUPTURED SEAL IN THE BRAKE CALIBER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL HAD LITERALLY SNAPPED IN HALF AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL WAS DISLOCATED AND BROKEN. MY CAR HAD JUST BEEN IN THE SAME DEALERSHIP ONE WEEK PRIOR HAVING A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN IT (UNDER WARRANTY). AS NO LOUD BANG OR NOISE OCCURRED AS WITH THE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THE COILS BROKE OR SHIFTED DURING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WHEN THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR WAS ON THE LIFT, AND NOT ON THE SUSPENSION. THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE THAT NEITHER OF THESE COILS WERE FOUND BROKEN AT THAT TIME HAS ME INCENSED. THE FACT THAT A SOLID STEEL COIL THAT TAKES 4,000LBS TO COMPRESS CAN BREAK IN HALF LIKE THAT IS DISTURBING. I ASSUME THAT WITHOUT THE SUSPENSION, DUE TO THE BROKEN COILS, THE BRAKES SUFFERED DAMAGE AND THE ABOVE INCIDENT OCCURRED. I WAS VERY LUCKY INDEED THAT NOTHING WORSE HAPPENED, BUT AS THIS IS A RECURRENT ISSUE WITH THE HYUNDAI COIL SUSPENSION AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH A RECALL. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE OF THE DAMAGE, AS ARE THE SUSPENSION COILS (WE SAVED EVERYTHING). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508685April 18, 2013SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508727April 18, 2013SUSPENSION
WHILE WAITING TO PULL OUT OF MY SUBDIVISION, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I HEAR A LOUD BANG UNDER THE CAR. DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME WHAT IT WAS, SO AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO TURN, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRIED GOING IN REVERSE, AND NO MOVEMENT. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. SAID MY AXLE CRACKED. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR!! WHEN I ASKED IF ANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE, I WAS TOLD "NO", THAT I WAS THE FIRST PERSON THIS HAPPENED TO. I CALLED HYUNDAI CORP HDQTRS IN CA AND FILED A COMPLAINT. I WAS GIVEN A CASE #. THEY ALSO SAID NO OTHER COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED, AND NO RECALLS ISSUED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE! YES, THEY ARE FIXING IT, BUT I DID TELL THEM THAT I WILL BE LEARY DRIVING IT AGAIN. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!! THANK GOD I WAS NOT MOVING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508600April 17, 2013AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACE AND HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508315April 15, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS PUT ON MY CAR LAST YEAR 2012 BECAUSE THE BRAKE SHOE FELL OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I BEGAN TO HAVE A SCRAPPING NOISE IN MARCH 2013 AND THEN ON APPROXIMATELY MARCH 22, 2013 WHEN I WAS RETURNING FROM THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE MY CAR SEIZED WHEN I WAS AT A STOP. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AND I COULD NOT TURN. TWO GUYS CAME TO ASSIST ME TO PUSH ME TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO GOODYEAR IN SCHENECTADY. I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND PISTONS. THE REPAIR COST $476.00. THE CAR IS NOW MAKING A SCRAPPING NOISE AGAIN. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE BRAKES FOR THIS CAR AND I BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI OR THE STATE AUTHORITY SHOULD MAKE A RECALL FOR THE BRAKES, AND ASSOCIATED PARTS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REFUNDED THE REPAIR COSTS FOR LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508158April 14, 2013POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 LIMITED TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A STALL CONDITION. IMMEDIATELY LOST THE ABILITY TO SAFELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE, COMPLETE LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAD COASTED TO A STOP, SHIFTED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVE POSITION TO THE PARK POSITION. TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION. IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE START POSITION AND ENGINE RESTARTED. ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR IN DASH PANEL WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOCATE THE ROOT CAUSE. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE. FILED AN INCIDENT REPORT WITH HYUNDAI USA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508136April 13, 2013SUSPENSION
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I SAW THE RECALL ON THE REAR SUSPENSION ON 03 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SO I WENT TO TWO DEALERS AROUND MY AREA AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE CONDITION. ONE OF THEM DID NOT EVEN RESPONDED TO MY QUESTION AND RETURNED THE CAR, AND ANOTHER ONE SAID THEY ARE FINE AND NOT NEED TO BE EITHER TREATED OR REPLACED. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO, JUST WEB SURFING THE WEB AND FOUND THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM OF THE REAR TAILING ARMS RECALL. MY CAR HAS ALL THAT SYMPTOMS RIGHT NOW, BUT HYUNDAI IS TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE FAULTY TRAILING ARMS, AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. MY CAR SWING WHEN I MAKE TURNS WEIRDLY. IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOOSE TRAILER IN THE BACK. ALSO THE HEIGHT OF THE CAR HAD BEEN LOWERED, AND ALSO WHEN I GO OVER A SPEED BUMP, I HEAR CREAKING SOUND. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS, AND REAR SHOCKS SO THEY ARE NOT COMING FROM THOSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508047April 12, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY
MY 2008 SANTA FE LTD THAT SUFFERED A LOSS OF THE LEFT REAR QUARTER GLASS, INCLUDING THE FRAME MOLDING, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A FEW DAYS AGO. THE GLASS COMPANY STATED THAT IT APPEARED TO HAVE ACTUALLY BREAK OFF OF THE BOLTS AND SIMPLY FLY OFF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY THING LEFT ON THE VEHICLE WAS THE URETHANE ADHESIVE, WHICH WAS STRETCHED OUT AROUND THE BACK OF THE QUARTER PANEL. ANOTHER INTERESTING NOTE IS THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER GLASS, IT APPEARS TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PHENOMENON, AND MAY COME OFF AT ANY TIME. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH INFORMED ME THAT MY AUTO IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE AT THIS TIME. CONSIDERING THAT MY AUTO INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE IS $500, I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OUT OF POCKET FOR $338.55. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0