2004 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Log

I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE STORE AND HAD JUST TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND STOPPED. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENTIRE SIDE OF MY CAR COLLAPSED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SOMETHING WAS STICKING INTO THE TIRE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERS AND REPAIRED. IT COST US OVER $500. IT WAS STILL UNDER THE DEALERS WARRANTY, BUT WAS NOT COVERED. WE FEEL WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. *TR

EVERYTIME I REFUEL MY 04 HYUNDAI SANTE FE IT WILL NOT START. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL STAY RUNNING AND I NEED TO CONSTANTLY GIVE IT GAS. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I PUT IN 2 GALLONS OR I FILL THE TANK. AT LEAST ONE TIME WHEN I WENT TO SHUT IT OFF IT KEPT RUNNING. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE STATED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SAME MAKE, MODEL, YEAR. *TR

I'VE OWNED 2 SANTA FE'S IN A ROW (2001 & 2004). BOTH HAD ENGINE FAILURES AROUND 60,000 MILES (BOTH ON FREEWAY). THE 2004 FAILED AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARIZONA DESERT- THESE BOTH PRESENTED ME WITH A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE. I END UP GETTING TOWED OVER 150 MILES TO HYUNDAI DEALER. SMALL BLOCK FAILED AND WAS REPLACED IN BOTH- HYUNDAI COVERED THE 2001 BUT ONLY COVERED 35% OF THE 2004 (86 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY). NEVER BUY HYUNDAI'S AGAIN!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A 7-ELEVEN STORE. THE DRIVER AND CUSTOMERS WERE UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED COSMETIC DAMAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR ESTABLISHMENT SO THEY COULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 3-15 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD SURFACE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, FOLLOWED BY RESISTANCE AND CAUSED A BOUNCING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. SUDDENLY, A GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGING UNINTENDENTLY WHICH RESULTED TO AN INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND PROGRESSED TO WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION UNDER ANY ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTI-LOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED THE FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY WIRING. DEALER GOT IT TO GO OUT, BUT IF IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN THEY SAY THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CANNOT SAY IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT AND SAYS THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SAY EITHER. NOW, THE LIGHT IS OUT BEHIND THE HEATER CONTROL BUTTON. ONCE AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY WIRING. FAULTY WIRING SOUNDS LIKE A FACTORY PROBLEM TO ME. ALL SERVICES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DONE SINCE DAY ONE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN AUG/2005 FROM A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP (# ). IN AUG/2006, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RESULTS WERE "CODE B1382 PSAB RESISTANCE HIGH - RESECURE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT/CLEAR CODE". IN FEB/2008, THE AIRBAG SENSOR AGAIN APPEARED. THE SAME TECHNICAL CODE WAS DETECTED, AND THE DEALERSHIP RESOLUTION WAS TO "REROUTE WIRE HARNESS". IN MAR/2008, THE AIRBAG LIGHT AGAIN APPEARED AND WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN NOV/2008, THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARING. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE IN NOV/2008, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE AIRBAG FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE WARRANTY, AT WHICH TIME, THEY WERE INFORMED THAT A COMPLAINT WOULD BE FILED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW DUE TO REPEAT FIXES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP THEN FIXED THE ISSUE. ON NOV. 26, 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN A HIGH-SPEED REAR END COLLISION (~35MPH) WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND PUSHED INTO AN INTERSECTION, WHERE IT BROADSIDED A MOVING VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACTS, THE HYUNDAI WAS TOTALED, ALL REAR SEATED PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURY DUE TO THE SPARE TIRE BEING LIFTED FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT AND RAISING THE 60/40 SPLIT REAR SEAT AND PUSHING IT FORWARD, THE FRONT PASSENGER RECEIVED CHEST CONTUSIONS AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED UPPER BODY INJURIES. DESPITE BEING PUSHED FORWARD AND MAKING A STRONG IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I REQUESTED HYUNDAI INVESTIGATE THE MATTER, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT ALTHOUGH THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED FROM THE SECONDARY IMPACT, IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS REGARDING REPEATED AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT REPAIRS AND OTHER AIRBAG FAILURES, INCLUDING STORIES OF CRASHES INTO POLES WITH FAILED AIRBAGS. HYUNDAI HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL, BUT THEY PROBABLY SHOULD. *TR

CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, LOSING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR BRAKING DOWN A WINDY CANYON ROAD. PROBLEM INCLUDES INTERMITTENT JERKING, JUMPING, HICCUPPING - WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. FIRST MONTH, AFTER BRAND-NEW NY DEALERSHIP PURCHASE, I REPLACED MY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR 3 TIMES. TROUBLE WITH MY CURRENT PROBLEM BEGAN AT 4 YEARS, WELL UNDER 30,000 MILES. FOR A YEAR I HAD TO FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME I DROVE, NEVER KNOWING IF THIS TRIP WOULD KILL ME OR OTHER MOTORISTS. WHY DID I HAVE TO DRIVE IT? BECAUSE THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS IN LOS ANGELES COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM IF THEY COULDN'T CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN AND THERE IS NO ERROR CODE WHEN TESTED. A YEAR OF FEAR. JUST THE HESITATION JERKING IS SCARY ENOUGH WHILE DRIVING, BUT WHEN IT ACTUALLY SHUTS DOWN? WHEN YOUR RPM INDICATOR DROPS FROM 2,000 TO 0 AND YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE TURNING THE STUCK STEERING WHEEL AND PULLING UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HOPING YOU DON'T CAREEN OFF A WINDING CLIFF OR COAST HEAD ON INTO UNSUSPECTING TRAFFIC OR CLICKING YOUR HAZARDS ON AND PRAYING NO ONE HITS YOU ON AN OILY RAIN SLICK PAVEMENT AT NIGHT ON THE 101 FREEWAY - THAT IS WHEN IT REALLY MAKES YOUR HEART JUMP OUT OF YOUR CHEST. AFTER 11 MONTHS OF SHUTTING OFF, IT GOT SO BAD IT WOULDN'T TURN ON AGAIN AND FINALLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING, THEY MADE A LEAK IN MY POWER STEERING HOSE AND DAMAGED MY PUMP. BECAUSE IT WAS DAYS AFTER MY WARRANTY, THE VAN NUYS DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME FOR THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND OTHER DAMAGE! 33,000 MILES ON MY CAR. WELL, THAT WAS NOVEMBER 2009. IT'S NOW 2015 (70,540 MILES) AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M OKAYED TO DRIVE MY UNSAFE CAR. THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE VEHICLES PUT DRIVERS AT AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENT AND SINCE THERE IS NO ERROR CODE, HYUNDAI WILL DO NOTHING.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A LITTLE ST. IN FOSTORIA,OHIO ON OCT 16 AT APPROX. 4 PM. HER SPEED WAS AROUND 35 MPH AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. SHE HAD A LARGE VEHICLE ON HER DRIVER SIDE AS THIS IS A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. A BLAZER/BRONCO CROSSED FROM THE ONCOMING LANE ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON A SIDE STREET (SOUTH UNION STREET, CUTTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE IMPACT STOPPED HER VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND DROVE HER CAR INTO A TRUCK WAITING TO TURN ONTO LITTLE STREET FROM THE SAME SIDE STREET. ALTHOUGH THE ACCIDENT CAUSED A FRONT END IMPACT TO OUR HYUNDAI, THE AIRBAG IN OUR HYUNDAI DID NOT DEPLOY. MY WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER LEFT COLLARBONE AND SHOULDER, AND ALSO TO HER RIGHT KNEE, REQUIRING A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND XRAYS. SHE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO WORK FOR A SHORT TIME DUE TO HER INJURIES. *TR

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING FREEWAY SPEEDS AT 5:30 AM GOING TO WORK WHEN MY TRUCK JUST SHUT DOWN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I LOST ALL POWER COASTED ABOUT 300 FEET, PULLED OFF ON LEFT AND ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. COME TO FIND OUT, TIMING BELT WENT BAD, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. I'VE GOT LESS THAN 75000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK AND AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED ON THE WARRANTY AND THAT THE PARTS THEY USE TO PUT THESE TRUCKS TOGETHER ARE SO CHEAP! *TR

ENGINE- DEFECTIVE SHORT BLOCK ENGINE CAR IS BACK IN SHOP NOW FOR THE 5TH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, LOUD RATTLING NOISES COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S A DEFECTIVE FACTORY ENGINE. BRAND NEW SHORT BLOCK ENGINE REPLACED TWICE AND CAR NOW BACK IN SHOP FOR SAME PROBLEM. NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE, AS TWICE I HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER B/C OF ENGINE FAILURE AND I HAD MY 2 YR OLD SON WITH ME. IN REVIEWING THIS WEBSITE, I SEE COUNTLESS NUMEROUS AND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS! THE ENGINE IS THE HEART OF A CAR SO HOW MANY NEW HEARTS IS HYUNDAI WILLING TO PUT IN THIS ONE CAR? IT COST MORE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAN TO JUST ACCEPT THE LOSS AND PROPERLY COMPENSATE ME! REPAIRS ARE AS FOLLOWS: NEW SHORT BLOCK ENGINE INSTALLED; RETURN CAR SAME DAY B/C ENGINE FELT "LOOSE"; TOLD IT WAS THE SWAY BAR LINKS- INSTALLED SAME DAY; CAR STILL FELT LOOSE, NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON- CAR RETURNED. THIS TIME TOLD IT WAS STRUT TOP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED- DONE. PICKED UP CAR, 2 DAYS LATER BACK IN SHOP FOR SAME INITIAL LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. TOLD SAME PROBLEM WITH SHORT BLOCK ENGINE TO BE DEFECTIVE. ORDERED BRAND NEW SHORT BLOCK ENGINE AND REPLACED AGAIN! PICKED UP CAR AFTER REPAIR AND AGAIN, SAME DAY, BROUGHT THE CAR BACK B/C CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN! CAR PRESENTLY STILL IN SHOP AND I'M FORCED TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY B/C THE HYUNDAI'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS STATES AS LONG AS THE DEALER KEEPS FIXING THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN OFFERING ME ANY COMPENSATION. HOW MUCH MORE MONEY ARE THEY WILLING TO GIVE THIS DEALER BEFORE THEY REALIZE THIS CAR IS NOT WORTH ANOTHER $6,500 REPAIR BILL? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT CLIP FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD DEACTIVATE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 2/21/12 *CN

AT 84,360 MILES OUR SUV WASN'T SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, WOULD GO FROM 1ST TO 3RD. A BIG KLUNK WOULD OCCUR AROUND 20 MPH. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP (WITHNELL HYUNDAI, SALEM, OR) IN JUNE 08, AND THEY RESET THE COMPUTER. HUSBAND ARGUED WITH SERVICE DEPT., SAYING HE WANTED A NEW TRANSMISSION, GUY SAID IF IT WENT BAD AGAIN THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN, AND HE SAID IF IT WENT BAD, WOULD GO BAD BY 100000 MILES. TOOK SUV BACK IN 8-2010 WITH 99960 MILES, WAS SHIFTING HARD AGAIN, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE REAR MOTOR MOUNT, AND THEY REPLACED THAT. THEN AT 105000 MILES JAN. 2011, SHIFTING HARD AGAIN, TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY AGAIN RESET THE COMPUTER..AT NO CHARGE TO US, AND TOLD US "TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING".

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

ONE MONTH AGO,WITH 40,600 MILES ON MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND SHREDDED MY TIRE WHICH THE HYUNDAI DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THREE WEEKS LATER THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND SHREDDED THAT TIRE ALSO. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE EXPRESS WAY, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE TO TELL ABOUT IT. IN THE PAST FIFTY YEARS I HAVE OWNED 15 CARS AND NEVER HAD A FRONT SPRING BREAK DOWN MUCH LESS TWO IN THREE WEEKS. EVEN THOUGH THE HYUNDAI DEALER,PATRICK OF SCHAUMBURG, REPLACED THESE SPRINGS UNDER WARRANTY, I STILL INCURRED A $200.00 CAR RENTAL BILL. HYUNDAI DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS OF THESE SPRING FAILURES AT ONLY 40,600 MILES. ANY HELP AS TO THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FORTH TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. DURING THE LAST FAILURE, THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE VEHICLE BURNED AND WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT KNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135000.

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS SANTA FE IN 04 THERE HAVE BEEN SIX TIMES WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD AND DIED. I HAVE BEEN SCARED FOR MY AND MY SON'S LIFE AS THIS JUST HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE AND IF IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN HOW TO REACT BUT I BARELY PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. HYUNDAI SAID THE PROBLEM WAS UNBALANCED TIRE PRESSURE...OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T RESPECT WOMEN. *TR

2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HYUNDAI HAS NOT COME UP WITH A REASON WHY THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. CONSUMER BARELY MISSED AN ACCIDENT BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SLIDING TO A STOP. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ABS, HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. THE DEALER SUGGESTED ALL TYPES OF SCENARIO'S FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE ABS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND SLOWING THE VEHICLE NORMALLY WHEN THEY SUDDENLY DISENGAGED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS MANUALLY DISENGAGED BY PRESSING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF BUTTON AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE BACKING UP AT 3 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED BACK END DAMAGE. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. HYUNDAI STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RELEVANT RECALL FOR THAT FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE ). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,603.

FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG TO DEPLOY ON A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER SANTA FE ON A TWO-LANE COUNTRY ROAD IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL, WITH NO ICE, SNOW, OR OTHER SLIPPING HAZARDS ON THE ROAD. AS SHE ROUNDED A CURVE A CAR WAS STOPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HER AND BECAUSE HER VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED BY LANDSCALE ALONG THE ROAD SHE COULD NOT SEE THE OTHER VEHICLE (A 1988 JEEP TRUCK) BEFORE SHE STRUCK IT. DAMAGE TO THE JEEP WAS MINIMAL (BROKEN REAR WINDOW AND BENT BUMPER), BUT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF HER SANTA FE WAS EXTENSIVE, ESTIMATED ABOUT $9,500. I CALLED OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA TO URGE THEM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT A POTENTIAL AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WAS NOT UNUSUAL BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SENSORS ARE LOCATED WELL BACK FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. GIVEN THE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR (THE FRONT IS EXTENSIVELY CRUSHED) AND THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE TROOPERS OBSERVATION THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, HYUNDAI SHOULD ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING ALMOST HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC OR AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,600. THE CONSUMER EXPERICED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. UPDATED 11/06/07. *JB

UPON RETURN FROM VACATION, POWER STEERING WAS MOANING, LOSS OF FLUID FROM UNDER FRONT OF VEHICLE. EXAMINATION REVEALED LOSS DUE TO FLUID COOLER LINE BENEATH RADIATOR. FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER INCHES TO THE REAR OF THE LINE. EXAMINATION REVEALED BLACK STAINING ON SURFACE OF CONVERTER DUE TO SKIN TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 1200 DEG. FIX WAS TO REPLACE COOLER LINE. THIS IS POTENTIAL CAUSE OF LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND/OR VEHICULAR FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER SHUT OFF. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39,995.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE SEPARATE TIMES. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE IN REVERSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

DRIVERS SEAT BELT STUCK IN BUCKLED POSITION. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR SEAT BELT. CAR IS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. *TR

NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR CONDITIONS EXISTED PRIOR TO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY A FELLOW COWORKER TO BE THE FUEL PUMP. AAA WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE , AND UPON ARRIVAL, PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO BACK IT UP IN ORDER TO TOW. IMMEDIATELY, THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE WHEN FLAT, AND IT WAS A RESULT OF THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY BREAKING AND CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO SNAP AND PIERCE THE FRONT TIRE. IT HAS BEEN 6 DAYS , AND I WAS STILL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 65,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY AND REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED QUICKLY I HAD TO ACCEPT PARTS FROM A 2006 VEHICLE.*AK

I AM SUSPICIOUS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. ONCE, WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, I TRIED TO STOP QUICKLY AND THE BRAKES MADE A STRANGE CLUMPING NOISE AND DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. I ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH CROSSING TRAFFIC COMING AT ME. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, WHILE SIMPLY DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD, ONE OF THE TIRES RAN OVER A SHALLOW IMPRESSION IN THE ROAD , NOT EVEN THE SIZE OF A POT HOLE, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY LOST HYDRAULIC PRESSURE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSING TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HILL AND LOST BRAKING ABILITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-5 SECONDS. LUCKILY NOTHING MORE SERIOUS OCCURRED.*AK

THE CHROME PLATE ON THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS CRACKED AND SPLIT. EVERYTIME I OPEN THE DOOR TO LEAVE THE CAR THE HANDLE SLICES MY HAND. IT'S AS SHARP AS A RAZOR BLADE. I HAVE PUT TAPE AROUND IT BUT THIS IS JUST A TEMPORARY FIX. MY WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT OPTIONS I MAY HAVE. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE. THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZE/LOCKED WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW.*AK

WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO GARY ROME HOLYOKE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND COMPLAINT OF A AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS A UNIT UNDERNEATH THE SEAT THAT WAS BAD. THEY GOT THE LIGHT TO GO OFF AND WE WERE TOLD TO SELL OR TRADE THE CAR BEFORE THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. WE WERE TOLD WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY,BY LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND TO REPLACE THIS PART WOULD BE IN THE $2000-$3000 RANGE. THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS THE SIDE AIRBAGS AND THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART ON OTHER MODELS AS WELL. MY WIFE WAS TOLD THE SAME BY THE MANUFACTURER WHEN SHE CALLED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE.12/9/06 MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT WERE NEITHER FRONT AIR BAGS WENT OFF. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE DRIVERS FRONT LEFT. PARAMEDICS AS WELL AS MYSELF WERE CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DOWN TO 0 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER PICKED BACK UP BETWEEN 2-5 MINUTES. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED 2-3 TIMES A DAY.*AK UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *NM

LAST WEEK, MY HUSBAND WAS SLOWLY PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE PASSED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY LURCHED FORWARD AND REVVED TO 4-5,000 RPM. MY HUSBAND WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD; THE PASSENGER TURNED THE CAR OFF AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE STOPPED GOING FORWARD--THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BARELY ESCAPED BEING RUN OVER BY OUR SANTA FE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR ALL INVOLVED--DRIVER, PASSENGERS, OTHER CARS, PEDESTRIANS, ETC. WE WERE 100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME ON VACATION AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THAT DEALERSHIP (PORTER CHEVROLET/HYUNDAI, NEWARK, DELAWARE) HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK AND IS TELLING US THAT NO CODES ARE APPEARING AND THEY CAN DO NOTHING TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE AND/OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE PARKING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 2-3 MPH. THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE BRAKE PROBLEM. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. *AK

I HAVE DOCUMENTED 8 TIMES THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED IN MY CAR - TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY KEEP SAYING DUE TO CORROSION ON WIRES BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT EVERY 3-4 MTHS THAT HAPPENS - I DO NOT LIVE NEAR THE BEACH. THE CAR WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY END OF THIS YEAR AND I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS NOT BEING SOLVED. *TR

CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE TIRE THAT FAILED WAS A BRIDGESTONE DUELLER P225/70 R16 THAT WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SPARE ON A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE SUV WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH 2005, IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE SPARE WAS PLACED ON THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR IN DEC. 2005 AND HAS APPROX. 5000 MILES ON IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON I-95 IN SOUTH CAROLINA. IT WAS DAYTIME AND VISIBILITY WAS EXCELLENT. NO ROAD HAZARDS WERE OBSERVED AT ANY TIME. THE CAR HAD RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED AND ALL TIRES WERE FULLY INFLATED. THE CAR SHOWED NO SIGNS OF POOR OR ERRATIC HANDLING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND WITH AN IMMEDIATE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TIRE. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL WITH SOME DIFFICULTY. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH. THE TIRE WAS EXAMINED BY GARAGE PERSONNEL IN SC AND IN TALLAHASSEE, FL. IN BOTH CASES, NO SIGN OF ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE COULD BE FOUND. FURTHER, THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE TIRE HAD APPARENTLY FAILED DUE TO A SIDEWALL FLAW WHERE IT MET THE TREAD. I HAVE RETAINED THE DAMAGED TIRE FOR YOUR EXAMINATION. YOU SHOULD NOTE THAT IN 2004, BRIDGESTONE RECALLED A DIFFERENT SIZE OF THIS TIRE THAT WAS BEING USED AS A SPARE FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM THAT BRIDGESTONE IS COVERING UP DUE TO FIRESTONE'S WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS. *JB

6/11/06: UPON BREAKING OFF HIGHWAY, VEHICLE MADE A CRUNCHING NOISE, THEN A HARD SCREECHING STOP, PROCEEDED TO IDLE, MAKE A HARD STOP. THE VEHICLE WASN'T RECOGNIZING GEARS, CONTINUING TO THRUST THE CAR INTO HARD STOPS, JERKING REPEATEDLY AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. HEADING HOME, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO OUR DEALERSHIP. AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THEY REPLACED THE ABS MODULE, TEST DROVE IT AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. 6/25: SAME PROBLEM (SAME DISTANCE: 75 MILES). THE DEALERSHIP TEST DROVE, SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO DRIVE IT SOME DISTANCE. SERVICE ADVISOR DROVE IT AND NOTHING. THEY DROVE IT AGAIN, DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, RECORDED DATA. CALLED THEIR TECH LINE, UNHOOKED REAR COUPLER TO SEE IF THAT WAS IT. THEY REPLACED THE REAR COUPLER, TEST DROVE IT AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. I QUESTIONED IF IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T REPLACE THINGS ON A WHIM. 10/26: PROBLEM OCCURRED (SAME DISTANCE). WIFE PHONED SERVICE ADVISOR,HE TOLD HER THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED PREVIOUSLY. TOWED IT TO A NEARBY DEALER. THEY CHECKED THE FLUIDS, RESET THE COMPUTER, COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS TIME, THE FOLLOWING HAS OCCURRED: 10/31: WROTE A DETAILED LETTER AND SENT IT TO HYUNDAI. 11/04: LETTER WAS RECEIVED. 11/20: DIDN'T HEAR BACK, I PHONED HYUNDAI. 11/22: REPRESENTATIVE PHONED (I WAS UNAVAILABLE). 11/27: SPOKE WITH REP; TOLD TO CONTACT SERVICE MANAGER TO SET UP APPT WITH A FACTORY REP NEXT TIME THEY ARE AT DEALERSHIP. 11/28: SENT EMAIL WITH LETTER TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HYUNDAI, ASKING FOR A CALL BACK. 11/29: RECEIVED SURVEY FROM HYUNDAI, I RESPONDED UNFAVORABLY. 12/06: RECEIVED EMAIL FROM HYUNDAI, AGAIN REFERRING ME TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THIS IS A GENUINE A LACK OF SERVICE FROM OUR DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI ITSELF. MOST IMPORTANTLY IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN. I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN. RESPECTFULLY, BRANDAN PIERARD. *NM

THE 1ST -DEC. 23 2004. MY HUSBAND AND I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. MY HUSBAND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. AFTER GETTING OUT AND INSPECTING FOR PROBLEMS WE GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED FORWARD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. WE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK. BY THE TIME CAR GOT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THEY DID THEIR INSPECTION, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. WE WENT A WEEK LATER AND PICK THE CAR UP AND DROVE AWAY. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, A SIMILAR PROBLEM AROSE, BUT THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE; THEREFORE WE DID NOT TAKE IT IN, BUT DID CALL TO INFORM THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. IN FEBRUARY 2006, THE PROBLEM CAME AGAIN AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. INITIALLY THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND, BUT I REQUESTED THEY CHECK THE BRAKES AND IT WAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WAS REPLACED. WITHIN 2 MONTHS, WE WERE PULLING FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND IT APPEARED MY HUSBAND HAD MISTAKENLY PUT HIS FOOT ON THE GAS, HOWEVER WE WERE SURE IT WAS THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. WE CALLED AND REPORTED AND THEY SAID WE COULD BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE., HOWEVER THEY RELY ON THE COMPUTER TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM EXISTED BASED ON THE COMPUTER. AS RECENT AS SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2006, MY SON AND I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS PULLING BEHIND A LINE OF CARS THAT WERE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE ENGINE REVVED AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL I QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TODAY, MONDAY, APRIL 10 AND AGAIN, NO PROBLEM BEING FOUND. I CALLED THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHO IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT SINCE WE NOW RELY SOLELY ON COMPUTER TO LOCATE PROBLEMS WE MAY NEVER GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE AN ACCIDENT TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *NM

MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS BEFORE IT WAS TO LATE. WIFE SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE ENGINE OF OUR 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE (ODO 24,000 MILES). SHE PULLED OVER TO THE CURB. THE VEHICLE HAD NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE BURNING VEHICLE BY A PASSERBY. WIFE SUFFERED A CONTUSION TO HER RIGHT CHEEK DURING THIS INCIDENT. SHE DID NOT KNOW THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SHE NOTIFIED 911 WHO SENT A FIRE TRUCK AND POLICE OFFICER. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AT LEAST 3 TIMES AS SHE WAITED OUTSIDE IN THE COLD, FRENZIED BY THE DISASTER. THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WERE MELTED. A POLICEMAN AND 2 FIRE TRUCKS RESPONDED TO THE BLAZE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY ALLSTATE. RELIABLE IMPORTS (SPRINGFIELD, MO.) WOULD NOT EVEN HELP US OBTAIN A RENTAL CAR. THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THIS HYUNDAI VEHICLE WERE PROUDLY ACCLAIMED BY THE CAR SALESMAN AND MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN UNHELPFUL IN HELPING US IN ANY WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER A FULL BUMPER-TO-BUMPER, NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY. THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE, AND DO NOT OFFER TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION ON THE VEHICLE. HYUNDAI AND RELIABLE IMPORTS SHOW COMPLETE DISINTEREST IN THE VEHICLE'S SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION, AND SHOW THE WORLD NO CONCERN OVER THE FACT THAT THIS MAY PROVE TO BE A NON-ISOLATED EVENT. SINCE THEN, RELIABLE IMPORTS IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI HAS FIENDISHLY SENT ME AN EMAIL REMINDER TO HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICE RENEWED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND HYUNDAI BOTH FAILED TO INSTRUCT ME TO FILE MY COMPLAINT @ NHTSA. AN ATTORNEY INSTRUCTED ME TO FILE THE COMPLAINT HERE. *JB

ALLSTATE FOUND THAT THERE WAS 1) WATER PUMP FAILURE 2) SOME FORM OF DRIVE BELT FAILURE, AND 3) THE INTERFERENCE ENGINE HAD PARTS COLLIDE WITHIN THE ENGINE LEADING TO A FIRE. THIS OCCURRED AS MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HYUNDAI IS CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH ME TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TOTAL LOSS. OF COURSE, THEY ARE NOT OFFERING ME WHAT I LOST ON THE INVESTMENT AT THIS POINT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS FOUND TO NOT BE LIABLE BY THE BBB; THEREFORE I AM COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH REPRESENTATIVES AT HYUNDAI MOTOR CO. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE, AND I AM CURIOUS ABOUT WHETHER WE ARE THE ONLY FAMILY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE 12 PAGE INSURANCE COMPANY REPORT; I LACK ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ENGINES AND HOW THEY WORK, BUT IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS IS AN EXTREME DANGER TO CONSUMERS. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. SINCE HYUNDAI IS WILLING TO SETTLE WITH ME, IT CAN ONLY BE RECOGNIZED THAT THEY KNOW THIS PRODUCT WAS UNSAFE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA AND NUMEROUS OTHER SITES. IN FACT, I HAVE CREATED MY OWN BLOG: WWW.FLAMINGHYUNDAI.BLOGSPOT.COM, WHICH HAS LINKS TO 5 OTHER BLOG PAGES DESCRIBING MY STORY. WHAT IS SO CRAZY ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS YOU CAN FIND 50 STUPID & PETTY THINGS RECALLED AT WALMART EVERYDAY, BUT A VEHICLE CATCHES FIRE AND YOUR TOLD "IT'S AN ACT OF GOD." PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANYTIME; I WELCOME YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. *NM

ABS BRAKES ENGAGING PREMATURELY. 1ST INSTANCE AFTER HEAVY RAIN STOPPED AT STOP SIGN ON SLIGHT SLOPE ABS ENGAGED AND KEPT MOVING VEHICLE OUT ONTO ROAD. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, HOWEVER THERE WAS A RECALL TO ADJUST BRAKES. 2ND INSTANCE ON SNOW COVERED DOWN GRADE VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED TO MAKE LEFT TURN AND I PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE ,IMMEDIATELY THE ABS BRAKES ENGAGED CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE THE ENGAGING OF THE ABS BRAKES INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF MY VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT ABS BRAKES ARE WORTHLESS IN SLOW STOPS ON SLIPPERY ROADS AND THERE SHOULD BE A SWITCH TO SHUT THEM OFF. *JB

2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BRAKES MADE GRINDING NOISE IN SLOW TRAFFIC AND WET CONDITIONS. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SLOW SPEED ACCIDENT WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION. SIX MONTHS AFTER ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER THE CONSUMER NOTICED INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOSS AND GRINDING NOISE WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS USUALLY OCCURRED DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AT THE DEALER AND CLAIMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE ABS ECU. THE RECALL DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CONSUMER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR. AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. *NM

ENGINE CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO HAVE POWER STEERING, CAR LURCHES WITHOUT WARNING, USUALLY WHEN MOVING FROM A STOP. *JB

10/11/2005 - BREAKS FAILED AT LOW SPEED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL - MANAGED TO COAST TO STOP BEFORE HITTING VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 10/12/05 - THEY INDICATED THAT THEY "COULD NOT REPRODUCE CONCERN. OPERATES NORMALLY" : ON 12/16/05 THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURED RESULTING IN MY VEHICLE HITTING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT TRAFFIC LIGHT INTERSECTION (AGAIN I APPLIED BREAKS AT A SPEED OF BETWEEN 5 & 10 MILES PER HOUR. BREAKS INITIALLY SEEM TO GRAB THEN DISSAPPEAR WITH PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR BOARD WITH NO AFFECTIVE BREAKING. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED MORE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE BEGAN WHEN THE HEAT OR THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. THE DEALER REPLACED ONE OF THE SENSORS; HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB

I WAS IN A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT BACK IN DECEMBER 7, 2005 WITH MY 2004 HYUNDIA SANTE FE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND SCRAPPED THUS I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN NUMBER HANDY. I DO STILL HAVE THE PAPERWORK FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON MY USUAL ROUTE ON EASTON AVENUE. I'M TOLD (REPORTS FROM WITNESSESS) A YOUNG GIRL CAME OUT OF A SIDE STREET AND HIT ME IN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHICH IN TURN SPUN MY CAR INTO 2 OTHER VEHICHLES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELLING DOWN. AS STATED EARLIER I HAVE LITTLE RECALL SINCE THE IMPACT KNOCKED ME UNCONSCIOUS. I SUFFERED A BROKEN NOSE (SCAR STILL THERE) AND TORN LEFT SHOULDER- WHICH STILL BOTHER ME DAILY. I WAS HIT BLINDSIDE AND SPIN INTO 2 OTHER VEHICLES- KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. I STILL SUFFER NIGHTMARES RESULTING FROM THIS ACCIDENT AND AM CURRENTLY SEEING A COUNSELOR SPECILIZING IN TRAUMA AND PTSD.

SOMEONE TURNED LEFT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT SIDE OF MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2004, AS I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR AS POSTED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. MY SEAT BELT BROKE. I HAD BRUISES ON MY ABDOMEN AND CHEST. I GOT NECK AND BACK INJURIES, WHICH I AM STILL DEALING WITH AFTER 3 MONTHS. I HAD DAMAGE TO MY OPTIC NERVE AND A TEAR IN THE DISC IN MY DECK, ACCORDING TO AN MRI AND A NEUROLOGIST. *NM

2004 HYUNDAI - SANTA FE, CAR SURGES TO FULL THROTTLE AND GOES THROUGH RED LIGHTS OR STOPS SIGNS, SURGE IS SO GREAT IT TAKES ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC, DRIVER IS STANDING ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME HAS HAPPENED X3, VIN IS[XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT (THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED) WITH OUR 2004 HYUNDAI SANTE FE WHICH WE HAVE REPORTED TO POHANKA, 5200 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408 ON MORE THAN THREE OCCASIONS: DATEINVOICE NO.DEALER COMMENT OCTOBER 6, 2005353592CAUSE: C40, 39106F00 PCM REPROGRAMMING (04-36-012) MARCH 6, 2006364047OPERATING PER SPECIFICATIONS APRIL 20, 2006367165COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN THE REPROGRAMMING DONE IN 2005 SEEMED TO HELP FOR ABOUT A MONTH. SINCE THAT TIME THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. WE THINK THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE BECAUSE IT CAN RAPIDLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. *NM UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB