2003 Hyundai Santa FE complaints

I HAVE HAD A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE TIRES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I CONTINUED TO TAKE IT TO HYUNDAI AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND CHARGED ME. THE SQUEAKING NOISE WAS STILL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED 2 WHEEL BEARINGS, ONE IN THE FRONT AND ONE IN THE BACK. MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT ONCE CHANGING ONE YOU COULD CHANGE ALL THE OTHER ON THE SAME SIDE . THEY REFUSED. I HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE NOW MORE THAN EVER, AND THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT HEAR IT. THE LONGER YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE LOUDER IT GOT. THIS WAS REALLY COSTING ME MY TIME , AND HYUNDAI DEALERS DID NOT CARE ABOUT A NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER. THEY WILL NOT EVEN GO OVER MY VEHICLE ANYMORE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. THEY JUST STATED WELL WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. . I HAVE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM TOOK THE TIME. ALL THEY WANTED WAS MORE MONEY FOR STUFF THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AND HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE I AM DRIVING, BUT WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WE HAVE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG, AND WOULD HAVE TO SEE THE INCIDENT IN THE PROCESS OF HAPPENING BEFORE THEY COULD MAKE A DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS. TODAY WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY HUSBAND HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT CHRYSLER AND JEEP VEHICLES WERE JUST RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM! I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN GETTING MY HYUNDAI DEALER TO SEE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE. *AK

WE TOOK THE R 2003 HYUNDAI SANAT FE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND 45,000 MILE SERVICE. AT THE 45,000 MILE SERVICE OUR TIRES WERE ROTATED. WE NOTICED AFTER THIS SERVICE THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL WAS MAKING A NOISE. THE NOISE DID NOT OCCUR CONSISTENTLY. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH OUR TWO CHILDREN INSIDE AND HAD JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FEEL OFF. ALL OF THE LUGS WERE COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. WE COULD RECOVER 3 OF THEM. DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE AS WELL AS THE BODY OF THE CAR. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THEY WERE TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY KILLED IF THE WHEEL FELL OF WHILE DRIVING ON ONE OF OUR LOCAL EXPRESSWAYS. OUR DEALERSHIP THAT WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAVE IT SERVICED AT WON'T TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND STATES THAT ANY EXTENDED WARRANTIES THAT WE PURCHASED WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGE OR REPAIRS. WE HAVE INVOLVED OUR INSURANCE AGENCY. ONCE THE CAR IS REPAIRED I FEAR THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH ANY OF THE OTHER THREE TIRES.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 SANTA FE THAT HAS EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY. MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS BUCKLING HER SAFETY BELT AND THE WHOLE SAFETY BELT CAME OUT WITH THE BOLT. HYUNDAI SAID THAT ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN IF THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. IM CONCERNED ALSO ABOUT THE OTHER SAFETY BELTS AND WERE MY THREE CHILDREN GOING TO BE SAFE. THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY IF I WANT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM REPAIRED.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR FIXED WINDOW ON THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL BLEW OUT. THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER BOTH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BOLTS HAVE LOOSENED 5 TIMES SINCE 2003. THE LATEST WAS ON 4/12/07. THE TIME BEFORE WAS 0 ON 1/28/07. FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE EVENTS HAPPENED DURING RAIN AND SNOW EVENTS ON I- 95 DRIVING AT 65 MPH. ONE SECOND YOU CAN SEE, THE NEXT YOU CANNOT. I FOR ONE HAVE NEVER SEEN BOLTS HOLDING WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS ONTO THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. OBVIOUSLY FOR GOOD REASON. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2 YEARS AGO HE STARTED HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE .S WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR ABOUT 15-25 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. HE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT UNLESS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ONTHEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO SEE WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT HE MAY HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED IT. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS GIVEN A CASE#, WILL SUBMIT WITH THE HARD COPY. ALSO, HE HAS CONTACTED THE BBB AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE USUAL DRIVER WAS TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE OF THE STALLING PROBLEMS. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE STEERING LOCKED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19999, AND THE CURRENT WAS 61480. THE VEHICLE STALLED 101 TIMES AZS OF 02/23/2007. *AK

