2001 Hyundai Santa Fe Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. AN ONLOOKER ASSISTED WITH EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE TIME THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. NEITHER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR NOR THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE 2001 SANTA FE 4 CYL. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. *TR

WHILE BEING IN PARK - ENGINE WILL SURGE - RPMS JUMP TO ABOUT 6,000 AND ACCELERATES LIKE IT WANTS TO GO. I WILL PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND RPMS COME DOWN BUT STILL WANTS TO ACCELERATE. THIS SAME THING HAPPENS EVEN AT STOP SIGN - WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATES ON ITS ON ONCE FOOT COMES OFF BRAKE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON. VERY SCARY SITUATION AND ALMOST SCARED TO DRIVE IT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT LATELY IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. NOTICED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. *TR

MY 01 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DOWNSHIFTS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A LOUD POP AND DECELERATES THE VEHICLE SUBSTANTIALLY CAUSING A TRAFFIC/SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS CORRECTED MOMENTARILY WHEN I STOP AND RESTART THE ENGINE AS IF IT RESETS SOMETHING, THEN OF COURSE WHEN I GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY IT DOES IT ALL OVER AGAIN. OTHER 01 SANTA FE OWNERS SUFFER THE SAME DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES. WHY NOT RECALL THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE? THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH (2001 SANTA FE), I FELT A BIG JERK WHICH I NEVER FELT IT BEFORE WITH THIS CAR. AFTER THAT I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR, IT STARTED FINE. *TR

CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED ON MY 2001 4 CYLINDER HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I WAS DRIVING ON BUSY STREET IN THE WINTER EVENING AND, AT THE TIME, WAS ON CRUTCHES AND UNABLE TO NAVIGATE ON FOOT. I WAITED IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES UNTIL A POLICE PERSON RESCUED ME. *TR

ON MAY 7TH MY CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE MAXON DEALERSHIP WITH COMPLAINTS OF CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND LOST OF POWER. THE SERVICE ON MY VEHICLE WAS COMPLETED ON MAY 9TH. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY DRIVER BELTS AND A COMPUTERIZED PROBLEM WAS THE CAUSE OF POWER. ON MAY 28TH (MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND) WHILE COMING HOME FROM VIRGINIA I SUDDENLY LOST STEERING POWER ON INTERSTATE 95 IN MARYLAND. I HAD MY THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR ALONG WITH MY COUSIN AND HER DAUGHTER. WE WERE ALL VERY SCARED! MY CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN LAUREL, MD. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHO ADVISED ME THAT WHEN MY DRIVER BELTS WERE REPLACED THEY WERE TOO TIGHT WHICH IN TURN CRACKED MY PULLEY AND DAMAGE MY POWER STEERING PUMP. HE ADVISED ME THAT THE BOTH WILL HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AND THAT A TENSIONER WILL BE ADDED. I CONTACTED MAXON HYUNDAI, WHO SIMPLY STATED " THE REPAIRS WILL BE DONE UNDER MY WARRANTY" END OF STORY. WE AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES IN AN INSTANT BECAUSE OF THE TECHNICIANS ERROR AND FOR MAXON TO NOT RECOGNIZE THAT ERROR IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. I WAS NOT OFFERED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ORIGINAL REPAIRS MADE, NOR DID THEY OFFER TO REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE RENTAL, NOR DID THEY OFFER TO BRING MY CAR FROM MARYLAND TO NEW JERSEY, THEY OFFERED ME NOTHING. MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THEM ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND ALWAYS SEEM TO GO BACK WITHIN TWO MONTHS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DO THE OWNERS OF MAXON REALIZE HOW PRECIOUS A LIFE IS? MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN WERE SPARED THIS TIME, BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR NEXT CUSTOMER WHERE THEY DECIDE TO CUT CORNERS? *NM

2001 SANTA FE 4 CYLINDER REPEATEDLY STALLED, WOULDN'T START. DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED HAD CAR FOR 2 FULL DAYS, COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED CRANKCASE SENSOR, PROBLEM SOLVED. FAULTY CRANKCASE SENSOR SUBJECT OF RECALL FOR 6 CYLINDER ENGINE ON SAME MODEL. *NM

2001 SANTA FE 4 CYLINDER CAR STALLED,WOULDN'T START, HAD TO REPLACE CRANKCASE POSITION SENSOR, OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE, EXACT SAME PROBLEM SUBJECT OF RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 6 CYLINDER ENGINE OF SAME MODEL CAR, HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ASSIST. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED WHILE DRIVING. INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

ON JUNE 12TH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RATTLE AND PROCEEDED TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BUT INSTEAD DECELERATED ON 695 TOWARDS TOWSON. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIFTING AT 25 MPH. I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST EXIT WHICH WAS BEL AIR ROAD. I PROCEEDED ONTO THIS EXIT WHEN MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF LOSING ALL POWER. AT THIS TIME MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAD NO POWER BUT MY VEHICLE WAS STILL IN GEAR AND I SAFELY STOPPED MY VEHICLE IN A SHOPPING PLAZA. ENGINE FAILURE NEW ENGINE PLACED INTO MY VEHICLE JULY 5TH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THOMPSON HYUNDAI BY MY FATHER. THE MILEAGE OUT WAS 25,593. THOMPSON HYUNDAI FORGOT TO SCREW DOWN THE ENGINE PROPERLY RESULTING IN LOUD NOISES FROM THE ENGINE. I PLACED ANOTHER CALL TO THOMPSON ASKING FOR DOCUMENTATION OF THE SERVICE RENDERED. I THEN NOTICED ANOTHER SCREW WHICH WAS NOT SECURE ON THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, I WOULD BE BRINGING THE VEHICLE BACK TO GET THE DOCUMENTATION AND TO GET THE STEERING CHECKED. THOMPSON NEVER WROTE UP A SERVICE SLIP FOR THE SCREWS. JULY 8TH THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO THOMPSON AGAIN. I PLACED A CALL TO THOMPSON AND SPOKE WITH GARY WELCH. GARY STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WE CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH YOU VEHICLE. HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE PAID MY VEHICLE PAYMENT FOR THE MONTH MY CAR WAS IN SERVICE. APRIL 1, 2004 THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN AFTER STOPPING ON 695 TOWARD ESSEX 2 MILES BEFORE THE 95 NORTH EXIT TO NEW YORK IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND PROCEEDED TO SLOW AT A RAPID SPEED. WARRANTY CLAIM SUBMITTED. *AK

TIMING BELT REPLACED IN SEPT. 2003 UNDER WARRANTY. I PAID FOR 3 DAYS RENTAL VEHICLE DURING THIS SERVICE. TIMING BELT DISCOVERED TO BE DEFECTIVE IN FEBRUARY 2004, AND WAS REPLACED AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY, BUT HYUNDAI REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE 2 DAYS RENTAL CAR, CLAIMING THIS IS A WARRANTY ITEM AND (NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART), THEY WILL NOT COVERR A RENTAL.*AK

TIMING BELT FAILURE, CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE AND DAMAGED ENGINE.*AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ABOUT 6 INCHES RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. DISCOVERED WHEN CAR HAD ABOUT 42,000 MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER. I BELIEVE THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A FIRE HAZARD.

GOOD MORNING, I AM WRITING TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT MY DISSATISFACTION WITH HYUNDAI MOTORS. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI MANY TIMES SEEKING SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION TO MY COMPLAINT ON MY 2001 SANTA FE. THE SANTA FE WAS SOLD TO ME ADVERTISING 181 HORSEPOWER. THIS HOWEVER, IS NOT TRUE, AND I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. I HAVE OFFERED HYUNDAI MANY SOLUTIONS THAT I CONSIDER SATISFACTORY TO MYSELF, AND AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY HYUNDAI IS HANDLING THE VALID COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO, IN GOOD FAITH, PURCHASED A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT WHAT IT WAS ADVERTISED TO BE. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS MATTER IS BEING IGNORED. HYUNDAI DID HOWEVER, SET THEIR OWN DEADLINE OF SEPT 2003 FOR CLOSURE TO ALL AFFECTED BY THIS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT. THIS LEADS ME TO WONDER IF THEY ARE PURPOSELY DRAGGING THEIR FEET TO FORCE OWNERS OF THESE AFFECTED VEHICLES IN TO RESOLUTION THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ACCEPTABLE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT WHAT I PAID FOR AND THE LACK OF CONCERN FROM HYUNDAI IS VERY UNSETTLING TO ME. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST 10 PERCENT LESS HP THAN ADVERTISED. THE AFFECT IT COULD HAVE ON THE SAFETY AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE IS SCARY. THE VEHICLE HAS A CERTAIN TOWING CAPACITY AND TORQUE. THIS ALSO HAS TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. HAVE A GREAT DAY. SINCERELY, STEVE COOPER 26MAY03 *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CAR STALLED AFTER STARTING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ENGINE CHECK BY DEALERSHIP REVEALED WATERLOGGED AIR FILTER AND NON-OIL LIQUID IN THE OIL RESEVOIR. DEALERSHIP CONCLUDES ENGINE FLOODED WITH WATER (IT WASN'T); OTHER (NON-DEALERSHIP) EXPERT MECHANICS SUSPECT CRACKED CYLINDER LINER.*AK

CAR STALLS AND OR FAILS TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK

ON JUNE 12TH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RATTLE AND PROCEEDED TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BUT INSTEAD DECELERATED ON 695 TOWARDS TOWSON. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIFTING AT 25 MPH. I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST EXIT WHICH WAS BEL AIR ROAD. I PROCEEDED ONTO THIS EXIT WHEN MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF LOSING ALL POWER. AT THIS TIME MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAD NO POWER BUT MY VEHICLE WAS STILL IN GEAR AND I SAFELY STOPPED MY VEHICLE IN A SHOPPING PLAZA. ENGINE FAILURE NEW ENGINE PLACED INTO MY VEHICLE. *AK JULY 5TH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THOMPSON HYUNDAI BY MY FATHER. THE MILEAGE OUT WAS 25,593. THOMPSON HYUNDAI FORGOT TO SCREW DOWN THE ENGINE PROPERLY RESULTING IN LOUD NOISES FROM THE ENGINE. I PLACED ANOTHER CALL TO THOMPSON ASKING FOR DOCUMENTATION OF THE SERVICE RENDERED. I THEN NOTICED ANOTHER SCREW WHICH WAS NOT SECURE ON THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, I WOULD BE BRINGING THE VEHICLE BACK TO GET THE DOCUMENTATION AND TO GET THE STEERING CHECKED. THOMPSON NEVER WROTE UP A SERVICE SLIP FOR THE SCREWS. JULY 8TH THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO THOMPSON AGAIN. I PLACED A CALL TO THOMPSON AND SPOKE WITH GARY WELCH. GARY STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WE CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH YOU VEHICLE. HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE PAID MY VEHICLE PAYMENT FOR THE MONTH MY CAR WAS IN SERVICE.*AK