2004 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Log

A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS DEVELOPED A POTENTIAL FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD WHICH HYUNDAI HAS IGNORED AFTER I POINTED IT OUT. HYUNDAI ALSO REFUSED TO RELEASE TO ME THE SANTA FE'S "OFF ROAD" CAPABILITIES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE? *NM

CUSTOMER RESOLUTION TO WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE 2004 SANTA FE DUE TO OBVIOUS DEFECT AND/OR INHERENT PROBLEM REGARDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH SNAPPED RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THE WAS NO WRINGING OF INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO IMPROPER USE BY THE CONSUMER. *NM

TIRE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT PART REPLACED

DT: CALLER STATED ALL FIVE OF THE LUGS: NUTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BROKE AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. SOME DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FENDER. VEHICLE WAS FIXED BY A BODY SHOP PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DEALER WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO TAKE VEHICLE THERE. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT'S HOUSE.*AK

DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR RUN INTO A HOLE. CONSUMER HAD NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID NO SIGN OF PHYSICAL IMPACT, APPEARS TO BE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG APPEARS TO HAVE DEPLOYED PREMATURELY. DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT TOUCH IT BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER SAID IT WAS TURNED OVER TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM MANUFACTURER. *TT *NM

USUALLY WHEN THERE ARE RAINY CONDITONS WHEN I AM ATTEMPTING TO INITITATE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING, THE BRAKES WILL SOUND VERY LOUDLY AND EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. IN A FEW INSTANCES I ALMOST HIT OTHER CARS AND THE CURB BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP.

A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE EVEN THOUGH THE OBJECT DID NOT COME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMPACT LITERALLY BROKE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD APART AND CAUSED SHARDS OF GLASS AS WELL AS PULVERIZED (POWDER CONSISTENCY) GLASS TO STRIKE THE CONSUMERS WIFE IN THE FACE AS WELL AS SPRAYING GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AT LOW SPEED, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED. HELD FOOT ON BRAKE TO KEEP FROM COLLIDING WITH OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. JAMMED LEVER IN NEUTRAL, TAC WENT TO 3000 RPM FOR 5 SECONDS, THEN BACK TO NORMAL IDLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THAT AND WENT OFF NEXT DAY. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED 4 TIMES OVER 3 MONTHS. VEHICLE HAS HAD ECM REPROGRAMMED AT DEALER FOR 3 "BUMP FROM BEHIND" INCIDENTS PREVIOUSLY.*AK

IN JANUARY OF 2005, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 3.5L GLS. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND REMAINED STOPPED FOR A WHILE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND DESPITE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, I COULD NOT STOP IT FROM LUNGING FORWARD. I HAD TO QUICKLY GET IT OUT OF GEAR TO MAKE IT STOP, AND FORTUNATELY DID NOT HIT ANYONE. I TOOK IT TO ROWE HYUNDAI IN WESTBROOK, MAINE (WHERE I BOUGHT IT) AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT NOR COULD THEY IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. ON 2-22-05, I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN SUDDENTLY THE ENGINE ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND LOUDLY. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE HARDER YET COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM LUNGING FORWARD. BEFORE I COULD GET IT OUT OF GEAR, IT REAR-ENDED THE PERSON PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA ABOUT THIS.

THREE MONTHS AGO, WHILE I WAS FULLY STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, MY 2004 SANTA FE SUDDENLY REVVED UP AND SURGED FORWARD, COLLIDING WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE (WITHOUT A COLLISION) AND THE DEALER STATED "NO PROBLEM FOUND." IT HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE MONTHS, AND THE DEALER STILL STATES "NO PROBLEM FOUND." I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO WROTE ME BACK STATING THEY HAD CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT WHICH CAUSED THIS PROBLEM (THEY NEVER INSPECTED IT, HOWEVER). THE CAR IS BEING TRADED IN; THE DEALER IS BEING GENEROUS ON THE TRADE ALLOWANCE. HOWEVER, HYUNDAI STILL MAINTAINS THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND I AM TOLD THE CAR WILL GO TO AUCTION. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.

WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT WHICH I HAD THE GREEN LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRAVELING PERPENDICULARLY, RAN THE RED LIGHT AND MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE SMASHED RIGHT INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THAT VEHICLE. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, YET THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE IS SMASHED AND THE CAR MAY POSSIBLY BE TOTALED (WE ARE WAITING FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS ADJUSTERS TO EXAMINE). OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT, AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE CYLINDER WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. *JB VEHICLE CAME OUT OF THE FACTORY WITH DEFECTIVE CYLINDERS. IT TOOK 5 MONTHS FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *TC

2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE - NEW - SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ LOSS OF BRAKING POWER--DEALER CLAIMS NO CONDITION FOUND - CAR IS NEW - 200 MILES ON IT. *NM

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE PROBLEM STARTED DECEMBER 27, 2004 AS I WAS PULLING UP A PRIVATE DRIVE AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP MY SANTE FE. AS I APPROACHED THE TOP OF THE DRIVE I APPLIED BRAKING, MY VEHICLE SLOWED AND CAME CLOSE TO WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A FULL STOP WHEN THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM SUDDENLY ACTIVATED. I HELD THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN BUT THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASED AND IT WAS THEN THAT IT MADE CONTACT WITH A PARKED TRUCK. THE VEHICLES HIT FRONT BUMPER TO FRONT BUMPER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED FROM THE IMPACT. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED PREVIOUSLY FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKESWHICH, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICEWERE PRONE TO UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAD OTHER TWO INCIDENTS BEFORE THE RECALL NOTICE IN WHICH THIS SAME TYPE OF UNEXPECTED ABS ACTIVATION HAD OCCURREDBOTH AT UNDER 5 MPH AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEAR STOPPED. I FEEL HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS MY VEHICLE STATUS, THE SAFETY OF THE ABS BRAKE OPERATION ON MY VEHICLE AND OTHERS LIKE MINE, AND THE COST OF REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE AND THE TRUCK I COLLIDED WITH DECEMBER 27, 2004. I CANNOT STATE STRONGLY ENOUGH HOW DISSATISFIED AND FRUSTRATED I AM WITH HYUNDAIS LACK OF RESPONSELET ALONE THEIR LACK OF ACTION. I TRULY HOPE YOUR OFFICE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. I WILL GLADLY COOPERATE IN ANY WAY YOU MAY DEEM NECESSARY. PLEASE NOTE: I ALSO CALLED AND DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH YOUR OFFICE. I AM COMPLETING THIS FORM AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT CONVERSATION.

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES INSIDE OF THE PARKING GARAGE THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER SKIDDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THE DRIVEWAY WAS ON AN UPHILL INCLINE AND WAS COVERED IN SNOW. THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE ABS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ACCELERATES FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD RAPIDLY. HE MUST IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,963 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF, THE STEERING WOULD THEN LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN ITSELF BACK ON AGAIN. *BF *SC

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN SEPTMEBER OF THIS YEAR (2004). 2 MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE BLEW. HYUNDAI IS OFFERING ONLY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THEIR LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE IS APPALING. NO ONE RETURNS MY CALLS, I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THEM. WE INITALLY FELT THAT A NEW COMPARABLE VEHICLE WAS MORE APPROPRIATE. THEY SEEM VERY UNCONCERNED THAT THE CAR DIED ON A HIGHWAY IN THE DARK AND THAT MY HUSBAND AND 6 MONTH OLD SON HAD NO HEAT FOR AN HOUR NOR THAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE THE #1 PRIORITY.*AK

HYUNDAI SANTA FE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ENGING RACING WHILE BRAKING. *BF *TT

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE REVVED AT A HIGH RATE. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE TO TRY AND STOP THE ENGINE FROM REVVING. PLEASE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB ENGINE REVVED REPEATEDLY DESPITE BRAKE BEING PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND CAR LEAPED FORWARD WITH EVERY SURGE AT LEAST 6 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TRADED IN THE VEHICLE. *TC

MAINLY THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR AND ONCE IN AWHILE THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY AND THE REST OF THE OTHER DOORS REMAIN UNLOCKED. I CAN NOT GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED UNLESS I USE THE ELECTRONIC KEY. HOWEVER, I HAVE TO FIRST LOCK ALL THE DOORS AND UNLOCK THEM FOR THIS TO UNLOCK. THE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK EVERYTIME, BUT IT HAPPENS ENOUGH THAT I AM VERY WORRIED. LUCKILY, THERE HAS ONLY BEEN A FEW "EMERGENCY" SITUATIONS THAT I HAD TO QUICKLY GET TO MY SON AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THERE BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKED. HE THREW UP ONE TIME AND STARTED CHOKING, I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND HOP THE SEAT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS FAST ENOUGH AND HE WAS OK. IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY SON TO SAFETY BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET THE DOOR OPENED. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AT TIMES IN THE CAR AND A HANDY CAPPED FATHER WHO HAS TO SIT ON THAT SIDE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ON THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD AND FAMILY MEMBERS. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER SHIP I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM SINCE DAY ONE, ON UNCOUNTABLE AMOUNT OF TIMES AND I KEPT GETTING TOLD, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS. I HAD KNOW IDEA WHAT TO DO AS NOBODY WAS HELPFUL. I WANTED TO BUY A NEW CAR, BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD IT. MY SON GOT THE "CARS" MOVIE FOR CHRISTMAS AND WITHIN IT WAS THIS "BROCHURE" AND I FOUND THIS SITE. PLEASE HELP. *TR

FEBRUARY WE PURCHASED A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FOR OUR SOON TO BE 16 YEAR OLD SON TO DRIVE. MOST IMMEDIATELY WE NOTICED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL STUTTER 3 TIMES AS IF IT WERE GOING TO DIE AND THEN IT RECOVERS. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES, THE MOST RECENT THIS MORNING. TODAY THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE THE CAR IN AS THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO REPAIR. I TOOK COPIES OF OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINTS AND SERVICE BULLETINS WITH ME IN AN EFFORT TO HELP THEM WITH IDEAS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR US TO COME BACK ON OCTOBER 20, 2004 TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY UPDATES FROM HYUNDAI THAT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM THEN. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE PROBLEM AND MY SON WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS ONLY 3800 MILES ON IT!*AK

FAILURE: GAS GAUGE, ACCELERATION ISSUE, AND SEAT BELT SENSOR. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2004 SANTA FE HYUNDAI 8-25-04. ON 9-3-04 I WENT OUT OF TOWN. ABOUT 75 MI FROM MYHOME,I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON I-35 AND THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG EXPLODED IN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT. I DID NOT GET HIT BY ANY CAR, I DID NOT HIT A CHUCK HOLE OR ANY DEBRIE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SEEN ON THE HWY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED ALLEN SAMUELS SERVICE DEPT, TALKED TO PHIL AND HE SAID HE NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING AND TO BRING IT INTO THE SERVICE DEPT ON 9-7-04 WHICH I DID. THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR; THEY SAID THE SEAT AIR BAG WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE AVAILABE. I HAD MY CAR THERE FOR 2 WEEKS. THEY CALLED ME ON 9-20 AND SAID THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND TO TURN MY RENTAL IN. I PICKED UP MY CAR AT THIS TIME. THE TECH TOLD ME I MUST HAVE HIT A SMALL OBJECT LIKE A PIECE OF WOOD AND IT HIT THE SENSOR.*AK

FEW WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY SANTA FE, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THEY DUPLICATED BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG BEFORE THE THREE DAY RENTAL CAR RULE. SO THEY GAVE IT BACK TO ME SAYINGS IT STILL IS BAD. WE ARE CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THE SERVICE SHEET FROM THAT TIME. *AK

CONTACT STATES: WHILE DRIVING RADIO WAS GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND REPLACED RADIO BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH LOCKS. WHILE ON INTERSTATE OR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME THE LOCKS BEGIN FLIPPING ON AND OFF. HAD TO REPLACE TWO INTERIOR LIGHT BULBS AS WELL. DEALER DOES NOT LISTEN TO COMPLAINTS.

COMPLAINT HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA HAS ADMITTED DESIGN/PRODUCT DEFECTS WITH SIX YEARS (2001-06) OF THEIR SANTA FE FUEL TANKS VIA AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTIFICATION ISSUED 2016/Q1. THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS HYUNDAI'S PRODUCT LIABILITY AND WARRANTY, WITH UNDERSTANDING PRECEDENT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH OTHER HYUNDAI PRODUCT DEFECTS AND RECALL/WARRANTY RESOLUTIONS VIA THE FRONT SPRING COIL CORROSION RECALL IN 'SALT BELT STATES'. DESIRED RESOLUTION HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA TO PROVIDE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE PER SCOPE DESCRIBED WITHIN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTIFICATION. I WOULD SIMPLY LIKE TO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE COMPLETED AT MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP.

WAS PULLING INTO PARKING LOT OF SHOPPING MALL, AS I PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE I APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES AND THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING MY VEHICLE. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND APPLIED IT AGAIN, WITH THE SAME RESULTS. BEFORE I COULD USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I STRUCK THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS AT A RED LIGHT, WITH ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THEY ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND FLUSHED THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HYUNDAI AS OF NOW. THIS HAPPENED WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWLY MOVING AS INCHING UP TO A STOP SIGN.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVER SINCE SHE OWNED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HALF WAY DOWN THE BRAKE WILL START TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT INSTEAD OF COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL GRADUALLY COME TO A STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE BRAKE DESIGN ON THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN YET THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOLD RETURN LINE AND TRANSMISSION LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE FOR REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. AS A RESULT, CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS NOT RESTRAINED PROPERLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC BETWEEN 10-15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, WITHOUT BEING MOTIONED TO. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER'S SUSTAINING A STRESS LINE FRACTURE TO HIS LEFT WRIST. *JB

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD . DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON, DEALER MUST MAKE REPAIRS. WHEN LIGHT IS ON, AIR BAGS DO NOT FUNCTION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

THE NIGHT I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICAL I HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THIS WAS TO BE FIX BY DEALERSHIP, WELL NOW 8/15/2004 THERE ARE MORE ELEC. PROBLEMS THE FUSES ARE BLOWING AND THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING AS SHOULD BE.ALSO THE TRASMISSION WHEN APPLING THE GAS PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND BETWEEN 40/60 MPH JECKSING SENSATION TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REVIEW THIS LETTER. MARCH OF THIS YEAR I PURCHASED A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. I WAS MOTIVATED TO DO THIS BASED ON MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE, AS A FORMER OWNER, ALONG WITH THE COUPLED KNOWLEDGE OF HYUNDAIS IMPROVED WARRANTEES. IN THE PAST I HAD NO REASON TO BRING A HYUNDAI INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, OTHER THAN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE PROBLEM IM HAVING WITH MY CURRENT VEHICLE IS FOCUSED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN, SPECIFICALLY THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES. INITIALLY I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF BREAKING THE CAR IN, AFTER WHICH POINT THINGS WOULD START TO WORK SMOOTHLY. THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WARMED UP THE SHIFTING, ON OCCASION BECOMES JERKY. ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRANSITIONED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE INITIAL TAKEOFF STUTTERS, AS IF THE CAR IS INTERMITTENTLY LOSING POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE IS UP AND RUNNING IN DRIVE, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. IT ONLY OCCURS FOR THE FIRST 20 YARDS OF INITIAL TAKEOFFS. THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ABOVE ARE INTERMITTENT. KNOWING THAT THE VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER HYUNDAIS WARRANTEE, I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. PRIOR TO THIS, I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE SHOPS MANAGERS AND DESCRIBED MY PROBLEM. HE INDICATED TO ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND HIS REPLY WAS YES. AFTER THE MECHANIC ROAD-TESTED MY VEHICLE THEY CAME TO ME AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I SAID, AFTER I LEAVE HERE ITS GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEMS, REQUIRING A RETURN VISIT. HE REPLIED, YES. I ASKED IF THEY COULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER BOARD. THEY REPLIED THAT THEY COULD NOT JUST THROW PARTS AT MY CAR IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVE TRAIN.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP AND THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSITIONED FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AS IF IT LOST POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UP AND RUNNING, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER. THE CONSUMER ASKED IF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER BOARD COULD BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER REPLIED THAT THEY COULD NOT JUST THROW PARTS INTO THE VEHICLE IN HOPES THAT WOULD MAKE IT RIGHT SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. *JB

WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 4/04 AND EVER SINCE WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, BRAND NEW, IT HAS HAD THE PROBLEM OF HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO OUR "SERVICE DEPARTMENT" NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY SAY THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX IT AS NO CODE REGISTERS ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I AM AMAZED THAT NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING TO FORCE HYUNDAI INTO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. IF NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A SERIOUS LACK OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION THEN IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. HOPEFULLY IT WON'T BE ANYTHING WORSE THAN AN INJURY. THIS VEHICLE NOW HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY DAY. IT WOULD ALSO APPEAR THAT IT IS COMMON PRACTICE FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE "SERVICE DEPT." TO DENY ANY PROBLEM THAT CAN'T BE SEEN EASILY. THIS IS MY SECOND SANTA FE AND WILL DEFINITELY BE THE LAST. *NM

MY WIFE HAD ENTERED A SMALL PARKING LOT AND WAS COMMING UP TO A CURB ABOUT 6" HIGH. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER THE CURB AND INTO A TREE. SHE IS SURE THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE SHAKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE CONSUMER COULD FEEL THE ENGINE SLIPPING. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES CONCERNING THE ENGINE. THE DEALER FOUND THERE IS A COMPONENT THAT IS MISSING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN WHAT THE COMPONENT WAS THAT IS NEEDED. *NM *SC

ON PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE, HYUNDAI SANTE FE, THE CAR HAS HAD TROUBLES. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND PULLING OUT FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE CAR HESITATES 3 TO 4 TIMES BEFORE DRIVING SMOOTHL. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BUCKING OR HESITATING....I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER ATLEAST 5 TIMES SINCE IT'S PURCHASE. THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TOLD THEM SPECIFICALLY HOW TO GET THE CAR TO DO THE PROBLEM HOWEVER THEY DO NOT FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE PARKED POSITION WITH FORCE. (AS IF PULLING INTO A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA OUT OF A PARKING SPOT) IT OCCURS MORE OFFEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, BUT ALSO MAKES THE SAME HESITATION IF THE CAR IS WARM. HOWEVER, NEVER AFTER THE INTIAL ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE PARKED AT STOP LIGHT WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. IT OCCURS WHEN INITIALLY TURNING THE CAR ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT TO DATE, HOWEVER IT COULD IF NOT RESOLVED. IF PULLING OUT INTO A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AND THE CAR DOES NOT ENGAGED AND GET UP TO SPEED, I CAN SEE BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ACCORDINGLY. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED, IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE VACUUM HOSE AND DIRT ON THE ABS SENSOR.

I PURCHASED MY NEW CAR ON 02/09/04 AT BRONX HYUNDAI. IT IS A 4-WHEEL DRIVE 3.5 LTR ENGINE HYUNDAI SANTA FE. UPON DRIVING I FELT A HARD KNOCKING-VIBRATING SOUND WHEN I DRIVE ON LOCAL (DRY) STREETS AND THEN A FEELING THAT THE CAR JUMPS (LUNGE FORWARDS)AFTER I STOP. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ONLY WHEN I DRIVE LOCALLY. THE CAR HAS NEVER DONE THIS ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH IS PART OF MY DAILY COMMUTE. I WASN'T SURE WHY AT FIRST, THE CAR DID THAT AND I THOUGHT IT WAS PART OF THE TRACKING CONTROL SYSTEM(4-WHEEL DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. IN EVERY INCIDENT, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP, BUT IT DOES. I AM AFRAID BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR JUMPS AND IF I GET TOO CLOSE TO SOMEONE IT CAN HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, OR EVEN A PERSON CROSSING. SO, I WAS HAPPY RECEIVE MY RECALL NOTICE STATING THE EXACT PROBLEM I WAS GOING THROUGH I THEN CALLED AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I HOPED THE PROGRAMMING WOULD WORK SINCE MY PROBLEM WAS SIMILAR TO THE RECALL SYMPTOMS. THAT IS WHEN THIS NIGHTMARE BEGAN AND IT WAS ON APRIL 9, 2004. SINCE THEN, THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE BUT THEY SEEM AT A LOSS ALSO. MY CAR WAS PROGRAMMED TWICE AND THEN THE ABS SENSOR REPLACED AND A CHIP ALSO(THIS WAS DONE LAST MONDAY). I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR 5 TIMES AS OF TODAY. MY CAR CONTINUES TO DO THE KNOCKING/GRINDING SOUND AND ON 2 OCCASIONS THE LAST BEING ON MAY 29; THE ABS, TCS AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHTS ON THE INTERIOR CONTROL PANEL HAVE FLICKERED AND STAYED ON AS WELL. (WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY CAR DID THE KNOCKING/VIBRATING NOISE AS WELL.) IT HAS BECOME A DAILY OCCURANCE SO NOW I AM DOCUMENTING ALL OF MY INCIDENTS AND I AM GETTING AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. SO TODAY I GAVE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL CONTACT THE MAIN OFFICE AT HYUNDAI. ALL PARTS AND SERVICE WERE NOT CHARGED AND REPLACED WITH NEW HYUNDAI PARTS.*AK

CAR SHUDDERS 3 TIMES WHEN GO TO DRIVE AFTER CAR HAS BEEN OFF. DEFINITE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ALSO, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE CORRECTLY WHEN TRYING TO PASS AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS. ONLY HAS 7500 MILES, DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON DOING RESEARCH, FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SANTA FE TRANSMISSONS.*AK

DT: THE END OF JANUARY 2004 OR BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2004 WHILE IN THE CAR IT SHOUT OFF AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE CAR JUST STARTED UP BY ITSELF. THEN, IN APRIL 2004 THE CAR DID THIS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. GOT A RECALL 03V030000 NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH STATED IT WOULD STALL IN COLD DAMP WEATHER, TOOK VEHICLE TTO HE DEALER THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. . THEN IN JUNE 2004 WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A SUNSHINE DAY THE CAR DID SAME THING. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY ASSURED CONSUMER THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. EARLY AUGUST THE CAR STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AGAIN, SAID THEY FIXED IT AGAIN. LATE AUGUST, TWO DAYS AFTER THE I GOT THE CAR BACK,K THE CAR STALLED AGAIN.ALSO, SEPT 12, 2004 THE CAR DID THIS AGAIN. *AK

BRAKE FAILURE OF MY 2004 HYUNDAI, SANTA FE. THE CAR HAD 1,940 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I BRAKED, TO STOP BEHIND A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED FOR ANOTHER CAR TURNING LEFT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR ROLLED INTO THE STOPPED CAR. HYUNDAI IS DENYING THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR A MONTH NOW (WITHOUT A RENTAL CAR DUE TO THE FACT THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG) AND THEY TELL ME, TO PURSUE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, WILL TAKE UP TO TWO MONTHS. ONE OF THE THREE DEALER MECHANICS THAT LOOKED AT THE CAR TOLD ME THEY HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE (BRAKE FAILURE, AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG THEN EITHER). AFTER CHECKING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I FIND 4 OTHER BRAKE FAILURE COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE SINCE OCTOBER 8TH OF 2003, WITH HYUNDAI DENYING THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CARS. I BELIEVE THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THIS MANY INCIDENTS IN SUCH A SHORT TIME FRAME(HOW MANY HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR WEBSITE?). *LA

ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND LUNCHED FORWARD. VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A CONCRETE WALL AND PEDESTRIANS. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 3 TIMES, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. *AK *MR