2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Engine Problems
63 complaints about Engine
High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
All Engine Complaints (63)
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. With no prior indications, the engine seized while driving on side street at 25mph. Engine blew hole in block and dumped engine parts, including piston rod, piston and engine block remnants, and oil on street. Very dangerous as power steering stopped and was unable to turn. Very low miles, 40,680, with all maintenance performed by dealer. Filed a report with Hyundai USA, no action taken.
The contact owned a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a burning odor and the vehicle stalled. The contact idled the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle. The vehicle burst into flames after the occupants exited the vehicle. The contact's daughter and daughter's friend were occupants of the vehicle at the time of the failure. No injuries were sustained. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned to total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.
Mileage: 280,000
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the charger indicator warning light illuminated and the engine seized. The battery was recharged. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed valve cover gasket leak and that the valve cover gasket and the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was scheduled to be taken to the dealer for inspection within the week. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 126,600. The VIN was unavailable.
Mileage: 126,600
I was driving the car on a 4 lane road when suddenly the engine shut off and the car was no longer functioning. I lost power steering and had to coast into a nearby parking lot, otherwise I would have caused a major accident in the middle of a busy intersection with another 4 lane road. Upon taking the car to Hyundai for evaluation, it was declared to be total engine failure. Given the other issues with Hyundai engines failing and the fact that I VERY NARROWLY AVOIDED A MASSIVE COLLISION, I would like NHTSA to be aware that this problem may go back farther than Hyundai has addressed so far.
My 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe had 75,000 miles on it in September 2022. It was bought and serviced by the same dealership and I am the original owner. It was last serviced at the end of June 2022. While returning from Corvallis, Oregon to Forest Grove, Oregon, the car's display light all turned on and a second late the car completely stopped. I am thankful that I decided to take the back road home, if I had been on the highway, I am positive I would have been in a serious accident. It has been determined by the dealership that there was a complete engine failure. It has been at the Hyundai dealership for four months now and there is no replacement engine available for it. Not only that, they can't get a reasonably priced replacement engine anywhere. This car would have been a valuable trade in on a new car. The Diagnosis was Engine crankshaft seized. Metal particles on Dipstick, large metal fragments on oil filter, Engine replacement required. The car is now worthless, expect for parts.
UNKNOWN warning I’m the owner of a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and a week ago at 185k mikes all of a sudden driving on the freeway it started hesitating and sounded like metal grinding and smoking really bad. Pulled to the side of the freeway on a ramp at that. Tried to restart the vehicle and I heard a bang noise which upon later discovery the engine blew a rod with no warning locked the steering wheel couldn’t get the keys out of the ignition DO NOT buy this car still owe 5k on the vehicle
ENGINE STALLS
We have (had) a 2011 Hyundai Sante Fe. On 9/21/21, driving to Bozeman, just west of Livingston MT, on I-90, the car had a sudden stalling, loss of power (check engine light, oil light came on), then knocking sound that increased in volume and frequency. Smoke began pouring from under the hood as we pulled to the side of the highway, then very quickly accompanied by flames. We exited the vehicle. I opened the hood, the flames shot into the air. We moved away from the car. 911 had been called and the local fire department arrived within 10-15 minutes. Fire extinguished after about 20-30 minutes, but engulfed (destroyed) the entire engine compartment. Flames did not spread to passenger area of the vehicle. No one injured from the fire (although possible smoke inhalation before and as we exited vehicle). Car totaled, towed from highway. 1. Component: engine, all components in engine compartment (available for inspection, see photos uploaded); 2. Safety threat: smoke, fire quickly engulfed engine compartment, threat of spread to passenger area of vehicle; 3. Not yet confirmed by dealer or independent service center; 4. Inspection: by police/fire department that responded to the incident indicating mechanical malfunction, without further detail; 5. Warnings: check engine light and oil light occurred prior to or at time of incident and before severe knocking sounds began, but at same time as stalling/power loss.
AS I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY HOME FROM A SOCCER MATCH IN DENVER TO OUR HOME IN BRECKENRIDGE MY CAR(HYUNDAI, SANTA FE 2011) LOST ALL POWER WITH OUT THE ENGINE DYING. WE WERE HEADING WEST AND IN THE TUNNEL. IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER. NO WARNING LIGHTS HAVE EVER COME UP ON MY CAR BEFORE OR AFTER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME OF MANY INCIDENTS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND NOT ONLY WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING BUT ALSO MY DAUGHTER, SHE HAS HER PERMIT! IT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE BUT ALSO AROUND OUR COMMUNITY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED IT OUT WITH MY MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE ISSUE AS THE DIAGNOSTIC CAME UP WITH NOTHING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD.
Mileage: 140,000
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 .
Mileage: 42,000
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
ENGINE BLOWN SHORTLY AFTER 'SERVICE ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON
Mileage: 100,000
THIS IS TO MAKE AWARE OF POTENTIAL/ POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE CAUSE IN SOME HYUNDAI VEHICLES. I OWN A 2011 SANTA FE. AT LESS THAN 70K MILES THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER AND LEAK OIL. DEALERSHIP INDICATED I RUINED ENGINE AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS DUE TO BLA BLA BLA. I TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THEY FOUND AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH HYUNDAI #9475037000 WHICH LEAKED OIL ONTO TOP ENGINE, CREATED A LARGE POOL OF HOT OIL THAT SAT THERE HIDDEN UNDER OTHER COMPONENTS. ( FIRE HAZARD ). THEN- AT 130K MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN. REPEAT REPLACEMENT OF GENUINE DEFECTIVE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH AND HOT OIL ON ENGINE (FIRE HAZARD) CONTACTED HYUNDAI TO EXPLAIN THE FIRE HAZARD DEFECTIVE OIL SWITCH ISSUE. ALL THEY COULD SAY WAS TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP. WELL I DID JUST THAT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED SO WHY GO BACK AND GO THRU THE SAME BS. THE 2 SWITCHES FAILING AND HIDDEN OIL POOLS ON A HOT ENGINE SHOULD BE A RED FLAG AND MAYBE AN ANSWER TO ALL THE PAST CAR FIRES REPORTED HERE. INCLUDED IS PHOTO OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT WHERE REPLACED. NOTE- THE SWITCH LOCATION IS IN THE V CAVITY UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND IF IT STARTS SPEWING HOT OIL OUT THERE'S NO WAY SEE IT. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
MY CAR STARTED RUNNING HOT PERIODICALLY, THE THERMOSTAT GAUGE KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN. THERE WAS A BUBBLING SOUND IN RADIATOR RESERVE CONTAINER. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY CRANKED.
Mileage: 144,000
SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE , HARNESS OR MODULE , ALLOWS THE COMPUTER TO OVERHEAT SUDDENLY , THROUGH 3 BATTERS AND 2 ALTERNATORS IN 4 MONTHS LAST ALTERNATOR LASTED 2 DRIVES... CAR DIES NANCY DEPRESSIVE LIGHT SHOW AND DIED THEN THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR IS FRIED. HYUNDIA DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO CHECK HARNESS OR MODULE BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T LISTED IN RECALL ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS IN THE RECALL. THE CAR HAS DIED 4 TIMES REQUIRING TOWING. THE CAR DIED WHEN DRIVING AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES . CAR HAS BRAND NEW BATTERY. STARTER WORKS FINE. IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE IF A STREETCEACH TIME TWICE WAS AT NIGHT. AND I AM A DISABLED WOMAN WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR. MONDAY JUNE 24TH WAS THE MOST RECENT TIME AT 1 PM IN 104 DEGREE HEAT FOR 5 HOURS WITH A HEART CONDITION WHICH WAS DOUBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE BATTERY DIED EVENTUALLY LEAVING ME WITH NO HAZARDS. WHAT TO CHARGE ME TO REPLACE A 3 RD ALTERNATOR WITHOUT CHECKING HARNESS OR MODULE A SCAM!
Mileage: 9,600
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A LOW END ENGINE RATTLE DURING IDLE. THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY ON ACCELERATION. TODAY THE ENGINE FAILED. IT WON'T TURN OVER AT ALL. IT'S SEIZED UP. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE OIL IS FULL. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS 2 YEARS OLD. I'VE USED SYNTHETIC OIL AND CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3 - 4,000 MILES. THE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL TO THE ONES ON THE SONATA AND OTHER VARIOUS MODELS. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED HERE IN THE STATES. AN ENGINE IS A HUGE EXPENSE. ESPECIALLY IF IT'S DUE TO MANUFACTURER NEGLIGENCE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI OR KIA AGAIN AT THIS POINT.
Mileage: 143,000
MY 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE CITY STREETS AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 30MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTING MAKING A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE. FOUND THE ENGINE HAS A BENT ROD. THE CAR HAS 110,000 MILES AND HAS HAD A REGULAR OIL CHANGE EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. ALL OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED OR OWN NOW LAST WELL OVER 200,000 MILES. HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE HOME 80 MILES. HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. NEVER HAD A WARNING THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. THANK GOODNESS HE WAS ON A CITY STREET..
Mileage: 110,000
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING OR SYMPTOMS. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT NEEDED TO BE TOWED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED.
Mileage: 122,000
MY 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BEGAN TO DRIVE ROUGH ON THE FREEWAY, SLIGHT TUGGING, RATTLING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 60MPH, CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I EXITED THE FREEWAY AND IT STALLED AT RED LIGHT. STARTED IT UP AND THEN STALLED 3 MORE TIMES AT EVERY RED LIGHT ON THE WAY HOME. I ADDED OIL AND MADE SERVICE APPT. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE DIED ONCE ON THE WAY AND AGAIN AT THE SERVICE CENTER BUT DID NOT START BACK UP. MECHANIC SAID ENGINE FAILED DUE TO CRANK SHAFT SPUN BEARING. SENSORS DID NOT APPEAR IN ADVANCE SENSORS APPEARED TOO LATE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE. MY CAR IS ONLY 7 YEARS BOUGHT BRAND NEW OUT OF SHOW ROOM NO PREVIOUS MAJOR ISSUES. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE SHOWING SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHERS. UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS
Mileage: 121,064
WHILE DRIVING HOME ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12 2018 MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED UP THE WHOLE FRONT END.
Mileage: 100,000
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.
Mileage: 123,279
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.
Mileage: 160,000
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.
Mileage: 117,000
ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND I CANNOT STEER THE WHEEL.
Mileage: 75,019
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
Mileage: 60,000
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.
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.
Mileage: 62,376
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
Mileage: 72,150
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
Mileage: 101,000
WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR LOCKED UP WITH NO WARNING. NO OIL LEFT IN THE PAN BUT NO LIGHTS CAME ON.
Mileage: 71,187
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.
Mileage: 64,000
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
Mileage: 70,000
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED VERY QUICKLY AND LURCHED FORWARD TOWARDS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR STOPPED. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE ONE IN FRONT OF ME THAT I DIDN'T HIT IT. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, IT WORKED FINE. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
WE OWN A 2011 HYNUDAI SANTA FE AND HAD AN INCIDENT LAST NIGHT PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, WHICH APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED: SUA SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE MOTOR JUST STARTED RACING FULL THROTTLE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I MASHED ON THE BRAKE AND FELT IT FADE OUT UNDER THE FORCE OF THE INCREASED MOTOR RPM. I QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE BUT I HAD MY FOOT COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS. I THEN SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. MY WIFE AND I WERE SHAKEN BUT UNINJURED. AFTER COMPLETING OUR REASON FOR THE STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY AND WE RETURNED HOME WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. BUT OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE HAS GONE TO ZERO. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED SO FAR ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 56,128
VEHICLE STALLED WHEN LEAVING STOP LIGHT LOST SPEED WOULD NOT ACCELERATE HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON LINE SOME ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLES I AGREE SAFTEY IS AN ISSUE DEALER OR MANUFACTURE CANNOT FIND SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 51,000
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 1 HOUR EAST OF ASHEVILLE, NC IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AT APPROXIMATELY 230 PM ON 8/20/2014 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR SHUDDERED AND LOST ALL ACCELERATION. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER MANAGED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED CAR OFF. RESTARTED AND DROVE TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN ASHEVILLE, NC ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY. THEY PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND STATED PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. CONTINUED DRIVING ON HIGHWAY (TRAVELING BACK TO DAYTON OH), AND WITHIN 1 HOUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AT ABOUT 700 PM, A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND NO ACCELERATION, AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTART THE ENGINE, ETC. AGAIN, INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. THE SAME EXACT SITUATION HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES ON OUR WAY HOME ON THE INTERSTATE, UNTIL WE COULD FINALLY TAKE IT TO OUR DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL ASSEMBLY AND DID ANOTHER SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT AND MERITS INVESTIGATION. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR
Mileage: 38,550
ENGINE SHUTS OFF AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF GAS, SLOWING DOWN AND THEN APPLYING GAS TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A SHORT PAUSE APROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 SECONDS, THE ENGINE WILL RESTART AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. THE ENGINE HAS THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 14 MONTHS. CAR WAS BROUGH TO DEALER AFTER FIRST TIME AND NO CODES OR ISSUES COULD BE FOUND. I WILL BRING CAR BACK TO DEALER NOW AFTER THE THIRD TIME. THIS IS LAST STALL RESULTED IN A CLOSE CALL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR
Mileage: 34,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.
Mileage: 50
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR A REAR END COLLISION, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAY THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTIFIED HYUNDAI OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY JUST TELL ME TO TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY HYUNDAI OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE OF VEHICLE. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU *TR
Mileage: 24,000
2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND CAR DIED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE SLOWED DOWN TO GO AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. HE COULD BARELY GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. TECH SUPPORT, RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY, SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, ON MARCH 1, 2014, WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE NOT OPERABLE. HE LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE RE-STARTING IT. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, AND AFTER A THOROUGH EXAMINATION, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,920.
Mileage: 38,800
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO THE COMPLAINT I MADE ON 5/13/2013. AT THAT TIME MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM I HAD BEEN HAVING WHICH WAS THAT MY CAR WOULD RANDOMLY STALL WHILE MAKING A TURN, WHETHER LEFT OR RIGHT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE PANEL WOULD LIGHT UP LIKE CHRISTMAS AND EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE BRAKES WOULD CEASE TO WORK. I HAVE TO COAST TO A SAFE LOCATION (IF POSSIBLE) TO TURN OFF CAR AND THEN RESTART IT. I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT ME OR MY FAMILY HAVE NOT BEEN HIT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. UPDATE TO LAST REPORT: MY CAR STAYED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THEIR SOLUTION (HYUNDAI USA AND MY DEALERSHIP) WAS TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 1/19/2014. I DON'T THINK HYNDAI USA WILL BE SATISFIED UNTIL THERE'S FATALITIES UNFORTUNATELY. *TR
WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, VEHICLE DROPPED SPEED WHILE I ACCELERATED. IT COASTED ALONG AT 1-2 MILES AN HOUR. THE CHECK ENGINE, ANTILOCK BRAKE AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE 'SKID' INDICATORS ALL LIT UP ON THE DASH BOARD. I HAD TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER CLEARING A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES AFTER THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN RECTIFIED. IT IS PRESENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING BEEN TOWED IN FOR THE FIFTH (5TH) TIME. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *TR
Mileage: 44,012
WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED 10-15 MPH AND BRAKING THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED, ONCE WHILE TURNING LEFT AND ONCE WHILE GOING STRAIGHT. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND NARROWLY AVOIDING HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND NO CODES STORED. *TR
Mileage: 19,000
MY ENGINE HAS STALLED AT SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEGINNING AROUND APRIL 2013. THE FIRST 2 EVENTS HAPPENED AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET IT MOVING AGAIN. THE CAR HAS ALSO STALLED TWICE WHILE I WAS REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND ONCE AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING FUNCTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. AS RECENTLY AS OCTOBER 2013 THE CAR STALLED AGAIN WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAPPENED AS I WAS STOPPED OR MOVING AT A LOW (LESS THAN 10 MPH) RATE OF SPEED. *TR
Mileage: 25,000
9/26/13 - WHILE GOING UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF A PARKING STRUCTURE AT A SLOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. PUT IT INTO PARK AND RESTARTED IT AND DROVE IT TO A PARKING SPOT. LATER THAT DAY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP; THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR 4 DAYS (2 OF WHICH WERE OVER THE WEEKEND). NO CODES REGISTERED IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM; THEY ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM A HYUNDAI TECH. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON (AND DANGEROUS) PROBLEM WITH THE SANTA FE. PRIOR TO THIS EPISODE, ON 2 OTHER OCCASIONS (9/13/13 AND 8/3/2012), WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 70MPG AND 50MPH RESPECTIVELY AND LOST POWER AND THE ABILITY TO KEEP OR INCREASE MY SPEED AND HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BOTH TIMES. THIS TOO APPEARS TO BE COMMON AMONG ONLINE FORUMS FOR SANTA FE'S. *TR
Mileage: 37,237
FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS SUMMER THE ENGINE HAS JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN HILL. THIS TIME I BARELY MISSED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. *TR
Mileage: 22,300
ON JUNE 11, 2013 I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE. I WAS STOPPED AND PUTTING MY CAR INTO PARK. AS I REACH NEUTRAL MY CAR ACCELERATED FAST...THIS WAS MORE THEN A LUNGE FORWARD, IT WAS MORE LIKE A POWER SURGE. MY CAR CONTINUED FORWARD AT A VERY FAST SPEED, DESPITE MY BRAKING ( THERE WERE SKID MARKS) AND HIT A WALL. I ENDED UP WITH LOTS OF MASSIVE BRUISING AND SPRAINED MUSCLES. PLUS I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. THERE WAS LOTS OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED IT. IT IS SILL IN THEIR BODY SHOP. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THERE WERE LOTS & LOTS OF EXAMPLES OF THIS, SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM, WITH THE 2011 SANTA FE. I DON'T SEE ANY RESPONSES FROM HYUNDAI. THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE DEALT WITH. *TR
I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AFTER THE ENGINE HESITATED AND BUCKED FORWARD SEPT, 2012. IT HAD APPROX. 29,500 MILES. TODAY JUNE 21, 2013 WHILE PUTTING IT IN REVERSE, I HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK" AND ALSO HEARD SAME "CLUNK" WHEN I CHANGED IT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ENGINE THEN PROCEEDED TO HESITATE AND BUCK ALL THE WAY HOME. IT IS GOING IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN (SECOND TIME) TOMORROW. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING!! *TR
Mileage: 40,300
TOOK MY CAR IN TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN CONCORD, CA ON APPROX. MARCH 17TH OF THIS YEAR FOR PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT NO ERROR CODES WERE RECORDED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER AND THAT HYUNDAI MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY THEN TALKED TO HYUNDAI ENGINEERS AND DECIDED THAT POSSIBLY THE CARS THROTTLE BODIES COULD BE A PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD DO A "GOOD WILL" REPLACEMENT OF THIS AUTO PART. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 1K MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT, UNTIL THIS PAST SATURDAY MAY 18 2013. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, GOING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 5-15 MPH. I PUSHED THE BRAKE TO DO A GRADUAL SLOW, THEN WENT TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR BUT THERE WAS NO POWER. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE MY DASH LIGHTS WERE PRESENT, BUT NO ENGINE SOUND. I SLOWED THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP, TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, THEN TURNED IT ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED RIGHT UP. AGAIN, AS PREVIOUS, NO ERROR MESSAGES APPEARED ON MY DASH. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN WITHOUT INCIDENT SO FAR 200 MILES SINCE THIS LAST INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ASKED ME TO BRING THE CAR IN AND ALLOW THEM TEST DRIVE THE CAR FOR A DAY HOPING THAT THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WILL OCCUR FOR THEM. IT APPEARS TO BE CONNECTED TO HITTING THE BRAKES, SLOWING, THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. ALL TIMES THIS SO FAR THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 35, 500 MILES. *TR
Mileage: 35,450
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY BEGINS TO MOVE BUT NO ACCELERATION COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTS IN A VERY SLOW 1-2 MPH MOVEMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A HANDFUL OF OCCASIONS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. OFTEN WHEN PULLING OUT INTO A HIGHWAY WHEN ACCELERATION IS NEEDED THE VEHICLE JUST CREEPS INTO TRAFFIC. APPEARS THAT THE ENGINE IS JUST IDLING WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN RPM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. EVENTUALLY WHEN PULLING OFF TO SAFE AREA AND STOPPING WITH TRANS IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE ACTS NORMAL WITH PROPER ACCELERATION. SHIFTING INTO DRIVE WILL RETURN TO THE SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM WILL EVENTUALLY SLOWLY DISSOLVE AFTER "PLAYING" WITH THE ACCELERATOR WHEN STOPPED AND THEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE TO BEGIN ACCELERATION. *TR
Mileage: 20,000
2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 LIMITED TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A STALL CONDITION. IMMEDIATELY LOST THE ABILITY TO SAFELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE, COMPLETE LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAD COASTED TO A STOP, SHIFTED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVE POSITION TO THE PARK POSITION. TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION. IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE START POSITION AND ENGINE RESTARTED. ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR IN DASH PANEL WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOCATE THE ROOT CAUSE. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE. FILED AN INCIDENT REPORT WITH HYUNDAI USA. *TR
Mileage: 9,100
WAS NEGOTIATING A LEFT SIDED CURVE ON THE DOWNHILL SIDE OF A STEEP, WINDY ROAD IN A REMOTE AREA BETWEEN OAKLAND AND MORAGA, CA WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST STEERING POWER. I WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES AND FOUND THAT MY BRAKES ALSO HAD NO POWER. I PUSHED VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES AND MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. HAD I BEEN UNABLE TO STOP, MY CAR WOULD'VE GONE DIRECTLY OVER A VERY STEEP HILLSIDE THAT BORDERS A RESERVOIR. AS IT WAS, THE REAR END OF MY CAR WAS JUTTED OUT HALFWAY ONTO THE ROADWAY AND ONLY A FEW YARDS FROM A BLIND CURVE. THIS PARTICULAR SPOT ALSO HAS NO CELL PHONE COVERAGE. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, I NOTED THAT MY IGNITION WAS STILL IN THE "ON" POSITION AND THAT ALL THE APPROPRIATE DASH LIGHTS WERE ON, BUT THE ENGINE SOUND WAS ABSENT AND THE TACH READ ZERO. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY ERROR MESSAGES ON MY DASH. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN TURNED THE IGNITION BACK ON. THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP WITH NO HESITATION. I HEARD NO UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISES OR EXPERIENCED ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I DROVE TO THE CLOSEST SERVICE STATION APPROX. 3-4 MILES FROM THE INCIDENT LOCATION. THE MECHANIC DID A QUICK CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL AND SUGGESTED I GO DIRECTLY TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. I TOOK MY CAR TO FUTURE HYUNDAI IN CONCORD, CA. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS THE NEXT DAY, THEN REPORTED THAT THEY "COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR." I EXPRESSED MY FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE BASED ON VERY RATIONAL SAFETY CONCERNS AND WHAT I FELT HAD BEEN A CLOSE CALL ON MY LIFE THE DAY PRIOR. I ALSO TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON THAT A QUICK LOOK ONLINE LEAD ME TO FIND SEVERAL STORIES SIMILAR TO MINE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO TALK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THE NEXT DAY AS HE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I THEN CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED CASE # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 34,530
THIS COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO A COMPLAINT I ALREADY FILED IN DECEMBER 2012 AND IS A RECURRING ISSUE. ON 3/18/13, WAS TRAVELING APPROX 55 MPH UP A STEEP HILL WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY THE GAS PEDAL CEASED FUNCTIONING AS WELL. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING, HOWEVER PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING. THIS CREATED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS NOT AWARE MY VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN AND I HAD NO ABILITY TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A MINUTE, AND RESTARTED IT. AT THIS POINT THE GAS PEDAL WAS FUNCTIONING AS EXPECTED, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WENT TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THEY INDICATED THE FIX FOR THE ISSUE (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, #12-FL-004) HAD BEEN APPLIED AFTER THE 12/2012 INCIDENT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING NEW WRONG THIS TIME. ON 3/22/13, THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPENED TWICE DURING ONE COMMUTE TO WORK. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHO HAS NO IDEA WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND FROM OTHER REPORTS SEEN ONLINE, A RECALL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
Mileage: 24,000
I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND MADE CONTACT WITH SOMETHING WHICH I COULD NOT SEE FROM MY REAR VIEW OR SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. LATER, WHEN THE EMERGENCY WORKERS WERE LOADING ME INTO THE AMBULANCE, I WOULD SEE THAT THE OBJECT WAS A LOW, CEMENT POLE, WHICH PROTECTED A FIRE HYDRANT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE PARKING SPOT I PULLED OUT OF. AS I PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR (DRIVE) WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, TO PULL AWAY FROM WHATEVER I BACKED IN TO, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD (THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS THE WAY A PINBALL BOUNCES OFF OF A BUMPER ON A PINBALL MACHINE) AND CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE DROVE FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPOT I HAD STARTED FROM, OVER A CURB AT THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPOT, THROUGH A PATCH OF LOW LYING PLANTS AND OVER A WALL WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO FIVE FEET IN HEIGHT. MY VEHICLE WAS AIRBORNE AND CAME TO REST IN THE LOWER LEVEL PARKING LOT, STRIKING A PARKED VEHICLE. IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ITS FORWARD MOTION. MY ARMS HAD BEEN LOCKED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY LEFT LEG ABSORBED THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH INTO THE LOWER LEVEL PARKING LOT. I WAS TAKEN AWAY IN AN AMBULANCE WITH A BROKEN LEG AND SEVERELY DISLOCATED ANKLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE CARRIER. I WAS ADVISED THAT A CLAIMS INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT TO THE INSURANCE-COMPANY-AUTHORIZED COLLISION SHOP TO WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED. EVEN THOUGH THE EMERGENCY WORKERS ADVISED ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT IN A DRIVABLE CONDITION, I WAS ADVISED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE INVESTIGATOR DROVE THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE COLLISION SHOP AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TR
Mileage: 24,242
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN PARK ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING IT TO ROLL AWAY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 55 MPH, I HIT A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT POTHOLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND, AT THE VERY SAME INSTANT, THE GAS PEDAL CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING, HOWEVER THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO AFFECT - E.G. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE AND, AFTER LETTING UP ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD ON ITS OWN AT APPROX 20 MPH, MORE THAN EXPECTED UNDER NORMAL IDLE CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION LASTED FOR APPROX 5 MIN UNTIL I COULD PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A MOMENT, THEN RESTARTED IT. AT THIS POINT THE GAS PEDAL WAS FUNCTIONING AS EXPECTED, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER WHO NOTIFIED ME OF AN EXISTING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, #12-FL-004, FROM HYUNDAI. THEY ALSO INDICATED THIS WAS A "KNOWN ISSUE" RELATING TO THE "ECM SOFTWARE." *TR
Mileage: 21,401
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
Mileage: 1,500
AFTER LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PUSHED ON THE PEDAL AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE FOR SECONDS. CAR HESITATES ALL THE TIME. AFRAID TO MAKE LEFT TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE IF THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE. VEHICLE ALSO HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS SLOW MOVING VEHICLES. REPORTED ISSUE TO DEALER AND DEALER WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. READ AND HEARD OF OTHER SANTA FE ACCELERATION ISSUES. *TR
Mileage: 100
I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE REPORTED IN OTHER ODI COMPLAINTS. SPECIFICALLY, MY VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. ODI ID #10460671, #10453272, AND #10412636, ALL SEEM TO REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE. OCCASIONALLY, WHILE BRAKING OR ALLOWING THE CAR TO STOP, IT WILL STALL OUT. WHEN IT DOES, ACCELERATING, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKING ARE ALL DISABLED. ONCE THE CAR GEAR IS SHIFTED TO PARK AND THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, THE PROBLEM RESOLVES AFTER RE-STARTING THE CAR LATER. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD WORKED ON THIS CAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOUR TIMES WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO 1. DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND 2. COME UP WITH AN ADEQUATE REMEDY. EVEN THOUGH THE TECHNICIANS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE STALLING, THE FIRST THREE TIMES IT WAS IN THE SHOP, THREE DIFFERENT REPAIRS WERE MADE. THEY HAVE ALL INVOLVED COMPUTER FIXES, INCLUDING CHANGING OUT THE CONTACTS, REPLACING THE JUNCTION BOX, AND UPDATING SOFTWARE. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF MY ISSUE AND THE PENDING LEMON LAW ARBITRATION CLAIM THAT I HAVE MADE. HYUNDAI HAS CURRENTLY MADE THE UNILATERAL DETERMINATION THAT THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A LEMON, WHICH I DISPUTE BECAUSE 1. THIS DETERMINATION IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING MADE UNILATERALLY, AND 2. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND MORE THAN A "REASONABLE" AMOUNT OF REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. A MANAGING ENGINEER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FINDING ANY PROBLEMS, AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH HYUNDAI TO HAVE A "FLIGHT RECORDER" INSTALLED TO RECORD DATA WHEN THE CAR STALLS NEXT. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITHOUT A SHOULDER ON THE FREEWAY--A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. I CONSIDER THIS CAR TO BE AN UNRELIABLE SAFETY THREAT ON THE ROADWAYS AND HAVE COMMUNICATED THIS TO HYUNDAI, BUT ITS REPRESENTATIVE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME SENSE OF URGENCY I HAVE. *TR
Mileage: 12,377
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 15,500
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING IN FAILED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,500.
Mileage: 20,000