Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10386572March 5, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR WAS MOVING. THE END OF THE BROKEN SPRING CAUSED A TIRE FAILURE. 6 DAYS LATER THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT CAUSED ANY OTHER DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386472March 4, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WERE DESIGNED AS CHROME OVER PLASTIC AND THE CHROME FRACTURED.. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSING THE EDGES TO BE EXPOSED, WHICH WERE EXTREMELY SHARP. WHEN THE CONTACT'S ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SHE CUT HER HAND WHEN SHE GRABBED THE DOOR HANDLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR HANDLES WERE DESIGNED AS CHROME OVER A NON-METALLIC SUBSTRATE. OVER TIME, THE CHROME CRACKED AND CURLED UP, THUS FORMING RAZOR SHARP EDGES WHICH COULD NOT BE OBSERVED WHEN THE HANDLE WAS IN ITS NORMAL POSITION. UPDATED 05.11.11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10386369March 3, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING AT 25 MILES/HR AND IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I TRIED TO BRAKE MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND IT STOPPED. OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE PRESSING LIGHTLY ON THE GAS AND AT OTHER TIMES WHILE LETTING UP ON THE BRAKE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THER DEALER IN REISTERSTOWN, MARYLAND. THEY TESTED THE CAR AND DROVE IT AND INSIST THAT THE COMPUTER SAYS THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEY DROVE IT AND OF COURSE IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE THEY DROVE IT. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE CAR AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I SEE ONLINE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT THAT HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY HELP FROM THEIR DEALERS OR FROM HYUNDAI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386138March 2, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING FUEL. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS FUEL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE TYPE OF FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384873March 1, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AS SOON AS IT WAS STARTED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY YET THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITH AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM AS SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND SHE THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WHICH THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384876March 1, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,225. UPDATED 3/21/11 *CN UPDATED 04/28/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10385728February 27, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE GLS TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY SLIPS AND THEN CLUNKS INTO THE NEXT HIGHEST GEAR WITH A FORCE THAT SHAKES THE CAR. THIS FORCE TRANSLATES INTO A BANGING SOUND. EACH INCIDENT HAPPENED AT SPEEDS OF 20-25 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL FINALLY FAIL COMPLETELY. I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10385408February 25, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON ROUTE 27 NEAR OXFORD, OHIO IN OUR 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE PASSING A SLOW MOVING TRUCK, I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND WE WENT FROM 40 MPH TO OVER 90 MPH IN SECONDS. (THE CAR'S HIGH SPEED WAS RECORDED BY OUR GARMIN GPS). I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKES AND FELT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED, BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING AT FULL THROTTLE. I PRESSED VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES AGAIN, BUT THE CAR ONLY SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE. I PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND THEN OFF HOPING THE CAR WOULD STOP ACCELERATING. THAT DID NOT HELP. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN SHIFT MODE AND TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT SO THAT I COULD SLOW DOWN THE CAR, BUT THAT ONLY MADE THE ENGINE RACE EVEN FASTER. I FINALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR. WE PULLED OVER ONTO THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. WE WAITED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT SEEMED FINE. THE ENGINE WAS IDLING AT A NORMAL RATE AND THERE WERE NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP CAUTIOUSLY, MAINTAINING A DISTANCE FROM THE CARS AHEAD AND MOST OF THE TIME KEPT A HAND ON THE SHIFT, SO THAT THE CAR COULD QUICKLY BE PUT IN NEUTRAL AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER ON MONDAY. THEY RAN VARIOUS TESTS BUT REPORTED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE. WE WERE SURE THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE CAR. HE THEN CONTACTED HYUNDAI CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND THEY PROPOSED KEEPING THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS SO THAT THEY COULD ROAD TEST THE CAR WITH DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS ATTACHED. WE WERE CONCERNED ALLOWING THEM TO DRIVE THE CAR AND DECIDED TO SELL IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD THEN RUN WHATEVER TESTS THEY NEEDED TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384431February 24, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WAS JUST PULLING THE CAR DOWN THE DRIVE WAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. I STOPPED THE CAR AND A FRIEND WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE TIRE. HE NOTICED THE SPRING HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY FOR 12 TO 15 HOURS BEFORE WE WENT TO DRIVE IT. WE HAD NOT EVEN MADE IT ON THE ROAD AND WAS ONLY GOING A COUPLE MILES PER HOUR AND ABOUT 15 TO 20 FEET. WE WERE ON OUR WAY, GOING OUT OF TOWN AND WERE THANKFUL THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WERE WE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR HURT SOME ONE ELSE. SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WE HAVE A NEW BORN AND A TWO YEAR OLD IN THIS VEHICLE. THANKFULLY THEY WERE NOT WITH US. THIS FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO BE AS LUCKY AS WE WERE. FOR US IT WAS THE DRIVE WAY AND NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY AT A HIGH SPEEDS WITH OUR FAMILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384240February 23, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS HAS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE IN 2005 GETTING WORSE TO AN EVERY DAY POINT NOW HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES NOW GOING AGAIN TOMORROW EACH TIME IT CANNOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384928February 22, 2011
SUSPENSION
DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING BROKEN. STRUT MOUNT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2004. AS THE MILEAGE WILL TELL YOU, I DON'T DRIVE IT MUCH. MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WHEN I WENT TO GO TO WORK. AS I STARTED BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I DECIDED NOT TO TRY DRIVING IT. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE SPRING BROKEN. THEY SAID I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING IT AT THE TIME AS IT COULD HAVE PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND CAUSED A BLOWOUT. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS TIME IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT, I HEARD IT. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO A NEARBY GARAGE AND FOUND THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WAS RUBBING ON THE TIRE. THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 25,000 MILES. HYUNDAI DOES NOT SEEM TO THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SPRINGS. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS PERTAINING TO THIS COMPLAINT, BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT AT 27,000 MILES I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR CONTROL ARMS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383944February 22, 2011
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED SCRATCHES ON HER VEHICLE WHICH SUDDENLY TURNED INTO RUST WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THAT IT WAS JUST PAINT DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AS WELL AND ADVISED HER TO CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383859February 20, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383199February 18, 2011
VISIBILITY
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, I REPORTED A PROBLEM YESTERDAY ABOUT A SHADOW ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, UPON FURTHER LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEM, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK STREETS OR HIGHWAYS YOUR VISIBILITY IS CUT BY THREE QUARTERS, SOME ONE WOULD HAVE TOI TAKE THE CAR OUT TO SEE THIS PROBLEM. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383096February 17, 2011
VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AT NIGHT USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THERE IS A SHADOW ABOUT THREE QUARTERS DOWN THE WINDSHIELD THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROADS, ON LIGHTED ROADS IT IS NOT AS BAD, WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383137February 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT WOULD RUN ROUGH AND MAKE A LOT OF NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE BEARING FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,700. UPDATED 03/16/11 *BF UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382830February 15, 2011
VISIBILITY
DRIVING 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON BUSY FREEWAY WITH HUSBAND AS PASSENGER. SUDDENLY THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPS INTO MY FACE FROM ITS CORNER ATTACHMENT, DANGLING BY ONLY ELECTRICAL WIRE. HUSBAND GRABBED SUN VISOR AND LIFTED UP, PREVENTING POTENTIAL SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH SURROUNDING VEHICLES. TALKED TO HYUNDAI SERVICE DEALERSHIP; THEY REFUSED FREE REPLACEMENT DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. GAVE ESTIMATE $185 PLUS TO REPLACE. ONLINE COMPLAINT WEBSITES DETAIL DOZENS OF SAME DEFECT WITH 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPPING FROM EXACT SAME LOCATION, AND DEALERS ADMITTING FACTORY USE OF CHEAP PLASTIC ASSEMBLY AS CAUSE. WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI CORPORATE IN FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA. THEY REFUSED TO INITIATE DEFECTIVE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR RECALL. SAID THEY NEEDED MORE COMPLAINTS TO JUSTIFY RECALL. TOLD THEM IT'S BEEN 4 YEARS, AND THERE ARE ALREADY DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS. ADVISED THEM IT'S VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO DO RECALL. SERIOUS LIABILITY ISSUES. HYUNDAI CORPORATE REFUSED TO CONSIDER RECALL AS OF 02/15/11. CURRENTLY PROPPING UP SUN VISOR UNTIL RECALL IS INITIATED. FILING COMPLAINT WITH STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382679February 14, 2011
STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING. VERY HARD TO TURN. AT ONE POINT IT TOOK MY HUSBAND TO HELP ME TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT. HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM OR FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381610February 11, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED HYUNDAI SANTE FE (2002). I'M STILL ON MY FIRST TANK OF GAS AND TWICE NOW I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOPLIGHT AND GOING VERY SLOW WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BOTH TIMES BUT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382320February 10, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) HAS TWICE NOW THROWN THE VEHICLE INTO VIOLENT AND UNCONTROLLABLE OUT OF CONTROL SKID ON HARD PACKED SNOW. THE TCS EXASERBATED WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A NORMAL SLOW SPEED CURVE TO THE RIGHT ON HARD PACKED SNOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH A CURVE TO THE RIGHT. THIS LAST INCIDENT WAS ON A SLIGHT DECLINE WITH A CURVE TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE 46 YEARS OF DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE IN ALL SORTS OF VEHICLES WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WITHOUT TCS. (2WD REAR DRIVE, 2WD FRONT DRIVE, 4X4 CARS AND TRUCKS. THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE WITH TCS AND THERE IS NO SWITCH TO DISABLE IT. I FEEL THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE DISABLED AT THE DRIVER'S DISGRESSION. THE TCS ACCORDING TO ITS DESCRIPTION, AFFECTS THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. I FEEL THAT THE TCS IS CAUSING INAPPROPRIATE BRAKING ACTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE THROWN INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE AND DANGEROUS SKID.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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