2002 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Log

2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE RECALL *GR IN LATE FEBRUARY, PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, THE SUB FRAME FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE SUB FRAME REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BALL JOINT WAS BEING REPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *JB

I DRIVE A 2002 HYUNDAID SANTA FE (ENGINE 2.7L 6 CYL. THIS MORNING I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. I HIT THE BRAKE YANKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP AND IT STOPPED. I THEN BACKED IT UP SINCE IT WAS WAY OVERSHOT IN THE SPACE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN ,BUT EXPLAINED IN GREAT LENGTH THAT HYUNDAI'S HAVE A DIFFERENT THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM THAN TOYOTA'S AND BMWS. I DON'T REALLY CARE THAT MY SYSTEM IS CONFIGURED DIFFERENTLY. THE FACT THAT MY PROBLEM OCCURRED DURING THE TOYOTA CRISIS IS CIRCUMSTANTIAL. MY PROBLEM DID OCCUR THOUGH. AND SOMEONE COULD'VE BEEN HURT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE ROAD AND GOING FAIRLY SLOW (ABOUT 25 MPH) WHEN IT ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATED. SINCE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME, I WAS DISORIENTED AND UNSURE IF I HAD DONE SOMETHING. I HIT THE BRAKE, PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. NOW THAT IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, I AM VERY CLEAR THAT IT WAS AN UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I CHECKED MY FLOOR MAT AND IT IS COMPLETELY FLAT AND SECURE. I'M HAVING MY HUSBAND DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY CAN FIND. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR END BEGAN TO SLIP AS IF IT WERE ON ICE. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM WAS CORRODED. THE ENTIRE REAR END FELL DOWN DUE TO THE RUST. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RELATED RECALLS; HE WAS INFORMED OF RECALL 09V123000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CONTACT WANTED THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY THE TOWING FEE SO THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 137,000.

IN JULY 2009 AND AGAIN IN DEC 2009 I EXPERIENCE "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" IN MY 2002 SANTA FE WITH THE 2.7 V6 ENGINE. I HAD ABOUT 92,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER IN JULY AND ABOUT 95,000 IN DECEMBER. BOTH TIMES THE "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN "MANUAL MODE". SOME REFER TO THIS AS "SPORT MODE". I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS ON PENNSYLVANNIA WHEN THESE INCIDENCES OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED IN 1ST GEAR. THE CAR STARTED TO DRIFTED INTO THE ONGOING TRAFFIC BEFORE I REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING. ALL THIS TIME I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD AND FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT 10-15 INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, NO TRAFFIC APPROACHED DURING THIS INCIDENT. IT HADN'T HAPPENED AGAIN UNTIL I WAS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF PA AGAIN IN DEC 2009 IN "MANUAL MODE" BECAUSE OF THE HILLY, ICY ROAD CONDITIONS AT THE TIME. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BUT NEVER USES THE "MANUAL MODE" HOWEVER, WHEN I DROVE IN THESE TWO SPECIFIC AFOREMENTIONED INCIDENCES I WAS IN "MANUAL MODE" ON VERY HILLY AND WINDY ROAD CONDITIONS. I AM PRESENTLY WORKING WITH MY HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER ON SEVERAL POTENTIAL FIXES TO THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY BUT HAVE NO DEFINITIVE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AS YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. HE HAD USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE AND THE PASSENGERS, INCLUDING A CHILD, WOULD DEVELOP HEADACHES AFTER DRIVING SHORT DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE TESTED POSITIVE FOR CARBON MONOXIDE; YET, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A LEAK OR DETERMINE WHERE THE GAS WAS EMITTING FROM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE TOXICITY OF THE GAS AND ITS AFFECTS ON HER AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

MY 2002 HYUNDAI SANTE FE CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. I UNDERSTAND THIS WAS A RECALL WHICH I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT. BECAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR. NOT ONLY DID THE CONTROL ARM RUST , WE HAD TO CHANGE TO HUB, BEARING,AND THE AXLE AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AT MY EXPENSE. I AM ASKING HYUNDAI TO PAY FOR THE LABOR AND PARTS TO REPAIR MY CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING SINCE THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR POSSIBLY A FATALITY. I NOW HAVE TO BRING THE AUTO TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PARTS AND CAR INSPECTED AND THEN WAIT 6 TO 8 WEEKS FOR THEM TO DECIDE ON HOW I WILL BE REIMBURSED. FAILURE TO NOTIFY ME ASWELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS REDTAPE ON SOMETHING THEY ARE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE AND LIABLE FOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, SHE HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO CORROSION ON THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM. THE CONTACT VERIFIED THAT SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V123000 (SUSPENSION: REAR) AND WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2002 SANTA FE. FRED ZINK WE HAVE 149,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I JUST DISCOVERED A PERFORATION ON THE METAL FUEL FILL SPOUT JUST BELOW WHERE YOU INSERT THE FUEL SPOUT THIS CAUSED FUEL TO SPILL ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AND ON TO THE GROUND THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL, SHE HEARD A THUMP AND MOMENTS LATER THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70000. UPDATED 11/06/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. SHE STATED SHE HAD NO BRAKES AND WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. UPDATED 11/09/09

STARTED MY CAR, IT DIDNT FEEL RIGHT, PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND STARTED TO DRIVE WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO STALL BUT DIDNT AND BETWEEN 1 ST AND 2 ND GEAR THE CAR WAS JERKING. I PULLED OVER SHUT CAR OFF AND TRY IT AGAIN, SAME THING. I DROVE FOR A FEW BLOCKS SEEM TO DRIVE BETTER AFTER 2ND GEAR. SO I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2002 SANTA FE REGARDING THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WHICH WOULD CAUSE A ENGINE STALL AND THE SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. BUT I WAS TOLD THAT MY 2002 SANTA FE DID NOT MAKE THE RECALL LIST. WHY WONT THEY FIX THE PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED ? BUT THEY WILL FIX IT IF I PAY FOR IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED, SHUT OFF AND IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 03V030000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY), HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $350.00 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000.

2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE GLS. WHEN MODERATELY BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE THE CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. PULLED OVER AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO OVER 20 MPH. MY INITIAL IMPRESSION WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE 2ND TIME IT OCCURRED I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER. DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I DROVE THE CAR BACK WITHOUT INCIDENT AND DROPPED IT OFF AT THE HYUNDAI DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM MASTER CYLINDER AND PROPORTIONING VALVE. COST OF THE REPAIR WAS OVER $500. I INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM AT VARIOUS HYUNDAI FORUMS ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES (INCLUDING MY GENERATION OF SANTA FE). I FEEL THAT ANY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTE FE IN SPRING 2007. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO I BEGAN TO FEEL THE CAR WHEEL JERK ON THE FREEWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND ASKED MY BOYFRIEND TO DRIVE THE CAR AND SEE HOW HE FELT IN IT. THAT NIGHT ON HIS WAY TO WORK AS HE WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY THE TIRE POPPED OFF. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CAR STORE THE MECHANIC SAID THE TIRE POPPED OFF DUE THE FRONT SUBFRAME BEING ROTTED AND RUSTED OUT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WILL BE $3400. NO ONE WAS INJURED. HOWEVER DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES I CAN BARELY MAKE ENDS MEET. MY FAMILY HAS NO TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL OR WORK. GRANTED THAT I RECEIVE THE JOB OFFER FROM A COMPANY I RECENTLY INTERVIEWED WITH I WILL BE UNABLE TO ACCEPT FOR I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE. I NOTICE THAT HYUNDAI HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY OF ITS CARS WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THEIR QUALITY? *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS IN A FRONTAL CRASH WITH THE SIDE OF A SCHOOL BUS AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED ON OUR 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO HYUNDAI AND THEY SENT AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY OUT TO INVESTIGATE. A FEW WEEKS LATER WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HYUNDAI TELLING US THE AIRBAGS WERE OPERATIONAL AND MY HUSBAND NEEDED TO USE HIS BREAKS IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS WHAT ARE AIR BAGS GOOD FOR WHEN YOU GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TIME TO REACT. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME OUR HYUNDAI VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IN 2001, I WAS IN A 65 MPH FRONTAL CRASH WITH A GUARD RAIL ON THE INTERSTATE IN MY 2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHEN I CALLED HYUNDAI THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD HIT THE GUARD RAIL AT A CERTAIN ANGLE. WHAT ANGLE OTHER THAN STRAIGHT ON WILL DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS? I DID NOT PURSUE THE MATTER, WHICH I REGRET NOT DOING BUT KNOWING THAT ANOTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLE WE OWN HAS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ISSUES I AM AFRAID AS I OWN ANOTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLE. I ASKED HYUNDAI TO INSPECT THE SAFETY OF MY 2006 SONATA BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED. *TR

FRONT HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE CLOUDY AND YELLOW TO POINT WHERE I CAN NOT SEE THE INSIGHT OF THE LENS. THE LIGHT FROM THE LIGHT BULB IS GREATLY REDUCED TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING THE STREET AT NIGHT. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND THEY REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY HYUNDAI AT NO COST TO ME. THE CAR IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY BLOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE PART WAS INSTALLED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED TEMPORARILY. THE UNIT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,245. KMJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE FIRST FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE DATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE FAILURES WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE FILLER IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED TO OCCUR WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

WE FOUND THAT BOTH REAR TRAILING ARMS WE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. WE HAD TO GET THEM BOTH REPLACED BY THE DEALER FOR $650 A PIECE. THE OLD PARTS WERE DISCARDED BY THE HYUNDAI DEALER. THE DEALER THINKS THIS IS NORMAL WARE AND TARE ON AN 2002 VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARMS ARE A MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT. FIFTY PERCENT OF THE VEHICLE WEIGHT RESIDES ON THESE COMPONENTS. HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE BUILD THEM WITH HIGHEST QUALITY IN MIND. MY OPINION THE REAR TRAILING ARMS SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THEN THE FENDER ON THE CAR. THEIR WAS NO EVENT LEADING UP TO THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM. ONE DAY THE CAR FELT LIKE THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO HANDLE ON THE ROAD. WE THEN ARRANGED FOR THE CAR TO GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO A ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THEIR IS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM WITH THE REAR TRAILING ARMS. THEY ALSO INFORMED US THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE AND TO BRING IT TO A DEALER TO GET FIXED. I FEEL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT!!! *TR

2002 & 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE TRANSMISSION CASE DEFECT: WE LIKED THE FIRST SO MUCH, WE BOUGHT A SECOND.... NO INDICATION OF MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS IN OWNERS MANUAL. REGARDING TRANSFER CASE ATTENTION OR MAINTENANCE WHICH VIOLENTLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DANGEROUSLY, ABRUPTLY STOP - RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS HIGHWAY SAFETY SITUATION AND PERSONAL INJURY. WE HAVE THE OLD TRANSFER CASE - WHICH LOOKS INSIDE, LIKE A TOSSED SALAD. WE PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT BY WESTERN AUTO - A MATTER THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REPORTED IN GREAT DETAIL TO HYUNDAI USA, THEY DENY RESPONSIBILITY OR WARRANTY COVERAGE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME PROBLEM WAS NOTICED. FURTHERMORE, THE VEHICLES WERE PURCHASED AS 'DEALER DEMOS,' WITH LOW MILEAGE AND FULL MANUFACTURERS 100,00 MILE, 10 YEAR WARRANTY - UNFORTUNATELY FROM A DEALER MISREPRESENTING THEMSELVES AS AN AUTHORIZED HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. 2002 VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN PROBLEM REALIZED, - DURING WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT REPORTED NO PROBLEM. WE LATER DISCOVERED A REPAIR / MODIFICATION KIT WAS ISSUED BY HYUNDAI TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM - PURCHASED AT WESTERN AUTO - HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ITEM UNTIL WE SHOWED IT TO HIM IN A BRAND NEW UNOPENED BOX. HYUNDAI DID INSTALL THE MODIFICATION / REPAIR KIT TO THE SECOND 2004 SANTA FE AFTER WE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION. ALL DOCUMENTED BY HIDDEN CAMERA VIDEO RECORDING. DANGEROUS AND COSTLY SITUATION. PLEASE ADVISE. WE SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR AND TOWING COSTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR HAROLD BAYUK

I BOUGHT A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, STANDARD 5-SPEED. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH TWICE. NOW I AM REPLACING IT AGAIN AS IT WAS DAMAGED BY THE FLY WHEEL. A NEW FLY WHEEL COSTS $1500.00. I HAVE MADE EXTENSIVE EFFORTS TO FIND A USED ONE. MOST OF THE SALVAGE YARDS TELL ME THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ONE BECAUSE IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR ONE. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME MOST FLY WHEELS ARE MOUNTED TO THE ENGINE AND DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ALSO MOST FLY WHEELS COST UNDER $100.00, SO MOST WARRANTIES DO NOT COVER THE FLY WHEEL. IT SEEMS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS SINCE IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. *TR

THE FAN SPEED SWITCH FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT FIRST STARTED A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN DECEMBER OF 2007, I CAME OUT OF THE STORE STARTED THE CAR AND THE BLOWER WOULDN'T CAME ON FOR THE HEATER. I HAD TO JIGGLE THE SWITCH FOR THE FAN SPEED CONTROL TO GET THE BLOWER TO COME ON, IT WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT IT FAILED COMPLETELY. I HAD NO WARNING AT ALL, THE FAN SPEED BLOWER SWITCH JUST STOPPED WORKING. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND BOUGHT THE PART FOR $20.57, IT WAS WORKING FINE AND THEN ON 7/19/2008 I CAME OUT OF THE STORE STARTED THE CAR, I ENGAGED THE AIR CONDITIONER AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AND BUY THIS PART AGAIN. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A SIMPLE FAN SPEED CONTROL SWITCH CAN FAIL IN 7 MONTHS. IT IS VERY ANNOYING TO GO THROUGH THIS. I HOPE THAT HYUNDAI CAN HELP ME WHEN I GO BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. IT WAS SUDDEN, AND CAUSED COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF THE ENGINE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING A BUSY TIME OF DAY. WE WERE TOLD BY HYUNDAI THAT THE 6 CYLINDER HAS A RECALL AGAINST THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, BUT THE 4 CYLINDER WHICH WE OWN DON'T HAVE THE RECALL, YET THE SAME PART FAILED CAUSING THE SAME ENGINE SHUTDOWN. I SEE THE 6 CYLINDER RECALL ON YOU WEBSITE. SO FAR, AS OF THE TIME OF WRITING THIS EMAIL AND A WEEK OF THE CAR IN THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, THERE HAS BEEN NO REPAIR, AND MY MOM IS STILL WITHOUT A CAR. THEY ARE MAKING HER PAY THE LABOR CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR, AND CONTINUE WITH EXCUSES AS TO WHY THE CAR HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING HE HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LEFT JOINT AXLE ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY. THE BOOT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AXLE WAS ALSO TORN; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT SINCE THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THE DEALER SHOULD REPAIR IT ACCORDINGLY. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE BOOT REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81000.

MY 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID I HAVE A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2002 SANTA FE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. BUT WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT , THEY RESPONDED WITH MY VIN # NOT BEING ATTACHED TO A RECALL. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, WHAT IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED DURING TRAFFIC WHEN MY CAR STALLED. THE COMPANY SHOULD WARRANTY THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY WON'T. *TR

THE TIRES ON OUR VEHICLE ARE FAILING. THEY ARE PROSPECTOR BRAND TIRES, SIZE 225 70 16; DOT BF 5CF9CC 4404 (3 TIRES) AND DOT BF 5CF9CC 3604 (1 TIRE). IN THE 3 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THESE TIRES WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD DIFFICULTY KEEPING THEM BALANCED. THE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THEM, AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT TREAD LIFE REMAINING. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE HAD TO REBALANCE THEM FREQUENTLY (ABOUT 7 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY LESS THAN 1000 MILES AGO). AT THE LAST BALANCING, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WERE BULDGES APPEARING IN THE TIRES, INDICATING TO HIM THAT THE TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE PLY SEPARATIONS. NOW, ONCE AGAIN, THE TIRES ARE SHIMMYING ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY AT EXPRESSWAY SPEED; LESS SO AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH, BUT STILL SHAKING. USING THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT PROSPECTOR TIRES HAD BEEN RECALLED BY THEIR MANUFACTURER, BF GOODRICH, ONCE BEFORE. I CALLED BF GOODRICH (AT 1-877-788-8899) AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION ON THE PROSPECTOR TIRES, OTHER THAN THAT THEY WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME PLANT THAT MAKES BF GOODRICH TIRES. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES WITH HER SUPERVISOR, RETURNING EACH TIME SAYING THAT BF GOODRICH HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL RELATING TO THESE TIRES OR THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE TO USE AND WILL BE REPLACING THEM WITHIN A WEEK. *TR

WITH REGARDS THE TRANSMISSION OF THE SUV HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2002 AND IT HAS BEEN 4 WEEKS STILL ON THE DEALER SHOP AND NO EXTRA RENTAL CAR PROVIDED AFTER 4 WEEKS THAT'S BEEN,JUST WANTS TO FIND OUT IF IT PART OF THE RECALL VEHICLE. IF WE DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING , WHO KNOWS COULD IT HAPPEN IF WE'RE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION START TO FALL OUT. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THIS CONSIDER AS A RECALL, THANK YOU ... *TR

HI I WENT TO MY HYUNDAI DEALER TODAY FOR WHAT APPEARED TO BE A RE-OCCURRING FLUID LEAK ON THE TRANSFER CASE SEAL, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THIS TIME THAT THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A VENT TUBE LOCATED AT THE TRANSFER CASE. THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATES THAT THE FLUID WILL ONLY APPEAR DURING VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. THIS SEEMS TO BE WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ,WITH MY VEHICLE. MY ISSUE IS THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THIS FLUID LEAK,THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE TRANSFER CASE VENT TUBE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A REDESIGNED UNIT. I AM ALSO TOLD THAT THIS NEW UNIT WILL NOT BE REPLACED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. I ASKED WHY NOT?? IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ON HYUNDAI'S PART ,HYUNDAI SHOULD RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND INSTALL THE NEW VENT TUBE UNIT AT THERE COST,NOT THE CONSUMERS'. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $224.32 PARTS AND LABOR TO CORRECT AN ISSUE THAT IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW THAT OCCURRED FROM HYUNDAI. PLEASE RESPOND ACCORDINGLY KENNETH JOHN BASTA *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ABNORMALLY ROUGH AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON ONE OCCASION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT REMEDY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

ON 2/2/08, I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FOR MY 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FROM BUTLER HYUNDAI (INDIANAPOLIS, IN. 317-848-4200). LABEL ON BELT STATES: SEAT BELT PART NO. 89810-26 500 YD, DATED 11/09/06. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT COME WITH ANY INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. I ASKED ANGELA, AT THE PARTS DESK, WHERE THEY WERE. SHE SAID SHE DID NOT KNOW. I MENTIONED THAT ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA, ALL SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES ARE REQUIRED TO COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS. I ASKED FOR THE SUPERVISOR. SHE CAME BACK AND SAID THAT THE SUPERVISOR WAS BUSY, AND HE WAS NOT AWARE OF WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. I ASKED IF THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE SERVICE CENTER THAT SHE COULD GIVE ME, OR MAKE A COPY OF FOR ME. SHE SAID NO. SHE SAID I COULD GO TO HYUNDAI ONLINE, OR CALL TECHNICAL SUPPORT. SHE DID NOT GIVE ME A PHONE NUMBER OR WEB SITE INSTRUCTIONS. BEFORE PURCHASING THE SEAT BELT, I SPOKE TO CLAUDIA KOVELL OF NHTSA (PHONE: 202-366-5293). SHE STATED THAT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE, ALL SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES NEED TO COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. IT HAS ABOUT 90700 MILES ON IT. MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT RETAINER SYSTEM DOES NOT LOCK WHEN USING WITH A CHILD SEAT.. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT A KIA WAS RECALLED FOR: "KIA SEAT BELT RECALL: IN JULY 2006, KIA RECALLED ABOUT 32,000 VEHICLES THAT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208. THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETAINER FUNCTION IN THE REAR OUTBOARD SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES MAY DISENGAGE WHEN USED WITH CERTAIN CHILD SEATS. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THIS DEFECT POSES AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT. " I HAVE CALLED THE HYUNDAI DEALER, AND HYNDAI USA. THEY BOTH TELL ME I AM OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I MUST PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND ALL REPAIRS. EVEN IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE AUTOMATIC RETRACTION SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE SEAT BELT RETRACTION SYSTEM WOULD COST $300 PLUS $89 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 90,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF THE AUTO-LOCKING SEAT BELT DID NOT REMAIN LOCKED TO USE WITH A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DOES LOCK WHEN THE BELT IS PULLED QUICKLY. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT PART AND STATED IT IS WORKING CORRECTLY. UPDATED

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI (MODEL UNKNOWN). THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FOREHEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE URGENT CARE CENTER FOR EXAMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY DAMP AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000. UPDATED 01/02/08. *4200 UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

GRINDING AND OTHER ODD NOISES WHEN BRAKING IN MY 2002 SANTE FE. PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND I HAVE REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES ONCE A YEAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TWO DIFFERENT HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS AND TO HYDUNDAI MOTOR CORPORATION. ITSELF AND WAS TOLD THAT I MUST BE A BRAKE RIDER AND CITY DRIVER. EITHER OF THESE IS TRUE. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 8-10,000 MILES ON ANY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. I WAS TOLD A COMPLETE, FULL BRAKE JOB MUST BE DONE EACH TIME BECAUSE THE ROTORS ARE SO THIN THAT THERE IS LITTLE MARGIN FOR ERROR OF OVER RESURFACING. THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. I WAS TOLD BY ONE SERVICE MANAGER FROM ONE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THAT HE WOULD NEVER ALLOW HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR WITH TURNED DOWN ROTORS AND THAT HE WOULD RATHER LAY OUT THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES FOR PIECE OF MIND. I WAS SPOKEN TO LIKE I WAS AN IDIOT BY HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE WHEN I COMPLAINED AND MY CONCERNS OF AN INFERIOR BRAKING SYSTEM WERE IGNORED. I HAVE JUST HAD MY FIFTH SET OF FRONT BRAKES PUT ON THE CAR AND WAS ACTUALLY TOLD BY A NEW SERVICE MANAGER THAT BETWEEN HIM AND I, THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE MADE FOR A SMALL VEHICLE NOT AN SUV OF THIS SIZE, AND THAT THIS CAR WAS KNOWN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. THIS ONLY CONFIRMED WHAT I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HYUNDAI AS WAS ALSO TOLD TO ME BY TWO OTHER PRIVATE PARTY REPAIR CENTERS. I NOW REFUSE TO ALLOW HYUNDAI TO CHARGE ME ALMOST DOUBLE THE PRICE TO REPLACE THEIR INFERIOR, CHEAP BRAKING SYSTEM. THEY APPARENTLY PUT CHEAP, HORRIBLE WEAR AND TEAR PARTS IN THEIR CAR, SO YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE THEM VERY REGULARLY. RESULTING IN THEM MAKING A BUNDLE AND THEN SOME BACK ON THEIR OH SO GREAT BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I ACTUALLY SAW THEIR BRAKE PAD AND IT IS SMALL. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. FOX ANN ARBOR HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 3975 JACKSON RD, ANN ARBOR, MI 48103, (734) 663-7770) WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED. THE CONTACT PLACED THE CHILD SEAT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND SECURED IT WITH THE SEAT BELT. WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CHILD SEAT OVERTURNED. THE CONTACT THEN POSITIONED THE CHILD SEAT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT COULD NOT SECURE IT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.*AK UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

