Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10472770August 28, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION
THE CAR WANTS TO GO ANYWHERE BUT STRAIGHT. ANY UNEVEN PAVEMENT, WIND GUSTS OR CARS PASSING BY CAUSE THE CAR TO REQUIRE A STEERING CORRECTION. AT SPEEDS OVER FIFTY MILES PER HOUR STEERING INPUT IS REQUIRED NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN THE DRIVING LANE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS TO SPECIFICATION AND NORMAL. THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I'VE EVER DRIVEN INCLUDING SEVERAL MOTOR HOMES. *TR *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472619August 27, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 36,500. UPDATED 09/26/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472654August 27, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS TURNED OFF WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RE-CALIBRATED TO THE LOWEST WEIGHT LIMIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V354000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472708August 27, 2012
ENGINE
THE ENGINE STALLED THE 5TH TIME DURING DRIVING! ALMOST CAUSED ANOTHER ACCIDENT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472510August 26, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION CAUSED VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER TO BE STUCK IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO PARK. MALFUNCTION ALSO CAUSED ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL TO SHUT OFF AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DEACTIVATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2010 DUE TO MALFUNCTION WITH THIS NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. HYUNDAI CLAIMED VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL ID# 78947 FOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE LIGHT. HOWEVER, AGAIN, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2010 WITH ANOTHER MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TR UPDATED 10/31/12 *BF UPDATED 11/1/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472464August 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE HAS BEEN OWNED FOR 35 MONTHS AND HAS 25,968 MILES. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR/REPLACE METAL TO METAL CONTACT OF LR BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS 2ND OCCURRENCE. 1ST OCCURRENCE WAS RR ON 6/13/2011 @ 15,771 MILES WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ROTOR TURNED AND NEW BRAKE PADS INSTALLED. A RUSTY (DEFECTIVE MFGR) RATTLE CLIP WHICH SNAPS INTO THE CALIPER BRACKET CAUSES BRAKE PADS TO HANG UP OR NOT RETRACT AFTER APPLYING PRESSURE AND DRAG EXCESSIVELY CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR/FAILURE AT HALF OF NORMAL PAD LIFE EXPECTANCY. THIS SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION CASE NATIONWIDE. MAKE HYUNDAI REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY THE DEFECTIVE RUSTY PART TO PREVENT PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR AND/OR FAILURE. REAR DISC BRAKES SHOULD EASILY LAST 50,000 MILES OR MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472029August 23, 2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATES, BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERABLE. TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTING TEMPORARILY RESTORES FUNCTION. EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN 09V122000 BUT HYUNDAI DEALER AND CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER CLAIM VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471962August 22, 2012
AIR BAGS
THERE IS A RED LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG. I CALLED HYUNDAI DEALER. THEY ADVISED IT IS PROBABLY A SENSOR. I AM CONCERNED THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY BUT THEY "DO NOT THINK" THAT WILL HAPPEN. IT MAY BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX DEPENDING IF THIS IS A SENSOR IN THE SEAT BELT OR STEERING WHEEL. THEY ADVISED THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED. I BELIEVE THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL VEHICLE HAD SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471690August 21, 2012
TIRES, WHEELS
CUPPED TIRES IN REAR. HEAVY WEAR ON INSIDE OF TIRES. I SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OTHERS WITH TIRES WEARING OUT MUCH QUICKER THAN THEY SHOULD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471735August 21, 2012
AIR BAGS
I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN WHICH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED STARTING IN DECEMBER 2006. AT WHICH TIME THE AIR BAG "CLOCK SPRING" WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 12/6/2006 AT 33,154 MILES. *TR THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN MARCH, 2011. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE "CLOCK SPRING" AGAIN, WHICH WAS NOW NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD COST OF AROUND $285.00. THIS WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO A SUGGESTION FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT MECHANIC. THE INDICATOR WAS RESET AND HAS BEEN OFF FOR OVER A YEAR. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS IN MAY 2012 (MILEAGE APPROX. 88,500), THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND NOW I'M TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW AIRBAG AT A COST OF AROUND $750.00!! THE INDICATOR WAS RESET AND AIR BAG NOT REPLACED THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED HUNDREDS OF "POSTS" ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM (MOST OF THEM ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) WEBSITE). HYUNDAI SANTA FE'S HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS! AND, TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, REPLACING EITHER THE CLOCK SPRING OR THE AIRBAG APPARENTLY DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY, THUS CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL (#103) FOR THE 2007-2008 MODELS. THIS RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED ALL SANTA FE'S NOT JUST TWO YEARS. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT NOT A NORMAL WEAR & TEAR ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471773August 21, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. ..UPDATED 09-21-12*BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471501August 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ,THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND, OFFERING NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471442August 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN TWICE WHILE DRIVING IT. FIRST SHUT DOWN ON 5/8/2012: AFTER BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE FOR A LEFT TURN AFTER BEING IDLE AT A LEFT TURN RED LIGHT THE CAR'S ENGINE LOST POWER BEFORE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED. POWER STEERING WENT OUT. GOT HONKED AT AS CARS BEHIND NOTICED SOMETHING WRONG. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN AND HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION TO TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON. SECOND SHUT DOWN ON 8/3/2012: WHILE TURNING LEFT IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT THE CAR'S ENGINE LOST POWER. POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AFTER COMING TO A STOP HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION TO TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471365August 18, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN MAKING NOISE WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE PEDAL. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS THE "BREAKING IN" PERIOD. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING LOUD NOISES AND NOT WORKING CORRECTLY WHEN WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON SEPT 12, 2011.THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE STICKING TO THE ROTORS OVERHEATING THE ROTORS. THE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE JUST BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN FOR SERVICE AND THE INDICATION IS THE ALL THE BRAKES MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS AT 22,000 MILES. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES IN THE CAR AND THE DEALER CAN ONLY EXPLAIN THAT IT IS DUE TO THE HILLS IN OUR TOWN AND THAT THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER MADE OF ASBESTOS. I NEVER REPLACED MY BRAKES IN OTHER CARS UNTIL I HAD BETWEEN 35K & 45K MILES AND I HAVE LIVED IN THIS TOWN FOR 30 YEARS. I BELIEVE THE "BREAKING IN" PERIOD FOR THE BRAKES IS BROKEN! HYUNDAI SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THERE SEEMS TO BE A MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE REAR BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470574August 14, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
MY 2009 SANTA FE WOULD SQUEAK WHILE DRIVING, BUT THE NOISE STOPPED WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE HANGING AND THE ROTORS WERE RUSTED. MY CAR ONLY HAD 26,627 MILES. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS WITH A LOT MORE MILEAGE AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED AND THE DEALERSHIP DID THE FOLLOWING: MACHINED REAR ROTORS AND LUBRICATED SLIDE RAILS, REMACHINED REAR ROTORS, REMOVED AND CLEANED CALIPERS AND ALL HARDWARE. THIS WAS ON 10/4/2011. FAST FORWARD TO THE END OF JULY 2012 AND MY CAR IS MAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE. ON 08/9/12 WITH ONLY 37,843 (APPROX 10,000 MILES LATER) THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY REAR BRAKES WERE SHOT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOW FINDING THAT THESE CARS HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT REAR BRAKES BUT NONE OF IT IS COVERED. I ALSO NEED NEW TIRES AND FROM WHAT I AM READING ABOUT THE REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS THIS IS ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE WEARING OUT OF THE TIRES. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND SINCE THE 2011 SANTA FE HAS BRAKE RECALLS, I FEEL THAT THE EARLIER MODELS WITH THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AND PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER. BRAKES ARE IMPORTANT AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A BODILY HARM. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE IGNORED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470360August 13, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR HAS DIED 3 TIMES AFTER I TURN. I HAVE TURNED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M TURNING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY OR ONTO ANOTHER STREET/ROAD AS SLOWER SPEEDS. I LOSE POWER STEERING, MY CAR DIES AND MY BATTERY LIGHT QUICKLY FLASHES ON WITH THIS HAPPENS. ONCE I TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON, EVERYTHING WORKS AGAIN. AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS JUST HAPPENS TO ME SPARATICALLY. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TWICE TO THE DEALER. ONCE THEY REPLACED A PART (SORRY DO NOT RECALL AT THIS TIME). HOWEVER IT DID IT A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT WAS REPLACED, SO OBVIOUSLY WASN'T WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY JUST TOLD ME THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. AND STATE THEY COULD HELP ME, NOR WILL IT BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY IF IT HAPPENS OVER 100,000 MILES. I'VE NOW HEARD OF OTHERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470435August 13, 2012
ENGINE
THE ENGINE STALLED THE 4TH TIME. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REACH A DIAGNOSIS AND UNABLE TO FIX IT.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469886August 9, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS HAVE SEVERELY OXIDIZED INSIDE THE PLASTIC LENS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAVE LOST ILLUMINATION *TGW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470007August 9, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE PADS ARE STICKING DUE TO KNOWN ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI. PARTS ARE CORRODED CAUSING REAR PADS TO RIDE AGAINST ROTORS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND HEAT WHEEL/TIRES ARE RUNNING EXCESSIVELY HOT AND PADS ARE WEARING OUT WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. DEALER TOLD CUSTOMER OF KIT TO REPLACE PROBLEM BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470030August 9, 2012
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND NOTICED A TICKING SOUND. OVER 2 MILES IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL IT WAS A LOUD KNOCKING. I HAD TO EXIT ONE FREEWAY, AND MERGE TO ANOTHER, BEFORE I COULD GET TO AN ACTUAL EXIT. UPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO SPEED TO MERGE, THE KNOCK BECAME SEVERE, I LOST COMPRESSION, AND THE SUV DIED. THERE WAS A PUFF OF SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST AND I ROLLED TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND OUT THAT THE #4 ROCKER ARM HAD SHOT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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