2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Structure Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to Marco’s body shop where it was diagnosed that both struts, new tires, front passenger side wheel cylinder, wheel mount, tie rod, and wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the mechanic noticed that the driver’s side cross member had fractured and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the subframe was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number and advised to take the vehicle to the dealer at a different location. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE CAR. THE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED SO MUCH THAT I CAN'T DRIVE IT. HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE. THEY SAID NOT TO DRIVE IT AND YOU SHOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. THEY SAID THE TIRE WOULD FALL OFF OR WORSE. THEY WOULDN'T TOUCH IT. SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME IN THE FRONT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, IT WOULD COST $2000. WHEN I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HYUNDAI, THEY SAID IT COULD COST UP TO $5000. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT. I THEN TOWED IT HOME AND IT IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I BOUGHT.

Mileage: 136,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

Mileage: 126,000

SUBFRAME/ENGINE CRADLE ROT TO POINT OF SEPARATION, LOSS OF STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL. MY NEWLY LICENSED GRAND-DAUGHTER TOOK IT FOR A SHORT ABOUT TOWN DRIVE, NOT GETTING MORE THAN A QUARTER MILE BEFORE THE WHEEL SNAPPED OUT OF HER HANDS AND THE VEHICLE HEADED FOR THE CENTER LINE. SHE MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, MOVEMENT FORWARD WAS SLOPPY. AWEFUL NOISES COMING FROM BELOW. FLUIDS LEAKING. I KNEW THERE WAS RUST UNDERNEATH BUT NOT SUCH GREATLY WEAKENED PARTS. IMG_6087.JPG

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION AND SUBFRAME THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS MOUNTED TO WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME AND SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,215.

Mileage: 184,215

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,592.

Mileage: 98,592

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT TIRES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

BECAME 2ND OWNER IN JUNE 2005. IN MARCH 2010, HYUNDAI RECALLED VEHICLE FOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT RUSTING/CORROSION, SPECIFICALLY REAR TRAILING ARMS & FRONT SUB-FRAME. [ HYUNDAI HAS HAD NUMEROUS (8-9 ??) SIMILAR SUSPENSION RECALLS OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS FOR ELANTRA, SONATA, TIBURON, AZERA AND OTHER MODELS.] IN MARCH 2010, RESPONDING TO RECALL, VEHICLE TAKEN TO AUTHORIZED HYUNDAI DEALER, WHERE DEALER ELECTED TO REPAIR, RATHER THAN REPLACE AFFECTED FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THE PRESCRIBED RECALL REPAIR CONSISTED OF DRILLING (DRAIN) HOLES IN ALL FRONT & REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, REMOVING EXCESS RUST FROM INSIDE COMPONENTS, THEN SPRAYING WITH ANTI-CORROSIVE WAX. AUGUST 7, 2013, RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM FAILED DUE TO CONTINUED EXCESSIVE CORROSION, CAUSING STEERING LOSS AND NEAR WHEEL COLLAPSE. HYUNDAI DEALER REVEALED CAUSE OF SUSPENSION FAILURE. HYUNDAI CORROSION SPECIALIST CONCLUDED THAT HYUNDAI WOULD REPLACE BOTH REAR TRAILING ARMS ONLY (NOT FRONT SUB-FRAME COMPONENTS, WHICH ARE ALSO EXCESSIVELY RUSTED/CORRODED), BUT THAT BECAUSE OF VEHICLE'S 10+ YEAR AGE, OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL "INCIDENTAL AND RELATED SUSPENSION PARTS AND LABOR" EXPENSES INCURRED WHILE THE REAR TRAILING ARM REPLACEMENTS WERE BEING MADE. I AM APPEALING THIS HYUNDAI DECISION TO NHTSA BECAUSE THE REPAIR THAT HYUNDAI ELECTED TO PERFORM (VS A FULL COMPONENTS REPLACEMENT) IN MARCH 2010, WHEN VEHICLE WAS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD, HAS PROVEN TO BE TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE, AND THAT OWNER HAS NOT CONTRIBUTED, IN ANY WAY, TO THIS SUSPENSION DEFECT. GIVEN HYUNDAI'S CORROSION VULNERABILITIES, THEIR INABILITY TO EFFECT A REPAIR IN 2010, AND THE OWNER'S NON-CONTRIBUTORY ROLE HERE, HYUNDAI SHOULD NOW REPLACE ALL FRONT & REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AS THEY SHOULD HAVE IN 2010, AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. *TR

Mileage: 166,200

DRIVING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH. CAR HOOD BLEW WIDE OPEN AND WAS LAYING UP, OVER MY WINDSHIELD. LEFT ME ALMOST BLINDED; ABLE TO SEE OUT A SMALL OPENING, ABOUT 2-4 INCHES AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD WHERE HOOD IS RAISED UP BY HINGES. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER OF ROAD SAFELY. BOTH HOOD LATCH AND SAFETY LATCH FAILED. CAR IS IN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD CONDITION EXCEPT FOR MY NOW BENT AND DAMAGED HOOD. I AM VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THANK YOU G-D. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS HOOD FAILURE TO HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. HOPE THIS HELPS TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

AFTER TURNING A CORNER @ 15 MPH I HAD TO LEAVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE 9 O-CLOCK POSITION IN ORDER TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. I NOTICED THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT I HAD AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM SO I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LOCAL TIRE REPAIR SHOP. ONCE THEY LIFTED THE VEHICLE UP FOR INSPECTION THEY NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE MECHANIC I FELL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THE 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM SO I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED I WAS THE 3RD VEHICLE THEY HAVE REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS MAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WITH NO COST TO ME. I FELL THAT ALL 2001 SANTA FE'S SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR AN INSPECTION AT THE LEAST. WE SHOULD NOT BE WAITING FOR A SEVERE ACCIDENT BEFORE THE NECESSARY STEPS ARE TAKEN. THERE ARE ONLY 30,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN THE TOWN WHERE I HAD MY VEHICLE TAKEN FOR SERVICE, 3 REPAIRS WOULD INDICATE TO ME THAT OVER THE ENTIRE USA THERE ARE A LOT MORE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN THE EVENING ON THE SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY (55 MPH, LEFT LANE, PKWY TRAFFIC HEAVY BUT MOVING WELL), STEERING SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHIMMY, FOLLOWED BY GRINDING NOISE EMANATING FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. ASSUMED A FLAT, PULLED FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, PUT HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND BEGAN TO PULL OVER TO RIGHT LANE. STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL AS STEERING WHEEL WAS WHIPPING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, GRINDING NOISE INCREASED - AS I SLOWED ENOUGH TO PULL ONTO DIRT SHOULDER, RIGHT FRONT OF CAR COLLAPSED, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF AND BOUNCED ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC BEFORE LANDING ON OPPOSITE SHOULDER OF PARKWAY. THAT THE WHEEL DIDN'T FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING AT FULL 55 MPH AND WHEN IT DID FAIL, THAT IT BOUNCED BETWEEN ONCOMING CARS, AND DID NOT HIT ONE OF THEM AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WAS ASTOUNDING. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR HINT OF A PROBLEM, MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE WHEEL LITERALLY RUSTED OFF - HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MECHANIC STATES 3 OTHER WHEELS HAVE MORE RUST THAN HE HAS EVER SEEN ON A VEHICLE, HOWEVER, HE DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS DANGER OF AN IMMEDIATE FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

THE REAR TRAILING ARMS ROTTED AND ONE BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING. II TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, WHO WAS TOLD BY HIS PARTS CONTACT THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH HYUNDAI SANTA FE'S. BOTH THE REAR TRAILING ARMS NEEDED REPLACING. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND THEY REFUSE TO LOOK INTO IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER, THEY COULDN'T CONFIRM IT AND THEY DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO INVESTIGATE IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE AS TO WHICH SERVICE PLACE I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO. THE BOTTOM LINE IS - THE VEHICLE NEEDED REPAIR. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH HYUNDAI FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. CLEARLY, STATING THAT IT NEEDED TO GO TO A HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER IS JUST AN EXCUSE FOR THEM TO DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE OR THE PART. I FEEL THERE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH THE VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT - OR WORSE. MY TEENAGE SON COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH THE SAME DEFECT. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO BE SURE THAT OTHER'S DON'T EXPERIENCE WHAT I EXPERIENCED OR WORSE. IF THE PART HAD BROKEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE HARMED OTHERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND HELP PROTECT OTHERS. *TR

Mileage: 139,719

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE I NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD SWAY TO THE RIGHT AND I HAD TO COMPENSATE BY STEERING THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. A PRELIMINARY INSPECTION SHOWED THAT I NEEDED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE TIRES CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ALIGNED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. UPON INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS ATTACHED HAS A RUST HOLE WHERE THE RIGHT BOLT ATTACHES TO THE SUB FRAME. IN FACT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS ONLY ATTACHED WITH ONE BOLT. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TIE ROD REPLACEMENT AND WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT CAUSED BY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NOT BEING PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE SUB FRAME. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ALIGN THE VEHICLE OR CHANGE THE WHEEL BEARINGS DUE TO THIS CONDITION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE SUB FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. DAMAGE RESULTING = I AM UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COST TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME IS APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 DOLLARS. *TR

Mileage: 155,000

AFTER DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AS IT WAS DRIVEN. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE SHOP SAID THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT AS THERE WAS A FIST SIZE HOLE IN THE FRAME WHERE IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH WHERE THE CONTROL ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. WHILE RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I LEARNED OF MANY SIMILAR DEFECTS REPORTED TO NHTSA I BELIEVE SOME HYUNDAI MODELS SHARE THE FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

MY 2001 SANTE FE WAS MAKING " CREAKING" NOISE BY THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR IT, BUT BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING 35 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO SKID INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE REAR CONTROL ARM SNAPPED OFF DUE TO AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST. THE OTHER SIDE IS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. *TR

Mileage: 119,000

FOR A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. EVERYTIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD SWERVE A LITTLE; THEN THERE WOULD BE A "THUMP" AT THE REAR OF THE CAR. ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT NOISE AT THE REAR OF THE CAR, SO I LOOKED IN THE BACK STORAGE AREA THINKING SOMETHING WAS ROLLING AROUND-FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED DRIVING A FEW MILES, HEARING THE THUMPING NOISE AGAIN, I STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THINKING THE SPARE TIRE BRACKET WAS BROKEN--SAW NOTHING. LATER IN THE DAY, AS I TURNED RIGHT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AT THE REAR. I TOLD MYSELF TO DRIVE SLOWLY--AND THEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BROKE CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. FORTUNATELY FOR MYSELF, OTHER DRIVERS AND HYUNDAI I WAS DRIVING SLOW. THE CAR WAS FLATBEDDED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE REAR TRAILERING ARM "SNAPPED" OFF DUE TO AN IMPACT. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND WANTED TO WAIT FOR THE COMPANY REP BEFORE DECIDING WHAT TO DO. THE REP INSISTED THAT RUST HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PART BREAKING AND THAT I NEEDED TO PAY 1100.00 FOR THE REPAIR (WHICH INCLUDED A NEW BRAKE LINE AND SHOCK DUE TO THE FAULTY PART) THE DEALERSHIP THEN DID NOT WANT TO GIVE ME THE PART BECAUSE IT WAS "TOO RUSTY" TO PUT IN THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE 4TH VEHICLE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. I DO HAVE THE PART AND WILL BE GOING TO THE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY THE COMPANY. *TR

Mileage: 89,229

THE PAINT FADES VERY BADLY ON THIS VEHICLE, DEPRECIATES THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE TREMENDOUSLY. ALSO THE DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT CLICK IN PLACE, IT MOVES AROUND A SMALL AMOUNT. *JB

VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES WHEN DRIVING IN CITY. NOISE APPEARS TO COME UNDER THE CARRIAGE. TAKEN SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. HAVE A WRITTEN COMPLAIN WITH HYUNDAI.*AK

Mileage: 19,327

THE DOOR LOCKS ARE ALL ATIVATED TOGETHER. YOU CAN NOT UNLOCK THE DRIVERS DOOR WITHOUT ALL FOUR DOORS AND THE BACK GATE BEING UNLOCKED. I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY CAR THAT A SINGLE DOOR CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED WITHOUT OPENING ALL THE DOORS. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLE. MY WIFE CAN NOT GO TO THE MALL AND EXIT OR ENTER HER TRUCK WITHOUT THE POSSIBLITY OF SOMEONE ENTERNING HER TRUCK USING A DOOR THAT SHE DID NOT WON,T TO UNLOCK. THERE WILL BE INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH INVOLVED WITH THIS FACTORY DEFECT. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS COMPLAINT POST-HASTE. THANKS; CHARLES WALSINGHAM. *AK