2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Complaint Log

HYDRAULIC BRAKE PROBLEMS ON HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2007. REAR BRAKES ON DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER SIEGE CAUSING TO WARE OUT BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR. REPLACE THEM ONCE ALREADY. CALLED THE HYUNDAI DEALER THEY SAID IT WILL NOT BE COVERED. I SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LEFT CALIPER AND NO ONE CAN HELP. *TR

MY 2007 HYUNDAI HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WEARING ON THE FRONT TIRES. I PURCHASED IT IN JANUARY OF 2008, AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES TWICE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND BRAKING IS SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT. I TOLD THE DEALER, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. *TR

MY ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR PROBABLY THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE NEVER NOTICED ANY EFFECT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE AND SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ESC WAS I DID NOT PAY IT A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION TO IT. MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO DOES THIS "COMING ON AND GOING OFF THING" SO I ASSUMED IT WAS A WEIRD DASH LIGHT GLITCH. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO VEHICLE STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (POWER DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES STOP WORKING). FINALLY TODAY I NOTICED MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON... OBVIOUSLY I WAS VERY CONCERNED AND CALLED HYUNDAI TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS. HYUNDAI GAVE ME A CASE # BUT SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER CURRENT RECALL, SO I AM NOT SURE IF ANYTHING IS WRONG? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN THE REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARRANT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED REAR END INTO A LOADING DOCK AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL REAR BODY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000. UPDATED 07/19/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED. UPDATED 07/21/10*JB

MY 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WILL RANDOMLY APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS.THE BRAKES WILL APPLY MAKING THE CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT MAY CAUSE THE CAR TO VEER INTO THE NEXT LANE. I WOULD NEED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES TO MAKE THEM RELEASE.THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKE PADS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED WE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN FOR MAYBE A YEAR.IT HAPPEN SO MUCH IN 2011& 2012 I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR.I TOOK MY CAR TO HARDIN HYUNDAI 6/09/12 EXPLAINED IN DETAIL THAT THE BRAKES WOULD APPLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING, AND THE ESC LIGHT WAS COMING ON. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE HAD CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS HOPING THIS WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE IT DID NOT. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED 3 TIRES, ALIGNMENT AND PINS WERE MISSING WHEN WE DID THE BRAKE JOB AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO STICK. WE DID WHAT WAS SUGGESTED.THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER TO DIAGNOSIS THE ISSUE.THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW SO I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HE DID DIAGNOSIS IT WITH THE COMPUTER. THE ESC MODULE IS BAD. NOW I A'M DRIVING WITH THE ESC OFF.WHEN DRIVING WITH THE ESC OFF IT DOESN''T RANDOMLY BRAKE BUT WILL SOMETIMES MAKE A HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUND AND THE BRAKES STICK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.THIS IS NOT GOOD EITHER.WHY REQUIRE THIS SAFETY FEATURE IN EVERY CAR IF IT WILL FAIL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND IF THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DIAGNOSIS IT CORRECTLY. SOME HYUNDAIS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM SO I FEEL THE DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.THE WORK ORDER DOES NOT MENTION BRAKES NOR DID THEY TRY TO DIAGNOSIS IT CORRECTLY. WAS THIS AN INTENTIONAL MOVE BY HYUNDAI SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR ESC MODULES ARE STILL FAILING. I FEEL EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. HYUNDAI FAILED ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS. *TR

WHEN MY WIFE IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THAT A PERSON IS OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY WIFE WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 140 LBS. THIS HAS BEEN A REGULAR PROBLEM FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND HAS NOT GONE AWAY. IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE CURRENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN (08V161000) FOR 2006-2008 HYUNDAI SONATAS FOR WHICH HYUNDAI HAS ISSUED A RECALL. WE HAVE VISITED MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE ALL TOLD US THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SANTA FE, HOWEVER SINCE HYUNDAI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS BOTH THE FRONT AND SIDE PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO A PASSENGER. WE CURRENTLY OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 37,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2007 SANTA FE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2010. THE FIRST DAY I HAD IT, IT GAVE ME THE PROBLEM. EVERY SO OFTEN, I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'LL HAPPEN, THE FRONT TIRES KIND OF LOCK UP WITH A GRINDING SOUND AND THE CAR VIOLENTLY JARS TO THE RIGHT. ALL THE WHILE, THE ESC LIGHT IS FLASHING. IT IS VERY SCARY AND I'M AFRAID MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EVENTUALLY. WE HAVE TRIED DRIVING IT WITH THE ESC TURNED OFF AND IT DID NOT HELP. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIX ANYTHING. I LATER CALLED THEM WHEN IT KEPT HAPPENING AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST "A BURP" AND THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DETECT IT UNLESS IT HAPPENED WHILE HOOKED UP TO THEIR COMPUTER, WHICH OF COURSE IS IMPOSSIBLE. NOT MUCH LATER, WITH ONLY 3 OF MY 6 SIX YEARS UP AND ONLY ABOUT HALF OF MY COVERED MILEAGE USED, THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME A LETTER TELLING ME MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD TWO MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT AND THEY CANNOT FIX IT. I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR AND WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO GO BACK IN TIME AND PURCHASE AN AMERICAN CAR INSTEAD!! *TR

LETTER REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HE HAS EXPERIENCED WITH HIS 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHENEVER HE PARKED NEAR ELECTRICAL TOWERS, THE LOCKS ON THE DOOR WOULD MALFUNCTION, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP, THE GEAR BOX WOULD NOT DISPLAY WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE CLIMATE CONTROL NEVER FUNCTIONED ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL. THE CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIME EXCEEDED THE SET SPEED OVER OR DOWN LONG INCLINES. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH WAS ELECTRONIC SAT UP TOO HIGH. THE ROOF RACK CROSS BAR WAS TOO FAR, WHICH ALLOWED AIR TO PULL OFF THE LOADS. THE TIRE JACK WAS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE VEHICLE*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TIRES BOUNCED BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE DEFECTS WITHIN THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT HE SHOULD ROTATE OR REPLACE THE TIRES TO CONTROL THE SUSPENSION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE RUBBER HOUSING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD CAME OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE STRIP REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE WINDSHIELD COULD HAVE BECOME SEPARATED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

I OWN A 2007 SANTA FE WITH 30,000 MILES. WHEN I AM SEATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WILL STATE THAT IT IS INOPERATIVE, NOT RECOGNIZING ME AS A PASSENGER. I WEIGH 134 LBS WHICH SHOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND I AM REALLY CONCERNED SINCE THE FRONT AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THAT COULD RESULT IN AN INJURY TO ME OR SOMEONE OF SIMILAR SIZE. I HAVE TALKED WITH TWO DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. BOTH RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FIRST DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS HYUNDAI ISSUES A RECALL LIKE THEY DID FOR THE SONATAS (SEE CAMPAIGN ID 08V161000). THE SECOND DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE SEAT (WHICH THEY DID BACK IN 2009), HOWEVER THAT HAS DID NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM AT ALL. PLEASE CONSIDER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AS HYUNDAI HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SONATAS ALREADY AND IT IS THE SAME ISSUE IN THE SANTA FE MODELS. *TR

TOOK CAR IN FOR ISSUE UNRELATED TO BRAKES DURING COURTESY INSPECTION FOUND REAR BRAKES NEED REPAIR. SCORES PER WHEEL WHERE ARE AS FOLLOWS LF 10 RF 10 LR2 RR 8. THE VARIANCE SEEMS TO INDICATE AN ISSUE AND A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

BACK DRIVER SIDE CALIPER OVERHEATED ON A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKE PADS WERE RUINED AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ONE DAY 3/15/2010. I DROVE OVER 200 MILES BEFORE I HEARD THE LOUD DRONING SOUND OF THE BRAKES. EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED THE CALIPER WAS STILL PRESSING AGAINST THE BRAKE PAD. SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHEEL AS WELL AS RESIDUE ON THE RIMS.THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY AS PER HYUNDAIS INSTRUCTIONS. THE COST WILL BE #300.00-$400.00 AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY RUST WHICH THEY SAID THEY SAW IN OTHER SANTA FE'S. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AS THE TIRE COULD CATCH FIRE AND EXPLODE CAUSING A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. HYUNDAI DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS ISSUE. *TR

FOLLOW UP TO COMPLAINTS #'S 10319062-10319460-10319463. VEHICLE POWER STEERING LOSS HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY HYUNDAI DEALER. BE ADVISED THAT THE CAUSE FOR THE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING WAS (THE PULLEY SEPARATED DAMAGING BELT). (BALANCER FELL APART AND BALANCER AND BELT WERE REPLACED). VEHICLE ONLY HAD 12,869 MILES ON IT. *TR

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN GOING FROM AN EASTWARD DIRECTION TO A SOUTHERN DIRECTION THE POWER STEERING ON MY VEHICLE WENT DEAD, THE RED DRIVER SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON AND IN A FEW SECONDS THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK AND THE EAT BELT LIGHT WENT OFF. TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED IN A RURAL AREA OF TOWN.. AFTER INCIDENT I DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN GOING FROM AN EASTWARD DIRECTION TO A SOUTHERN DIRECTION THE POWER STEERING ON MY VEHICLE WENT DEAD, THE RED DRIVER SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON AND IN A FEW SECONDS THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK AND THE EAT BELT LIGHT WENT OFF. TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED IN A RURAL AREA OF TOWN.. AFTER INCIDENT I DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. I PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, BUT WOULD NOT HOLD, I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. WHEN I RESTARTED IT WAS OK BUT MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN I GOT HOME I PARKED AND PRESSED THE KEY REMOTE TO LOCK, THE DOORS LOCKED BUT THE LIGHTS DID NOT FLASH. I THEN RESTARTED THE CAR, SHUT IT OF AND RELOCKED. THIS TIME THE LIGHTS FLASHED BUT AFTER ABOUT 30 SEC. THE CAR ALARM WOULD SOUND. I AGAIN RESTARTED AND SHUT IT OFF, RELOCKED AND AGAIN THE ALARM. I THEN DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTED. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING PROPERLY NOW AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO WENT OUT. *TR

FUEL GAUGE SENSOR DEFECTIVE AFTER UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. UNRELIABLE, GAUGE FAILS TO DISPLAY CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN GAS TANK. DEALER STATES SENOR IN THE FUEL TANK HAS "GONE BAD". THIS ISSUES - DISPLAYS ILLUMINATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EITHER GIVES FLUXUATING FALSE NEEDLE READING ON THE FUEL TANK GAUGE OR EMPTY TANK ON CLUSTER DISPLAY PANEL. NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER SOURCES HAS INDICATED THE SENSORS HAVE EFFECT SEVERAL LINES OF HYUNDAI VEHICLES INCLUDING SONATA, ACCENT, AND POSSIBLY OTHERS. *TR

R.R. BRAKES FROZEN BY RUST & CORROSION AT 26,00 MILES. *TR

WITH ONLY 21,132 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER STUCK RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN PADS WORE OUT. BRAKES WERE INSPECTED LESS THAN 3000 MILES PRIOR TO LOSS OF BRAKING. *TR

REAR BRAKE PROBLEM IN A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTE FE VEHICLE WITH 29K MILEAGE. LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER STICKS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING HIGH PITCH SQUEALING/SCRAPING NOISE AND HOT WHEEL HUB. MULTIPLE OTHER CUSTOMERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE ON WEBSITE FORUM @HYUNDAI SANTE FE CARSPACE AUTOMOTIVE FORUM. MANY WITH MUCH LOWER MILEAGE CLAIMS. MY DEALER INSPECTED AND SAID NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS POINTS TO REAR BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY RUSTS FROM SALT CORROSION AND CAUSES THE CALIPER TO STICK ON THE BRAKE WHILE DRIVING WITH FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. PROBLEM RESURFACED 50 DAYS LATER. WAITING FOR MY APPOINTMENT TO HAVE DEALER LOOK AT THE ISSUE READDRESS THE PROBLEM. HYUNDAI TECHNICAL SAFETY BULLETIN 08-BR-002 DATED 12/2008 CALLS FOR CLEANING AND GREASING THE PAD CONTACT SURFACE OF THE CALIPER CARRIER TO RECTIFY THE CAUSE. THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF MATERIAL DEFECT OF RUSTING ON REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. *TR

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THE FIRST PROBLEM BEGAN YEARS AGO WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS FOR BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE ABOUT 5 TO 6 TIMES PER YEAR. THIS CAN GET VERY EXPENSIVE ESPECIALLY IF I WERE TO GET A TICKET. THE SECOND PROBLEM ARE THE REAR TIRES. I NOTICED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THAT THE TIRES GET WORN OUT MUCH QUICKER THAN THE OTHERS, SO I'M CONSTANTLY ROTATING THEM. JUST RECENTLY, IT HAS BECOME WORSE. JUST THIS YEAR, I HAVE REPLACED TIRES TWICE AND HAVE NOTICED THAT I NEED ANOTHER SET OF TIRES. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, BUT CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE REAR-END. THE LAST ISSUE THAT JUST HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO IS THE PASSENGER VISOR. IT SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF ITS SOCKET AND EVENTUALLY WAS HANGING BY ITS WIRES. AFTER TRYING TO PUT THE VISOR BACK INTO ITS SOCKET A FEW TIMES, IT EVENTUALLY BROKE OFF. HAVE NOT ORDERED ANOTHER YET. DIDN'T REALIZE HOW EXPENSIVE THEY ARE. *TR

I OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I NOW HAVE 50K ON MY VEHICLE AND I AM GOING ON MY THIRD SET OF TIRES. THE LAST SET OF TIRES I BOUGHT COST JUST UNDER $900.00. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES WITH ABOUT FIVE PHONE CALLS AND EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND NO ONE ELSE HAS THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED BUT NO CHANGES WERE MADE BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS WITHIN SPECS. JUST HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO CHECK SUSPENSION AND AGAIN TO FIND THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT ONCE AGAIN THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. BUT YET I AM WEARING THE INSIDES OFF OF MY TIRES ABOUT EVERY 20K. THERE HAS TO BE A FIX FOR THIS BUT HYUNDAI TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THIS PROB HAS TO BE KNOWN ABOUT BECAUSE IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR SUPPORT MECHANISM ATTACHED TO THE ROOF HAD FRACTURED. THE DEFECTIVE SUN VISOR OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WE TOOK IT TO BOUCHER FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER BOX. THE CAR STILL HAS PROBLEMS IN COLD WEATHER. THIS ALSO LEAD TO BRAKE PAD FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND CAR DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AND CAR APPEARED TO HAVE STALLED AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE POWER STEERING WAS AGAIN ENGAGED. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS ROUNDING A CURVE IN THE ROAD. DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. *TR

RE: 2007 HYUD SANTA FE G. 49880 MILES (AT OIL CHANGE 11/02/2009). I DROVE MY CAR APPROX 90 MILES ON A SHOPPING TRIP. I PARKED THE CAR IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE APPROX 3 PM, WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE AND APPROX 5 MINUTES WENT TO THE CAR TO REMOVE THE ITEMS I BOUGHT. I FOUND THE CAR BURNING AT THE DASH BOARD IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALL 911 AND THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS BURNED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING AND SQUEALING NOISE UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE OVERHEATED BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY RESURFACED BOTH FRONT AND REAR ROTORS. ALSO, THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 2/21/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. WHILE AT A STOP SHE WAS REAR-ENDED. AFTER THE CRASH SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 09V122000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE LIGHT) . THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS REFERRED TO HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY FOR BODY DAMAGES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 46000.

WE OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON A FAULTY BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. WE HAD THAT REPLACED BY THE DEALER. OUR VEHICLE IS NOW ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS WITH IT APPLYING BRAKES FOR NO REASON WHILE OPERATING IT ON THE ROADWAYS.WE HAVE YET TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE BRAKES AND SLOWS ON ITS OWN WITHOUT NOTICE AND FOR NO REASON. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE YAW SENSOR IS BAD. WE ARE LUCKY THAT NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AS OF YET BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2005 HYUNDAI TUSCONS FOR THIS OR A SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE YAW SENSOR. IS THERE OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THE SANTA FE'S NOW OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR THIS BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH IS UNSAFE? THE DEALER WANTS TO SELL US THE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS PART FOR $493.00 PLUS TAX AND BETWEEN $200.00 AND $300.00 LABOR TO INSTALL. YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE PART. THANKS, GREG JOHNSTON. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 SANTA FE WITH 33K MILES, ON WHICH THE REAR RIGHT BRAKES WORE THROUGH "METAL TO METAL" AND I WAS TOLD THE OTHER SIDE WAS JUST AS BAD & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMED TO BE INCREDIBLE SHORT LIFESPAN SO I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE 60% LIFE REMAINING ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. HYUNDAI SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR, AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK ITS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE WAS NO WARNING UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE CRUNCHING METAL TO METAL AND COMPLETELY GONE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS, AT AN ASTRONOMICAL $480! BUT AS I'D HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED IN AND LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA, IT WOULD HAVE COST ME AS MUCH TO TOW IT ELSEWHERE AND GET IT FIXED. *TR

MY 2007 HYUNDAI SATA FE, WITH 15,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER-HAS SQUEALING REAR BRAKES. DEALER SAYS,THERE IS A CORROSION PROBLEM IN THE CALIPERS,AND THEY HAVE TO BE CLEANED OUT EVERY 8,000 THOUSAND MILES,AT A COST OF $90.DOLLARS WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. I BELIEVE POOR QUALITY METAL IS BEING USED IN THE BRAKE PARTS , A VERY DANGEROUS PRACTICE ! I GOT NO SATISFACTION FROM HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA, CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CNTR. ,TO PAY FOR THIS SO CALLED "BRAKE SERVICE". I, PAID FOR IT, MYSELF, PROBABLY LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER HYUNDAI OWNER'S. PLEASE,MAKE THEM RECALL THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES, AND INSTALL QUALITY BRAKE PARTS,AND SAVE THE OWNER'S FROM THE COST OF UNNECESSARY SERVICE, ON REAR BRAKES. *TR

WHEN MY PARTNER SITS ON PASSENGER SIDE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR REMAINS ON, INDICATING THAT AIR BAG IS OFF. SHE IS 54 YRS OLD, 5'2, 113 LBS. WHEN PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT TO DEALER, THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR & THE AIR BAG. THEY CALLED HYUNDAI, AND THEN TOLD ME THAT IT IS SET FOR 125-130 LBS BUT COULD NOT GIVE ME THAT IN WRITING. PLEASE, I'M AFRAID FOR HER SAFETY. HYUNDAI SHOULD REWIRE & PUT IN A SWITCH TO TURN AIR BAG OFF. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, THE WAY IT IS NOW. I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN SO TURNING OFF THE AIRBAG MANUALLY IS NOT A PROBLEM. TRAVELING IN THE CAR IS NOT ONLY NOT SAFE, BUT NOT ENJOYABLE. UNTIL YOU CAN FORCE HYUNDAI TO FIX THE PROBLEM, SHE WILL HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK. IT IS NOT RIGHT. WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SOMEONE'S DEATH. PLEASE, I HOPE IT IS CORRECTED BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. I HAVE BEEN ON NUMEROUS FORUMS THAT INDICATE MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM & HYUNDAI WON'T FIX IT LIKE THEY DID WITH THE SONATA. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR

I HAVE HAD THIS SANTA FE SINCE 2008 AND HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE SERVICE ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME NOISE, AND THAT IS A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 AND 25MPH. WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE AND RATTLES. AND IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING IS MORE AGGRESSIVE SINCE I HAD ALL THAT WORK DONE. I LOVE MY SANTA FE AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS, EXCEPT FOR THAT NOISE IN THE FRONT END. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND STRUTS RECENTLY, BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME NOISE. I SAW A TBS BULLETIN DATED BACK IN 2008 ABOUT THE STEERING YOKE COULD BE MAKING THAT NOISE TOO. AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN YOU HIT SMALL BUMPS TOO. *TR

AIRBAG SYSTEM (PASSENGER SIDE) DOESN'T ALWAYS "SENSE" THE OCCUPANT ACCURATELY, IN A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT-PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHENEVER A SMALL ADULT WAS IN THE SEAT, OR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF DEPENDING ON THE PERSON'S SITTING POSITION. THIS AFFECTS MY 125 POUND WIFE WHO BY HYUNDAI'S TEST IS CONSIDERED A PERSON OF "SMALLER STATURE." I WAS TOLD 130 LBS IS THE MINIMUM WEIGHT TO ENABLE THE AIRBAG BUT AGAIN DEPENDING ON HER SITTING POSITION, THE LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF. THE SAME SYSTEM WORKS FINE IN A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA IN WHICH SHE WOULD BE PROTECTED. WHY IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES SEIZED UP AND BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED AND THERE WAS RUST BUILD UP ON THE ROTORS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,282 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000.

REAR BRAKES SEIZED UP DUE TO RUST BUILD UP ON ROTORS. THIS CAUSED THE ROTORS TO GET VERY HOT. WE FEEL THAT THIS WAS DUE TO FAULTY METAL USED FOR THE ROTORS> HYUNDAI SAID IT WAS A ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. WE FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HYUNDAI REPORTS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FOUL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. HE ALSO NOTICED A SEVERE HEAT WAVE FROM THE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE ITSELF WAS EXTREMELY HOT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PADS WERE RUBBING UP AGAINST THE ROTORS. THE DEALER CLEANED AND GREASED THE CALIPERS, WHICH CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME FAILURE HE WAS EXPERIENCING. HE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,700. UPDATED 07/17/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ODOR FROM THE OVERHEATING PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS ONLY NOTICED AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE PADS FREEING UP AGAINST THE ROTORS DUE TO CORROSION AT THE PLACE WHERE THE PADS SET IN THE BRAKE CALIPER. UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB

ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $375 AT ONLY 18,500 MILES.. ROTORS SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO RUST FROM SALT ON ROADS. HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES PRIOR AND DRIVEN ON SAME ROADS AND NEVER NEEDED ROTOR REPLACEMENT SO EARLY. INTERNET IS FILLED WITH HYUNDAI OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. HYUNDAI USES INFERIOR PARTS AND IS AWARE OF THESE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT DOES NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HYUNDAI'S DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS OR PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE PAYING FOR EXPENSIVE BRAKE WORK AT EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGES. WILL NEVER BUY A HYUNDAI AGAIN!! *TR

PASSENGER AIR BAG RANDOMLY DISABLES AND ENABLES WHILE PASSENGERS ARE SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKES WERE WORN. THE CALIPER IS RUSTED SHUT AND THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE DESTROYED. HE MUST PURCHASE NEW CALIPERS, RODS, AND ROTORS AT THE COST OF $405. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,127. UPDATED 06/25/09 *BF UPDATED 06/26/09.*JB

NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKES IN LATE APRIL 2009. CHECKED BRAKES ROTORS EXTREMELY HOT-REAR ONLY. FRONT BRAKES FINE;HOWEVER, REAR WORN ALMOST TO METAL. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER FOR MAY 13. CAR IS ONLY 17 MO OLD, 15,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING). DEALER WILL REPLACE PADS BUT WILL CHARGE A REAR BRAKE SERVICE$150. I BELIEVE THERE IS A BRAKE DESIGN FLAW. DEALER WANTS $160/AXLE EVERY 15000 MILES TO "SERVICE" BRAKES- CLEAN CALIPERS. BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 15,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2007 HYUNDAI SANTE FE WAS EXPERIENCING BRAKE OVERHEATING FROM DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKE AND MILD HEATING WITH PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKES. AT 28K MILES I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SITUATION. THE BRAKES HAD FAILED VERY PREMATURELY DUE TO THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND CLEANED AND LUBED THE BRAKE SLIDES, AND REPLACED THE OVERHEATED DAMAGED PADS TO THE TUNE OF $389. I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE 3YR 36K MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AS THERE WAS AN EXCEPTION TO THIS FOR THE BRAKES, THEY WERE ONLY 1 YR 12K FOR THE WARRANTY AS I AM IN A "SEVERE" OPERATING ZONE IN UPSTATE NY. I HAVE CHECKED MANY OTHER FORUMS ON THIS SUBJECT AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS TO BE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES AND ALMOST ALWAYS IT IS THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR CALIPER THAT FAILS. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE BRAKES ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE AND HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY HYUNDAI AMERICA. I PLACED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT BASICALLY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS AS THEY SAID THEY DISPOSED OF THEM PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL. I HAVE ALWAYS SERVICED MY VEHICLE MYSELF ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS AND NO WHERE DOES IT STATE THE BRAKES NEED TO BE LUBRICATED. *TR

DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PKWY IN NJ, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 80MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. DESPITE BOTH FEET ON BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE INCIDENT LASTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES AND DISENGAGED BY ITSELF. SERVICED FOR ABOVE BY DEALER ON 5/2/09-REMAINED UNTIL 5/6/10 AND IT WAS REPORTED THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL ISSUE-"IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE FLOOR MAT". CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS INVOLVED, GOING UP TO REGIONAL REP, WHO REITERATED THERE WAS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE CAR-IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENTAL CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGEMENT BY DRIVER, BUT HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY IT DID NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THEY MAINTAINED IT WAS DRIVER ERROR, PROBABLY THE FLOOR MAT. THE INCIDENT SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE RECENT TOYOTA PROBLEM. *TR

2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED 27,300 MILE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CALIPER IS STICKING TO THE DISC BRAKE CAUSING BURNING SMELL AND HEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 45- 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED FOLLOWED BY THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,909.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR WOULD LOSE POWER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE TPS SENSOR. THE TPS SENSOR WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,443 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,278.

I JUST HAD TO HAVE MY REAR BRAKES COMPLETELY DONE AT A COST OF 500 DOLLARS. I HEARD NO NOISE, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES EXCEPT THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. I DRIVE 95% HIGHWAY AND CONSEQUENTLY VERY RARELY USE MY BRAKES. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE AND NOW MY REAR ALIGNMENT IS OUT OF WHACK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATE. THE CONTACT MOVED FROM THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE INTERNAL THROTTLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO HIS AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,900.