10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 29,002 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.
On March 30, 2004 at 5:52 am while on my way to work, my Hyundai Santa Fe was hit on the driver's side door by a man who ran a red light. As his vehicle made impact, my Santa Fe was sent into a roll-over, with approximately three to four flips. My side airbags did not deploy, and as a result, I hit my head on the driver's side window. I suffered from a concussion and daily headaches, that at times were debilitating. The driver's side of the car, from front to back, was destroyed. I was unable to exit the vehicle this way, and had to get out of the car through the passenger's side with the help of a passer-by. Both vehicles were totaled as a result of the accident. I contacted Hyundai and sent them all of the required paperwork. I received a reply that stated they felt the airbags had functioned in the manner in which they were designed, and this was their final decision on the matter. I fail to see how side-air bags, not deploying in a roll-over collision, are functioning at all. When I purchased the vehicle, the dual side impact airbags were one of the selling points that the dealer used. Included in the owners manual was a pamphlet that also described the airbags, along with pictures of a car being hit in the driver's door and roll-over accidents. According to this pamphlet, the side airbags would protect you in crashes such as these.
- Canfield, OH, USA
On February 3, 2004, thomas ashfield, my husband, was driving to the high school to pick up our daughter. While driving southbound toward the high school two vehicles were traveling North. The first car was traveling at a higher rate of speed than what the elements called for, hitting the second car and shooting the car into ours, broadsiding tom on his driver's side. Tom immediately heard a snap. He sustained broken ribs, a torn meniscus, and a herniated disc in his C5/C6. (his first surgery is complete, we are awaiting the second.) the damage to the car was enough to require approximately $8,400. During the accident, the side airbag did not deploy. The insurance company wanted a rapid repair. We never thought to get engineers out to look at the damage or to take pictures. We did learn that there had been a problem with the airbag and sensor from the body shop and they said they would retain the components so that Hyundai could view them. I wrote to Hyundai on April 14, 2004. A representative contacted us the first time in June and then on June 22, 2004, he called again asking for the name of the repair shop. Tom gave him the information. The representative called us back and told tom that the repair shop had gotten rid of the parts. That was a shock to us because up until two weeks ago, they told us they would retain it. (we confirmed this with them when the representative first made contact with us.) in addition, from what the representative told tom, the story changed about the defective parts. I do not have the slightest idea of what occurred. Something is happening. I want answers. I want to know why the malfunction happened. Was this the first time or is it something that is ongoing and nobody is paying attention to. My husband sustained major injuries. We paid for safety features on a new vehicle and they did not work. What will it require for us to receive answers...a death?
- Cortland, NY, USA
- Newport, MI, USA