Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10775323September 23, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD CLICKING SOUND FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,595.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10767566September 22, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
JUST AS THE OTHER NOTED COMPLAINTS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF AND MY FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY TEMPERAMENTAL. RARELY IT'LL SHOW THE CORRECT LEVEL - USUALLY ONCE I FILL MY TANK, MY FUEL GAGE SHOES I AM BELOW EMPTY AND FLASHES THAT I HAVE NO MILES LEFT TO DRIVE UNTIL MY TANK IS EMPTY. I HAVE RESORTED TO TRACKING MY MILEAGE WITH THE TRIP FUNCTION BECAUSE AS OTHERS HAVE DISCOVERED - TO REPAIR IT COSTS AN ARM AND A LEG DUE TO EXPENSIVE LABOR FROM WHERE THE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE ACCESSED TO REPLACE IT, UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10767577September 22, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY GAS GUAGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE IN ITS READINGS. I NOTICED ONE DAY MY GAS LIGHT WAS ON--STATING MY GAS TANK WAS EMPTY AND I KNOW I HAD GAS IN THE TANK. I ENDED UP GOING TO THE GAS STATION AND FILLED THE TANK. MY GUAGE READ FULL FOR A DAY THEN MY GAS LIGHT WENT ON (EMPTY). AS I DROVE THE CAR I NOTICED THE GAS GUAGE SLOWLY RISE TO THE CORRECT READING OF "FULL". THE FLUCTUATION IN THE READINGS ARE CONSTANT. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND CONCERNING TO ME, AS I DRIVE CHILDREN AROUND AND CANNOT RELY ON MY GAS GUAGE TO GIVE ME AN ACCURATE READING. I AM CONSTANTLY GOING TO THE GAS STATION JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO HAVE GAS. THIS ISSUE CAUSED MY ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. IF I RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY, OR OFF IN THE DESERT HERE, IT COULD BE FATAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766357September 21, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 (NA) HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766457September 21, 2015
STEERING
THE FRONT RIGHT DRIVEAXLE BROKE, RESULTING IN THE FRONT TIRE FALLING OFF. I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVESHAFT, THE BALL JOINTS, CONTROL ARM, SERPENTINE BELT AND ALTERNATOR BELT AND PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT, FOR A TOTAL COST OF $876.01. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH. 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THAT, I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WITH MY FAMILY. CAN YOU IMAGINE YOUR TIRE FALLING OFF AT 70 MPH? HYUNDAI HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2013 FOR THE SAME ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766527September 21, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT IS INOPERATIVE. PERUSAL OF THE INTERNET SHOWS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2007-2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. THE FIX IS $ 500. HYUNDAI USA AND HYUNDAI WORLDWIDE H.Q. REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS OR OFFER ANY REPAIRS FOR THE FAULTY UNIT OR WHY INDEED IT FAILED. TRY DRIVING ANY DISTANCE WITHOUT A GAS GAUGE. THE CAR IS USELESS UNLESS REPAIRED. MANUFACTURERS SHOULD EITHER STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES OR THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ADVISED TO LOOK TO A MORE RELIABLE MANUFACTURER FOR A BETTER, SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE PRODUCT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766467September 21, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AT 8,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE GAS CANISTER OVERFLOW WAS FULL CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THEY REPLACED THE GAS CANISTER AND FILTER UNDER WARRANTY. AT 14,000 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - TOOK IT TO THE DEALER - THEY SAID I HAD OVERFLOWED THE GAS ON FILLUP, AND I HAD TO PAY $800-900 TO GET IT FIXED. I NEVER TOP OFF THE TANK. IT SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME, AND I CANNOT AFFORD $900 EVERY 10 TANKFULS OR SO. HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE IS LOOKING INTO IT ASKED THEM TO FIX THE DEFECT - OR TAKE THE CAR BACK - WAITING TO HEAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10765192September 18, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALL POWER LOCKS AND REAR HATCH NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CAN NOT UNLOCK-LOCK CAR WITH SMART KEY, INSIDE SWITCH NOR KEYLESS ENTRY. REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. CAR HAS TO BE OPENED MANUALLY WITH KEY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764608September 17, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ON OUR 2008 SANTA FE AS DESCRIBED BY MANY OTHER DRIVERS HERE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AND THE FUEL GAUGE UP AND DOWN. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE YET, SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMMENTS/COMPLAINTS HERE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764160September 16, 2015
VISIBILITY
BACK IN 2011, MY DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FAILED (THE BRACKET BROKE AT THE ELBOW WHERE THE PLASTIC IS MOLDED AROUND THE BRACKET). IN LOOKING AT THE PART, I NOTED THAT THE QUALITY/GAUGE OF THE BRACKET WAS NOT VERY ROBUST. I WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF FIRST PRINCE AND THEN JOHNSON CONTROLS, AND AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH SUN VISORS AND THE BRACKETS THAT SUPPORT THEM. BASED ON MY OBSERVATIONS, THE DESIGN IS INFERIOR AND IS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH TO LAST THROUGH THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THE REASON I'M WRITING TO YOU NOW, IS THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE VISOR ALSO FAILED RECENTLY, WITH DAMAGE IN THE EXACT SAME AREA. I AM ALSO NOTING THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRACKET IS STARTING TO WEAKEN, AS IT WILL FREQUENTLY NOT STAY IN A LOCKED UP POSITION. THIS WAS THE SAME SYMPTOM EXHIBITED BEFORE THE FIRST DRIVER SIDE VISOR FAILED. IN MY OPINION, THERE HAS TO BE AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH FAILURE RATE FOR THIS PART AND AS THE REPLACEMENT IS EXPENSIVE (APPX. $240), I FEEL THERE IS A RISK AND PERHAPS ALREADY OCCURRENCE OF A RISK OF THE BRACKET FAILING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, AND/OR A DRIVER WHO'S VISOR FAILED, HAVING VISION IMPAIRED BY THE SUN AND BECOMING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THE REPLACEMENT RATE FOR THIS PART ACROSS NOT ONLY THIS MODEL, BUT ALL OTHER'S AS I NOTE THAT FREQUENTLY THE DESIGN OF AN ELBOW BRACKET CROSSES OVER MULTIPLE PLATFORMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763932September 15, 2015
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN GOING UP A VERY STEEP GRADE. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK SO THAT I COULD TURN MY CAR OFF. I HAD TO LAY ON THE BRAKE WITH ALL MY WEIGHT TO KEEP FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO CARS BEHIND ME. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. AFTER A MINUTE, WHICH FELT LIKE MUCH LONGER, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK AND TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE SECOND TIME I LOST ALL POWER, WAS A COUPLE MONTHS LATER. I WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A CURVY HILLY ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER, ACCELERATE, DECELERATE, OR APPLY THE BRAKES. THERE WERE CARS BEHIND ME AND I WAS TERRIFIED I WOULD END UP OFF THE ROAD OR HEADING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO MAKE IT UP A HILL. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. BOTH TIMES MY INFANT WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. THANK GOODNESS BOTH OF US WERE UNHARMED, BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE VERY EASILY BEEN HURT OR HURT OTHERS. I WAS IN A SEVERAL THOUSAND POUND VEHICLE WHICH WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AS I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT. THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR. LUCKILY, I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED THE ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763936September 15, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT WOULD SAY I HAD 88 MILES TO EMPTY AND THEN JUMP BACK UP TO 130. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THEN THE NEXT IT WOULD BE BACK ON AGAIN. HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CODES AND IT WAS A BAD FUEL SENSOR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED BOTH FUEL SENSORS FOR $416. IF I HADN'T GOTTEN IT FIXED, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS TESTING WHICH IS MANDATORY IN MY COUNTY. ALSO, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY CLUE HOW MUCH GAS I HAD AND COULD'VE BEEN STRANDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763314September 12, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I FILLED UP MY TANK TO FULL ONE EVENING. AFTER WHICH I CAME HOME AND PARKED FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS LEAVING AND NOTICED MY LOW GAS LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS ON EMPTY. THIS HAD HAPPENED PRESVIOUSLY TO ME BUT CORRECTLY ITSELF SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. EVENTUALLY THE TANK READ 1/2 FULL AND THE LOW GAS LIGHT TURNED OFF. HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THIS IS NOT OK. I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND SHOULD FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN IT WITH MY CHILDREN. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HYUNDAI.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763315September 12, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN YOU FILL UP THE GAS TANK, IT REGISTER EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES THE GAUGE WILL READ CORRECTLY AND THEN IT GOES BACK TO EMPTY. I HAVE TO ALWAYS FILL THE CAR UP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE CAR. THIS IS ANNOYING. IT VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THIS IS THE THIRD HYUNDAI I'VE BOUGHT (TWO SANTA FE'S AND ONE SONATA) AND THIS CAR IS THE WORST MODEL I BOUGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762982September 10, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY GAS GUAGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE IN ITS READINGS. I NOTICED ONE DAY MY GAS LIGHT WAS ON--STATING MY GAS TANK WAS EMPTY AND I KNOW I HAD GAS IN THE TANK. I ENDED UP GOING TO THE GAS STATION AND FILLED THE TANK. MY GUAGE READ FULL FOR A DAY THEN MY GAS LIGHT WENT ON (EMPTY). AS I DROVE THE CAR I NOTICED THE GAS GUAGE SLOWLY RISE TO THE CORRECT READING OF "FULL". THE FLUCTUATION IN THE READINGS ARE CONSTANT. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND CONCERNING TO ME, AS I DRIVE CHILDREN AROUND AND CANNOT RELY ON MY GAS GUAGE TO GIVE ME AN ACCURATE READING. I AM CONSTANTLY GOING TO THE GAS STATION JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO HAVE GAS. THIS ISSUE CAUSED MY ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND AS A RESULT CANNOT PASS EMISSIONS UNTIL I GET THIS FIXED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762227September 8, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL FLOAT IN GAS TANK STUCK THEREFORE NO FUEL GAGE READING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762292September 8, 2015
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10761903September 7, 2015
STEERING, SUSPENSION, ENGINE
WHILE TURN LEFT INTO A SUBDIVISION THE STEERING WOULD NOT RE-CENTER THUS THE CAR RAN OVER A COUPLE OF LARGE STONES LINING THE ROADWAY AT THE ENTRANCE. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE. FINALLY THE CAR STOPPED ABOUT 30 FEET LATER. I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY STEER THE CAR BACK ON TO THE STREET. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE INNER WHEEL WELL ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS TORN OFF, THE LEFT FRONT AIR DAM, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS DAMAGE, AND A FLAT TIRE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10761978September 7, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST OF 2015 AND WHEN I FILLED THE CAR UP I NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE DIDN'T READ FULL. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE FUEL HAND DROPPED BELOW HALF FULL. I HIT THE TRIP BUTTON TO SEE WHAT THE RANGE DISPLAY WAS REPORTING AND IT WAS DROPPING LIKE A ROCK (STARTED AT 200+ MILES AND DROPPED DOWN TO LESS THAN 100 MILES). THEN A FEW MINUTES AFTER THAT THE EMPTY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH A P0460. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL CAR. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL SITUATION. IT IS POSSIBLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE MOVING (ON EXPRESSWAY) WHICH COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10761850September 6, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY, ALONG WITH THE LOW-FUEL WARNING LIGHT. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, THE GAUGE THEN APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE GAUGE CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION IF THE GAS TANK IS FILLED. WHEN THE TANK IS BELOW HALF FULL, THE GAUGE WILL RANDOMLY READ EMPTY OR HALF FULL. AN INTERNET SEARCH QUICKLY REVEALED THAT MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE HYUNDAI WILL INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL TOO CORRECT THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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