2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,816 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #11

May 032022

Santa Fe

  • miles
Front coil spring rotted and broke while driving vehicle. 2007-2011 vehicles had recall for this but the 2012 did not. Broke after 115K miles which is not excessive.

- Westfield, MA, USA

problem #10

Jan 262018

Santa Fe

  • miles
The front coils of the vehicle were totally deteriorated and could have led to an accident. I noticed that earlier models were recalled due to this same condition. I paid ~2K to have this problem fixed and the garage stated the coils should have lasted to 120k miles. Hyundai has subsequently issued extended warrantees for their elantra vehicles of which we own one. I am concerned that this defect could affect more cars than Hyundai has identified similar to the engine recall situation that was recently repaired.

- Westford, MA, USA

problem #9

Mar 032021

Santa Fe

  • 103,387 miles
Broken right front coil spring foiund during routine auot inspection by service mechanic

- Ambler, PA, USA

problem #8

Apr 292020

Santa Fe

  • 96,000 miles
I was driving home on a rural street and heard a long clanking sound and then starting to smell rubber. I drove about 1.5 miles like this and when I got home, the strut/coil spring on the right front was broken off and scraping my tire on the inside. Had I been on the beltway, my tire could have blown and a major accident would have occurred. Hyundia refuses to cover even though they have recalls for other models/years. I no longer trust this car.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #7

Feb 072020

Santa Fe

  • 104,000 miles
Loud noise, front right, right front axle box. Also 3 warning lights are on including ABS,

- Oak Island, NC, USA

problem #6

Jul 152019

Santa Fe

  • 5 miles
After hearing a metal rubbing sound when turning right, took the 2012 Santa Fe into the shop. The mechanic discovered that the front right strut ruined was ruined, the plate it was attached to was broken, and both front coils rusted and broken at the same spot. This seems like a major defect for both coils to be broken at the same spot. This greatly jeopardized me, my wife and the three children in the back seat.

- Cheyenne, WY, USA

problem #5

Jul 012019

Santa Fe

  • 110,600 miles
Loud clanking noise on right front side. Strut is broken. Popping cover off under hood. Lot of movement. I read there are a lot of issues with right front suspension on 2012 Santa Fe. If this is true where is the recall. Parts are very expensive

- Bristol, CT, USA

problem #4

Dec 172018

Santa Fe

  • 113,000 miles
Noticed my vehicle was pulling to the right and just felt wrong when I drove, took it to a mechanic to check the alignment and brakes (because it was time for pads). The mechanic was shocked to find the strut on the passenger side had rusted and broken completely. Hyundai was going to charge me to check it out and repair because I was outside of my warranty. The mechanic told me to check for a recall since it was not a common issue, there was not a recall so he suggested I file a complaint.

- Salem, KY, USA

problem #3

Mar 152018

Santa Fe

  • 43,159 miles
Had my 2012 Santa Fe towed in to a local repair shop for a horrible noise, and was advised not only did I need new brakes at only 43,159 miles (seems early for this too) but that both front coil springs and strut mounts were extremely rusty and completely broken. These springs already had the 'boot' from the factory which was their 'fix' for prior model years with this same problem. There have been recalls for this problem up to 2011 model year - but not the 2012. My vehicle was just out of warranty. --- note - I still have the broken coil springs as proof.

- Addison, IL, USA

problem #2

Apr 272018

Santa Fe

  • miles
Front springs rusted, call recalled due to undercarriage rust, rub against tire, very dangerous hyndai of turnersville has vehicle now waiting to see if Hyundai corporate will fix this issue free of charge

- Williamstown, NJ, USA

problem #1

Mar 052018

Santa Fe

  • 87,824 miles
Front coil spring rusted and broke; it rubbed against my tire. Not sure how tire did not rupture while I was driving on I-95. The other front coil spring was rusted, but it did not break yet. Clearly this part is defective. Coil had plastic sleeve on it, water must collect underneath and rust it out. Created case number 11066195 with Hyundai, but they have not acknowledged any responsibility, despite my repeated concerns about safety. They also would not reimburse me for repair because 'it was outside warranty' and that I went to my family mechanic (due to lack of responsiveness from Hyundai). I saw online that Hyundai has had a history of defective front coil springs (even as recent of 2018), yet they have not taken my complaint seriously.

- Maple Shade, NJ, USA