2008 Hyundai Santa FE complaints

SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AND PULLED IT OFF THE LOT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT REGISTER ME. I AM 5'3" 105 LBS. RARELY DOES IT EVER WORK AND IF IT DOES ITS ONLY FOR A MINUTE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. LADY STATED SHE HAS HEARD COMPLAINT NUMEROUS TIME AND HYUNDAI WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY TELL YOU TO RESTART THE CAR AND SIT WITH PERFECT POSTURE. THIS STILL DOES NOT WORK AND EVEN IF IT DOES MOVE AN INCH AND IT TURNS BACK OFF. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS. ITS LIKE HYUNDAI IS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,391 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 08/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB

2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON STATING AIRBAG IS OFF WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT. I BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THEY NEVER SAW THIS HAPPEN BEFORE ON A SANTA FE BUT IT DID ON THE TUCSON. THEY PUT ON A MACHINE AND CLAIMED IT WAS FINE AND OF COURSE WOULD NOT HAPPEN WHEN IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO MAKE SOME CALLS AND I MIGHT NEED THE SEAT REPLACED BECAUSE THE SENSOR MAY BE BAD AND I WOULD HEAR FROM THEM IN A COUPLE DAYS. THAT WAS JUNE 24, 2009 AND IT IS NOW JULY 13, 2009 AND I HAVE NOT HEARD A THING. IT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WENT OUT AND I TOOK PICTURES AND VIDEO OF IT TO SHOW ME SITTING IN SEAT AND THE LIGHT ON AND WITHOUT REVEALING MY WEIGHT, BELIEVE ME I AM HEAVY ENOUGH TO MAKE THE LIGHT STAY OFF. I AM GOING TO CALL THEM AGAIN TOMORROW AND HOPE FOR SOME RESULTS. THIS COULD BE A FATAL DEFECT AND I DEMAND IT TO BE REPAIRED. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CAR IS GREAT EXCEPT FOR ONE THING: THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT ME AS AN ADULT AND TOGGLES ON AND OFF AT WILL. IT IS REALLY FRIGHTENING TO BE BARRELING DOWN THE ROAD AND REALIZE THAT I HAVE NO AIRBAG. I HAVE READ THAT THE SENSOR IS SET AT ABOUT 120LBS AND I WEIGH 115LBS. THE ARROGANT SERVICE PERSON AT HYUNDAI RECOMMENDED THAT I BE THE DRIVER OR SIT IN THE REAR SEAT! I COULDN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD JUST TELL A 48 YEAR OLD WOMAN TO SIT IN THE BACK! (THAT SHOULD BE INTERESTING GOING ON DATES WITH THE HUBBY OR HELPING MY 15 YEAR OLD LEARN TO DRIVE.) THE SERVICE PERSON ALSO ASKED ME IF I WAS SITTING SQUARELY ON THE SEAT WITH MY LEGS EXTENDED. WHAT? YES, I WAS SITTING SQUARELY ON THE SEAT WITH LEGS EXTENDED!! SO, IF I SHIFT MY BUTT SLIGHTLY ON A 4 HOUR DRIVE - ARE THEY SAYING I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING? WHAT RIDICULOUSNESS. I WAS APPALLED. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY PETITE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SANTA FE AND THE SONATA. THIS IS NOT AN UNKNOWN OR RARE PROBLEM. I AM TAKING IT IN TO HYUNDAI SERVICE ON MONDAY, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, I WAS NOT ENCOURAGED BY THE QUESTIONS THE SERVICE PEOPLE ASKED. IF IT CAN'T BE FIXED TO BE ARMED AT ALL TIMES, I WILL RETURN THE CAR - AND THAT WOULD BE A SHAME BECAUSE WE LIKED EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. *TR

SAFETY DEFECT WITH HORN ACTIVATION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL HORN PAD IS NEED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN A POTENTIAL COLLISION /CLOSE CALL SITUATION OCCURRED. THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTAINS THE DRIVER AIR BAG INTEGRATED WITH THE HORN ACTIVATION SUBSYSTEM. THE MANUAL PRESSURE NEEDED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN IS WHAT I BELIEVE IS EXCESSIVE AND APPEARS TO BE GREATER AS YOU MOVE AWAY FROM THE CENTER OF THE HORN-PAD TO THE EDGE OF THE PAD. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT FIXING THIS BUT HE CLAIMS THIS IN NOT POSSIBLE. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT AVAILABLE ON THIS EQUIPMENT. I'VE COMPARED THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE NEEDED ON MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE TO MY 1999 LEXUS RX 300 AND THE SANTA FE REQUIRES MUCH MORE PRESSURE THAN THE RX300. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE REQUESTED THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGERS TO DO SOMETHING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE BUT THEY HAVE RESPONDED W/ THE COMMENT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *TR

DRIVING ~10-15 MPH IN PUBLIC PARK, 2 KIDS IN CARSEATS IN BACK SEAT. WEATHER WAS RAINY. I HAD JUST TURNED ON THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER FOR DEFOG ABOUT 4-5 MINUTES PRIOR. SUDDEN LOUD "BOOM" AND REAR/BACK WINDOW EXPLODED, SENDING SHARDS OF GLASS INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO OTHER PEOPLE OR CARS AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND I HAD NOT RECENTLY OPENED THE REAR HATCH/DOOR. *TR

THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. AFTER STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. WITHIN ONE TO TWO PUMPS THE BREAKING RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. *TR

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE GLS AWD ON 4/13/2009. ON FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 AT APPROX 5:20 PM I WAS DRIVING TO MY SISTERS WHO LIVES 5 MINUTES AWAY WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. I HAD JUST TURNED ONTO THE STREET AND A RED LIGHT WAS 1 BLOCK AWAY. I WAS SLOWING DOWN, WHEN I WAS ABOUT TWO CAR LENGTHS FROM THE NEXT VEHICLE I APPLIED THE BRAKE IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. I PUMPED THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE WHEEL TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO GO IN A DITCH WHEN THE BRAKE FINALLY ENGAGED AND I STOPPED. I SLOWLY DROVE INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. TESTED THE BRAKES AND CONTINUED TO MY SISTERS. FOUR HOURS LATER WE WERE DRIVING HOME. STILL CAUTIOUS AND LEAVING ROOM BETWEEN ME AND OTHER CARS. I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE BRAKE LET GO AND MY CAR SHOT FORWARD. LUCKILY I HIT THE BRAKE AGAIN AND IT CAUGHT. MY SON AND I BOTH WERE PULLED BACK AND HIT THE SEATS BY THE SEAT BELTS. I DROVE THE FEW BLOCKS HOME AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK THE NEXT MORNING. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE. THEY ARE INSISTING THAT I PICK UP THE VEHICLE TOMORROW EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE CAUSE. THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING A VEHICLE JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT BRAKE FAILURE. I MAY NOT BE LUCKY NEXT TIME AND MAY FINE MYSELF IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MYSELF AND OTHERS COULD BE INJURED. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS FROM OTHERS ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT ON THE BRAKES IN T

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY PERFORMED A FOUR WHEEL BALANCING ON THE VEHICLE THREE SEPARATE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY AT 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES AND STATED THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW TIRE. A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED ON MARCH 15, 2009, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SHAKING WHEN IN MOTION. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS PUT IN TOUCH WITH A DISTRICT MANAGER AND GIVEN A CASE NUMBER, BUT THE DISTRICT MANAGER DID NOT ASSIST. BRIDGESTONE REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A STORE IN SYRACUSE, NY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. IT WOULD COST $194.36 TO BALANCE THE WHEELS. BOTH REAR WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE. ON MARCH 28, 2009, THE CONTACT ADDED UNDERCOATING, WHICH THE DEALER STATED MAY HAVE CAUSED HARMONIC VIBRATIONS. THE TIRE INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19.

MY HUSBAND AND I JUST PURCHASED THIS 2008 SANTA FE GLS (USED WITH 10,000 MILES) ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. WE NOTICED THIS ISSUE TWO DAYS LATER. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN I, A 120 LB, 5' 7", 31 YEAR OLD ADULT FEMALE SIT IN THE SEAT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AND WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT I WAS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE SEAT SO THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT IS SET TO ACTIVATE FOR ANYONE OVER 110 LBS. I AM DEFINITELY HEAVIER THAN THAT. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE RESOLVED QUICKLY AS I HAVE READ OF MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR

2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE - PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING WHEN A PASSENGER, WHO WEIGHS AROUND 170 LBS IS IN THE SEAT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS FOR REPAIR, ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE, I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN WITHIN 10 MINUTES. I TOOK PICTURES AND VIDEO OF THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WITH THE "AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BROUGHT IT BACK THE NEXT DAY, THEY REPLACED A WEIGHT SENSOR. ISSUE WAS STILL HAPPENING, BROUGHT IT BACK THE THIRD TIME AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE. AGAIN, I DROVE OFF THE LOT, AND THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN AGAIN. THIS TIME I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND TODAY WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE, BUT THEY WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I BOUGHT THIS CAR WAS SAFETY. I WILL NOT RIDE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT, BECAUSE, CHANCES ARE THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK OR WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS AS THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM SANTA FE OWNERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG DOES NOT DETECT HER WEIGHT. SHE WEIGHS ROUGHLY 102 LBS. SECONDLY, SHE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH SIGNIFIED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG NOT TO DEPLOY AND INJURE THE OCCUPANT. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V161000 (AIR BAGS); THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY RECOURSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,756. UPDATED 4/14/09 *CN UPDATED 04/17/09.*JB

AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON TO SHOW AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. 2008 SANTA FE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DEALER RESET COMPUTER CODE FOR AIRBAG SENSORS. WORKED FOR A COUPLE WEEKS , THEN LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. RETURNED TO DEALER TO CHECK AGAIN. DEALER SAID THE AIRBAG SENSOR BUILT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER SUBSTITUTED A SEAT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. THE DEALER CALLED A HYUNDAI ENGINEER IN CALIFORNIA AND WAS TOLD ALL AIRBAGS WERE NOT OPERABLE WHEN LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER NOW HAS CAR WAITING FOR DELIVERY OF A REPLACEMENT PASSENGER SEAT. DEALER CLAIMS HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM ONCE BEFORE. *TR

ON FEBRUARY 14, 2009 I INCURRED A SCALP LACERATION THAT REQUIRED 6 STAPLE SUTURES WHEN I HIT MY HEAD WITH THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR OF MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUV. I LATER LEARNED FROM OTHER MOTORISTS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM IN THEIR SUV'S. I WOULD SUGGEST A VISIBLE WARNING STICKER BE PLACED SOMEWHERE NEAR THE PULL STRAP WARNING MOTORISTS WHEN THEY LOWER THEIR HATCHBACK DOORS. *TR

2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE PASSENGER AIRBAG WORKS SPORADICALLY AT BEST. PASSENGER WEIGHS AROUND 120 POUNDS AND THE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY IN AN ACCIDENT. HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE NOW AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THE SONOTA HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE. THIS HAS OCCURRED THE AT 50 MILES VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 600 MILES. *TR

PURCHASED 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. WHEN EVER A PASSENGER WOULD SHIFT THEIR WEIGHT IN THE SEAT, THE SENOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON. TOOK INTO DEALER TWO TIMES WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. THIRD TIME FACTORY REP WAS PRESENT, PROBLEM FOUND BUT COULD NOT BE FIXED. WAS OFFERED A DIFFERENT CAR WITH ME PAYING THE DIFFERENCE IN STICKER PRICE OR THEY WOULD BUY BACK MY CAR WITH A FEE. THE LEMON LAW IN REVERSE. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD NOT STOP ILLUMINATING WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN SOMEONE OCCUPIED THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER AND WAS LEFT FOR REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DISENGAGES FREQUENTLY WITH ADULT IN SEAT. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS FUNCTIONING AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO ...... NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION. *TR

THE LAST WEEK FOR NOV. 2008 I PURCHASED A NEW SANTA FE FOR MY WIFE. ON 12/26/2008 SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON WRECK. MY 25 YR. OLD DAUGHTER WHO IS VERY PETTY ABOUT 110 LBS. WAS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING SHE WAS INJURED VERY SERIOUSLY. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WERE PRIOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIR BAGS IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THE MANUFACTURE NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR TWO MONTHS BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND DOOR LOCKS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY STATING THAT THEY HAVE TO REWIRE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO BE REPAIRED. THE PART WAS ORDERED, BUT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DOORS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNSUCCESSFULLY APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

THE AIR BAG SUPPRESSION SYSTEM OF MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SE IS SUPPRESSING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WHEN MY WIFE, WHO WEIGHTS BETWEEN 110 AND 115 POUNDS, OCCUPIES THE SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPEN EVER TIME MY WIFE HAS SAT IN THE VEHICLE SINCE WE TOOK DELIVERY ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT ADVANTAGE HYUNDAI IN HICKSVILLE, NEW YORK WERE THEY USED A MALE TECHNICIAN WHOM I WAS TOLD WEIGHTS 130 POUNDS TO SHOW ME THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WAS WORKING TO SPECS AND INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THAT COULD BE DONE. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY SERVICE THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WOULD SUPPRESS THE AIR BAGS FOR ANY WEIGHT UNDER 120 POUNDS. FOLLOWING THIS SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I SPOKE WITH CHARLIE CASE FOR THE NHTSA WHO SUGGESTED I FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SEEMS TO HAVE A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR. MY WIFE WEIGHS ABOUT 105 LBS. AND THE SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY RECOGNIZES THE PASSENGER SEAT AS BEING OCCUPIED. WHEN I SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WILL TURN OFF. I WEIGH 198 LBS. MY WIFE CAN USUALLY POSITION THE SEAT TO MAKE THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT TURN OFF BUT THEN THE SENSOR LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON AGAIN AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS OF DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR SHOULD REGISTER ANYTHING OVER 100 LBS. AS AN ADULT AND THEREFORE THE SENSOR SHOULD REMAIN OFF INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG IS ACTIVATED. THE HYUNDAI DEALER CHECKED OUT THE SENSOR AND STATED THAT IT WAS WORKING NORMALLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME AND THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PASSENGER NEEDS TO WEIGH 120 LBS OR MORE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145.

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG ARMS AND DISARMS INTERMITTENTLY DEPENDING ON THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER. RECENTLY MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO WEIGHS 130 POUNDS HAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT GO ON INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS TURNED OFF WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. I CANNOT GET ANYONE FROM HYUNDAI OR THE DEALERSHIP TO GIVE ME AN EXACT WEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. CAN A SMALL ADULT WHO WEIGHS 115 TO 120 NEVER SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERMANENTLY ARM THE AIRBAG IF WE WANT. I CANNOT GET ANYONE TO HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE AIRBAG CHECKS OUT FINE SO THEY ARE AT A LOSS. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THE WILL NOT COMMIT. *TR

2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. *NJ WHILE DRIVING ON AN UN-LIGHTED OR HILLY ROADWAY, THERE WAS A DISCERNABLE HORIZONTAL LINE BETWEEN THE LIGHTED ROADWAY AND DARKNESS. THE CONSUMER COULD SEE THE LINE ABOUT 3 FEET ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE. THE LINE ALSO EXTENDED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AT TIMES, THE LIGHTED ROADWAY WAS LESS THAN 30 FEET WHILE GOING UP AND DOWN THE HILLY ROAD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT 30 FEET OR LESS WAS TOO SHORT OF A LIGHTED LANE OF TRAVEL. A VISUAL INSPECTION, SHOWED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS MOUNTED TOO FAR BEHIND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO BLOCK THE LOW BEAM REFLECTING UP. *JB

AIRBAG SENSOR IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT DETECT AN ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT. AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS A DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR THE "PASS AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT COMES ON WHICH INDICATES THAT IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION HER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. SHE WEIGHS 145 POUNDS, BUT IF I GET IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT, I WEIGH 210 POUNDS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE WEIGHT SENSOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM , ALTHOUGH A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE HYUNDAI SONATA WAS ISSUED. PLEASE BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS, HAVE HYUNDAI ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

HELLO, THIS IS A NEW CAR (400MI.) AND WITH MY WIFE (5'4" AND 120LBS.) SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING THE AIRBAG IS OFF. OCCASIONALLY THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF (AS EXPECTED, INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ARMED) AS WE START DRIVING AND THEN IT WILL COME ON AFTER 5 TO 10MIN. OF DRIVING. IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING TO THINK THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED. THANKS, DAN *TR

MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SE SEEMS TO HAVE A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR. I WEIGH ABOUT 130 LB. AND IT OFTEN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE PASSENGER SEAT AS BEING OCCUPIED WHEN I SIT IN IT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL TURN OFF. I CAN USUALLY POSITION THE SEAT TO MAKE THE AIRBAG COME BACK ON BUT THEN THE AIRBAG WILL TURN OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING (ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF AND ON AFTER 30 SECONDS OF DRIVING). THIS IS A HAZARD AS THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR SHOULD REGISTER ANYTHING OVER 100 LB. AS AN ADULT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER A/T 693 TIRES, SIZE LT225/75R16. WITHIN ONE MONTH OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OR LESS. THE DEALER FOUND A DEFECT IN THE FRONT TIRE WHERE THE STEEL BELTS HAD BEGUN TO UNRAVEL; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FRONT TIRE DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE REAR TIRE WAS PLUGGED BECAUSE THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE TIRE. FIRESTONE CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE ESTIMATED $130 REPAIR COST. THE REAR TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME BRAND, BUT A DIFFERENT MODEL (TURANZA). HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (04T018000 TIRES:TREAD/BELT) STATING THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE BEING RECALLED DUE TO INCORRECT WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WOULD NOT APPLY TO HIM BECAUSE THE CONTACT ALREADY PURCHASED THE TIRES FROM FIRESTONE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR ITS FUEL ECONOMY AND WEIGHT CAPACITY TO TOW A TRAILER. AT THE DEALER, THE WEIGHT CAPACITY WAS LISTED AS 3,197 IN THE REAR AND 2,976 IN THE FRONT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, WHICH DECREASED THE WEIGHT CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS MISLEADING SINCE HE BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD TOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEIGHT AS DISCUSSED AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND FEELS THAT HIS FAMILY'S LIVES COULD BE IN DANGER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

I HAVE A NEW 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 1,500 MILES. AFTER DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER STOPPING FOR THE EXIT RAMP, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AGAIN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO ACTION WHATSOEVER. I TRIED AGAIN AND IT STOPPED. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS STILL FULL. I CHECKED FOR ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF LIQUID LEAKS AROUND THE WHEELS, BUT OBSERVED NONE. TWO HOURS LATER THE SAME OCCURRENCE AND THE NEXT DAY THE SAME OCCURRENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS AS I KEPT DRIVING SLOWLY AND CHECKING THE BRAKES FREQUENTLY. I'VE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER. *TR

RE: FAILURE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG TO BE ACTIVATED. HYUNDAI 2008 SANTA FE WITH 150 MILES I AM A 145LB 5'8" MALE. 75% OF THE TIME WHEN I AM SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT, THE FRONT AIRBAG FAILS TO "TURN ON". EVEN THOUGH I'M SITTING UPRIGHT WITH MY FEET PLACED ON THE GROUND, EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE SENSORS LOCATED IN THE SEAT CUSHION FAIL TO RECOGNIZE ME AS AN ADULT. I HAVE VISITED THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEIR EQUIPMENT SAYS THE SENSORS ARE WORKING. I HAVE NUMEROUS WITNESSES AT THE DEALER WHO HAVE OBSERVED THE FAILURE OF THE SENSORS TO "TURN ON" THE AIRBAG WHEN I'M SITTING IN THE SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED NOISE COMING FROM THE RADIO. SHE CALLED THE DEALER ON MARCH 4, 2008 AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. ONCE AT THE DEALER, THEY INSPECTED THE RADIO AND INFORMED HER THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE PART FOR THE REPAIR. ON MARCH 21, 2008, THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS. THE DEALER SENT HER A CERTIFIED LETTER, NOTIFYING HER TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. ON APRIL 18, 2008, THE CONTACT PICKED UP HER VEHICLE AND SPOKE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER CONCERNING A NEW RADIO FOR THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 19, 2008, A NEW RADIO WAS INSTALLED, BUT IT ALSO MADE A NOISE. SHE CURRENTLY HAS TO MEET WITH A HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE RADIO AND DETERMINE WHETHER HYUNDAI WILL CONTINUE TO ASSIST WITH THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,100.

I HAVE A 4 MONTH OLD 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO GET READY TO BRAKE FOR MY EXIT. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING AND PULLING THE CAR FORWARD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BREAKS TO SEE IF MAYBE THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKED IN, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T GO NEAR THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, MUCH TO MY HORROR, I HAD NO BRAKES!!!! I PUNCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR A BUNCH OF TIMES AND NOTHING!!!!!! I HAD TO STEP ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM REVVING ON ITS OWN) AND DRIVE MY CAR INTO A HILLSIDE ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO STOP IT! IT'S A MIRACLE THAT MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER WERE NOT HARMED AND THAT I DIDN'T KILL OR INJURE ANYONE ELSE. UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NEW VEHICLE OR ANY VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG "OFF" INDICATOR LIGHTS WHEN A 115 POUND, 5'8" ADULT SITS IN THE SEAT (INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT). LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI NATIONAL 1-800 COMPLAINT LINE INDICATE THAT THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. I BELIEVE SPECIFICATIONS (SUPPOSEDLY A 130 POUND MINIMUM FOR FULL FUNCTIONING OF PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM) ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND RESULT IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATES WHEN THE CONTACT'S WIFE IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HIS WIFE WEIGHS 103 LBS. WHEN AN OCCUPANT WEIGHTING 110 LBS OR MORE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAGS WORK FINE. THE CONTACT HAS ATTEMPTED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER OWNER, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,980 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,656.

I PURCHASED A 2008 -AWD -HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN APRIL 2008... THE PROBLEM IS WITH MY "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) "... SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP THE "TPMS" MALFUNCTION LIGHT GOES ON.. INFACT THE FIRST DAY THE DEALERSHIP RE-SET THE '"TPMS" TWICE... I NOW HAVE ABOUT 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE "TPMS" WILL MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY... IT WILL STAY-ON FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS THEN GO OFF FOR A DAY OR TWO... *TR

MY 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED HAS A VIBRATION BETWEEN 40 - 60 MPH AND HYUNDAI HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. THEY HAVE ELIMINATED THE TIRES AS BEING INVOLVED WITH THE PROBLEM. TIRES AND WHEELS HAVE BEEN REBALANCED A NUMBER OF TIMES INCLUDING PUTTING ON A NEW SET OF TIRES WITH THE SAME VIBRATION. MOST IMPORTANT THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS MYSELF ON THREE OTHER BRAND NEW 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE'S. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,400 MILES. I AM IN TOUCH WITH HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT NO RESOLUTION AT THIS POINT. *TR

2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE - PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION WITH AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON @ 250 MILES - LESS THAN 24 HRS AFTER PURCHASE. DEALER CLEARED CODE - PROBLEM RECURRED LATER SAME EVENING - NOW PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SEEMS AS IF THE 2007 MODEL ISSUE HAS CARRIED OVER TO THE 208 MODEL. NOT HAPPY - BAD START FOR WHAT IS MARKETED AS A SAFE CAR - WHAT GOOD IS 8 AIRBAGS IF THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. *TR