Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints
8,019 consumer complaints on file.
- #10525984July 21, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A 2013 SANTE FE HYUNDAI IN MAY, AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 WEEKS AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT, A/C LIGHT GOES OUT AND IT STOPS BLOWING AIR. PULLED OFF ROAD, TURNED CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. TOOK IT TO PLANET HYUNDAI IN LAS VEGAS NV AND THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 10 DAYS TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. REPLACED A TRANSISTOR AND SAID IT WAS FIXED, HAD THE CAR BACK FOR 4 DAYS AND HAPPENED AGAIN, CALLING THE DEALER AGAIN TOMORROW. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 630. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10526033July 21, 2013SUSPENSION
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HIT A BUMP AND THE WHOLE CAR SHIFTED LIKE INTO THE OTHER LANE. I HAVE ASKED LOCAL DEALER BEFORE TO CHECK SUSPENSION AND THEY SAID ITS "OK". " THAT'S HOW IT IS". SINCE MY PURCHASE EVERY BUMP I HIT THE CAR IS NOT STUCK TO THE GROUND AND MOVES EITHER TO LEFT OR RIGHT. MIGHT BE A FACTOR IN THE HUGE STEERING PROBLEM THIS CAR HAS AS WELL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10525493July 17, 2013ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TWICE, THE ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN IDLE OR STOPPED POSITION. LUCKILY, BOTH INCIDENTS WERE IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. THE ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO PUT IT INTO PARKING GEAR, AND RESTART THE ENGINE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10525115July 16, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER SHE MADE A RIGHT TURN. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO APPLYING THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER IT CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524942July 15, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HELLO, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2007 SANTA FE. I WAS DRIVING LAST WEEK TO PICK UP MY 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION I HAD NO POWER WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. I COASTED INTO THE PARKING LOT, NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY GRABBED MY MANUAL TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR AFTER GETTING MY DAUGHTER FROM CAMP, THE CAR STARTED AND WE MADE IT HOME. I AM FORTUNATE THAT MY WORK, CAMP, AND OUR HOME ARE VERY CLOSE. THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED MY HYUNDAI DEALER AND DISCUSSED WHAT THEY THOUGHT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. THEY AND I AGREED IT WAS BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY TO BRING IT IN TO BE CHECKED. I JUST RETURNED FROM THE APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE "THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR", WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART CONSIDERING YOU CAN JUST LOSE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OR A HIGHWAY. I ONLY HAVE 49,000 MILES ON MY CAR, WHICH IS GREAT FOR A 2007. I WOULD EXPECT THESE IMPORTANT PARTS TO HOLD UP MUCH LONGER THAN THAT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU INVESTIGATING THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER. I AND MANY OTHER FAMILIES HAVE VERY PRECIOUS CARGO WE CARRY IN OUR CARS...OUR KIDS. THANK YOU! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524977July 15, 2013FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524970July 15, 2013AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR OF THE SEAT BELT THAT CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT ASKED IF THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME AS THAT LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V450000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE THE SAME, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524786July 15, 2013POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I WAS COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY ON THE OFF-RAMP AND COMING TO A STOP AT A STOPLIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE CAR WOULDN'T NOT ACCELERATE PASS 10 OR 15 MPH. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR BUT WOULD BE STUCK ON 1ST GEAR TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. BEFORE GETTING A TOW TRUCK, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND ANY ATTEMPTS TO RESTART AND ACCELERATE THE CAR WOULD PRODUCE THE SAME RESULTS; THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. ALSO, AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT COME ON WITHOUT A LOT OF ENGINE CRANKS. THE CAR ONLY AS 823 MILES ON IT. I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CAR AND THE COMPANY. WILL TRY TO RETURN IT. NOT WORTH THE RISK OF IT CAUSING INURING TO MY FAMILY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524851July 15, 2013SUSPENSION
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A "CLUNK" SOUND IN THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND A "C" SHAPED PIECE OF METAL ON THE DRIVEWAY. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP, WHERE HE TOLD ME THAT THE COIL SPRING ON MY SANTA FE HAD BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS ALSO CRACKED. HE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH COIL SPRINGS. HE LATER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL TO HAVE THESE SPRINGS BREAK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DECIDED TO GO ONLINE TO SEE IF HYUNDAI HAD ISSUED A RECALL OR WHETHER THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR OTHER CONSUMERS WHO OWNED THIS VEHICLE. I FOUND NUMEROUS SITES WHERE PEOPLE HAD WRITTEN IN STATING THAT THEY HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM - IN MOST CASES, THE COIL SPRING BROKE AS THE OPERATOR WAS PUTTING THE 2004-2006 CAR INTO GEAR TO EITHER BACK OR, PULL OUT OF A PARKED POSITION. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE, AND GETTING BACK TO ME ON ANY FURTHER INFORMATION YOU MAY NEED FROM ME. [XXX] 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
- #10524872July 15, 2013STEERING
THE STEERING IS HARD TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WONDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS IF YOU ARE BEING HIT BY STRONG WIND GUSTS. THE FASTER YOU GO THE WORSE IT GETS. THE TRACKING IS TERRIBLE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MODE ITS IN OR WEATHER THE VEHICLE IS EMPTY OR HAS 3 PASSENGERS IN IT. YOU'RE ALWAYS CORRECTING WHICH MAKES FOR A VERY DRAINING TRIP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524926July 15, 2013POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, WHEELS
BELOW IS THE REPORT SENT TO HYUNDAI ON JULY 15, 2013 RE: HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUV BEING PROBED FOR SUDDEN POWER LOSS -- REPORTED BY ASSOCIATED PRESS JULY 10, 2013. WE PURCHASED A SANTA FE SPORT AT THE END OF NOVEMBER 2012. ON JANUARY 2, 2013 WITH ONLY 1018 MILES ON VEHICLE, OUR SANTA FE EXPERIENCED ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE REFERENCED ARTICLE. A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED (AS IF RUNNING OVER AN OBSTACLE), THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER AND DIED. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD IN REVERSE. AFTER SETTING AWHILE, WE WERE ABLE TO VERY SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR ABOUT 500 TO 1000 FEET TO THE DEALERSHIP. RUDDELL DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO REPEAT THE EXPERIENCE. I NOW DO NOT TRUST THE VEHICLE AND WANT IT THOROUGHLY INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT TOO HAS A CRACKED AXLE AS NOTED IN THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE. WE HAVE A ROAD TRIP PLANNED IN EARLY AUGUST AND DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL IT IS THOROUGHLY INSPECTED. I TOOK THE CAR TO RUDDELL AUTO ON JULY 10 AND SHOWED THEM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE BUT THEY DID NOT OFFER TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. RUDDELL SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HYUNDAI ISSUED A CAMPAIGN OR RECALL BUT THAT IS NOT SATISFACTORY OR ACCEPTABLE. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 7400 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH WE BOUGHT THE CAR IS RUDDELL AUTO IN PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON 98362, USA. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND INFORM ME WHAT HYUNDAI INTENDS TO DO REGARDING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. IF I DO NOT RECEIVE AN ACCEPTABLE REPLY FROM HYUNDAI, THEN I, TOO, WILL REPORT IT TO NHTSA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524563July 12, 2013SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEWLY MANUFACTURED AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200. UPDATED 10-21-13 *BF
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524589July 12, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER, SEATS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HAVE BEEN NOTICING OCCASIONALLY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT RETURN TO THEIR "PARKED" POSITION. THEY WILL OCCASIONALLY STAY TOO FAR UP BY 2 TO 3 INCHES. WHEN PARKED, THEY SHOULD BE BELOW THE HOOD LINE TUCKED NICELY TO THE WIPER COWL. I HAVE FOUND ON ABOUT 5 OCCASIONS SINCE OWNING THIS CAR THAT THE WIPERS ARE UP AS OPPOSED TO PARKED DOWN CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER SEAT ALSO ROCKED QUITE A BIT WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. TWO OF US DRIVE THE VEHICLE, NEITHER OF US ARE OVERWEIGHT AT ALL. WE GOT THE SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT REPLACED. THIS HELPED THE PROBLEM ALOT, BUT THE SEAT STILL WOBBLES ENOUGH TO BE ANNOYING. HAVE ALSO NOTICED ON OTHER SANTA FE'S THAT THE FOG LAMP BULB SHIELD (INSIDE THE LENS ASSEMBLY) APPEARS MELTED, AS IT DANGLES DOWN FAR TOO LOW AND CAUSES THE FOG LIGHT OUTPUT TO BE INCORRECTLY AIMED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524495July 11, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN, SHOWING EMPTY, THEN OVER HALF FULL, THEN JUST UNDER HALF. I SWITCHED TO THE MODE INDICATING HOW MANY MILES LEFT UNTIL I WOULD BE OUT OF GAS, WHICH ALSO FLUCTUATED BY OVER 75 MILES. THIS FLUCTUATION IS CONSISTENT AND NOW IS BECOMING A BIG CONCERN IN REGARDS TO LONGER TRIPS MY YOUNG FAMILY TAKES. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BASED ON THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ABOUT THIS SAME MALFUNCTION. SHOULD MY FAMILY BE STRANDED ON A ROADSIDE, OR WORSE YET, GET INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, HYUNDAI WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGLIGENCE ON THEIR PART TO ACT ON A KNOWN VEHICLE DEFECT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524190July 10, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR FAILED AND BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE PLASTIC MOUNT HOLDER, CAUSING THE SUN VISOR TO HANG BY THE WIRES. THE SUN VISORS WERE ALSO OBSTRUCTING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SUN VISOR WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,500.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524267July 10, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
6/25/13 MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON A 95 DEGREE DAY (FLORIDA) WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER BRIEFLY BLEW HOT AIR THEN STOP PRODUCING ANY AIR PERIOD. THE A/C LIGHT TURNED OFF AND NONE OF THE OTHER BUTTONS WOULD WORK. SHE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY KEPT IT FOR THE DAY. SHE WAS ADVISED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLES COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANY ERRORS, AND THE AIR PERFORMED PROPERLY FOR THEM. 7/10/13 MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH AND THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED BLOWING AGAIN. THE A/C LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR FLOW DIAL WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND KEPT THE VEHICLE RUNNING FOR THE SERVICE TECH TO VIEW. THE SERVICE TECH WAS DUMBFOUNDED BY THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE AIR BEGAN TO BLOW WITHOUT ISSUE. WE HAVE NOT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE YET BUT WILL UPDATE WHEN ITS RETURNED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524274July 10, 2013POWER TRAIN
SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS. CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND WOULDN'T MOVE. 2 POLICEMEN PUSHED US OUT OF THE TRAFFIC AND CALLED AAA. WE WERE TOWED TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED). CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 22 DAYS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE. NOT THE END OF THE PROBLEM........THE DEALER HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THE REPLACEMENT PART. FINALLY LOCATED ONE IN SO. CALIF. AND HAD IT SHIPPED 400 MILES TO CARSON CITY, NV. PART WAS REMOVED FROM ANOTHER 2013 SANTA FE. ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI, THERE ARE POTENTIALLY 50,000 VEHICLES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. SO, SINCE OUR REPLACEMENT PART CAME OUT OF ANOTHER 2013 SANTA FE, WE ARE CONCERNED THIS MAY RE-OCCUR. WE MAY BE ONE OF THE TWO CARS MENTIONED IN THE ONLINE ARTICLE OF 7-9-13. BUT, NOT SURE IF WE ARE SO.......YOU MAY HAVE MORE THAN JUST TWO VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM SO FAR. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE KEPT INFORMED. THANK YOU. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524015July 9, 2013POWER TRAIN, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN OUT OF A SHOPPING PLAZA ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED BECAUSE OF FRESH WET ROADS, A LOUD BOOM CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. RIGHT AFTER THE BOOM THE SUV REVVED UP AND THE SUV HAD TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD AT ALL. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT THE SUV IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF. AFTER RESTARTED SUV HAD FULL WORKING POWER WITH DRIVE AND REVERSE5X. VEHICLE IS NOW AT DEALER FOR INSPECTION FOR DAMAGE/(SAFETY). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10523771July 8, 2013ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE APPROPRIATE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10523792July 8, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ESC LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAR LOST POWER. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES, CAR RESTARTED AND RETAINED POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THIS YEAR, THE CAR HAS DUPLICATED THE SAME PROBLEM 4 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH, AND WHEN FOOT ON BRAKE IN DRIVE, THE CAR SURGES SO BADLY THAT AT TIMES I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD BUMPED THE REAR OF CAR. I TOOK TO DEALER TODAY AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WAS VERY MUCH A SAFETY CONCERN , WOULD OFTEN HAPPEN THIS YEAR WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLOWING, SO THAT MAKING A LEFT TURN PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE SENSOR SEEMS TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0