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK 1/21/2007 @07 :40 AM DOWN I 75 SOUTH @70-75 MPH WITH NO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD NO ITEMS IN THE ROAD AND MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF. I WAS DRIVING IN THE SLOW LANE AND KEPT MY HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. THE AIRBAG HIT MY ARM. I HAVE A LEFT UPPER ARM CONTUSION AND LEFT NECK/SHOULDER SPRAIN PER MY DOCTOR . NOTHING HIT MY CAR. THE NEXT DAY MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER IN ANN ARBOR AUTOMOTIVE . WHEN THE MAN PUT MY CAR ON THE TOW TRUCK HE NOTICED A DENT UNDER THE CAR AT THE GAS TANK. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN ON 1/21/07 I DID NOT HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING. THAT SHOULD NOT SET A SIDE AIRBAG OFF. THE DEALER STATEMENT IS THAT WHAT CAUSED IT. WHICH THEY ARE FULL OF IT. THE TOLD ME IT IS GOING TO COST $5500.00 TO FIX. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND AWAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD IF AIRBAGS DEPLOY FROM A ROCK ECT HITTING UNDER THE CAR. I FIND IT HEARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE THAT SENSITIVE. *JB

TL* - WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO TURN THE POWER OFF IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE HE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. HE STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT HE FELT A VIBRATION AND HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK UPDATED 2/9/2007 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . *NM

AT APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN OCCASIONAL JUMP IN IDLE TO 3000 RPM+ WHILE IN PARK AND DRIVE AFTER THREE MINUTES OR SO OF OPERATION. WHILE IN DRIVE, VEHICLE LUNGES DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, AND RESTART TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WILL SPUTTER AND REFUSE TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY FOR 30-60 SECONDS. VEHICLE ALSO STALLS OCCASIONALLY AFTER 3 MINUTES OR SO OF USE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO NAPELTON HYUNDAI, WEST PALM BEACH, FL ON NOV 30. CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT SENSOR WERE REPLACED. BEFORE LEAVING DEALERSHIP WITH SERVICE MANAGER PRESENT AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN PARK, VEHICLE IDLE SUDDENLY SPIKED TO 4,200 RPM. I WAS TOLD DEALER WAS CLOSED, AND TO DRIVE IT HOME. ON DECEMBER 5, VEHICLE AGAIN STALLED AGAIN IN TRAFFIC AT INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. AFTER RESTARTING, IT REFUSED TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY FOR 30-60 SECONDS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BACK TO NAPELTON HYUNDAI BECAUSE BOTH THE STALLING AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT MAKE THIS SANTA FE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED FULLY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON DEC 20 I WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. I WAS TOLD TO PICK IT UP AND DRIVE IT. I REFUSED TO DO SO. NAPELTON HAD OVER 20 DAYS TO DETECT AND CORRECT THESE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES,

THIS VEHICLE (2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE) STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS JUST BE FOR THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (100,000 MILES), BUT WE WERE TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE POWER TRAIN SYSTEM. SO WE PAID TO HAVE SOME WORK DONE. BUT JUST TODAY WE WOKE UP AND WENT OUT TO USE THE VEHICLE, AND IT WILL NOT GO IN GEAR, WILL NOT IN NEUTRAL SO WE CAN MOVE IT OR PUSH IT. IT'S JUST LOCKED UP, (FLUID LEAVES ARE OK) IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO ANY ONE WITH THIS KIND OF VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC IT COULD BE TRAFFIC PROBLEM. I DO KNOW OTHERS WHO OWN THIS KIND OF VEHICLE AND DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, BUT I ALSO KNOW OF ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIRS. SO I'M JUST CONCERNED ON IF I AM THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM OR IF THEIR ARE OTHERS, AND WHY IF THEY OFFER A 100,000 MI. WARRANTY DOSE IT NOT COVER THE DRIVE TRAIN? THIS DOSE NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME. ONE VERY UNHAPPY VEHICLE OWNER. P.S. THIS VEHICLE IS REGISTERED TO MY WIFE, AND HER LLC. *JB

MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STARTED TO SHIFT DIFFERENTLY. IT WOULD BUCK WHEN SHIFTING INTO A HIGHER GEAR, IF I ATTEMPTED TO GO UP A STEEP HILL, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ALL POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER, THEY REPLACED A SENSOR, SAID THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FINE. I DROVE IT HOME ONLY TO HAVE IT STILL SHIFT WITH A BUCK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD, AFTER THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT, THAT IT WOULD NEED A $2800 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. OF COURSE, BEING A SECOND OWNER, THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 60K.

WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED 4 TIMES AND GOT CHARGED FOR A TUNE UP THAT I DID NOT NEED. THE LAST AND 4TH TIME WHEN PICKING UP MY VEHICLE , THEY HAD THE PARTS OUT AFTER I HAD TOLD THEM 2 TIMES NOT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE AND THEY TOOK IT APART ANYWAY. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO TOW IT OUT OF THEIR SHOP . I TOLD THEM I WANTED THE CAR BACK JUST THE WAY I BROUGHT IT THERE . THEY GAVE MY A MUCH STRESSFUL HARD TIME FINALLY THEY PUT IT BACK AND I GOT IT BACK THE NEXT DAY IN WORST CONDITION. THERE IS A LOT MORE STORY BUT NOT ENOUGH LETTERS LEFT SO I WILL END IT HERE FOR NOW. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE OTHER THREE TIMES, THE DEALER REPLACED A WIRE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT HARNESS, AND A WIRE HARNESS CLIP. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.

I HAD A PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITH HEARING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I WOULD TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, BUT IT HAD RECENTLY GOT WORSE. ON AUGUST 9, 2006 I TOOK IT IN TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. I WAS SUPPOSE TO PICK MY SANTE FE UP ON AUGUST 11TH BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ONE WEEK LATER I STILL HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AT THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AN R&R MOTOR MOUNT ,SO THEY WOULD BE REPLACING IT, BUT THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO COME IN. ANOTHER WEEK PASSED AND I CALLED TO SEE IF MY SANTE FE WAS DONE. THEY TOLD ME THE MOTOR MOUNT HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL IN A SPECIALTY TECHNICIAN. THE SPECIALTY TECHNICIAN COULD HEAR THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME I SHOULD JUST COME AND GET MY SANTE FE AND WAIT UNTIL IT GOT WORSE AND THEN MAYBE THEY COULD FIGURE OUT WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM. I TOLD THEM I WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, THEY ASSURED ME THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT WHEN I ASKED HOW THEY COULD BE SURE IF THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE MANUFACTURE AND SEE WHAT THEY SUGGESTED. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HELP US FIND THE PROBLEM. THREE DAYS LATER I GOT A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD DONE EVERYTHING THEY KNEW TO DO AND I NEE

THE CLUTCH ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE (58,000 MILES)WENT OUT ON THE NJ TURNPIKE AT THE START OF A WEEK LONG FAMILY VACATION. MAXON HYUNDAI IN UNION, NJ CLAIMED THAT MY DRIVING HAD BURNED THE CLUTCH OUT (I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK FOR 12 YEARS AND MY PREVIOUS CAR- A SATURN- HAD OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH WHEN I SOLD IT) AND WHEN THE CLUTCH WENT IT DAMAGED THE FLY WHEEL. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE FLY WHEEL, THOUGH PART OF THE POWER TRAIN SUPPOSEDLY COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY, WAS NOT COVERED SINCE IT WAS MY FAULT THAT IT WAS DAMAGED. THEY FURTHER INDICATED THAT REPLACING THE CLUTCH AND PUTTING THE OLD FLY WHEEL ON WOULD JUST CAUSE ME TO BURN OUT ANOTHER CLUTCH LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE FLY WHEEL IS WHAT CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO GO IN THE FIRST PLACE. ANYWAY, I DID PAY FOR THE CLUTCH TO BE REPLACED BUT NOT THE FLYWHEEL AND THEN I TRADED IT IN ON A NEW SATURN VUE. I WAS OUTRAGED AT THE WAY I WAS TREATED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND BY HYUNDAI CORPORATE WHEN I CALLED THEM. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE ME AS I GOT A WHOLE $4,500 FOR THE VEHICLE THAT I PAID $17,000 FOR JUST 3 YEARS AGO AND THIS WAS AFTER I HAD TO PAY A REPAIR BILL OF $1600 AND PAY $500 FOR A RENTAL CAR SO THAT OUR VACATION WAS NOT RUINED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS HESITATION AND SURGING OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS, EXTREMELY POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A SERVICE DEALER, THE HESITATION AND SURGE COULD NOT BE RECREATED AND NO PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. WHEN INSPECTED AGAIN BY THE SAME SERVICE DEALER, A DETACHED CABLE WAS FOUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A SPRING UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOUND TO BE DISCONNECTED. ONCE THE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED, THE MILEAGE IMPROVED, BUT THE HESITATION AND SURGING CONTINUED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THERE WAS IN FACT A HESITATION AND A SURGING. ON THE NEXT VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEALER, A KNOCK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT TRY ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION BY ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER, THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS OBSERVE TO BE LOOSE AND IT WAS CRIMPED TO TIGHTEN IT. HOWEVER, THE HESITATION AND SURGING CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. UPDATED 08/25/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 20 MPH. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE PICTURES HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A STOP. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS NOTICED THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD CORROSION, THE WINDSHIELD WAS ETCHED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER, AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. IT BROKE DOWN ON APRIL 29TH, 2006. MY CAR WAS BROUGHT TO FUCILLO HYUNDAI IN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK. MY CAR IMPROPERLY DIAGNOSED HERE AS HAVING A WORN CLUTCH. WHEN I DECLINED TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED AT THIS LOCATION AND TOOK IT TO OPITZ TRANSMISSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS BROKEN AS WELL. I CONTACTED FUCCILLO, WHO DECLINED TO HAVE THE FLYWHEEL FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY AGREEMENT THAT CAME WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. THIS WARRANTY AGREEMENT DOES NOT STATE THAT THE FLYWHEEL IS NOT COVERED. I ALSO CONTACTED HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA AND SPOKE WITH TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. ONE TOLD ME THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND SHOULD BE FIXED, ANOTHER TOLD ME THE PART WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE COST OF THE FLYWHEEL WAS $1276 PLUS TAX AND COULD ONLY BE ORDERED THROUGH A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. I HAD MY CAR FIXED BY OPITZ TRANSMISSION IN SCHENECTADY, NY. OPITZ TRANSMISSION AGREES THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS POORLY MADE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THEY FORWARDED MY LETTER AND INFORMATION TO THE NYS MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY DIVISION, WHO IN TURN TOLD ME TO CONTACT THIS WEB SITE. I HAVE LETTERS, RECEIPTS, AND INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD TO SOMEONE IN THIS DIVISION. *JB

