Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints
8,019 consumer complaints on file.
- #10744466July 28, 2015ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTED TO "JUMP" PERSAY. IT JUMPED FROM 1 RPM TO 5 RPM, WHEN I TRIED RO BRAKE IT ACTED AS IF MY GEARS WERE GRINDING, AND IT THRUSTED ME FORWARD. THIS IS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT THAT HAS HAPPENED ALOT, BUT UP TIL THIS MORNING, THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO MY HUSBAND DISCONNECTED MY BATTERY IN HOPES IT WOULD RESET. AFTER ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES WE HOOKED THE BATTERY BACK UP AND TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I ALMOST CRASHED THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK WHILE I WAS DOING 55MPH I CAME TO A CURVE AND MY CAR JUMPED TO 5 RPMS AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR....THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!!!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10743649July 27, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED TO CALL THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE SPO NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,389.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10743767July 27, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, ENGINE
FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET KEEP LEAKING OIL ON TO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO GO OUT . THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN THE CORE OF THE ALTERNATOR BURNED .I HAVE REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR 3 TIMES AND VALVE COVER GASKET TWICE. HYUNDAI HAVE A RECALL ON THE VERACRUZ FOR THIS SOME ISSUES BUT WILL NOT RECALL THE SANTA FE FOR THIS ISSUES .
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10743290July 24, 2015SEAT BELTS
UPON TRYING TO SWITCH MY DAUGHTER FROM HER CAR SEAT TO A BOOSTER SEAT WE NOTICED OUT BACK SEAT SEATBELTS WERE FRAYED AND DAMAGED, LATER WE FOUND OUT IT WAS DO TO FAULTY SEATBELT TENTIONERS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10736088July 23, 2015SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND SOMEBODY GOT IN FRONT OF ME I PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL AND MY BREAKS WILL NOT ENGAGE AFTER THAT I RELIES THE BREAKS I DID IT AGAIN HAD TO PUMP THE BREAKS A COUPLE OF TIMES FOR THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER MARKS AN ERROR ON THE ABS SYSTEM, AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I LEARN THAT THE SAME MODEL GOT RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING JUST JUMP MY MANUFACTURE YEAR 2005 AND WENT TO THE NEXT YEAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10736102July 23, 2015EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS HAVE A VERY SHORT RANGE. THERE IS A DEFINITE HORIZONTAL CUT OFF JUST A FEW FEET OFF THE GROUND. ANY THING ABOVE THE CUT-OFF LINE IS NOT ILLUMINATED AT ALL, NIGHT VISIBILITY IS FAR TOO SHORT JUST A FEW FEET BEFORE THE CAR. DIFFICULT TO SEE PEOPLE CROSSING THE ROAD AT NIGHT OR ANY OBJECTS, CREATING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. EXAM OF THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY REVEALS A DEFINITE CUT-OFF OF THE UPPER PART OF THE REFLECTOR CONE, REDUCING THE AVAILABLE LIGHT. THE HIGH BEAM CONE IS ROUND, HAVING NO SUCH CUT-OFF. DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT BECAUSE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10736133July 23, 2015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10735450July 21, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ UPDATED 12/4/2017*CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10734958July 18, 2015SUSPENSION
TOOK MY 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN TO THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE/TUNE UP AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY RUSTED OUT IN TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AREA NEAR THE ENGINE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AREA BELOW THE FRONT DOOR. THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD AND I DO LIVE IN A SALT BELT STATE, BUT I SEE THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THE 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FOR SIMILAR FRAME RUST ISSUES, SO I NOW RECOMMEND THAT THE RECALL INVESTIGATION BE EXTENDED TO THE 2005 MODELS AS WELL. I WONDER IF I AM ONLY NARROWLY AVOIDING LOSS OF LIFE FOR MYSELF AND MY 4YEAR OLD DAUGHTER BECAUSE OF THIS RUST ISSUE? I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED, HAD WAITED JUST ONE MORE MONTH BEFORE HAVING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR REVIEWED BY A PROFESSIONAL? I SHUDDER TO THINK OF IT!! AT ANY RATE, THIS WILL BE MY LAST HYUNDAI PURCHASE SINCE THEY CLEARLY HAVE NOT MET MY OWN PERSONAL STANDARDS FOR SAFETY. I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE WITH MY OWN OPINION ON THE LACK OF SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE (IN SALT BELT STATES) BY BEGINNING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LATER MODEL SANTA FE FRAME RUST ISSUES, AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10734675July 17, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE FUEL PROPULSION SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY. HOWEVER, BASED ON MILEAGE AND THE LAST TIME I HAD FILLED THE GAS TANK, I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE CLOSE TO HALF A TANK. THE NEXT MORNING THE GAUGE READ CLOSE TO HALF A TANK. WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL GAUGE MARKED ONCE AGAIN EMPTY. AS A DRIVER, I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH GASOLINE THE CAR REALLY HAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RETRIEVED THE CODE P0469: FUEL LEVEL SENSORS A AND B FAILURE. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP/WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAD 40, 228 MILES. I HAD TO PAY $600.00 FOR THE REPLCEMENT OF THE TWO FUEL SENSORS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10734123July 15, 2015AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10734286July 15, 2015UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE I HEARD A LARGE SOUND AS IF THE CAR WAS HIT BY SOMETHING. THERE WERE NO CARS OR TRUCKS IN FRONT OF ME OR TO THE RIGHT OF ME. SUDDENLY I HEARD CRACKLING AND PUT THE SUN SHADE BACK. THE ENTIRE BACK PANEL OF THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10733878July 14, 2015VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS SHATTERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10733973July 14, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FILLED TANK AND READ EMPTY WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT ON. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING THE MORE I DROVE THE MORE THE FUEL NEEDLE WENT UP UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY READ FULL AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WENT OUT. NOW USUALLY WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO ABOUT 1/2 TANK NEEDLE WILL DROP TO EMPTY, FUEL LIGHT WILL COME ON, RANGE INDICATOR WILL READ----AND NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10734012July 14, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
SAFETY ISSUE: FAILURE OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT PERMANENTLY TURNS ON THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WHICH DENIES THE USE OF THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" FOR OTHER SERIOUS CONDITIONS. MANY CONSUMERS HAVE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THESE UNITS COST BETWEEN $800 TO $1200 TO FIX SO MOST DRIVERS DO NOT FIX IT AND INSTEAD USE THE ODOMETER READING TO DETERMINE WHEN FUEL IS NEEDED. UNFORTUNATELY, DRIVING WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ON AT ALL TIMES PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM SEEING THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ILLUMINATE WHEN A SERIOUS CONDITION EXISTS. THEREFORE, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF CONSUMER REPORTS ALREADY SENT TO NHTSA REGARDING FAILED FUEL SENDING UNITS, HYUNDAI SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THESE UNITS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10733520July 12, 2015ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY ESC OFF LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON, INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY BOTH GO OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. THE ESC OFF LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN PUSHED. I CANNOT TELL IF THE ESC FEATURE IS ENGAGED OR NOT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IN THE SHOP WHENEVER A FIX WAS NEEDED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, IT'S BEEN A COMMON COMPLAIN WITH VARIOUS HYUNDAI MODELS, INCLUDING MINE. UPON SPEAKING WITH HYUNDAI USA, VARIOUS CARS ON THIS LINE HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. MINE WAS NOT ONE ON LINE THAT WAS NOTED, HOWEVER THE ISSUE IS EXACTLY THE SAME. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI USA LAST WEEK. MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO TAKE IT TO A NEARBY DEALER AND PAY THEM TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC WORK UP OUT OF POCKET. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM HAS POTENTIAL FOR SAFETY ISSUES. I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH THE ESC SAFETY FEATURE. NOW I CAN'T TELL IF IT'S ENGAGED OR NOT AS I CANNOT GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10733187July 10, 2015AIR BAGS
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. UPDATED 08/13/15*JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10732971July 9, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN I FILLED UP MY CAR THE GAS GAUGE SAID IT WAS EMPTY AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO GET REPAIRED AND THE SENSOR WAS BAD. THERE ARE SENSORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PAYING $700 IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. I TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY EVERYDAY AND NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN MY CAR - THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE BUT NO RECALL - WHY??
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10732724July 8, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS TRYING TO FIX AN ISSUE WHERE I RANDOMLY CANNOT PUT FUEL IN THE CAR. THE NOZZLES CLICK OFF AS IF THE TANK IS FULL, USUALLY AFTER PUMPING A FEW GALLONS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES AND THEY'RE NOT SURE WHY. SOMETIMES IT WORKS FINE; SOMETIMES PUMPING GAS SLOWLY HELPS AND I'M ABLE TO FILL UP; SOMETIMES NOTHING I DO WORKS AND I HAVE TO DRIVE OFF AND TRY AGAIN ANOTHER DAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ONLY COME ON ONCE, WITH THE FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT IN 2013. SINCE THEN, THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS, JUST THE INABILITY TO PUMP GAS. I'VE TRACKED MILEAGE TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWING AS BEING EMPTIER THAN IT REALLY IS. UNLESS THIS SUV IS GETTING 60+ MPG, IT'S NOT THE GAUGE. I GENERALLY START ATTEMPTING TO FILL UP WHEN I GET DOWN TO HALF A TANK OF GAS, BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I'LL BE ABLE TO PUT INTO THE VEHICLE AT A TIME.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10732373July 7, 2015SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDENT IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE SO I PULLED OVER AND TH3N I FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0