2002 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Log

AT LOW SPEEDS THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND THE CAR GOES INTO A JERKING MOTION WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND WHILE GOING INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. THE CAR IS HARD TO STEER AND STOP AND THE BRAKES MUST BE DEPRESSED HARDER THAN NORMALLY REQUIRED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR GETS WET BUT ALSO DURING DRY TIMES. THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 27 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO DIFFERENT PRIVATE MECHANICS. BOTH MECHANICS OFFERED DIFFERENT OPINIONS OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FRONT BRAKES OR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRINGS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION) BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE THE SECOND RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 11/12/14 *BF

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE THE BODY OF THE CAR WAS SWAYING AWAY FROM THE FRAME; THERE WAS COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; THIS SCARED THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I DROVE THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME LATER AFTER HE'D EXAMINED THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH CORROSION IN THE REAR TRAILING ARM THAT THERE WAS NO PLACE TO WELD ANYTHING ON TO. COMPLETE CORROSION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARMS. I COULDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD, BEING ON UNEMPLOYMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO WORK NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

IN REFERENCE TO ANOTHER COMPLAINT, 10670197: THE ABS TONE RINGS, THE TOOTHED WHEELS ON THE END OF THE AXLE, RUST AND CRACK. THIS IS WHAT CAUSES THE INTERMITTENT PUMP ACTIVATION AND UNSAFE BRAKING CONDITION. I TOO HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS SITUATION HAS CAUSED RECALLS ON NEWER VEHICLES BUT NOT THE 2002. THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ABS WAS INTRODUCED LATE IN 2002 AND MAY BE 2003 EQUIPMENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND APPLIED MY BRAKES AT AN INTERSECTION,WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP,THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE APART!I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART!!I AM SCARED IF I GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT ,BUT, CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR.IS THERE A RESOLUTION. TO REPAIR/REPLACE BY HYUNDAI ,PER THEIR SAFETY DEPT AND GOOD WILL THE SERVICES AND PARTS!!!PLEASE HELP!!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TRAILING ARMS FRACTURED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE TRAILING ARM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TRAILING ARM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TRAILING ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V123000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,736.

CAR TURNED LEFT ONTO 30 MPH SPEED LIMIT N. HIGHLAND AVE. ATLANTA, CAR IMMEDIATELY LURCHED INTO WOT (WIDE OPEN THROTTLE) EXECUTING AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. STANDING ON THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET, ENGAGING EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND FINALLY KNOCKING IT OUT OF GEAR, THE CAR STOPPED 10 FEET IN FRONT OF AN OUTSIDE PATIO OF BEER DRINKERS SITTING AT TABLES AT A LOCAL BAR. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT, IT WAS BY PURE LUCK AND FAST REACTION BY MY SON WHO IS DEATHLY AFRAID OF THIS CAR NOW. I PERSONALLY REMOVED THE ENGINE COVER TO FIND THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD SEPARATED WHERE IT IS STAKED INTO IT'S MOUNTING HARDWARE. THE STAKED END SHEATH OF THE CABLE IS PULLED OUT OF IT'S STAKED HOUSING TUBE AND IN SOME CASES MAY GO BACK INTO IT CAUSING THE PROBLEM TO BE INTERMITTENT AND UNREPEATABLE ON REQUEST, HOWEVER, OUR CABLE END WAS UNABLE TO REENTER IT'S POSITION RESULTING IN THE THROTTLE REMAINING OPEN. THE CABLE IS TOO SHORT BY DESIGN LEAVING IT TO BE ON A CONSTANT PULL UNTIL IT OVERCOMES THE STAKING AND SLIPS OUT. JIM ELLIS HYUNDAI HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE THIS DATE. NEVER, SAID THEIR PARTS DEPT., AND SERVICE MANAGER. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL HYUNDAI CORP, OR, THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO QUOTE ME A COST TO REPAIR. LIKE HYUNDAI CORP. THEY WENT INTO IMMEDIATE REAR END COVERAGE MODE. *TR

