Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10406114June 13, 2011
VISIBILITY
DRIVING 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON HIGHWAY SUDDENLY THE SUN VISOR DROPS INTO MY FACE FROM ITS CORNER ATTACHMENT, DANGLING BY ONLY ELECTRICAL WIRE. GRABBED SUN VISOR AND LIFTED UP, PREVENTING POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. HYUNDAI SERVICE DEALERSHIP REFUSED FREE REPLACEMENT DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. GAVE ESTIMATE $150 TO REPLACE. THERE ARE DOZENS OF SAME DEFECT ONLINE WITH 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPPING FROM EXACT SAME LOCATION. BECAUSE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO FIX WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY ONBOARD. HYUNDAI STILL REFUSING TO DO RECALL. FILING COMPLAINT WITH STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406192June 13, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING AND VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPLING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLE WAS BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405925June 10, 2011
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINANCING A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE THAT HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER HT TIRES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS 29176 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO A WELL KNOWN PLACE TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED. THEY CHANGED THE OIL BUT INFORMED ME THAT NONE OF THE TIRES WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE ROTATED BECAUSE OF UNEVEN TREAD WEAR AND THE EXISTING TIRE TREAD IS LESS THAN 2/32NDS OF AN INCH ON EACH TIRE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH ONLY 7 MILES ON IT AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR 1 1/2 YEARS SO THE TIRES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT ON THIS CAR AND HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED REGULARLY SO UNEVEN TREAD WEAR SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE AT THIS POINT. I HAVE ALSO READ REVIEWS ON THIS TIRE ONLINE AND ALL OF THE REVIEWS SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT THE UNEVEN TREAD WEAR, SOME EVEN SAY THAT THE TIRES HAVE EXPLODED. SUCH A COSTLY TIRE OF THIS CALIBER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT SUCH FREQUENT INTERVALS. I WAS READING MY OWNER'S MANUAL AND IT RECOMMENDS THAT TIRES BE REPLACED EVERY 6 YEARS DEPENDING ON DRIVING HABITS. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AND REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THEY ARE PUTTING INNOCENT PEOPLE IN DANGER EVERYDAY. (TREAD WEAR AS LISTED ON MY RECEIPT: DRIVER FRONT-2/32, DRIVER REAR 5/32, PASSENGER FRONT 3/32 AND PASSENGER REAR 5/32). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406679June 10, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE WEEKEND WE PURCHASED OUR 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED, V6, WHILE DRIVING IN AREA WITH MODERATE GRADES VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND GEARS, 2ND & 3RD GEARS. WE THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE AREA WE WERE DRIVING IN, SO WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT TO SEE IF THAT WAS IT. IT WAS NOT. HARD SHIFTING HAS CONTINUED FOR THE COMPLETE EXTENT OF OUR OWNERSHIP COMMENCING AT THE START. ON 12/7/2010, TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED, CAUSE: FOUND TRANSMISSION JERKING. MODULE ASSY-AUTO TRANS CONTROL RE, RESET ADAPTIVE TRANS VALUES. RECALL, P0111, ECM UPDATE, PERFORMED CAMP TC7. BRING BACK IF CONTINUES AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS. IT DID CONTINUE, BUT I AM A BUSY PERSON. ON 4/21/2011, RETURNED AGAIN STATING THAT VEHICLE WAS CONTINUING TO SHIFT HARD, JERKING. DEALER SVC STATES COULD NOT DUPLICATE. VEHICLE DUPLICATED FOR ME ON WAY HOME FROM SVC APPT. ON 6/10/11, RETURNED AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM WITH HARD SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS, JERKING. CAUSE: TCM UPGRADE, RE-RESET ADAPTIVE TRANS VALUES, AFTER WHICH SVC DEPT SAID COULD NOT DUPLICATE AGAIN. SVC MGR STATES THAT A NEW REFLASH HAD BEEN ISSUED SINCE THEY UPGRADED IT LAST ON 12/7/2010. THRU RESEARCH I FIND NO NEW UPGRADE HAS BEEN RELEASED ON SVC MESSAGES/NOTIFICATIONS. I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN MISLEAD. I AM POSITIVE THAT THE VEHICLE WILL DO THIS AGAIN. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ONLY CRANKING THE VEHICLE AND BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR IT WILL IMMEDIATELY HAVE A FEELING OF A LARGE "BANG OR SLAM" AND THEN LUNGE FORWARD EVEN THOUGH STILL IN PARK. THE VEHICLE ALSO MAKES "POPPING" SOUNDS WHEN IN PARK KIND OF LIKE SMALL "BACKFIRES". I HAVE ALSO ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND DID NOT GET A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE. THEY STATE THAT ALL OF THESE SYMPTOMS ARE CONNECTED TO THE "NEW REFLASH" THAT HAS COME OUT SINCE THE 12/7/2010 SVC APPT. IT "SHOULD" FIX IT. I SAY RECALL IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404570June 6, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE SLIGHTLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT DIDN'T MENTION IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE WHEEL WAS TURNED AND STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEN TO A BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF UPDATED 07/22/11
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404481June 5, 2011
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL OF THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404110June 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
STARTED CAR TO BACK UP OUT OF DRIVEWAY. CAR JUMPED A LITTLE. CONTINUED ON ROAD AND FELT LITTLE JUMPING AT RANDOM. WENT SLOW AND TRIED TO BRAKE AND ACCELORATE TO UNDERSTAND TRIGGER. TURNED AROUND AFTER 1.5 MILE TO HEAD BACK HOME. A FEW YARDS IN THE CAR MADE LOUD DROPPING SOUND AND GRINDING AND SCRAPING AND WOULD NOT ACCELARATE. SO LOUD I THOUGHT THE BOTTOM CAME OUT. PEOPLE PUSHED IT INTO PARKING LOT FOR ME. AAA TOWED IT TO DEALER. 24 HOURS LATER TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. 24 HOURS AFTER THAT TOLD THEY ARE REPLACING WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. ASKED IF THIS WOULD TRIGGER ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS AND THEY CLAIM NO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403803May 31, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ESC, CHECK ENGINE AND AWD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH AN EXTREME LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403874May 31, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SUDDEN DECLARATION OF AUTO . ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR JUST SLOWED TO A CRAW . THIS SUDDEN SLOWING ALMOST CAUSED A PILE UP AND I HAD TO LIMP TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAR IS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE A FLY BY WIRE SYSTEM . IT HAS 67,000 AT THE SHOP I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC NOT FOR PUBLICATION THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FLY BY WIRE CAR WHEN THEY REACH ABOUT 60,000 CARS 2008 SANTA FE'S, CARS ARE JUST REACHING THIS POINT AND THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE THIS SUDDEN DECELERATION CAUSES A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403937May 31, 2011
SUSPENSION: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
#10402971May 27, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) ON MY 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT CANNOT BE FORCED BACK ON MY EITHER PUSHING THE ON/OFF SWITCH OR STOPPING THE CAR, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTING. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOW HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY AT 46000 MILES. THE DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402726May 25, 2011
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT MANUAL HANDLE WAS TOUCHED BY MISTAKE WHENEVER THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HANDLE WAS TOUCHED THE SEAT LEVEL WOULD BE LOWERED AND THE VIEW IN THE MIRRORS WOULD BE OBSTRUCTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402727May 25, 2011
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT MANUAL HANDLE WAS TOUCHED BY MISTAKE EVERY TIME THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HANDLE WAS TOUCHED THE SEAT LEVEL WOULD BE LOWERED AND THE VIEW IN THE MIRRORS WOULD BE OBSTRUCTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ UPDATED 3/1/12 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402355May 23, 2011
VISIBILITY
2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FELL OUT AT THE PIVOT POINT, HANGING BY A WIRE. PLASTIC AT PIVOT POINT IS BROKEN. PART MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402015May 19, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HYUNDAI 2002 SANTA FE BEGAN DRIFTING DURING DRIVING AND DEVELOPED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. BROUGHT TO GARAGE - DURING INSPECTION FOR CAUSE, MECHANIC FOUND RUSTED FRAME WHERE FRONT BOLT OF CONTROL ARM IS BOLTED TO FRAME (FRAME COMPLETELY GONE, BOLT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO ANYTHING). FRAME AND TIRES REPLACED AND ALIGNMENT ACCOMPLISHED TO FIX PROBLEM - OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. CAR WAS PART OF INITIAL RUST RECALL AND INSPECTED BY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY ACTION BEING UNDERCOATING APPLIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403068May 19, 2011
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN-VISOR BROKE AT THE PLASTIC HINGE WHERE IT GOES INTO THE CEILING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE SUN VISOR TO DROP DOWN AND OBSCURE MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. EVEN IN THE CLOSED AND STOWED POSITION, THE SUN VISOR PERIODICALLY DROPS DOWN OBSCURING MY DRIVING VIEW. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS IN THAT I CANNOT SEE THE ROAD FOR A FEW SECONDS AND AM DISTRACTED WHILE RE-STOWING THE VISOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402092May 19, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AN THE PEDAL REMAINED STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401233May 17, 2011
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO ADVISED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTEN AND CORRODED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401885May 17, 2011
SUSPENSION: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
#10401350May 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF A REGULARLY MAINTAINED 2008 HYUNDAI SANTE FE (45,000 MILES). ON A JAN 2011 TRIP FROM TX TO MI THE CAR LOST POWER AT NIGHT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING, THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP AND EVENTUALLY STALLED COMPLETELY. MANEUVERING TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT POWER WAS VERY RISKY AND SCARY. ONCE STOPPED THE CAR EASILY RESTARTED ONLY TO LOSE POWER AGAIN 10 MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE OIL LIGHT STAYED ON BETWEEN BOTH EPISODES. WE QUICKLY FOUND A HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE PROBLEM DIDN'T RESURFACE UNTIL NOW. IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS WE HAVE LOST POWER FIVE TIMES WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 MPH AND 55 MPH. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND DIAGNOSTICS IS NOT IDENTIFYING ANY PROBLEM AND SO WE'VE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE COMPUTER ONBOARD SHOULD BE REGISTERING A "HISTORY" WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT IT ISN'T. THERE IS NO "PROOF"! THE HYUNDAI REPAIR MANAGER IS TELLING US TO RETURN IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND A SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE FOUND BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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