Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints (2003)

308 consumer complaints on file.

#10370630December 14, 2010
PARKING BRAKE
MY EMERGENCY BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE ME AND MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367027November 21, 2010
AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON FOR NO REASON IT HAS BEEN ON FOR 8MONTHS NOW AND NO FUSES ARE BLOWN AND NOW MY BRIGHT LIGHTS WONT WORK WHEN I FLIP THEM ON THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365550November 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE AND I HAVE HAD CONTINUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2004. MY FIRST ENCOUNTER STARTED AROUND 37,000 MILES,THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIP/HESITATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM THREE SEPARATE TIMES. I TOLERATED THE NUISANCE FOR ABOUT A YR UNTIL ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION 'GOT STUCK'! I HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN FIRST GEAR FOR 15 MILES! THE DEALER COULDN'T RE-ENACT IT, BUT DEFINITELY CHARGED ME $1800 TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION, AMONGST VARIOUS OTHER 'PART REPLACEMENTS'. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO 'DISAPPEAR' FOR ABOUT 4 MTHS AND IT STARTED AGAIN! TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK, SKIP AND MISS NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING, BUT THEN DISAPPEAR.. IT WAS MOODY AND INTERMITTENT, NOT CONSTANT AND DANGEROUS. THE DEALER STILL COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM! THEN ONE DAY I PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND IT JERKED BACK HARD!! MY HEAD WAS CLOSE TO HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT SOON REALIZED THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT BEGAN TO SQUEAL AND WHINE! THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE CORRECTED. JUST TWO MONTHS LATER, I WAS STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY, AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING! I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANNY DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO GEAR, AGAIN, AND IT JERKED A FEW SECONDS AFTER IT SLIPPED. I HAD TO CREEP MY WAY HOME BY DRIVING ABOUT 500-750 FT AND THEN THE TRANNY SLIPPED AND VIOLENTLY JERKED, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE A FEW TIMES AND THEN TRIED AGAIN. EVER SINCE I BEGAN TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ONLINE AND FOLLOWING THE LARGE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR AND WORSE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM SURPRISED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND FURTHER LOOKED INTO. PLEASE, RESEARCH THIS.. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, PLEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364324November 7, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS WAS NOT GETTING THE GAS MILEAGE SUGGESTED BY MANUFACTURER. IT WAS TAKEN REPEATEDLY TO DEALER WHERE WE WERE TOLD, "EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT JUST FINE". ALL MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AS REQUIRED BY DEALER". AS CAR BECAME MORE SLUGGISH AND FINALLY QUIT RUNNING ALTOGETHER- WE TOOK IT TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND LEARNED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD GONE BAD. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE- DEALERS ARE REPAIRING TRANSMISSIONS AND EMISSION CONTROLS AND CUSTOMERS ARE STILL COMPLAINING ABOUT BAD GAS MILEAGE, SLUGGISH VEHICLES. NOW THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED- THE CAR IS GETTING THE CORRECT GAS MILEAGE AND RUNNING BETTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358295September 29, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND AND THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,060.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357889September 27, 2010
VISIBILITY
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR IS DEFECTIVE. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE THE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP IN THE UNUSED POSITION. FOR SEVERAL YEARS I HELD IT IN PLACE WITH VELCRO. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SWING IT OVER TO COVER THE SIDE WINDOW. RECENTLY THE ENTIRE PLASTIC CONNECTOR BROKE AND THE SUN VISOR DANGLED FROM THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER.THIS OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. WE USED VELCRO AND DUCT TAPE IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE SUN VISOR FROM DANGLING. IT WAS NOT USABLE. WE HAVE NOW DISCONNECTED THE SUN VISOR FROM THE ELECTRICAL SOURCE AND REMOVED IT COMPLETELY. IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DANGLING IN FRONT OF THE DRIVE. IT IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DO NOT A MEANS TO BLOCK THE SUN FROM THE DRIVER. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME HYUNDAI DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354029September 6, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE GS, FWD, 2.7L AUTOMATIC - BATTERY LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON IN WET WEATHER AND POWER STEERING IS LOST. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES TO THE DEALER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE RECEIVED NO FIXES. LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353673September 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE CONTACT THEN DECIDED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAD ONLY OCCURRED ONE TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,002.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351059August 21, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY 4TH INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO YOU THREE TIMES BEFORE. I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY INJURE MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I NOW DRIVE WITH MY HAND ON THE SHIFT LEVER AND PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL WHEN NEARING ANY POSSIBLE SITUATION WHERE I COULD HIT ANOTHER CAR OR A PEDESTRIAN. I AM BECOMING SO ADEPT AT THIS MANEUVER THAT LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AUTOMATICALLY. I WAS BADLY SHAKEN, BUT NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO HYUNDAI AMERICA AND THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED. THEY HAVE INSPECTED THE PROBLEM AND CLAIM THAT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD ALREADY BEEN DRIVING FOR A FEW HOURS, SO THE ENGINE WAS WARM. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND SHE WAS HEADED UP A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, INCREASING IN SPEED AS SHE WAS CRESTING THE HILL. AS SHE HEADED DOWN, BRAKING, THE TACHOMETER CONTINUED TO WIDELY GO UP AND DOWN AND THE ENGINE WAS REVVING UP . ONCE SHE PULLED OVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY DOWNLOADED A COMPUTER UPGRADE AND OVER THE NEXT 4-5 WEEKS ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT LOW SPEEDS. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED IVOQ 11/03/10 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342061July 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM SHUTS ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V131000, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336252June 14, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED WHICH CAUSED THE RPMS TO INCREASE EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO A PARKING LOT, AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAITED FIFTEEN TO TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING TO OPERATION WITH EXTREME CAUTION. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334462June 3, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CLOCK SPRING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331575May 21, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I'VE OWNED MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SINCE JULY 2003 AND I HAVE BEEN MOSTLY PLEASED WITH THE VEHICLE. ON 4/30/10, I LEFT HOME FOR A TRIP TO ANOTHER TOWN APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FROM HOME. THE TRIP WAS MOSTLY ON AN EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 60 - 70 MILES PER HOUR. AS I NEARED MY DESTINATION, I GOT OFF THE EXPRESSWAY, ONTO A SURFACE ROAD. WITHIN 1 MILE OF BEING ON THE ROAD, I WAS CHANGING LANES AND SENSED MY CAR "PULLING" ME, WHILE I WAS LIGHTLY BREAKING. I LOOKED DOWN TO ENSURE THAT NEITHER MY FOOT, FLOORMAT OR ANYTHING ELSE WAS TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS NO EXPLAINABLE REASON FOR THE ACCELERATION. HOWEVER, BY KEEPING MORE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR ENOUGH TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. I STOPPED THE CAR, AND PUT IN PARK. THE ENGINE WHINED LOUDLY. BUT I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR AND SEE OF THE THROTTLE WOULD SOMEHOW RESET ITSELF. BUT EACH TIME, THE ENGINE RACED LOUDLY. I CHOSE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THAT A THROTTLE SENSOR HAD SHORTED OUT. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND I WAS GIVEN BACK THE VEHICLE ON 5/8/10. THE VEHICLE HA SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY SINCE THEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330524May 15, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT ABOUT 30MPH, THE REAR LEFT SUSPENSION FAILED AND I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. THE WHEEL CONNECTING TO IT WAS OUT OF ITS POSITION BY ABOUT 10 DEGREES. THE SUSPENSION IS HEAVILY RUSTED AND I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND NO ONE GOT HURT. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOU. SO I THINK MY CASE WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330119May 12, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE PASSENGERS AIR BAG YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER MADE A SECOND REPAIR TO THE PASSENGERS WIRING HARNESS AND WITHIN A YEAR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,781 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 110,000. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF UPDATED 10/07/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328899May 4, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. THE TACHOMETER DROPS TO ZERO THEN THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART AND CONTINUE GOING. SOMETIMES IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOPLIGHT AND HAS TO BE PUT AND PARK AND CRANKED. THE VEHICLE ALSO BUCKS WHILE DRIVING AT TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT HARD WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE AT TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SENT TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND SAYS THEY CANNOT FIX IT WITHOUT SEEING IT HAPPEN WITH THEIR COMPUTER CONNECTED TO IT. OF COURSE, IT NEVER OCCURS FOR THEM. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY DAILY OVER THE LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325523April 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK , VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY , I STEPPED HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL I WAS GOING APPROX. 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED ( ABS ACTIVATING) FOR A SECOND OR 2 AND STOPPED ,AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY SANK TO THE FLOOR,THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING, I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO TRY TO STOP , BUT IT WAS TOO LATE I RAN INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT A DEFECT AND ALSO IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I FEEL A RECALL BY HYUNDAI SHOULD BE INITIATED SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE COMMON DEFECT, PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323695April 4, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 SANTA FE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT IMMEDIATELY STARTS AGAIN. STALLING HAS ALSO BEEN NOTICED AT LOWER SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS. THIS OCCURS SPORADICALLY AND WITH NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON SO A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN IS USELESS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION FROM HYUNDAI. ALSO RECALLS ON 2001 AND 2002 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323379April 1, 2010
AIR BAGS
ON JANUARY 4, 2010 I HAD THE VEHICLE BATTERY REPLACED. AFTER BATTERY INSTALLATION THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. ON JAN. 11 I PAID $87 TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH INCORRECTLY INDICATED THAT ALL AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED PLUS A CRASH WAS RECORDED. MECHANIC'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE SRS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322121March 25, 2010
STEERING
BROUGHT MY 2003 SANTA FE IN FOR SERVICE WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1300 OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS UP AND HYUNDAI WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SENT A LETTER TO THE CEO WHO REALLY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY PROBLEM MY WIFE IS GOING THROUGH CANCER AND WE RELY ON THE CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO TREATMENTS I HAVE OWNED 6 HYUNDAI'SIN THE PAST SO THIS WILL BE MY LAST ONE FOR THE BAD PART IS THE CAR WON'T PASS INSPECTION IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE CAR HAS 118.000 MILES ON IT AND ACCORDING TO THEM THAT IS A LOT OF MILES SO I GUESS THEY ARE SAYING THE THERE CARS DON'T LAST LONG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Hyundai Santa Fe