Page 5 of 5 · complaints 201–216 of 216

2005 Hyundai Santa FE complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Feb 28, 2006650 milesFL

2005 SANTA FE 3.5 BUCKS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER ORDERED PARTS CORRECTED PROBLEM AT SPEEDS UNDER 60 BY REPLACING BODY ASSEMBLY THROTTLE AND GASKET THROTTLE B. STILL BUCKS AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH WHETHER HITTING BRAKE OR CANCEL BUTTON TO DISENGAGE CRUISE. DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER SAYS ALL SANTA FE 3.5'S DO THIS THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL THROTTLE. BUCKING OF CAR IS SO PRONOUNCED EVERY ONE IN THE CAR FEELS IT. I WILL NEVER FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE USING THE CRUISE OVER 60 AND WILL NEVER USE IT WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE IN THE VEHICLE. JUST BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED THIS WAY AND THEY ALL DO IT DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT. I FEEL THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I WAS TOLD ONLY THE 3.5'S BUCK WHEN THE CRUISE IS DISENGAGED. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Feb 11, 200610 milesOR

I PURCHASE A NEW 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.5 ENGINE AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN JULY OF 2005. AS I NOW FOUND OUT, THIS OPTIONAL 3.5 ENGINE IS EQUIPPED WITH A COMPUTER OPERATED ACCELERATION THROTTLE ENGINE. THIS NEW SET UP IS VERY POORLY DESIGNED, HAS A FEW SECOND DELAY AND THEN THE CAR DARTS OFF FAST, SOMETIMES SPINNING ALL DRIVE WHEELS ON DRY PAVEMENT. I BOUGHT A 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNIT FOR OUR RAIN, SNOW COVERED ROADS IN OREGON, HOWEVER IT'S MUCH WORST ON THIS TYPE OF CONDITIONS. I'VE ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO HAVE TO HAVE ONE FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR WHERE I HAVE TO STOP FOR PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET. THIS I KNOW IS A VERY DANGEROUS WITH PEDESTRIANS AND HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN EVERY DAY SITUATIONS. I'VE QUIT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IN THOSE SITUATIONS AS I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE OR LOST OF LIFE, SINCE I'VE HAD A STROKE AND SLOWER NOW. I CALLED MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE IT TOW 55 MILES TO THEM, WHICH I DID. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THERE, THEY SAID THEY RE PROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER AND IT WAS SOMEWHAT BETTER. I PICKED IT UP AND WITHIN A FEW CITY BLOCKS I NEW IT WAS JUST THE SAME AS BEFORE. I WAS PLANNING A TRIP TO LAS VEGAS, NV. AND DECIDED I WOULD TAKE IT THERE AND THEN TO A DEALER IN THAT TOWN, WHICH I DID. WHAT A SURPRISE, THAT DEALERSHIP WAS VERY WELL A WHERE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE EXACT PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC CAME OUT TO TELL ME

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 29, 20061,000 milesME

THE THROTTLE HANGS UP WHEN GOING FROM A DEAD STOP. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO LURCH AHEAD SO FAST IT SPINS THE TIRES. THIS WILL CAUSE YOU TO REAREND A CAR IN TRAFFIC , OR TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC TO LATE WHICH COULD ALSO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 24, 20067,400 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING AND STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO APPLY EXTENSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO CLAIMED BRAKES WERE OKAY. THE SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVED REAR DOOR MISALIGNMENT. THE THIRD FAILURE WAS PAINT PEELING OFF UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 27, 20052,400 milesNC

DT: WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE THE VEHICLE SURGED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV ABOVE 6500 RPMS. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN. HE REPORTED HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE ABOVE INCIDENT. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER.*AK

Electronic Stability Control › Automatic (asc)
Filed Dec 14, 20051 milesNY

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL, WHICH ALLOWED THE FRONT WHEELS TO SLIP IN THE SNOW. THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR CUT IN AND OUT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS ON. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY SUGGESTED TURNING THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF. THE CONTACT TRIED THE DEALER'S SUGGESTION. AND NOW, ONLY ONE WHEEL WILL TURN IN THE SNOW, THE ENGINE IDLED LOW, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. THE LAST PROBLEM WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DPS VALVE SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE. THE CONTACT HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ONCE SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Dec 6, 200535 milesFL

PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK AS PER DASH LIGHT. DEALER STATES THE SENSOR INDICATES THE SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Nov 16, 2005900 milesNC

PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK AS PER DASH LIGHT, DEALER CAN' T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH SYSTEM SUGGEST TURNING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING TO RESET COMPUTER. I TRIED THIS WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND LOST POWER TO MY BRAKES AND STEERING , MY WIFE WEIGHS 135 POUNDS THIS SHOULD WORK THE SENSORS. *JB

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Nov 15, 20057,000 milesRI

WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE 2005 SANTA FE ENGINE ROARED. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. WITH THE VEHICLE STILL IN REVERSE, THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBORS DECK CAUSING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE DECK. THE CONSUMER HAD A LEFT FOOT ACCELERATOR INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AND WONDERED IF THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 17, 20056 milesCO

ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP,THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATES SOMETIMES MUCH TO QUICKLY CAUSING SOME LOSS OF CONTROL. MECHANIC AT HYUNDAI TRIED TO RESET COMPUTER BUT INFORMED US THAT IT IS SET TO MANUFACTURERS STANDARDS PROBLEM HAS SO FAR BEEN UN-FIXABLE AND THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNSAFE. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 29, 200525 milesPA

COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LX WITH 3.5L ENGINE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR THAT THERE IS A DELAY IN RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. THIS DELAY IS OVER A SECOND LONG, AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO KEEP PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN THE SENSOR FINALLY REACTS, THERE IS MORE ACCELERATION APPLIED THAN IS DESIRED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START OUT FASTER THAN INTENDED, OR NOT STARTING OUT WHEN THE DRIVER WANTED TO. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW HOW MUCH ACCELERATION WILL BE APPLIED TO THE ENGINE, OR WHEN THE CAR WILL START MOVING, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT WHEN TO APPLY GAS, AND NOT KNOWING HOW THE CAR WILL REACT. *NM

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 18, 200500

I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE(2.7L AWD AT4) ON AUG 15, 2005. THEN TWO DAYS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED THE NHTSA ROLL OVER TEST (TIP). *JB " NHTSA 2005 SUV CRASH, ROLLOVER RATINGS <HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM/NEWS/2005/06/22/133124.HTML>" 1. WHY THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER NOT MANDATED TO WARN THE CUSTOMERS THE SAFEY DEFICIENCY INFO? A. DO I HAVE GROUND FOR RETURNING THE PURCHASE AND ASKING FOR REFUND? 2. WHAT ARE THE FOLLOW-UPS FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO REMDEY THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE VEHICLES ON ROAD? 3. WITH SANTA FE HAS BEEN IN THE MARKET FOR MANY YEARS ALREADY, DOES THE TRAFFIC STATISTICS INDICATES THAT IT IS INVOLVED IN MORE ROLL OVERS THAN OTHER VEHICLES, SAY HONDA CRV? PROMINENT UNDER WHICH CIRCUMSTANCES ( ROAD/WEATHER/DRIVER)? WHERE TO FIND THIS TYPE OF INFO? THANKS. LI CHEN, CALGARY, CANADA, (403) 685-8101 4. 3.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 8, 2005NJ

DT: THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DELAYED ACCELERATION. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THEY SAID IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. IF AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS BEFORE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. *AK

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock
Filed Jul 16, 2005100 milesGA

AFTER STARTING THE CAR EACH TIME, AND EITHER BACKING UP AND THEN PULLING FORWARD OR PULLING FORWARD, THERE IS A POPPING SOUND AND A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS, THEN IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER HAVING MY BOSS WHO IS A MECHANIC, DRIVE THE CAR, HE SAID THAT IT WAS NEITHER OF THOSE ITEMS, AND COULD POSSIBLY HAVE SOMEETHING TO DO WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN OR THE U-JOINTS. I RELAYED THIS INFORMATION TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY THEN WENT BACK OVER THE CAR, AND SAID THAT THEY HAD TO CALL THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. AFTER THAT CALL, I WAS INFORMAED THAT THE NOISE HAD TO DO WITH THE ABS SYSTEM, CHECKING ITSELF. BUT I WONDER IF THIS IS THE CASE, SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM IN A FORWARD MOTION. I ENJOY DRIVING THIS CAR, AND WOULD RECCOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO ASKED. IT IS COMFORTABLE, FUN TO DRIVE AND THE NOISE HASN'T SEEMD TO ALTER THE OPERATION OF THE CAR AND ANY FORM.

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Apr 26, 2005PA

MY 2005 SANTA FE 3.5L ENGINE HAS A COMPUTER OPERATED GAS PEDAL THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE A SMOOTH LINEAR ACCELERATION. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE AND ACCIDENT OR INJURY OCCURS. *AK THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SITUATION WAS ESPECIALLY AGGRAVATED ON WET, SNOWY OR ICY ROADS. *SC THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE CABLE SYSTEM GAS PEDAL TO A COMPUTER OPERATED GAS PEDAL. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 4, 2005FL

DRIVER NOTICED THAT WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2005 Hyundai Santa FE → · Every Santa FE year → · How the figures are calculated →