2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Complaints

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

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

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND THEN STOPPED ON ITS OWN, I PRESSED THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED, I THEN SHIFTED TO FORWARD AND THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO GEAR VIOLENTLY, BUT APPEARED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. I DID NOTICE AFTERWARD THAT THE "ECO" INDICATOR DID NOT WORK WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. I LATER STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT APPEARED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AND THE "ECO" LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I PREVIOUSLY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPED AND THE DEALER HAS NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEMS OR MADE ANY REPAIRS. *JS

A PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT WENT TO PUT ON HER SEATBELT AND FOUND THAT THE SHOULDER HARNESS JUST CAME APART MAKING IT COMPLETELY UNUSABLE AND UNSAFE. I WENT TO THE DEALER, FITZGERALD HYUNDAI AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM, EXPECTING THEM TO FIX IT BUT I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WAS SHOCKED AS I BELIEVED THAT A SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT ANY DEALER WOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. WHEN I INSISTED THAT THE I DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD FIX IT I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT WITH A HIGHER MANAGEMENT LEVEL AND WOULD GET BACK TO ME. I HAVE HAD NO FOLLOW UP FROM FITZGERALD. I FOLLOWED UP TWICE BY EMAIL ONCE USING THEIR OWN WEBSITE FORM HOPING THAT WOULD GET A RESPONSE, BUT STILL NOTHING. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE WITH THE SEATBELT MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS SO I AM REPORTING THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT USE MY BACK SEAT FOR PASSENGERS VERY OFTEN BUT NEVERTHELESS I FEEL A SEATBELT MALFUNCTION IS A SAFETY CONCERN OF HIGH PRIORITY AND SOMETHING THAT A DEALER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IMMEDIATELY AND THERE SHOULD BE NO DISPUTE! *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER EACH TIME. THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WENT INTO THE LIMP MODE WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON THE TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 08-20-14 *BF UPDATED 09/3/2014 *JS

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

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 7500 MILES I NOTICE AN UNPLEASANT ODOR THAT SMELLS LIKE MELTED PLASTIC. IT'S NOT THE NEW CAR SMELL AND AT TIMES IT CAN MAKE ONE NAUSEOUS. IT IS INTENSIFIED WHEN ACCELERATED. AUGUST 2012 (PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JUNE 2012) REPORTED THE SMELL TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SPORT DURST. I WAS INFORMED THAT POSSIBLY A "PLASTIC BAG" HAS GOTTEN STUCK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AND WILL BURN OFF. DECEMBER 2012, I ONCE AGAIN INFORMED THEM OF THIS UNCOMFORTABLE SMELL. I CAN NOT RIDE IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE OUTSIDE AIR COMING IN BECAUSE I CAN SMELL THE MELTED PLASTIC NO MATTER WHAT STATE, CITY, OR TIME OF DAY THE NAUSEATING SMELL IS THERE. THE CABIN AIR FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGED, THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AND THE WAY I DRIVE HAS BEEN CHANGED AND EVEN UNDER VERY SLOW ACCELERATION THE SMELL IS THERE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN JUNE 2013 AND STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I NOR OTHER PASSENGERS OR OTHER DRIVERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SMELL THIS BURNT SMELL. *TR

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

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$.