Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10437380November 27, 2011
TIRES, SUSPENSION
SECOND SET OF TIRES CUPPING. FIRST SET REPLACED AT 23000 MILES. CURRENT TIRES BAD AT 58000 MILES. HAVE NO REASON FOR THIS. TIRE ROTATION DONE EVERY 5000 MILES. TIRES NOT OVER-INFLATED. NOT ALIGNMENT ISSUE, ALTHOUGH ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AND BOLTS REPLACED AT 23000 MILES. SOUNDS LIKE A HYUNDAI SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437338November 26, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I ARRIVED AT WORK AND TWO PEOPLE MENTIONED THAT THEY SMELLED GASOLINE UPON WALKING BEHIND MY CAR..NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT UNTIL I NOTICED TWO DAYS LATER THAT I SEEMED TO BE GOING THROUGH ALOT OF GAS..I DRIVE 6 MILES FROM MY HOME TO WORK EVERY DAY...I NOW SMELL GAS IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR EVERY DAY..WAS TOLD TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY TANK OR FUEL LINE...DO NOT KNOW WHO TO CHECK WITH INREGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM..AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO BOYS SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS FIXED..ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436936November 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAUGHT ON FIRE. I HEARD A CLUNK ON ENTERING REVERSE IN THE MORNING. AFTER 35 MILES OTHER DRIVERS ALERTED ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD US 90 IN NEWTON MA THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AFTER THE FIRE WENT OUT ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437220November 24, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM HYUNDAI CONCERNING THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE. I REALIZED THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASH HAD BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME, PERHAPS A YEAR OR TWO, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS NORMAL AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT MEANT IT DIDN'T WORK. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED THE REPAIR RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I AGREED TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE SO THE DEALER COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH WOULD COST $1500 TO FIX. THEY SAID THE SRS COMPUTER AND AIRBAG SENSOR MAY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $600 AND $400 RESPECTIVELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436675November 21, 2011
SUSPENSION
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I NOTED A CRUNCHING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING APPROX ONE MILE I INSPECTED THE REAR SUSPENSION. I FOUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER TRAILING ARM HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT IT HAD COLLAPSED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA SINCE NEW. UP THROUGH DEC 2008 IT WAS USED FOR ONE WINTER TRIP TO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. SINCE I WAS AWARE OF ISSUES WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THIS VEHICLE I HAD INSPECTED THE LOWER TRAILING ARMS APPROX FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. AT THAT TIME I FOUND ONLY A HALF DOLLAR SIZED CIRCLE OF SCALE/RUST AND SOME SCALE/RUST ON THE WELDED SEAM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TRAILING ARM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE. I SURMISE THE COMPONENT RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THUS A VISUAL INSPECTION WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE TO GIVE A WARNING OF POSSIBLE FAILURE. OWNERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT VISUAL INSPECTION, AT LEAST TO AN UNTRAINED EYE, MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE TO INDICATE IMPENDING FAILURE. THE LAST DEALER MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WAS A REAR BRAKE JOB IN OCTOBER 2010 AT 111,000 MILES. PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT ARE AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436180November 17, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EMIT A LOUD BANGING NOISE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. A STATE TROOPER APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 673.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436020November 16, 2011
STEERING
I BOUGHT A USED 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 71,500 MILE, SEEMED IN GOOD CONDITION WHEN I PAID FOR IT, DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S MAINTENANCE HISTORY. ABOUT 1000 MILES LATER THIS HISS/RATTLE SOUND CAME FROM THE ENGINE AS I WAS DRIVING IT, I ALSO NOTICED WHEN MAKING TURNS A RUBBING SOUND CAME FROM THE STEERING THAT GOT WORSE AS THE TURNING ANGLES GOT MORE ACUTE, AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE A SMALL LEAK OF REDDISH FLUID I THOUGHT MAY BE TRANSMISSION FLUID (TURNS OUT TO BE POWERING STEERING FLUID). TOOK IT IN TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE LINE WAS CORRODED/LEAKING. THEY CHARGED ME $250 TO FIX IT. THE FIX CORRECTED ALL THREE OBSERVATIONS... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435432November 14, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY PLASTIC GARBAGE BAG FLEW UNDER CAR CATCHING ON POWER STEERING LINES WHICH BROKE DUE TO RUST CORROSION. ONLY ONE LINE BROKE BUT REPLACED BOTH LINES AS PRECAUTION. HARD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. TOTAL COST $444.07 ( 277.15 PARTS + 166.92 LABOR- AAA MEMBERSHIP). MICHIGAN WINTERS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435632November 14, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WITH OUT ANY WARNING MY REAR BRAKES FAILED. I HAD TO APPLY AS MUCH BRAKE PEDAL AS I COULD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER THAT I KEPT MY SPEED DOWN TO A SPEED THAT I FEEL THAT I COULD STOP THE CAR SAFELY. A SHORT TIME AFTER THAT THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED SHUDDERING. I WAS HEADED FOR MY COTTAGE IN NORTH ONTARIO AT NIGHT WERE THERE ARE NO GARAGES SO I HAD TO HAVE PARTS SENT TO THAT LOCATION WERE I REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. IF HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP WITH THE BRAKES IN THAT CONDITION I WOULD HAVE SURELY HAD AN ACCIDENT. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. THE REAR BRAKE PAD WAS SO TIGHT IN THE CALIPER THAT I HAD TO HIT IT WITH A HAMMER TO FREE IT AND I HAD TO GRIND PART OF THE NEW PAD SO THAT IT WOULD FIT LOOSE IN THE CALIPER. I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THE FRONT BREAKS HAD TO WORK SO HARD WITH NO BACK BREAKS THAT THE FRONT ROTOR WARPED FROM THE HEAT SINCE THEY WERE FINE UP TO THAT TIME. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE HYUNDAI BRAKES. THE FIT OF THE BRAKE PAD TO THE CALIPER IS TOO CLOSE AND THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF RUST CAUSES THEM TO JAM. EVEN WITHOUT RUST THE NEW ROTORS WERE SO TIGHT THAT ANY GOOD MECHANIC WOULD NOT INSTALL THEM IN THAT CONDITION. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAULTS AND I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HYUNDAI'S ANSWER IS TO PAY $ 200 EVERY YEAR AND HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED. THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION SINCE THEY COULD SEIZE UP TO 6 MONTHS AFTER SERVICE THE WAY THE HYUNDAI BRAKE PARTS ARE RUSTING. I HAD CHECK ALL MY BRAKES AT THE END OF THE WINTER AND THEY SEEMED TO BE FINE. THE PADS WERE NOT WORN AND THE CAR WAS STOPPING OKAY. [XXX] NOTE THAT I LIVE IN CANADA BUT THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN BUFFALO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435342November 12, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNINITIATED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING, TRYING TO STOP AND IDLING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434173November 4, 2011
AIR BAGS
AFTER THE (AIRBAG) LIGHT CAME ON IN TRANSIT TO A DEATH IN THE FAMILY TWO HOURS AWAY! I FELT THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AN SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE CHECKED OUT AT A HYUNDAI DEALER OUT OF TOWN. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $48 TO TELL ME THAT A PART IN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED (CLOCK SPRING) AT A COST TO ME FOR $1300 FOR THE PART. I SAID I COULDN'T AFFORD THAT RIGHT NOW. NOW I'M DRIVING A UNSAFE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT AIRBAGS NOT GOING OFF WHILE IN ACCIDENTS I FEEL DEALERS ARE IGNORING PROBLEMS! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433946November 2, 2011
AIR BAGS
MY 2005, SANTE FE HAS ONLY 69K MILES, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE THAT NEEDS REPLACED AND THEN THE LIGHT NEEDS TO BE RESET BY THE DEALER, NOBODY ELSE I KNOW CAN DO THIS. THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE SEAT BELT IS ONLY A DEALER PART. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR IS ALMOST $500.00. I'VE READ MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT BELT GOING BAD AND THE ONLY PLACE TO FIX IS THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433996November 2, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN
DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN SANTA FE SUDDENLY SURGED OR LUNGED FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT CAUSING CAR TO JUMP OVER A CONCRETE BUMPER AND INTO ANOTHER CAR PARKED AT A 90-DEGREE ANGLE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION WAS CLEARED DRIVER PROCEEDED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. ENROUTE THE SANTA FE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR. DEALER CLAIMED THE EVENTS COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433882November 1, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A BUSY ROAD TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT FULL FORCE. THE VEHICLE DID EVENTUALLY SLOW DOWN TO A SPEED OF ABOUT 40-45 MPH AT WHICH POINT I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AT THAT SPEED! ONCE OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN IT OFF TO A COMPLETE STOP! THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. A DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS TIME, THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED AS THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT HAVE THE PART THERE UNTIL THURSDAY, WHICH IS 3 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED! I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW DANGEROUS AND SCARY THIS SITUATION WAS! LUCKILY, THIS TIME, NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT OUTCOME WAS DEFINITELY THERE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. I HOPE HYUNDAI TAKES RESPONSIBILITY TO PERMANENTLY CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY LIVE THREATENING ISSUE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433692October 31, 2011
AIR BAGS
I HAVE MOVED SINCE THE RECALL HAS COME OUT ON THE 2007 SANTA FE. I DO NOT KNOW IF HE LETTER CAME. I WAS INFORMED IF I DID NOT HAVE A LETTER THEY WILL NOT FIX THE RECALL. WHAT CAN I DO? IT HALL HYUNDAI ON JEFFERSON AVE, NORFOLK, VA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432983October 27, 2011
VISIBILITY
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY A HEAVY RAINSTORM BEGAN. IT WAS VERY HUMID AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS MODERATE. WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS THE DEFROST BECAME OVERWHELMED AND OUR VISIBLITY DECREASED TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL. WE HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN IN ORDER TO GET ENOUGH AIR MOVING TO REMOVE THE CONDENSATION FROM THE FRONT WINDOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OTHER OCCASSIONS SINCE. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430764October 19, 2011
VISIBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN RAINY HUMID CONDITIONS, THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WILL SHUT DOWN CAUSING WARM AIR TO BLOW INSIDE THE CAR CABIN. THIS IMMEDIATELY CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF, LET IT REST FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURN BACK ON THE AIR COMPRESSOR WILL WORK AGAIN BUT ONLY FOR THE SHORT TIME. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AGAIN IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S HUMID AND RAINING OUTSIDE. AFTER NUMEROUS SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS IS HAPPENING TO. HYUNDAI HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430475October 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE INTO GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430162October 14, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $375 AT ONLY 18,500 MILES.. ROTORS SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO RUST FROM SALT ON ROADS. HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES PRIOR AND DRIVEN ON SAME ROADS AND NEVER NEEDED ROTOR REPLACEMENT SO EARLY. INTERNET IS FILLED WITH HYUNDAI OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. HYUNDAI USES INFERIOR PARTS AND IS AWARE OF THESE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT DOES NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HYUNDAI'S DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS OR PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE PAYING FOR EXPENSIVE BRAKE WORK AT EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGES. WILL NEVER BUY A HYUNDAI AGAIN!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430137October 13, 2011
VISIBILITY
THE FRONT WINDOWS FOGGED COMPLETELY DURING AN RAIN STORM OF HIGH INTENSITY, THE AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS ON AND WORKING UNTIL THE HIGH HUMIDITY AND RAIN OVERTOOK THE SYSTEM THIS SITUATION HAPPENED AT NIGHT ON BUSY FREEWAY MAKING THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE SIDE WINDOWS ALSO STARTED TO FOG ,THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES EACH TIME THE A/C COMPRESSOR SEEMS TO QUIT WORKING....ALSO PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUTTING IT DOWN FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES SEEMS TO CLEAR IT UP...THE COMMON FACTORS WERE HIGH HUMIDITY, TEMPERATURE DROP ,RAIN.....THE FIRST TIME TEMP WAS 65DEGF SECOND 55DEGF THIRD 64DEGF... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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