NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED VERY HIGH, THE RPMS INCREASED, AND THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING FORWARD AND CRASHING INTO A WALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,279.
TAMARA RECALL. MY CALIBERS KEEPING STICKING ON THE ROTORS. I REPLACED THEM BOTH AND 1 MONTH LATER IT KEPT STICKING AND WORE THE BRAKES AND ROTOR. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 2009 HYUNDAI DANTE FE.
AFTER SIGNALING LANE CHANGE/TURN FROM HIGHWAY, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH CONTINUED CLICKING WHEN TURN WAS COMPLETED AND TURN SIGNAL WAS IN OFF POSITION. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT VENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, STARTED THE VEHICLE, CLICKING CONTINUED, TURN SIGNALS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION, LEFT SIGNAL WAS FLASHING. I REMOVED FUSE BOX COVER INSIDE VEHICLE AND SMELLED THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND WAS ADVISED THERE IS NO RECALL INVOLVING SIGNALS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TT UPDATED 10/5/18*JB
TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN 1 YR OUR BACK GLASS SHATTERED WHILE PARKED ONCE AT HOME ONCE WHILE AT WORK
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. PREVENTS SHIFTER TO GO INTO PARK. MUST RURN ENGINE OFF ON NUETRAL THEN TURN CAR ON TO ELIMINATE TRACTION CONTROL ERROR IN ORDER RO PUT SHIFTER INTO PARK
HI, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE (2) DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY/ACTUATORS ON BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS. THE LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE WHEN USING KEY FOB OR MANNUALLY. 7-18-17 & 4-20-18.
THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING ABOUT 35MPH ON A STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE LINE FAILED, WE WERE TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AND BY THE TIME I HEARD THE WHINING OF THE PUMP, THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT AND OF COURSE WE LOST POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE THE METAL PIPE WHERE THE IT COUPLES TO THE FLEXIBLE HOSE FROM THE PUMP. FORTUNATELY THIS ONLY RESULTED IN HAVING TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE WAS REPLACE BY A LOCAL SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAS 67K MILES ON IT AND HAS NOT BEEN USED IN ANY EXTREME CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI TO REPORT THIS AS WELL, WAITING FOR A RESPONSE.
ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND I CANNOT STEER THE WHEEL.
CAR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 10 MILES AND THEN PARKED INSIDE AN ATTACHED GARAGE. NO ISSUES WERE PRESENT DURING THE DRIVE. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED FROM VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR HAD PASSED THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE VISIBLE BEHIND THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HARMED. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE AND HOME. FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT EXTERNAL TO THE VEHICLE.
ENGINE NOISE AT COLD START. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT FOR OVER AN HOUR, A LOUD RATTLE NOISE IS HEARD FOR 3-5 SECONDS. THE NOISE IS COMING FROM OIL STARVATION. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED THAT IS A TIMING CHAIN AND GUIDE ISSUE. SEVERAL PEOPLE ONLINE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING CRACKED FROM THE NEW YORK STATE SALT ON ROAD. THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ABOUT 25 MPH GOING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET . THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE , SOMEONE COULD OF BEEN HURT OR DEATH COULD OCCUR . I'M GLAD NO ONE WAS HURT OR WORSE . THE RECALL NUMBER IS HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN 947 SANTA FE .THE CASE NUMBER IS 10917499.
CAR STARTED SMOKING BLUE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST AT 45,000 MILES WAS NEVER TREATED FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS SUCH A THING WAS NOT ADVISED AT THAT TIME NOW 3 YEARS LATER SUV ONLY HAS 56,000 IT USED 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN 1700 MILES. SINCE I DON'T DRIVE IT MUCH THEY ARE SAYING I HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN SINCE I HAD NOT BEEN IN SINCE MAY 2020. IT IS NOW JULY DRIVEN IT 1300 MILE I WAS TOLD MUST START CONSUMPTION TEST FROM BEGINNING NOT WITH IN THE 1000 MILE RANGE . THEY NEVER FILED OUT ANY CONSUMPTION CHART TO START WITH . THIS CAR ONLY HAS ONE YEAR REMAINING ON WARRANTY AND THEY ARE TRYING TO RUN OUT THE WARRANTY WITHOUT FIXING IT. CAR SMOKES UP MY WHOLE GARAGE UPON STARTING , IT HAS COVERED PEOPLE UP WITH BLUE SMOKE IT THEY ARE BEHIND ME IN A PARKING LOT. I CAN NOT UPLOADED. A DOCUMENT
WHILE ON A LONG TRIP ABOUT 100 MILES INTO THE DRIVE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 78 MPH THE STEERING COLUMNS (FROM THE TURN SIGNAL SIDE) STARTS SMOKING AND IT SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNING. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN BUT DID NOT STOP IN FEAR OF BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. AT THE SAME TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STARTED MAKING THIS VERY FAST CLICKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE TURN SIGNAL WAS STUCK ON, BUT IT WAS NOT ON. NO IDIOT LIGHTS EVER CAME ON TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES THE SMOKE FINALLY STOPPED THE THE SMELL WENT AWAY. HOWEVER THE FAST TURN SIGNAL CLICKING NOISE CONTINUED OFF AND ON FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE NEXT 250 MILES HOME WITH THE CLICKING NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN WHEN I STOPPED FOR GAS AND IT STARTED JUST FINE. I PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY MORNING TO HAVE THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED. JUST AFTER THIS HAPPENED I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP FOR ADVISE ON WHAT TO DO AND HE THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. MY BIGGEST FEAR WAS THAT THE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE AND I WAS GOING TO BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH NO HELP. NOT TO MENTION THE FEAR ON ME CATCHING ON FIRE AS THE STEERING COLUMN IN RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY BODY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
WHILE DRIVING,I SIGNALED A TURN AND SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL.MY BLINKER WORKED BUT WAS MAKING A FAST CLICKING SOUND AS IF THE BLINKER WAS GOING OUT.THE NOISE WILL NOT STOP AND THE SMOKE IS INTERMITTENT.CONTACTED HYUNDAI BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM PER THE INTERNET BUT THEY ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT.
LED SCREEN ON A/C AND MILEAGE BACK LIGHTING FLICKERING ON AND OFF. VERY DISTURBING AT NIGHT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON ANY CAR 2011. LCD BLUE SCREENS ARE SHORTING OUT. MID PANEL RADIO DOWN TO A/C CONTROLS AND ODOMETER SCREEN. DEALER WANTS 2,000 REPLACE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 7 YEAR OLD CAR AND MECHANIC SAYS HE SEES IT ALL THE TIME ON MANY MODELS OF HYUNDAI.
CAR SMOKING FROM EXAHUST SINCE AROUND 42000 MILES OIL SMOKE STARTED IN 2017 . I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT 8 TIMES IN 3 YEARS NOW OIL ALL IN THE SPARKPLUGS USING OVER A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES NOW HAS 56000 MILES AND UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. DEALSHIP TELLING ME THEY WILL HAVE CAR FOR ONE MONTH OR MORE WITH NO REPLACEMENT CAR GIVEN HAVE BEEN TOLD MAY NOT FIX REPLACE THE MOTOR I CALLED MAIN COMPANY EARLIER THIS YEAR. NOTHING WAS DONE.SMOKES AT START UP SMOKES OUT MY GARAGE . THEN CAR WAS SHIMMING WHEN DRIVING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON .
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE FAN IN ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. RAN BATTERY DOWN. WE COULD HEAR THE FAN RUNNING BUT HAD NO IDEA HOW TO STOP IT. NO PROBLEMS UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS WE COULD NOT HEAR THE FAN RUNNING UNTIL WE POPPED THE HOOD TO JUMP START THE CAR.
ON SATURDAY 6/3/17 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A BABY SHOWER WHEN I HEARD A METAL SOUNDING NOISE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF MY CAR AFTER HITTING A BUMP. THE NOISE ONLY HAPPENED ONCE AND WHEN I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNED MY CAR OFF IT SOUNDED LIKE METAL PARTS FALLING OUT UNDER MY CAR BUT WHEN I CRAWLED UNDER MY CAR NOTHING LOOKED ABNORMAL, SO I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO START IT AND IT WOULD NOT START. MONDAY 6/5/17 I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO KELLEY RADIATOR TO BE LOOKED AT, AFTER THEM CHECKING EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE IS SEIZED. THE OWNER OF KELLEY RADIATOR CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY MY ENGINE SEIZED, HE HAS CHECKED EVERYTHING SUCH AS FLUIDS TO MECHANICAL PARTS AND EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT GOOD. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND ENGINE FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN HYUNDAI CARS. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI BUT NO RESPONSE . I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS ,FAITHFULLY GETTING OIL CHANGES AND I STILL OWE $12,366.67 ON THIS CAR. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ENGINE WITHOUT APPLYING FOR A LOAN AND REALLY CANNOT AFFORD A LAWYER SO ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
ENGINE STALLED TWICE DURING 35MPH DRIVE HOME THIS EVE, MAKING STEERING AWAY FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC EXTREMELY CHALLENGING AND TERRIFYING. OCCURRED ON #3 AND #4 OF 6 RIGHT TURNS.
MY MULTI STALK SWITCH IS SMOKING AND CONSTANTLY CLICKING AS IF MY BLINKER IS ON. IT ALSO CAUSES MY SIGNAL LIGHTS TO COME ON AND STICK. THIS IS HAPPENING THE WHOLE TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING. IT FIRST STARTED SMOKING YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND IT ALSO SMOKES WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A HUGE HAZARD BECAUSE I AM AFRAID IT WILL START A FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE CAR STALLS COMPLETELY FOR SECONDS WHILE DOING SLOW SPEED TURNS, PARTICULARLY DURING RIGHT HAND TURNS. AND WHEN THE GAS PADDLE IS PRESSED IT REGAINS SPEED. THERE A A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO HAS SIMILAR PROBLEM. THERE IS A COMPLETE THREAD AT THE WEBSITE LINK PROVIDED BELOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM PEOPLE HAVE FACED. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T39009_DS785550
WHEN L WAS IN TRAFFIC WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE THE CAR CUT OFF AND I IMMEDIATELY PUT IT IN PARK TO RESTART THE CAR IT HAS DONE THIS FOR ABOUT 10 TIMES IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP THE DEALER CANNOT RESOLVES THE PROBLEM! THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD NOISE FROM THE FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
DIRECTIONAL WAS BLINKING FAST AND WAS NOT ON THEN SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING WHEEL.
2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STALLS, LOSES POWER, WILL NOT ACCELERATE, GIVES NO WARNING. THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND MULTIPLE DEATHS. THIS HAPPENS SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ALONG CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS AND WHILE TURNING. *TR
CENTER INFORMATION CONSOLE (RADIO/NAVIGATION) CONSOLE SCREEN IS BLACK IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL IT THAWS OUT. MAKE RADIO AND NAVIGATION UNUSABLE UNTIL IT THAWS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS TRAVELLING AND THE CAR GETS COLD THEY'LL BE UNABLE TO NAVIGATE. IMAGINE GETTING UP FOR AN EMERGENCY TO GO SOMEWHERE AND THE SCREEN IS BLACK PREVENTING YOU FROM TRAVELLING OR YOU'RE TRAVELLING AND STOP FOR A REST AND THE VEHICLE GETS COLD PREVENTING YOU FROM CONTINUING UNTIL IT THAWS OUT. IF SOMEONE HAD AN EMERGENCY AND NEEDED TO FIND A HOSPITAL OR IN CASE OF DIABETIC NEEDED TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO EAT AND THEY COULDN'T BECAUSE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WAS FROZEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE FLUID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V613000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW, AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING. I WAS TOLD AT FIRST THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC STARTER WHICH WAS REMOVED, AND WAS NEVER REPLACED FOR FEAR OF EXPERIENCING SUCH AN EPISODE. I WOULD BE DRIVING, AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF. I WOULD HAVE PEOPLE HONKING, AND CURSING AT ME FOR ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL TIMES I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS WHEN THE CAR STALLS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO AVAIL, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY HAVE THE CAR. I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR FOR SHORT DISTANCES FOR FEAR OF GETTING STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY ETC. RECENTLY MY SON BORROWED MY CAR AND WAS ALMOST KILLED ON THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR STALLED WITH HIM. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK HOME FOR FEAR OF LOSING HIS LIFE. I DO NOT WANT TO SELL THIS CAR KNOWING THE DANGERS IT CAN CAUSE, AND I KNOW THAT THE DEALER WILL NOT GIVE ME MUCH FOR IT AT THIS POINT. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ESPECIALLY IF THERE WERE ANY ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS INVOLVING SANTE FES. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WOULD VARY FROM 10 TO 35 MILES IN THE CITY, SOMETIMES IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, OR WHILE TURNING A CORNER. IT HAS BEEN THE CASE IN ANY WEATHER WITH MY LAST INCIDENT OCCURRING ON 10/11/16.
MULTIPLE TIMES THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT IDLE AND AT SPEED. FULL LOSS OF POWER, ALL LIGHTS ON DASH ILLUMINATE, LOUD BANG WHEN AT SPEED. IF YOU PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RE-ENGAGE IGNITION CAR WILL START. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. LAST WAS 9/6
I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL HAD PLAY IN IT AND WHEN BRAKING WOULD SEVERLY SHAKE.. TOOK TO HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY STATED I NEEDED A COUPLER AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND BOLTS TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 77,000 MILES.I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIR SINCE THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW THERE IS A RECAL REGARDING POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR OVER 2 YEARS WITH NOTHING BUT SAFTEY CONCERNS.
WHILE DRIVING AT A RATE OF LESS THAN 5-10 MPG IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE 105 WEST FREEWAY. THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ABILITIES AND ALL POWER IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT NOTIFICATION LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER STRANGE PECULIARITIES. BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS WENT ON. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER WITH WHATEVER RESIDUAL POWER REMAINING AS NOT TO IMPEDE TRAFFIC BUT IT WAS A TERRIFYING STRUGGLE. THE GEARS WERE ALSO LOCKED AND UNABLE TO SHIFT. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE CAR. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CLEARED AND THERE ARE NO DIAGNOSTICS ON THE COMPUTER THAT REFLECT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE. MONTHS PRIOR (6 MONTHS) I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED (APPROX 30 MPH) ON THE SAME FREEWAY, EARLY MORNING, AND THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED BADLY OR WORSE.
DURING MAINTENANCE I WAS INFORMED THAT MY REAR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED. IS THIS A SAFTY PROBLEM?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PERIOD OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS FROM THE AIR BAG AND A NECK INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/12/16*LJ UPDATED 4/18/18*JB *TR
IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, MY 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT AND GET TO SAFETY, BUT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I AND MANY OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN 2012 AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF RECALLS DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT DEALS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE IDLE SYSTEM. OBVIOUSLY IT IS STILL A VERY DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE. I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.
WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR LOCKED UP WITH NO WARNING. NO OIL LEFT IN THE PAN BUT NO LIGHTS CAME ON.
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE WOULD REV UP THE RPM'S AND THEN SLOW WAY DOWN AND VEHICLE PAUSED FOR ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS THEN REENGAGED. ALSO, THE ENGINE SEEMS ACCELERATES AND SLOWS DOWN ON ITS OWN, DOESN'T FEEL LIKE TAKING FUEL AT TIMES. MY COMPLAINT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID# 10744564, HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE DID NOT MAKE A LOUD SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH. I HAVE HAD MY 60000 MI SERVICE COMPLETED AND ISSUE PRESENTED AFTERWARDS. LUCKILY, THESE 3 INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON LOW VOLUME TRAFFIC STREETS. I HAVE HAD SERVICE AFTER AT DIFFERENT HYUNDAI DEALERS WITHOUT EXPLANATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,759.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE AND SUDDEN DECREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE FAILED AND A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED BRIEFLY, BUT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE FAILURE RECURRED; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED FOR HESITATION OF THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/18/15*LJ
PURCHASED 2011 SANTA FE W/ 29000 MILES ON 5/15/2015. NOTED EXCESSIVE RUST ON REAR SUSPENSION AND FRAME COMPONENTS, PARTICULARLY AT WELD JOINTS AND ON SUSPENSION MEMBERS - TO THE EXTENT THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE SAFETY. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AT TWIN CITY HYUNDAI IN KNOXVILLE AND RECEIVED EVASIVE ANSWER ABOUT HOW IT WAS A NEW YORK CAR AND THAT THE LEVEL OF CORROSION WAS BASICALLY TO BE EXPECTED. NO OFFER TO CONDUCT ANY REPAIR WORK. VEHICLE IS IN WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY CARED FOR IN ALL RESPECTS (INTERIOR, ENGINE BAY, AND OTHER BODY WORK IS EXCELLENT). I GREW UP IN COLORADO AND HAVE NEVER SEEN CORROSION THIS EXTENSIVE ON ANY VEHICLE AND DO NOT FIND THE DEALER RESPONSE ACCEPTABLE. CORROSION RESISTANCE PREPARATION DURING MANUFACTURE APPEARS TO BE INADEQUATE.
2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE GLS (ALL WHEEL DRIVE) 2.4L ENGINE. MILEAGE = 61,339 TRAVELING AT APPROX. 40 MPH ON A SECONDARY PAVED ROAD THE EVENING OF 3/31/2015, HEARD A LOUD BANG AND GRINDING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING, WHICH ALLOWED THE SPRING TO FALL DOWN AROUND THE STRUT AND COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE INSIDE AREA OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. SPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OUT OF POCKET COST BECAUSE VEHICLE IS JUST OVER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY LIMIT. CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ACTIVE RECALL FOR BROKEN COIL SPRINGS ON THE 2011 SANTA FE MODELS. HYUNDAI WOULD NOT COVER THE PARTS/LABOR TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM EVEN AS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 1,339 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY LIMIT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE DIED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER REPLACING IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NOT ANY OTHER CARS NEAR ME. MY SUNROOF LITERALLY EXPLODED! IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WENT OFF. THE GLASS SEEMED TO HAVE DISAPPEARED INTO THIN AIR! I POSTED ON FACEBOOK HOW CRAZY THIS IS AND I STARTED RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM FRIENDS HOW THIS IS COMMON WITH HYUNDAIS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER THAT IT MAY BE A DEFECT, DESPITE ME FINDING SEVERAL SANTA FE OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR SUNROOFS REPLACED BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR
WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT NORMAL SPEED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN OPPOSING TRAFFIC ON A TWO LANE ROAD. AS I SWERVED A BIT TO THE RIGHT IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE THE OPPOSING VEHICLE MORE ROOM, I WENT TOO FAR TO THE BRIM OF THE ROAD. AS I TRIED TO CORRECT IT, I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING ME TO DRIVE STRAIGHT ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WENT HEAD ONTO INTO THE TREE, BOUNCED OFF, AND SLID BACKWARDS DOWN INTO A DRAINAGE CULVERT. THERE WAS MELTING SNOW ON THE BRIM OF THE ROAD, BUT THE ROAD ITSELF HAD NO WEATHER RELATED PROBLEMS THAT WOULD CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED, TURNED TO THE LEFT AT 10:00 POSITION, AND BOTH STEER TIRES WERE POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE STEER TIRES HAD LESS THAN 1,000 ON THEM. *TR
I GOT IN MAKE VEHICLE TO GO TO THE STORE AND MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT FASTEN I TRIED EVERYTHING AFTER AN HOUR I GAVE UP
WHIRRING SOUND FROM DRIVE SHAFT/TRANSMISSION NOTE THERE ARE SIMILAR REPORTS ON INTERNET. *TR
WATER IN SIDE FRONT HEAD LIGHT AND INSIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT.. CLEAR COAT COMING OFF
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026