2012 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 353 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 25 involved a crash and 17 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineDec 1, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
Campaign 20V746000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
234 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Nov 11, 2014
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
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Engine, Sep 21, 2014
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
Engine, Aug 20, 2014
FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, AND AS I MADE A LEFT TURN THE CAR DIED COMPLETELY. NO CONTROL OF STEERING AND HAD TO BRAKE VERY HARD TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. PUT IT IN PARK AND CAR STARTED RIGHT UP AGAIN. LUCKILY NO OTHER CARS WERE AROUND ME. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEALER AND HE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND CLEANED ALL THE GROUNDS. THE CAR RAN GREAT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY OFF RAMP GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED AGAIN. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED IGNITION ON AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. ONE MORE INCIDENT OCCURRED, 2 WEEKS AGO, WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP SIGN THE CAR DIED AGAIN. I EVEN CHANGED TO A HIGHER GRADE GAS. BUT I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL UNSAFE AND INSECURE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T THINK HYUNDAI CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE SANTA FE'S. WE WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AGAIN NEXT WEEK. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 7, 2014
WE EXPERIENCE A FEELING OF LOSS OF POWER AND ALMOST STALLS WHILE TRYING TO MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE PURCHASED CAR IN 2012 BUT SO INTERMEDIATELY THAT WE WOULD JUST TRY AND EXPLAIN IT AWAY (WE CAME UP WITH OH - WE ARE TRAVELING IN THE MOUNTAINS, GOT BAD GAS, WEATHER HOT, WEATHER COLD, MAYBE I IMAGINED IT) BUT WHEN I ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE SIDE TOOK IT IN TO DEALER AGAIN. THEY HAVE HAD IT 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME TROUBLE AND UNTIL THE LAST VISIT COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT - DEALER IN JUNE 2014 KEPT CAR MANY DAYS AND THEN I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SERVICE MANAGER WHO ASKED IF I BRAKED LEFT FOOTED - WELL YES I DO AS MY HUSBAND DOES. HE SAID THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ONLY WHEN THEY LEFT FOOTED BRAKED AND THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO NOT DO THAT. I ASKED SOME MORE QUESTIONS, BASICALLY WHY THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT. HE SAID SINCE THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS THE SENSORS IN CARS ARE MORE SENSITIVE? I TOLD HIM THERE ARE OVER 80 COMPLAINTS WITH THE ODI FOR SAME PROBLEM IN 2012 SANTA FE - HE SAID OH THAT IS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM - I READ ALL OF THEM - TROUBLE SOUNDS THE SAME TO ME. WE RESEARCHED THIS CAR BEFORE BUYING - NOTHING IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS, PAPERWORK OR ON THE NET SAID LEFT FOOTED BRAKING WILL CAUSE YOUR CAR TO STALL - WE WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT HOWEVER, I AM NOT EVEN POSITIVE THAT IS THE PROBLEM. I DID ALSO OPEN A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI - THEY DENIED A CLAIM OF A LEMON CAR AND SAID TO JUST TO STOP BRAKING LEFT FOOTED. THE LETTER SAID THEY DROVE IT 200 MILES WITH NO DUPLICATION OF TROUBLE WHICH IS NOT WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME - THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. WE NOW HAVE A CAR I WILL NOT DRIVE BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS AND WHO WOULD BUY IT SINCE WE WOULD HAVE TO DISCLOSE THIS HESITATION PROBLEM. JUST REC. LETTER FROM LAWYER ASKING US TO CALL HIM - HAVE NOT YET. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Jul 16, 2014
HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 55MPH, COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSS OF DRIVE TRAIN AND ENGINE POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. NO THROTTLE CAPABILITY. ENGINE REDUCES TO IDLING SPEED, BUT TRANSMISSION STAYS ENGAGED. VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AND DRIVER PULLS OFF ROAD. ALL ELECTRONICS APPEAR TO WORK. GAS PEDAL HAS NO INTERACTION WITH ENGINE THROTTLE. REQUIRED TOW OFF HIGHWAY TO HYUNDAI DEALER. HYUNDAI DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM WITH COMPUTER REVISION UPDATE. TSB UNKNOWN.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 16, 2014
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
Engine, Jul 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,520. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 1, 2014
THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR. WHILE DRIVING I START TO REDUCE SPEED. THE SPEED GETS DOWN TO ABOUT 20-25 MPH AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOSES ALL POWER. IT JUST SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING OR ANYTHING. I TURN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND IT STARTS NO PROBLEM. I MAY NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR SO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY SITUATION. I PRAY TO GOD THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHILE I'M TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I ASKED HYUNDAI ABOUT IT AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE TOO CONCERNED. THEY SAID THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS BUT I COULD BRING IT IN TO GET CHECKED OUT. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 26, 2014
AFTER DRIVING TO WORK (APPROXIMATELY 27 MINUTES AT SPEEDS UP TO 70+) I PULLED INTO MY WORK PARKING LOT LIKE I HAVE DOWN THOUSANDS OF TIMES BEFORE. I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND ALL POWER FAILED ON VEHICLE. THE RADIO DISPLAY WENT DEAD AND THE CAR STOPPED MID TURN. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOUR POWER GOES OUT AT HOME DURING A STORM. I TRIED SHIFT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT WOULD WANT TO START BACK UP BUT IT DIDN'T LET THE KEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT LIKE YOU WOULD TO NORMALLY CRANK A VEHICLE. THE PANEL ILLUMINATED ALL ICONS AND LIGHTS (SIMILAR TO A POWER OUTAGE). I TRIED TO START THE CAR A FEW MORE TIMES WHEN FINALLY IT TURNED OVER AND I PULLED TO THE NEAREST PARKING SPACE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD ROADSIDE TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (SPORT DURST). AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE ALL DAY, I ARRIVED THERE SLIGHTLY BEFORE 5PM TO DISCUSS WHAT WAS FOUND. THEY PROCEEDED TO SHOW ME A PRINT OUT OF THE COMPUTER READING WHERE IT HAD NO "CODES" PRESENT. I WAS THEN TOLD IF THEY DON'T HAVE A CODE, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE ISSUE. I THEN EXPLAINED THAT I WAS LUCKY THIS TIME THAT I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC OR THAT ANOTHER CAR WASN'T BEHIND ME OR THAT IT WASN'T AT NIGHT IN AN UNSAFE AREA BUT AS A CAR OWNER WHY AM I EXPECTED TO ROLL THE DICE WITH MY SAFETY?? WHY CAN'T THEY DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ISSUE. I DON'T LIKE BEING AT ANY DEALERSHIP WASTING MY EVENING HAGGLING WITH THEM MORE THEN THEY DO. THEREFORE I HAVE NO REASON TO MAKE IT UP. THE SERVICE MANAGER TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT HIS HANDS WERE TIED AND THAT FOR THE WARRANTY TO BE USED TO CHECK ALL POTENTIAL ISSUES (WITHOUT ANY "CODES") I WOULD HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL UNLESS THEY FIND SOMETHING WHICH I FEEL IS UNFAIR WHEN THE CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD WITH 40,000 MILES. I WAS THEN TOLD WHEN IT HAPPENS NEXT TIME... RECORD IT... *TR
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 16, 2014
MY FAMILY HAS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WE STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING IN 2013. THE CAR STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES ON CITY STREETS AND ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE CAR STALLS, THE DRIVER LOSES POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER THE THIRD TIME THE CAR STALLED WE TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE IN APRIL OF 2013 TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THE TECHNICIAN RAN A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR AT THAT TIME AND INSISTED ON MORE TESTING. THEY DID FIND A PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED/REPAIRED THE ETC-ACTUATOR AND GASKET-THROTTLE BODY. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT STARTED THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. IT HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. THE LATEST STALL HAPPENED TODAY WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT AROUND 30 MPH. IT ALSO STALLED LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT HOME AT ABOUT 25 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I TURNED THE KEY AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP AGAIN. WHEN IT STALLED ON ME, I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 9:48PM AND THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR WAS 72,917. IT WAS VERY SCARY. WE ARE TAKING CAR TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR REPAIRS. WE DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE. IT IS UNSAFE AND A HAZARD. *TR
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Jun 10, 2014
1ST OF MANY TOTAL ENGINE DE-POWERMENTS HAPPENED AT A STOP SIGN, GOING APPROX.15 MPH. I HAD FILLED THE GAS TANK AND AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN I CAME TO, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON; AND IT DIED, POWERLESS. I COASTED TO MY DESTINATION (LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY) AND CALLED MY SERVICE REP AT DANBURY HYUNDAI (CT). SHE TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO AN INCORRECT GAS CAP REPLACEMENT, TO UNDO THE GAS CAP AND START THE CAR. IT WORKED. AFTER THE FIRST EPISODE, THIS ABSOLUTE POWERING DOWN OF EVERYTHING, BRAKE, STEERING, CONTROL; HAPPENED SO OFTEN, IT BECAME ROUTINE. GAS TANK FILLING HAD NO BEARING-BUT IT HAPPENED AT STOP LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS, SO I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT. ALL THAT CONFIDENCE EVAPORATED YESTERDAY. I WAS DUE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVE ABOUT 45 MINUTES ON A COMBINATION OF HIGHWAY AND THRUWAY TO MY DAUGHTER'S. I WAS ON A BUSY LOCAL ROAD THAT PASSES THROUGH DANBURY WHEN THE CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WITHOUT ME BEING AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, OR EVEN BRAKING FOR ANY REASON, AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS SO SUDDENLY, I MIGHT ADD, THAT YOU HAVE NO TIME TO EVEN ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, OR DO ANYTHING BESIDES GRAB THE WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS AND TRY TO GET OVER AS FAR TO THE RIGHT AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. I NARROWLY ESCAPED BEING REAR ENDED BY A DUMP TRUNK DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, STARTED IT UP, AND CALLED MY SERVICE DEPT. AT HYUNDAI. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, SINCE I HAD ORIGINALLY TOLD THEM WHEN I HAD THE CAR SERVICED IN MAY OF 2014, AND THEY HAD TOLD ME THEN, THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT, SO THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I EXPLAINED THAT HAD I BEEN ALREADY ON THE THRUWAY I WOULD BE DEAD INSTEAD OF ON THE PHONE. I CAME HOME CALLED MY LAWYER AND FOUND HIS ADVICE SO HELPFUL, I'M SHARING IT. GO TO BBB.COM, AUTO LINE. THEY OFFER ARBITRATION AT 0$.
Engine, Jun 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL INDICATORS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM CARBURETOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,741.
Steering, Engine, Jun 8, 2014
VEHICLE DRIVEN SHOPPING CENTER (APPROXIMATELY 15 MI.) UPON LEAVING VEHICLE STALLED GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. STEERING CUT OUT AND DIFFICULT, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES. GAS WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK PRIOR AND VEHICLE RAN FINE. WILL TAKE TO THE DEALER, BUT BASED ON OTHER REPORTS I DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. *TR
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, May 26, 2014
THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE FIRST WAS IN SEPTEMBER 2013. BOTH TIMES I WAS TRAVELING AT 15 MPH WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STALLED AND I LOST STEERING POWER AND BRAKING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND PUT CAR IN PARK IT THEN RESTARTED. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BOTH TIMES. I CALL HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALER WHICH IS OVER 60 MILES FROM ME. THEY ARE NOT SURE IF I WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR TOWING FEES THIS FAR. *TR
Steering, Engine, May 11, 2014
DRIVING APROX 20 MPH, WITH NO WARNING ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, UNABLE TO STEER. SECOND TIME WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIND OR REPRODUCE PROBLEM. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 26, 2014
ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HAS HAPPENED THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. WITHIN INITIAL 10-MINUTES OF DRIVING, CAR BUCKED/SURGED AND ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN ONE INSTANCE. PRESSING GAS PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. COULD ONLY COAST TO DEALERSHIP MAINTAINING WHATEVER SPEED I HAD BY HAVING THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IDLING. VERY UNSAFE TO BE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. HYUNDAI DEALER 'FIXED' PROBLEM BY DOING A SOFTWARE UPDATE. IN NO CASE WOULD IT SEEM PLAUSIBLE THAT THE SOFTWARE IS CODED TO DISABLE THE ACCELERATION. THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DID NOT MAKE THE ISSUE GO AWAY. FOLLOWING DAY, THE CAR BUCKED/SURGED AGAIN AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR NOW LEFT AT DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. *TR
Power train, Engine, Apr 8, 2014
OUR 2012 HYUNDAI SANTE FE HAS SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WE WERE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LOST POWER AND MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THE DEALER INITIALLY DID AN ECM UPGRADE AND AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. A YEAR LATER (MARCH 2014) THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH. UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS EPISODES, THERE WAS NO CODE AND THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR BUT I REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SAFETY PROBLEM. AFTER TWO WEEKS WITH THE CAR THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE CAR BUT WITHOUT LUCK. I'VE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCENARIO AS I DID AND ALSO BELIEVE THE NEXT TIME THEY COULD BE KILLED. *TR
Engine, Apr 2, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ
Power train, Engine, Mar 24, 2014
THE VEHICLE SHUT ITSELF OFF WHEN DRIVING LOCALLY AND ON HIGH WAY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EVEN MAKE A DIAGNOSIS. HYUNDAI HEADQUARTERS REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE IT. *TR
Engine, Mar 23, 2014
DURING THE PAST 6 MONTHS, OUR VEHICLE HAS STALLED THREE TIMES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE JUST STALLED AND WE ALMOST LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE CAR ( VERY SCARY). THE FOLLOWING DAY, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND CLEANED ALL THE GROUNDS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE HOPE THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THEIR REPAIR SOLVES THE PROBLEM. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 4, 2014
MY 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS LOST POWER TWICE WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS ON APRIL 11, 2013. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON MARCH 1, 2014. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON A ROADWAY, THE SECOND TIME WAS IN A PARKING LOT. I HAVE READ OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES ON THE INTERNET. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE OF BOTH INCIDENTS. HYUNDAI HAS ADVISED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN REALLY DO UNLESS THEY ARE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 23, 2014
THIS IS MY LATEST ISSUE WITH MY 2012 SANTA FE (THE PREVIOUS BEING A BAD TRANSFER CASE WHICH MADE IT SPUTTER, A BAD 4WD COUPLING ASSEMBLY WHICH MADE IT CLUNK WHILE TURNING & A BAD TRANSMISSION RANGE SHAFT WHICH CAUSED IT TO NOT START OCCASIONALLY)...IT NOW JUST TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THE FIRST TIME, 2/5/14, I WAS TURNING ACROSS 2 LANES OF CROSS TRAFFIC AROUND 20 MPH AND IT JUST TURNED OFF AND DRIFTED! AT FIRST I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED... THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC! ON 2/22/14 IT HAPPENED AGAIN AS WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A HILL COMING TO A STOP! FORTUNATELY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT AGAIN IT JUST TURNED OFF WITH NO WARNING... BOTH TIMES THERE WAS SUFFICIENT GAS IN THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. IT IS GOING TO THE SHOP THIS WEEK, BUT I REALLY FEEL LIKE I GOT A LEMON OF A VEHICLE! I OWNED 3 OTHER HYUNDAIS PREVIOUSLY AND NEVER ANY PROBLEM AND NOW IT IS CONSTANT!!! I DON'T WANT THIS VEHICLE AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN IT AT ALL BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THERE'S NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS LEASE! *TR
Power train, Engine, Jan 31, 2014
I WAS ON A FREEWAY ON RAMP THAT GOES DOWNHILL AND INVOLVES A CURVE TO THE RIGHT. ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE ON RAMP MY ENGINE STALLED. I HAD TO TURN MY WHEEL AS FAR RIGHT AS I COULD TO AVOID GOING OFF EMBANKMENT AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE TO TRY TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF THE EMBANKMENT OR ATTAIN A SAFE SPEED TO MERGE ONTO FREEWAY. MY OIL LIGHT AND MALFUNCTION LIGHT BOTH CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN CAR OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE OFF AND CAR DROVE FINE. I WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT SOFTWARE FIX FOR THIS THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE. *TR
Engine, Jan 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 4, 2014
MY CAR DOES NOT EVER STOP WHEN I TRY TO STOP. I CAN BE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND THE CAR WILL ROLL OUT IN THE MAIN ROAD AND WILL NOT GO IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THEN ALL AT ONCE IT WILL TAKE OFF AT A FAST SPEED AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT MANY TIMES BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. MY CAR HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT NOW, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN NOW. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE. I NEED YOUR HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR