Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints
8,019 consumer complaints on file.
- #10376214January 11, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 67 MPH. SHE WAS TRYING TO DECELERATE BY APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY CONSTANTLY PUMPING THE BRAKE. AFTER SHE GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHE THEN CONTACTED THE NEAREST DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE THAT SHE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10375329January 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2011 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ NEW VEHICLE HAS DISCHARGED HEAVY FUEL FUMES AND ODORS OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE CREATING A POSSIBLE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE/EXPLOSION AND CAUSING OBNOXIOUS IF NOT HAZARDOUS BREATHING. 12/31/2010 SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED 01/01/2011 AT START-UP, THERE WAS A "POP" AND ENGINE STARTED. REPLICATED AT DEALERSHIP AND RAW GAS WAS SMELLED. DEALER KEPT VEHICLE FOR SERVICE SHOP TO OPEN ON 01/03/2011. 01/03/2011 DEALER REPLACED PURGE CONTROL VALVE (P/N 28910-3C100). TOOK VEHICLE, SMELLED GAS FUMES IN GARAGE @ RESIDENCE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 01/04/2011 RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. PART ORDERED AIR FREIGHT. 01/05/2011 DEALER INSTALLED FUEL TANK AIR FILTER (P/N 31543-3J501-R). TOOK VEHICLE HOME, SMELLED GAS FUMES IN GARAGE @ RESIDENCE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 01/06/2011 FUMES IN GARAGE NOT PRESENT. THOUGHT ISSUE CORRECTED. FUELED VEHICLE, RAN ERRANDS, SMELLED FUEL OUTSIDE VEHICLE. HAD LUNCH, SMELLED FUEL INSIDE OF CAR. NOT PREVIOUSLY SMELLED INSIDE VEHICLE.RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP. 01/07/2011 DEALER ADVISES THAT THEY ARE DISMANTLING VEHICLE ABOUT THE FUEL FILL AREA TO EXPLORE FOR DEFECTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10375198January 8, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FROM TIME TO TIME, MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS VIOLENTLY WHILE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURS WHILE TRAVELING AT A STEADY SPEED (AROUND 40 MPH) AND SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS JUST AFTER I RESUME ACCELERATION AFTER LIFTING OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR (COASTING). I REALLY HAVE TO 'BABY' THE ACCELERATOR ALL OF THE TIME OR THIS WOULD HAPPEN MUCH MORE OFTEN. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM HERE, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE HARM TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY, I KNOW THAT NOTHING WILL EVER BE DONE TO CORRECT OR ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *LN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10375848January 7, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE STOPPED ON INCLINE OF A HILL, THEN REVERSED (GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE) BACK DOWN 600 FEET THE HILL AND CRASHED AGAINST A CONCRETE WALL CORNER. HAVE 2 WITNESSES THAT SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE, INSPECTED WRECK, FOUND NO FAULT CODES WITH A LAUNCH 431-READER BUT FIGURED THAT BATTERY WAS DRAINED AFTER 2 MONTHS. SURVIVING DAUGHTER SUFFERS FROM MEMORY LOSS BUT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT CLAIMS THE BRAKES FAILED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 1
- #10374894January 6, 2011TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TIRES BOUNCED BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE DEFECTS WITHIN THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT HE SHOULD ROTATE OR REPLACE THE TIRES TO CONTROL THE SUSPENSION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10374848January 5, 2011SUSPENSION:REAR
I HAVE A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE THAT HAD A RECALL UNDER CAMPAIGN # 09V123000 . THE RECALL STARTED IN AUGUST 2009, HOWEVER, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. IN DECEMBER, 2010 I NOTICED EXTREME PULLING IN MY VEHICLE WHEN I ALMOST DROVE INTO A DITCH. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED DRIVING MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS THEN INFORMED OF THE RECALL. I HAD MY CAR BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS, BUT DURING REPAIRS, WHERE MY TRAILING ARMS WERE NOT ONLY CORRODED BUT ALSO BENT, IT WAS NOTED THAT MY TIRES WHICH WERE ALL AT HALF LIFE (WHICH LEAVES ABOUT 40K MILES ON THEM) WERE ABNORMALLY WORN ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRES. WITH THE TYPE OF ABNORMAL WEAR, THIS IS MOST OFTEN BECAUSE OF MISALIGNMENT, WHICH IS NOTED AS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN IF REPAIRS ARE NOT MADE TO THE VEHICLE PER THE RECALL. I ASKED HYUNDAI TO REPLACE THE TIRES AS THIS WAS THEIR NEGLIGENCE IN NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL, THEY DENIED IT. I SPOKE TO THE HEAD OF THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SET UP A MEETING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM HYUNDAI, WHO MADE IT VERY CLEAR THEY HYUNDAI, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, WARRANTIES TIRES. THIS "UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES" DOES NOT FIT, SINCE THEIR RECALL AND REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS CAUSED THE ISSUE AND I HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES LONG BEFORE WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE RECALL. THEY ALSO HAD PUT A NOTE OF THE RECALL ON A PREVIOUS WORK ORDER IN 2009, BUT HAD NOT MADE NOTE OF THIS TO ME WHEN I CHECKED OUT WITH THEM, NOR DID THEY TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIRS THAT DAY WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN THE SHOP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10374051January 4, 2011SEAT BELTS
IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RECEIVER, FEMALE PART, HAS WORN OUT TWICE IN 99,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND TIME I HAD TO PAY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A SEAT BELT RECEIVER WARE OUT BEFORE. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT NHTSA SHOULD ADDRESS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10374053January 4, 2011LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THE DOOR LATCH CHROME PLATING IS SO THIN THAT IT WORE OUT AND CUT MY WIFE'S HAND AND MY HAND. THIS IS A DEFECT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE DEFECT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT THE MOST SERIOUS DEFECT BUT, QUOTED FROM CARS.COM "HYUNDAI HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR 91,202 SONATA VEHICLES FROM THE 2002-03 MODEL YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THE RECALL IS DUE TO A THIN CHROME PLATE ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE." WHEN WILL THE FIX MINE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10374588January 4, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DURING THE LAST FEW WEEKS THE VEHICLE HAD A SLIGHT ACCELERATION/DECELERATION. THEN WHILE MOVING THE CAR LOST ENGINE PWR.ACCELERATION WAS REDUCED TO ABOUT 5MPH HAD TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF THEN ON TO REGAIN FULL PWR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAIND ON.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10374602January 4, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPRING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BROKEN SPRING HAD CRACKS AND RUST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,282.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373981January 3, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BROKE THE RIGHT AT 22,000 MILES AND THE LEFT AT 32,000 MILES. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373987January 3, 2011AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A WIRING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS COULD POSSIBLY NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 03/16/11 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED 10 TIMES OR MORE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ALSO, THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR WAS NOT LOCKING/UNLOCKING PERIODICALLY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/03/11
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373998January 3, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A HYUNDAI, NOT EVEN ONE MONTH AGO. DECEMBER 12TH 2010. VIN [XXX] HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2011 IT IS SUPPOSED TO GET 20-26 MILES PER GALLON. WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY FROM FLORIDA TO NC IT GOT 15 MILES TO THE GALLON. ON THE WAY BACK THE SAME THING. IN ADDITION THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RIGHT, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT AND MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE SEVERAL TIMES. WE DID NOT THINK WE WOULD GET HOME. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AND REPORTED IT TO HYUNDAI. THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE CAR JUST NEEDS TO BE BROKEN IN. I WENT ON LINE AND SAW MANY CONSUMERS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND HYUNDAI IGNORED THEIRS AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. I NEVER HEARD OF A CAR NEEDING TO BE BROKEN IN. THE MILEAGE IS A LIE. THE CAR IS NOT GETTING WHAT THEY CLAIM IT SHOULD AND OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME THING TO HYUNDAI. THERE APPEARS TO BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND WITH THOSE OF OTHER CONSUMERS AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP. CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE? 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
- #10374446January 3, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 12/26/2010,MY HUSBAND AND 2 CHILDREN WERE RETURNING FROM NJ TO CT VIA THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE. FOUR TIMES DURING THAT TRIP, OUR HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. EACH TIME THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATING EVENT, JUST A SUDDEN AND RANDOM LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY THE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH. HE HAD TO COAST THRU TRAFFIC, FIND A SAFE PLACE TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TO REGAIN POWER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER IN MERIDEN CT AND THEY INTERROGATED THE COMPUTER. THE SERVICE TECH TOLD US THEY REPLACED THE TPS (THROTTLE POSITION) SENSOR. WE DID SOME AMATEUR RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF RESEARCHING, CAME ACROSS DOZENS OF SANTA FE OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME EVENT. WE ARE WONDERING WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE SANTA FE MODELS THAT ARE AFFECTED. WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PROPER AUTHORITIES ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION SO THAT NECESSARY ACTION CAN BE TAKEN. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE THAT THE DRIVERS NEAR US ALL FOUR TIMES WERE PAYING ATTENTION AND DIDN'T RAM US FROM BEHIND. THESE ARE HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADS WITH MANY TRUCKS, TRACTOR TRAILERS AND CARS, ALL TRAVELLING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND SOMETIMES FOLLOWING CLOSELY. THIS IS A POTENTIAL TRAGEDY FOR ANOTHER FAMILY WHO ISN'T AS LUCKY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10374026January 3, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SOMETIMES WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE HAS REAR-ENDED ME. IT HAPPENS A LOT WHEN THE SANTA FE IS COLD, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AT OTHER TIMES ALSO. IT WILL ALSO HESITATE AS IT GOES FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE (ONCE I LEFT IT OVER NIGHT SO THEY WOULD HAVE IT WHEN IT WAS COLD) AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR THEM. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES THE TACHOMETER WILL GO BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 RPM, AND THEN LURCH VIOLENTLY AS IT BECOMES "UNSTUCK." EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE OR ANY OTHER WORK, I MENTION THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD THAT IS NORMAL. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. I RECEIVED A QUESTIONNAIRE FROM HYUNDAI ABOUT MY SANTA FE AND AGAIN MENTIONED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. I HAVE READ OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373754January 2, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTAFE WITH 6900 MILES. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT AND THEN IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR MAKING A BANGING SOUND AND WOULD SURGE FORWARD. IT WAS LIKE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 20-25MPH WHILE ACCELERATING. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373429December 30, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPS, THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD, AND FEELS LIKE YOU ARE BEING REAR-ENDED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING, HOWEVER HYUNDAI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR SAME, AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373461December 30, 2010POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, GLS. WHILE DRIVING IT, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER, AND PULL OVER. IT DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT JUST HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS OR PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, NOISES, ETC. IT HAS 21,082 MILES / 7MONTHS OF USE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373474December 30, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAUSING HER BRAKE LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V122000 ( SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SWITCHES:BRAKE LIGHT). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,843. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10372497December 27, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR COMPUTER MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0