2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Complaints

I BOUGHT MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE NEW IN FEBRUARY 2004. ALL OF THE BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 23000 MILES DUE TO RUSTED CALIPERS. HOWEVER, MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH MORE SERIOUS. THE COIL SPRINGS ON BOTH FRONT MCPHEARSON STRUTS BROKE AND PENETRATED THE TIRES. THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE IN FEBRUARY 2009 AT ABOUT 23000 MILES. THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE ON 6/9/09 AT APPROXIMATELY 24500 MILES. FORTUNATELY, THE SANTA FE WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE BOTH TIMES THE SPRINGS BROKE. HAD THE SPRINGS FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR ON THE THRUWAY, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I WOULD HAVE CRASHED OR ROLLED OVER. ALTHOUGH THE TOWS AND REPAIRS WERE MADE UNDER WARRANTY AT NO COST TO ME, I DON'T TRUST THE SANTA FE ANYMORE AND I DO NOT INTEND TO KEEP IT. *TR

MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAD A SLOW LEAK WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I ALWAYS CARRIED A CAN OF FIX A FLAT.I THEN PROCEEDED TP A TIRE PLACE TO REPAIR THE TIRE BUT WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE I USED THE FIX A FLAT THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE WRITTEN TO FIX A FLAT TO EITHER CONFIRM OR DENY THIS STATEMENT BY THE TIRE COMPANY, BUT SO FAR I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY ANYONE FROM FIX A FLAT. CAN YOU PLEASE CONFIRM OR DENY THIS STATEMENT? THE TIRE PLACE TOLD ME THAT THE DOT HAS PUBLISHED A RULING TO THIS EFFECT, BUT I LOOKED ALL OVER AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON IT. *TR

THE CHROME PLATE ON THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS WORN DOWN AND CRACKED. EVERYTIME THE DOOR HANDLE IS USED THAT CRACK SERVES AS A RAZOR BLADE AND CUTS MY PASSENGER'S HANDS. THIS CRACK IS ON THE TOP OF THE DOOR HANDLE. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE 2002-2003 SONATAS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS RECALL MAY NEED TO BE EXPANDED TO OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE SIMILAR TO LIQUID TOUCHING A HOT SURFACE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS LEAKING ONTO THE PIPES, THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE FUEL TANK COVER, WHICH HAS ALSO CAUSED THEM TO RUST. THE CONTACT HAS AN EXTENDED FIVE YEAR WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY MAKE REPAIRS WHEN THE STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. SHE INFORMED THE DEALER THAT A MECHANIC CHANGED THE FLUIDS AND STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT COULD HAVE SEIZED DUE TO THE RUST AND CAUSED A LOSS IN STEERING CONTROL. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS PER THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENTS. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, SERPENTINE BELT, TIMING BELT, AIR CONDITIONER BELT, AND POWER STEERING FLUID WERE REPLACED IN APRIL OF 2009. IN MARCH OF 2009, THE VEHICLE UNDERWENT FREQUENT OIL CHANGES AND TIRE REPLACEMENTS AT THE DEALER. AT THAT TIME, SHE WAS NEVER INFORMED OF ANY RUST BEING PRESENT. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE RUST OCCURRED OVER TIME. THE INVOICES FOR ALL REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE WORK IS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER TO SPEAK WITH THE MECHANIC FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE MAGNUSEN-MOFACT 1975 TITLE 15, CHAPTER 50 , SECTIONS 2301 -2312 OF THE U.S. FEDERAL CODE, WHICH AUTHORIZES HER TO HAVE REPAIRS PERFORMED BY A REPAIR FACILITY OTHER THAN THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I HAVE DOCUMENTED 8 TIMES THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED IN MY CAR - TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY KEEP SAYING DUE TO CORROSION ON WIRES BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT EVERY 3-4 MTHS THAT HAPPENS - I DO NOT LIVE NEAR THE BEACH. THE CAR WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY END OF THIS YEAR AND I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS NOT BEING SOLVED. *TR

EVERYTIME I REFUEL MY 04 HYUNDAI SANTE FE IT WILL NOT START. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL STAY RUNNING AND I NEED TO CONSTANTLY GIVE IT GAS. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I PUT IN 2 GALLONS OR I FILL THE TANK. AT LEAST ONE TIME WHEN I WENT TO SHUT IT OFF IT KEPT RUNNING. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE STATED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SAME MAKE, MODEL, YEAR. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY WIRING. DEALER GOT IT TO GO OUT, BUT IF IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN THEY SAY THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CANNOT SAY IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT AND SAYS THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SAY EITHER. NOW, THE LIGHT IS OUT BEHIND THE HEATER CONTROL BUTTON. ONCE AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY WIRING. FAULTY WIRING SOUNDS LIKE A FACTORY PROBLEM TO ME. ALL SERVICES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DONE SINCE DAY ONE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN AUG/2005 FROM A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP (# ). IN AUG/2006, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RESULTS WERE "CODE B1382 PSAB RESISTANCE HIGH - RESECURE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT/CLEAR CODE". IN FEB/2008, THE AIRBAG SENSOR AGAIN APPEARED. THE SAME TECHNICAL CODE WAS DETECTED, AND THE DEALERSHIP RESOLUTION WAS TO "REROUTE WIRE HARNESS". IN MAR/2008, THE AIRBAG LIGHT AGAIN APPEARED AND WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN NOV/2008, THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARING. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE IN NOV/2008, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE AIRBAG FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE WARRANTY, AT WHICH TIME, THEY WERE INFORMED THAT A COMPLAINT WOULD BE FILED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW DUE TO REPEAT FIXES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP THEN FIXED THE ISSUE. ON NOV. 26, 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN A HIGH-SPEED REAR END COLLISION (~35MPH) WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND PUSHED INTO AN INTERSECTION, WHERE IT BROADSIDED A MOVING VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACTS, THE HYUNDAI WAS TOTALED, ALL REAR SEATED PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURY DUE TO THE SPARE TIRE BEING LIFTED FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT AND RAISING THE 60/40 SPLIT REAR SEAT AND PUSHING IT FORWARD, THE FRONT PASSENGER RECEIVED CHEST CONTUSIONS AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED UPPER BODY INJURIES. DESPITE BEING PUSHED FORWARD AND MAKING A STRONG IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I REQUESTED HYUNDAI INVESTIGATE THE MATTER, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT ALTHOUGH THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED FROM THE SECONDARY IMPACT, IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS REGARDING REPEATED AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT REPAIRS AND OTHER AIRBAG FAILURES, INCLUDING STORIES OF CRASHES INTO POLES WITH FAILED AIRBAGS. HYUNDAI HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL, BUT THEY PROBABLY SHOULD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A 7-ELEVEN STORE. THE DRIVER AND CUSTOMERS WERE UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED COSMETIC DAMAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR ESTABLISHMENT SO THEY COULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000.

ENGINE- DEFECTIVE SHORT BLOCK ENGINE CAR IS BACK IN SHOP NOW FOR THE 5TH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, LOUD RATTLING NOISES COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S A DEFECTIVE FACTORY ENGINE. BRAND NEW SHORT BLOCK ENGINE REPLACED TWICE AND CAR NOW BACK IN SHOP FOR SAME PROBLEM. NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE, AS TWICE I HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER B/C OF ENGINE FAILURE AND I HAD MY 2 YR OLD SON WITH ME. IN REVIEWING THIS WEBSITE, I SEE COUNTLESS NUMEROUS AND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS! THE ENGINE IS THE HEART OF A CAR SO HOW MANY NEW HEARTS IS HYUNDAI WILLING TO PUT IN THIS ONE CAR? IT COST MORE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAN TO JUST ACCEPT THE LOSS AND PROPERLY COMPENSATE ME! REPAIRS ARE AS FOLLOWS: NEW SHORT BLOCK ENGINE INSTALLED; RETURN CAR SAME DAY B/C ENGINE FELT "LOOSE"; TOLD IT WAS THE SWAY BAR LINKS- INSTALLED SAME DAY; CAR STILL FELT LOOSE, NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON- CAR RETURNED. THIS TIME TOLD IT WAS STRUT TOP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED- DONE. PICKED UP CAR, 2 DAYS LATER BACK IN SHOP FOR SAME INITIAL LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. TOLD SAME PROBLEM WITH SHORT BLOCK ENGINE TO BE DEFECTIVE. ORDERED BRAND NEW SHORT BLOCK ENGINE AND REPLACED AGAIN! PICKED UP CAR AFTER REPAIR AND AGAIN, SAME DAY, BROUGHT THE CAR BACK B/C CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN! CAR PRESENTLY STILL IN SHOP AND I'M FORCED TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY B/C THE HYUNDAI'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS STATES AS LONG AS THE DEALER KEEPS FIXING THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN OFFERING ME ANY COMPENSATION. HOW MUCH MORE MONEY ARE THEY WILLING TO GIVE THIS DEALER BEFORE THEY REALIZE THIS CAR IS NOT WORTH ANOTHER $6,500 REPAIR BILL? *TR