Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#766631September 3, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE CAR "MISSES" SO BADLY IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, IT PERIODICALLY DIES WHILE IDLING. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HYUNDAI HAS REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY WITH HIGHER OUTPUT EQUIPMENT AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE WORSENED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766547September 1, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN LEAVING FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASING, CAUSE ACCORDING TO DEALER WAS DEFECTIVE BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. ELEVEN MONTHS LATER I EXPERIENCED ENGINE HAD SLOW CRANKING TO START AND LIGHTS DIMMED WHEN AIR COMPRESSOR ENGAGED AND THE CAR WAS AT LOW RPMS. RADIO THEN TURNED OFF LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED. TURNED OFF AIR, RADIO AND LIGHTS (LUCKILY IT WAS SUNDOWN NOT DARK YET) AND PROCEEDED HOME. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND ONCE AGAIN PROBLEM WAS ATTRIBUTED TO DEFECTIVE BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT HYUNDAI HAD INCREASED THE OUTPUT OF THE ALTERNATOR IN THE NEWER SANTA FE MODELS TO 110AMP OUTPUT. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THEY HAVE NOTED THE INADEQUATE OUTPUT OF THE EARLIER ALTERNATOR. I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE RETROFITTING OF EARLIER VEHICLES TO THE HIGHER OUTPUT ALTERNATOR. ALSO DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE IN SOME INSTANCES OBTAINED A REPLACEMENT FOR THE UPGRADED ALTERNATOR THROUGH WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766496August 31, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR SHOWED A LONG TERM "LOW" CHARGE LEVEL, AND DURING VERY HOT WEATHER, BATTERY FAILED TO START VEHICLE DUE TO ALTERNATOR NOT KEEPING BATTERY CHARGED UP PROPERLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766296August 27, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
OCCASIONALY AS I DRIVE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM, CLOCK WILL FLASH, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE ALERNATOR WILL NOT CHARGE THE BATTERY. OCCASIONALY WHEN I STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF I WILL COME BACK OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY BEING DEAD AND NOT BEING CHARGED BY THE ALTERNATOR. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ONCE ON 7/26/02 AND IT IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. I AM IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS AT WWW.SANTAFEFORUM.NET AND ALOT OF THEM ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766315August 27, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WILL LIKE THIS RESOLVED BY HYUNDAY AMERICA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766199August 26, 2002
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SPPEDOMETER OUT BY 7.75% , O2 WAS A RECALL NEVER CONTACTED BY MFG HYUNDAI REPLACING WHEN OWNERS STOP IN FOR SERVICE, ALSO OWNERS ON SANTA FE FORUM HAVING ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS NUMEROUS ALTERNATORS BEING REPLACED (ECU REPROGRAMMING)ON CASE BY CASE BASIS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766231August 26, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FROM THE FIRST DAY WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE (6-01-01) THE KEYS STUCK IN THE IGNITION & WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THEM OUT WITHOUT JIGGLING THE GEARSHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO PATTERSON'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 10-25-01, 3-1-02, 7-5-02, & 8-7-02, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER REPAIRED. ON THE LAST OCCASION THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAUSED AN EVEN GREATER PROBLEM TO OCCUR. EVIDENTLY THEY HAVE DISCONNECTED THE SAFETY MECHANISM WHICH KEEPS ONE FROM REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN ALL GEARS EXCEPT PARK. NOW WE CAN TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR. WHEN WE DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO OUR GARAGE THIS PAST FRIDAY, AUGUST 23RD, WE PUT THE GEARSHIFT INTO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS PARK (THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER), TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND STARTED GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT TURNED OUT THE GEARSHIFT WAS IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO PARK NOW ESPECIALLY IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT FULLY DEPRESSED PAST THE NORMAL STOPPING TENSION. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567188August 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE HESITATES. DEALER CHANGED SPARK PLUGS TWICE, OXYGEN SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. AFTER REPLACEMENT VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND STALLED OUT LOSING POWER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP 15 TIMES AND THEY ARE STILL NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764674July 24, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALLS AND OR FAILS TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764584July 22, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, WE WERE STOPPED AT LIGHT AND THE RADIO STARTED TO GO OUT AND THE CLOCK LIGHT DIMMED. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY (IT SAT ON THE SHIP TOO LONG AND DRAINED THE BATTERY). ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THEY SAID THAT THE CONNECTIONS TO THE BATTERY WERE CORRODED AND THAT I MUST CLEAN THE CONNECTIONS EVERY 3K MILES...YEAH RIGHT! ANOTHER MONTH WENT BY AND THE DOME LIGHTS BEGAN FADING, THE CAR WAS VERY SLOW TO TURN OVER, AND THE A.C. WOULD BARELY WORK. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. FINALLY, THIS WEEKEND, THE STUPID THING WOULDN'T TURN OVER, LEAVING MY WIFE AND 4 MONTH OLD CHILD STRANDED IN 95+ DEGREE TEXAS HEAT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS LEFT ME A MESSAGE RIGHT AT BUSINESS END TODAY STATING THAT THE "NEW" ALTERNATOR IS EXPECTED IN ON WEDNESDAY BUT THAT THEY HAVE "INTERESTING" NEWS TO REPORT ON THIS PROBLEM. I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT TO SEE WHAT THIS MIGHT BE. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE OUR ENTIRE LIFE REARRANGED 4 TIMES, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. THE WORST PART IS THAT I LOVE THE WAY THE SANTA FE DRIVES, FEELS, LOOKS. JUST WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO USE THE STUPID WARRANTY THIS MUCH. JUST HOPE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING TO EVERY SANTA FE OWNER AS I KNOW THESE CARS ARE BIG SELLERS! THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO VENT!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8012982June 28, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD.. VEHICLE STALLS OUT EVEN WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON. ALSO, LATELY THE VEHICLE IS USING ALOT OF GAS AND IS PULLING. VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO HESTITATE WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. DEALER WAS INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011271June 7, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WILL LOSE POWER, AND CONSUMER CAN NO LONGE ACCELERATE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8010174May 20, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE PULLING OUTSIDE OF DRIVEWAY. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WILL FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8009683May 13, 2002
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING HAS SHREDDED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760872April 18, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, THE RADIO STARTED TURNED OFF BY ITSELF. I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE. I WENT IN AND DID MY SHOPPING AND THEN WENT TO ANOTHER STORE. WHEN I GOT DONE AT THE 2ND STORE, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD SOMEONE GIVE ME A JUMP START AS THE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE WAS GOING TO TAKE 3 HOURS. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DROPPED IT OFF. THAT WAS A SATURDAY AND THEY WERE ALREADY CLOSED. BY THE TIME THEY LOOKED AT IT ON MONDAY, THE CAR STARTED. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS ON MY LUNCH BREAK. THE RADIO STARTED TO GO OFF BY ITSELF AGAIN AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM OUT. I DROVE IT AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD SEE WHAT IT WAS DOING. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND 5 DAYS LATER IT BEGAN AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN MY RADIO TURNED OFF AND THE LIGHTS DIMMED OUT AGAIN. THE CAR WAS WANTING TO STALL OUT AGAIN. WHEN I TURNED IT OFF, IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. ANOTHER 5 DAYS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEY REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY. IT WAS IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. THEY SAID THE UPGRADED ALTERNATOR AND THE GEL BATTERY THEY INSTALLED WILL KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, BUT SAID THE TEXAS HEAT IN AUGUST HAD SOME EFFECT ON IT. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AGAIN IN AUGUST. SO FAR SO GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT IT AND JUST FOUND OUT WHERE TO DO IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8006226March 22, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
WHEN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY, UPON RESTART IT WOULD NOT EXCEED 10-15 MPH FOR ABOUT 1 MILE. THEN, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT UNTIL 40 MPH WAS REACHED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES, CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TWICE, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PART OF CRANKSHAFT WAS REPLACED, VEHICLE HAS NOT STALLED SINCE. PLEASE PROVIDE NAME OF PART.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#564627March 12, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004679February 27, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758610February 25, 2002
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND OFF FOR A PERIOSD OF TWO WEEKS WHEN DEALER CHECKED NOTHING WRONG, AND NOW THE RADIO PAUSES WHILE PLAYING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#564420February 21, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ENGINE HESITATION, LOSES POWER, IT ALSO TURNS OFF WHILE RUNNING,AND ON 2 OCCASSIONS THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, OXYGEN SENSORS, AND THEY SUGGESTED TO CHANGE THE GASOLINE WHICH CURRENTLY HE IS USING. THE VEHICLE STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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