NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 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
DRIVER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS COLLECTING CONDENSATION IN IT.
I SEE THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2013-2014 FOR THE SAME ENGINE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING WITH MY 2012. IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE? THE ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF ON ME A FEW TIMES AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. NOW I AM HEARING A TAPPING AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE IS STRUGGLING TO WORK. IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO UP HILL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR HOME TODAY IF I MAKE IT THERE AND PARK IT. I STILL OWE ON IT UNTIL NEXT YEAR. MY FIANCEE WHO IS A DISABLED VETERAN AND I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME. I DON'T KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO GET TO WORK TOMORROW.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND A CLICKING NOISE STARTED. IT GOT LOUDER AS WE WENT ALONG. TOOK IT TO GET DIAGNOSED AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES WAS BAD AND THE ONLY THING WE COULD DO WAS PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. NONE OF THE AREA USED PART STORES WILL SELL AN ENGINE FROM A 2012 BECAUSE IT IS DEFECTIVE SO CANNOT GET A USED ENGINE AND THEY WANT OVER 5K FOR A NEW ONE TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS KNOWN BY THE HYUNDAI COMPANY TO BE A PROBLEM.
WE BOUGHT OUR 2012 SANTA FE WITH 68K ON 8/29/16 FROM THE HYUNDAI DEALER. ON SATURDAY (8/19/17) THE VEHICLE COMPLETLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ONTO THE HIGHWAY (92K). THIS EXPERIENCE WAS TERRIFYING. ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I PUT IT IN PARK AND MANAGED TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN (THE DASH BOARD DIDN'T DISPLAY ANY LIGHT) AND DRIVE IT HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES. ON SUNDAY 8/20, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, AGAIN THE VEHICLE STARTED AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT HOME. FIRST THING MONDAY 8/21, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER FOR TROUBLESHOOTING. THEY SPENT 2 HOURS AND WEREN'T ABLE TO TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS DRIVE OFF FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ONCE AGAIN. I WENT BACK TO THE SERVICE AREA AND STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY PROPOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WOULD BE A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR THE SHUTTING OFF ISSUES. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM 8/21 THRU 8/24. THEY WANTED TO TEST THE VEHICLE AFTER DOING THE REPAIRS. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 8/24 AT 4:30PM. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS ALL SET AND SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS CHARGED $357 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. ON FRIDAY AUGUST 25TH ABOUT 6AM, I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE TO WORK, WHILE THE CAR WAS ON THE FREEWAY (ABOUT 50MPH) I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND DID NOT WANTED TO MOVE AT ALL. I TURNED IT OFF AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN THAT MORNING. I JUST RECIEVED A PHONE CALL TODAY (8/29) THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN ON A PERFECTLY WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE FROM NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER AND WE ARE BEING ASK TO PAY 5.5K PLUS TAXES FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IN NEED. THIS BAD ENGINE SHOULD BE COVER BY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURING.
ENGINE STARTED MAKING A POPPING SOUND CLOW TO FAST CONTINGENT ON THROTTLE. ENGINE THREW A ROD. NEEDS NEW ENGINE AT 77,000
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR CUT OFF. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T RESTART. TOWED IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN SPARTANBURG, SC. THEY CHARGED ME $110 FOR DIAGNOSTICS AFTER WHICH THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY BATTERY. I WAS DRIVING HOME (NC) WHEN IT STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE. I DROVE IT TO THE CLOSEST HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN.
CLICKING FROM ENGINE BUT DOES NOT START CRANKSHAFT FAILED/BROKEN UPPER OIL PAN BROKEN DUE TO CRANKSHAFT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND THEN IT FROZE UP THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND HAD TO PULL OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD. TRIED TO RESTART THE RADIO CAME ON BUT THE ENGINE NEVER STARTED UP
JULY 17, 2017 - WHILE TRAVELLING FROM ANGIER, NC TO FAYETTEVILLE, NC; I STARTED HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE, HAD CAR TOWED TO AAA CAR CARE CENTER. INFORMED OF RECALL ON ENGINE BY AAA REPRESENTATIVE. CALLED JOHNSON HYUNDAI OF CARY LOCATED IN CARY, NC TO CONFIRM CAR CAN GO THERE. JULY 18, 2017 ' CAR TOWED TO JOHNSON HYUNDAI OF CARY LOCATED IN CARY, NC. TALKED TO CAR MAINTENANCE CONSULTANT: MATTHEW (MATT) BROWNING. INFORMED MY CAR WAS OF 5 CARS THERE WITH ENGINE FAILURE. INFORMED OF RECALL PROBLEM WITH ENGINES. AUGUST 09, 2017 ' WENT TO JOHNSON HYUNDAI. INFORMED I WAS #5 AND INFORMED BY MATT THE PROCESS OF SENDING THE ENGINES TO BE DIAGNOSED. AUGUST 11, 2017 ' MATT CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT MY CAR DID NOT MEET THE RECALL SPECIFICATIONS BUT AN ENGINE COULD BE INSTALLED FOR THE COST OF $4400.00 AND I OKAYED IT. AUGUST 14, 2017 ' I CALLED FOR A LOANER. AUGUST 15, 2017 ' MATT CALL ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE THEY HAD DID NOT CHECK OUT AND MY ONLY GOOD OPTION WAS FOR THEM TO REBUILD MY ENGINE FOR $7000 TO $8000, THEY PUT IN A HIGH MILEAGE ENGINE THAT THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE OR COME PICK UP MY CAR. INFORMED THE OTHER CARS THERE WITH ENGINE FAILURE HAD WARRANTIES OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES. I ASKED IF I COULD FIND AN ENGINE AND MATT SAID OKAY. LATER, TEXTED MATT BACK THAT I FOUND AN ENGINE ONLINE FROM SWENGINES.COM. HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME HE NEED THE VIN NUMBER OF THE ENGINE. AUGUST 16, 2017 ' MATT CALLED AND SAID HE NEED TO SEE THE ENGINE BEFORE HE COULD SAY HE COULD INSTALL IT OR GIVE ME A PRICE FOR INSTALLATION. AUGUST 17, 2017 ' I WENT TO JOHNSON HYUNDAI TO RETRIEVED MY CAR, MATT TOLD ME THAT HE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR ME AND TOLD ME THE CAR WAS STORED AT ANOTHER LOT. THE AAA TOW TRUCK RETRIEVED MY CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST MOMENTUM BUT NEVER STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROCKLAND HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 140 NEW YORK ROUTE 59, NANUET, NY 10954, TEL: 845-402-8623) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 08/09/17*LJ****UPDATED 08/23/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL FILTER DEFECT. UPDATED 8/25/2017*JS *CN
PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW 6/15/12. WE CHANGED OIL AT PROPER INTERVALS. I NOTICED WHEN WE FIRST STARTED CAR A TAPPET NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. NO LIGHTS SHOWN ON DASH. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER IN FEAR OF CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE. THEY KEPT CAR FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS . THEY CALLED AND TOLD US ENGINE WAS GONE. WE PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THEY TOLD US SLUDGE WAS IN ENGINE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY OWNER NEGLECT. FOUND NUMEROUS OWNER TESTIMONIES ON LINE WHICH THE SAME THING. HYUNDAI HAS NUMEROUS CLASS ACTIONS SUITS ON THEM. THEY HAVE MAJOR MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLEANING PROCESS WITH METAL FILINGS LEFT IN ENGINE. LOOK ON LINE UNDER HYUNDAI ENGINE FAILURES THERE ARE NUMEROUS WEBSITES REGARDING THIS ISSUE. CONSUMER NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS IF THEY DON'T ALREADY. WORD OF ADVICE , STAY FAR AWAY FROM HYUNDAI. THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR SO CALLED WARRANTY. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS NOT EVEN WORTH THE PAPER ITS PRINTED ON. THE BEST THING THEY COULD DO IS TAKE CARE OF ALL COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM AND THEN GO BANKRUPT.
THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY. THE ENGINE DIES. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A BIG RIG CAUSE MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A TAPPING NOISE OCCURRING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN LATER TAKEN TO ETTLESON HYUNDAI (6420 JOLIET RD, COUNTRYSIDE, IL 60525, PHONE NUMBER: (708) 231-4586) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALER PLACED A TITLE BRAND ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
WE HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE INSTANCES WHEN OUR SUV STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN PROCEEDING TO DRIVE ONCE A STOP SIGNAL CHANGED. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRED YESTERDAY WHEN WE MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO US 101 FROM STEINER STREET IN SF. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE CAR RESTARTED ONCE I GOT IT BACK INTO PARK. IT WAS A HARROWING EXPERIENCE ON THIS BUSY STREET
MOISTURE INSIDE BOTH TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES
I HAVE A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE I PURCHASED USED 2 MONTHS AGO. YESTERDAY ON EASTER HALF WAY BACK FROM FAMILY GATHERING ALL THE SUDDEN THE MOTOR STARTS MAKING VERY LOUD TICKING SOUND. I WAS TERRIFIED AS WAS MY 3 CHILDREN. I SLOW TO A COAST ANDCONTACT DEALER. THE OFFICE WAS CLOSED I TRIED MANY NUMBERS. THEN WHILE COASTING ON SIDE OF ROAD WITHIN ONLY MINUTES MY CAR MAKESVERY LOUD N JULTING POP SOUND STARTS SMOKING N METAL FLIES FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STOPS COMPLETELY N HAS TO BE TOWED. I PICK UP PIECES AFTER THEY COOL. THEY WAS SMOKING HOT BUT NO ENGINE LIGHT WARNING OR OVERHEAT WARNING WHAT SO EVER. AT DEALERS TODAY I WAS ABLE TO LOOK UNDER MY CAR AND A CHUNK OF THE BOTTOM.OF MOTOR HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT PUTTING MY 3 BABIES MY BOYFRIEND N I IN SERIOUS DANGER. I JUST FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SOME OF THESE MOTORS AND I THINK ITS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A HUGE DEFECT AS WELL. CARS DON'T RUN FINE THEN BLOW HOLES IN BOTTOM OF MOTORS IN MINUTES OUT OF THE BLUE. PLS CONTACT ME. I HAVE LESS THAN 100,000 ON THIS CAR AND EVERYTHING IN IT. PLS HELP MY FAMILY. I WAS SIMPLY TURNING OFF A CITY STREET ON HH HWY ONLY GOT UP TO 20 TO 25 WHEN TICKING BEGAN. (I HAVE VIDEO SO YOU CAN HEAR NOISE BUT WOULDNTLET ME SEND)
BEGAN MAKING LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. AND ENGINE DIED. OIL CAME OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. IT WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TRAVELING STRAIGHT.
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND SIMILAR ISSUES IN OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE WHICH IS WHY THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN
AFTER 104,000 MILES, MY SANTA FE 2012 ENGINE DIED ON THE ROAD. HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND, AND THEN THE GEARS LOCKED, AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. THE SANTA FE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TOLD THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE IN THE ENGINE. TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. PRICE $8,000 FOR THE REPAIR. WENT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, AND PAID $5,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. I NEED TO KNOW WHERE I CAN FILE WITH HYUNDAI, FOR I HEARD OF A POSSIBLE RECALL ON 2012 SANTA FE'S IN THE NEAR FUTURE. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON THE BELTWAY AROUND DC WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SHOULDER WHERE AAA THEN CAME AND TOWED HER TO A SHOP. SHOP SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUES, REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CHARGED US FOR IT. FOUR DAYS LATER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON I-95 NORTH THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AGAIN. THE DEALER IS TELLING US IT IS NOW AN ENGINE ISSUE, WHICH WAS SOMEHOW NOT THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE AND WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON BEFORE THE FAILURE AND ALL OF THE FLUIDS ARE FULL TO STANDARD LEVELS. THE DEALER IS SAYING THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND HYUNDAI CORPORATE IS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO FOR US. VEHICLE WAS BUILT ONLY 5 YEARS AGO, AND ONLY HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT. BECAUSE WE ARE THE SECOND OWNER, THE ORIGINAL 75,000 MILE WARRANTY NOW ONLY GOES TO 62,000. SHE OR ANYBODY ELSE AROUND HER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
A SAFETY ACCIDENT HAS NOT HAPPEN WITH MY VEHICLE BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT SINCE MY FRONT DOME LIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING WHEN I OPEN MY DOOR. I DON'T HAVE ANY WARRANTY BECAUSE Y'ALL TOOK AWAY THE GOOD WARRANTY SINCE THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY MY MOTHER'S.PLEASE RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME CONDITION IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE OEM PART WOULD FAIL AGAIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,155. UPDATED 06/21/17*LJ *CN
2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE SHIFT LOCK FROZE. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JS
REAR DRIVERS TAIL LIGHT FILLING UP WITH WATER.
TAKATA RECALL I BROUGHT MY CAR 1 YEAR AGO I'VE BEEN DOING MAINTENANCE OIL CHANGE, TUNE UP ON MY CAR, HOWEVER IT STARTED MAKING SOME TYPE OF TICKING NOISE WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD I COULD PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE OR DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT BREAKS DOWN. I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR A NEW ENGINE. I PUT 5000 DOLLARS ON THE CAR FOR A DOWN PAYMENT. IM ALSO FINANCIN IT AT THIS TIME. ALSO THE BREAKS MAKING A SQUEAKY SOUND IN I KNOW MY BREALS ARE GOOD.
AS EARLY AS LAST SUMMER, MY 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTED TO (INTERMITTENTLY) ACCELERATE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. FRANKLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO THE SANDALS I WAS WEARING. I THOUGHT I WAS OCCASIONALLY STEPPING ON THE GAS AND THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME (I HAVE VERY BIG FEET -- SIZE FIFTEEN). THE PROBLEM STOPPED WHEN I SWITCHED SHOES (WHICH ALSO CORRESPONDED TO THE END OF SUMMER). THE PROBLEM CAME BACK INTERMITTENTLY THIS SUMMER AND IS NOW REPEATABLE. WHEN I AM GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL AT SPEEDS OVER ABOUT 20 MPH, THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASE WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE. IT DOES THAT WHILE IN GEAR AND WHILE IN NEUTRAL. OBVIOUSLY, IF THE DRIVE TRAIN IS IN GEAR, THE ENGINE "FIGHTS AGAINST" THE BRAKE; IF THE DRIVE TRAIN IS IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE REVS. IF THE ENGINE IS IN NEUTRAL OR IS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AFTER THE ACCELERATION STARTS, THE ENGINE RACES UNTIL I LET OFF THE BRAKE. IT HAS GONE AS HIGH AS 4-5 K RPM BEFORE I LET OFF THE BRAKE. ALL THAT'S REQUIRED TO GET THE CAR TO RETURN TO NORMAL IDLE IS THAT I PUMP THE BRAKE (LET OFF THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY -- I CAN IMMEDIATELY RE-APPLY THE BRAKE AND THE PROBLEM WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN). I HAVE IDENTIFIED A STRETCH OF ROAD NEAR MY HOUSE WHERE THE PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS. DRIVING EAST AT THE END OF WALNUT STREET AT THE INTERSECTION OF WALNUT AND BOSTON HILL CIRCLE, NEAR SOUTH STREET IN SHREWSBURY, MA 01545, IT PROBLEMS ALWAYS REPLICATES. IT ALSO ALWAYS HAPPENS AT THE BEND IN THE ROAD WHILE GOING DOWN HILL ON BOSTON HILL CIRCLE... UPDATED10/13/16 *BF ...VIDEO AVAILABLE *TR
WAS DRIVING ON I 5 IN CALIFORNIA WHEN ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK LOUDLY. PULLED OVER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT VISUALLY FIND ANY REASON FOR ENGINE MALFUNCTION & SAID HYUNDAI SHOULD COVER IT DUE TO IT ONLY HAD 63,000 MILES. THEY SUBMITTED MY CLAIM AND IT WAS DENIED. I TRIED TO APPEAL BUT WAS TOLD THEIR DECISION WAS FINALE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ASTONISHED AS WAS I. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALER IT WAS AN OIL ISSUE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A LACK OF OIL BUT CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AND YET HYUNDAI REFUSED TO HELP.
SINCE PURCHASE (NEW), THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENTLY EXHIBITED A ISSUE WITH ITS TRANSMISSION. WHEN COLD (ORIGINALLY IN THE WINTER MONTHS BUT NOW IN THE WARMER MONTHS AS WELL), BACKING THE CAR UP AND PLACING IT IN DRIVE CAUSES A 'HARD DROP OR LOCK INTO FORWARD GEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED MOVING. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND INSPECTION OF THE COMPUTER MEMORY SHOWS NO ISSUES. THE PROBLEM IS INCREASING INFREQUENCY AND REGULARITY.
ACCELERATING AWAY FROM STOP LIGHT, ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED FROM FIREWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS 15-20 FT. INTO A FIVE LANE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE IDLED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION SAFELY INTO A PARKING LOT. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED AT 0610 ON 26 JUNE 2016 WHEN TRAFFIC WAS LITE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED OF FLAMES UNDER THE VEHICLE AS BLACK SMOKE POURED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED BRUISES ON THE FACE AND CHEST AND EXPERIENCED TROUBLE BREATHING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
WELL MAINTAINED ENGINE WITH 128,000 MILES FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. OIL PRESSURE, RPM AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM. PISTON APPARENTLY SHATTERED AND BLEW THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE.
4/1/2016: DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I-40 WESTBOUND IN LAS CRUCES IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, THE CAR ENGINE DIED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER. CAR TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP, BUT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED; CAR EVENTUALLY RESTARTED. 2ND ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE ON 4/11/16; NONE COULD BE FOUND. CAR STARTED TO MAKE OCCASIONAL LOUD ENGINE NOISE OVER ENSUING MONTHS. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI, AND IN OCTOBER 2016 WAS TOLD TO BRING CAR 100 MILES BACK TO LAS CRUCES, NM (BORMAN AUTOPLEX) FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. BORMAN DIAGNOSED METAL SHAVINGS IN ENGINE (SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL TO PROBLEM FOR THE 470,000 SONATAS WITH METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE). A FULL ENGINE FAILURE AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS RECOMMENDED. I CONTENDED THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE, AS IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE VEHICLE DYING WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE BEING DRIVEN COULD PROVE DANGEROUS OR FATAL TO THE DRIVER/PASSENGERS. THE ENGINE FAILED FULLY, AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. AGAIN, ISSUE BEGAN 4/1/2016; ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY 12/28/2016. *TR
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A "SCRAPING" NOISE WHEN TURNED. HYUNDAI SAYS THIS IS "NORMAL"; HOWEVER, UP UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE CAR NEVER MADE THIS NOISE. MY WIFE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR ANYMORE; HOWEVER, HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND I OWN A SECOND VEHICLE THAT IS THE EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND IT DOES NOT MAKE THIS SOUND. SINCE THE STEERING COLUMN IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE -AND INCLUDES THE AIR BAG COMPONENTS, ETC., WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE PREMATURE DETONATION OF THE AIRBAG AND/OR SOME KIND OF STEERING FAILURE. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND WE ARE CONCERNED NOT JUST FOR OUR OWN SAFETY BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL HYUNDAI OWNERS DRIVING WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN I TRIED TO ESCALATE THE COMPLAINT TO HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER CARE, THE SUPERVISOR (MR. JULIO O.) REFUSED TO ESCALATE THE COMPLAINT -WHICH CAUSES ME GRAVE CONCERN THAT HYUNDAI IS OBSTRUCTING THE COMPLAINT PROCESS IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT PROFIT MARGINS.
ALL EVENTS OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.BEGAN TO HAVE A INTERMITTENT NO START CONDITION AROUND THE THIRD WEEK OF JANUARY 2016. THETA 2.4 ENGINE #165130 WOULD NOT TURN OVER. A JUMP START WITH 2ND VEHICLE BATTERY SUPPLY AND JUMPER CABLES WERE NEEDED FOR ENGINE TO RUN.TESTED THE BATTERY VOLTAGE OUTPUT ON SANTA FE WITH ENGINE COLD 12.65 AND ENGINE RUNNING 13.96 TO 14.02 RANGE ALL STARTING AND CHARGING COMPONENTS WERE OPERATING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AND NO CHECK ENGINE OR BATTERY INDICATORS ILLUMINATING. NO SIGNS OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS EVIDENT. ON 01/29/2016 AFTER HAVING TWO MORE NO STARTS WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH BRAND NEW ONE. ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START.TESTED VOLTAGE ON BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, STARTER,IGNITION AND FUEL PUMP RELAYS. HAD SPARK ON ALL COILS AND FUEL. AIR FILTER WAS NEW. FELT CONFIDENT THERE WAS NO NEED TO CHECK COMPRESSION AS THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL SIGNS PRESENT. AT CERTAIN TIMES SOME ENGINE COMPONENTS DUE WEAR OUT SO I HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT THE ENGINE AND ASKED HIM TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. ENGINE WOULD NOT TURNOVER AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. ON 01/30/2016 CONNECTED MY OBD2 AND GOT A TOTAL OF 11 CODES, P0445,261,267,270,264,448. FIVE OUT OF FIRST ELEVEN WERE DISPLAYED TWICE EXCEPT P0448.I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A HYUNDAI AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEPT ON 02/02/2016 THE SERVICE ADVISER AT FRANK HYUNDAI ADVISED ME HIS MECHANIC PERFORMED A COMPRESSION AND LEAK DOWN TEST AND INFORMED ME ENGINE HAD LOW COMPRESSION IN 3 OUT OF 4 CYLINDERS WITH ACTIVE CODES P0223 P0445 AND P2106.ONE CYLINDERS WAS SAID TO BE BLOWING AIR UP TOWARDS VALVE COVER.I WAS TOLD THEY SUSPECTED PISTON RINGS OR CYLINDER HEAD WAS CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE.HAD CAR TOWED HOME. AFTER FINDING BLOWN FUSE I WAS ABLE TO START CAR BUT SHUT IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY FROM LOUD NOISE COMING FROM VALVE TRAIN ROTATING ASSEMBLY.UNKNOWN SYMPTOMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY CROSSED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE. AS A RESULT, A HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT DOING ABOUT 5MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, TOOK ME OVER A CEMENT BARRIER, A CURB, WENT AIRBORNE, LANDED IN A BUSH WHICH IT TORE IN HALF AND TOOK WITH ME, ACROSS THE SIDEWALK AND SPUN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OFF THE RIM AND I GOT IT TO STOP. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAS BEEN FOR ONE MONTH AS HYUNDAI DRAGGED THEIR HEELS UNTIL I GOT ANGRY AND EMAILED THEM. TWO DAYS AFTER I EMAILED THEM I GOT THE FOLLOWING LEAVING ME WITH THE REPAIRS AS WELL AS PAYING FOR THE RENTAL FOR A MONTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT CORRESPONDENCE. WE HAVE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED YOUR COMMENTS AND REGRET THE CIRCUMSTANCES YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE MATERIALS PROVIDED AND INSPECTED YOUR SANTA FE. THE ENTIRE ACCELERATION SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE PEDALS AND THROTTLE, THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED AND CHECKED. WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY MALFUNCTIONS OR DEFECTS THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE CONDITION YOU CLAIM CAUSED YOUR ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, IT GOT DARK, SO I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS ( THE LOW BEAMS) I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, THEY SEEMED FINE BUT WHEN I EXITED THE FREEWAY ONTO A DARK SURFACE ROAD, I WAS UNABLE TO SEE MORE THAN 30 FEET AHEAD OF ME . THERE WAS TOTAL BLACKNESS ABOVE THE LIGHTS. THEY ARE NOT SET PROPERLY.I LOOKED ONLINE TO RESEARCH IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS COMMON AND PEOPLE ARE JUST DRIVING WITH THEIR HIGHBEAMS ON TO CORRECT THIS THE LOW BEAMS ARE SET AT A TERRIBLE ANGLE, IT'S CRAZY HOW BAD THEY ARE. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND CAN NOT USE THE LOW BEAMS AT ALL. THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH INTO THE DISTANCE TO MAKE DRIVING AT NIGHT , SAFE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A DEALER 11 DAYS AGO. I DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT, HAD I DONE SO I WOULD HAVE ASKED TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ADJUSTED.I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS, AS I BELIEVE THIS MODEL VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED TO HAVE THE HEAD LIGHT ADJUSTMENT FIXED IN ORDER TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT AND AS NOT TO BLIND OTHER DRIVERS BY DRIVING WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON.
TODAY APRIL 28, 2015, MY MOTHER, DAUGHTER AND I WERE COMING HOME FROM RUNNING AN ERRAND, WHEN WE CAME TO ARE HOUSE WE PULLED UP AND WENT IN REVERSE TO PULL INTO THE DRIVE WAY LIKE NORMAL SO WE CAN PARK THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. WHEN WE PULLED IN WE WERE GOING JUST 5MPH. THEN SUDDENLY WHEN MY MOM WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE THE STOP AND PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. THE CAR OUT OF NO WHERE LURCHED AND CRASHED INTO ARE WASHER, WATER HEATER , AND CAUSED THE BACK WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. AN WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND ITS ALWAYS THE SAME ROUTINE, SO WERE VERY SHOOK UP ON HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. EVEN THOUGH THIS HAPPENED AT A RESIDENT IM FILING THIS SINCE IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE TO ANOTHER CAR. *TR
I WAS AT THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN STATEN ISLAND THE DAY AFTER MY TIRE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THEY SAID THAT I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR OVERNIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. WHEN I RETURNED THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE NEEDED AIR. MY TIRE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TWO MORE TIMES DURING THE TIME PERIOD THAT PROCEEDED THE SERVICE. I FILLED MY TIRE AGAIN WITH AIR THE SECOND TIME. THEN THE THIRD TIME THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT! I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY SENT SOMEONE TO COME AND PUT THE DOUGHNUT ON THE CAR. I THEN DROVE THE CAR TO CHARLEY'S TIRE A LOCAL TIRE REPAIR SHOP TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TIRE. SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS A NAIL IN MY TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NON REPAIRABLE DUE TO THE TREADS BEING EXTREMELY WORN, SO $180 DOLLARS LATER I HAD A NEW COMPARABLE TIRE PUT ON MY CAR. THE TREADS ON THE OTHER THREE TIRES ARE ALSO AT RISK ACCORDING THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED MY TIRE AT THE TIRE SHOP. THE CRAP CONDITION OF THE ROADS ON STATEN ISLAND IS NO HELP NEITHER FOR CONDITION WAS CAUSED BY A MASSIVE POTHOLE THE FORMED IN A SEWER MANHOLE COVER. TIRES ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF THE FIRST TIME BY THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE MOST CAR OWNERS BRING THEIR CARS THERE TO BE MAINTAINED AND FIXED, NOT THREE TIMES AND $180 LATER BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IF DEALERSHIP MECHANICS AND SERVICE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE LAZY IN THIS PRACTICE, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PUT IN DANGER AND GOING ELSEWHERE TO HAVE THEIR AUTOMOTIVE PROBLEMS TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY.
WHILE DRIVING A/C TURNED ITSELF ON, WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITH THE OFF BUTTON, HAD TO SELECT HEAD/FOOT AIRFLOW BUTTON TO GET SYSTEM TO TURN OFF. SECOND INCIDENT ON MARCH 30TH A/C WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK PRIOR TO ENGINE SHUT OFF, HAD TO SELECT SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETTINGS BEFORE A/C WOULD SHUT OFF. THIRD INCIDENT TODAY AGAIN A/C TURNED ITSELF ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF PRIOR TO ENGINE SHUT OFF - HAD TO AGAIN SELECT SEVERAL DIFFERENT SETTINGS TO TURN OFF A/C. *TR
FEBRUARY 20,2015 ABOUT 7:30 IN THE EVENING AS I WAS GOING UP A GRADE TOWARDS A RED LIGHT , MY CAR SURGED FORWARD WHEN I WAS BRAKING. I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL I THREW IT INTO PARK AND HAD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I CALLED 911 TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR IN FRONT HAD SOME GATE CRACK. MY CAR HAD CRACKED PLASTIC UNDER THE BUMPER AND MARKS ON THE PLASTIC PART OF THE BUMPER. *TR
VEHICLE INEXPLICABLY LURCHED AHEAD WHEN FOOT ON BRAKE, WENT OVER A CURB, THROUGH SOME GRASS AND INTO AND OVER A FIRE HYDRANT. WAS UNABLE TO STOP/CONTROL THE VEHICLE,. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDRIVEABLE AND AT THE BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *TR
ON 2/4/15, MY 2012 SANTA FE HAD AN UNEXPECTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND ME, THE DRIVER. I HAD BACKED INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK FACING A BUSY ROAD AND WHILE RE-POSITIONING VEHICLE, GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR PROPELLED FORWARD, GOING THROUGH A 4 FOOT SNOW BANK AND INTO A STONE WALL. THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND HIT ME DIRECT IN CENTER CHEST. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED IN ABOUT 2 SECONDS AND I HAD MY FOOT DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PUT MY LEFT FOOT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *JS IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I DID NOT HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER VEHICLE, WHICH WHEN I LATER PROCESSED THIS, WAS THE MOST FRIGHTENING PART.. AFTER GOOGLING THIS COMPLAINT, I WAS STUNNED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS.
WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON AN INCLINE, VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR HAD STALLED OUT BUT THE RPM'S WERE STILL BETWEEN 1 AND 2. WHEN I PRESSED HARDER ON THE GAS THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IS NOW HAPPENING MORE OFTEN, NOT ALWAYS ON AN INCLINE OR WHEN TEMPERATURE OR ENGINE IS COLD. TAKING TO DEALER FOR REPAIR BUT TOLD IF THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR 4 MONTHS AND WANT TO GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW. NOT SURE IF ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR FUEL SYSTEM BUT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT. HOPE IT HAPPENS FOR THE DEALER SO IT CAN BE FIXED. *TR
WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING IDLE OR DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AC IS MANUALLY TURNED OFF WITHIN 30 TO 60 SECONDS THE AC WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE, PROPERTY DAMAGE, A CRASH, OR FATALITY AND SHOULD BE ADDRESS BY THE MANUFACTURE. *TR
WAS MAKING LEFT HAND TURN, CAR JUST DIED, NO WARNING AND NO LIGHTS CAME ON. COASTED TO STOP AND CAR STARTED RIGHT UP[. ANOTHER TIME LEAVING PARKING LOT CAR STARTED WAS RUNING FINE THEN LOST SPEED, COULDN'T GO OVER 25 MPH TOOK CAR TO HYUNDAI SHOP AND THEY CKECK CAR AND THEY DID ALL THE CHECKS AND REPAIRS AND SAID CAR SHOULD BE OK. TICKET #[XXX]. ALSO CALLED HYUNDAI COMPANY AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THEM,, CASE #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR JUST DIED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AS NO LIGHTS APPEARED BUT THE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND I REALIZED THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING FOR NO REASON. IT WAS VERY ALARMING SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DRIVING. NOT STOPPED OR TURNING. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME BUT HAD I BEEN ON A BUSIER ROAD OR GOING AT A HIGHER SPEED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND EVEN MORE SO FOR AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR NOW. *TR
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STALLED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, WHEEL CONTROL, AND BRAKES. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A MALL PARKING LOT. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE DOWN A ROW OF PARKING SPOTS, MY CAR STALLED AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE OR GUIDE THE VEHICLE. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, I WAS TURNING LEFT DOWN THE STREET TO MY HOME. AGAIN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR STALLED, VARIOUS LIGHT ELIMINATED ON THE DASH, AND I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD NO ADVANCED WARNING AND THE CAR OTHERWISE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY. *TR
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT SLOW SPEED THE CARS STALLS OUT. TODAY 7/16 IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE SAME EVENT HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME WEEK ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO THEN NOT AGAIN. THIS SOUNDS TOO SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS W/ GM CARS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED, CAR SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, AND RESTARTED. DURING INTERIM 20 SECONDS, ATTEMPTED TO PULL VEHICLE TO LEFT SHOULDER AS I WAS DRIVING IN FAR LEFT LANE. I FELT "ENGINE DROP" OR A FEELING WHEREAS THE CAR NO LONGER FELT POWERED, CUE THAT THE ENGINE HAD WENT OFF. POWER STEERING WENT MANUAL ALONG WITH OTHER POWER ASSIST DEVICES LIKE POWER STEERING. ON DIRT SHOULDER OF FREEWAY ATTEMPTING WITH MANUAL BRAKES AND STEERING TO BRING VEHICLE OFF ROADWAY. VEHICLE RESTARTED DURING MANEUVER. STILL MOVING AT SAFE SPEED ATTEMPTED TO MERGE BACK ONTO THE FREEWAY, HAVING NOT YET DECELERATED ENOUGH YET TO CONTINUE TO PULL OVER....CLEAR AND DRY CONDITIONS IN NORTH LA COUNTY. THIS VEHICLE HOWEVER HAS ALWAYS HAD "OVERLY RESPONSIVE" OR "VERY TIGHT" STEERING, FOR LACK OF BETTER TERMINOLOGY. I LEASED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT FULLY REALIZE, UNTIL SOME TIME PASSED, WHAT THIS 'STEERING CHARACTERISTIC' WOULD MEAN IN THE FUTURE, IN AN EVENT REQUIRING ACCURATE AND RESPONSIVE STEERING COMBINED WITH THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE SUDDEN ENGINE POWER RESUMING, COMBINED WITH, WHAT THIS WRITER WOULD DESCRIBE AS "TIGHT STEERING" TO BEGIN WITH, MADE THE VEHICLE ROLL. THE VEHICLE, WITH WHAT FELT LIKE A "HIGH CENTER OF GRAVITY" ALWAYS FELT LIKE IT WOULD ROLL IF ONE WERE TO HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY TO AVOID SOMETHING IN THE ROAD FOR EXAMPLE. I DID NOT REALIZE THIS FEATURE DURING MY TEST DRIVE. BEING A LESSEE I WAS OBLIGATED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS. THE VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE CROSSING 3 LANES OF AN OCCUPIED NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 14. A SUDDEN JOLT RESULTED IN A FRACTURE OF L1 VERTEBRAE. DURING ROLL, JACK BECAME UNDONE FROM WHERE IT WAS FACTORY MOUNTED UNDERNEATH LIFT UP COVER, AND HAD NEVER BEEN REMOVED. FLAILING AROUND IN THE VEHICLE NOW WAS THIS HEAVY SCISSOR JACK BOUNCING AROUND IN THE VEHICLE COMPARTMENT WITH ME. I AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE. *TR