AFTER THE HEAVY RAINS HAD OCCURRED HERE IN MIAMI ON MAY 16TH, 2006, THERE WERE UNKNOWN VIBRATIONS IN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I WAS OUT WITH A FRIEND. WHILE TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT, WE NOTICED A LOAD POPPING SOUND. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION TO PICKUP HIS VEHICLE. HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO INFORM ME THAT I WAS MISSING THREE LUGS FROM MY RIM. THE NEXT DAY I WENT BACK TO THE PARKING LOT AND FOUND THE BROKEN LUGS FROM MY CAR. I ALSO TRIED TO REMOVE ANOTHER LUG FROM THE RIM TO ENSURE ITS' INTEGRITY AND IT BROKE OFF AS WELL. WHEN I CALLED ONE OF THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERS, I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY KNOW HOW TIGHT TO TIGHTEN THE LUGS AND THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN MY ERROR. *JB

GRINDING SOUND FROM TRANSMISSION OF 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. *JB

CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ALWAYS RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING. AT TIMES THE CAR SLOWS DOWN TO POINT THAT IT IS A HAZARD FOR US AND ANY CAR NEAR TO US. THERE HAS BEEN THREE OCCASIONS THAT ACCIDENTS ALMOST HAPPENED. IN ORDER TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL, THE CAR HAS TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SET FOR A SHORT PERIOD BEFORE I CAN CONTINUE. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEAR OF SUCH A THING AND THEY WOULD CALL THE FACTORY. WHEN I HADN'T HEARD FROM THEM FOR QUITE A LONG TIME I RETURNED TO THE SAME PLACE. THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD EVER BEEN IN WITH A COMPLAINT. *NM

I DRIVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 3.5L V6. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2006, I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A STEEP, SNOWY HILL IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN THE SNOW, THE BRAKE PEDAL KICKED BACK AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE COMPLETELY. THEY FELT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A MASS OF SOMETHING SOLID BLOCKING THE PEDAL FROM DEPRESSING ALL THE WAY. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, RELEASED THE PEDAL, PRESSED IT AGAIN, BUT NOTHING I DID KEPT MY CAR FROM CONTINUING TO PROPEL ITSELF DOWNHILL. I NEARLY SIDES WIPED A PARKED CAR BECAUSE, AS MY SPEED INCREASED, THE SANTA FE SLID OUT OF CONTROL ON THE SNOW. ONLY BY SOME MIRACLE WAS THE REST OF THIS BUSY NEIGHBORHOOD STREET EMPTY. I FINALLY REGAINED CONTROL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. BUT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS DANGEROUS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PATTERN OF THIS PROBLEM: ONE OR MORE INCIDENTS ON A WET OR SNOWY DAY FOLLOWED BY NORMAL OPERATION. IN APRIL OF 2004, THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED. ANY TIME I TRIED TO STOP ON A WET OR SNOWY STREET, THE BRAKES WOULD SLOW THE CAR, BUT NOT STOP IT COMPLETELY. AT THAT TIME, HYUNDAI DID FIND A PROBLEM. MY SERVICE RECEIPT SAYS THE ABS ACTUATOR WAS BAD, THE ECU WAS REPROGRAMMED, AND THE HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THIS TIME, ON MARCH 3, 2006, EVEN THOUGH THE SANTA FE BRAKES HAD FAILED IN THE EXACT SAME WAY AS 2 YEARS AGO, HYUNDAI FOUND NO PROBLEM IN THE DI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP AT 20 MPH THE CLUTCH FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED, HOWEVER NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

ON MANY OCCASIONS OUR 2003 SANTA FE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THEN VIOLENTLY JERKING OR CATCHING BACK INTO GEAR, CAUSING PASSENGERS TO BE SLAMMED FORWARD AND BACKWARD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS AT ANYWHERE FROM 20-65 MPH AND HAPPENS RANDOMLY. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH THE EXACT SAME RESULTS - COULD NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINT. *JB

BAD CLUTCH AFTER 39,000 MILES - DEALER SAID NOT COVERED AND NEVER SEEN DEFECT IN OVER THREE YEARS - CHECKED A WEB SITE WHERE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING EARLY CLUTCH FAILURES. *NM

ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 I WAS PULLING INTO A SPACE TO PARK MY VEHICLE I WAS PROCEEDING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND IT WAS HARD BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL INTO A PARKED CAR WHICH RECEIVED $58.77 WORTH OF DAMAGE PROCEEDING HOME AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I SLOWED DOWN AND THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE I USED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE I ROLLED INTO A CAR STOPPED AT THE LIGHTS. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TWICE MORE GETTING HOME,I CALLED HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISSTANCE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FLAT BEDDED TO LIA HYUNDAI OF ENFIELD UPON CALLING HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISSTANCE THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME THAT THEIR HAD BEEN A LETTER SENT OUT ABOUT A REPROGRAM TO THE ABS ON SANTA FE'S I ALSO CONTACTED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND INFORMED THEM OF MY PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD FORWARD ME A LETTER REQUESTING CERTAIN THINGS PERTAINING TO MY VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM I HAD PART OF THAT REQUEST WAS FOR COLORED PICTURES OF MY VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I DROVE TO LIA AND TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES OF MY VEHICLE. WE FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE FRONT SEAT OF MY VEHICLE HYUNDAI #04-01-002 DATED MARCH 4, 2005 SUBJECT (HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT HECU REPROGRAMMING. THIS ALSO SAID IT WAS FOR 2003 AND 2004 MY SANTA FE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5L V6 ENGINES. MY VEHICLE IS A 2.7L V6 ENGINE. THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ON 11-2-05 TO INSPECTED MY VEHICLE I RECEIVED A LETTER ON FRIDAY 11-25-05 THAT THEY FOUND NO M

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING UNIT REBUILT ON THE 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. AT 54,000 MILES HE WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND AT 77,034 IT WAS CHECKED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNS SHARPLY A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE CALLER STATED THAT ON SHORT TRIPS THE GRINDING SOUND DID NOT OCCUR, IT ONLY OCCURRED ON TRIPS LONGER THAN 50 MILES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE THE FIRST TIME. THE CALLER SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF BLACK STUFF IN THE FLUID; IT WAS THE PLASTIC FROM THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE CALLER STATED THAT THE INVOICE DID NOT SAY THAT THE PART WAS REPLACED. IT JUST STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD FOUND IT TO BE OKAY FOR NOW. THE CALLER WAS CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN LATER.*AK *MR *JB

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

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

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 EXTE

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

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.

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

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

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.

CAR SPORADICALLY STALLS - UNPREDICTABLY

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 SANTE FE, SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE FUEL LINES CAUSING GASOLINE TO POUR OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

ON 4/05/2005 WHILE DRIVING ON SOUTH FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OF MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE GL 4D CAME OFF. PRIOR TO THE WHEEL COMING OFF THE ONLY WARNING I RECIEVED WAS A SUDDEN VIBRATION. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 - 60 MPH, FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I NOTIFIED THE POLICE, OBTAINED A POLICE REPORT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOME. I NOTIFIED THE HYUNDAI CORP, AND TOLD THEM OF MY INCIDENT. I WAS GIVEN FILE REFERENCE # 906136. I WAS LATER CONTACTED BY HYUNDAI CORP AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY CLAIM ITEM (BUT WAS NEVER GIVEN A REASON). THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JAN 22, 2005, I PUT A LITTLE OVER 3000 MILES ON IT. I NEVER HAD ANY WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE, NOT EVEN CHANGED A TIRE/FLAT. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR SINCE MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT IF ANYTHING I CAN DO. THE POLICE AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BOTH WERE SURPRISED I WAS NOT KILLED OR EVEN HURT. I WAS VERY LUCKY. THANK YOU SINCERLEY, WILFREDO CRUZ.

ON VARIOUS OCCASSIONS THE SPEDOMETER WILL CEASE WORKING WHILE DRIVING AFFECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO, CAR SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. OCCASSIONALLY, WHILE CAR IS IDLING, CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING.

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES,THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH INCREASED THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT UNLESS THEY COULD REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOM WHEN THEY PERFORMED A TEST DRIVE AND IF THEY COULD SHOW A SPECIFIC CODE NUMBER, THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT ALLOW THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. RECALL CAMPAIGN #04V131000. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACE IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THEN, MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT RELAY, FUEL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, AND THE COMPUTER MODULE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE HAS BEEN 6 INCIDENTS/FAILURES THAT ARE CAUSING SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH STARTING AND STALLING. IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND STARTED HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING SANTA FE ON ROADS AND HIGHWAY. CONSUMER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE AND FEAR OF IT STALLING IN THE CENTER LANE WHERE THERE IS LITTLE OPTIONS EXCEPT GETTING HIT AND POSSIBLE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED. *BF

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM, SIMILAR TO THOSE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE 3.5L SANTA FE'S. I KNOW THAT RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC, BUT I FEEL THAT HYUNDAI AND NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO RECALLING THE 2.7L LX SANTA FE ALSO. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN STOPPING THE ABS WILL INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATE CAUSING THE BRAKING DISTANCE TO INCREASE. WHEN IT ACTIVATES, THERE IS A RUMBLING NOISE AND VIBRATION AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP AT A SAFE DISTANCE. AT MANY TIMES, I HAVE RUN THROUGH STOP SIGNS OR ENTERED TOO FAR INTO INTERSECTIONS AT RED LIGHTS DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO HIT A BUMP OR ICE FOR THIS TO OCCUR, BUT MORE TIMES THAN NOT, I AM ON A SMOOTH, DRY SURFACE WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND THEY EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NORMAL ABS FUNCTION.

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST, THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A THIRD TIME RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC

THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE, WHILE DRIVING 55-56 MPH. THE CONDITION CAUSES THE LEFT REAR ALLOY WHEEL TO SPLIT IN HALF AND DAMAGES THE EMERGENCY PARKING CABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NM *NM

ON MANY OCCASIONS OUR 2003 SANTA FE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THEN VIOLENTLY JERKING OR CATCHING BACK INTO GEAR, CAUSING PASSENGERS TO BE SLAMMED FORWARD AND BACKWARD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS AT ANYWHERE FROM 20-65 MPH AND HAPPENS RANDOMLY. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS WITH THE EXACT SAME RESULTS - COULD NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINT.*AK

RECENTLY, MY 2003 SANTA FE HAS HAD A GRINDING/WHINNING/RUBBING NOISE WHEN I TAKE OFF AT LOW SPEEDS. SOUNDS LIKE MIGHT BE TRANSMISSION, WHEEL BEARING OR PULLEY, BUT NOT SURE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALSHIP AND HIS ANALYSIS WAS THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE IDLER PULLEY. ORDERED NEW PULLEY AND WILL REPLACE WHEN IT COMES IN. THIS NOISE WOULD COME AND GO AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 5 - 25 MPH AND WOULD LAST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS UP TO A MINUTE.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE WAY HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CLUTCH IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME WHICH LED TO ANOTHER ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK