NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
DRIVING ON HWY 71 APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES SOUTH OF ALEXANDRIA, LA WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED AND THE INTERIOR SUNROOF LINER CLOSED WHEN I HEARD A LOUD "EXPLOSION" SIMILAR TO THE SOUND OF A SHOTGUN BEING FIRED. THERE WAS ONLY ONE VEHICLE NEAR ME, APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AHEAD OF ME. I LOOKED TO SEE IF THE SIDE WINDOW HAD BEEN SHOT OUT AND TO MAKE SURE MY SON, WHO WAS SITTING IN THE BACK, WAS OK. I THEN COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF WIND COMING FROM ABOVE ME. I OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER AND DISCOVERED A LARGE HOLE IN THE FORWARD PART OF THE SUNROOF, WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE FORWARD RETRACTABLE SUNROOF SHATTERED. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE SUNROOF RELEASED UPWARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY THIS IS THE RESULT OF SOMETHING STRIKING THE SUNROOF, AND THAT THEY HAVE "NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE". I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING INCLUDING A RECENT RECALL OF HYUNDAI VELOSTERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO CRUGEN PREMIUM (NA) TIRES, SIZE: P235/55/R19 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS DEVELOPING IN ALL IN TIRES ALONG THE TREAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900. ...UPDATED 04/15/15 *BF
HEADLIGHTS ARE INEFFECTIVE . LIGHTS NOW ONLY LIGHT APPROX 15 FEET IN FRONT OF CAR DOES NOT LIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER REALIGN HEAD LIGHTS AT LEAST FOUR TIMES NO EFFECT. I HAVE REPLACE TOE BULBS WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY BULB AVAILABLE LED AND HALOGENS 55WATTS TO 100WATTS NO EFFECTIVE CHANGE. FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS THEY WERE GREAT STREET SIGNS WERE CLEARLY SHOWN NOW LANE MARKERS SPEED SIGNS ARE ONLY VISIBLE AS YOU PASS THEM. LIGHT DOES APPEAR TO PASS THRU THE LENSES NOW. I HAVE TALK TO OTHER DRIVERS WITH SIMILAR CARS THEY ARE ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE HEADLIGHT ARE FROM EARLIER MODELS 2013 AND EARLIER WITH USED H11B LIGHTS NO AUTO PARTS STORES SHOW H11B FOR 2014 SANTA FE CATALOGS SHOW H11 BULB FOR THIS CAR. I BELIEVE THE LENS HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT LIGHT BARELY PASSES THRU. DRIVING IN RAIN OR FOG IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE CLEARLY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT RATHER A DESIGN ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE KEY FOB IS DESIGNED SUCH THAT A VERY SLIGHT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON A BUTTON CAN REMOVE THE ENTIRE ELECTRONIC PORTION OF THE KEY INADVERTENTLY. IF THIS IS DONE ON ACCIDENT AND THE ELECTRONIC PORTION OF THE KEY CANNOT BE FOUND THEN THE CAR WILL NOT START. CONTRARY TO MOST KEY FOB DESIGNS, WHERE THE METAL KEY (VALET) PORTION FLIPS OUT FROM THE BODY OR HAS TO BE REMOVED USING SOME FORCE, THE KEY FOB ON THE NEW SANTA FE WILL DETACH WITHOUT ALMOST ANY FORCE. I HAVE ALREADY LOST A FOB AT A COST OF $280 TO ME AND THE KEY HAS BECOME DETACHED MULTIPLE TIMES IN POCKETS AND AROUND THE HOUSE WITHOUT HARDLY ANY FORCE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT SEEMS HYUNDAI DESIGNED THIS PART FOR THE SOLE GOAL OF INCREASING REPLACEMENT KEY FOB SALES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS PEELING AND FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I PULLED UP ON THE HANDLE TO ADJUST THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. WHEN I RAISED THE LEVER, IT BROKE OFF IN MY HAND AND THE SEAT BACK WENT FLYING BACKWARD. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED/KILLED IN A COLLISION, AS I WAS NO LONGER SECURED BY THE SEAT BELT AND UNABLE TO SEE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE (SEAT LAID COMPLETELY BACK). *TR
I LIVE AND WORK IN THE CITY AND COUNTY, TUCSON, ARIZONA. IN THE COUNTY THERE ARE GENERALLY NO STREET LIGHTS AT ROAD INTERSECTIONS. MY NEW CAR (2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE) DOES NOT HAVE ANY RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE SIDE THAT PROVIDE SIDE ILLUMINATION AT NIGHT. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHEN MAKING RIGHT AND LEFT HAND TURNS ONTO STREETS/ROADS WITHOUT STREET LIGHTS WHERE MY CAR'S LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD I AM TURNING ONTO UNTIL I COMPLETELY MAKE THE TURN. IN SEVERAL INSTANCES AS I MADE THE TURN I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND I OVER SHOT THE TURN AND DROVE WELL ONTO THE BERM AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AND STEER BACK ONTO THE ROAD OR I TURNED TOO SOON. ANOTHER INSTANCE WAS WHEN I WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE BOTTOM. LUCKILY THESE WERE NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVING VEHICLE DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY/DEATH. THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN SEE THE SIDE STREET, ROAD OR DRIVEWAY I AM TURNING ONTO IS TO TURN ON MY BRIGHT LIGHTS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS VERY UPSETTING TO ONCOMING DRIVERS AND A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. IN ADDITION, AT NIGHT WHEN STOPPED OR DRIVING STRAIGHT THERE IS A BLACK VOID APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION I PRACTICALLY RAN OVER AN OBSTACLE SINCE IT WAS TOO DARK TO SEE IT. I TOOK THE SUV TO MY HYUNDAI DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO USE THE FOG LAMPS ALL THE TIME AT NIGHT. THIS ADDRESSES THE BLACK VOID IN FRONT OF THE CAR. IT DOES NOT SOLVE THE RIGHT/LEFT TURN ROAD LIGHTING ISSUE UNLESS I USED MY HIGH BEAMS TO EXECUTE THE TURN. THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT BY OTHER OWNERS. I ASKED IF THEY WOULD CONTACT THE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY FIXES TO THIS PROBLEM. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT HAD A REPLY. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS HEADLAMP DESIGN DEFECT SINCE IT PUTS MY PASSENGERS, OTHER DRIVERS, AND MYSELF AT RISK. *TR
BLIND SPOT DETECTION STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING AND THE DRIVER SCREEN SAID BSD CANCELED. I PARKED THE CAR STOP THE ENGINE AND AFTER RESTARTING THE BSD STARTED TO WORKING AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED OUT OF PARK POSITION AND ROLLED OVER THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED BROKEN RIBS AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN PARKED. IT HAD ALWAYS HAD A HAZE WHEN THE WIPERS WERE USED THAT NEVER CLEARED. THE DEALER TRIED NEW BLADES AND VARIOUS WINDOW TREATMENTS. BUT NOTHING EVER WORKED. ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE FAULTY MANUFACTURED GLASS. THE REAR WINDOW CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL CRACK ALSO. *TR
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE CLOSED SUNROOF BLEW OUT WITH A LARGE BANG. NO IMPACT WITH ANY OBJECT. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SHOWERED WITH BROKEN GLASS. CAR PURCHASED NEW ONLY TWO MONTHS AGO. *TR
VEHICLE WANDERS RIGHT AND LEFT AT 55 MPH AND ABOVE. WILL NOT MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER HAS BEEN CALLED IN AND HAS DRIVEN IT. ALSO HAVE TAKEN OUT A CASE #. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT FINE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER STATES IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE ON THE FREEWAY. HYUNDAI IS NO LONGER WILLING TO WORK ON IT. .. .UPDATED 07/21/15 *BF
2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT, LESS THEN 12,000 MILES PURCHASED NEW 5/10/14. AT LESS THEN 2000 MILES DISCOVERED NO COOLANT IN RESERVOIR. 6 WEEKS AFTER DELIVERY BACK UP CAMERA REPLACED. ON 10/18/2014 WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE EXTREME LOUD NOISE IN FRONT OF HOOD ON DRIVER SIDE, NAVIGATION SYSTEM GOES BLACK SIMULTANEOUSLY. COCHRAN ADVISED SAFE TO DRIVE CANNOT SERVICE CAR UNTIL 10/29/2014. SATURDAY 10/25/2014 WHILE IN PARK WITH ENGINE OFF AND NO ONE IN AUTO IT ROLLS BACK CAUSING OVER 6000.00 IN DAMAGES. AFTER 15 MONTHS, HYUNDAI EXPERT MECHANICS INSIST AUTO IS MECHANICALLY SAFE BUT CANNOT EXPLAIN THE LOUD NOISE THIS IS THE SECOND FILING ON THIS CAR.
