10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 2
Average Mileage:
77,096 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #12

Feb 192013

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
My moms Santa Fe has sped out of control several times in the last three months. The last incident caused injuries because the air bag failed to deploy. The first incident was in a parking lot where the car had unintended acceleration and crashed into several cars. Second incident was on the road where car sped up and she turned it off. The third was backing out of a shopping center parking lot where the car rapidly accelerated in reverse hitting a car and then tried to put in neutral but went into drive instead. She hit a post and the front end wrapped around the post but air bag did not deploy causing injury. State farm and many attorneys won't touch this case because of the costs involved to sue such a large corporation.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #11

Aug 012012

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while parked the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact inspected the vehicle. The contact stated that the drivers side air bag switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The VIN was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000. Updated 10/31/12 updated 11/08/2012

- Springfield, PA, USA

problem #10

Aug 222012

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 79,695 miles
There is a red light for the airbag. I called Hyundai dealer. They advised it is probably a sensor. I am concerned the airbag could deploy but they "do not think" that will happen. It may be expensive to fix depending if this is a sensor in the seat belt or steering wheel. They advised there is no current recall so I would have to pay for this to be fixed. I believe this is potentially dangerous. Other years of this model vehicle had same problem.

- Mahwah, NJ, USA

problem #9

Aug 062012

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
We own a 2005 Santa Fe by Hyundai. We have been reading blogs about the air bag light being illuminated as a result of the seat belt sensor going bad on these vehicles and not deploying in the case of an accident. Ours is now demonstrating this. The red air bag light will remain illuminated and the issue after being run through a diagnostic at a local dealership was as expected tied to a seat belt sensor issue. I know that there are more of these issues and some have actually won cases dealing on an individual level with Hyundai of America which is what we intend to do, but if this is such a rampant issue, there should be a further investigation done and a voluntary recall on their part to assure that the air bags are deployable at all times and not just while the car is under warranty.

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #8

Jul 302012

Santa Fe

  • miles
My mother died in a vehicle accident with no other vehicles involved. Her Santa Fe went through a "T" intersection without stopping crossing highway, went airborne over hillside and struck a tree. Severed spine, chest trauma and shattered ankle. There are no skids marks at the scene airbags were deploy but when" steering column is crushed in and steering wheel was bent inward. The road she was on is a residential side street. There is a 100 feet downgrade but straight as you approach the stop sign. The "T" intersection is a two lane not well traveled road. She drove this road many times before. What makes a vehicle travel at a high rate of speed in a 100 feet straight away, go through a stop sign get airborne after crossing highway? acceleration sticking? why is there so much damage to steering column if airbag went off? could the accelerator get stuck and my mother panic and tried to stop car by stepping on brakes making a panic decision, not knowing to take vehicle out of gear or turning vehicle off" was there enough time. I lost my mother and after reading all the problems, I think these and all Hyundai vehicles should be looked at!

- North Versailles, PA, USA

problem #7

Feb 032012

Santa Fe

  • 90,000 miles
Cannot get passenger air bag light not sure if working sacred for safety.

- Paragould, AR, USA

problem #6

Jul 012005

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 1,000 miles
Passanger air bag system never worked properly it was returned to dealer many times and we were told there was nothing they could do to correct this. To this date the system only works part time, we were told the passanger must weigh at least 125 pounds well my wife weighs 135 pounds.many timesi have to remind my wife to get up and sit down harder, one day we will be in an accident and have no air bag deployment.

- New Bern, NC, USA

problem #5

May 012011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • miles
My 2005, sante fe has only 69K miles, and the airbag light is on. The car has not been in an accident and has regular maintenance. The dealer said it was not covered under warranty and no outstanding recalls. The dealer said it was the sensor in the front passenger seat belt buckle that needs replaced and then the light needs to be reset by the dealer, nobody else I know can do this. The assembly for the seat belt is only a dealer part. Total cost to repair is almost $500. I've read many people complaining the sensor in the seat belt going bad and the only place to fix is the dealer.

- Glen Allen, VA, USA

problem #4

Jan 022011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • miles
2005 Hyundai sante fe (I have two of the same model and year) I brought the vehicles in for the initial air bag recall (child safety - weight in the front seat.) that seemed to remove the air bag light for about a month. They reset them again for a second, third and fourth time. Now even without a passenger, the 'passenger air bag off' light is out and the air bag light is on. The dealer says that this is not a known issue, but I have seen it on more than one site and I have it happening on two of the same vehicles, one my wife drives (5'2" tall, average) and the other I drive (6'-3" tall, heavy). Being a safety issue, it should be covered, but the dealer refuses to fix it without charging close to $600 ea. Vehicle. There is nothing under the seats as they have stated to make sure that things are clear underneath. Just wondering why nothing has been done to date on a recall that effects the safety and well being of people.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #3

Aug 192008

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. When the contact's wife is seated in the front passenger seat, the air bag light illuminates. This indicates that the air bag is deactivated. His wife weighs approximately 125 lbs. NHTSA campaign id number 08V161000 is for this same failure, but not this specific vehicle. The current mileage was 20,000 and failure mileage was 18,000. Updated 11/10/08 the dealer has not been able to correct the problem. Updated 11/13/08.

- Vernon Hills, IL, USA

problem #2

Mar 262006

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,000 miles
Driving on a dirt road, vehicle started to wobble, vehicle swerved to the left and went over ditch, rolled and hit tree. Passenger was thrown from vehicle. Driver sustained spinal cord injury. Vehicle had front end, right side, and top damage. No airbags deployed.

- Buckeye, AZ, USA

problem #1

Jul 302005

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35 miles
Passenger air bag system doesn't work as per dash light. Dealer states the sensor indicates the system is working properly.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA