2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Log

I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN WHICH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED STARTING IN DECEMBER 2006. AT WHICH TIME THE AIR BAG "CLOCK SPRING" WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 12/6/2006 AT 33,154 MILES. *TR THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN MARCH, 2011. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE "CLOCK SPRING" AGAIN, WHICH WAS NOW NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD COST OF AROUND $285.00. THIS WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO A SUGGESTION FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT MECHANIC. THE INDICATOR WAS RESET AND HAS BEEN OFF FOR OVER A YEAR. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS IN MAY 2012 (MILEAGE APPROX. 88,500), THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND NOW I'M TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW AIRBAG AT A COST OF AROUND $750.00!! THE INDICATOR WAS RESET AND AIR BAG NOT REPLACED THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED HUNDREDS OF "POSTS" ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM (MOST OF THEM ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) WEBSITE). HYUNDAI SANTA FE'S HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS! AND, TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, REPLACING EITHER THE CLOCK SPRING OR THE AIRBAG APPARENTLY DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY, THUS CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL (#103) FOR THE 2007-2008 MODELS. THIS RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED ALL SANTA FE'S NOT JUST TWO YEARS. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT NOT A NORMAL WEAR & TEAR ISSUE.

AT APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN OCCASIONAL JUMP IN IDLE TO 3000 RPM+ WHILE IN PARK AND DRIVE AFTER THREE MINUTES OR SO OF OPERATION. WHILE IN DRIVE, VEHICLE LUNGES DANGEROUSLY FORWARD. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, AND RESTART TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WILL SPUTTER AND REFUSE TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY FOR 30-60 SECONDS. VEHICLE ALSO STALLS OCCASIONALLY AFTER 3 MINUTES OR SO OF USE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO NAPELTON HYUNDAI, WEST PALM BEACH, FL ON NOV 30. CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND CAMSHAFT SENSOR WERE REPLACED. BEFORE LEAVING DEALERSHIP WITH SERVICE MANAGER PRESENT AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN PARK, VEHICLE IDLE SUDDENLY SPIKED TO 4,200 RPM. I WAS TOLD DEALER WAS CLOSED, AND TO DRIVE IT HOME. ON DECEMBER 5, VEHICLE AGAIN STALLED AGAIN IN TRAFFIC AT INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. AFTER RESTARTING, IT REFUSED TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY FOR 30-60 SECONDS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BACK TO NAPELTON HYUNDAI BECAUSE BOTH THE STALLING AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT MAKE THIS SANTA FE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED FULLY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON DEC 20 I WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. I WAS TOLD TO PICK IT UP AND DRIVE IT. I REFUSED TO DO SO. NAPELTON HAD OVER 20 DAYS TO DETECT AND CORRECT THESE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES, AND I WILL NOT DRIVE HYUNDAI'S FAILURE INTO AN ACCIDENT. A REVIEW OF NHTSA DEFECTS REPORTED FOR THIS SANTA FE FOR 2003-2005 MODEL YEARS REVEALS OVER 40 SIMILAR INCIDENTS, SOME INVOLVING COLLISION AND INJURY. THESE ARE CATEGORIZED UNDER SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPONENTS INCLUDING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL, OTHER, POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND EQUIPMENT. PERHAPS THE SANTA FE'S CAN BE RECALLED BEFORE DEATHS RESULT. *NM

THIS VEHICLE (2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE) STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS JUST BE FOR THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (100,000 MILES), BUT WE WERE TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE POWER TRAIN SYSTEM. SO WE PAID TO HAVE SOME WORK DONE. BUT JUST TODAY WE WOKE UP AND WENT OUT TO USE THE VEHICLE, AND IT WILL NOT GO IN GEAR, WILL NOT IN NEUTRAL SO WE CAN MOVE IT OR PUSH IT. IT'S JUST LOCKED UP, (FLUID LEAVES ARE OK) IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO ANY ONE WITH THIS KIND OF VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC IT COULD BE TRAFFIC PROBLEM. I DO KNOW OTHERS WHO OWN THIS KIND OF VEHICLE AND DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, BUT I ALSO KNOW OF ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIRS. SO I'M JUST CONCERNED ON IF I AM THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM OR IF THEIR ARE OTHERS, AND WHY IF THEY OFFER A 100,000 MI. WARRANTY DOSE IT NOT COVER THE DRIVE TRAIN? THIS DOSE NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME. ONE VERY UNHAPPY VEHICLE OWNER. P.S. THIS VEHICLE IS REGISTERED TO MY WIFE, AND HER LLC. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE OTHER THREE TIMES, THE DEALER REPLACED A WIRE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT HARNESS, AND A WIRE HARNESS CLIP. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.

MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STARTED TO SHIFT DIFFERENTLY. IT WOULD BUCK WHEN SHIFTING INTO A HIGHER GEAR, IF I ATTEMPTED TO GO UP A STEEP HILL, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ALL POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER, THEY REPLACED A SENSOR, SAID THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FINE. I DROVE IT HOME ONLY TO HAVE IT STILL SHIFT WITH A BUCK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD, AFTER THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT, THAT IT WOULD NEED A $2800 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. OF COURSE, BEING A SECOND OWNER, THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 60K.

WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED 4 TIMES AND GOT CHARGED FOR A TUNE UP THAT I DID NOT NEED. THE LAST AND 4TH TIME WHEN PICKING UP MY VEHICLE , THEY HAD THE PARTS OUT AFTER I HAD TOLD THEM 2 TIMES NOT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE AND THEY TOOK IT APART ANYWAY. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO TOW IT OUT OF THEIR SHOP . I TOLD THEM I WANTED THE CAR BACK JUST THE WAY I BROUGHT IT THERE . THEY GAVE MY A MUCH STRESSFUL HARD TIME FINALLY THEY PUT IT BACK AND I GOT IT BACK THE NEXT DAY IN WORST CONDITION. THERE IS A LOT MORE STORY BUT NOT ENOUGH LETTERS LEFT SO I WILL END IT HERE FOR NOW. *JB

I HAD A PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITH HEARING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I WOULD TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, BUT IT HAD RECENTLY GOT WORSE. ON AUGUST 9, 2006 I TOOK IT IN TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. I WAS SUPPOSE TO PICK MY SANTE FE UP ON AUGUST 11TH BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ONE WEEK LATER I STILL HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AT THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AN R&R MOTOR MOUNT ,SO THEY WOULD BE REPLACING IT, BUT THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO COME IN. ANOTHER WEEK PASSED AND I CALLED TO SEE IF MY SANTE FE WAS DONE. THEY TOLD ME THE MOTOR MOUNT HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL IN A SPECIALTY TECHNICIAN. THE SPECIALTY TECHNICIAN COULD HEAR THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME I SHOULD JUST COME AND GET MY SANTE FE AND WAIT UNTIL IT GOT WORSE AND THEN MAYBE THEY COULD FIGURE OUT WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM. I TOLD THEM I WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, THEY ASSURED ME THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT WHEN I ASKED HOW THEY COULD BE SURE IF THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE MANUFACTURE AND SEE WHAT THEY SUGGESTED. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HELP US FIND THE PROBLEM. THREE DAYS LATER I GOT A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD DONE EVERYTHING THEY KNEW TO DO AND I NEEDED TO GO AND GET MY SANTE FE AND WAIT UNTIL THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE SO THEY COULD PINPOINT WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS COMING FROM. AGAIN I VOICED MY CONCERN ABOUT MY SAFETY. THE MANUFACTURE ASSURED ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS IF NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE CLICKING SOUND. ON AUGUST 29 I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PICKED UP MY SANTE FE, THEY TOLD ME IF IT GOT WORSE TO BRING IT BACK IN. *NM

THE CLUTCH ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE (58,000 MILES)WENT OUT ON THE NJ TURNPIKE AT THE START OF A WEEK LONG FAMILY VACATION. MAXON HYUNDAI IN UNION, NJ CLAIMED THAT MY DRIVING HAD BURNED THE CLUTCH OUT (I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK FOR 12 YEARS AND MY PREVIOUS CAR- A SATURN- HAD OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH WHEN I SOLD IT) AND WHEN THE CLUTCH WENT IT DAMAGED THE FLY WHEEL. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE FLY WHEEL, THOUGH PART OF THE POWER TRAIN SUPPOSEDLY COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY, WAS NOT COVERED SINCE IT WAS MY FAULT THAT IT WAS DAMAGED. THEY FURTHER INDICATED THAT REPLACING THE CLUTCH AND PUTTING THE OLD FLY WHEEL ON WOULD JUST CAUSE ME TO BURN OUT ANOTHER CLUTCH LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE FLY WHEEL IS WHAT CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO GO IN THE FIRST PLACE. ANYWAY, I DID PAY FOR THE CLUTCH TO BE REPLACED BUT NOT THE FLYWHEEL AND THEN I TRADED IT IN ON A NEW SATURN VUE. I WAS OUTRAGED AT THE WAY I WAS TREATED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND BY HYUNDAI CORPORATE WHEN I CALLED THEM. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE ME AS I GOT A WHOLE $4,500 FOR THE VEHICLE THAT I PAID $17,000 FOR JUST 3 YEARS AGO AND THIS WAS AFTER I HAD TO PAY A REPAIR BILL OF $1600 AND PAY $500 FOR A RENTAL CAR SO THAT OUR VACATION WAS NOT RUINED. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY AND THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,112 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,496.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,112 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,496. UPDATED 08/27/09 *BF UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS HESITATION AND SURGING OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS, EXTREMELY POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A SERVICE DEALER, THE HESITATION AND SURGE COULD NOT BE RECREATED AND NO PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. WHEN INSPECTED AGAIN BY THE SAME SERVICE DEALER, A DETACHED CABLE WAS FOUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A SPRING UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOUND TO BE DISCONNECTED. ONCE THE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED, THE MILEAGE IMPROVED, BUT THE HESITATION AND SURGING CONTINUED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THERE WAS IN FACT A HESITATION AND A SURGING. ON THE NEXT VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEALER, A KNOCK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT TRY ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION BY ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER, THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS OBSERVE TO BE LOOSE AND IT WAS CRIMPED TO TIGHTEN IT. HOWEVER, THE HESITATION AND SURGING CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. UPDATED 08/25/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A STOP. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS NOTICED THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD CORROSION, THE WINDSHIELD WAS ETCHED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER, AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

AFTER THE HEAVY RAINS HAD OCCURRED HERE IN MIAMI ON MAY 16TH, 2006, THERE WERE UNKNOWN VIBRATIONS IN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I WAS OUT WITH A FRIEND. WHILE TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT, WE NOTICED A LOAD POPPING SOUND. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION TO PICKUP HIS VEHICLE. HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO INFORM ME THAT I WAS MISSING THREE LUGS FROM MY RIM. THE NEXT DAY I WENT BACK TO THE PARKING LOT AND FOUND THE BROKEN LUGS FROM MY CAR. I ALSO TRIED TO REMOVE ANOTHER LUG FROM THE RIM TO ENSURE ITS' INTEGRITY AND IT BROKE OFF AS WELL. WHEN I CALLED ONE OF THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERS, I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY KNOW HOW TIGHT TO TIGHTEN THE LUGS AND THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN MY ERROR. *JB

GRINDING SOUND FROM TRANSMISSION OF 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. *JB

I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. IT BROKE DOWN ON APRIL 29TH, 2006. MY CAR WAS BROUGHT TO FUCILLO HYUNDAI IN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK. MY CAR IMPROPERLY DIAGNOSED HERE AS HAVING A WORN CLUTCH. WHEN I DECLINED TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED AT THIS LOCATION AND TOOK IT TO OPITZ TRANSMISSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS BROKEN AS WELL. I CONTACTED FUCCILLO, WHO DECLINED TO HAVE THE FLYWHEEL FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY AGREEMENT THAT CAME WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. THIS WARRANTY AGREEMENT DOES NOT STATE THAT THE FLYWHEEL IS NOT COVERED. I ALSO CONTACTED HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA AND SPOKE WITH TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. ONE TOLD ME THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND SHOULD BE FIXED, ANOTHER TOLD ME THE PART WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE COST OF THE FLYWHEEL WAS $1276 PLUS TAX AND COULD ONLY BE ORDERED THROUGH A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. I HAD MY CAR FIXED BY OPITZ TRANSMISSION IN SCHENECTADY, NY. OPITZ TRANSMISSION AGREES THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS POORLY MADE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THEY FORWARDED MY LETTER AND INFORMATION TO THE NYS MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY DIVISION, WHO IN TURN TOLD ME TO CONTACT THIS WEB SITE. I HAVE LETTERS, RECEIPTS, AND INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD TO SOMEONE IN THIS DIVISION. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM ALL OF THE TIRES AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SLIDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE (V6 2.7L 4 WD). MY ISSUE HAS A LONG HISTORY. ONCE THE BRAKES GET WARMED UP (USUALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC) AND I BEGIN TO COAST THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL SHUDDER AND I HEAR A LOW ROARING OR RUBBING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE NOISE WILL STOP IF I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL - EVEN JUST A LITTLE. THIS GOES FROM A MILD ISSUE TO A BIG PROBLEM - THE VIBRATION AND NOISE WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT I STOPPED AND HAD THE CAR CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIPS ONE TIME IT WAS NOTHING AND ANOTHER TIME, IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE MY CAR. THE LAST (AND HOPEFULLY LAST) SOLUTION WAS SOME SORT OF LUBRICANT PUT ON THE BRAKES. I HAVE YET TO GO A FULL YEAR WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM RECURRING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND WHILE SOME OF THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COVERED, OTHERS HAVE NOT AND I BELIEVE I HAVE PAID FOR UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR THIS ISSUE 9 TIMES. NO MORE HYUNDAI'S IN MY FUTURE. HOPEFULLY THIS INFO WILL HELP SOMEONE ELSE AND MAYBE SOMEONE AT HYUNDAI READS THESE COMPLAINTS. *TR

I DRIVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 3.5L V6. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2006, I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A STEEP, SNOWY HILL IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN THE SNOW, THE BRAKE PEDAL KICKED BACK AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE COMPLETELY. THEY FELT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A MASS OF SOMETHING SOLID BLOCKING THE PEDAL FROM DEPRESSING ALL THE WAY. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, RELEASED THE PEDAL, PRESSED IT AGAIN, BUT NOTHING I DID KEPT MY CAR FROM CONTINUING TO PROPEL ITSELF DOWNHILL. I NEARLY SIDES WIPED A PARKED CAR BECAUSE, AS MY SPEED INCREASED, THE SANTA FE SLID OUT OF CONTROL ON THE SNOW. ONLY BY SOME MIRACLE WAS THE REST OF THIS BUSY NEIGHBORHOOD STREET EMPTY. I FINALLY REGAINED CONTROL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. BUT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS DANGEROUS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PATTERN OF THIS PROBLEM: ONE OR MORE INCIDENTS ON A WET OR SNOWY DAY FOLLOWED BY NORMAL OPERATION. IN APRIL OF 2004, THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED. ANY TIME I TRIED TO STOP ON A WET OR SNOWY STREET, THE BRAKES WOULD SLOW THE CAR, BUT NOT STOP IT COMPLETELY. AT THAT TIME, HYUNDAI DID FIND A PROBLEM. MY SERVICE RECEIPT SAYS THE ABS ACTUATOR WAS BAD, THE ECU WAS REPROGRAMMED, AND THE HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THIS TIME, ON MARCH 3, 2006, EVEN THOUGH THE SANTA FE BRAKES HAD FAILED IN THE EXACT SAME WAY AS 2 YEARS AGO, HYUNDAI FOUND NO PROBLEM IN THE DIAGNOSTIC IT RAN AND DID NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE ANY REPAIR. THEY ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT THE ABS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. I AM CERTAIN THAT MY BRAKES WILL FAIL AGAIN, BUT UNTIL MY HYUNDAI DEALER SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEY'D LIKE ME TO BELIEVE THERE ISN'T ONE. I'LL TRY TO REMEMBER THAT THE NEXT TIME I ROLL DOWN A SNOW-COVERED HILL. *NM

ON MANY OCCASIONS OUR 2003 SANTA FE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THEN VIOLENTLY JERKING OR CATCHING BACK INTO GEAR, CAUSING PASSENGERS TO BE SLAMMED FORWARD AND BACKWARD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS AT ANYWHERE FROM 20-65 MPH AND HAPPENS RANDOMLY. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH THE EXACT SAME RESULTS - COULD NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINT. *JB

BAD CLUTCH AFTER 39,000 MILES - DEALER SAID NOT COVERED AND NEVER SEEN DEFECT IN OVER THREE YEARS - CHECKED A WEB SITE WHERE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING EARLY CLUTCH FAILURES. *NM

CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ALWAYS RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING. AT TIMES THE CAR SLOWS DOWN TO POINT THAT IT IS A HAZARD FOR US AND ANY CAR NEAR TO US. THERE HAS BEEN THREE OCCASIONS THAT ACCIDENTS ALMOST HAPPENED. IN ORDER TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL, THE CAR HAS TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SET FOR A SHORT PERIOD BEFORE I CAN CONTINUE. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEAR OF SUCH A THING AND THEY WOULD CALL THE FACTORY. WHEN I HADN'T HEARD FROM THEM FOR QUITE A LONG TIME I RETURNED TO THE SAME PLACE. THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD EVER BEEN IN WITH A COMPLAINT. *NM

ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 I WAS PULLING INTO A SPACE TO PARK MY VEHICLE I WAS PROCEEDING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND IT WAS HARD BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL INTO A PARKED CAR WHICH RECEIVED $58.77 WORTH OF DAMAGE PROCEEDING HOME AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT I SLOWED DOWN AND THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE I USED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE I ROLLED INTO A CAR STOPPED AT THE LIGHTS. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TWICE MORE GETTING HOME,I CALLED HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISSTANCE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FLAT BEDDED TO LIA HYUNDAI OF ENFIELD UPON CALLING HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISSTANCE THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME THAT THEIR HAD BEEN A LETTER SENT OUT ABOUT A REPROGRAM TO THE ABS ON SANTA FE'S I ALSO CONTACTED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND INFORMED THEM OF MY PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD FORWARD ME A LETTER REQUESTING CERTAIN THINGS PERTAINING TO MY VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM I HAD PART OF THAT REQUEST WAS FOR COLORED PICTURES OF MY VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I DROVE TO LIA AND TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES OF MY VEHICLE. WE FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE FRONT SEAT OF MY VEHICLE HYUNDAI #04-01-002 DATED MARCH 4, 2005 SUBJECT (HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT HECU REPROGRAMMING. THIS ALSO SAID IT WAS FOR 2003 AND 2004 MY SANTA FE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5L V6 ENGINES. MY VEHICLE IS A 2.7L V6 ENGINE. THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ON 11-2-05 TO INSPECTED MY VEHICLE I RECEIVED A LETTER ON FRIDAY 11-25-05 THAT THEY FOUND NO MALFUNCTIONS OR DEFECTS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEIR INSPECTOR WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION I INDICATED CAUSED MY ACCIDENT. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER INSPECTED MY VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 10, 2005 TJE INSPECTOR'S REPORT STATES THAT CRAIG THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE IS A BRAKE PROBLEM AND AS YET HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. TECH DROVE VEHICLE AND BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED BACK WHILE TRYING TO STOP. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED THE RUBBER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL CAME OFF, AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THEIR THE CONTACT DAUGHTER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF AND SHE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS HAPPENED ON 9-16-05. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE THAT IT HAD COME OFF. SHE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HAD SUCH PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT TO CALL THE CONSUMER CENTER, AND THEY REFERRED HER TO THE NHTSA SAFETY HOT LINE. *AK

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A MINI VAN AND MY PASSENGER FRONT WAS DAMAGED. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE MOSTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AND I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT WITH THE DAMAGE IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *NM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED TOWARD A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH NO RESULTS. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. RELEASED, RE-APPLIED - STILL NO BRAKES. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE CAR CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT THAT WAS WAITING AT THE RED STOP LIGHT. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS CHARGED .5 LABOR HOURS ($46.50) AND SENT ON MY WAY WITH NO RESOLUTION OR EXPLANATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF BRAKES AND RESULTING ACCIDENT. ON THIS SAME SERVICE DAY, AFTER CONSULTING WITH HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A 2ND HYUNDAI DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION/INSPECTION. I WAS CHARGED ANOTHER $19.95 BUT AGAIN, SERVICE COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE HISTORY OF SERVICE ON THIS NEW VEHICLE, I CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS SERVICED IN APRIL 2004 AS A RESULT OF A RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED (RECALL NO. 065 - ABS REPROGRAMMING). ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE TICKET INDICATED THE CORRECTION INCLUDED "PERFORMING RECALL #065. HECU REPROGRAMMING", THE SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION OF CONSEQUENCE LISTED IN YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF MY ACCIDENT. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, I HAD MY VEHICLE THROUGH A CAR WASH. NEITHER HYUNDAI DEALER QUESTIONED WHETHER THE BRAKE PAD MAY HAVE BEEN WET AND/OR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT JUST OVER A YEAR EARLIER, THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN UNDER A RECALL INVOLVING THE ABS, THE CONSEQUENCE OF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRING AND A POSSIBLE CRASH RESULTING. IN NOVEMBER 2004 (AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED), THE VEHICLE AGAIN DISPLAYED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER, SERVICE COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEMS ON INSPECTION. THE EVENTS AND HISTORY LEADING TO THE CURRENT FAILURE SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THE PREVIOUS RECALL WORK PERFORMED WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. MY FOLLOW UP CALL TO HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS NOT BEEN RETURNED TO DATE. *JB

VERY SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT 10128836. (RECENTLY PURCHASED 2003 2.7L V-6) (1) VEHICLE BUCKED VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 70 - 75 MPH TWICE IN THE LAST 2 DAYS. NO BUCKING AT LOWER SPEEDS (SUV IS SELDOM DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY, SO THIS MAY BE LIMITED TO A HIGHER SPEED PROBLEM) (2) STALLED WHILE WAITING (FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AT A STOP LIGHT THE SAME DAY ONE OF THE BUCKING INCIDENTS OCCURRED. AMBIENT TEMP WAS 96 DEG AND AC WAS WORKING HARD. (3) 1 INCIDENT OF VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITH FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE. (4) LCD CLOCK WORKS ONLY ON OCCASION DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET - I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN DUPLICATE. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 SANTA FE (MARCH 2003 PURCHASED). SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I REPORTED TO DEALER THAT IT JERKS VIOLENTLY (STALLS) AND RESTARTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD SOMETIMES JUST DIE AT A IDLE STOP LIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON (ALWAYS STARTED BACK UP). THE DEALER INSPECTED AND COULD NOT FIND OR REPLICATE ANY ISSUES. I CALLED BACK AGAIN AS THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND IS QUITE ALARMING. I TRAVEL AS A HEALTHCARE CONSULTANT SO I NEED A DEPENDABLE CAR. JUST THIS WEEK THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED AND IT RAN QUITE BAD I DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A BAD CRANK AND TEMP SENSOR. THEY REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR AND I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED AT THE CARS PERFORMANCE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ACCELERATED SMOOTHLY AND NO MORE JERKY VIOLENT STALLS. THE DEALER SAID THE SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN BAD ALL ALONG AND FINALLY GAVE OUT. I WAS CHARGED 440 DOLLARS AS THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I THINK THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATED FURTHER AFTER READING ALL THE SIMILAR REPORTS I DO TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS ASSEMBLY AT THE VERY LEAST THE SENSORS BEING USED IN THE VEHICLES. I AM REQUESTING A REFUND FROM HYUNDAI IN THIS MATTER.

MY 28 MONTH OLD 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 15,809 MILES BEGAN MAKING A SCREECHING SOUND IN THE REAR. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE REAR DISC PADS HAD CORRODED AND FROZEN TO THE CALIPERS, MAKING THEM INOPERATIVE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAND BLASTED THE PADS AND CALIPERS AND LUBRICATED THEM. MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN I DESCRIBED IT. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE AND WAS NOT A DEFECT AND WAS THUS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES VEHICLE QUIT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. IT RESTARTED. . IN 6-05-05 THE DEALER CHANGED THE COMPUTER ASSEMBLY , AND ADDED SCAN TOOL OPERATION AND CHANGED THE RELAY ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. HE NOTICED THIS HAPPENING AT APPROXIMATELY. 25,000 MILES. AT ONE TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT IT WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALER TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

MY 2003 SANTAFE HAS AN IDLE PROBLEM. IT FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT STALL WHEN I'M SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENLY AND THEIR IS NO CODE IN THE COMPUTER SO THEY SAY THEY CAN'T REPLACE ANY PARTS. THE CAR HAS BUCKED ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70MPH. IT'S BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I'M READY TO GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF FRUSTRATION.

CAR SPORADICALLY STALLS - UNPREDICTABLY

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 SANTE FE, SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE FUEL LINES CAUSING GASOLINE TO POUR OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

ON VARIOUS OCCASSIONS THE SPEDOMETER WILL CEASE WORKING WHILE DRIVING AFFECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO, CAR SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. OCCASSIONALLY, WHILE CAR IS IDLING, CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING UNIT REBUILT ON THE 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. AT 54,000 MILES HE WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE WITH THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND AT 77,034 IT WAS CHECKED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNS SHARPLY A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE CALLER STATED THAT ON SHORT TRIPS THE GRINDING SOUND DID NOT OCCUR, IT ONLY OCCURRED ON TRIPS LONGER THAN 50 MILES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE THE FIRST TIME. THE CALLER SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF BLACK STUFF IN THE FLUID; IT WAS THE PLASTIC FROM THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE CALLER STATED THAT THE INVOICE DID NOT SAY THAT THE PART WAS REPLACED. IT JUST STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD FOUND IT TO BE OKAY FOR NOW. THE CALLER WAS CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN LATER.*AK *MR *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2 YEARS AGO HE STARTED HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE .S WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR ABOUT 15-25 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. HE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT UNLESS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ONTHEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO SEE WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT HE MAY HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED IT. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS GIVEN A CASE#, WILL SUBMIT WITH THE HARD COPY. ALSO, HE HAS CONTACTED THE BBB AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE USUAL DRIVER WAS TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE OF THE STALLING PROBLEMS. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE STEERING LOCKED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19999, AND THE CURRENT WAS 61480. THE VEHICLE STALLED 101 TIMES AZS OF 02/23/2007. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 20 MPH. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE PICTURES HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.

ON 4/05/2005 WHILE DRIVING ON SOUTH FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OF MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE GL 4D CAME OFF. PRIOR TO THE WHEEL COMING OFF THE ONLY WARNING I RECIEVED WAS A SUDDEN VIBRATION. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 - 60 MPH, FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I NOTIFIED THE POLICE, OBTAINED A POLICE REPORT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOME. I NOTIFIED THE HYUNDAI CORP, AND TOLD THEM OF MY INCIDENT. I WAS GIVEN FILE REFERENCE # 906136. I WAS LATER CONTACTED BY HYUNDAI CORP AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY CLAIM ITEM (BUT WAS NEVER GIVEN A REASON). THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JAN 22, 2005, I PUT A LITTLE OVER 3000 MILES ON IT. I NEVER HAD ANY WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE, NOT EVEN CHANGED A TIRE/FLAT. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR SINCE MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT IF ANYTHING I CAN DO. THE POLICE AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BOTH WERE SURPRISED I WAS NOT KILLED OR EVEN HURT. I WAS VERY LUCKY. THANK YOU SINCERLEY, WILFREDO CRUZ.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP AT 20 MPH THE CLUTCH FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED, HOWEVER NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM, SIMILAR TO THOSE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE 3.5L SANTA FE'S. I KNOW THAT RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC, BUT I FEEL THAT HYUNDAI AND NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO RECALLING THE 2.7L LX SANTA FE ALSO. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN STOPPING THE ABS WILL INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATE CAUSING THE BRAKING DISTANCE TO INCREASE. WHEN IT ACTIVATES, THERE IS A RUMBLING NOISE AND VIBRATION AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP AT A SAFE DISTANCE. AT MANY TIMES, I HAVE RUN THROUGH STOP SIGNS OR ENTERED TOO FAR INTO INTERSECTIONS AT RED LIGHTS DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO HIT A BUMP OR ICE FOR THIS TO OCCUR, BUT MORE TIMES THAN NOT, I AM ON A SMOOTH, DRY SURFACE WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND THEY EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NORMAL ABS FUNCTION.

THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE, WHILE DRIVING 55-56 MPH. THE CONDITION CAUSES THE LEFT REAR ALLOY WHEEL TO SPLIT IN HALF AND DAMAGES THE EMERGENCY PARKING CABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NM *NM

ON MANY OCCASIONS OUR 2003 SANTA FE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THEN VIOLENTLY JERKING OR CATCHING BACK INTO GEAR, CAUSING PASSENGERS TO BE SLAMMED FORWARD AND BACKWARD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS AT ANYWHERE FROM 20-65 MPH AND HAPPENS RANDOMLY. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS WITH THE EXACT SAME RESULTS - COULD NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINT.*AK

RECENTLY, MY 2003 SANTA FE HAS HAD A GRINDING/WHINNING/RUBBING NOISE WHEN I TAKE OFF AT LOW SPEEDS. SOUNDS LIKE MIGHT BE TRANSMISSION, WHEEL BEARING OR PULLEY, BUT NOT SURE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALSHIP AND HIS ANALYSIS WAS THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE IDLER PULLEY. ORDERED NEW PULLEY AND WILL REPLACE WHEN IT COMES IN. THIS NOISE WOULD COME AND GO AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 5 - 25 MPH AND WOULD LAST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS UP TO A MINUTE.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE WAY HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CLUTCH IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST, THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A THIRD TIME RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC

ON NOVEMBER 5, 2004 AT APPROX 7:30 PM OUR 2003 SANTA FE WITH ONLY APPROX 14,000 MILES SUDDENLY "DIED" IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ALL OF THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE HEATER AND RADIO BEGAN MAKING STRANGE NOISES, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT START, LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, STRANDING ME AND MY PREGNANT WIFE, WITH NO LIGHTS OR FLASHERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON A COLD NIGHT. HYUNADAI ROADSIDE SERVICE CONTRACTOR CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCLUB CLAIMED THAT IT WOULD TAKE OVER 3 HOURS TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED, SO FINALLY 9 AFTER NEARLY 2 HOURS) COUNTY POLICE TOWED THE VEHICLE AS A TRAFFIC HAZARD TO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI. *JB

ON 10/23/04, MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 21,600 MILES, BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A VERY LOW IDLE AND THEN STALLED OUT EACH TIME I HAD TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR A STOP LIGHT. I COULD START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A PROBLEM EACH TIME BUT AS SOON AS I WOULD SHIFT INTO "DRIVE", THE CAR WOULD REPEAT THE LOW IDLE/STALL OUT PROCESS AND I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AN INCH. THE CAR HAD TO BE FLATBED TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DROVE THE CAR AND HOOKED THE CAR UP TO THE COMPUTER BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR FIND A REASON FOR THE PROBLEM. ON 10/29/04, TWO DAYS AFTER I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS AGAIN FLATBED TOWED TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO GET ANOTHER MECHANIC'S VIEW OF THE SITUATION. THEY ALSO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM UNABLE TO RELY ON THIS VEHICLE BUT AM FRUSTRATED THAT 2 DIFFERENT HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS CANNOT SEEM TO DISCOVER THE PROBLEM. THEY KEEP TELLING ME "THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR".*JB

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES,THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH INCREASED THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT UNLESS THEY COULD REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOM WHEN THEY PERFORMED A TEST DRIVE AND IF THEY COULD SHOW A SPECIFIC CODE NUMBER, THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT ALLOW THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. RECALL CAMPAIGN #04V131000. *SC *JB

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD NOISE. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME WHICH LED TO ANOTHER ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE. THE DEALER AND HYUNDAI REFUSE TO GIVE ME A LOANER SO I CAN BRING THE VEHICLE BACK A NINTH (9TH) TIME TO HAVE IT INSPECTED FOR THIS AND MANY OTHER CONCERNS SO I AM UNABLE TO HAVE THE CONCERN ADDRESSED.*AK