A WEEK AGO MY PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN AND TODAY THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING! REALLY SCARY, BUT GRATEFUL I WAS NOT GOING FAST. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS! *TR
2007 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 2007 record →
THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AT 70MPH AND COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED. USE OF HARD BRAKING AND EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING STOPPED VEHICLES ON INTERSTATE AND TO AVOID A REAR END COLLISION, DROVE ONTO EMERGENCY PARKING LANE AND WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET IT UNSTUCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULD IMMEDIATELY UNFREEZE THE PEDAL BUT THIS TIME NOTHING WORKED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION. I NOTIFIED MY PARENTS WHO INSTRUCTED THAT SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULL OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AS I ENTER THE EMERGENCY LANE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND TO EXPECT HARD STEERING ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. *TR
THE DRIVE AXEL BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. WHEN IT BROKE, THE BALL JOINT PULLED OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE WHEEL, A PIECE OF METAL FLEW UP AND TORE THE SERPENTINE BELT. THERE IS A RECALL #112 FOR THE 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE THAT THE DRIVE AXEL CAN BREAK BUT I WAS TOLD IT DOES NOT AFFECT MY CAR. HOW DOES THE DRIVE AXEL JUST BREAK. THE RECALL AFFECTS THE FRONT RIGHT AXEL. PRIOR TO IT BREAKING, I WAS GOING DOWN I70 AT 70MPH, THANKFULLY, IT DIDN'T BREAK AT THAT TIME. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON EXPRESSWAY AT 65 MPH OUR 2007 SANTA FE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. A DEFECTIVE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKED OIL ON THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT AND BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. HYUNDAI HAVE A RECALL (#121) ON THE 2007-2012 VERACRUZ FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. CLEARLY THE SANTA FE NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE 121 RECALL. MY FAMILY AND I WERE PLACED IN DANGER AS WE WERE IN THE LEFT LANE ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY AND HAD TO QUICKLY MERGE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE QUICKLY LOSING SPEED. ADDITIONALLY, THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $750 FOR THE ALTERNATOR AND GASKET COVER REPLACEMENT. *TR
2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OIL LEAK FROM FRONT CYLINDER VALVE COVER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A LEAK WAS FORMED, BECAUSE THE STUDS THAT HELD THE VALVE COVER IN PLACE WERE STRIPPED, THUS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK PAST THE GASKET, AND THEN OVER THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. *JB......UPDATED 09-03-14 *BF UPDATED 11/26/2014 *JS
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FELL FROM THE CEILING AND WAS DANGLING BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRE WHICH CONTROLS THE AUTOMATIC LIGHT WHEN THE VISOR IS OPENED. THIS NOT ONLY OBSTRUCTED MY VIEW, BUT ALSO CAUSED A KNEE-JERK REACTION TO BRAKE AS THE VISOR SWUNG TOWARD MY FACE. UPON INSPECTION, THE PLASTIC JOINT WHICH HOLDS THE VISOR IN PLACE HAD FAILED. THE VISOR HAD FALLEN DESPITE THE FACT THAT I WAS NOT ADJUSTING IT AT THE TIME, AND THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT BUMPS OR HAZARDS IN THE ROAD WHICH MAY HAVE JARRED IT LOOSE. *TR
2 COMPLAINTS: 1. MY FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. I DEAL WITH A LOCAL AUTOBODY AND THEY STATED THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS. THE ISSUE CAUSES YOUR GAS GAUGE TO BE INCORRECT AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPS RUNNING. EXPENSIVE TO FIX. 2. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE OFF AND HUNG BY WIRES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS, AGAIN, SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 SANTA FE. WHY NO RECALLS FOR ANY OF THESE THINGS?? PLENTY OF FORUMS DISCUSSING THE SAME PROBLEMS FOR SO MANY CONSUMERS. *TR
I HAVE OWNED MY SANTA FE SINCE 2011 WITH NO ISSUES & I HAVE ALWAYS DONE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I CAME HOME FROM WORK WITH HALF A TANK OF GAS- GOT BACK IN MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR LATER AND MY FUEL GAGE READ THAT I WAS ON E, LIGHT WAS ON, AND MY TRIP METER READ 35 MILES REMAINING WITH THE GAS I HAD. I REFUELED THAT DAY, PUTTING 20 DOLLARS OF GAS AND IT FILLED IT ALMOST UP. MY GAS TANK REQUIRES $40-$50 TO COMPLETELY FILL SO WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. MY HUSBAND, BEING A MECHANIC, CHECKED TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY LEAKS OR HOLES IN MY GAS TANK THAT COULD BE CAUSING THE ISSUE. 4 DAYS LATER I ARRIVE AT WORK WITH HALF A TANK OF GAS. WHEN I LEAVE 3 HOURS LATER MY FUEL GAGE AGAIN SAYS I AM ON E, LIGHT IS ON, AND I ONLY HAVE 30-40 MILES LEFT WITH THE GAS I HAVE. I SHUT THE CAR OFF ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THE FUEL GAGE IS BACK TO HALF A TANK. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WAS HANGING BY THE MIRROR WIRES. LUCKILY IT WAS HELD UP SOMEWHAT WITH THE CLIP. THE PLASTIC ON THE PIVOT SIDE IS CHEAP AND CRACKED RIGHT OFF, THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR IT AND A REPLACEMENT IS 140.00. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA SUN VISORS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
GAS GAUGE HAS STOPPED WORKING. IT WILL OCCASIONALLY REGISTER, BUT NOT OFTEN. MECHANIC CHECKED IT... SAYS ISSUE WITH FLOAT IN FUEL TANKS ... SAYS HYUNDAI IS AWARE BUT NO RECALL YET... HE PERSONALLY HAD REPAIRED 3 IN A 2 WEEK TIME FRAME!! IT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON NEW VEHICLES BUT NOT THIS YEAR / MODEL. COST TO REPAIR IS APPROX. $600!! I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY MONITOR MY MILEAGE, TRIP ODOMETER SO THAT I DO NOT RUN OUT OF GAS. I HAVE TO MANUALLY CALCULATE MILEAGE.. EVEN IF IT DOES REGISTER, IT IS NOT ACCURATE AND FLUCTUATES FREELY. VERY FRUSTRATING. IT ALSO AFFECTS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT....... WHICH REQUIRES ME TO HAVE TO STOP BY MY MECHANIC OFTEN FOR HIM TO RUN THE COMPUTER TO BE SURE I AM NOT DOING ANY DAMAGE. HYUNDAI REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND RECALL THIS FOR REPAIRS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READINGS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO LACK OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES ALL POWER AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOESN'T REV THE ENGINE. THE "ESC OFF " & "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER STOPPING AND SWITCHING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT IS OK. THE AIR BAG "RED LIGHT" IS ON. *JS
NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE LOCAL DEALER FROM 2010 THROUGH THIS VISIT FOR CLUNKING AND BANGING OF THE SUSPENSION WITH CONCERNS FOR SAFETY. THEY BEGRUDGINGLY REPLACED A TIE ROD IN 2011 ON ONE SIDE, LINK ASSEMBLY STABILIZER ON BOTH SIDES, LOWER ARM ASSEMBLY ON LEFT - AND NOW THAT RIGHT CONTROLLER ARM IS FAULTY AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. WHEN THERE ARE CONCERNS OF SAFETY FOR OVER 3 YEARS FOR THE SAME ISSUE I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO LAUNCH A FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION. HYUNDAI IS IN THE NEWS FOR OTHER SUSPENSION FAILURES. OBVIOUSLY FAULTY/POOR QUALITY PARTS ARE KNOWN. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO LIVE UP TO THE 60,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD, AND THE 10 YEAR 100,000 WARRANTY I STILL HAVE. THE WEAR AD TEAR ON THIS VEHICLE IS MINIMAL (DRIVEN TO WORK 6 MILES ROUNDTRIP AND EASY FREEWAY DRIVING MAYBE ONCE A MONTH). IN ADDITION TO THE SUSPENSION MY PASSENGER VISOR FELL OFF THE CEILING AND DANGLES UNLESS DUCT TAPED. WAY TO GO HYUNDAI. *TR
FUEL SENSOR NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. AFTER FILLING UP FUEL LEVEL READS ZERO. FUEL LEVEL FLUCTUATES BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY. AFTER CODE TESTING IT IS REVEALED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSORS ARE BAD. JUST ABOUT EVERYONE I KNOW SEEMS TO BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. *TR
WHEN PARKING IN MY GARAGE I NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS OFF. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HOT TO TOUCH. NO AMOUNT OF PUMPING THE BRAKES WOULD TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP REPORTED OTHER 2007 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED BUT NOT MINE. THEY MADE ME PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A KNOWN FAULTY PART. SINCE THEY EXPANDED THE RECALL I BELIEVE THEY OWE ME A REFUND. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BRAKES PEDAL WAS HOT TO TOUCH. CARS BEHIND COULD NOT TELL IF I WAS STOPPING OR GOING. FEARFUL OF A CAR FIRE I HAD TO DRIVE ALL OVER TOWN UNTIL I COULD FIND SOMEONE TO ASSIST. PREVIOUS RECALL ON OTHER VIN NUMBERS FOR THIS EXACT REASON. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO EXPAND RECALL. *TR
THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON MULTIPLE TIMES IN MY VEHICLE. THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACEMENT RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR HAS CONTINUED TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THEN. FINALLY, ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED LOW VOLTAGE AND RESET THE LIGHT. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON IMMEDIATELY WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THEIR LOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN AND THEY STATED IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE JUNCTION BOX AND THAT I NEEDED TO SPEND $895 TO REPLACE IT. I BELIEVE HYUNDAI SHOULD REPAIR THE AIRBAG ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THEIR AIRBAG SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. I WILL NOT BUY A HYUNDAI AGAIN IF THIS IS NOT HONORED AND I HAVE PURCHASED TWO BRAND NEW VEHICLES FROM THEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH I FLIPPED DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR TO BLOCK THE SUN. THE VISOR BROKE LEAVING IT DANGLING IN MY LINE OF VISION. STARTLED AND STOOPING TO SEE UNDER THE DANGLING VISOR I MANAGED TO HOLD IT UP AND OUT OF MY WAY UNTIL I COULD FIND A STORE TO PURCHASE SOME DUCT TAPE. TAPING IT WAS QUICK TEMPORARY FIX. HIGH TEMPERATURES KEPT THE TAPE FROM STICKING SECURELY AND THE VISOR CONTINUED TO FALL DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING. FORCING MY ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE STREET AND BACK TO THE VISOR. I AM 58 YEARS OLD, HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 6 YEARS, AND HAVE NOT ABUSED THE VISOR. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH WOULD STAY ON,ANDWHEN LOCKING CAR WITH KEY FOB,LIGHTS WOULD FLASH WHEN PRESSING KEY FOB FIRST TIME,BUT ON SECOND PRESS HORN WOULD NOT BEEP,VEHICLE ALARM WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY REPLACED SENSOR UNDER SEAT AND IT FIXED PROBLEM FOR AWHILE.6-20-2007,SAME EXACT PROBLEM AGAIN.AFTER GOOGLING SYMPTOMS HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF ALMOST THE SAME PROBLEM OR SOME VARIATION THERE OF!MY QUESTION TO THE SAFETY BOARD IS,WHY HAVEN'T YOU FORCED A RECALL ON HYUNDAI ON THIS ISSUE?LIVES ARE BEING PLACED IN JEOPARDY BY YOUR INACTION.IS SOMEONE ON HYUNDAIS PAYROLL THERE ,OR WHAT?IF SO THEY SHOULD HAVE BECOME A SENATOR OR CONGRESSMAN,THATS WHERE THE BIG PAYOFFS ARE. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING THE CLUTCH PEDAL SUDDENLY DROPPED TO THE FLOOR FROM UNDERNEATH MY FOOT. THEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND OVER THE CLUTCH. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE, AND GET IT PULLED OVER, BUT IT WASN'T EASY. HAVING A FRIEND AND 2 BABIES IN THE CAR WITH ME, IT WAS FAIRLY TERRIFYING. WE GOT IT PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, AND FINALLY GOT THE CLUTCH MOVING UP TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN IT ON AND OFF AGAIN, BUT WE NEVER DID GET IT BACK INTO GEAR SO WE HAD A TOW TRUCK COME CLEAR IT FROM THE ROAD. NEVER WOULD HAVE EXPECTED ANYTHING LIKE THAT, LET ALONE ON A CAR WITH ONLY 68000 MILES. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COMES ON DUE TO INTERMITTENT FUEL GAUGE READINGS CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL NY STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. FUEL LEVEL SENSORS MUST BE REPLACED WHICH APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI. PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR RECALL ACTION. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON HI WAY 85 THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE QUICKLY DECELERATED AND CAUSED A LARGE TRUCK TO HAVE TO BRAKE AND NEARLY JACK KNIFE. THE FIX WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THERE ARE MANY BLOGS ON THIS ISSUE WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. NORMALLY THIS IS A $50 PART 3.3L ENGINE, HOWEVER WITH A 2.7 LITER ENGINE HYUNDAI IS ONLY SELLING THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS A $500 PART. THIS FAILURE ON FREEWAYS AND MAJOR ROADS CAN AN MOST LIKELY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. *TR
WAS AT DEALER HAVING WARRANTY WORK DONE ON CRANK PULLEY THAT FLEW OFF OF FRONT OF CAR. WHEN I PICKED UP CAR NOTICED GAS GAUGE WAS ERRATIC BOUNCING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY.TOLD SERVICE MANGER AND HE SAID MAY BE FUEL SENDING UNIT IF IT DOES NOT STOP BRING IT BACK. WEEK LATER CHECK ENGINE LITE CAME ON AND GAS GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY.NOW I HERE I HAVE TO REPLACE TWO SENDING UNITS IN TANK AND ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WOULD LIKE SO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
THIS IS NOT THE 1ST TIME. MY PASSENGER SUNVISOR ARM BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND HIT MY PASSENGER IN THE HEAD. SEVERAL YEARS AGO MY DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR BROKE AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD WHILE DRIVING, VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AN APPARENTLY THERE IS A DEFECT AND A RECALL FOR THE 2007 SONATA, BUT NOT THE SANTA FE. NOT SURE WHY BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND A KNOWN DEFECT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT REGISTERING CORRECTLY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. WE WOULD FILL UP THE TANK AND THE GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY. INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT GM VEHICLES HAD THE SAME ISSUE IN MANY MODELS FROM 2005-2007. THEY WERE RECALLED, THERE IS NO RECALL TO DATE FOR HYUNDAI VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THEIR TANKS AND THEY CAN INADVERTENTLY RUN OUT OF FUEL ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON RURAL ROADS. I HAVE THE SENSORS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM OUR VEHICLE. I AM GUESSING CAR MANUFACTURES PROBABLY BUY THESE PARTS FROM THE SAME COMPANY. SO WHY WEREN'T ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS SENSOR RECALLED? OR IF THEY DON'T BUY THEM FROM THE SAME COMPANY THEN AROUND THE 2007 TIME FRAME A LOT OF SENSORS WERE BAD. WE PAID AROUND $500 TO GET OUR VEHICLE FIX BECAUSE WE HAD TO TRAVEL 400 MILES AND DID NOT WANT TO RUN OUT OF FUEL ON THE INTERSTATE, THAT HAS MANY SEMI TRAILERS TRAVELING IT. *TR
FUEL GAUGE INCORRECTLY DISPLAYED AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. FUEL LEVEL SENSORS NOT WORKING. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY HYUNDAI SANTE FE 2007 I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON... I NOTICED THE MILES AT LITTLE OVER 95000 SO I THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED SERVICE. THEN THE GAS GAUGE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING I HAVE NO GAS AND WAS EMPTY WHICH I KNEW IS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE I HAD FILLED UP A DAY PRIOR AND HAD NOT DONE MUCH DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN WENT OFF ABOUT A 2-4 MILES LATER. I WENT TO THE GAS STATION AND FILLED UP AND THE LIGHT WENT AWAY... BUT WILL ALWAYS COME ON OR AFTER HALF TANK OF GAS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THEY INDICATED ITS THE FUEL SENDERS. THEY INDICATED NO WARRANTY ON MY CAR SINCE IT HAS PASSED THE 5 YEAR 60,000 MILES WARRANTY AND THE COST WOULD BE PAID BY ME TO FIX. I INQUIRED IF THIS WAS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE REP INDICATED HE HAS SEEN A FEW ON THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER NO RECALL MADE. IM COMPLAINING SINCE I HAVE VIEWED THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR ONLINE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE COMPANY AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
SUN VISOR ON PASSENGER SIDE BECAME DETACHED/BROKEN FROM MOORING. HANGS IN VIEW OF DRIVER FROM ELECTRICAL WIRE. SAME ISSUE HAPPENED ON PASSENGER SIDE 2 YEARS PRIOR. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMMENTS ON WEB FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *JS
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
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 OVER
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
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
WHEN LOWERING THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR TO BLOCK SUNLIGHT FROM MY EYES, THE VISOR SNAPPED AT THE ARM AND FELL IN FRONT OF MY LINE OF SIGHT AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. MY SAFETY, ALONG WITH THE SAFETY OF OTHERS, WAS COMPROMISED WHEN THE VISOR BROKE AND BLOCKED MY VIEW. UPON SEARCHING FOR OPTIONS ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I CAME ACROSS NUMEROUS FORUMS AND WEBSITES STATING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE HYUNDAI CARS AND SUVS. *JS
WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ABS WILL ACTIVATE WHETHER SLOWING AT 10 MPH TO AND INTERSECTION OR SLOWING AT 50 MPH IN TRAFFIC. WHILE DRIVING, THE ESC AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE BRAKES AND WARNING LIGHTS COME ON ON ASPHALT STREETS IN GOOD SHAPE, ON BUMPY ROADS, OR GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. THE ABS ACTIVATED WHEN COMING TO AN INTERSECTION PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STOPPING AT THE STOP LIGHT. SOUTH BAY HYUNDAI IN TORRANCE CA SAYS ITS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND WILL REPLACE IT FOR $2300.00 AND WE CANNOT HAVE OUR CAR BACK FOR 4 DAYS. THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. PURCHASED AUGUST 2007. HAS 90169 MILES.
MY CRANKSHAFT VIBRATION DAMPER FAILED. IT LITERALLY BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. IT LEFT ME UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT ON A TWO LANE (EACH SIDE = 4) ROAD. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, HOWEVER, AND HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND OFF THE ROAD. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70 WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM IN MY OPINION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WAS DISPLAYING ERRONEOUS FUEL LEVEL READINGS. WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL WAS AT HALF FULL, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE SHORTLY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM GAUGE SENSOR WAS NOT READING THE ACTUAL FUEL LEVELS. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED HALFWAY, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD MALFUNCTION AND DISPLAY THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM SENSOR WOULD BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. "LOW FUEL" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. FUEL GAUGE INDICATED NEARLY EMPTY EVEN THOUGH TANK WAS CLOSE TO HALF FULL. CAUSE: FUEL TANK LEVEL SENSOR FAILED INDICATING FUEL IS ALWAYS EMPTY."CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ALWAYS ILLUMINATED. *TR
SYMPTOMS: "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. "LOW FUEL" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. FUEL GAUGE INDICATED NEARLY EMPTY EVEN THOUGH TANK WAS CLOSE TO HALF FULL. CAUSE: FUEL TANK LEVEL SENSOR FAILED INDICATING FUEL IS ALWAYS EMPTY."CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ALWAYS ILLUMINATED. *TR
SYMPTOMS: "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. "LOW FUEL" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. FUEL GAUGE INDICATED NEARLY EMPTY EVEN THOUGH TANK WAS CLOSE TO HALF FULL. CAUSE: FUEL TANK LEVEL SENSOR FAILED. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED, ALL SYMPTOMS CLEARED. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED MANY OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. CONCERN: NOW WHENEVER THE TANK IS COMPLETELY FILLED, THERE IS A SLIGHT ODOR OF GAS IN THE CAR. SUSPECT THAT BREAKING THE SEAL ON THE TANK TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK LEVEL SENSOR DISRUPTED THAT SEAL SUCH THAT FUEL VAPORS CAN NOW LEAK THROUGH IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON "ESC OFF" DASHBOARD LIGHT REMAINS ON MAKING THE ESC USELESS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND MY GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY, I WENT IMMEDIATELY TO A GAS STATION TO FILL IT AND IT ONLY TOOK $8.00. AFTER THAT THE GAS GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE FULL TO EMPTY WHENEVER IT FELT LIKE IT. THIS WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT BECAUSE IF I WOULD HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. MY FATHER HAS THE EXACT SANTA FE AND HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM; WHAT ARE THE CHANCES 2 CARS IN THE SAME FAMILY HAVING THE SAME DEFECT? HYUNDAI WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBLY FOR THE DEFECT. IF MINE AND MY FATHER'S SANTA FES HAVE THIS PROBLEM, THERE HAVE GOT TO BE OTHERS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS SERIOUS DEFECT. ALSO, MY SUN VISOR HAD LITTLE TO NO WEAR AND TEAR; I PULLED IT DOWN ONE DAY AND IT LANDED IN MY LAP LEAVING THE SUN BLARING INTO MY EYES. OF ALL THE CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE FOR ME. *TR
BRAKE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING ESC OFF LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, CRUISE CONTROL NOT TO ENGAGE, AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE. CHECK ENGINE CODE OF P0405 BEING THROWN BY ONBOARD COMPUTER TO INDICATE FAILURE. *TR
FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. ALWAYS REGISTERED EMPTY, EVEN WHEN TANK WAS FULL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. REPAIR INVOLVED BOTH FUEL LEVEL SENSORS BE REPLACED, CALIBRATED, AND CLEARED CODES.
EXITING FROM A PARKING LOT ONTO 7TH ST IN PHOENIX AZ, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND, DESPITE BRAKE APPLICATION, ENTERED THE ROADWAY, HITTING A MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS IN THE SIDE. NOBODY WAS INJURED AND AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE. ONCE STOPPED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL INTO PARK TO RELEASE THE KEY. VEHICLE TOWED AND, AS FRAME WAS DAMAGED AS WELL AS FRONT END AND RADIATOR, INSURANCE ARE WRITING THE VEHICLE OFF. *TR
THE GAS GAUGE IN MY CAR SUDDENLY SHOWED EMPTY ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN MY CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 80K MILES. MY GAS LIGHT IS ALSO ON AND ACTUALLY CAUSED ME TO FAIL MY NJ STATE INSPECTION A FEW WEEKS AGO. I HAVE ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT UNTIL MY TIME IS UP TO GET IT REPAIRED. THE MVC REP HAD PROVIDED ME WITH TWO CODES, P0463 AND P2068, WHICH BOTH POINT TOWARDS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SENDER(S). THERE SEEMS TO BE NUMEROUS 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER! I HAVE STOPPED TWICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY CAR RAN OUT OF GAS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE PASSENGERS AND MOTORISTS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!! *TR
PER THE NHTSA WEB SITE SERVICE BULLETIN 219304 ACTION NUMBER 10021136 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE REPORT DATE OCT 1,2006 SUMMARY DETAIL AUTOMATIC TRANS AXLE SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ON 2/7/2014 MY CALL WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AT 8006335151 TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE REGARDING THIS SAFETY MATTER. WAS TOLD THIS MATTER WAS ONLY ASSISTED FOR SOME 2007 HYUNDAI VEHICLES AND MY VIN WAS NOT ONE. WAS ALSO TOLD ACCORDING TO WHEN MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED FEB 6,2007 AND THE REPORT DATE ACCORDING TO NHTSA OCT 1,2006 THE CAR HAD TO ME MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCT 2006 THRU MARCH 2007. AT THAT POINT MY CAR WAS COVERED DURING THAT TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY COMPONENT AND THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT COVER MY VEHICLE. I HAVE TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP OUT OF POCKET PER CUSTOMER SERVICE. MY CLAIM NUMBER IS 6413148. MY CAR IS AT WEB HYUNDAI FOR REPAIR AND THE HYUNDAI WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. WEB HYUNDAI NUMBER IS 219 923-2277 AND MY SERVICE ADVISOR NAME IS [XXX] WHICH CONFIRMED TO ME THIS IS THE REPAIR DUE FEB 18,2014. PLEASE ASSIST. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS OTHER THAN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. PM *TR
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DESPITE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE INITIAL INSURANCE COMPANY REPORT PUTS VISIBLE DAMAGE AT 65% OF VALUE AND ANTICIPATES ADDITIONAL, UNSEEN DAMAGE WILL PUSH COST ABOVE 75% AND RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING TOTALED. *TR
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.
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