2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT, LESS THEN 12,000 MILES PURCHASED NEW 5/10/14. AT LESS THEN 2000 MILES DISCOVERED NO COOLANT IN RESERVOIR. 6 WEEKS AFTER DELIVERY BACK UP CAMERA REPLACED. ON 10/18/2014 WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE EXTREME LOUD NOISE IN FRONT OF HOOD ON DRIVER SIDE, NAVIGATION SYSTEM GOES BLACK SIMULTANEOUSLY. COCHRAN ADVISED SAFE TO DRIVE CANNOT SERVICE CAR UNTIL 10/29/2014. SATURDAY 10/25/2014 WHILE IN PARK WITH ENGINE OFF AND NO ONE IN AUTO IT ROLLS BACK CAUSING OVER 6000.00 IN DAMAGES. AFTER 15 MONTHS, HYUNDAI EXPERT MECHANICS INSIST AUTO IS MECHANICALLY SAFE BUT CANNOT EXPLAIN THE LOUD NOISE THIS IS THE SECOND FILING ON THIS CAR.
ABOUT 4 PM ON OCT 6, 2014, I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON ROUTE 101S TOWARD YARMOUTH, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA AT MILE MARKER 16. IT IS A 2 LANE RESTRICTED ACCESS HIGHWAY. THERE WERE 2 PEOPLE IN THE FRONT SEATS, ONE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE ROW, PASSENGER SIDE. THE DAY WAS PARTLY SUNNY, MID 60S, LITTLE WIND. MY SUNROOF WAS TILTED OPEN AND THE LINER WAS OPEN HALFWAY TO EXPOSE THE SUN ROOF OPENING. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD WAS 100KM/HR, AND THAT WAS MY SPEED. A TRACTOR TRAILER PASSED ME GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, PROBABLY AT 100 KM/HR OR A LITTLE MORE. JUST AS THE TRUCK DISAPPEARED IN MY BLIND SPOT THERE WAS A HUGE EXPLOSION. IT SOUNDED LIKE A CANON WENT OFF JUST ABOVE ME. I LOOKED UP AND SAW A HUGE HOLE IN THE SUNROOF AND THERE WAS GLASS ALL OVER ME, MY PASSENGERS, AND THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN IT WAS SAFE. I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE CAR, NOR DID WE AND 3 ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE FIND ANY SIGN OF ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE AFTER SEARCHING BOTH INSIDE THE CAR AND ALONG THE ROADWAY. ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE SUN ROOF WAS GONE, SHATTERED INTO BITS THROUGHOUT THE FRONT, MIDDLE AND EVEN SOME INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE OUTSIDE PART OF THE SUN ROOF THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED WAS ALSO ENTIRELY SHATTERED. I PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO A HYUNDAI DEALER WHO TOOK PICTURES TO DOCUMENT THE DAMAGE. A WARRANTY REPAIR WAS AUTHORIZED. AFTER INSPECTION AND CLEANING, THE SUN ROOF AND LINER OPERATED CORRECTLY, WITH DAMAGE LIMITED TO THE GLASS PORTION OF THE SUNROOF. NO OTHER ROOF DAMAGE WAS NOTED. MY CONCERNS ARE THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED, COULDN'T IT HAPPEN AGAIN? WHAT IS BEING DONE TO INVESTIGATE AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM THAT RUNS ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS, MANY MAKES AND MODELS OF CARS? *TR
ABOUT 4 PM ON OCT 6, 2014, I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON ROUTE 101S TOWARD YARMOUTH, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA AT MILE MARKER 16. IT IS A 2 LANE RESTRICTED ACCESS HIGHWAY. THERE WERE 2 PEOPLE IN THE FRONT SEATS, ONE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE ROW, PASSENGER SIDE. THE DAY WAS PARTLY SUNNY, MID 60S, LITTLE WIND. MY SUNROOF WAS TILTED OPEN AND THE LINER WAS OPEN HALFWAY TO EXPOSE THE SUN ROOF OPENING. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD WAS 100KM/HR, AND THAT WAS MY SPEED. A TRACTOR TRAILER PASSED ME GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, PROBABLY AT 100 KM/HR OR A LITTLE MORE. JUST AS THE TRUCK DISAPPEARED IN MY BLIND SPOT THERE WAS A HUGE EXPLOSION. IT SOUNDED LIKE A CANON WENT OFF JUST ABOVE ME. I LOOKED UP AND SAW A HUGE HOLE IN THE SUNROOF AND THERE WAS GLASS ALL OVER ME, MY PASSENGERS, AND THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN IT WAS SAFE. I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE CAR, NOR DID WE AND 3 ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE FIND ANY SIGN OF ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE AFTER SEARCHING BOTH INSIDE THE CAR AND ALONG THE ROADWAY. ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE SUN ROOF WAS GONE, SHATTERED INTO BITS THROUGHOUT THE FRONT, MIDDLE AND EVEN SOME INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE OUTSIDE PART OF THE SUN ROOF THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED WAS ALSO ENTIRELY SHATTERED. I PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO A HYUNDAI DEALER WHO TOOK PICTURES TO DOCUMENT THE DAMAGE. A WARRANTY REPAIR WAS AUTHORIZED. AFTER INSPECTION AND CLEANING, THE SUN ROOF AND LINER OPERATED CORRECTLY, WITH DAMAGE LIMITED TO THE GLASS PORTION OF THE SUNROOF. NO OTHER ROOF DAMAGE WAS NOTED. MY CONCERNS ARE THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED, COULDN'T IT HAPPEN AGAIN? WHAT IS BEING DONE TO INVESTIGATE AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM THAT RUNS ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS, MANY MAKES AND MODELS OF CARS? *TR
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF AROUND 65+ MPH, THE VEHICLE REQUIRES CONSTANT, BUT VERY SLIGHT, STEERING CORRECTIONS WHERE THE SLIGHTEST LAPSE IN ATTENTION MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE LEAVING ITS LANE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A CRASH. ODDLY, THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON SMOOTH, STRAIGHT, LEVEL HIGHWAYS WITHOUT WIND OR OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY THAT COULD AFFECT THE TRACKING OF THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE (NEG. OR 0 DEG TOE) OR AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM ISSUE (TORQUE SENSOR TOO COARSE, DRIVE MOTOR TOO AGGRESSIVE, OR IMPROPER GAIN (I.E. SYSTEM RESPONDS TOO LATE TO INPUT, THEN OVER RESPONDS WHEN IT DOES RESPOND))...THOUGH THESE ARE EDUCATED GUESSES. MY FIRST DEALERS REFUSED TO CHECK THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THEY "HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO CONFIRM THE ISSUE," AND "THEY ARE NOT ALLOW TO DRIVE OVER 65 MPH." EVEN IF THEY WERE ABLE TO DRIVE ABOVE 65 MPH, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IT ON THE RIGHT TYPE OF HIGHWAY AND UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS FOR THE ISSUE TO SHOW ITSELF, AND I DOUBT MANY DEALERS WILL GO THROUGH SUCH AN EFFORT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE 2013 MODELS AND, TO A LESSER DEGREE, WITH THE 2014 MODELS. PLEASE SEE: HTTP://WWW.HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM/DM-2013-SANTA-FE/152283-2013-SANTA-FE-SPORT-STEERING-ISSUES-33.HTML NOTE THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH AN ALIGNMENT (POINTING TO THE EPS HAVING AN ISSUE). THE SAME COMPLAINTS ALSO APPEAR WITH THE HYUNDAI SONATA. *TR
PANORAMIC SUNROOF, THE SECTION OF GLASS THAT OPENS, EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THERE WERE NO CARS WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF ME, AND NO OVERHEAD BRIDGES, SO NOTHING HIT THE ROOF, IT JUST EXPLODED. IN FACT, LOOKING FROM THE EXTERIOR, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE GLASS BLEW OUTWARD, BECAUSE THE PERIMETER OF THE WHOLE IS CONVEX FACING OUTWARD, AND MOST ALL OF THE GLASS, INCLUDING THE WIND GUARD WERE BLOWN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE UPHOLSTERY LINER WAS RIPPED AS WELL. SO THANKFUL THAT I WAS BY MYSELF, AND THAT MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND WIFE WERE NOT IN THE CAR. IN MY MIND, THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. COULD YOU IMAGINE IF A WINDSHIELD WERE TO DO THIS?? YOU NEVER HEAR THAT HAPPENING, SO THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY CUTTING CORNERS ON THESE SUNROOF PANELS. HYUNDAI IS REPAIRING IT FOR FREE, BUT I WILL ALWAYS BE PARANOID ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR
THE CAR FEELS VERY UNSTABLE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT WONDERS ACROSS THE ROAD AND I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO CORRECT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I TRADED IN MY 2011 SANTA FE LIMITED AND THE STEERING WAS EXCELLENT ON MY OLD CAR. SO I AM VERY UNHAPPY AND DON'T FEEL VERY SAFE DRIVING MY NEW 2014 SANTA FE SPORT. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FEELING OF IT SWAYING AS REPORTED BY OTHERS TOO. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THESE SAME ISSUES AND THEY NEED TO CORRECT THESE UNSAFE ISSUES. THE BLIND SPOT ON THE RIGHT REAR IS PRETTY BAD TOO. *TR
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE TENDS TO WANDER AND REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTIONS TO KEEP IT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE EVEN ON A STRAIGHT LEVEL ROAD WITH NO WIND, AND WILL SOMETIMES VEER OFF QUICKLY IN EITHER DIRECTION, LEAVING ITS LANE, FOR NO APPARENT REASON.THIS CAN BE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE--ESPECIALLY A TRUCK. WHEN DRIVING FOR A LONG DISTANCE, IT IS ALSO VERY TIRING TO CONSTANTLY HAVE TO BE "STEERING" THE VEHICLE ALL DAY LONG. MY DESCRIPTION OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS THAT, "IT IS LIKE HERDING A CAT DOWN THE HIGHWAY.". I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY DEALER TWICE: THE FIRST TIME THEY CHECKED ALIGNMENT (NOTHING FOUND), THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL KUHMO TIRES WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES FROM A 2015 SANTA FE (THIS MADE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT, AND MADE THE VEHICLE DRIVABLE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS). I THEN WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER (THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, BUT DID SUGGEST INCREASING THE TIRE PRESSURE TO 40 PSI). I THEN CONTACTED HYUNDAI CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY SUGGESTIONS/RECALL/ETC. & ALTHOUGH THEY WERE VERY PLEASANT TO TALK WITH, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH IT WILL COST ME ALMOST $10,000 TO MAKE A CHANGE; BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE DECIDED TO SELL THE VEHICLE, AS I FEEL THAT IT IS TOO UNSAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. (I ALSO HAVE A 2008 SANTA FE, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW, AND WHICH HAS NEVER HAD ANY KIND OF STEERING/HANDLING ISSUE.). *TR
VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 55+ MPH. VEHICLE HAS 3 STEERING MODES (COMFORT, NORMAL & SPORT) AND REGARDLESS OF WHICH ONE, THE VEHICLE REQUIRES CONSTANT COURSE CORRECTION. AT FIRST I THOUGHT CROSS WINDS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ISSUE AND IT IS NOT. CROSS WINDS WILL ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORSE. I'VE CONTACT THE DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. I HAVE AN INFANT CHILD AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN AS THIS VEHICLE SHOWS SIGNS TO BE UNSTABLE AND CAUSES FATIGUE. *TR
CAR WONDERS WHEN TRAVELING ON FREEWAY GOING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. CORRECTING FOR THIS DARTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE SEEMS SCARY AT THESE SPEEDS. CHANGING THE DRIVING MODE SELECTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T CHANGE THE PROBLEM. I STILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME WONDERING AND DARTING THAT I AM CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CORRECT. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TIRES BUT THEY ARE NEW AND NO SIGNS OF UNUSUAL WEAR. ACTS LIKE A WORN BALL JOINT OR TIE ROD OR THE NEED FOR AN ALIGNMENT. *TR
STEERING ISSUE ON HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2014. VEHICLE WANDERS BACK AND FORTH ACROSS DRIVING LANE AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE ON A STRAIGHT LINE. *TR
FAILURE TO ACCELERATE FROM A FULL STOP WITH ACCELERATOR PETAL PARTIALLY OR FULLY DEPRESSED. MALFUNCTION OCCURRED THREE TIMES AND PERSISTED EACH TIME FOR BETWEEN ONE AND A HALF MILE ON TWO OCCASIONS AND FOR ONE HALF MILE ON ONE OCCASION. ON JULY 11, 2014 AUTOMOBILE WAS LEFT WITH DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIR OF THE MALFUNCTION AND HAS REMAINED THERE AS OF THIS DATE, AUGUST 3, 2014, WITH NO REPAIRS HAVING BEEN DONE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MALFUNCTION AND COULD QUITE EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCES. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 1100 MILES ON IT. THE MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY DURING ROUTINE DRIVING FOLLOWED BY A RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING THE DISTANCES NOTED ABOVE.. ALL THREE INSTANCES OCCURRED AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM A FULL STOP. VEHICLE SLOWLY INCREASED SPEED WITHOUT ANY APPROPRIATE RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR POSITION. DRIVER HAD PETAL FULLY DEPRESSED IN ONE INSTANCE AND TRIED FLOORING AND PUMPING THE PETAL IN TWO OTHERS WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING EAST TO AN AVE, BUT ANOTHER DRIVER HIT ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE DRIVER HIT MY CAR WE SPINNED HALF WAY. THE PASSENGER SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE GOT HURT ON HER ARM. THE ACCIDENT WAS SORT OF BIG. THE CAR DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER WAS DENTED IN. GETTING HIT THAT HARD SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAG AND THE HYUNDAI EMERGENCY CALLING SYSTEM. HOWEVER NONE OF THEM WERE WORKING WHEN THE CAR WAS HIT. ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI THEY HAVE MORE AIRBAGS THAN ANY OTHER COMPANIES BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE MORE, THE AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY WHICH MADE THE PASSENGERS ARM GET HURT. ALSO THE DRIVERS KNEE GOT HURT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A SO CALLED "AIRBAG." HYUNDAI SANTA FE DID NOT DO WHAT IS MEANT FOR ITS SAFETY. *TR
THIS IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SHIFTING 1-2ND GEAR, AS WE SLOW DOWN TO ENTER OUR GARAGE AND WAIT FOR DOOR TO OPEN, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WITH HUGE AMOUNT OF FORCE, ALMOST AS IF WE ARE HIT FROM BEHIND, THEN IT GOES INTO GEAR AND PROCEEDS. HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY NOW. I READ MANY CONSUMER BLOGS SAYING THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE SANTA FE MODELS. DEFINITELY A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *TR
THE CAR MAKES A SCRAPING METAL NOISE ONLY WHEN ACCELERATING. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. HAPPENS EACH AND EVERYTIME YOU ACCELERATE. HYUNDAI REPLACED THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WHEEL TWICE. HYUNDAI DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS!
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE DRIVER'S SEATBELT, THE SEATBELT ANCHOR BOLT UNTHREADED/PULLED OUT OF ITS MOUNTING LOCATION ON THE B-PILLAR. IT SEEMS THAT IT WAS NEVER INSTALLED/THREADED COMPLETELY AT THE FACTORY. VEHICLE IS APPROXIMATELY 2-3 WEEKS OLD. *JS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, STARTING AROUND 55MPH, THE CAR STARTS GETTING WOBBLY ON THE ROAD. IT IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. IF THERE IS ANY WIND OR DRIVING BY TRUCKS, THE CAR BECOMES EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FIX, HOWEVER DEALER ATTEMPTS SEEM TO EVEN WORSEN THE ISSUE WITH OTHERS, SO I HAVE YET TO ADDRESS THIS WITH THE DEALER. I DO WORRY WHEN MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR BECAUSE SHE IS NOT USED TO IT, AND HAS ' THROWN' HER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE SEVERAL TIMES. I'M HOPING HYUNDAI WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND COME UP WITH A VIABLE SOLUTION. *TR
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUG. 2014 MANUFACTURED IN GA JULY 2014. THE CAR WILL UNPREDICTABLY UPON STARTING UP LACKS POWER IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP WITH NO FIX. IT WILL HARDLY GO UNTIL YOU STOP TURN THE ENGINE OFF THEN RESTART IT AT WHICH POINT IT RESETS AND REGAINS ITS POWER AS BEFORE. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALLS THAT ARE OCCURRING CURRENTLY WITH THIS CAR BUT THEY STOP RECALLS FOR THE PROBLEM WITH THOSE MADE 2012- MAY 2014, THIS CAR WAS MADE 2 MONTHS LATER AND IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR BEARING DAMAGE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS THE PROBLEM DID NOT STOP WITH THE CARS IN MAY 2014. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RESOLVE FOR THE ISSUE AND I AM CERTAIN IT IS THE BEARING ISSUE AFTER HAVING REVIEWED THE PROBLEM/RECALL WITH THE CARS MANUFACTURED JUST MONTHS PRIOR AT THE GA FACILITY. IT HAS EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES.
I PURCHASED A NEW CAR, ON FEB.1, 2014. THE MALFUNCTION LAMP ON THE DASHBOARD WAS LIGHTED UP IN 1 MONTH. MY CAR WAS REPAIRED FROM MY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT CLEARED YET. AT LAST, THE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WAS HAPPENED ON APR. 19. I STEPPED DOWN FULLY ON THE GAS PEDAL ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT CHANGED IN SPEED. THE RPM AND SPEED METER WERE NOT CHANGED WHEN I STEPPED ON THE PEDAL PERFECTLY TO THE END. THE STAFF IN SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM CAME FROM THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE BOLT OF HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP. THE RIGHT HAND SIDE BOLT HAD COME APART AND LEFT HAND SIDE BOLT WAS LOOSE. THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHY THIS PROBLEM WAS HAPPENED. THAT'S MY ALL SERIOUS STORY! *TR
THE VEHICLE STALLED SO FREQUENTLY, EITHER ON FREE WAY AND LOCAL. *TR
2014 SANTA FE SPORT AWD - THE CAR WANDERS EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE PROBLEM BECOMES WORSE AS THE SPEED INCREASES. THE CAR NEEDS CONTINUOUS STEERING CORRECTING JUST TRYING TO TRAVEL IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE CAR WILL DART FRONT RIGHT TO LEFT AT VARYING DEGREES OF INTENSITY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THE DEALER CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT BUT FOUND NO ISSUES WITH IT. AS DESCRIBED BY OTHERS, THE CAR BEHAVES AS IF IT HAD WORN OUT BALL JOINTS, HOWEVER IT IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. I HAD THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT AFTER TEST DRIVING ANOTHER SANTA FE SPORT AWD AND READING ONLINE REVIEWS FROM PLACES SUCH AS EDMUNDS.COM AND NUMEROUS OWNER COMMUNITY FORUMS BY SIMPLY SEARCHING "SANTA FE WANDERING", IT APPEARS THAT A VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TERRIFYING ANOMALY. THIS ISSUE MAKES ME FEEL INCREDIBLY UNSAFE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ESPECIALLY WHEN PASSING TRAFFIC OR NEXT TO OTHER VEHICLES AS THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. *JS
THE VEHICLE KEPT STALLING ON FREE WAY AND LOCALLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE ALIGNMENT WAS ADJUSTED AND THE TIRES WERE CHECKED BUT THE DEFECT PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150.
HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. CAN START/STOP ENGINE IN VARIOUS GEAR INCLUDING REVERSE. PURCHASED APRIL 10, 2014. AFTER DRIVING MY NEW HYUNDAI FOR A WEEK OR SO, DECIDED TO WASH IT. MY HABIT IS TO WIPE OUT THE HATCH AND UNDER THE HOOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD DISCOVERED NO COOLANT IN RESERVOIR. EVIDENT THERE NEVER WAS ANY FROM THE FACTORY. MONTH LATER REPLACED BACK-UP CAMERA. 5 MONTHS LATER SHIFTED TO REVERSE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WENT TOTALLY BLACK. COULDN'T GET SERVICE APPOINTMENT UNTIL WEEK AND HALF LATER. ONE WEEK TO DATE, AFTER NAVIGATION BLACKED-OUT WHILE IN PARK AND NO ONE INSIDE AUTO DRIFTED BACK. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. FOUND HYUNDAI SANTA FE CAN START OR STOP IN VARIOUS GEAR INCLUDING REVERSE WHICH IS DANGEROUS. I COULD NEVER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE AUTO AGAIN. FILED COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA EATING FOR RESOLUTION. *TR
DROVE NEW 2014 SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER BUYING IT 3 DAYS EARLIER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT PATH WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SF REQUIRED CONTINUOUS CORRECTION AT A VARYING DEGREE. IT IS NOT ONLY THAT THE VEHICLE WONDERS, BUT IT DOES SO MILDLY AND AGGRESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE TENDS TO SWAY AND ROCK ALL WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT FOR THE CONTINUOUS WONDERING. IT'S A VERY ODD SENSATION THAT OCCURS, JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU MIGHT GO STRAIGHT FOR A BIT THE VEHICLE WILL DART TO ONE SIDE AND IT HAS NO RHYTHM OR REASON. SOMETIMES LEFT SOMETIMES RIGHT AND THE ROAD CROWN PLAYS NO PART IN THE DIRECTION. DEALER ALIGNED ALL 4 WHEELS TWICE. ADDED TOE IN AND CAMBER TO THE REAR. ALSO, REPLACED REAR SPRINGS AND SHOCKS. TURNS OUT ONE OF THE SPRINGS WAS SHORTER THAN THE OTHER BY 1/4" CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO BE UNBALANCED. THIS REPAIR HELPED FOR SOME OF THE UNEXPLAINED ROCKING BUT NOW THAT IT IS FIXED THE WHOLE STEERING ISSUE HAS BEEN EXACERBATED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND INTEND ON SELLING IT. CURRENTLY, IT HAS 11K MILES. I LOGGED ANOTHER COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE TODAY TOO. THE FACT THAT POTENTIAL BUYERS RARELY GET TO DRIVE THE NEW CAR FOR MORE THAN 7-10 MILES AND AT SPEEDS RARELY ABOVE CITY IS A DISSERVICE. IF HYUNDAI KNOWS THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AND GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT KNOWS, THAN IT IS DECEITFUL AND DISHONEST. LASTLY, THIS VEHICLE BEHAVES IN THE SAME MANNER AS ONE WITH WORN OUT BALL JOINTS THAT WOULD NOT PASS A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. YET THESE SANTA FES ARE STILL BEING SOLD. IT'S A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. BUYER BEWARE! *TR
Steering column coupler is failing. If it breaks completely, I could lose control of steering and it could lead to a crash. It is available for inspection and has been inspected by Hyundai and confirmed that it is a coupler failing. The only known problem, that I didn't realize was a problem, was vibration upon braking (I thought that was the rotors needing attention) and vibration when hitting speeds between 65-75 (which I thought was an alignment issue). It was when I tool it in for an alignment that I was asked if there was any "play" or clicking in the steering column and there was, but it was so slight, I had not thought anything of it. I was told there was a recall on this part for two models in 2014, but my Santa Fe was not part of that. There was also a recall for this part on a Santa Fe 2016 forward; again, it excluded my vehicle. The job is expensive, for a $24.00 part replacement. I am told the entire steering column needs to be replaced at a cost of $2800.00 and that was from the Hyundai dealer.