Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10257821February 7, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE ON THEIR WAY HOME AND WENT ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN MY WIFE HEARD A CLUNK AND THOUGHT A CHUNK OF ICE FELL OFF THE CAR. SHE SAID THE CAR THEN HANDLED AS IF IT WERE ON BLACK ICE ALL OVER THE ROAD. I PULLED THE CAR IN THE SHOP AND FOUND THE LEFT REAR TRAILING BROKE NEXT TO THE SPRING MOUNT TOWARDS THE WHEEL. NOT HAVING DISMANTLED ANY COMPONENTS, USING A VISUAL INSPECTION THE PART HAD ONLY A FEW SPOTS THAT HAD BEEN HOLDING JUDGING BY THE RUST ON THE BROKEN PART. THE CAR IS STILL IN MY SHOP AND I WILL BE CALLING HYUNDAI MONDAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PART. MY CONCERN IS IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY WIFE AND 17 MONTH DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. PLEASE REVIEW THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER SEEN TRAILING ARMS, CONTROL ARMS OR MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BREAK LIKE THIS ONE DID WITHOUT HAVING BEEN IN SOME TYPE OF ACCIDENT. THIS PART FAILED FROM THE TOP DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257556February 5, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO A PROBLEM WITH A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I BORROWED THE CAR FROM MY GIRLFRIEND TO RUN AN ERRAND. BEING 6 FOOT TALL AND HAVING A SIZE 13 FOOT I MUST SAY THE CAR WASN'T VERY COMFORTABLE EVEN WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK. IT SEEMED TO RESPOND AND HANDLE SMOOTHLY BUT AS I EASED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW FOR A RAILROAD CROSSING, THE TOE OF MY WORK BOOT BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LAUNCHED LIKE A ROCKET AND MY IMPULSE WAS TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY FREE (LEFT) FOOT. THIS ONLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR FURTHER TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED OUT OF CONTROL. IT WENT FROM 30 MPH TO NEARLY 90 MPH IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND IN A MOMENT OF CLARITY I REACHED FOR THE IGNITION KEY. I SWITCHED THE IGNITION OFF LOSING ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES BUT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. AT THIS POINT I WAS ABLE TO FREE MY RIGHT FOOT FROM IT'S TRAPPED POSITION BETWEEN THE TWO CONTROL PEDALS AND SAT IN A STATE OF SHOCK. IT WAS 2 DAYS LATER THAT I REALLY CAME BACK TO A SOMEWHAT LOGICAL STATE OF MIND AND DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND HOPEFULLY ALERT OTHER DRIVERS TO THIS POTENTIAL DEADLY PROBLEM. MUCH TO MY HORROR, I FIND THAT I'M NOT THE FIRST ONE TO EXPERIENCE THIS AND BEING MECHANICAL MYSELF CAN SEE THAT THESE CARS ARE NOT DESIGNED BY 6 FOOT ENGINEERS WITH SIZE 13 BOOTS. I FOUND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THE ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM FORUM WHILE SEARCHING THE 2001 SANTA FE ( COMPLAINT NUMBER 754795) AND AGREE THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE BRAKE / ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONFIGURATION. FOR A PERSON OF MY STATURE, THEY CAN BE POTENTIAL DEATH TRAPS ! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257415February 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2003, 4 CYLINDER, 2.4 LITER ENGINE STALLED 4 TIMES. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO SERVICE DIAGNOSED WITH CRANK PRECISION SENSOR. NO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DOING RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE 2001 AND 2002 WAS RECALLED FOR THIS MATTER. ALSO FOUND OUT THAT MANY 2003'S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT HYUNDAI WONT COVER THIS BECAUSE IT IS AND ELECTRONIC PART BUT THE ENGINE CAN JUST STALL AT ANY MOMENT. BECAUSE IT WAS RECALLED 2YRS PRIOR SHOULD RAISE A RED FLAG. I WILL BE CALLING HYUNDAI CORP. THANK YOU SORAYA GARCIA *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257500February 4, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PURCHASED 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. WHEN EVER A PASSENGER WOULD SHIFT THEIR WEIGHT IN THE SEAT, THE SENOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON. TOOK INTO DEALER TWO TIMES WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. THIRD TIME FACTORY REP WAS PRESENT, PROBLEM FOUND BUT COULD NOT BE FIXED. WAS OFFERED A DIFFERENT CAR WITH ME PAYING THE DIFFERENCE IN STICKER PRICE OR THEY WOULD BUY BACK MY CAR WITH A FEE. THE LEMON LAW IN REVERSE. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257302February 3, 2009
WHEELS, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN THE EVENING ON THE SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY (55 MPH, LEFT LANE, PKWY TRAFFIC HEAVY BUT MOVING WELL), STEERING SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHIMMY, FOLLOWED BY GRINDING NOISE EMANATING FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. ASSUMED A FLAT, PULLED FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, PUT HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND BEGAN TO PULL OVER TO RIGHT LANE. STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL AS STEERING WHEEL WAS WHIPPING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, GRINDING NOISE INCREASED - AS I SLOWED ENOUGH TO PULL ONTO DIRT SHOULDER, RIGHT FRONT OF CAR COLLAPSED, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF AND BOUNCED ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC BEFORE LANDING ON OPPOSITE SHOULDER OF PARKWAY. THAT THE WHEEL DIDN'T FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING AT FULL 55 MPH AND WHEN IT DID FAIL, THAT IT BOUNCED BETWEEN ONCOMING CARS, AND DID NOT HIT ONE OF THEM AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WAS ASTOUNDING. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR HINT OF A PROBLEM, MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE WHEEL LITERALLY RUSTED OFF - HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MECHANIC STATES 3 OTHER WHEELS HAVE MORE RUST THAN HE HAS EVER SEEN ON A VEHICLE, HOWEVER, HE DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS DANGER OF AN IMMEDIATE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257348February 3, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD NOT STOP ILLUMINATING WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN SOMEONE OCCUPIED THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER AND WAS LEFT FOR REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257373February 3, 2009
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DISENGAGES FREQUENTLY WITH ADULT IN SEAT. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS FUNCTIONING AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO ...... NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256145January 23, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OCCASIONALLY, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION THE CAR WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SURGE FORWARD. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES SO FAR. CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN NONE SO FAR, BUT I AM CONCERNED SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255823January 21, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE BACK WINDOW OF MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE JUST BLEW OUT LAST NIGHT, NO ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255821January 21, 2009
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. FIRST INCIDENT, MAY 2008. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR REPAIR OPERATIONS,AND A FEW MORE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS,BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR HAVE INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE. SOME OF THOSE REPAIR OPERATIONS SEEMED TO WORK FOR A WHILE,BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RETURNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255398January 17, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS EXPERIENCED FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE A LONG LAG TIME BETWEEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTING TO MOVE. THE TIME CAN BE UP TO A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNOYING AND AT TIMES DANGEROUS. IF THE VEHICLE ALWAYS DID THIS, YOU COULD GET USED TO IT, THOUGH IT IS STILL NOT SAFE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BARELY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR RESULTS IN INSTANT TIRE SPINNING AND ASSOCIATED QUICK ACCELERATION. THE INCONSISTENT NATURE OF THE ACCELERATOR RESPONSE MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS. AS MY DAUGHTER IS LEARNING TO DRIVE, I CANNOT LET HER USE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WITH ANY INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, THIS CAR WOULD BE DEADLY. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ONCE (IN PA) AND WAS BRUSHED OFF WITH THE EXCUSE THAT THE ENGINE COMPUTER DID NOT REPORT ANY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255284January 16, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
RUSTING OF LOWER SUB-FRAME ON A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CAUSE STEERING PROBLEMS LEADING VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255360January 16, 2009
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN 9/08. THE DEALER SCANNED THE SYSTEM, CLEARED HISTORIC CODES, CYCLED THROUGH SELF TEST SEVERAL TIMES. CODES DID NOT RESET. LIGHT CAME BACK ON IN 1/09. I WILL TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. MY OPINION IS THAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE MORE RELIABLE . WHEN THE RED LIGHT INITIALLY CAME ON THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT I WILL BE CHARGED APPX. $600 WHEN THEY FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254684January 12, 2009
VISIBILITY
THE WASHER FLUID DOES NOT SQUIRT ONTO THE WINDOW. AT BEST, THE FLUID SOMETIMES DRIBBLES OUT AND HITS THE LOWEST PART OF THE WINDOW, BUT ONLY AFTER HOLDING THE WASHER FLUID BUTTON FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE LINE WAS PROBABLY FROZEN AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY RECOMMENDED I CHECK THE FLUID LINE FOR BLOCKAGE OR HEAT IT UP WITH A HAIR DRYER. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON TWO DIFFERENT CARS FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER, AND THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER. DURING LIGHT SNOW AND RAIN, THE WINDOW GETS DIRTY AND I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO CLEAN THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. I THINK THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254447January 9, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SUSPENSION: LOST STEERING GOING OVER A BRIDGE. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND ALL RODS AND SPRINGS ARE RUSTED OUT WITH HUGE RUSTED HOLES. CRACKED AND RUSTED, ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254249January 8, 2009
AIR BAGS
MY 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS IN A ROLLOVER CRASH ON 12/23. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS OPENED. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10253929January 6, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE DROPPED CAUSING LANE CHANGE , LEFT REAR TIRE RUBBING ON STRUT-SHOCK , TRAILING ARM BROKE LEFT REAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254046January 6, 2009
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON 8/20/07. THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM WAS AT 765 MILES ON 9/13/07. A SPECIAL PART WAS ORDERED PER THE REPAIR ORDER. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WAS ON 10/4/07 AT 1863 MILES. ON 9/4/08 AT 14721 MILES, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I HAD AN INCIDENT RIGHT NEAR THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THANKFULLY I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE REPAIR ORDER STATES THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER CONCERN. ON 10/2/08, AT 15462 MILES, I AGAIN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH. THE REPAIR ORDER STATES A "TAB BROKEN?" ON 10/13/08, I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-95 IN CHERRY HILL, NJ (125 MILES FROM HOME) WHEN THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CAR AGAIN MADE A SCRAPING NOISE UNDER THE ENGINE. THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON AND PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED. IT WAS TOWED TO BURNS HYUNDAI IN CHERRY HILL. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A BROKEN YAW RING. AFTER THAT IT SEEMED FINE FOR A WHILE BUT WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT HAS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AT MILES 17697, 18948, 19292 AND 20076. I HAVEN'T HAD THE DRAGGING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD; HOWEVER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE FIXED. IF YOU CAN HELP ME TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253859January 5, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THEN SUDDENLY STALLED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS AROUND 60 MPH, CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. A FEW DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS CRACKED AT THE SENSOR END NEAR THE CRANKSHAFT AND TIMING BELT. REPLACING THE PART WAS LABOR INTENSIVE SINCE SEVERAL ENGINE COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REMOVED TO REACH THE SENSOR, THEREFORE THE REPAIR COSTS WERE HIGH. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED AROUND $1,000 TO REPLACE WITH THE PART ONLY COSTING $90. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED, THE VEHICLE NOW STARTS. BOTH THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR COSTS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR AND BEFORE I BROUGHT IT ELSEWHERE. BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTINUE TO REFUSE NOW TO REIMBURSE COSTS AFTER I HAD TO GO TO A LESS COSTLY REPAIR FACILITY. MY CASE # WITH HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA IS #3467755. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION LINE AT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I NOTIFIED THE REPRESENTATIVE AT HYUNDAI THAT THIS SAME PART WAS RECALLED ON THE 2 PRIOR YEARS MODELS OF SANTA FE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 03V520000) AND THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WERE MADE TO NHTSA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2003 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. CURRENT NHTSA ODI COMPLAINT #'S THAT ARE NEAR EXACT MATCHES FOR THE 2003 MODEL ARE ODI ID# 10238818, 10176719, 10133625, AND 10115680. SIMILAR ARE #10203556, 10199900, 10195530, 10183323, 10128836, AND 10050501. ALSO SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 03V520000 AND THE EPA RECALL #1791 - MFR# 49. A SIMILAR RECALL WAS DONE IN CANADA, SEE TRANSPORTATION CANADA RECALL #2002008, CAMPAIGN CODE R33. APPARENTLY THE PART CONTINUED TO DEFECTIVE AT THE POINT OF MANUFACTURER IN THE 2003 MODELS AS WELL. HIGH SPEED STALLS AND VIOLENT JERKING POSING RISK OF INJURY AND DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253316December 30, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE LAST WEEK FOR NOV. 2008 I PURCHASED A NEW SANTA FE FOR MY WIFE. ON 12/26/2008 SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON WRECK. MY 25 YR. OLD DAUGHTER WHO IS VERY PETTY ABOUT 110 LBS. WAS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING SHE WAS INJURED VERY SERIOUSLY. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WERE PRIOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIR BAGS IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THE MANUFACTURE NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0

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