10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 74,620 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.
In October 2021 the alternator failed due to an oil leak from the valve cover gasket. I paid the local Hyundai dealer to replace the alternator and they also said the battery was damaged because of the failed alternator so I paid for a new battery as well. The dealer never mentioned the recall on this vehicle for the leaking valve cover and did not disclose that the leak was known to cause alternator failure. I later learned of the recall and had the valve cover repair performed under the recall. However, Hyundai has refused to reimburse me for the alternator repair that I had already previously paid for, and likewise have refused to reimburse me for the battery. Clearly the problem was due to the known defect that resulted in the recall, so I am obviously entitled to compensation for the out if pocket repair expenses. Please advise me how to proceed.
- Dunwoody , GA, USA
Reference Number: 11520065 This is a follow up to a previously submitted incident involving this same vehicle. My first submission was May, 2023, This vehicle experienced the exact same hazardous condition on February 26, 2024. on I-75 south. After driving on an interstate highway for about 1 hour, I noticed a traffic backup and proceeded to slow down as the traffic was nearly stopped. As I slowed my car down to nearly a complete stop, the engine suddenly surged forward with high rpm's as though the accelerator was pushed to the floor. I immediately pressed on the brake pedal as hard as I could to stop the car from surging forward and then quickly decided to put the transmission into neutral so I would not hit the car in front of me. The car eventually stopped surging and may have stalled. I finally got the car to move again by turning off the ignition and restarting it. I continued on my way and did not have a similar situation for the rest of my 30 minute highway trip. Like all the times before, the floor mat was NOT involved in this sudden acceleration. Last year when I took this car to a Hyundai dealer for inspection, they could not replicate this condition. They said that I needed a new fuel level sensor in my gas tank and a new fuel pump--neither of which I agreed to because first, the gas gauge has no relation to my surging and second, the fuel pump must be working or else I could not drive the car. This surging has occurred perhaps 7 times since I have owned this car since 2008. It is frightening to know that it could happen again with personal injuries or property damage. This condition rarely happens in city driving, but has happened at least 3 times in city driving. Seems like this situation would warrant a manufacturer recall.
- Dayton, OH, USA
Valve cover leak or head gasket leak
- Graham, TX, USA
Vehicle has stalled couple of times while driving. One on the service road just about to merge on the highway 1604 North after taking left turn from the Potranco road about a year ago. Steering got locked and engine died, I managed to pull over to the right shoulder into the parking lot of Med Clinic. After couple tries, I was able to get it going. There is occasional check engine light on that goes off after some time of driving and not sure if this is related to stalling of engine. There is a history of oil leak under the hood. I received recall service notice for leaking cylinder head gasket which outlined same issues that I encountered before and took vehicle to the dealership. It was kept for 2 days for service and was returned to me. There is still sign of wetted oil on the parts. There is no sign that I could see of opening and taking parts apart for the so-called completed service, dust and debris seem to be untouched. I have a doubt that service evert took place. I filed a complaint with the Hyundai Motors requesting independent assessment if gasket was actually changed. They sent an acknowledgement of receiving the complaint, but no one has contacted me.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
i change the oil on 4/18/2023 in walmart i park the car in my house i used on 04/23/2023 on i-75 southbound the oil light came out and them smoke star on the car fallow by fire me and daugther an husband where on the suv was tereffied
- Lake City, FL, USA
Head on impact rear ending a truck. Engine locked melted head gaskets and destroyed radiator
- Amarillo , TX, USA
On highway, car would no longer accelerate and went into limp mode causing me to slow to 50 mph and not be able to keep up with speed if traffic. Pulled over, dash lights flashed and car would not restart. Oil had leaked out of valve cover gasket all over the alternator causing the car to malfunction and become inoperable.
- Belmont, CA, USA
Car cutsoff while driving
- Ardmore, TN, USA
Turning left thru an intersection the car stalled, leaving us with no brakes and very little steering. This has happened more than once.
- Drexel, NC, USA
Leaking valve cover is allowing oil to leak down onto the alternator. Car be stationary or running. Most notable when car engine is running.
- Newark, DE, USA
The car shuts off while driving. No pre-warning or alert before it happens
- Deerfield Beach, FL, USA
I was driving along and made a right turn into a intersecting road when I encountered loss of steering control. After almost hitting a car I got it off to the side of road and discovered that the engine had just shut off with no warning. It cranked right back up and I drove it home but now I am afraid to drive it.
- Mcdonough, GA, USA
My 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe stalled twice today. It also stalled on the same day twice last week. This happened each time I came to a stop light or wanted to make a turn. The engine stopped running, the power steering ceased working, and check engine light came on. After each occurrence, I switched my hazard lights on, pushed the transaxle to park and then restarted the car to pull out of traffic. The stalling is often accompanied by loss of power (power steering and brakes too), complete failure to accelerate, and the check engine light comes on.
- Kearns, UT, USA
While normal driving down a city road going straight the vehicle will stall without any notice or any change in condition. You loose all power, brakes and steering when this happens and have to bring it to stop with emergency brake and place in park. Then you can start the vehicle once again like it has no issues. This issue produces no engine trouble codes and has happened 3 other times in the 6 years we owned the vehicle. This is extremely dangerous and we never know when it will happen.
- Sugar Hill, GA, USA
There have been 3 instances where after turning on my vehicle, the power is throttled and I can only drive a couple miles per hour. I ran a diagnostic scan, and obtained the codes P2106, P1295, and P2135. I searched online and found this to be a common problem. There appears to be a technical service bulletin out for this issue (tsb 09-FL003-2). If this is a common issue, should there be a recall? thank you.
- Poulsbo, WA, USA
I actually have 2 issues occurring. One of these was deemed to have been fixed by a previous recall (campaign 105/110 - fixed /closed Jun 23, 2014). However, my ESC off light and ABS light are again lighting up. I have (luckily) not yet had loss of engine power or control. The second issue is in regards to campaign 936. I've had the front engine valve gasket cover fixed, along with my alternator replaced (after my husband and I did it ourselves after losing all power on christmas eve in the middle of road before barely coasting into a nearby parking lot where we were able to sort of park out of the way). We changed my oil this weekend, have had no other work done on the car since (except oil changes) and my husband noticed that the alternator is again covered in oil. Between the 2 issues, it is most likely a matter of days (if I'm lucky) before my car loses power in some form and I am potentially in a wreck with my family in the car. I don't know how much the dealership wants to "re-fix" the first 2 campaigns that should have already been fixed, but for just the valve gasket work, it would be at least $500, not including the alternator that will need to be replaced when the car does go out. Apparently the gasket that is leaking this time isn't the front one, it is the rear one. My personal thoughts on this are that if the front one is faulty, then it's not a stretch to get to the rear one being faulty. My Hyundai dealership even warned me when replacing the front one that my rear one would most likely need to be done too (for $500+). if the dealerships know, it makes me wonder why the recall didn't include both valve cover gaskets or a new one hasn't been issued for the rear one. Hopefully, both of these issues can be re-addressed. The date below is of first warning lights. The lights come on from park or while driving.
- Oklahoma City, OK, USA
I was driving at a low speed, making a left-hand turn when the car lost all power. No brakes, no steering. I was able to get the car into a driveway. I was able to restart. About 1 hour later the same thing, only this time I was making a left-hand turn across a very busy city street.. I was almost hit by an oncoming vehicle. This is very dangerous and will probably sell the car & tell the new owners about my issue. I have not taken it to a garage, as the closest Hyundai shop to me is an hour away. I do not feel safe driving that far.
- Reedsville, WV, USA
Took my car to a two mechanics who both said there is a gas leak in the evaporator of the emission control system. I read online that this issue is common with Santa fes and I believe the company should issue a recall and get this dangerous issue fixed.
- Dearborn, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving various speeds, the contact heard a whining noise. Also, when the contact shifted from first to second or from third to fourth gear, the transmission shook violently and the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the repair, the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,432.
- Ray City, GA, USA
- Oceanside, CA, USA