2010 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 259 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 8 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 7 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Campaign 13V113000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentOct 6, 2011
CURT MANUFACTURING IS RECALLING CERTAIN TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESSES, PART NUMBER 55538, THAT CONNECT TOW VEHICLE LIGHTING CIRCUITS TO TRAILER LIGHTING CIRCUITS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. THE UNITS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT AND MOISTURE CAN SEEP INTO THE CONVERTER MODULE AND DEFEAT THE MODULE'S INTERNAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION.
WITHOUT THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, THE MODULE CAN OVERHEAT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
CURT MANUFACTURING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE TOW PACKAGE WIRING HARNESS. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MANUFACTURING AT 1-715 831-8713.
Campaign 11E040000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftApr 28, 2011
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 SANTA FE 2WD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 5, 2010. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY SUFFER FROM NOISE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION LEADS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WHIRRING/WHINING NOISE AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 11V261000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
259 reports, newest first.
Power train, Apr 8, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE AND DECREASE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE COMPUTER DID NOT DISPLAY ANY ERROR CODES THEN THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Power train, Mar 17, 2011
OCT 2010 FIRST INCIDENT- WITH A COLD ENGINE IN THE MORNING WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH MY 2010 6 CYL HYUNDAI SANTA FE LURCHED FORWARD WITH A LOUD BANG AS IF WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND. WE HAD 6230 MILES ON VEHICLE. OVER THE NEXT 2 DAYS THE SAME THING HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOT AS SEVERE AS THE FIRST INCIDENT. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET FOUND MANY REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. BROUGHT TO DEALER WHO DENIED HEARING OF THIS PROBLEM, KEPT OVERNIGHT, COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND RESET ADAPTIVE LEARNING AND RESET DRIVING HISTORY. PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN MARCH 2011 ON MARCH 8, 2011 BROUGHT TO DEALER KEPT OVERNIGHT, COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID LOW, RESET TRANSMISSION, DID AN UPDATE THEY SAID WAS RELATED TO A COMPUTER MODULE THAT WAS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD 10,000 MILES. CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND HAD A CASE OPENED TO DOCUMENT PROBLEM AS I MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH NEW YORK LEMON LAW IF THEY DON'T FIX PROBLEM. MARCH 15, 2011 TRAMSMISSION PROBLEM BACK AGAIN CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND HAD THEM REOPEN CASE AND ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH DEALER ON MARCH 23, 2011 TO TEST DRIVE WITH TECH AND SERVICE MANAGER. THIS WILL BE THIRD ATTEMPT TO FIX TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 14, 2011
CONSTANT, UNSAFE, AND UNCOMFORTABLE STEERING TO THE RIGHT, ENOUGH TO CHANGE LANES ON ITS OWN.
Tires, Mar 10, 2011
SINCE PURCHASING A NEW 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE AWD IN MAY 2010, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH IT'S TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) IN NOVEMBER 2010 AND A REOCCURRENCE NOW IN FEBRUARY 2011. I WAS SO UPSET THAT I WROTE THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND ITS NOW BEING OVERSEEN BY THE HYUNDAI EAST COAST REGIONAL OFFICE--BUT STILL NO RESOLUTION. *TR
Power train, Feb 27, 2011
MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTE FE GLS TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY SLIPS AND THEN CLUNKS INTO THE NEXT HIGHEST GEAR WITH A FORCE THAT SHAKES THE CAR. THIS FORCE TRANSLATES INTO A BANGING SOUND. EACH INCIDENT HAPPENED AT SPEEDS OF 20-25 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL FINALLY FAIL COMPLETELY. I BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.
Structure, Feb 22, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED SCRATCHES ON HER VEHICLE WHICH SUDDENLY TURNED INTO RUST WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THAT IT WAS JUST PAINT DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AS WELL AND ADVISED HER TO CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.
Visibility, Feb 18, 2011
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, I REPORTED A PROBLEM YESTERDAY ABOUT A SHADOW ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, UPON FURTHER LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEM, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ON DARK STREETS OR HIGHWAYS YOUR VISIBILITY IS CUT BY THREE QUARTERS, SOME ONE WOULD HAVE TOI TAKE THE CAR OUT TO SEE THIS PROBLEM. *LN
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Feb 17, 2011
2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AT NIGHT USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THERE IS A SHADOW ABOUT THREE QUARTERS DOWN THE WINDSHIELD THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROADS, ON LIGHTED ROADS IT IS NOT AS BAD, WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. *TR
Air bags, Feb 9, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AND THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE CONTACT'S WEIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED THE SAME RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500.
Power train, Feb 1, 2011
ON SATURDAY, JAN. 15TH, I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 (4 1/2 MONTHS OLD, < 2000 MILES) WHEN I TURNED A CORNER ONTO A BUSY STREET, AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AS IF SOMEONE HAD TURNED OF THE IGNITION. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN WE LOST POWER STEERING AND ENGINE POWER OR WHEN WE SAT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SINCE THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS UNABLE TO SEND ANYONE FOR ALMOST 40 MINUTES, SO WE HAD TO HAVE THE POLICE PUSH US TO SAFETY. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER FOR SERVICE, THE CAR JUST STARTED UP AGAIN. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM SINCE NO ERROR CODE WAS SEEN. THE TECHNICIANS UPDATED THE ECM TO VERSION CMAN S2 AB8F SINCE IT WAS A RECOMMENDED GENERAL SERVICE. NO ONE KNEW IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIANS ALSO MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THE WEEK BEFORE. HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS NOT HELPFUL, BUT DID OPEN A CASE NUMBER. PROBLEM HAS NOT RE-OCCURED YET ALTHOUGH TRANSMISSION OFTEN POPS. *LN
Power train, Jan 29, 2011
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED AND WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE NOTICED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS DOING, BUT THEN MY HUSBAND DROVE IT AND SAID THE SAME THING. BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 10-40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND OCCASIONALLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AS IF IT GETS STUCK. IT DOES IT WHEN UPSHIFTING AND EVEN WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD, WHEN IT'S WARM, EVERY DAY. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND OF COURSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY CAN REPLICATE THE ISSUE. I GUESS I'LL JUST KEEP MENTIONING IT WHENEVER I TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE AND HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY THEY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. *LN
Power train, Jan 28, 2011
MY 2010 SANTA FE ON OCCASION WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN STARTED, AND MAKES A THUD SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS STARTED WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 1500 MILES ON IT. THEN AT ABOUT 5000 MILES, WHEN STARTING OUT IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND VERY HARD, ENOUGH TO NEARLY GET A WHIPLASH AND FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I TOLD THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE WOULD DO THE RECALL WHICH HAD BEEN ORDERED FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM, AND MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP. IT DID NOT HELP. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Jan 7, 2011, crash
VEHICLE STOPPED ON INCLINE OF A HILL, THEN REVERSED (GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE) BACK DOWN 600 FEET THE HILL AND CRASHED AGAINST A CONCRETE WALL CORNER. HAVE 2 WITNESSES THAT SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE, INSPECTED WRECK, FOUND NO FAULT CODES WITH A LAUNCH 431-READER BUT FIGURED THAT BATTERY WAS DRAINED AFTER 2 MONTHS. SURVIVING DAUGHTER SUFFERS FROM MEMORY LOSS BUT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT CLAIMS THE BRAKES FAILED.
Power train, Jan 3, 2011
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SOMETIMES WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE HAS REAR-ENDED ME. IT HAPPENS A LOT WHEN THE SANTA FE IS COLD, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AT OTHER TIMES ALSO. IT WILL ALSO HESITATE AS IT GOES FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE (ONCE I LEFT IT OVER NIGHT SO THEY WOULD HAVE IT WHEN IT WAS COLD) AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR THEM. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES THE TACHOMETER WILL GO BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 RPM, AND THEN LURCH VIOLENTLY AS IT BECOMES "UNSTUCK." EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE OR ANY OTHER WORK, I MENTION THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD THAT IS NORMAL. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. I RECEIVED A QUESTIONNAIRE FROM HYUNDAI ABOUT MY SANTA FE AND AGAIN MENTIONED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. I HAVE READ OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Jan 2, 2011
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTAFE WITH 6900 MILES. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT AND THEN IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR MAKING A BANGING SOUND AND WOULD SURGE FORWARD. IT WAS LIKE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 20-25MPH WHILE ACCELERATING. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Dec 30, 2010
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, GLS. WHILE DRIVING IT, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER, AND PULL OVER. IT DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT JUST HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS OR PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, NOISES, ETC. IT HAS 21,082 MILES / 7MONTHS OF USE. *TR
Power train, Dec 30, 2010
ON MY 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPS, THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD, AND FEELS LIKE YOU ARE BEING REAR-ENDED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING, HOWEVER HYUNDAI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR SAME, AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Dec 25, 2010
I BOUGHT A PRE-OWNED 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON 12/13/10 WITH ~14K MILES I WAS DRIVING TO PHOENIX TODAY 12/25/10 AND WHEN LEAVING A STOP LIGHT THERE WAS A CLUNK AND THEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH TODAY I HAVE FOUND THAT 2010 SANTA FE'S HAVE ISSUE WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. ME AND MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ARE NOW STRANDED IN PHOENIX UNTIL WE CAN GET IT REPAIRED. PLEASE PUSH FOR A RECALL SO THIS STOPS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE AND HYUNDAI CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR
Power train, Dec 17, 2010
BOUGHT OUR 2010 SANTA FE WITH 2700 MILES (THE OWNERS WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING IT) ON NOVEMBER 11TH. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED THAT IT BANGED LOUDLY AND LURCHED SOMEWHAT UPON GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT DOES IT AT ANY TIME OF DAY SO IT'S NOT LIMITED TO COLD STARTS. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TESTED AND RESET THE COMPUTER. MY SERVICE MANAGER SEEMED TO BE AWARE OF THE OBVIOUS PROBLEMS THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING. THEN WAS TOLD IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AND THEY ORDERED A REPLACEMENT. I ASKED IF IT WOULD BE NEW OR REBUILT, THEY SAID NEW. THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS POLICY TO PUT IN REBUILT. IT ONLY HAS 5000 MILES ON IT! AFTER SOME CONVERSATION, THEY AGREED TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT. THEY STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE-OVER A WEEK NOW AND I MIGHT NOT GET IT BACK FOR ANOTHER WEEK. STILL DON'T HAVE THE PART.....SO WE'LL SEE WHEN WE GET IT BACK. *TR
Power train, Dec 15, 2010
I HAVE A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND I GET A HARD SHIFT WITH A LOUD BANG WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD. IT SEEMS TO DO THIS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD BUT IT DOES IT EVEN WHEN WARM. I HAD MINE IN 3 TIMES FOR REPAIR WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION ON THE LAST REPAIR. THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL ONE. HYUNDAI KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND THEY KNEW ABOUT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED WHEN I WAS BUYING THE CAR - NOT FINDING OUT AFTER THE FACT. THE DEALER GIVES ME THE DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS LOOK WHEN I COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE. *TR
Power train, Dec 14, 2010
SAFETY: 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ENGINE SEEMS TO RACE AT SLOW SPEEDS/COASTING, THEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "SKIPS" THEN "SLAMS" BACK INTO GEAR. BROUGHT BACK INTO DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST WAS TOLD THEY HAD HEARD OF A SIMILAR ISSUE BUT THAT IT WAS "WITHIN TOLERANCE" SO IT WAS NOT FIXED, WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND BEFORE STARTING A LONG TRIP I TOOK IT BACK AND HAD THEIR SENIOR TECH DRIVE IT HOME (TO SEE IF COLD STARTING COULD BE A CONTRIBUTOR) THEY "REPROGRAMMED" THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD US IT WOULD BE IN "LEARNING MODE" FOR THE NEXT FEW THOUSAND MILES. PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE MORE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WANT TO TAKE IT BACK FOR REPAIR BUT NEED SOME HELP IN TELLING THEM WHAT (AND OBVIOUSLY FROM THE ONLINE FORUMS) HOW WIDESPREAD THIS ISSUE IS. *TR
Service brakes, Air, Dec 12, 2010
BRAKE HARD TO STOP EVEN AFTER PRESSING REALLY HARD DOWN ON THEM. VEHICLE ONLY SLOWS DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN INITIALLY SLAM ON THE BRAKE. I ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE. I WAS ONLY DRIVING NO MORE THAN 40 MPH ON A 50 MPH ZONE. BRAKE FEELS REALLY HARD AND DOES NOT WORK WHEN SLAM ON. *TR
Power train, Dec 6, 2010
WE PURCHASED 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ALMOST FROM THE START WE NOTICE AN OCCASION SHE WOULD BANG INTO GEAR WHILE DRIVING IN 30 - 40 MPH TRAFFIC AND STOPS. AFTER NUMEROUS TRIPS TO DEALER THEIR ANSWER WAS THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE. THE LAST 2 TRIPS TO THE DEALER I EXPLAINED IF YOU DRIVE IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC MOVING ABOUT 30-40 MPH YOU WILL FEEL THE BANG LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. I WAS TOLD THE CANNOT TEST FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME THEY REFLASH THE COMPUTER. THEN LISTED IT AS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND SET UP N APPOINTMENT WITH A FACTORY REP. FOR DECEMBER 15,2010 @10:30AM. MY WIFE WILL NOT CURRENTLY TAKE HER PARENTS FOR TREATMENTS AT THE MEDICAL CENTER BECAUSE THE BANG STARTLES HERE PARENTS AND SHE FEARS A BREAKDOWN. UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. *TR
Power train, Dec 3, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD THROW ITSELF INTO GEAR WITH A HARD BANG AS IF IT WERE HIT FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO RESET THE COMPUTER; THE BANGING STOPPED FOR A WHILE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 2, 2010, crash
A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END IMPACT . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF REPAIRS, THE SHOP REPLACED THE COMPONENTS OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND SENT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO CHECK FOR ERROR CODES AND TO RESET THE SYSTEM. ONE OF THE ERROR CODES WOULD NOT CLEAR. THE DEALER, IN WASHINGTON STATE ADVISED THE REPAIR SHOP AND US THAT PURSUANT TO A TSB,01-90-013, HYUNDAI RECOMMENDS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO MUST BE REPLACED IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD PARTS OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, WHEN THE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DIRECT DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND THIS APPEARS TO BE SOME UNIQUE REQUIREMENT DESIGNED INTO THE HARNESS BY HYUNDAI. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THIS IS REQUIRED OR WHAT UNIQUE FEATURE WAS BUILT INTO THE HARNESS THAT DEMANDS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HARNESS. THIS ADDED REQUIREMENT ADDS AN ADDITIONAL $6,767.75 TO THE REPAIR COST OVER AND ABOVE THE REGULAR COLLISION RELATED COST. WHEREAS THIS REQUIREMENT IS UNIQUE TO THE NEW 2010 SANTA FE MODEL AND IS NOT FUNCTION REQUIRED DURING THE STANDARD REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAGS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF, WE MUST ASK IS THIS A DEFECT, IS THIS SIMPLY A DESIGN FEATURE TO ENHANCE PROFIT FROM REPAIRS OR IS THERE SOME UNIQUE FEATURE TO THE WIRE HARNESS DESIGN THAT SERVES SOME OTHER PURPOSE OR FUNCTION? ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR