Hyundai Santa Fe Complaints

8,019 consumer complaints on file.

#10592121May 17, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
(2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE) THE VEHICLE GAS GAUGE IS STICKING ON EMPTY AFTER FILLING IT UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER 1/4 TANK OF GAS HAS BEEN CONSUMED THE GAS GAUGE WILL READ NORMAL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO GO OFF. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOSS IN POWER TO THE ENGINE OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE CAN BE REPRODUCED EVERY TIME AFTER FILL UP. THE TANK DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON EMPTY TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN TSB'S FOR THE 2007 MODEL BUT NOTHING YET FOR THE 2008. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592128May 17, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON , TOOK CAR TO DEALER, PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF 400. DOLLERS. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND IS STILL ON. I CAN' AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING THAT KIND OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND HYUNDAI HAS BIG PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEMS. I ALSO HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI ACCENT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588913May 16, 2014
AIR BAGS
5/14/14 31,509MI AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER MULTIPLE IGNITION OFF-ON CYCLES. DEALER FOLLOWED DIRECTIONS IN BUL.07-090-003. CODE B1332 WAS SHOWN BUT "NOT DEFINITIVE". CODE WAS ERASED AND AIRBAG LIGHT HAS REMAINED OFF FOR 2 DAYS. AT THE OUTSET, DEALER REP SAID THERE WOULD BE A 119$ CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSTICS (OUT OF WARRANTY). I OBJECTED STRENUOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE, AIRBAG SAFETY IMPORTANCE, AND 2 PREVIOUS UNEXPLAINED AIRBAG-RELATED INCIDENTS (REPORTED BELOW). HE ALSO SAID THAT IF THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THERE WOULD BE A $900 COST FOR REPLACING THE JUNCTION BOX (WITHOUT MENTIONING ERASING THE CODE AGAIN AS AN OPTION). PREVIOUS AIR BAG ISSUES: 4/22/13, 28,289MI, PERFORMED RECALL 105 UPDATE PASSENGER AIRBAG SOFTWARE; 3/26/12 25,606MI 103CLOCKSPRINGREPLACEMENT TSB#11-01-053 COMPLETE CAMPAIGN DOES NOT APPLY(?) EVENTUALLY THE 119$ WAS WAIVED AFTER I STRONGLY OBJECTED TO ANY CHARGES FOR SAFETY RELATED ITEMS, AND PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF PROBLEMS. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI AND ANY MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND AIRBAG SAFETY AS A SEPARATE NON-WARRANTY ISSUE. ON THE 2007 SANTA FE, WHICH HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RE AIRBAGS, I WOULD EXPECT HYUNDAI TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL AND AT NO CHARGE. AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A CLASSIC CASE OF "BUGGY" SOFTWARE AND/OR HARDWARE. THEY HAVE SIMPLY DODGED THE ISSUE AND CONTINUE TO DO SO, AND THEIR PERFORMANCE SUGGESTS THEY DON'T CARE FOR CUSTOMERS' SAFETY OR FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF SAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588945May 16, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL GAUGE HAS BECOME ERRATIC AND CAUSES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. INFORMED ENTIRE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS SENSOR IS A PART OF PUMP ASSEMBLY, TOTAL COST $950. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, CANNOT TELL HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN CAR. RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AS THE COMPLAINT SEEMS TO BE COMMON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588965May 16, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK I NOTICED THAT THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING. LATER IT MOVED OFF EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WENT OFF. NOW IT READS WHAT EVER IT WANTS TO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588968May 16, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. THREE BLOCKS FROM THE MECHANIC, WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED TO NO AVAIL. THE E-BRAKE WAS APPLIED. VEHICLE KEPT LURCHING FORWARD AGAINST THE RESTRAINT, THEN DIED. TEN MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE STARTED AND WAS RETURNED TO MECHANIC TO AVOID ACCIDENT OR INJURY. NO CAUSE HAS YET BEEN FOUND. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588802May 16, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ~60 MPH, I NOTICED THE ARM ON MY FUEL GAUGE START TO DIP. IT DROPPED FROM ABOVE A HALF TANK TO WELL BELOW A QUARTER TANK OF GAS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS CAUSED IMMEDIATE PANIC AS I WAS AFRAID THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK OF SOME SORT. AS I WAS PREPARING TO MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC I NOTICED THAT THE ARM ON THE GAUGE BEGAN TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL SPOT. THIS CAUSED SOME COMFORT AS I WAS SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL IN THE TANK BECAUSE I HAD FILLED UP THE TANK JUST A FEW DAYS PRIOR AND HAD NOT DONE MUCH DRIVING SINCE. EVER SINCE THAT INCIDENT, THE FUEL GAUGE HAS CONTINUED TO 'ACT UP' AND NOW I AM IN A SITUATION WHERE I CANNOT RELY ON THE FUEL GAUGE TO ACCURATE INDICATE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT I HAVE. THE NHTSA HAS RECOGNIZED THIS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD FOR GM ... "AN INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AND STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH," THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) SAID ON ITS WEBSITE. AS OF YET THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THE SANTA FE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN RELATED TO THE SANTA FE THAT THE NHTSA MAKES THE SAME CONCLUSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588543May 15, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE ON OUR 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS RECENTLY BECOME ERRATIC. IT FLUCTUATES WIDELY OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW MINUTES WITH THE CHECK ENGINE (ON/OFF) AND LOW FUEL INDICATORS ALSO LIGHTING PERIODICALLY. AFTER HAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM INVESTIGATED, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A FUEL SENSOR PROBLEM. APPARENTLY HIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON 2007 - 2009 SANTA FE'S WITH HYUNDAI AND DEALERSHIPS VIA HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2008/HYUNDAI/SANTA+FE/FUEL+SYSTEM SITUATION IS NOT SAFE IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE (NEW TO PROBLEM) WHEN THEIR FUEL MAY BE LOW, THEY MAY BE DRIVING ALONG AND STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY OR THEY MAY BE IN A REMOTE AREA. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND HAVE HYUNDAI ISSUE A RECALL! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588526May 15, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I COASTED TO A STOP AND PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, TRANSMISSION WAS IN GEAR, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. I RESTARTED IT, HAD POWER, EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL, EXCEPT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES TO MY DESTINATION. THE CAR SAT FOR SIX HOURS AND I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE 65 MILES HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. REPAIR RESULTS: MY HYUNDAI DEALER INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A 'THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR'. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT AND RESET THE ERROR CODES IN THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588248May 14, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE THAT HAS BEEN GIVING A FALSE READING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL HAND SHOWS THAT THE TANK IS EMPTY EVEN THOUGH I JUST FILLED IT UP. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WILL SOMETIMES GO UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON HOW MY VEHICLE IS SETTING AT THE TIME, BUT THEN GOES BELOW EMPTY. IT WILL NOT REGISTER A FULL TANK OF GAS, THE MOST IT WILL SHOW IS A 3/4 OF A TANK. AT FIRST THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN GO OFF, NOW IT IS LIT ALL THE TIME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL BY HYUNDAI. . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588415May 14, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM CAR. COULD SEE GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER CAR. THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER SAYS THE GAS TANK HAS CORRODED, AND MUST BE REPLACED. CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA AND WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY ON THE GAS TANK HAD EXPIRED, AND THAT I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE (TOUGH LUCK). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588458May 14, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN DRIVING OUR 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE THE FUEL GAUGE SPORADICALLY MOVES DOWN TO EMPTY AND FLUCTUATES GIVING A FALSE READING AND CAUSING MAJOR CONFUSION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE AMONG THE 2008 MODEL BECAUSE WHEN I CONTACTED A MECHANIC HE KNEW WHAT EXACTLY I WAS TALKING ABOUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588022May 13, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
AS I WAS DRIVING IS A RAIN STORM, MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST MY WINDOW DEFROSTING CAPABILITY, MY LIGHTS DIMMED AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I AM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE WAS AFFECTED AT THIS TIME AS I WAS JUST CONCENTRATING ON GETTING HOME ALIVE. WHEN HOME, I OPENED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FOUND THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAD COME APART. LUCKY, IT WAS LAYING ON A SMALL LEDGE IN THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF, DAMAGED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FALLEN TO THE STREET AND BECOME A ROLLING PIECE OF METAL. IF A WOMAN HAD BEEN DRIVING(THIS IS ACTUALLY MY GIRLFRIENDS CAR), THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588217May 13, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 94K MILES. GAS GAUGE ERRATIC. SENSORS BAD. ASKED HYUNDAI IF THEY WERE CONSIDERING A RECALL ON THE GAS SENSORS SINCE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THEY BASICALLY GAVE ME THE" SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK, BUT NO..." RESPONSE. THE GAS TANK DOOR STOPPED WORKING AS WELL SO I USE THE MANUAL PULL IN THE BACK COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE TO ACCESS MY TANK. WOULD GET IT FIXED BUT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS HORRIBLE. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CHANGE THEM MYSELF. THE TAIL LIGHT DESIGN ON THE 2007 IS NOT AS VISIBLE AS IT SHOULD BE. I GET MANY HONKS AND MIDDLE FINGERS WHEN TRYING TO TURN. HAD THE LIGHTS LOOKED AT MANY TIMES AND THEY PASSED INSPECTIONS. I DID NOTICE THE TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOW DIFFERENT ON THE NEWER MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587679May 11, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING
DRIVING APROX 20 MPH, WITH NO WARNING ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, UNABLE TO STEER. SECOND TIME WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIND OR REPRODUCE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587449May 9, 2014
SUSPENSION:REAR, WHEELS
I HAVE A 2002 SANTA FE THAT BROKE ITS REAR LEFT ARM DUE TO RUSTING AND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL IS ALMOST DETACHED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY 4 LANE STREET WHERE TRAFFIC TRAVELS AT 45 MPH. THE SUV SWIVELED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STRUGGLE TO STOP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V123000 AND I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED AT THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY ONLY ADDED ANTI-CORROSION AND DRILLED SOME HOLES, AS THEY HYUNDAI HAD GIVEN THEM THIS OPTION. I GUESS THIS WAS NOT THE RIGHT SOLUTION. HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE CHANGED THE ENTIRE ARM, IF THEY KNEW RUST WAS AN ISSUE. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO OTHER SANTA FES. THE DEALER HAS GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO WORK WITH HYUNDAI TO GET THIS FIXED. HOWEVER, I THINK HYUNDAI DID NOT HANDLE THE RECALL RIGHT. IF THEY KNEW RUST WAS AN ISSUE, THEY SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED THE DEALERS TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS. I GUESS THEY FIGURED THESE VEHICLES WOULD BE OFF THE ROAD BY THEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587233May 8, 2014
AIR BAGS
I REAR END A CAR GOING 45 MILES AN HOUR AND NEITHER THE SEAT BELT OR THE AIR BAGS WORKED. I HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10587075May 7, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE GEAR WAS IN PARK BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION PIN CONTROLLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000. UPDATED 7/7/14*CN UPDATED 07/14/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587084May 7, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE FUEL GAUGE GOES FROM READING HALF THEN JUMPS TO EMPTY. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON THEN OFF AGAIN. I WENT TO A HYUNDAI DEALER A THEY DID A DIAGNOSTICS CHECK ON THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT WORKING INTERMITTENT. HYUNDAI IS WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, ALONG WITH MANY MECHANICS IN THE NEW YORK TRI-STATE AREA. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL REPLACEMENT ITEM, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IF SOMEONE RUNS OUT OF FUEL UNKNOWINGLY WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY THEY WILL LOOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKS AND MOST LIKELY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RESULTS CAN BE FATAL. THE SAME RESULTS CAN OCCUR IF SOMEONE IS DRIVING IN A REMOTE AREA IN THE WINTER AND THEY RUN OUT OF FUEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586732May 6, 2014
POWER TRAIN
FIRST TIME AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN OFF A MAJOR ROADWAY. POWER SHUT OFF, ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON. UNABLE TO PUT GEAR SHIFT IN PARK. AFTER A MINUTE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RE-START CAR. MADE A COMPLAINT TO THE DEALERSHIP. A FEW MONTHS AFTER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME ON THE HIGHWAY. TOOK IT STRAIGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. DIAGNOSIS A LOOSE CONNECTION. AGAIN SAME SCENARIO A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER. WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG IT. AGAIN - A FEW MONTHS AFTER SAME THING. THIS TIME THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED. AGAIN IT HAPPENED. THIS PAST 2 WEEKS IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING MORE OFTEN. TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THEY UPGRADED THE SYSTEM. EXACTLY 5 DAYS AFTER WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A ONE-WAY STREET, THE POWER WENT OFF. I BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. BY SHEER FORCE I WAS ABLE TO AVOID RUNNING RIGHT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS PARK BY STEERING THE CAR INTO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. WHAT WAS MOST UPSETTING THERE WAS A CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME. THIS IS A LEASE VEHICLE AND I CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CONTRACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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