THE ABS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATING RANDOMLY, INCREASING THE LENGTH OF A STOP. IT WILL ACTIVATE AT 0MPH (STOPPED) OR ANY SPEED; THE INDICATION IS THE PUMP RUNNING AND A VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. I DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT BOTH FRONT ABS RELUCTOR (TOOTHED WHEELS) RINGS ARE BROKEN. THE SYSTEM (ABS, TRACS) FAILS COMPLETELY AS INDICATED BY THE DASH MONITOR, AT A SUSTAINED 50MPH OR HIGHER. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SOME VEHICLES. HOWEVER, SINCE IT IS DUE TO CORROSION, IT CAN TAKE AN LONG TIME TO APPEAR. CONTACTING HYUNDAI, THEY INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED. I CANNOT EVEN FIND OUT HOW TO REPLACE THE RINGS IN THE FACTORY SHOP MANUAL, THOUGH THEY APPEAR TO BE HEAT SHRUNK ON. IF NEEDS BE, I WILL REPAIR THE EXISTING RINGS WITH A SPOT WELDER OR NEW RINGS BUT DO THINK THAT THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY HYUNDAI. THANK YOU *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE A NEAR SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH MY WIFE DRIVING THE TRUCK. 6/26/12 THE LEFT STEERING CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF THE TOTAL RUSTED OUT SUB-FRAME CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STEER DANGEROUSLY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS WAS CAUSED FROM THE SUB-FRAME BEING RUSTED THROUGH. THIS TIME ON JULY 21 THE RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM, THAT SECURES THE RIGHT WHEEL IN POSITION, BROKE OFF. FORCING THE TRUCK TO SWERVE RIGHT ALMOST CARRYING MY WIFE AND THE TRUCK INTO A DITCH. BOTH OF THESE BREAKDOWNS ARE INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR, HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE I PURCHASED IT IN FLORIDA, NOT IN A NORTHERN SALT BELT STATE. SO I GUESS WHAT HYUNDAI IS SAYING IS, THAT THEY CAN BUILD A DEFECTED VEHICLE AND IF YOU BUY IT IN THE SOUTH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SAFETY. I WAS NEVER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WASN'T A CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE FIRST INCIDENT. THAT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS AND IT ENDED UP COSTING ME OVER $3,500. HOW DO I GET HYUNDAI TO STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT TELLING ME THAT WE WERE RISKING OUR LIVES FOR DRIVING A POSSIBLE DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND PAY FOR REPAIRS THIS TIME. I GUESS THE SALT AIR BLOWING IN SOUTH FLORIDA 24/7 DON'T QUALIFY. *TR

THE 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 WILL EITHER NOT START, STALL WHEN MOVING OR RUN EXTREMELY ROUGH. THE PROBLEM IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN IT IS RAINING OR HUMID OUT. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE SANTA FE AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. THE ISSUES COMES AND GO BUT HAVE BEEN MORE CONSTANT OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. IN THE PAST, I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND HAD A TUNE UP PERFORMED BY THE LESTER GLENN HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. I BOUGHT THE SANTA FE IN SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE TOLD THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ON OUR LAST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY BELIEVED IT WAS DUE TO OLD SPARK PLUG WIRES. THE TUNE UP DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE AT ALL. AS I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND BECAME AWARE OF HYUNDAI RECALL 049 WHICH REPLACES THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I SPOKE TO HYUNDAI AND THEY EXPLAINED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO ITS PRODUCTION DATE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING IS EXACTLY IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO EXPAND THE PERIMETERS OF THE RECALL TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING OFF AN EXIT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A METAL GUARDRAIL AND THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT ARM AND THE RIGHT ROTATOR CUFF WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS LATER NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

MY 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LX WENT FULL THROTTLE TODAY AND STAYED THERE. I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH WITH THE GAS PEDAL NORMALLY PRESSED AND THE CAR FELT LIKE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE THROTTLE KEPT CLIMBING, SO I PULLED OVER AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. THE THROTTLE WAS NOW FULLY OPEN AT THIS POINT SO I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WITH REPEATED STARTS, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO FULL THROTTLE WHILE IN NEUTRAL. THE GAS PEDAL WASN'T PRESSED DOWN OR STUCK. I'VE HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP SO THEY CAN IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. TOMORROW I SHOULD HAVE ANSWERS. VERY DANGEROUS! FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IN 11 YEARS AND IT ENDS UP BEING LIFE THREATENING. *TR

WHEN EVER THE UNDER ENGINE GETS WET THE CAR TURNS OFF AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN IT STOPS I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND IT LOCKS UP. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN THE RAIN AND THE CAR STARTED JOLTING THAT THE CAR WAS OFF THEN ON THEN OFF THEN ON AGAIN. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR IN THE TORRENTIAL RAIN GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. WHENEVER IT RAINS OR IF I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE AUTO DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, I WAS TOLD THAT NORMALLY THERE IS AN ENGINE UNDERCOVER BUT THERE IS NOT ONE ON MY CAR NOR WAS THERE EVER ONE PUT ON BY THE MANUFACTURER. HAVING NO ENGINE UNDERCOVER CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL OUT WHENEVER WATER IS SPLASHED UP ONTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSES THE BELT TO AJAR AND THAT STOPS ELECTRICAL FROM FLOWING TO THE CAR AND THEREFORE IT STALLS OUT AT VERY DANGEROUS TIMES; LIKE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. NO ENGINE UNDERCOVER IS AVAILABLE AND THEREFORE THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FIXED. WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR?? *TR

MY CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS STILL WORKED AS DID THE RADIO IT THEN RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES....I CHANGED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND THAT SEEMED TO FIX IT FOR A TIME THEN IT STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER A HEAVY RAIN...I LOVE MY CAR THAT I JUST GOT USED BUT IF IT KEEPS DOING THIS IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE ON THE ROAD...PLEASE HELP *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 12 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO VIBRATE WITH A WHINING NOISE UPON ENGAGEMENT. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE ABS HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BROKEN STEERING CONTROL ARM AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE LEFT FRONT STEERING CONTROL ARM BROKE FREE FROM THE SUB FRAME DUE TO RUST. IT FORCED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE DANGEROUSLY TO THE LEFT ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE ENTIRE UNDER CARRIAGE HAD RUSTED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT WERE BEING REPAIRED, WERE THE ONES PURCHASED IN NORTHERN SALT BELT STATES.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THERE IS PULLING OF THE WHEEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT. THERE IS A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. AFTER HAVING THE TIMING BELT REPLACED, I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THERE WAS A RUST PROBLEM IN THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE TOWARD THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HE TOLD ME THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE RUST ON THIS VEHICLE IS MORE LIKE RUST OF A VEHICLE THAT IS 50 YEARS OLD NOT TEN YEARS. HE ALSO SAID THE FRAME COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME TO CONTACT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR MY VEHICLE. I CALLED HYUNDAI'S 800 NUMBER ONLY TO BE TOLD THE SAME THING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WENT OUT OF CENTER AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WANDER. AN INSPECTION FOUND THAT WHERE THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT ON THE FRONT BOLT. ORDERED A NEW SUB FRAME AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO REMEDY THE CONDTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

TOOK MY CAR FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND TIRES. FRAME WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS BOLT UP HAS SERIOUS RUST ISSUES. I SEE IN SOME NOTES THAT THE RUST AND CORROSION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE HYUNDAI'S. IS THERE ANY WAY I AM ELIGIBLE TO GET THIS REPAIRED BY HYUNDAI OR AT LEAST AT SOME DISCOUNTED RATE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT INTERMITTENTLY AS THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,807.

I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED & ALIGNMENT ON A 2002 SANTE FE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS RUST/ROTTED OUT FRAME WAS WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS UP TO THE RIGHT TIRE AREA. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS SINCE I HAD A PRE-INSPECTION DONE & ALL CAME BACK OK. IT IS IN AN AREA WHERE IF THE TIRES ARE NOT OFF OF IT, IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE. I SUSPECT IT IS RUSTED DUE TO THE SALTY LOCATION OF ILLINOIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT KEPT DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE WAS TILTED ON AN ANGLE AND PROTRUDED NOTICEABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THAT TWO OF THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARMS HAVE RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE REAR WHEELS ARE SEVERLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT.CANNOT CONTROL VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING GEARS AND ENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 163,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

FUEL FILLER NECK , COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. HAD CAR IN 7 MONTHS AGO FOR THE SALT RECALL ON THE TRAILING ARMS. *KB

THE BACK RIGHT SUSPENSION BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE REAR SPRING CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT IT BROKE IN HALF. THIS SUSPENSION COMPONENT HOLDS THE WHEEL TO THE FRAME. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BECOMMING NON DRIVEAVBLE. THE WHEEL IS GROSSELY MISALIGNED AND THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. IAM FORTUNATE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED OR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH MAY HAVE RESULTED.

I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF MY SON TO SCHOOL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STARTED TO REV UP AND AFTER DROPPING HIM OFF IT CONTINUED TO DO SO UNTIL I GOT CLOSE TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE MORE AND I HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING IT I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AND WAS PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME, AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I WENT OVER A PARKING BUMPER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF! IT SCARED THE DAY LIGHTS OUT OF ME I COULD HAVE IF NOT KILLED SOMEONE, BUT SEVERELY HURT SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AND NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLY MY SON....I HAD MY BOSS CHECK IT AND THE CABLE THROTTLE CAME OUT HOW I DO NOT KNOW...I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND I LOOKED UP TO SEE IF OTHERS WHO OWNED THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY DID!! *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 71,500 MILE, SEEMED IN GOOD CONDITION WHEN I PAID FOR IT, DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S MAINTENANCE HISTORY. ABOUT 1000 MILES LATER THIS HISS/RATTLE SOUND CAME FROM THE ENGINE AS I WAS DRIVING IT, I ALSO NOTICED WHEN MAKING TURNS A RUBBING SOUND CAME FROM THE STEERING THAT GOT WORSE AS THE TURNING ANGLES GOT MORE ACUTE, AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE A SMALL LEAK OF REDDISH FLUID I THOUGHT MAY BE TRANSMISSION FLUID (TURNS OUT TO BE POWERING STEERING FLUID). TOOK IT IN TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE LINE WAS CORRODED/LEAKING. THEY CHARGED ME $250 TO FIX IT. THE FIX CORRECTED ALL THREE OBSERVATIONS... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE REAR BUMPER REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE REAR TRAILING ARM DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V123000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

OVER THE LAST 4-6 MONTHS NOTICED DRIVER AND PASSENGERS GETTING VERY TIRED AND DEVELOPING HEADACHES WHILE DRIVING OUR 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD DISCOVERED BY OWNER. *TR

THERE IS EXTENSIVE AND THROUGH THICKNESS CORROSION ON THE FRONT RIGHT SUBFRAME OF MY HYUNDAI 2002 SANTA FE, IT HAS RESULTED IN THE BOLTED JOINT OF THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATING FROM THE SUB FRAME. THIS WAS FORTUNATELY CAUGHT BY A REPAIR SHOP AND DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SYMPTOMS WERE STEERING PULL, AND NOISE WHEN TURNING, AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM TO THAT WHICH TRIGGERED THE 089 RECALL ON THE SONATA. PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND ARE AVAILABLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AS OF YET. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR IS FINE, NO CORROSION AT ALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE GEAR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO A GARDEN AND A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

HYUNDAI 2002 SANTA FE BEGAN DRIFTING DURING DRIVING AND DEVELOPED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. BROUGHT TO GARAGE - DURING INSPECTION FOR CAUSE, MECHANIC FOUND RUSTED FRAME WHERE FRONT BOLT OF CONTROL ARM IS BOLTED TO FRAME (FRAME COMPLETELY GONE, BOLT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO ANYTHING). FRAME AND TIRES REPLACED AND ALIGNMENT ACCOMPLISHED TO FIX PROBLEM - OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. CAR WAS PART OF INITIAL RUST RECALL AND INSPECTED BY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY ACTION BEING UNDERCOATING APPLIED. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED HYUNDAI SANTE FE (2002). I'M STILL ON MY FIRST TANK OF GAS AND TWICE NOW I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOPLIGHT AND GOING VERY SLOW WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BOTH TIMES BUT THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT REPAIRED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRONT FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

WHILE I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT MY VEHICLE STALLED WHICH THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY. I TURNED THE CAR ODD AND ON AGAIN AND PROCEEDED TO TURN AT THE LIGHT AND THE CAR STALLED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUSY INTERSECTION, I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND BACK AND BEGAN TO DRIVE UP A SMALL INCLINE. I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT DID NOT FEEL AS IF WERE SPEEDING UP, ALL OF A SUDDEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND IT CONTINUED TO GO FASTER. MY DESTINATION WAS COMING UP, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME. IN FEAR OF SPEEDING UP ANY FASTER AND HAVING A COLLISION WITH MY 5,1 1/2, AND 11 MONTH OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. I TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUT ON MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH CAUSED ME TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND LUCKILY RUN SIDEWAYS INTO A BANK OF SNOW. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. MY DRIVER SIDE WAS UP ON A PILE OF SNOW TILTED AND I HAD TO GET ALL OF MY BABIES OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I DON'T EVER WANT TO PUT MY KIDS IN THAT CAR AGAIN AND THEY SAY THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT I HAVE SEEN PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE. THIS WAS THE ONE OF THE WORSE FEELINGS I EVER HAD I REALLY JUST FEARED FOR MY CHILDREN AND WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON LINE ABOUT THIS I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THREE LANES AND CAME TO A STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE STATED THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE COUNTY IMPOUND LOT. THE TOW COMPANY DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEELS BUT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,000.

I OWN A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL NOTICE BASED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V123000 WHICH ADDRESSED A PROBLEM WITH CORROSION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARMS IN VEHICLES LOCATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A HYUNDAI DEALER SERVICE CENTER ON 1/18/10 WHERE THEY SUPPOSEDLY INSPECTED IT AND PERFORMED THE NECESSARY "CORRECTIVE" PROCEDURES ON THE REAR SUSPENSION (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER INVOICE, THEY INSPECTED AND APPLIED WAX TO THE TRAILING ARMS). ON 9/6/10, ONE OF THE REAR TRAILING ARMS ON THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED DUE TO EXTREME RUST AND CORROSION. GIVEN THAT ONLY 8 MONTHS HAS PASSED, IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE CONDITION OF THE TRAILING ARMS ON 1/18/10 WOULD HAVE WARRANTED A FULL REPLACEMENT INSTEAD OF A WAX APPLICATION. AS A RESULT OF THE TRAILING ARM COLLAPSE, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BECAME EXTREMELY UNSTABLE TO THE POINT OF NEARLY FALLING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE ESTABLISHMENT WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED BY THE SAME DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE INITIAL "CORRECTIVE" PROCEDURE. THE DEALER DID RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE AND PROMPTLY REPLACE BOTH REAR TRAILING ARMS. IN THIS INSTANCE, FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE SO THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGES TO OTHER PEOPLE OR PROPERTY, BUT THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD HAD THERE BEEN A RESULTANT ACCIDENT. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT TO WARN OTHER OWNERS OF OTHER RECALLED HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES THAT HYUNDAI'S PRESCRIBED "CORRECTIVE" PROCEDURE FOR THE RECALL IS NOT SUFFICIENT!!! I ALSO OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FOR WHICH THE SAME TYPE OF RECALL WAS ISSUED. I HAD THE SAME PROCEDURE PERFORMED ON THAT VEHICLE, AND I DON'T TRUST THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD THEN ENGAGE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON AUGUST 25, 2010 I WAS DRIVING MY HYUNDAI 2002 SANTE FE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING IT ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT USING THE BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNING IT OFF. MY MECHANIC FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD BROKEN AND HELD THE THROTTLE WIDE OPEN. THE CABLE WAS STRETCHED TOO TIGHT. I HAD IT REMOVED. *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE REAR TRAILING ARMS OF SOME OF THESE VEHICLES. A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING CAUSES THE TRAILING ARMS TO RUST AND OVER TIME WEAKEN. ACCORDING TO TWO HYUNDAI DEALERS THIS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH THE REAR TRAILING ARM BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ENTER A SKID AND ALMOST COMPLETE A 360 DEGREE SPIN. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL STATES COULD HAPPEN IF THE TRAILING ARM ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *TR

MY 2002 HYUNDAI 2002 SANTE FE HAS A 2-PART CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HYUNDAI HAS A WARRANTY--REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW, I UNDERSTAND--THAT COVERS THIS FOR 8 YEARS, 80,000 MILES. MY CAR IS WITHIN THAT CRITERIA. THE SECOND CONVERTER BROKE OFF, AND NEITHER NOW WORK. HYUNDAI AND ITS DEALER, MARHOFER HYUNDAI OF CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, BECAUSE THE MAIN CONVERTER WOULD WORK IF THE SECOND, AND AN ENTIRELY NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM, WERE INSTALLED. THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE, SOUNDING LIKE A TRUCK AND SPEWING EXHAUST. ANOTHER SHOP IS REPLACING THIS, AND THE OWNER TOLD ME HIS VENDOR HAS JUST SOLD FIVE OF THESE CONVERTERS/EXHAUST SYSTEMS. THE SHOP JUST PUT ONE IN ON A HYUNDAI SANTE FE, AND MINE WILL MAKE SEVEN IN A SMALL CITY (AKRON) IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. YET HYUNDAI WILL DO NOTHING, AND MARHOFER WANTS $2,000 FOR THE WORK. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE EXHAUST FROM THE BROKEN CONVERTER COULD ENTER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *TR

ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DURING LOW SPEED, AT IDLING OR AT A CONSTANT SPEED AS A RESULT WITH FULL LOSS OF POWER, BRAKING, AND STEERING. CAR DID START BACK UP FINE, BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY EXHIBIT SAME BEHAVIOR AGAIN ALONG WITH ERRATIC RPM SURGES. MY LOCAL MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO A BAD CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR CPS. HE ADVISED I CONTACT THE DEALER SINCE THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS EXACT PART AND SAME ISSUE REGARDING 2.7 V6 ENGINE RECALL #03V030000 I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO DISCUSS AND PROVIDED MY VIN NUMBER, HOWEVER THEY INDICATED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. MY LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE CPS SENSOR AS PER RECALL, AND CONFIRMED THE DAMAGED CPS SENSOR WAS THE ORIGINAL PART, AND THE ISSUE WAS ULTIMATELY RESOLVED. THIS OPEN RECALL 03V030000 AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 25,000 VEHICLES, I BELIEVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS MUCH LARGER AND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS EXIST WHERE CONSUMERS ARE BEING TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF RECALL 03V030000, YET EXHIBITING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE DEFECTIVE CPS AND ULTIMATELY PAYING FOR THIS PART THEMSELVES. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED DUE TO RUSTED FLUID LINES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE TACHOMETER READ ZERO AND THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED AND THEN RESTARTED ITSELF. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND OFTEN TIMES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 132,000.

MY 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS EXPERIENCED TWO THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILURES WITHIN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. THIS CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AND UP SHIFTS. FORTUNATELY BOTH TIMES OCCURRED ON IN TOWN STREETS AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. COULD BE SERIOUS IF IT OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS UNDER 25 MPH. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V123000, SUSPENSION REAR. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS UNTIL MAY 28, 2010. THIS WOULD BE TWO MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED WAS NOT WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN DEALING WITH A SAFETY ISSUE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A TWO-HOUR WAIT BEFORE HE COULD SPEAK WITH SOMEONE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

MY 2002 SANTE FE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR REAR TRAILING ARM REPAIR AND I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR A LOANER CAR. THE DEALER IS FAR FROM BOTH MY HOME AND WORK AND THIS WILL REQUIRE ME TO RENT A CAR AT MY EXPENSE. REPAIRING THE DEFECT IS THE VERY LEAST HYUNDAI SHOULD DO. TO TRULY BE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER, THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE A LOANER CAR, AS IT WOULD WITH ANY WARRANTY REPAIR. *TR