Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2004)

303 consumer complaints on file.

#10639484September 26, 2014
AIR BAGS
MY SANTA FE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE DURING WHICH TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. I HAD IT CHECKED BY MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE HAD FAILED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR COST WAS GOING TO BE $450. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO SPEND OVER $4000 FOR OTHER REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND ANY MORE. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF AIR BAG MODULE FAILURES ON MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF HYUNDAI'S. SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPAIR THE FAULTY AIR BAG MODULES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638068September 22, 2014
SUSPENSION, WHEELS
RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL FOR FRONT COIL SPRING ISSUE IN MAIL, MY FRONT COIL SPRIG IS CURRENTLY BROKEN. CALLED DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX IT OR A REMEDY FOR ME TO HAVE A DRIVABLE CAR UNTIL IT CAN BE FIXED. NO TIME FRAME CAN BE GIVEN WHEN THEY CAN FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637664September 19, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, CHEST, AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10633155September 15, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG SENT OF GASOLINE WHEN PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A GAS LEAK AND THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE TANK HAD RUSTED AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE LEAK. HE SHOWED ME THE GAS TANK AND THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON IT. THERE WAS A PLASTIC PART UNDER THE TANK THAT RETAINED WATER AND ROAD SALT AND CAUSED THE TANK TO PREMATURELY RUST. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS GARAGED AND WASHED REGULARLY TO HAVE A RUSTED OUT GAS TANK. CLEARLY, THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWED THE PLASTIC PART UNDER THE TANK TO COLLECT WATER AND RUST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630969September 5, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629350August 29, 2014
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I WAS IN TN WHEN I HEARD A SLIGHT "THUNK" AND THEN A CONTINUOUS RATTLE UNDER THE VEHICLE. I ASSUMED A BROKEN EXHAUST BRACKET AND LEFT TN ON 8/17/2014 TO RETURN TO MY HOME IN SAINT LOUIS MO. I TRAVELED I55 IN SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH AND LISTENED TO THE RATTLE FOR ABOUT 100 MILES. AND THEN THE RATTLE STOPPED AND I ASSUMED THAT THE BROKEN BRACKET HAD FINALLY COME LOOSE AND IS NOW LOCATED SOMEWHERE ON I55. I TOOK MY CAR TO FIRESTONE AND WAS STUNNED TO LEARN THAT MY RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING WAS MISSING AND MY RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS BROKEN. AN INSPECTION OF THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING ALSO INDICATED SIGNIFICANT CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY. HYUNDAI HAS RECALLED 419,000 VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE IN DC AND 20 OTHER STATES SPECIFICALLY STATING EXCESSIVE CORROSION AS A RESULT OF ROAD SALT--THIS LIST EXCLUDED THE STATE OF MO WHICH HAPPENS TO ALSO USE ROAD SALT. MY HYUNDAI HAS BEEN IN MO FOR 12 YEARS. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND EXPAND ITS RECALL TO ALL STATES THAT USE SALT AND PERHAPS TO COASTAL STATES THAT HAVE OCEAN SALT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610954July 16, 2014
SUSPENSION
2004 HYUNDAI SANTAFE BROKEN COIL SPRING RUBBING AGAINST THE FRONT TIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN. I WENT OUT TO INVESTIGATE BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE NEXT MORNING I ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE FOR WORK WHEN I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE. I COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE SOUND SO I TURNED AROUND AN PARKED THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED A CURVED SHAPE PIECE ON THE GROUND WHICH LOOKED LIKE A HOTDOG WHERE MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. I PICKED THE HOTDOG SHAPED PIECE OF STEEL APPROXIMATELY 3/4" DIAMETER. IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN ON ONE END. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND IT TO BE A PIECE OF THE COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE STRUT. THE COIL SPRING WAS NOW RUBBING AGAINST THE FRONT TIRE. LUCK FOR ME THIS DID NO HAPPEN WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607248July 1, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE - IT CONSUMES BOTH THE INTERIOR AND THE AROUND THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. LOOKING AT ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL?? HYUNDAI - ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING TO HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS????? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597401June 10, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACK AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596553June 6, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DIES IN THE MIDDLE IF ROAD! ALMOST DIE. ALL THE TIME!!!!!! DIES IN THE MIDDLE IF ROAD! ALL THE TIME!!!ALMOST DIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595262May 31, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS TANK LEAK NEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. CAUSE BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE BOTTOM OF TANK WAS COVERED BY A POLY SHELL. THE SHELL TRAPPED MOISTURE AND SALT, ETC. BETWEEN BOTTOM OF METAL TANK AND POLY SHELL. THIS SET UP A CORROSION ENVIRONMENT AND RESULTED IN LEAK. NEW REPLACEMENT TANK FROM HYUNDAI DOES NOT HAVE THE POLY SHELL. NOTE: THE VEHICLE HAS NO RUST AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593533May 22, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AFTER PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I REACHED MY DESIRED SPEED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKE, AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV FOR 1 OR 2 SECONDS. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT ON THIS OCCASION, BUT IT WAS TERRIFYING, AND I HAD MY CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593200May 21, 2014
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN
MY OIL CHANGING PLACE THOUGHT I HAD A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK. THE REAL PROBLEM WAS THE FRONT RIGHT AXLE BOOT WAS LEAKING BADLY (COVERED BY THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY), BUT THEY FOUND THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS HAD COLLAPSED AND THE SENSORS WERE FROZEN IN PLACE. AFTER THEY FIXED THESE, THE MECHANIC TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, AND DURING THE TEST DRIVE, THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SNAPPED. I AM TOLD THAT I MUST NOW REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT COILS AND HAVE THE CAR RE-ALIGNED. THE COILS SHOULD BE ON RECALL, AS OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592263May 18, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHENEVER I GET GAS AND WHICH I DREAD , ONCE I FILL UP THE TANK OR JUST PUT A FEW GALLONS AND I TURN THE IGNITION IT GRINDS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO START . EVENTUALLY IT WILL TURN OVER OR I WILL HEAR A POP. I AM AFRAID AT SOME POINT WITH THAT POP THAT IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I FILL THE VEHICLE WITH GAS. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588415May 14, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM CAR. COULD SEE GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER CAR. THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER SAYS THE GAS TANK HAS CORRODED, AND MUST BE REPLACED. CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA AND WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY ON THE GAS TANK HAD EXPIRED, AND THAT I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE (TOUGH LUCK). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579096April 11, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, HE HEARD A POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 06/17/14 MA UPDATED 8/17/17*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576819April 2, 2014
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DEAR NHTSA - MY SANTA FE HAD A MALFUNCTION AT 65 MPH THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO ABRUPTLY SLOW DOWN AND RUN IN ONLY THIRD GEAR. THIS IS A HUGE DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CODES ARE P0121 AND P0733 WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH A THROTTLE/ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR AND A THIRD GEAR RATIO MISMATCH. I BELIEVE THE WAY THIS WORKS IS THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM MODULE WHICH ACTIVATES AN ETS MOTOR ON THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH OPENS/CLOSES THE THROTTLE BUTTERFLY DAMPER BASED ON A COMPUTED ERROR SIGNAL. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON HYUNDAI FORUMS IT WAS VERY APPARENT THAT THIS MALFUNCTION IS VERY COMMON AND VERY DANGEROUS. I SEARCHED THE CURRENT RECALLS AND THIS IS NOT ONE OF THE TWO RECALLS I COULD FIND FOR THIS VEHICLE. BUT IN 50% OF THE CASES I READ ABOUT IT APPEARED THAT EITHER THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR OR THROTTLE SENSOR IS A COMMON FAILURE. I REALLY THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THERE ARE ALSO SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT CAN CAUSE THESE SENSORS TO SEE THIS MISMATCH AND GIVE THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION THE FAULT CODE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO EITHER GO INTO "LIMP" MODE OR SINGLE GEAR MODE. ALTHOUGH BOTH ARE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS IT BASICALLY LIMITS THE CAR TO A MAXIMUM RPM AND CAUSES IT TO EITHER RUN IN ONE GEAR OR NOT SHIFT ABOVE A GEAR, FOR EXAMPLE 3RD GEAR INTO OVERDRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAULT THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN RUNNING AT OR NEAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED NATURE OF THE EVENT AND THE SPEED CHANGE AND NOISE IT CAN CAUSE THUS SURPRISING THE DRIVER WHICH MAY CAUSE THEM TO STOP OR PULL OVER UNEXPECTEDLY. OTHER MALFUNCTIONS THAT CAN CAUSE THIS ARE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, FUEL INJECTOR O-RING FAULTY AND LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLDS AMONG OTHERS. THIS SERIOUS ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND REDESIGNED OR REPAIRED ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572659March 16, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT UP ONTO A 6 INCH SIDEWALK BARRIER. DRIVERS FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE BUT CAR ACCELERATED ANYWAY . DRIVER PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO KEEP FROM GOING FORWARD AND STOP. VERY VERY SCARY AND THANKFUL NO ONE WAS WALKING IN FRONT OF US. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556883December 20, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAD MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTE FE AT THE DEALER'S FOR THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE AND WHEN WALKING BEHIND THE CAR. IT WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK IN THE GAS TANK DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE IS NOT 9.5 YEARS OLD HAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000 MILES ON IT - HAVE REGULAR SERVICE DONE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE UNDERCARRIAGE OF CAR WASHED AFTER SNOW STORMS AS I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND AND KNOW THE SALT FROM THE ROADS CAN RUST THE CAR. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,500 OR MORE - "CAN'T TELL UNTIL WE START TAKING THINGS APART HOW MUCH JOB WILL BE". THIS EVENING WENT TO GO TO THE STORE FOR MILK CAR STARTED RIGHT UP DROVE DOWN HILL AND CAR STARTED TO BUCK AND STOPPED. THANK GOD FOR AAA - CALLED FOR A TOW AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START CAR - CAR STARTS BUT THEN STALLS SAID THERE MAY BE AN AIR BUBBLE IN FUEL LINE - COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED WHEN DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED FOR THE LEAK. (I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE A GAS TANK WHEN I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE COST WILL BE). HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE PERSON INFORMED ME MY CAR WAS "OLD" I DON'T THINK 9.5 YEARS WITH 81,000 MILES A GAS TANK SHOULD RUST???????? ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553049November 20, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED A GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WHILE STANDING NEAR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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