PREMATURE RUSTING OF POWERSTERING 2 (5 YEAR), & TRANSMISSION 2 (6 YEAR ), & BRAKE (7 YEAR), STEEL LINES . AND ABS, TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR RING ON FRONT DRIVE WHEELS SHAFT, RUST & SPLIT, NEEDED TO REPLACE AXLES AS THE ONLY FIX. RIGHT FRONT AXLE TO TRANSMISSION CASE SEAL SLIPS OUT AND LEAKS OIL HAS BEEN REPAIRED 5 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY & STILL NEED TO BE PUT BACK IN A OIL CHANGES (3000MILES) ON 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE . *TR

PURCHASED A NEW 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 11/2001 WITH 11 MILES ON IT. IN 3/2007, THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN REPLACING IT, 2 MAJOR SAFETY DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED - NO SAFETY/PROTECTIVE FOAM IN THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE SAFETY/CRASH BAR WAS BENT - I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR MUST HAD BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY ACCEPTED NO RESPONSIBILITY - THEY SAID I MUST HAVE DONE IT. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS OR TICKETS AND MY DRIVING RECORD PROVES THAT. I PURCHASED A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT, WHICH SHOWED NO ACCIDENT HISTORY. THE ONLY CONCLUSION IS THAT THE DEFECTS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF SALE. THE CAR SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE SAFETY INSPECTIONS. *JB

THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHEN HEAT IS RUNNING LIGHTS DIM. WHEN I ROLL UP WINDOWS, THE LIGHTS DIM. WHEN USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS THE HEAT GETS COLDER. LITTLE THINGS THAT WEREN'T SO BAD AT FIRST. HEAT WOULD FAIL TO TURN ON OCCASIONALLY AND NOW WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. THIS IS CAUSING MY WINDOWS TO FROST WHILE DRIVING MAKING VISIBILITY VERY HARD. IF IT WEREN'T FOR ALL THE OTHER LITTLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I WOULD JUST THINK THE HEATING SYSTEM WENT BAD. BUT IT HAS BEEN A PATTERN IN EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL ON THIS CAR. A FEW TIMES I WOULD GO TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. IF I TURNED EVERYTHING OFF THEN IT WOULD START. THOUGHT MAYBE WAS BAD BATTERY UNTIL I GOT A NEW ONE AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD THE NEW BATTERY TESTED AND IT WAS OK. I BELIEVE IT IS ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. DURING ITS LAST OIL CHANGE IT WAS NOTED THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING AT THE JOINT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW TRANS AXLE SEAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,598. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE OIL BEGAN LEAKING TWO DAY LATER. THE PART WAS ORDERED FROM HYUNDAI.*AK THE CONSUMER PROVIDED VARIOUS PICTURES OF ABOVE PROBLEM. UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

TL* - WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE ENGINE ON A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST THE POWER STEERING AN THE POWER BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS COLD AND THERE WAS LIGHT SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE ONCE THE REPAIRS ARE DONE ON HIS VEHICLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY CLOUDY MAKING VISIBILITY VERY LIMITED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD BUFF THE INSIDE OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS, AT COST TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH DOWN A SLIGHT DECLINE, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES AND SHE HEARD A GRINDING SOUND. THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION AND AFTER REPEATED PRESSURE TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME AND BEGAN TO RECUR MORE FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

MY DAUGHTER CALLED OUT "HELP, MOMMY! I'M STUCK!" I LOOKED IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR TO FIND THE SHOULDER-BELT OF MY VEHICLE WAS WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF HER HEAD SO I ASKED HER TO DUCK HER HEAD OUT. SHE SAID "I CAN'T, I'M STUCK!" I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT TO HER, HER FACE WAS GETTING RED. I DUCKED HER HEAD UNDER THE BELT. TO MY HORROR, THE BELT WAS WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK AGAIN. THANKFULLY SHE COULD CALL TO ME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. THE LOCKING MECHANISMS ON THE SHOULDER-BELTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE WHEN YOU FULLY RETRACT THE BELT TO INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT ARE BROKEN. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THREE DEFECTIVE MECHANISMS SO FAR. WHEN I FIRST INSTALLED THE SEAT, THE MECHANISM WORKED. AFTER NEEDING TO REMOVE THE SEAT AT ONE POINT AND DISENGAGING THE MECHANISM, IT QUIT WORKING. IT NEVER LOCKED AGAIN. SO, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, AS MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IN THE MEANTIME, I MOVED HER SEAT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SAME PROBLEM. THE LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE BELT WORKED, UNTIL I HAD TO DISENGAGE IT. THEN THAT SIDE BROKE. MY VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, SO I MOVED THE SEAT TO THE REPAIRED SIDE. AFTER A WHILE, I NEEDED TO MOVE HER SEAT AND DISENGAGE THE LOCKING MECHANISM. IT QUIT WORKING! I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THE PART WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT LABOR WASN'T. I DIDN'T HAVE IT REPAIRED BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD IT AT THE TIME. IN ORDER TO KEEP MY SEATS INSTALLED CORRECTLY, I BEGAN USING THE LOCKING CLIPS THAT CAME WITH THE SEATS. (NOW I HAVE TWO CHILDREN.) THIS HANDLES THE SEATS BEING INSTALLED SAFELY, BUT IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT THE BELTS OF MY VEHICLE CAN MOVE FREELY BECAUSE THE LOCKING MECHANISMS ARE BROKEN. BECAUSE OF THIS MY INQUISITIVE TWO-YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PULL ON THE BELT AND WRAP IT AROUND HER NECK NEARLY TWO COMPLETE TIMES. *JB

LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT STILL OK. FAILURE CAUSED LACK OF ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. MECHANIC SAID IT IS VERY RARE TO SEE SUCH WEAR ON ONE SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER. CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED DUE TO RESULTING ACCIDENT.

DT: 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE - VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AND UNDER ANY CONDITION. AS A RESULT VEHICLE LOST POWER. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART BACK UP, AND AT TIMES THE CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART VEHICLE. THE CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE SIX CYLINDER ENGINES OF THE HYUNDAI SANTA FEE. BUT THIS VEHICLE, NOT A FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ASKED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HARMONIC BALANCE FELL OFF. SHE HEARD A LOUD CLUNG, AND THEN LOOKED INTO REARVIEW MIRROR. AT THAT TIME SHE SAW IT ROLLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND HER DAUGHTER TRIED TO PICK IT UP. THE PART WAS HOT, AND SHE BURNED HER FINGERS. THE PART WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCHASED IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED TO GET THE REPLACEMENT PART. THEY WERE UNAWARE OF WHY OR HOW THIS OCCURRED. *AK

AM RADIO ANTENNAE LOCATED IN REAR WINDOW DOES NOT WORK AND DEALER, AFTER REPLACING THE RADIO AND 2 SUBSEQUENT SERVICE INSPECTIONS SAID THAT WAS JUST THE WAY IT IS - IT JUST WILL NOT WORK. *NM

WHILE DRIVING CAR WITH AC ON THE BATTER DIES BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW NO ONE WILL ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. ON MAY 27, 2008, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1-20 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING SEVERAL TIMES BY APPLYING THE HAND BRAKE. ON JUNE 17, 2005, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE); HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE IN THE 2002 MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,744 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,864.