Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10138089September 29, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LX WITH 3.5L ENGINE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR THAT THERE IS A DELAY IN RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. THIS DELAY IS OVER A SECOND LONG, AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO KEEP PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN THE SENSOR FINALLY REACTS, THERE IS MORE ACCELERATION APPLIED THAN IS DESIRED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START OUT FASTER THAN INTENDED, OR NOT STARTING OUT WHEN THE DRIVER WANTED TO. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW HOW MUCH ACCELERATION WILL BE APPLIED TO THE ENGINE, OR WHEN THE CAR WILL START MOVING, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT WHEN TO APPLY GAS, AND NOT KNOWING HOW THE CAR WILL REACT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137667September 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE - VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AND UNDER ANY CONDITION. AS A RESULT VEHICLE LOST POWER. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART BACK UP, AND AT TIMES THE CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART VEHICLE. THE CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE SIX CYLINDER ENGINES OF THE HYUNDAI SANTA FEE. BUT THIS VEHICLE, NOT A FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ASKED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137100September 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
DT: CONTACT STATED THE RUBBER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME OFF, AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THEIR THE CONTACT DAUGHTER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF AND SHE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS HAPPENED ON 9-16-05. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE THAT IT HAD COME OFF. SHE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HAD SUCH PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT TO CALL THE CONSUMER CENTER, AND THEY REFERRED HER TO THE NHTSA SAFETY HOT LINE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136786September 16, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MANY SANTA FE OWNERS. PROBLEMS OF ACCELERATION AT 40, ALONG WITH SHIFTING ISSUES. ON SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER, LEAVING THE CAR THERE FOR SOMETIMES 7-15 DAYS AT A TIME. IT HAS HAD 4 THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS, AN ALTERNATOR AND 2 BATTERIES. MY MILEAGE IS 100,386 AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS 3000.00 WORTH OF TRANSMISSION WORK. HYUNDAI SIMPLY STATES MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THESE ISSUES DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A SIGNED STATEMENT FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHOP MANAGER THAT STATES A TPS PROBLEM ABSOLUTELY WILL AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137731September 12, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CUSTOMER RESOLUTION TO WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE 2004 SANTA FE DUE TO OBVIOUS DEFECT AND/OR INHERENT PROBLEM REGARDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH SNAPPED RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THE WAS NO WRINGING OF INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO IMPROPER USE BY THE CONSUMER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135554September 7, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A MINI VAN AND MY PASSENGER FRONT WAS DAMAGED. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE MOSTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AND I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT WITH THE DAMAGE IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135705September 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED TOWARD A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH NO RESULTS. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. RELEASED, RE-APPLIED - STILL NO BRAKES. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE CAR CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT THAT WAS WAITING AT THE RED STOP LIGHT. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS CHARGED .5 LABOR HOURS ($46.50) AND SENT ON MY WAY WITH NO RESOLUTION OR EXPLANATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF BRAKES AND RESULTING ACCIDENT. ON THIS SAME SERVICE DAY, AFTER CONSULTING WITH HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A 2ND HYUNDAI DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION/INSPECTION. I WAS CHARGED ANOTHER $19.95 BUT AGAIN, SERVICE COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE HISTORY OF SERVICE ON THIS NEW VEHICLE, I CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS SERVICED IN APRIL 2004 AS A RESULT OF A RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED (RECALL NO. 065 - ABS REPROGRAMMING). ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE TICKET INDICATED THE CORRECTION INCLUDED "PERFORMING RECALL #065. HECU REPROGRAMMING", THE SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION OF CONSEQUENCE LISTED IN YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF MY ACCIDENT. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, I HAD MY VEHICLE THROUGH A CAR WASH. NEITHER HYUNDAI DEALER QUESTIONED WHETHER THE BRAKE PAD MAY HAVE BEEN WET AND/OR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT JUST OVER A YEAR EARLIER, THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN UNDER A RECALL INVOLVING THE ABS, THE CONSEQUENCE OF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRING AND A POSSIBLE CRASH RESULTING. IN NOVEMBER 2004 (AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED), THE VEHICLE AGAIN DISPLAYED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER, SERVICE COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEMS ON INSPECTION. THE EVENTS AND HISTORY LEADING TO THE CURRENT FAILURE SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THE PREVIOUS RECALL WORK PERFORMED WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. MY FOLLOW UP CALL TO HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS NOT BEEN RETURNED TO DATE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134267August 26, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VERY SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT 10128836. (RECENTLY PURCHASED 2003 2.7L V-6) (1) VEHICLE BUCKED VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 70 - 75 MPH TWICE IN THE LAST 2 DAYS. NO BUCKING AT LOWER SPEEDS (SUV IS SELDOM DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY, SO THIS MAY BE LIMITED TO A HIGHER SPEED PROBLEM) (2) STALLED WHILE WAITING (FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AT A STOP LIGHT THE SAME DAY ONE OF THE BUCKING INCIDENTS OCCURRED. AMBIENT TEMP WAS 96 DEG AND AC WAS WORKING HARD. (3) 1 INCIDENT OF VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITH FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE. (4) LCD CLOCK WORKS ONLY ON OCCASION DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET - I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN DUPLICATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133625August 20, 2005
EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 2003 SANTA FE (MARCH 2003 PURCHASED). SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I REPORTED TO DEALER THAT IT JERKS VIOLENTLY (STALLS) AND RESTARTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD SOMETIMES JUST DIE AT A IDLE STOP LIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON (ALWAYS STARTED BACK UP). THE DEALER INSPECTED AND COULD NOT FIND OR REPLICATE ANY ISSUES. I CALLED BACK AGAIN AS THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND IS QUITE ALARMING. I TRAVEL AS A HEALTHCARE CONSULTANT SO I NEED A DEPENDABLE CAR. JUST THIS WEEK THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND IT RAN QUITE BAD I DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A BAD CRANK AND TEMP SENSOR. THEY REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR AND I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED AT THE CARS PERFORMANCE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ACCELERATED SMOOTHLY AND NO MORE JERKY VIOLENT STALLS. THE DEALER SAID THE SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN BAD ALL ALONG AND FINALLY GAVE OUT. I WAS CHARGED 440 DOLLARS AS THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I THINK THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATED FURTHER AFTER READING ALL THE SIMILAR REPORTS I DO TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS ASSEMBLY AT THE VERY LEAST THE SENSORS BEING USED IN THE VEHICLES. I AM REQUESTING A REFUND FROM HYUNDAI IN THIS MATTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133302August 18, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE(2.7L AWD AT4) ON AUG 15, 2005. THEN TWO DAYS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED THE NHTSA ROLL OVER TEST (TIP). *JB " NHTSA 2005 SUV CRASH, ROLLOVER RATINGS <HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM/NEWS/2005/06/22/133124.HTML>" 1. WHY THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER NOT MANDATED TO WARN THE CUSTOMERS THE SAFEY DEFICIENCY INFO? A. DO I HAVE GROUND FOR RETURNING THE PURCHASE AND ASKING FOR REFUND? 2. WHAT ARE THE FOLLOW-UPS FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO REMDEY THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE VEHICLES ON ROAD? 3. WITH SANTA FE HAS BEEN IN THE MARKET FOR MANY YEARS ALREADY, DOES THE TRAFFIC STATISTICS INDICATES THAT IT IS INVOLVED IN MORE ROLL OVERS THAN OTHER VEHICLES, SAY HONDA CRV? PROMINENT UNDER WHICH CIRCUMSTANCES ( ROAD/WEATHER/DRIVER)? WHERE TO FIND THIS TYPE OF INFO? THANKS. LI CHEN, CALGARY, CANADA, (403) 685-8101 4. 3.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132509August 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
MY 28 MONTH OLD 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 15,809 MILES BEGAN MAKING A SCREECHING SOUND IN THE REAR. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE REAR DISC PADS HAD CORRODED AND FROZEN TO THE CALIPERS, MAKING THEM INOPERATIVE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAND BLASTED THE PADS AND CALIPERS AND LUBRICATED THEM. MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN I DESCRIBED IT. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE AND WAS NOT A DEFECT AND WAS THUS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131965August 8, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DELAYED ACCELERATION. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THEY SAID IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. IF AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS BEFORE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130787August 1, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MY CAR IS A 2001 4-CYLINDER 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE IS TOO SMALL FOR THE CAR'S WEIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY (COST WAS OVER $1000). THE DEALER INSISTED THAT I CAUSED THE PROBLEM BY "BAD DRIVING". I HAVE DRIVEN A STICK FOR WELL OVER 12 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH ON ANY OTHER CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130732July 31, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 4/04 AND EVER SINCE WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, BRAND NEW, IT HAS HAD THE PROBLEM OF HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO OUR "SERVICE DEPARTMENT" NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY SAY THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX IT AS NO CODE REGISTERS ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I AM AMAZED THAT NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING TO FORCE HYUNDAI INTO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. IF NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A SERIOUS LACK OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION THEN IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. HOPEFULLY IT WON'T BE ANYTHING WORSE THAN AN INJURY. THIS VEHICLE NOW HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY DAY. IT WOULD ALSO APPEAR THAT IT IS COMMON PRACTICE FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE "SERVICE DEPT." TO DENY ANY PROBLEM THAT CAN'T BE SEEN EASILY. THIS IS MY SECOND SANTA FE AND WILL DEFINITELY BE THE LAST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130307July 27, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT PART REPLACED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10129741July 22, 2005
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DT: CALLER STATED ALL FIVE OF THE LUGS: NUTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BROKE AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. SOME DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FENDER. VEHICLE WAS FIXED BY A BODY SHOP PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DEALER WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO TAKE VEHICLE THERE. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT'S HOUSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124566July 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS AUTOMATIC/STANDARD TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR. WHEN CONSUMER EXITED THE HIGHWAY HE NOTICED HE ONLY HAD SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129088July 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: CONTACT STATES VEHICLE QUIT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. IT RESTARTED. . IN 6-05-05 THE DEALER CHANGED THE COMPUTER ASSEMBLY , AND ADDED SCAN TOOL OPERATION AND CHANGED THE RELAY ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. HE NOTICED THIS HAPPENING AT APPROXIMATELY. 25,000 MILES. AT ONE TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT IT WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALER TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128975July 16, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
AFTER STARTING THE CAR EACH TIME, AND EITHER BACKING UP AND THEN PULLING FORWARD OR PULLING FORWARD, THERE IS A POPPING SOUND AND A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS, THEN IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER HAVING MY BOSS WHO IS A MECHANIC, DRIVE THE CAR, HE SAID THAT IT WAS NEITHER OF THOSE ITEMS, AND COULD POSSIBLY HAVE SOMEETHING TO DO WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN OR THE U-JOINTS. I RELAYED THIS INFORMATION TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY THEN WENT BACK OVER THE CAR, AND SAID THAT THEY HAD TO CALL THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. AFTER THAT CALL, I WAS INFORMAED THAT THE NOISE HAD TO DO WITH THE ABS SYSTEM, CHECKING ITSELF. BUT I WONDER IF THIS IS THE CASE, SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM IN A FORWARD MOTION. I ENJOY DRIVING THIS CAR, AND WOULD RECCOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO ASKED. IT IS COMFORTABLE, FUN TO DRIVE AND THE NOISE HASN'T SEEMD TO ALTER THE OPERATION OF THE CAR AND ANY FORM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128836July 14, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 SANTAFE HAS AN IDLE PROBLEM. IT FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT STALL WHEN I'M SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENLY AND THEIR IS NO CODE IN THE COMPUTER SO THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPLACE ANY PARTS. THE CAR HAS BUCKED ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70MPH. IT'S BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I'M READY TO GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF FRUSTRATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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