10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,875 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #69

Apr 022017

Santa Fe

  • 80,000 miles
While driving approximately 50 mph on a two lane hwy making my way to the main hwy the car lost all power, was unable to accelerate. I put car in neutral while trying to steer the car off the road. The power steering was also out, very hard to steer. After pulling over I put the car in park and tried starting the engine. It started up, I drove home in the slow lane so if it happened again I would be close to the shoulder. This was very scary, now I'm afraid to go anywhere. After searching google to see if I could find something that may have cause this, I read about a recall that maybe the problem. I believe my car has already had the recall repaired but feel it maybe defective again.

- Bay Point, CA, USA

problem #68

Feb 092017

Santa Fe

  • 146,000 miles
There is a gasket leak that drips oil on to my car's alternator, affecting its ability to work. Last year, this problem caused my car not to start, and completely drained my new car battery (when I thought this was simply a car battery issue). Last year, it would not start for me at all - I discovered this problem too late. This problem with the gasket leak is occurring again and causes my battery light to come on while driving. While I was able to drive it to the dealership for evaluation and repair, I was by Hyundai's car dealership to not drive at night and to not drive while it's raining.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #67

Dec 282014

Santa Fe

  • miles
Gasket leaks oil onto alternator causing it to fail. Hyundai has a recall on the sister car Hyundai veracruz for this issue, but not the Santa Fe. I have spent alot of money on this repair and think that I have the same issue again.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #66

Aug 132016

Santa Fe

  • 157,000 miles
Friday, Aug 12, I parked the car around 6:30 pm. Around 8:40 am, Saturday Aug 13, neighbors rang my door bell and banged on the my door. The Santa Fe was on fire. My insurance company found no evidence of arson. The car parked for around 14 hours caught fire. Researching online, I found numerous comments from other Hyundai owners who faced a similar experience.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #65

Jul 312016

Santa Fe

  • 64,000 miles
Gas gage goes from full to empty in a matter of minutes. Can't tell how much gas I have as trip ticket function goes "berserk" as well and may register for instance 20 miles when the odometer says I have only travelled 10 miles.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #64

Sep 152015

Santa Fe

  • miles
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the electronic function panel on the driver side failed to work and all of the doors randomly failed to lock on the inside and outside. The vehicle was to be taken to the dealer for further inspection and diagnosis. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V122000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The brake pedal was applied several times and traveled to the floorboard. The contact had to pump the brake pedal each time the failure occurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #63

Apr 242016

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 107,236 miles
I have recently experienced a faulty fuel gauge, therefore activating the check engine light coming on. Vehicle has 107236 miles on it. I got on line and sought out possible info for this problem, and was made aware that many, many other owners of this vehicle were having the same problem. So I went to the Hyundai web site looking to see if a recall had been issued. There was none this problem appears to be able to possibly endanger human life, and/or injury. It is mine, and several other's opinion that a recall should be administered by the NHTSA to force Hyundai motor Corp. To engage a recall for this problem, as this is becoming symptomatic from the facts that have been posted on the web. I, and many others would appreciate any assistance that you can give us in this matter, as after checking into cost of repairs, are quite costly, and the possibility of a detrimental injury, and/or loss of life could occur!! the apparent cause of said problem, is a faulty fuel level sensor sending unit, and/or fuel pump. Thank you, sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #62

Mar 232016

Santa Fe

  • miles
I bought this car a year ago and they told me everything was up to date. There was a recall back in 2008 on the trailer hitch that wasn't fixed and something about the air bags. Also the did player for the tv isn't playing anything.

- Fairfield, IL, USA

problem #61

Nov 072013

Santa Fe

  • miles
This is actually my third complaint. I have spoken to Hyundai no one will acknowledge that there is a problem. First my check engine light came on. I was told it was a fuel gauge sensor. I recently had them replaced now my car's check engine light is flashing and the car has stalled on me several times while in traffic or on the interstate. Hyundai is ignoring this. I think it's my fuel/ proposition system. I had a tune-up the car shakes like it's going to stall constantly. I can smell the fuel from inside of the car. I cannot believe after all the complaints they still say that the cars affected were either only 2006 models or were never sold. That's a lie. They've had over four hundred complaints and three years to do something about this.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #60

Jan 162016

Santa Fe

  • 93,000 miles
Check engine light comes on and off; gas gauge claims the tank is empty, full, empty, half tank...all within minutes; headlights won't light but fog lights and parking lights currently work. Happens whether vehicle is stationary or driving.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #59

May 062015

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
Fuel sensor/gauge shows empty and check engine light stays on. This is intermittent so gauge goes up and down. Can never tell how much fuel is in tank so you will run out of gas. A lot of others have had the same problem with same vehicle and year. This is a safety issue if you run out of gas on the interstate. Thank you for any help.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #58

Aug 202015

Santa Fe

  • 85,000 miles
About 2 months ago the gas gauge dropped to "E" and the check engine light came on. I took to autozone and was told it was the fuel sending unit. With a cost of $300.at that time I didn't know there were 2 sending units. Wow $600. I put some cleaner in the gas which has helped a little, just prolonging getting it fixed. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. I watched the range in miles bounce around the other day while driving. I can't pay $600 to repair some thing if it isn't completely broke.

- Centerville, IN, USA

problem #57

Oct 072015

Santa Fe

  • 90,300 miles
Car made rapid click failed turn signal sound while driving without signal activated and haphazardly activated left signal independent of driver. Sideound stopped if signal activated. As approached busy traffic area (airport), steering column started smoking and burning smell filled passenger cabin. Hyundai dealer acknowledged is manufactuer switch defect, without safety fuse to prevent fire on overheating, but is charging $250 to repair and keeping my only car for at least a week while ordering another part (which as it is the same defective part is just as likely to eventually fail and risk a car fire while driving my kids). Dealer says Hyundai accepts no responsibility for the defective part. A complaint 10629458 was filed for what sounds like the same defect in a 2010 Santa Fe with similar abdication of responsibility by Hyundai. Things that cause cabin fires should promp a recall.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #56

Sep 222015

Santa Fe

  • 38,000 miles
I received a service campaign notification re my 2007 Hyundai sante fe auto to inspect (& possibly replace) the alternator & replace the front valve cover gasket. I made an appointment with the van nuys ca service department. After persisting to get an answer as to how long the service would take, I was told I could expect 2 days. I need transportation to & from Hyundai. I was told their shuttle would only take me 6 miles. My home is 8.2 miles away. I was told I could rent a vehicle for $30+ per day. It it appropriate that such a notification should cost me upwards of $60"???? what Agency oversees automobile safety or to whom should I complain about this"

- Beverly Hills, CA, USA

problem #55

Jul 312015

Santa Fe

  • 150,000 miles
I purchased this vehicle used in August of 2015 and when I filled the car up I noticed the fuel gauge didn't read full. Within a few minutes the fuel hand dropped below half full. I hit the trip button to see what the range display was reporting and it was dropping like a rock (started at 200+ miles and dropped down to less than 100 miles). Then a few minutes after that the empty light came on and the check engine light came on. I took it to autozone and they diagnosed it with a P0460. This appears to be a frequent problem on this model car. I can't understand why this is not a recall situation. It is possible to run out of gas while moving (on expressway) which could cause a major accident.

- Cordova, TN, USA

problem #54

Sep 022015

Santa Fe

  • 95,423 miles
While driving the fuel gauge dropped to empty. Then the check engine light came on. I had to code read at a local automotive store. The price of there part was 350. I can only imagine what a dealer will charge. He told me it was a fuel level sending unit. After researching this I found lots of complaints on this same issue. This should not be failing this soon.

- Centerville, IN, USA

problem #53

May 012015

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
Hyundai dealer informed me that valve cover gasket is leaking onto alternator which will cause it to fail. Estimated out of pocket cost to repair is over $700. This is the same problem that caused the recall on the Hyundai vera cruz. I'm afraid that the alternator will fail at speed causing loss of power and diminish braking and steering capability.

- Wylie, TX, USA

problem #52

Apr 282015

Santa Fe

  • 83,100 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and the check engine light, battery light, ecs light, and ABS light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was determined that the crank shaft position sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 83,100.

- Sterling, VA, USA

problem #51

Mar 312015

Santa Fe

  • 82,000 miles
The fuel level gauge changes randomly. Check engines codes P0463, P0464, P2068 indicates a fuel level sensor failure. This is issue has occurred on other car manufacturers potentially using the same sensor system. There have been no recalls issued for this problem. The owner will not be able to know the accurate fuel level of the vehicle. This may cause tank overfilling and potentially safety and environmental issues. This is very expensive to repair ($1000) and is not covered by Hyundai after the 5 year warranty.

- North Plains, OR, USA

problem #50

Apr 162015

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Gas gauge reads empty to 1/4 full after filling. Driving home from work, lost all power to vehicle and all the warning lights on the instrument panel went on. Had vehicle towed then read other complaints.when I restarted vehicle next day the vehicle seemed to run fine.the fuel light and check engine light are still on but that is a different issue.

- Mukwonago, WI, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »