2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS WERE STRIPPED AT THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE TOO MANY CONSUMERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,770. UPDATED 3/9/09 *CN UPDATED 03/10/09. *JB

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DOES NOT ACTIVATE (ARM ITSELF) WHEN MY DAUGHTER SITS IN THE SEAT. MY DAUGHTER IS AN ADULT, WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 110 LBS AND IS PROPERLY SEATED AND WITH SEAT BELTS ON. THIS SITUATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE SALISBURY HYUNDAI DEALER WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR, AND RECENTLY TO THE OURSIDMAN HYUNDAI DEALER IN LAUREL, MD WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. BOTH DEALERS CLAIM THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE EVENT, USING ANOTHER PURSON AS THE TEST SUBJECT. THEY HAVE NOT PERFORMED ANY TEST TO CONFIRM THAT THE INSTALLATION OF THE SAFETY FEATURE IS PROPER, MEETS YOUR STANDARDS, OR EVEN AT WHAT WEIGHT THE LIGHTLY FINALLY TURNS OFF. THIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS TO MY DAUGHTER AND OTHER CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT. MY DAUGHTER IS A PRACTICING LAWYER IN MARYLAND AND REFUSES TO WASTE HER TIME VISITING THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THEY COMPLETE A VALID PERFORMANCE TEST. I AGREE, AND BELIEVE THE ONLY BENEFIT OF BRINGING HER TO THE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE TO PROVE I'M NOT LYING. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-633-5151 EXT 54327 ON OCTOBER 28TH AND HE ASSIGNED CASE NO. 3427197 TO IT AND REFERRED IT TO OTHERS. I NEXT HEARD FROM "ANNIE" AT EXT 54313, WHO GOT THE CASE AND SHE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT THE SEAT IS SET AT 140 LBS, AND OTHER NONSENSE INFORMATION. THIS KIND OF CORRECTION OF A SAFETY ISSUE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I EXPECT HYUNDAI TO WITHER FIX THE SEAT OF REPLACE IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 30K MILES AND IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED IN MAKING HYUNDAI COMPLY WITH OUR SAFETY STANDARDS. *TR

SURGING. SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, FEELS LIKE YOU ARE ALSO LAYING ON THE GAS PEDAL. OTHER TIMES, WHEN JUST BARELY ACCELERATING, IT'S LIKE TAKING OFF AT THE STARTING LINE. REAL SURGING, IT'S SCARY. MY WIFE DOESN'T LIKE DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECH'S AT THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG, THAT IT IS DESIGNED TO DO THIS. I FIND THAT TO BE STUPID, OR NOT TRUE. *TR

I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MFG. OF THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH ACCELERATION. WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE SUV POWER SURGES, THERE IS NO SMOOTH ACCELERATION. NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO CONTROL THE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JUST TAKES OFF. I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT 2X SINCE BUYING VEHICLE IN DEC. O7. AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IS THE WAY THE COMPUTER WORKS WITH THE VEHICLE. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY UN-NERVING AND DANGEROUS. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM, AND I HAVE HAD A FRIEND DRIVE VEHICLE AND HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALER MECHANIC I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH DONE. NOW THE CAR IDLES ERRATICALLY, AND SURGES WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. AT TIMES.WHEN STOPPED THE IDLE DROPS TO 300-400 RPMS, ALMOST A STALL, AND SOMETIMES IT JUMPS TO 1200-1500 RPMS AND WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM REALLY STOMP ON THE BRAKE, OR ELSE I WOULD HIT SOMETHING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY USED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES, SO NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY RECOMMENDED AN INJECTOR FLUSH, THOUGH THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE AT SPEED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE INTO TRAFFIC, STRUCK ANOTHER POLE AND A TRAFFIC SIGN. THE SIGN WAS KNOCKED DOWN, AND THE POLE WAS THE SNAPPED AT THE BASE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 11000. *AK

I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I HIT THE BACK OF A STOPPED FARM TRUCK CARRYING A HAY BALE AT ABOUT 65 MPH, WHILE I AM ALIVE AND IN DECENT SHAPE CONSIDERING, I SURELY WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED AT LEAST ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, BUT NO, BRAND NEW CAR, TOTALED, I HAVE PICS, AND ALL THE AIR BAGS STILL TUCKED AWAY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCATIONS. I WOULD APPRECIATE A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS AS I CURRENTLY OWN 2 HYUNDAI VEHICLES AND PLAN TO NOT PURCHASE OR RECOMMEND ON EVER AGAIN. *NM

BRAKES FAILED TO APPLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME; SPEED LESS THAN 10 MPH; BRAKES "BUCKED" AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR IN TIME TO PREVENT ACCIDENT; APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED OFF IGNITION TO STOP PROCESS; REPORTED TO LOCAL POLICE; CAR HAS BEEN IMPOUNDED FOR INVESTIGATION AND CONFIRMATION OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. *NM

#1 CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND PULLED OVER INTO EMPTY LOT AND TESTED BRAKES A FEW TIMES AND THEN IT WAS OKAY. #2 WAS STOPPED BEHIND A VEHICLE ABOUT 2 FEET AWAY, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN CAR ACCELERATED AND FELT LIKE IT JUMPED AND I BUMPED THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS WAS ON 11-28-06 ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO TELL THEM THAT MY BRAKES SOUNDED LIKE METAL AGAINST METAL AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL ON FOGGY MORNINGS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE MORNING BEFORE BUT I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THEY WERE BUSY. I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT WHEN I ROLLED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN BUT IT WAS ABOUT 4 WEEKS BEFORE THE SECOND TIME. DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 2 DAYS BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/18/06. *JB