GAS/FUEL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT INTO CABIN OF 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE GLS (2.4 L AUTOMATIC). SMELL IS NOT NOTICEABLE AT COLD START OVERNIGHT, OR AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS OF SITTING. SMELL IS VERY NOTICEABLE AFTER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THEN SHUT OFF FOR ANYWHERE FROM 10 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. THE FUEL SMELL COMES DIRECTLY INTO THE CABIN WHEN THE HVAC SYSTEM IS SET TO VENT, BUT NOT ON RECIRCULATE. DEALER HAS REMOVED AND REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS AND FUEL RAIL. SMELL STILL PERSISTS. THIS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. THE SMELL ALSO OCCURS WHEN STOPPED FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE DRIVING/IDLING. THE SMELL OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE IS OFF, BUT THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE POINT THE HVAC WILL TURN ON. THIS MEANS THE SMELL OCCURS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR NOT. THE SMELL ACCUMULATES UNDER THE HOOD AND IS STRONGEST NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIDDLE. THE SMELL IS BAD ENOUGH TO PERMEATE CLOTHES WHILE DRIVING AND TO BE SMELLED INSIDE THE HOUSE WHEN THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE IS OPENED. IT'S BAD ENOUGH TO FORCE PARKING THE VEHICLE OUTDOORS. IT APPEARS THIS ISSUE IS BEING DISCUSSED ON THE HYUNDAI FORUMS WEBSITE AND MOST COMPLAINTS ARE FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATA AND SONATA TURBO, BUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS POINT TO THE SAME CAUSE FOR MY SANTA FE. THE DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE SMELL, BUT NOT IN WRITING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FIVE TIMES FOR THIS COMPLAINT - TWICE WITH WORK DONE, TWICE WITH NO WORK DONE (CLAIM WAS COUL
2010 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 2010 record →
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE AND DECREASE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE COMPUTER DID NOT DISPLAY ANY ERROR CODES THEN THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
OCT 2010 FIRST INCIDENT- WITH A COLD ENGINE IN THE MORNING WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH MY 2010 6 CYL HYUNDAI SANTA FE LURCHED FORWARD WITH A LOUD BANG AS IF WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND. WE HAD 6230 MILES ON VEHICLE. OVER THE NEXT 2 DAYS THE SAME THING HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOT AS SEVERE AS THE FIRST INCIDENT. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET FOUND MANY REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. BROUGHT TO DEALER WHO DENIED HEARING OF THIS PROBLEM, KEPT OVERNIGHT, COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND RESET ADAPTIVE LEARNING AND RESET DRIVING HISTORY. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN MARCH 2011 ON MARCH 8, 2011 BROUGHT TO DEALER KEPT OVERNIGHT, COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID LOW, RESET TRANSMISSION, DID AN UPDATE THEY SAID WAS RELATED TO A COMPUTER MODULE THAT WAS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD 10,000 MILES. CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND HAD A CASE OPENED TO DOCUMENT PROBLEM AS I MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH NEW YORK LEMON LAW IF THEY DON'T FIX PROBLEM. MARCH 15, 2011 TRAMSMISSION PROBLEM BACK AGAIN CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND HAD THEM REOPEN CASE AND ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH DEALER ON MARCH 23, 2011 TO TEST DRIVE WITH TECH AND SERVICE MANAGER. THIS WILL BE THIRD ATTEMPT TO FIX TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
CONSTANT, UNSAFE, AND UNCOMFORTABLE STEERING TO THE RIGHT, ENOUGH TO CHANGE LANES ON ITS OWN.
SINCE PURCHASING A NEW 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE AWD IN MAY 2010, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH IT'S TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) IN NOVEMBER 2010 AND A REOCCURRENCE NOW IN FEBRUARY 2011. I WAS SO UPSET THAT I WROTE THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND ITS NOW BEING OVERSEEN BY THE HYUNDAI EAST COAST REGIONAL OFFICE--BUT STILL NO RESOLUTION. *TR
MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE GLS TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY SLIPS AND THEN CLUNKS INTO THE NEXT HIGHEST GEAR WITH A FORCE THAT SHAKES THE CAR. THIS FORCE TRANSLATES INTO A BANGING SOUND. EACH INCIDENT HAPPENED AT SPEEDS OF 20-25 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL FINALLY FAIL COMPLETELY. I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED SCRATCHES ON HER VEHICLE WHICH SUDDENLY TURNED INTO RUST WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THAT IT WAS JUST PAINT DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AS WELL AND ADVISED HER TO CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, I REPORTED A PROBLEM YESTERDAY ABOUT A SHADOW ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, UPON FURTHER LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEM, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK STREETS OR HIGHWAYS YOUR VISIBILITY IS CUT BY THREE QUARTERS, SOME ONE WOULD HAVE TOI TAKE THE CAR OUT TO SEE THIS PROBLEM. *LN
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AT NIGHT USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THERE IS A SHADOW ABOUT THREE QUARTERS DOWN THE WINDSHIELD THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROADS, ON LIGHTED ROADS IT IS NOT AS BAD, WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AND THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE CONTACT'S WEIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED THE SAME RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500.
ON SATURDAY, JAN. 15TH, I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 (4 1/2 MONTHS OLD, < 2000 MILES) WHEN I TURNED A CORNER ONTO A BUSY STREET, AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AS IF SOMEONE HAD TURNED OF THE IGNITION. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN WE LOST POWER STEERING AND ENGINE POWER OR WHEN WE SAT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SINCE THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS UNABLE TO SEND ANYONE FOR ALMOST 40 MINUTES, SO WE HAD TO HAVE THE POLICE PUSH US TO SAFETY. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER FOR SERVICE, THE CAR JUST STARTED UP AGAIN. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM SINCE NO ERROR CODE WAS SEEN. THE TECHNICIANS UPDATED THE ECM TO VERSION CMAN S2 AB8F SINCE IT WAS A RECOMMENDED GENERAL SERVICE. NO ONE KNEW IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIANS ALSO MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THE WEEK BEFORE. HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS NOT HELPFUL, BUT DID OPEN A CASE NUMBER. PROBLEM HAS NOT RE-OCCURED YET ALTHOUGH TRANSMISSION OFTEN POPS. *LN
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED AND WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE NOTICED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS DOING, BUT THEN MY HUSBAND DROVE IT AND SAID THE SAME THING. BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 10-40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND OCCASIONALLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AS IF IT GETS STUCK. IT DOES IT WHEN UPSHIFTING AND EVEN WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD, WHEN IT'S WARM, EVERY DAY. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND OF COURSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY CAN REPLICATE THE ISSUE. I GUESS I'LL JUST KEEP MENTIONING IT WHENEVER I TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE AND HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY THEY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. *LN
MY 2010 SANTA FE ON OCCASION WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN STARTED, AND MAKES A THUD SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS STARTED WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 1500 MILES ON IT. THEN AT ABOUT 5000 MILES, WHEN STARTING OUT IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND VERY HARD, ENOUGH TO NEARLY GET A WHIPLASH AND FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I TOLD THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE WOULD DO THE RECALL WHICH HAD BEEN ORDERED FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM, AND MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP. IT DID NOT HELP. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR
VEHICLE STOPPED ON INCLINE OF A HILL, THEN REVERSED (GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE) BACK DOWN 600 FEET THE HILL AND CRASHED AGAINST A CONCRETE WALL CORNER. HAVE 2 WITNESSES THAT SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE, INSPECTED WRECK, FOUND NO FAULT CODES WITH A LAUNCH 431-READER BUT FIGURED THAT BATTERY WAS DRAINED AFTER 2 MONTHS. SURVIVING DAUGHTER SUFFERS FROM MEMORY LOSS BUT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT CLAIMS THE BRAKES FAILED.
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SOMETIMES WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE HAS REAR-ENDED ME. IT HAPPENS A LOT WHEN THE SANTA FE IS COLD, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AT OTHER TIMES ALSO. IT WILL ALSO HESITATE AS IT GOES FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE (ONCE I LEFT IT OVER NIGHT SO THEY WOULD HAVE IT WHEN IT WAS COLD) AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR THEM. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES THE TACHOMETER WILL GO BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 RPM, AND THEN LURCH VIOLENTLY AS IT BECOMES "UNSTUCK." EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE OR ANY OTHER WORK, I MENTION THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD THAT IS NORMAL. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. I RECEIVED A QUESTIONNAIRE FROM HYUNDAI ABOUT MY SANTA FE AND AGAIN MENTIONED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. I HAVE READ OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTAFE WITH 6900 MILES. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT AND THEN IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR MAKING A BANGING SOUND AND WOULD SURGE FORWARD. IT WAS LIKE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 20-25MPH WHILE ACCELERATING. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
ON MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPS, THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD, AND FEELS LIKE YOU ARE BEING REAR-ENDED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING, HOWEVER HYUNDAI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR SAME, AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, GLS. WHILE DRIVING IT, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER, AND PULL OVER. IT DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT JUST HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS OR PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, NOISES, ETC. IT HAS 21,082 MILES / 7MONTHS OF USE. *TR
I BOUGHT A PRE-OWNED 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON 12/13/10 WITH ~14K MILES I WAS DRIVING TO PHOENIX TODAY 12/25/10 AND WHEN LEAVING A STOP LIGHT THERE WAS A CLUNK AND THEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH TODAY I HAVE FOUND THAT 2010 SANTA FE'S HAVE ISSUE WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. ME AND MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ARE NOW STRANDED IN PHOENIX UNTIL WE CAN GET IT REPAIRED. PLEASE PUSH FOR A RECALL SO THIS STOPS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE AND HYUNDAI CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR
BOUGHT OUR 2010 SANTA FE WITH 2700 MILES (THE OWNERS WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING IT) ON NOVEMBER 11TH. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED THAT IT BANGED LOUDLY AND LURCHED SOMEWHAT UPON GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT DOES IT AT ANY TIME OF DAY SO IT'S NOT LIMITED TO COLD STARTS. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TESTED AND RESET THE COMPUTER. MY SERVICE MANAGER SEEMED TO BE AWARE OF THE OBVIOUS PROBLEMS THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING. THEN WAS TOLD IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AND THEY ORDERED A REPLACEMENT. I ASKED IF IT WOULD BE NEW OR REBUILT, THEY SAID NEW. THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS POLICY TO PUT IN REBUILT. IT ONLY HAS 5000 MILES ON IT! AFTER SOME CONVERSATION, THEY AGREED TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT. THEY STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE-OVER A WEEK NOW AND I MIGHT NOT GET IT BACK FOR ANOTHER WEEK. STILL DON'T HAVE THE PART.....SO WE'LL SEE WHEN WE GET IT BACK. *TR
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND I GET A HARD SHIFT WITH A LOUD BANG WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD. IT SEEMS TO DO THIS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD BUT IT DOES IT EVEN WHEN WARM. I HAD MINE IN 3 TIMES FOR REPAIR WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION ON THE LAST REPAIR. THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL ONE. HYUNDAI KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND THEY KNEW ABOUT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED WHEN I WAS BUYING THE CAR - NOT FINDING OUT AFTER THE FACT. THE DEALER GIVES ME THE DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS LOOK WHEN I COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE. *TR
SAFETY: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ENGINE SEEMS TO RACE AT SLOW SPEEDS/COASTING, THEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "SKIPS" THEN "SLAMS" BACK INTO GEAR. BROUGHT BACK INTO DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST WAS TOLD THEY HAD HEARD OF A SIMILAR ISSUE BUT THAT IT WAS "WITHIN TOLERANCE" SO IT WAS NOT FIXED, WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND BEFORE STARTING A LONG TRIP I TOOK IT BACK AND HAD THEIR SENIOR TECH DRIVE IT HOME (TO SEE IF COLD STARTING COULD BE A CONTRIBUTOR) THEY "REPROGRAMMED" THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD US IT WOULD BE IN "LEARNING MODE" FOR THE NEXT FEW THOUSAND MILES. PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE MORE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WANT TO TAKE IT BACK FOR REPAIR BUT NEED SOME HELP IN TELLING THEM WHAT (AND OBVIOUSLY FROM THE ONLINE FORUMS) HOW WIDESPREAD THIS ISSUE IS. *TR
BRAKE HARD TO STOP EVEN AFTER PRESSING REALLY HARD DOWN ON THEM. VEHICLE ONLY SLOWS DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN INITIALLY SLAM ON THE BRAKE. I ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE. I WAS ONLY DRIVING NO MORE THAN 40 MPH ON A 50 MPH ZONE. BRAKE FEELS REALLY HARD AND DOES NOT WORK WHEN SLAM ON. *TR
WE PURCHASED 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ALMOST FROM THE START WE NOTICE AN OCCASION SHE WOULD BANG INTO GEAR WHILE DRIVING IN 30 - 40 MPH TRAFFIC AND STOPS. AFTER NUMEROUS TRIPS TO DEALER THEIR ANSWER WAS THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE. THE LAST 2 TRIPS TO THE DEALER I EXPLAINED IF YOU DRIVE IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC MOVING ABOUT 30-40 MPH YOU WILL FEEL THE BANG LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. I WAS TOLD THE CANNOT TEST FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME THEY REFLASH THE COMPUTER. THEN LISTED IT AS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND SET UP N APPOINTMENT WITH A FACTORY REP. FOR DECEMBER 15,2010 @10:30AM. MY WIFE WILL NOT CURRENTLY TAKE HER PARENTS FOR TREATMENTS AT THE MEDICAL CENTER BECAUSE THE BANG STARTLES HERE PARENTS AND SHE FEARS A BREAKDOWN. UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD THROW ITSELF INTO GEAR WITH A HARD BANG AS IF IT WERE HIT FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO RESET THE COMPUTER; THE BANGING STOPPED FOR A WHILE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11
A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END IMPACT . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF REPAIRS, THE SHOP REPLACED THE COMPONENTS OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND SENT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO CHECK FOR ERROR CODES AND TO RESET THE SYSTEM. ONE OF THE ERROR CODES WOULD NOT CLEAR. THE DEALER, IN WASHINGTON STATE ADVISED THE REPAIR SHOP AND US THAT PURSUANT TO A TSB,01-90-013, HYUNDAI RECOMMENDS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO MUST BE REPLACED IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD PARTS OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, WHEN THE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DIRECT DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND THIS APPEARS TO BE SOME UNIQUE REQUIREMENT DESIGNED INTO THE HARNESS BY HYUNDAI. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THIS IS REQUIRED OR WHAT UNIQUE FEATURE WAS BUILT INTO THE HARNESS THAT DEMANDS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HARNESS. THIS ADDED REQUIREMENT ADDS AN ADDITIONAL $6,767.75 TO THE REPAIR COST OVER AND ABOVE THE REGULAR COLLISION RELATED COST. WHEREAS THIS REQUIREMENT IS UNIQUE TO THE NEW 2010 SANTA FE MODEL AND IS NOT FUNCTION REQUIRED DURING THE STANDARD REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAGS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF, WE MUST ASK IS THIS A DEFECT, IS THIS SIMPLY A DESIGN FEATURE TO ENHANCE PROFIT FROM REPAIRS OR IS THERE SOME UNIQUE FEATURE TO THE WIRE HARNESS DESIGN THAT SERVES SOME OTHER PURPOSE OR FUNCTION? ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
ON A LARGE NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTAFE AWD WOULD SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AS IT WENT THROUGH THE GEARS. THAT IS WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL RELATIVELY COOL AS IN THE MORNING, IT WOULD START OFF IN FIRST, SHIFT TO SECOND AND THEN ON SOME OCCASIONS SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. WITH A LITTLE ON AND OFF ON THE ACCELERATOR IT WOULD THEN GO INTO THIRD AND THEN SHIFT NORMALLY. THE ONLY TIMES THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN WAS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION OIL WAS STILL COLD. HYUNDAI CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER PER A SERVICE BULLETIN. WHEN THE CONDITION REAPPEARED IT THEN OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN ITS ENTIRETY. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN WOULD BE THAT IF IT DID HAPPEN WHEN ONE ENTERED A LINE OF TRAFFIC. THIS CERTAINLY COULD HAVE CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. TILL THE SITUATION WAS RESOLVED, IT HAPPENED ON A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. HYUNDAI WAS RESPONSIVE TO THE PROBLEM, AND SEEMS TO HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES AT THIS TIME. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL AND THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN JUNE. THAT AT LEAST IS WHEN WE FIRST OBSERVED IT. *TR
I WAS ACCELERATING WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE STREET AND THE COMPUTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. I LOST POWER AS THE ENGINE RPM SPIKED UP. THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE AGAIN UNTIL I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN REAPPLIED IT. ASIDE FROM THIS PROBLEM BEING A VEHICLE DEFECT, THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE END OF JULY. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE DEFECT BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE DEFECT THE SECOND TIME. UNFORTUNATELY THIS TYPE OF FAILURE DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE CARS COMPUTER. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED AND THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AS A RELEARNING EXERCISE. OBVIOUSLY THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND WITHOUT A FAILURE CODE IN THE COMPUTER TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP IS UNSURE WHICH COMPUTER OR COMPONENT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. WITH THIS DEFECT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LURCHES WHEN GEAR IS PUT TO DRIVE, OR WHEN DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS WHERE IT IS WORST (FEELING THAT WE JUST GOT REAR ENDED). STARTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE, ABOUT 3 TO 4 YEARS AGO, AND WAS DIAGNOSED AND HAVE REPLACED THE INPUT/OUTPUT SPEED CONTROL BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SOON BECAUSE IT IS BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN JERKING OF SANTA FE 2010. DURING THE PAST MONTH OR SO, THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED DURING THE WARM UP PERIOD. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND REPAIRED.
PROBLEMS WITH MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 11,000 MILES. LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS MY CAR BANGS WHEN STARTING AND BANGS SO BAD WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS WHEN COLD THAT I THOUGHT I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. WHEN DRIVING SLOW THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SO HARD THAT MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS NEW VEH. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS OTHERS ARE HAVING ON EDMONDS.COM I THOUGHT I WOULD E-MAIL YOU PEOPLE. THE WAY, REPS AT THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT SAY THAT THIS IS NORMAL, I HAVE TO LAUGH. *TR
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. "LURCHES" FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR. LOUD CLANKING SOUND WHEN STARTING (NOT ON ALL STARTS, ABOUT EVERY 7-10 STARTS). SLOW SPEED SPUTTERS. SLIPS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN ACCELERATING THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR VERY ROUGHLY. *TR
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT SHIFTING. IT WILL SHIFT REALLY HARD AND SOMETIMES WHEN I GO TO GIVE IT THE GAS IT WILL REV TO 4RPMS BEFORE IT GOES THEN IT BANGS IN TO GEAR. I HAVE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS BEING TO BE REALLY FRUSTRATING. I HAVE HAD MUCH PATIENCE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT WHEN THE SAY THEY PUT IT ONTO THE COMPUTER AND CAN NOT GET A CODE AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I AM GETTING AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE TO DO. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAS HAD IT FIXED SO I CAN TELL THE DEALERSHIP? *TR
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING NORTH FROM PALM COAST, FL TO SLATINGTON, PA. TRAVELING NORTH ON RTE I-95, MY HUSBAND DROVE ABOUT 300 MILES AND THAN I DROVE ANOTHER 300 MILES, STOPPING TO EAT AND AT VARIOUS REST AREAS. JUST BEFORE THE VIRGINIA BORDER, WE STOPPED AT A REST AREA AND MY HUSBAND TOOK OVER DRIVING. HE SAID WE SHOULD STOP FOR GAS AND A BIT TO EAT. WE WENT OVER THE STATE LINE AND GOT OFF AT EXIT 4, WE EXIT, STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, TURNED RIGHT TO GO INTO THE STATION AND WE HEARD A LOUD SNAP. AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY WAY HE COULD STOP THE CAR WAS TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THAT POSSIBLY THE DRIVESHAFT SNAPPED AND THE TRANSMISSION ALSO WENT. THE MECHANIC THERE SAID THAT THIS IS THE THIRD ONE HE HAD SEEN LIKE THAT. THE NEXT DAY WE WERE TOLD THAT IN FACT THAT IS WHAT HAD HAPPENED. LUCKILY, WE HAD GOTTEN OFF WHEN WE DID, OR ELSE WE MAY HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR CRASH ON BUSY RTE I-95 OR MAY EVEN HAD BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS IS 2010 CAR WITH ONLY 17,700 MILES ON IT. TODAY, WE FOUND OUT THAT HYUNDAI KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE DEALERS HAVE RECEIVED A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS. WE WERE NOT TOLD OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT AND NOW DO NOT KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN CORRECTED PROPERLY. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO PICK UP THE CAR IN VIRGINIA BY THE END OF THE WEEK. WE DO HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN ABOUT THIS CAR. *TR
MY PROBLEM IS WITH A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, 4 CYL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES HESITATES TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AS IN TRAFFIC. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY MOVE FORWARD, AND THEN IT SUDDENLY MOVES FORWARD VERY QUICKLY. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES TO MY DEALER. THEY HAD A " FACTORY" SERVICE MGR RIDE WITH ME FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR. THE PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN. IT HAS HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY MANY TIMES SINCE THEN. I WAS ALMOST IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER PUT THE CAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND FINDS NO PROBLEM. TODAY A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAS A GAS STATION IN ASHEVILLE, NC HAD A CUSTOMER ASK HIM ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IDENTICAL VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AND HIS PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE ! THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING TO YOUR OFFICE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI [XXX] BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I WILL BE HAPPY TO LET THE GOV TEST MY VEHICLE. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY DAUGHTER HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND SAID SHE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT ANY MORE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO GRAB OR DROP. WHEN HE REVERSED AND THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, HE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. HE NOTICED THE FAILURE EVERYDAY WHEN HE FIRST DROVE FOR THAT DAY. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THE FAILURE WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.
2010 HYUNDAI SANT FE, SE V6 3.5 AWD. THERE IS A GEAR CLANGING NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED UP. THIS OCCURS ABOUT EVERY THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. VEHICLE IS ROCKED BY THE MOVEMENT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM ' NOTHING DONE. *TR
WITH A COLD ENGINE IN THE MORNING, MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WITH A LOUD "BANG" AROUND 10MPH. THIS IS SPORADIC. ALSO AT START UP, THE VEHICLE WHILE SITTING IN PARK, DOES THE SAME THING WHEN STARTED, THOUGH NOT AS FORCEFUL AT WHEN DRIVING. I NOW HAVE 4800 MILES, AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY 2 OR 3 WEEKS MINIMUM. I USED TO THINK LITTLE OF IT UNTIL IT HAS BEGUN REPEATING EVEN AFTER THE DEALER "RESET" THE SOFTWARE. I ALSO NOTICE NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL AUTO WEBSITES VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HERE IS ONE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F127D3D/199. I AM SCHEDULED TO LEAVE THE CAR THIS WEEK, AND THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE IT. I FEEL THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN, AND THAT IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. I WILL FILE A LEMON LAW CLAIM AFTER 2 MORE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS EXTREMELY OBVIOUS PROBLEM. *TR
2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE AWD TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING, WHILE CAR IS IN PARK, CAR IDLES HIGH, WANTS TO LURCH BACKWARD, BUT IS "CAUGHT" BY THE FACT THAT IT IS STILL IN PARK. MAKES A LOUD BANG SOUND WHEN THIS HAPPENS - ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING IN THE FRAME OR ELSEWHERE IN CAR CATCHES IT. THEN, WHEN PUTTING IN GEAR, IT IDLES HIGH AND ACCELERATES VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT FOOT ON GAS. NEED TO KEEP FOOT SECURELY ON BRAKE FOR SAFETY. HYUNDAI DENIES A PROBLEM WHEN IT IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. OTHER HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVERS INDICATE PROBLEM IS WITH TRANSMISSION AND GETS WORSE OVER TIME, INCLUDING HAVING STALLS WHILE IN TRAFFIC,, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, CAR WON'T SHIFT IN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. PLEASE GET HYUNDAI TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
2010 SANTA FE GL - ABOUT 60% OF STARTING HAS A JERK/KICK. IT'S LIKE SOMETHING ENGAGED SUDDENLY. TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND SHOWED NO ABNORMAL READINGS. ON AUG. 19/2010, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 110 KM/HR THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AS IF SOMETHING HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. I THOUGHT THE TRUCK BESIDE ME LOST A WHEEL AND STRUCK MY CAR. HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DO A VISUAL INSPECTION WHICH REVEALED NOTHING. MY CAR HAD 7,000 KM AT THAT TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT RAN TO CATCH THE VEHICLE AS IT INDEPENDENTLY REACHED A STOP. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STRUCK THE CONTACT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT TREATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. A THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT BY THE MANUFACTURER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE INVESTIGATOR FOUND NO FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,200.
2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE TRANSMISSIONS BANGS INTO GEAR BETWEEN 1-2 GIVING A FEELING AS IF SOMEONE HAS REAR ENDED YOUR CAR .IT ALSO HAS A ROCKING MOTION WHILE DRIVING. MOSTLY DOES THIS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING BUT WILL ALSO DO IT RANDOMLY. CALL HYUNDAI AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A TREND ON TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THE SANTE FE. I TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT AND LEFT IT OVERNIGHT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. AT MY SUGGESTION THEY REFLASHED THE COMPUTER AND IT HELPED FOR A WEEK AND NOW THE CAR DOES THE SAME THING BANGING/LEARCHING INTO 2 GEAR. *TR
AS THE ENGINE STARTS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN "PARK", THE 2010 SANTE FE LURCHES FORWARD AS IF THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT DISENGAGED. THE FORWARD LURCH RANGES FROM A SENSATION OF MOTION TO AN INCH OF TIRE ROTATION. FURTHERMORE, THIS HAPPENS AGAIN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN IDLING BETWEEN 1200-1500 RPM AND WHEN ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED AND PRESSED AGAIN AT AROUND 20 MPH TO 25 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED AT SPEEDS AS HIGH AS 40 TO 45 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE BUMPED INTO ME FROM BEHIND. IN ONE INSTANCE I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES ASSUMING I WAS REAR-ENDED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD BECAME FOGGY TO THE POINT WHERE SHE COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. THE DEFROST WOULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DEFROST WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE WAS EXCESSIVE DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. HYUNDAI STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8600.
BRAND NEW 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED 6 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE SOMETIMES MAKES A LOUD BANG FROM TRANSMISSION AT START UP. VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN STARTED UP IN PARK. ALSO LOUD BAND WHEN ENGAGING REVERSE. HAS A PROBLEM SHIFTING SOMETIMES FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR,A SLIGHT HESITATION SOMETIMES. CAR HAS ALSO DIED ON ME FOR NO REASON WHEN PULLING OUT OF A JUNCTION. WILL BE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER ASAP. LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT SERIOUSLY WORRIED WITH THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MOST OF THE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING DAILY APART FROM THE STALLING ISSUE WHICH HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. *TR
REPORT DATE: 08/26/2010. PURCHASED HYUNDAI SANTA FE 08/14/2010. VEHICLE HAS 1190 MILES TO DATE. VEHICLE HAS MOMENTARILY STALLED 5 TIMES - 2 IN TRAFFIC SITUATION WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN CRASH. ALL STALLS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER SITTING AND IDLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR TURNS ON BOTH LEVEL SURFACE AND INCLINES. WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED AND ACCELERATOR PUSHED VEHICLE STARTS MOVING SLUGGISHLY AND THEN STALLS FLAT FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN ENGINE RE-ENGAGES. NO WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED. ENGINE DOES NOT DIE REQUIRING AN IGNITION RESTART. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO DEALER AFTER STALLING ON INCLINE 3 TIMES AT 677 MILES ON 08/18/2010. SERVICE TECH RAN COMPLETE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC IN IDLE MODE IN SHOP AND FOUND ALL SYSTEMS WITHIN TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS. SUSPECT DRIVE-BY-WIRE / COMPUTER LINKAGE. VEHICLE RUNS SMOOTHLY, DOWNSHIFTS AND ACCELERATES ON DEMAND NORMALLY AT ALL OTHER SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH. THIS CONDITION OCCURS AFTER A STOP AND AFTER BRAKE IS RELEASED AND ACCELERATOR ENGAGED (2 TIMES); WHEN MOVING SLOWLY AND HARD ACCELERATION DEMANDED (2 TIMES); OR WHEN TRANSMISSION INITIALLY ENGAGED IN DRIVE FROM PARK MODE (2 OCCASIONS). *TR
ALL DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK UPON PLACING SHIFT CONTROL IN THE PARK POSITION OR THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. ENTRY MAY BE GAINED BY ANYONE IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGERS. THIS FEATURE CAN NOT BE ALTERED OR DEFEATED TO ALLOW THE DOORS TO REMAIN LOCKED WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. *TR
VEHICLE SOMETIMES MAKES A LOUD BANG AT STARTUP. HAVEN'T OBSERVED ANY SUDDEN JERKS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION BUT WONDERING IF THIS "BANGING" PROBLEM WILL LEAD TO A TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED 3.5 L V6 AWD. *TR
BRAND NEW 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE INTERMITTENTLY LURCHES FORWARD AND REVERSE WHEN STARTED UP IN PARK. APPEARS AS IF STARTING UP "IN GEAR" WHEN IN PARK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE GAUGES BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. AS SHE RESUMED DRIVING AND REACHED 25 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CERTAIN IF THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,700.
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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.
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