Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10579320April 12, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL GAUGE JUMPS AROUND LEAVING YOU WONDERING HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE TANK. MOST LIKELY A FAULTY FUEL SENSOR WHICH SHOULD NOT GO OUT ON A CAR THIS SOON. CAN BE VERY HAZARDOUS AS A CAR MAY STALL DUE TO UNKNOWN GAS AMOUNT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR. *JS
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
#10578604April 9, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
THROTTLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AND WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN. COULD NOT GET THE THROTTLE TO DISENGAGE. I TRIED TAPPING THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THIS DID NOTHING. MANAGED TO HOLD BOTH FEET ON BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFT INTO LOW. I GOT VEHICLE ONTO SHOULDER AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FULL THROTTLE. I SHOVED IT INTO PARK AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. THE ENGINE DID NOT DISENGAGE UNTIL THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. VERY BAD FOR TRANSMISSION TO SHOVE IT INTO PARK BUT I HAD NO OTHER OPTIONS. VERY SCARY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND FILED A REPORT BUT THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK YET WITH REPAIR OPTIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578626April 9, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING AN EMPTY READING WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,215.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578644April 9, 2014
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BROUGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL,AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE,BAD SMUDGE MARK ON WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE WHICH DEALER COULD NOT FIX AFTER SEVERAL TRIES BUT NEVER WROTE UP A SERVICE ORDER. WHEN CAR IS SET AT 50MPH AND WE ARE COMING TO A LEFT TURN I TURN ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL CAR LURCHES FORWARD AT VERY HIGH SPEED.DEALER CLAIMS BECAUSE ON INCLINE, BUT I DO IT WITHOUT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT SPEED UP. AIRBAG PASSENGER SIDE INTERMITTENT DEALER CLAIMS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. ALSO WHITE POWDER SHOWS UP ON DASHBOARD ABOVE GLOVE COMPARTMENT,WE WIPE IT OFF COMES BACK POSSIBLYLEAK IN AIRBAG PASSENGER SIDE DEALER CLAIMS NOT POSSIBLE. THOUGHT DEALER SHOULD HAVE FIXED WINDSHIELD UNDER 5 YR WARRANTY? ALSO NOTICED 2014 HYUNDAI SPORT THEY SCANNED ME INTO BUYING HAS PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG PASSENGER SIDE OFF LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578669April 9, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
ONCE MY CAR HAS GONE 200 MILES ON A TANK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL SHOW COMPLETELY EMPTY AND THEN CHANGE TO MORE THAN 1/4 TANK AND BACK. ONCE THE TANK IS REFILLED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND THEN COMES BACK ON AND ACTS THE SAME AFTER AGAIN GOING 200 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THE WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD TO 60000 OR 5 YEARS ON THE FUEL SENSOR BUT READING ONLINE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF HYUNDAI SANTA FE OWNERS ARE HAVING AFTER REACHING 60000 MILES. I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE CODE CHECKED AND IT LISTED P0 464 - FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT INTERMITTENT. WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PART HYUNDAI SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578264April 8, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
OUR 2012 HYUNDAI SANTE FE HAS SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WE WERE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LOST POWER AND MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THE DEALER INITIALLY DID AN ECM UPGRADE AND AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. A YEAR LATER (MARCH 2014) THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH. UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS EPISODES, THERE WAS NO CODE AND THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR BUT I REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SAFETY PROBLEM. AFTER TWO WEEKS WITH THE CAR THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE CAR BUT WITHOUT LUCK. I'VE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCENARIO AS I DID AND ALSO BELIEVE THE NEXT TIME THEY COULD BE KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577633April 5, 2014
ENGINE
MY CRANKSHAFT VIBRATION DAMPER FAILED. IT LITERALLY BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. IT LEFT ME UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT ON A TWO LANE (EACH SIDE = 4) ROAD. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, HOWEVER, AND HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND OFF THE ROAD. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70 WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM IN MY OPINION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577396April 4, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,920.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577504April 4, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WAS DISPLAYING ERRONEOUS FUEL LEVEL READINGS. WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL WAS AT HALF FULL, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE SHORTLY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577506April 4, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM GAUGE SENSOR WAS NOT READING THE ACTUAL FUEL LEVELS. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED HALFWAY, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM SENSOR WOULD BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577027April 3, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE BEGAN REVVING, THEN DECELERATED, BUT REVVED AGAIN, THIS TIME FORCING MY CAR FORWARD. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING FROM THE LEFT, SO I STEERED RIGHT. IMPACT ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL, CAR CAREENED INTO A LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC TYPE FENCE AND STOPPED. MY FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY THE SAME INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND TOTALED. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI, BUT SO FAR, THEY HAVE NOT SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO CHECK OUT THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577097April 3, 2014
STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION
MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR RUST IN THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION. IT WAS APPARENTLY FIXED BY HYUNDAI JUST PUTTING A UNDERCOAT PAINTING TO THE SUSPENSION, MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR IS SHOWING RUST SPOTS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I THINK HYUNDAI SHOULD HAD REPLACE THE PARTS WITH NEW AND RUST PROOF PARTS INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING UNDERCOAT PAINTING. I KNOW MY VEHICLE IS 11 YEARS OLD, BUT I HAVE KEPT IT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH ALL SERVICE DONE AT THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576654April 2, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ
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
#10576341April 1, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING AND CONSISTENT ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576356April 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR PARKED IN PARKING LOT AT MY OFFICE. NO ONE IN VECHILE. PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES...APPPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL BOX AT REAR OF CAR FOR HITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576358April 1, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. "LOW FUEL" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. FUEL GAUGE INDICATED NEARLY EMPTY EVEN THOUGH TANK WAS CLOSE TO HALF FULL. CAUSE: FUEL TANK LEVEL SENSOR FAILED INDICATING FUEL IS ALWAYS EMPTY."CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ALWAYS ILLUMINATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576577April 1, 2014
ENGINE
TOOK 2013 SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T AWD IN FOR ROUTINE APPOINTMENT AT LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER TO HAVE WARRANTY SERVICE ON FUEL FILLER DOOR (WHICH WAS NOT OPERATING DUE TO FAILURE TO RE-CONNECT SOLENOID DURING PRIOR RECALL - BEFORE DELIVERY - FOR DOOR LOCKS) AND ALSO TO CHECK ON "TAPPET NOISE" IN ENGINE. CONFIRMED THESE WOULD BE WARRANTY ITEMS BEFORE LEAVING. STUNNED TO RECEIVE CALL LATER THAT AFTERNOON INFORMING ME THAT METAL WAS FOUND IN ENGINE OIL AND HYUNDAI WOULD REPLACE ENGINE, AND WANTED OLD ENGINE FOR INSPECTION. APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. TAPPET NOISE TYPICALLY SUBSIDED AFTER "COLD" (I.E. GARAGED) START-UPS. EXPERIENCED ONE ENGINE "BACKFIRE" AT LOW SPEED ON SERVICE ROAD JUST AFTER LEAVING DEALER LOT ..... DAY OF PURCHASE. ALSO EXPERIENCED SOME VERY MINOR HESITATION / STUMBLE ON OCCASION WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER FULL STOP. OTHERWISE ENGINE PERFORMING NORMALLY AT CITY AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOW SUSPECT THAT "TAPPET NOISE" MIGHT HAVE BEEN PISTON SLAP! NOISE WAS WORST AFTER RELEASING GAS PEDAL AT ABOUT 1,000 RPM, WITH RPM FALLING. SOUNDED LIKE AN OLD FARM TRACTOR. DEALER SAYS THEY JUST FINISHED REPLACING ENGINE ON ANOTHER 2013 SANTA FE TODAY. LOUSY FEELING TO HAVE LEMON LAW AS THE ONLY SAFETY NET AFTER TRADING IN A PERFECTLY GOOD 4WD TRUCK, AND THEN PAY THOUSANDS MORE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576065March 31, 2014
POWER TRAIN
MY 1 YEAR OLD HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTED MAKING FAINT KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WHICH HAS NOW BECOME MORE NOTICEABLE AND PERSISTENT WHEN CORNERING AT SLOW SPEEDS (PARKING LOTS AND WINDING ROADS), OR GOING OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A SINGLE CLUNK WITH SLIGHT FEEDBACK IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT RIGHT FRONT AXLE CAN BE MOVED SIDE TO SIDE BY HAND WITH WHEELS ON THE GROUND WHICH ALSO PRODUCES KNOCKING SOUND. CAR TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT EACH TIME UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER DUPLICATING THE KNOCKING FOR TECHNICIANS. VEHICLE LOOKED OVER EACH TIME WITH FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO APPARENT DAMAGE, AND TIGHTENING BOTH FRONT AXLE BOLTS, BUT THE KNOCKING STILL PERSISTS. DEALERSHIP ADVISORS AND MECHANICS ARE ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL, AND ASSURED ME THAT VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE AND AXLE SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT IS NORMAL, BUT SINCE KNOCKING IS BECOMING VERY APPARENT EVEN WHEN CORNERING ON LEVEL ROADS, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE SAFETY. I HAVE DRIVEN NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ISSUE LIKE THIS, WHICH MAKES ME FEEL UNEASY WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT SOMETHING MAY GO TERRIBLY WRONG, AND AT THIS POINT I AM SIMPLY NOT SURE WHICH ACTION TO TAKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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