2009 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I COASTED TO A STOP AND PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, TRANSMISSION WAS IN GEAR, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. I RESTARTED IT, HAD POWER, EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL, EXCEPT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES TO MY DESTINATION. THE CAR SAT FOR SIX HOURS AND I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE 65 MILES HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. REPAIR RESULTS: MY HYUNDAI DEALER INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A 'THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR'. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT AND RESET THE ERROR CODES IN THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,700.

FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, FAILS NJ EMISSIONS, DEALER WILL NOT FIX A KNOWN ISSUE!!!! *TR

I HAD MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP, I TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND FINALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE GAS PEDAL CAME UNSTUCK. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND I PULLED OVER. LATER THAT DAY MY SON DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAPPENED TWICE TO HIM WHEN HE WENT TO ACCELERATE HE SAID IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING AND HE SAID HE KEPT HITTING THE BRAKES UNTIL THE CARE WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I DID TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I DID DO A GOOGLE SEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE REPORTED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

FUEL SENDER IS DEFECTIVE, IT IS BROKEN CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE TO FAIL. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN TO MY MODEL CAR, RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. *JS

WE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. HAD TO GET OVER QUICKLY AS THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT DELIVER ANY POWER, OTHER THAN IDLE. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, THEN STARTED THE CAR AND HAD POWER BACK FOR ABOUT 3 MILES. HAPPENED AGAIN AND DID THE SAME FOR ABOUT TEN MILES UNTIL GOT HOME. RECENTLY STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN, SAME CODES COME UP EACH TIME. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS JUST GLITCHES CAUSING CODES TO COME UP AND CAUSE THE ESC TO GO INTO SAFE MODE. SINCE THEN I HAVE SEEN THE EXACT SAME CODES AND NOT A LOT OF CODES, BUT CODES THAT INDICATE AN IGNITION/FUEL/CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AS BAD AS ACCELERATION, BUT IF PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR ON AN ON RAMP, COULD BE DEADLY. HAS NOW HAPPENED SEVEN TIMES. FIRST DATE WAS APRIL 2014, COULD NOT ENTER DATE IN YOUR FORM FOR SOME REASON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING AN EMPTY READING WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,215.

MY 2009 SANTA FE HAS BEEN ACCELERATING DURING STOPPING (AROUND 20-30 MILES) I BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALER AND THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT DID IN FACT SURGE WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THEY DID AN "UPDATE" AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME TELLING ME IF IT DOES IT AGAIN BRING IT BACK. IT NOT ONLY CONTINUES TO DO THIS BUT WHATEVER THEY DID MADE THE TRANSMISSION SWITCH HARD. I'M TAKING IT BACK TODAY. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, GAS GAUGE WENT FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK AGAIN. SINCE THAT DAY, GAUGE MOVES EVERY 5/10 MINUTES, DAILY. HAVE TO SET TRIP MILEAGE AFTER EACH FILL UP. *TR

I HAVE 2009 SANTA FE. THIS HAPPENED FIRST TIME IN FEBRUARY 2014 THAT I WAS FILLING GAS (I ALWAYS DO FULL) AND AS I STARTED LEAVING THE GAS STATION MY FUEL GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY. I WENT BACK TO THE GAS STATION AND ASK THE ATTENDANT THAT THERE IS A MISTAKE, MY TANK IS NOT FULL IT IS EMPTY. BUT I WAS WRONG, BECAUSE HE TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY THE PUMP MACHINE WILL LIE AND HE FILLS 100S OF VEHICLE PER DAY FROM EACH OF HIS MACHINE. JUST TO DOUBLE CHECK, THE NEXT FILLING I USED A DIFFERENT GAS STATION AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW THIS HAS BECOME ROUTINE AND SINCE MY LAST TWO VISIT AT PUMP, EVEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON NOW. I HAVE TO WAIT FEW DAYS AND MILEAGE TO PUT ON THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WILL GO OFF BUT THE FUEL GAUGE WILL STILL SHOW LESS THAN HALF THE TANK. AT THIS MOMENT, I KNOW MY CAR AND CAN PREDICT WITH SOME DEGREE OF CERTAINTY ABOUT THE MILEAGE MY CAR WILL PROVIDE BUT AS THE CAR AGES AND OTHER THINGS IN THE ENGINE AGES, IT WILL BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THE GAS LEVEL. SO I MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE STRANDED ON HIGHWAY OR IN CITY DURING RUSH HOUR. ALSO I FOUND ONLINE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST MY PROBLEM, MANY OF OTHER SANTA FE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. THEREFORE, I THOUGHT I SHOULD ALSO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE HERE. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY NOW. I CHECKED AND THERE HAS BEEN MANY MORE REPORTS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. COMPANY SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AT LITTLE OR NO COST.

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK ON VERY COLD WINTER DAYS (ALL DAY, MULTIPLE DAYS). *TR

THE VEHICLE LOOSES ALL POWER. IT ALSO SURGES AND STALLS. *TR

ENTERED HORSESHOE CASINO PARKING GARAGE AND TURNED INTO PARKING LEVEL. AS I FOLLOWED FORD TAURUS, HYUNDAI ENGINE CHANGED FROM NORMAL SPEED TO A ROARING ACCELERATION IN AN INSTANCE. I COULDN'T BRAKE IT TO A STOP AND IT RAMMED THE REAR END OF THE TAURUS. DAMAGE TO THE SANTE FE WAS LIMITED TO FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE WHILE THE BACK END OF THE TAURUS WAS DRIVEN FORWARD AND TORN UP. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT THE CRUISE MIGHT HAVE GONE ON; BUT, HE DECIDED THE ACCELERATION WAS TOO RAPID FOR THE CRUISE. HE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER TROUBLE. *TR

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN FUEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH I HAD A LEAST 1/2 TANK OF GAS. FILLED UP MY GAS TANK, ALL LIGHTS WERE OUT. WHEN I HAD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TANK AGAIN, THE ENGINE AND FUEL LIGHTS CAME ON. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE 2 FUEL SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $350.00. UPON ONLINE RESEARCHING, I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HYUNDAI NEEDS TO REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE OWNER OF THESE VEHICLES. IN MY CASE, I NEED TO BE REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *JS

DRIVING MY WIFE'S CAR AROUND 40 MPH AND FOR NO REASON THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND I HAD TO LAY ON THE BRAKE BUT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT AGAIN STARTED ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS RACING VERY HIGH I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. TALKED TO HYUNDAI SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. *TR

I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING STRUCTURE. I WAS ALREADY PRESSING THE BRAKE AND JUST BEGAN TO PRESS IT A BIT HARDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING SPACE. JUST AS I GAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL A BIT MORE PRESSURE, MY CAR SPED FORWARD, JUMPING A CEMENT WHEEL STOP IN THE PARKING SPACE, CRASHING ME INTO THE WALL OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE. THE FORCE OF HITTING THE WALL THREW THE CAR BACKWARDS WHERE THE WHEELS GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE WHEEL STOP AND THE WALL. HITTING THE WHEEL STOP THEN SENT MY CAR BACK INTO THE CEMENT WALL; REBOUNDING OFF OF THE WALL THIS SECOND TIME, THE CAR WAS PROPELLED OVER THE WHEEL STOP AND FINALLY STOPPED MOVING.THE CEMENT WALL WAS CRACKED AND VERY PRECARIOUS TO THOSE USING THE SIDEWALKS UNDERNEATH. MY CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. TWO PEOPLE ON STAFF AT THE PARKING STRUCTURE SAW THE ENTIRE THING AND ASKED 'WHAT HAPPENED?" ONE OF THE WITNESSES SAID HE SAW MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON RIGHT BEFORE IT SPED UP AND FLEW INTO THE WALL. CALLED HYUNDAI AND LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY CAR. ALTHOUGH THIS RECALL STATES THAT IT IS TO REPLACE SOME SORT OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, THE LADY AT HYUNDAI SAID THAT THIS TYPE OF ACCELERATION WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THIS 'SWITCH' THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I TOLD HYUNDAI THAT I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL IT IS CHECKED TO FIX ANY PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE BRAKES/ACCELERATION. THEY WERE SO NICE! THEY INVITED ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT ANY DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT INSPECTED - AT MY COST. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE SO UNCONCERNED. ANYWAY, THAT IS SANTA FE TALE OF WOE. WOULD APPRECIATE HELP WITH DEALING WITH HYUNDAI TO GET THIS RESOLVED; OR AT LEAST HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT FOR NO CHARGE. *TR

WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AROUND TOPEKA KANSAS WHEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED, THEN THE ESC, ENGINE AND CHASSIS LIGHTS FLASHED. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE CAR LOST ALL PROPULSION. FORTUNATELY I WAS BY AN OFF-RAMP, BUT COULD OF GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH SUCH A SUDDEN DECELERATION. MANAGED TO GET TO AN AUTOZONE STORE TO CHECK THE FAULT. THE FAULT CAME UP AS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS). MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOPEKA. THEY FIXED IN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, BUT AFTER COMPLETING MY TRIP BACK TO COLORADO NOTICED THE CAR IS LURCHING AGAIN IN LOWER SPEED, IN-TOWN TRAFFIC...VERY DANGEROUS!!! WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO ON MONDAY MORNING!! HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO, TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. GUESS THEY WON'T BE SATISFIED UNTIL THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDS AND SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

AT 32,000 MILE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL SMELLED HOT, BRAKE DUST RESIDUE VISIBLE AND SQUEALING COMING FROM THIS DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR OUTSIDE BRAKE PAD WAS WORN DOWN TO METAL. DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE PAD AND PASSENGER REAR PADS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT WERE FINE WITH HARDLY ANY WEAR ON THEM.. HYUNDAI DEALER SAID IT IS NORMAL FOR REAR DISC PAD TO WEAR THIS UNEVEN AND FOR CALIPER'S TO STICK ON CAUSING THIS. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT IN EITHER DESIGN OR QUALITY OF PARTS AS OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS AT EVEN LOWER MILEAGE. DEALER WANTS YOU TO PAY $60 TO HAVE YOUR DISC BRAKES CLEANED AND ADJUSTED (WHAT IS THERE TO ADJUST?) WHY DO ONLY HYUNDAI SANTA FE BRAKES NEED THIS UNHEARD OF SERVICE? WHY IS IT ONLY OCCURRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR ME AND OTHER OWNERS? DISC BRAKES SHOULD NOT ACT THIS WAY.

REAR BRAKE CALIBER LOCKED UP, BRAKES OVERHEATED. HAD TO HAVE BOTH CALIBERS REPLACE. *TR

FUEL SENSOR FAILED AND REGISTERED EMPTY TANK WITH LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED. SINCE THEN THE FUEL GAUGE HAS NOT OPERATED CORRECTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE REMAINS LIT. FAULT HAS BEEN TRACED TO FUEL TANK SENSOR WHICH REQUIRES REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT. *TR

WHEN ENTERING AN UP-RAMP TO A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY AT SLOW SPEED, LESS THAN 30 MPH, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED AND POWER WAS LOST TO STEERING AND BRAKES. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART, BUT WERE JUST LUCKY THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON A CURVE AT HIGH SPEED OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE SLOWING DOWN, APPLYING BRAKES TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY INTO THE CLOVERLEAF OFF RAMP, STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND I WAS FORCED TO CONTINUE IN THE CURRENT DIRECTION OFF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASS. UPON STOPPING NOTICED DASH LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS HEADED INTO A GRASSY AREA AND NOT INTO A WALL AS I COULDN'T STEER IN ANY OTHER DIRECTION FROM WHEN I LOST POWER. HYUNDAI FOUND NO ERROR CODES AND COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR PAGES OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH HYUNDAI SANTA FE: 15 PAGES OF RELATED ISSUES - HTTP://WWW.HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM/187-CM-2007-2012-SANTA-FE/133580-2011-SANTA-FE-STALL-WHILE-DRIVING-13.HTML ANOTHER - HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/HYUNDAI/SANTAFE/ENGINE-STALL-PROBLEMS.PHP. *TR

I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT DOING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THE SEATBELT FAILED TO LOCK AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CAR HAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE UNDERBODY, FRONT-END, THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DASH, THE MOTOR MOUNTS, ENGINE AND OTHER DAMAGES ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *TR

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY FORTY (40) MILES PER HOUR, IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT-OFF. I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION TO "OFF" AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, WHEN I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION TO "OFF" AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE STARTED IMMEDIATELY, ON BOTH OCCASIONS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO PLANET HYUNDAI IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, ON AUGUST 7, 2013. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR SYSTEMS CHECK AND COULD NOT PRODUCE THE SAME ENGINE SHUT-OFF EVENT, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING I HEARD A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING NOISE. UNSURE OF WHAT THE NOISE WAS, I TOOK THE SANTA FE TO MY MECHANIC. HE CHECKED THE BRAKES AND SHOWED ME THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE HOUSING DID NOT MOVE AS FREELY AS THE OTHERS. HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO NOT DRIVE MORE THAN ABOUT 2 HOURS AT A TIME BECAUSE THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HEATING UP AND CATCHING FIRE. SINCE THE TIRE IS RIGHT BY THE GAS TANK, THAT TELLS ME THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. ANY FIRE NEAR GASOLINE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO... I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON LINE AND FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL GENERATING A SCREECHING NOISE AND A BURNING SMELL. CHECKED TIRE AND BOTH THE TIRE AND WHEEL RIM WERE RED HOT. TOOK TO HYUNDAI DEALER. SAID CALIPERS NOT SLIDING PROPERLY. THEY CLAIM ON SANTA FE'S YOU HAVE TO BRING THEM IN FOR SERVICE (THE CALIPERS) EVERY 10K OR SO, AS THE REAR CALIPERS HAVE A TENDENCY TO FREEZE. I CHECKED THE INTERNET, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON HYUNDAI SANTA FE OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ALSO AN ARTICLE IN THIS WEEK'S HARTFORD COURANT AUTO SECTION OF A CONSUMER WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. IF I HAD NOT PULLED THE CAR OVER AND CHECKED THIS OUT THOROUGHLY, I COULD HAVE HAD A BLOWOUT AS THE HOT TIRE WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN SANTA FE CALIPERS. A SAFETY RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK AND IN ORDER TO RELEASE IT, THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SHUT DOWN. THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL FUNCTIONS (I.E. ACCELERATION,STEERING, ETC) THE INCIDENT WAS UNDETECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN SINCE THE INITIAL MALFUNCTION. *TR

UPON ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE TOOK OFF AND THE GAS PADDLE GOT STUCK FOR 15 - 20 SECONDS EVEN THOUGH IT FELT LIKE A LIFE TIME. I STUMPED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND TRIED TO PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. THE RPM ON MY CAR WAS REGISTERED AT 6-7 AND THE ENGINE WAS VERY LOUD. I GOT THE CAR TO STOP BY PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. I CALLED THE NEAREST DEALER TO MY HOME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SO TO THEM THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. TO ME AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS THIS EXPERIENCE IS A NIGHTMARE AND THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE 2002 I BOUGHT 5 HYUNDAI CARS (2002 SONATA, 2003 SANTA FE (DAUGHTER IN LAW DRIVES), 2004 SANTA FE (SON DRIVES), 2004 SANTA FE (DAUGHTER DRIVES) AND MY CAR 2009 SANTA FE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MY MULTIPLE PURCHASES I LOVED DRIVING AND OWNING HYUNDAI SANTA FE'S. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE DIED! I AM EVEN MORE UPSET THAT HYUNDAI WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND MAKE EXCUSES SO THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE $$$ MUST BE WORTH MORE THAN PEOPLES LIVES. THE HYUNDAI DEALER IN NORTH EAST PHILADELPHIA EVEN HAD THE NERVE TO BLAME ME BECAUSE HE SAID NOT REPLICATE THE INCIDENT AND IT WAS NOT IN THE CARS COMPUTER. SHAME ON YOU HYUNDAI, SHAME ON YOU DEALERS. THIS IS THE LAST HYUNDAI THAT I WILL EVER OWN, I WILL NO LONGER RECOMMEND ANY OF YOUR CARS TO ANYONE BUT I WILL SHARE MY STORY WITH THEM. YOU LOST A CUSTOMER AND I WILL JOIN ANY CLASS ACTION SUIT AND I WILL CALL THE TV STATIONS TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK THAT ANYONE SHOULD DIE BEFORE YOU FIX THE PROBLEM - WHAT ABOUT YOU HYUNDAI? PEOPLES LIVES OR $$$$$. I AM PLANNING ON REPLACING THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND GETTING RID FOR THE CAR. I DO NOT WANT ANOTHER NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN, A GRINDING SOUND WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS TRYING TO FIX AN ISSUE WHERE I RANDOMLY CANNOT PUT FUEL IN THE CAR. THE NOZZLES CLICK OFF AS IF THE TANK IS FULL, USUALLY AFTER PUMPING A FEW GALLONS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES AND THEY'RE NOT SURE WHY. SOMETIMES IT WORKS FINE; SOMETIMES PUMPING GAS SLOWLY HELPS AND I'M ABLE TO FILL UP; SOMETIMES NOTHING I DO WORKS AND I HAVE TO DRIVE OFF AND TRY AGAIN ANOTHER DAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ONLY COME ON ONCE, WITH THE FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT IN 2013. SINCE THEN, THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS, JUST THE INABILITY TO PUMP GAS. I'VE TRACKED MILEAGE TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWING AS BEING EMPTIER THAN IT REALLY IS. UNLESS THIS SUV IS GETTING 60+ MPG, IT'S NOT THE GAUGE. I GENERALLY START ATTEMPTING TO FILL UP WHEN I GET DOWN TO HALF A TANK OF GAS, BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I'LL BE ABLE TO PUT INTO THE VEHICLE AT A TIME.

WHEN I WENT TO START VEHICLE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAME ON BUT DID NOT TURN THE STARTER,THIS HAPPENED MAYBE TWICE LAST YEAR.SO FAR THIS YEAR IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMES ON WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START BUT NOTHING HAPPENS,I FINALLY FOUND OUT IF I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TAKE THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK AND WORK IT THRU ALL GEARS THEN SHOVE IT BACK TO PARK IT WILL START.WE TRAVEL UP TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FROM HOME EVER YEAR AND WOULD HATE TO GET STRANDED SOME WHERE ALONG THE ROAD. *TR

I WAS ON A RETURN TRIP OF 5 HOURS OR SO EACH WAY WHICH I TOOK AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND NOTICED A VERY PRONOUNCED DROP IN POWER AND ACCELERATION CAPABILITY QUITE SUDDENLY. IT WAS AS IF SOME WIRING OR HOSE HAD COME LOOSE UNDER THE HOOD. A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHEN THE PROBLEM HAD NOT CHANGED AT ALL IN OVER 3000 MILES OF DAY-TO-DAY DRIVING, INCLUDING A DAILY STINT (TO WORK) OF MAYBE 12 MILES EACH WAY ON THE FREEWAY WHICH ENTAILS ACCELERATING UP THE ON-RAMP INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, I STILL COULD FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN ACCELERATION AND RESPONSE TIME WHILE ACCELERATING. WHEN I TOOK THE SANTA FE IN FOR A NORMAL OIL CHANGE, I REPORTED TO THE DEALER THESE SYMPTOMS, AND ASKED TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY CHANGED THE OIL, AND CHECKED OUT THE COMPUTER READOUTS FOR THE VEHICLE, AND SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS DETECTED BY THE COMPUTER AT THAT TIME, BUT WHEN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR ON THE VEHICLE OCCURRED, IT WAS MOST OFTEN DUE TO THE FUEL FILTER BEING ALL CLOGGED UP, ALTHOUGH THAT STILL MIGHT NOT BE THE PROBLEM. THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $270 TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER, AND AFTER I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY COUPON DISCOUNT FOR THIS SERVICE EVER THRU THEIR DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME A COUPON BOOK FOR A FLAT RATE OFF DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH WAS BEING PAID FOR. (IT AMOUNTED TO MAYBE $25 OFF THIS SERVICE.) THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME THAT DAY TO CHANGE IT OUT, SO I DECIDED TO CHECK OUT BOTH WHETHER THERE HAD BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS, SERVICE REPORTS, OR RECALLS ABOUT THIS FUEL FILTER, AND THAT IS WHAT LED ME HERE TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT BOTH THE COST OF THIS REPLACEMENT AND THE POOR PROGNOSIS OF IT SOLVING THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO CHECK WITH A REPAIR PLACE I FEEL CONFIDENT IN ABOUT THEIR COST TO DO THIS REPLACEMENT. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE MUCH LESS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE SHOES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD HAVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT BUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V354000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,900.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER, THE CALIPERS AND BRACKETS CORRODED AND JAMMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME. ABOUT 10 MIN FROM A COLD START, I TURNED ONTO THE 210 FWY. THERE WAS A 270 DEGREE DOWNHILL TURN (A STEEP CURVE) SO I HAD THE BRAKES ON WHILE DOING 15 MPH. HALF WAY INTO THE TURN, I SUDDENLY LOST BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL FROZE. WITH SOME EFFORT, I MANAGED TO TURN THE STEERING AND STOP THE CAR. THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. LATER I SENT THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE EVENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO ACCELERATE AROUND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE GAS PEDDLE WAS STUCK FULL OPEN EVEN AFTER LETTING OFF THE GAS. I MADE SURE IT WAS NOT THE CARPET HOLDING THE PEDDLE DOWN. THE ENGINE RPM'S WAS REVVING VERY HIGH ALSO AS THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15-20 SECONDS THE PEDDLE RELEASED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS SEP. 2012 AND I'VE HAD A SECOND OCCURRENCE ON MARCH 2013. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED. THE POLICE WERE PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEMATOMA AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

REAR BRAKE PADS ARE STICKING DUE TO KNOWN ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI. PARTS ARE CORRODED CAUSING REAR PADS TO RIDE AGAINST ROTORS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND HEAT WHEEL/TIRES ARE RUNNING EXCESSIVELY HOT AND PADS ARE WEARING OUT WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. DEALER TOLD CUSTOMER OF KIT TO REPLACE PROBLEM BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSORS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT MAY NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

RIGHT REAR BREAK STARTED TO SQUEAL WHEN APPLIED FOR SLOW DOWN TO STOP. WHEN STARTING TO PROCEED IT WILL DRAG FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET AND STOP. AGAIN WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED, SAME THING STARTED OVER. WHILE CHECKING ON THE COMPUTER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL BRING BACK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND SEE WHAT THERE BULL[XXX] ANSWER WILL BE. I WILL ALSO BE BRINGING THIS LETTER, AS I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ANY RECALL NOTICES OF THIS. SUV HAS ONLY 24,600 MILES. ALSO JUST A ADDED COMPLAINT THE TIRES HAVE WORN DOWN ON INSIDE EDGE AS VEHICLE IS FOR LONG STRAIGHT TRIPS MOSTLY AND HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED EVERY 5,000 MILES. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED TWICE BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,004.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ESC LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAR LOST POWER. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES, CAR RESTARTED AND RETAINED POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THIS YEAR, THE CAR HAS DUPLICATED THE SAME PROBLEM 4 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH, AND WHEN FOOT ON BRAKE IN DRIVE, THE CAR SURGES SO BADLY THAT AT TIMES I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD BUMPED THE REAR OF CAR. I TOOK TO DEALER TODAY AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WAS VERY MUCH A SAFETY CONCERN , WOULD OFTEN HAPPEN THIS YEAR WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLOWING, SO THAT MAKING A LEFT TURN PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE SENSOR SEEMS TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. *TR

GAS GAGE INDICATION SHOWS EMPTY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL OR EMPTY. THIS HAPPENED WITH OUR 2008 SANTA FE TOO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL HAD BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE HER FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND LIFT THE PEDAL OFF OF THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

I MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY DRIVEWAY USING LIGHT ACCELERATION (12 MPH) TO GENTLY OVERCOME THE UPWARD SLOPE AS I DO NORMALLY. THE CAR RESPONDED WELL. AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE (THE LAST 5-7 FEET), I APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE THE ACCELERATOR TO EASE INTO MY SPACE AND THE CAR SURGED. DURING THE SURGE, I APPLIED AS MUCH FORCE AS I COULD SLAMMING BOTH FEET (ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER) ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR RESPONDED TOO LATE. I HAD COLLIDED WITH THE GARAGE WALL. THERE WAS FRONT-END AND DRY-WALL DAMAGE. AFTER REVIEWING SOME REVIEWS FOR MY MODEL CAR ON EDMUNDS.COM, I REALIZED THE UNCONTROLLABLE SURGE IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS MODEL SUV, WHICH DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE COMPANY OR DEALERS. THEREFORE, I HAVE DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT HYUNDAI WILL INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO REMEDY THESE SURGES AND KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFE. *TR

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUT TO EAT AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT. WE WERE SLOWING DOWN UPON ENTERING THE PARKING LOT. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND WE LUNGED FORWARD, LIKE SOMEONE HAD HIT US FROM BEHIND. MY WIFE HAD TOLD ME THIS HAD HAPPENED TO HER A FEW OTHER TIMES WHERE SHE THOUGHT SHE HIT SOMEONE OR THEY HAD RUN INTO HER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. WE THEN SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE WONDERFUL CARS! WE SPOKE WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT HYUNDAI AND TOLD THEM OF OUR CONCERN WITH THE CAR AND WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR. THE WOMAN THEN TOLD MY WIFE TO TRADE THE CAR IF SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE. MY WIFE SAID SO YOU WANT ME TO GET RID OF A CAR AND HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PURCHASE THE CAR WHEN THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. HER REPLY WAS, "YES I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO." IT BLOWS MY MIND TO THINK THAT SOMEONE WOULD RATHER PUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN DANGER THAN TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS WIDELY KNOWN. *TR

OUR SUNROOF BURST WHILE DRIVING ON A CLEAR, SUNNY DAY. OUR SPEED WAS ABOUT 40MPH, THE SHADE ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CLOSED AS WAS THE SUNROOF. WE HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND WHEN WE SLID THE INTERIOR SHADE OPEN A SHOWER OF GLASS FELL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.