THE FUEL INDICATOR ON OUR SANTA FE IS ONLY ACCURATE FOR THE FIRST 1/4 OF A TANK, AFTER THAT IT INDICATES THE TANK IS EMPTY AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT APPEARS. WE HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF OUR MILEAGE IN ORDER TO KNOW WHEN WE ARE LOW ON FUEL. VERY ANNOYING TO HAVE TO DO THIS. WHAT IF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS ON FOR ANOTHER REASON? HOW WILL WE KNOW? THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI,WHO HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE, AND IT WILL COST $300-$700 TO REPAIR! WE ARE THINKING OF SELLING OUR SANTA FE BUT WE KNOW WE CAN'T SELL IT WITH A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ON! HYUNDAI SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND RECALL THEIR VEHICLES. WE HAVE OWNED 5 HYUNDAI'S IN THE PAST 15 YEARS AND THIS WILL MAKE US RECONSIDER EVER BUYING ANOTHER. *TR
2009 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 2009 record →
2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EXPERIENCING WILD FUEL GAGE SPIKES, READS E WHEN TANK IS FULL, THEN READS 1/2 FULL AND IS ALL OVER THE MAP.. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT INDICATED A RECALL.. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE PLACES ON RECALL AS IT IS A HAZARD, TO THE DRIVER, OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. GAUGE COULD READ FULL WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY EMPTY RESULTING IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.. THIS ISSUE ALSO RESULTS IN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIGGER, CAUSING FAILURES AT INSPECTION. *TR
WHEN I WENT TO START VEHICLE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAME ON BUT DID NOT TURN THE STARTER,THIS HAPPENED MAYBE TWICE LAST YEAR.SO FAR THIS YEAR IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMES ON WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START BUT NOTHING HAPPENS,I FINALLY FOUND OUT IF I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TAKE THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK AND WORK IT THRU ALL GEARS THEN SHOVE IT BACK TO PARK IT WILL START.WE TRAVEL UP TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FROM HOME EVER YEAR AND WOULD HATE TO GET STRANDED SOME WHERE ALONG THE ROAD. *TR
CAR HAD A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SO IT COULDN'T STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE LIGHT POLE AFTER PUMPED OTHER CAR. *TR
1ST. TIME; DRIVING ON I-75 ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING COMPLETELY NO POWER, (BRAKES, A/C, STEERING OR SIGNALS) 2ND. TIME: 4/07/2012 ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH SAME RESULTS 28000 MILES. 3RD. TIME; 03/03/2013 ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON I-75 CAUSING CAR TO HAVE TO PULL OVER INTO MEDIAN / STARTED UP AFTER 15 MINUTES & WAS TAKING TO HYUNDAI DEALER WHO STILL COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM 37500 MILES. 4TH. & LAST INCIDENT; 08/25/2014; ENGINE SHUT DOWN LEAVING NO POWERIN STEERING, A/C, BRAKES, WINDOWS OR SIGNALS. WAS ABLE TO GET INTO TARGET PARKING LOT BEFORE TURNING OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED VEHICLE 35 MINUTES LATER AND DROVE TO DEALERSHIP WHO TIGHTENED BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION & WAS TOLD TO MONITOR! AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW VEHICLE... *TR
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK BETWEEN TWO CARS AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO CUT THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO FINISH THE PARK, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (WITHOUT MY DOING) INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD NO TIME TO COMPENSATE AND ULTIMATELY CRUSHED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT/FRAME OF THE CAR BEHIND ME. *TR
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND PULLED IN TO DRIVEWAY OF HOME TO A CONTROLLED STOP BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. AT WHICH POINT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AND PROCEEDED AT ACCELERATING SPEED INTO GARAGE AND HIT A WALL (WOODEN BEAMS AND SHEETROCK WALLS) SEPARATING INTERIOR OF GARAGE AND INTERIOR OF KITCHEN AREA OF HOME. VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AGAINST THE WALL WITH BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUOUSLY PRESSED DOWN. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO PARK, IT RESISTED AND KEY ALSO WOULD NOT COME OUT. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PRESSED AT THIS TIME AND AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS, VEHICLE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK AND KEY WAS ABLE TO COME OUT TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO GARAGE DOOR AND INTERIOR WALL OF HOME. *TR
UPON TAKE OFF FROM SIGNAL LIGHT, AT ABOUT 10-15 MILES AN HOUR, VEHICLE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. AT THE TIME WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED KEY OFF. WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED ENGINE AND VEHICLE STARTED UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES ALONG WITH NO RESOLUTION FROM MANUFACTURER. *TR
MY CAR HAS BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENT ONE WAS YESTERDAY WHEN A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HIT HER STRAIGHT ON GOING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT OF MY CAR IS DESTROYED BUT YET MY AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. THE FIRST ACCIDENT I WAS IN WAS IN THE WINTER AND A CAR PLOWED INTO ME AS I PULLED OVER BECAUSE I NOTICED SHE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, SHE WAS COMING DOWN A LARGE HILL AND WAS GOING AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN SHE HIT THE DRIVE SIDE BACK DOOR WHICH CAVED IN AND THE DOOR WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE BACK END FRAME OF MY CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS UPSET THINKING WHAT IF ONE OF MY CHILDREN WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME BUT I WAS TOLD THE REASON THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF BECAUSE IT WASN'T A FLAT HIT TO THE SIDE OF MY CAR. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THESE AIRBAGS DON'T GO OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD. *TR
I'M EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SENSOR FAILING. THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY AND THEN SLOWLY RISES TO INDICATE I HAVE FUEL. SOMETIMES THE FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AFTER I'VE JUST FILLED UP AND STAYS ON FOR A DAY OR SO. I CALLED MY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY SAID AT THIS TIME THERE'S NO RECALL OUT FOR THIS REPAIR, BUT AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD BE. THIS CAN BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I FEEL THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD STEP UP AND THAT CARE OF THIS FAULTY PART. *TR
REAR LEFT WHEEL HAD HIGH PITCH SCREECHING SOUND AT 50-55 MPH TAP THE BRAKES AND IT WOULD QUIT MOMENTARILY AND THEN START SCREECHING AGAIN. STOPPED AND CHECKED WHEEL ON RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. RIGHT SIDE WAS LUKEWARM TO THE TOUCH AND LEFT WHEEL WAS TOO HOT TO KEEP HAND ON IT. I TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME THE PADS ON THE LEFT WHEEL AND THEY WAS WHITE FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RELEASED BACK FROM THE ROTOR. PADS HAD TO BE PRIED OUT INSTEAD OF NORMALLY COMING OUT EASY. EXTREMELY RUST CORRODED CLEANED UP ALL RUST ON PADS AND BRACKET AND THEY WORK FINE NOW. I DROVE SANTA FE ABOUT 60 MILES AND NEVER HEARD IT NO MORE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 6 MILES AT 55 MPH AND I HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAK. IT CHANGED WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I LATER STOPPED AND FELT THE WHEELS AND THE RIGHT REAR WAS HOT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS BRAKE PADS THAT WERE CORRODED/STUCK. THEY WANTED $100 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. I THINK IT IS DANGEROUS. IN MY OPINION THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE BRAKES ARE NOT MADE TO RUN THIS HOT. IT SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED UNDER THEIR 5 YEAR/ 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT. *TR
FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, FAILS NJ EMISSIONS, DEALER WILL NOT FIX A KNOWN ISSUE!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS CARBON BUILD UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO STICK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,956. UPDATED 8/12/14*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,900. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ UPDATED 1/7/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING TO CAPACITY, THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD SHOE EMPTY WITHIN 50 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
THE VEHICLE LOOSES ALL POWER. IT ALSO SURGES AND STALLS. *TR
I HAVE 2009 SANTA FE. THIS HAPPENED FIRST TIME IN FEBRUARY 2014 THAT I WAS FILLING GAS (I ALWAYS DO FULL) AND AS I STARTED LEAVING THE GAS STATION MY FUEL GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY. I WENT BACK TO THE GAS STATION AND ASK THE ATTENDANT THAT THERE IS A MISTAKE, MY TANK IS NOT FULL IT IS EMPTY. BUT I WAS WRONG, BECAUSE HE TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY THE PUMP MACHINE WILL LIE AND HE FILLS 100S OF VEHICLE PER DAY FROM EACH OF HIS MACHINE. JUST TO DOUBLE CHECK, THE NEXT FILLING I USED A DIFFERENT GAS STATION AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW THIS HAS BECOME ROUTINE AND SINCE MY LAST TWO VISIT AT PUMP, EVEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON NOW. I HAVE TO WAIT FEW DAYS AND MILEAGE TO PUT ON THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WILL GO OFF BUT THE FUEL GAUGE WILL STILL SHOW LESS THAN HALF THE TANK. AT THIS MOMENT, I KNOW MY CAR AND CAN PREDICT WITH SOME DEGREE OF CERTAINTY ABOUT THE MILEAGE MY CAR WILL PROVIDE BUT AS THE CAR AGES AND OTHER THINGS IN THE ENGINE AGES, IT WILL BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THE GAS LEVEL. SO I MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE STRANDED ON HIGHWAY OR IN CITY DURING RUSH HOUR. ALSO I FOUND ONLINE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST MY PROBLEM, MANY OF OTHER SANTA FE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. THEREFORE, I THOUGHT I SHOULD ALSO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE HERE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I COASTED TO A STOP AND PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, TRANSMISSION WAS IN GEAR, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. I RESTARTED IT, HAD POWER, EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL, EXCEPT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES TO MY DESTINATION. THE CAR SAT FOR SIX HOURS AND I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE 65 MILES HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. REPAIR RESULTS: MY HYUNDAI DEALER INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A 'THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR'. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT AND RESET THE ERROR CODES IN THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER. *TR
I HAD MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP, I TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND FINALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE GAS PEDAL CAME UNSTUCK. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND I PULLED OVER. LATER THAT DAY MY SON DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAPPENED TWICE TO HIM WHEN HE WENT TO ACCELERATE HE SAID IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING AND HE SAID HE KEPT HITTING THE BRAKES UNTIL THE CARE WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I DID TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I DID DO A GOOGLE SEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE REPORTED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR
FUEL SENDER IS DEFECTIVE, IT IS BROKEN CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE TO FAIL. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN TO MY MODEL CAR, RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. *JS
MY 2009 SANTA FE HAS BEEN ACCELERATING DURING STOPPING (AROUND 20-30 MILES) I BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALER AND THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT DID IN FACT SURGE WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THEY DID AN "UPDATE" AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME TELLING ME IF IT DOES IT AGAIN BRING IT BACK. IT NOT ONLY CONTINUES TO DO THIS BUT WHATEVER THEY DID MADE THE TRANSMISSION SWITCH HARD. I'M TAKING IT BACK TODAY. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING AN EMPTY READING WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,215.
REAR BRAKE CALIBER LOCKED UP, BRAKES OVERHEATED. HAD TO HAVE BOTH CALIBERS REPLACE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, GAS GAUGE WENT FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK AGAIN. SINCE THAT DAY, GAUGE MOVES EVERY 5/10 MINUTES, DAILY. HAVE TO SET TRIP MILEAGE AFTER EACH FILL UP. *TR
ABOUT 6 TO 9 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING SANTA FE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD WITH 1/4 TANK OF GAS INDICATED. GAS WAS PUT IN CAR AND DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP WITH CAR STALLING A SECOND TIME IN ROUTE. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL SENSOR AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR STALLED ON INTERSTATE WHILE GOING 70MPH 3/2013 WITH 1/3 TANK OF GAS SHOWING. UPON ADDING GAS CAR RAN AGAIN. WAITED A FEW MONTHS UNTIL CAR STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN WITH "PLENTY OF GAS." TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP 7/2013 AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FLUKE AND THE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN, 12/2013 CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 WHILE GAUGE INDICATED 1/3 TANK OF GAS. FILLED WITH GAS AND CAR RAN. TOOK IT TO DEALER 12/2013 AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST A FLUKE (SEEMS TO BE PARTY LINE) BUT THIS TIME THEY SAID THE FLOAT IN THE FUEL TANK WAS GETTING HUNG UP ON SOMETHING SO WAS GIVING A FALSE READING. DEALER SAID HOSE THAT GOT CAUGHT ON FLOAT HAD BEEN RECONNECTED AND SHOULD NOT CAUSE ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. DRIVING AROUND TOWN TWO DAYS AGO WITH 1/4 TANK OF GAS CAR STALLED AGAIN. HAVE ADDED GAS BUT IT IS SPUTTERING. ASSUME IT WILL BE ANOTHER FLUKE! *TR
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK ON VERY COLD WINTER DAYS (ALL DAY, MULTIPLE DAYS). *TR
ENTERED HORSESHOE CASINO PARKING GARAGE AND TURNED INTO PARKING LEVEL. AS I FOLLOWED FORD TAURUS, HYUNDAI ENGINE CHANGED FROM NORMAL SPEED TO A ROARING ACCELERATION IN AN INSTANCE. I COULDN'T BRAKE IT TO A STOP AND IT RAMMED THE REAR END OF THE TAURUS. DAMAGE TO THE SANTE FE WAS LIMITED TO FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE WHILE THE BACK END OF THE TAURUS WAS DRIVEN FORWARD AND TORN UP. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT THE CRUISE MIGHT HAVE GONE ON; BUT, HE DECIDED THE ACCELERATION WAS TOO RAPID FOR THE CRUISE. HE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER TROUBLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK AND IN ORDER TO RELEASE IT, THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ
DRIVING MY WIFE'S CAR AROUND 40 MPH AND FOR NO REASON THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND I HAD TO LAY ON THE BRAKE BUT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT AGAIN STARTED ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS RACING VERY HIGH I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. TALKED TO HYUNDAI SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. *TR
FUEL SENSOR FAILED AND REGISTERED EMPTY TANK WITH LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED. SINCE THEN THE FUEL GAUGE HAS NOT OPERATED CORRECTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE REMAINS LIT. FAULT HAS BEEN TRACED TO FUEL TANK SENSOR WHICH REQUIRES REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT. *TR
I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING STRUCTURE. I WAS ALREADY PRESSING THE BRAKE AND JUST BEGAN TO PRESS IT A BIT HARDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING SPACE. JUST AS I GAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL A BIT MORE PRESSURE, MY CAR SPED FORWARD, JUMPING A CEMENT WHEEL STOP IN THE PARKING SPACE, CRASHING ME INTO THE WALL OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE. THE FORCE OF HITTING THE WALL THREW THE CAR BACKWARDS WHERE THE WHEELS GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE WHEEL STOP AND THE WALL. HITTING THE WHEEL STOP THEN SENT MY CAR BACK INTO THE CEMENT WALL; REBOUNDING OFF OF THE WALL THIS SECOND TIME, THE CAR WAS PROPELLED OVER THE WHEEL STOP AND FINALLY STOPPED MOVING.THE CEMENT WALL WAS CRACKED AND VERY PRECARIOUS TO THOSE USING THE SIDEWALKS UNDERNEATH. MY CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. TWO PEOPLE ON STAFF AT THE PARKING STRUCTURE SAW THE ENTIRE THING AND ASKED 'WHAT HAPPENED?" ONE OF THE WITNESSES SAID HE SAW MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON RIGHT BEFORE IT SPED UP AND FLEW INTO THE WALL. CALLED HYUNDAI AND LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY CAR. ALTHOUGH THIS RECALL STATES THAT IT IS TO REPLACE SOME SORT OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, THE LADY AT HYUNDAI SAID THAT THIS TYPE OF ACCELERATION WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THIS 'SWITCH' THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I TOLD HYUNDAI THAT I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL IT IS CHECKED TO FIX ANY PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE BRAKES/ACCELERATION. THEY WERE SO NICE! THEY INVITED ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT ANY DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT INSPECTED
WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AROUND TOPEKA KANSAS WHEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED, THEN THE ESC, ENGINE AND CHASSIS LIGHTS FLASHED. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE CAR LOST ALL PROPULSION. FORTUNATELY I WAS BY AN OFF-RAMP, BUT COULD OF GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH SUCH A SUDDEN DECELERATION. MANAGED TO GET TO AN AUTOZONE STORE TO CHECK THE FAULT. THE FAULT CAME UP AS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS). MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOPEKA. THEY FIXED IN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, BUT AFTER COMPLETING MY TRIP BACK TO COLORADO NOTICED THE CAR IS LURCHING AGAIN IN LOWER SPEED, IN-TOWN TRAFFIC...VERY DANGEROUS!!! WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO ON MONDAY MORNING!! HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO, TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. GUESS THEY WON'T BE SATISFIED UNTIL THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDS AND SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
AT 32,000 MILE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL SMELLED HOT, BRAKE DUST RESIDUE VISIBLE AND SQUEALING COMING FROM THIS DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR OUTSIDE BRAKE PAD WAS WORN DOWN TO METAL. DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE PAD AND PASSENGER REAR PADS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT WERE FINE WITH HARDLY ANY WEAR ON THEM.. HYUNDAI DEALER SAID IT IS NORMAL FOR REAR DISC PAD TO WEAR THIS UNEVEN AND FOR CALIPER'S TO STICK ON CAUSING THIS. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT IN EITHER DESIGN OR QUALITY OF PARTS AS OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS AT EVEN LOWER MILEAGE. DEALER WANTS YOU TO PAY $60 TO HAVE YOUR DISC BRAKES CLEANED AND ADJUSTED (WHAT IS THERE TO ADJUST?) WHY DO ONLY HYUNDAI SANTA FE BRAKES NEED THIS UNHEARD OF SERVICE? WHY IS IT ONLY OCCURRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR ME AND OTHER OWNERS? DISC BRAKES SHOULD NOT ACT THIS WAY.
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY FORTY (40) MILES PER HOUR, IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF. I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION TO "OFF" AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION TO "OFF" AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY, ON BOTH OCCASIONS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO PLANET HYUNDAI IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, ON AUGUST 7, 2013. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR SYSTEMS CHECK AND COULD NOT PRODUCE THE SAME ENGINE SHUT-OFF EVENT, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *TR
WHEN ENTERING AN UP-RAMP TO A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY AT SLOW SPEED, LESS THAN 30 MPH, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED AND POWER WAS LOST TO STEERING AND BRAKES. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART, BUT WERE JUST LUCKY THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON A CURVE AT HIGH SPEED OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL GENERATING A SCREECHING NOISE AND A BURNING SMELL. CHECKED TIRE AND BOTH THE TIRE AND WHEEL RIM WERE RED HOT. TOOK TO HYUNDAI DEALER. SAID CALIPERS NOT SLIDING PROPERLY. THEY CLAIM ON SANTA FE'S YOU HAVE TO BRING THEM IN FOR SERVICE (THE CALIPERS) EVERY 10K OR SO, AS THE REAR CALIPERS HAVE A TENDENCY TO FREEZE. I CHECKED THE INTERNET, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON HYUNDAI SANTA FE OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ALSO AN ARTICLE IN THIS WEEK'S HARTFORD COURANT AUTO SECTION OF A CONSUMER WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. IF I HAD NOT PULLED THE CAR OVER AND CHECKED THIS OUT THOROUGHLY, I COULD HAVE HAD A BLOWOUT AS THE HOT TIRE WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN SANTA FE CALIPERS. A SAFETY RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER. *TR
I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE ON THE WAY TO THE LICENSE BRANCH AND WAS SITTING STILL AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN A VEHICLE REAR-ENDED MY CAR. *TR
I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT DOING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THE SEATBELT FAILED TO LOCK AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CAR HAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE UNDERBODY, FRONT-END, THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DASH, THE MOTOR MOUNTS, ENGINE AND OTHER DAMAGES ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *TR
WHILE SLOWING DOWN, APPLYING BRAKES TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY INTO THE CLOVERLEAF OFF RAMP, STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND I WAS FORCED TO CONTINUE IN THE CURRENT DIRECTION OFF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASS. UPON STOPPING NOTICED DASH LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS HEADED INTO A GRASSY AREA AND NOT INTO A WALL AS I COULDN'T STEER IN ANY OTHER DIRECTION FROM WHEN I LOST POWER. HYUNDAI FOUND NO ERROR CODES AND COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR PAGES OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH HYUNDAI SANTA FE: 15 PAGES OF RELATED ISSUES - HTTP://WWW.HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM/187-CM-2007-2012-SANTA-FE/133580-2011-SANTA-FE-STALL-WHILE-DRIVING-13.HTML ANOTHER - HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/HYUNDAI/SANTAFE/ENGINE-STALL-PROBLEMS.PHP. *TR
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ESC LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAR LOST POWER. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES, CAR RESTARTED AND RETAINED POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THIS YEAR, THE CAR HAS DUPLICATED THE SAME PROBLEM 4 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH, AND WHEN FOOT ON BRAKE IN DRIVE, THE CAR SURGES SO BADLY THAT AT TIMES I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD BUMPED THE REAR OF CAR. I TOOK TO DEALER TODAY AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WAS VERY MUCH A SAFETY CONCERN , WOULD OFTEN HAPPEN THIS YEAR WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLOWING, SO THAT MAKING A LEFT TURN PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE SENSOR SEEMS TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING I HEARD A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING NOISE. UNSURE OF WHAT THE NOISE WAS, I TOOK THE SANTA FE TO MY MECHANIC. HE CHECKED THE BRAKES AND SHOWED ME THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE HOUSING DID NOT MOVE AS FREELY AS THE OTHERS. HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO NOT DRIVE MORE THAN ABOUT 2 HOURS AT A TIME BECAUSE THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HEATING UP AND CATCHING FIRE. SINCE THE TIRE IS RIGHT BY THE GAS TANK, THAT TELLS ME THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. ANY FIRE NEAR GASOLINE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO... I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON LINE AND FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SHUT DOWN. THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL FUNCTIONS (I.E. ACCELERATION,STEERING, ETC) THE INCIDENT WAS UNDETECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN SINCE THE INITIAL MALFUNCTION. *TR
I WAS ON A RETURN TRIP OF 5 HOURS OR SO EACH WAY WHICH I TOOK AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND NOTICED A VERY PRONOUNCED DROP IN POWER AND ACCELERATION CAPABILITY QUITE SUDDENLY. IT WAS AS IF SOME WIRING OR HOSE HAD COME LOOSE UNDER THE HOOD. A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHEN THE PROBLEM HAD NOT CHANGED AT ALL IN OVER 3000 MILES OF DAY-TO-DAY DRIVING, INCLUDING A DAILY STINT (TO WORK) OF MAYBE 12 MILES EACH WAY ON THE FREEWAY WHICH ENTAILS ACCELERATING UP THE ON-RAMP INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, I STILL COULD FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN ACCELERATION AND RESPONSE TIME WHILE ACCELERATING. WHEN I TOOK THE SANTA FE IN FOR A NORMAL OIL CHANGE, I REPORTED TO THE DEALER THESE SYMPTOMS, AND ASKED TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY CHANGED THE OIL, AND CHECKED OUT THE COMPUTER READOUTS FOR THE VEHICLE, AND SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS DETECTED BY THE COMPUTER AT THAT TIME, BUT WHEN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR ON THE VEHICLE OCCURRED, IT WAS MOST OFTEN DUE TO THE FUEL FILTER BEING ALL CLOGGED UP, ALTHOUGH THAT STILL MIGHT NOT BE THE PROBLEM. THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $270 TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER, AND AFTER I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY COUPON DISCOUNT FOR THIS SERVICE EVER THRU THEIR DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME A COUPON BOOK FOR A FLAT RATE OFF DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH WAS BEING PAID FOR. (IT AMOUNTED TO MAYBE $25 OFF THIS SERVICE.) THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME THAT DAY TO CHANGE IT OUT, SO I DECIDED TO CHECK OUT BOTH WHETHER THERE HAD BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS, SERVICE REPORTS, OR RECALLS ABOUT THIS FUEL FIL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN, A GRINDING SOUND WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
UPON ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE TOOK OFF AND THE GAS PADDLE GOT STUCK FOR 15 - 20 SECONDS EVEN THOUGH IT FELT LIKE A LIFE TIME. I STUMPED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND TRIED TO PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. THE RPM ON MY CAR WAS REGISTERED AT 6-7 AND THE ENGINE WAS VERY LOUD. I GOT THE CAR TO STOP BY PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. I CALLED THE NEAREST DEALER TO MY HOME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SO TO THEM THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. TO ME AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS THIS EXPERIENCE IS A NIGHTMARE AND THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE 2002 I BOUGHT 5 HYUNDAI CARS (2002 SONATA, 2003 SANTA FE (DAUGHTER IN LAW DRIVES), 2004 SANTA FE (SON DRIVES), 2004 SANTA FE (DAUGHTER DRIVES) AND MY CAR 2009 SANTA FE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MY MULTIPLE PURCHASES I LOVED DRIVING AND OWNING HYUNDAI SANTA FE'S. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE DIED! I AM EVEN MORE UPSET THAT HYUNDAI WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND MAKE EXCUSES SO THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE $$$ MUST BE WORTH MORE THAN PEOPLES LIVES. THE HYUNDAI DEALER IN NORTH EAST PHILADELPHIA EVEN HAD THE NERVE TO BLAME ME BECAUSE HE SAID NOT REPLICATE THE INCIDENT AND IT WAS NOT IN THE CARS COMPUTER. SHAME ON YOU HYUNDAI, SHAME ON YOU DEALERS. THIS IS THE LAST HYUNDAI THAT I WILL EVER OWN, I WILL NO LONGER RECOMMEND ANY OF YOUR CARS TO ANYONE BUT I WILL SHARE MY STORY WITH THEM. YOU LOST A CUSTOMER AND I WILL JOIN ANY CLASS ACTION
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO ACCELERATE AROUND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE GAS PEDDLE WAS STUCK FULL OPEN EVEN AFTER LETTING OFF THE GAS. I MADE SURE IT WAS NOT THE CARPET HOLDING THE PEDDLE DOWN. THE ENGINE RPM'S WAS REVVING VERY HIGH ALSO AS THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15-20 SECONDS THE PEDDLE RELEASED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS SEP. 2012 AND I'VE HAD A SECOND OCCURRENCE ON MARCH 2013. *TR
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME. ABOUT 10 MIN FROM A COLD START, I TURNED ONTO THE 210 FWY. THERE WAS A 270 DEGREE DOWNHILL TURN (A STEEP CURVE) SO I HAD THE BRAKES ON WHILE DOING 15 MPH. HALF WAY INTO THE TURN, I SUDDENLY LOST BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL FROZE. WITH SOME EFFORT, I MANAGED TO TURN THE STEERING AND STOP THE CAR. THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. LATER I SENT THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE EVENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE SHOES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
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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 2009 Hyundai Santa FE → · Every Santa FE year → · How the figures are calculated →