2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Complaints

PURCHASED A NEW 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 11/2001 WITH 11 MILES ON IT. IN 3/2007, THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN REPLACING IT, 2 MAJOR SAFETY DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED - NO SAFETY/PROTECTIVE FOAM IN THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE SAFETY/CRASH BAR WAS BENT - I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR MUST HAD BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY ACCEPTED NO RESPONSIBILITY - THEY SAID I MUST HAVE DONE IT. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS OR TICKETS AND MY DRIVING RECORD PROVES THAT. I PURCHASED A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT, WHICH SHOWED NO ACCIDENT HISTORY. THE ONLY CONCLUSION IS THAT THE DEFECTS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF SALE. THE CAR SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE SAFETY INSPECTIONS. *JB

GRINDING AND OTHER ODD NOISES WHEN BRAKING IN MY 2002 SANTE FE. PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND I HAVE REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES ONCE A YEAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TWO DIFFERENT HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS AND TO HYDUNDAI MOTOR CORPORATION. ITSELF AND WAS TOLD THAT I MUST BE A BRAKE RIDER AND CITY DRIVER. EITHER OF THESE IS TRUE. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 8-10,000 MILES ON ANY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. I WAS TOLD A COMPLETE, FULL BRAKE JOB MUST BE DONE EACH TIME BECAUSE THE ROTORS ARE SO THIN THAT THERE IS LITTLE MARGIN FOR ERROR OF OVER RESURFACING. THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. I WAS TOLD BY ONE SERVICE MANAGER FROM ONE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THAT HE WOULD NEVER ALLOW HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR WITH TURNED DOWN ROTORS AND THAT HE WOULD RATHER LAY OUT THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES FOR PIECE OF MIND. I WAS SPOKEN TO LIKE I WAS AN IDIOT BY HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE WHEN I COMPLAINED AND MY CONCERNS OF AN INFERIOR BRAKING SYSTEM WERE IGNORED. I HAVE JUST HAD MY FIFTH SET OF FRONT BRAKES PUT ON THE CAR AND WAS ACTUALLY TOLD BY A NEW SERVICE MANAGER THAT BETWEEN HIM AND I, THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE MADE FOR A SMALL VEHICLE NOT AN SUV OF THIS SIZE, AND THAT THIS CAR WAS KNOWN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. THIS ONLY CONFIRMED WHAT I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HYUNDAI AS WAS ALSO TOLD TO ME BY TWO OTHER PRIVATE PARTY REPAIR CENTERS. I NOW REFUSE TO ALLOW HYUNDAI TO CHARGE ME ALMOST DOUBLE THE PRICE TO REPLACE THEIR INFERIOR, CHEAP BRAKING SYSTEM. THEY APPARENTLY PUT CHEAP, HORRIBLE WEAR AND TEAR PARTS IN THEIR CAR, SO YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE THEM VERY REGULARLY. RESULTING IN THEM MAKING A BUNDLE AND THEN SOME BACK ON THEIR OH SO GREAT BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I ACTUALLY SAW THEIR BRAKE PAD AND IT IS SMALL. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE'S CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT 60,000, 62,000, AND 80,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AFTER 100 YARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS BAD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 03V030000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,211 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED. THE CONTACT PLACED THE CHILD SEAT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND SECURED IT WITH THE SEAT BELT. WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CHILD SEAT OVERTURNED. THE CONTACT THEN POSITIONED THE CHILD SEAT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT COULD NOT SECURE IT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.*AK UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. DURING ITS LAST OIL CHANGE IT WAS NOTED THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING AT THE JOINT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW TRANS AXLE SEAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,598. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE OIL BEGAN LEAKING TWO DAY LATER. THE PART WAS ORDERED FROM HYUNDAI.*AK THE CONSUMER PROVIDED VARIOUS PICTURES OF ABOVE PROBLEM. UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHEN HEAT IS RUNNING LIGHTS DIM. WHEN I ROLL UP WINDOWS, THE LIGHTS DIM. WHEN USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS THE HEAT GETS COLDER. LITTLE THINGS THAT WEREN'T SO BAD AT FIRST. HEAT WOULD FAIL TO TURN ON OCCASIONALLY AND NOW WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. THIS IS CAUSING MY WINDOWS TO FROST WHILE DRIVING MAKING VISIBILITY VERY HARD. IF IT WEREN'T FOR ALL THE OTHER LITTLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I WOULD JUST THINK THE HEATING SYSTEM WENT BAD. BUT IT HAS BEEN A PATTERN IN EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL ON THIS CAR. A FEW TIMES I WOULD GO TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. IF I TURNED EVERYTHING OFF THEN IT WOULD START. THOUGHT MAYBE WAS BAD BATTERY UNTIL I GOT A NEW ONE AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD THE NEW BATTERY TESTED AND IT WAS OK. I BELIEVE IT IS ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *JB

TL* - WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE ENGINE ON A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST THE POWER STEERING AN THE POWER BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS COLD AND THERE WAS LIGHT SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE ONCE THE REPAIRS ARE DONE ON HIS VEHICLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY CLOUDY MAKING VISIBILITY VERY LIMITED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD BUFF THE INSIDE OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS, AT COST TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

PURCHASED "NEW" IT TOOK OVER SIX HOURS TO DELIVER THE VEHICLE ON SITE. 1.)THE "SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED RETURNED TO JIM ELLIS; "NO CORRECTION" TO DATE. 2.)SEVERAL OTHER DEFECTS EXISTED: BATTERY FAILED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT LEAST TWICE, BRAKES WARE QUICKLY AND REPEATEDLY REQUIRE REPAIRS, HEATED SEATS ON AT "ALL" TIMES, THE TEMPERATURE REMAINS ON "CELSIUS" RATHER THAN ON THAN "FEREINHEIGHT" TEMPERATURES, CLOCK WON'T SET TO CURRENT MONTH,DATE, YEAR. 3.)THE 10 YEAR;100 MILE WARRANTY IS DISREGARDED/MINIMIZED; FROM 24,000 MILES. 4.) WHILE IN FOR DEFECT REVIEW; THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ME FROM 2 DEALERSHIPS WITH "DINGS" UP AND DOWN THE SIDE; DENTS ON CORNERS(PHYSICAL DAMAGE). IN ADDITION REPAIRS WEREN'T MADE AND MANAGERS LOOKED THE "OTHER WAY" AND FAILED TO RETURN CALLS OR RESPOND TO LETTERS. ALSO THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BECAME A NEW ISSUE AND DEFECT INITIATED THE EVENING THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED HOME. WAS TOLD TO ANTICIPATE ENGINE TROUBLE TO BE INITIATED IN THE NEAR FUTURE DESPITE THE OIL CHANGE DATE BEING WITHIN LIMITS. WAS TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE OIL EXISTED AND BLAMED ME. THEN DEMANDED I PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS "BEFORE" THEY'D RELEASE CAR TO ME.(NEEDED FOR WORK). MGRS WERE DEFENSIVE AND SHUT DOWN REGARDING INFORMATION. 5.)THE "RECALLS" AREN'T RECOGNIZED OR CORRECTED ON 1ST,2ND, OR 3RD REQUEST-I'M TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY DON'T HAVE THE COMPUTER TO DO IT. *JB

MY DAUGHTER CALLED OUT "HELP, MOMMY! I'M STUCK!" I LOOKED IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR TO FIND THE SHOULDER-BELT OF MY VEHICLE WAS WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF HER HEAD SO I ASKED HER TO DUCK HER HEAD OUT. SHE SAID "I CAN'T, I'M STUCK!" I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT TO HER, HER FACE WAS GETTING RED. I DUCKED HER HEAD UNDER THE BELT. TO MY HORROR, THE BELT WAS WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK AGAIN. THANKFULLY SHE COULD CALL TO ME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. THE LOCKING MECHANISMS ON THE SHOULDER-BELTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE WHEN YOU FULLY RETRACT THE BELT TO INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT ARE BROKEN. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THREE DEFECTIVE MECHANISMS SO FAR. WHEN I FIRST INSTALLED THE SEAT, THE MECHANISM WORKED. AFTER NEEDING TO REMOVE THE SEAT AT ONE POINT AND DISENGAGING THE MECHANISM, IT QUIT WORKING. IT NEVER LOCKED AGAIN. SO, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, AS MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IN THE MEANTIME, I MOVED HER SEAT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SAME PROBLEM. THE LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE BELT WORKED, UNTIL I HAD TO DISENGAGE IT. THEN THAT SIDE BROKE. MY VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, SO I MOVED THE SEAT TO THE REPAIRED SIDE. AFTER A WHILE, I NEEDED TO MOVE HER SEAT AND DISENGAGE THE LOCKING MECHANISM. IT QUIT WORKING! I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THE PART WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT LABOR WASN'T. I DIDN'T HAVE IT REPAIRED BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD IT AT THE TIME. IN ORDER TO KEEP MY SEATS INSTALLED CORRECTLY, I BEGAN USING THE LOCKING CLIPS THAT CAME WITH THE SEATS. (NOW I HAVE TWO CHILDREN.) THIS HANDLES THE SEATS BEING INSTALLED SAFELY, BUT IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT THE BELTS OF MY VEHICLE CAN MOVE FREELY BECAUSE THE LOCKING MECHANISMS ARE BROKEN. BECAUSE OF THIS MY INQUISITIVE TWO-YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PULL ON THE BELT AND WRAP IT AROUND HER NECK NEARLY TWO COMPLETE TIMES. *JB