My wife was driving to Kansas City two weeks ago and heard to noise and she thought it was a tire going down so she started to pull off the Interstate and then heard a pop and thought the tire blew out. By the time she got the car in park, smoke started to come out from under the hood. She had time to grab her purse and some clothes hanging in the back seat before it went up in FLAMES. She was not able to get her suitcase and other belongings out of the back of the Santa Fe because the door locked and would not unlock. Within minutes the Fire Department arrived but the car was burnt from the front to the back with nothing left. I am very grateful that my wife was able to get out and no one else was injured driving by or that helped put the fire out. The Fire Department report thinks the fire started with the transmission case exploding.

My Santa fe 3.3l v6 middle east version was just 9 months old and had covered only 16000 kms and AT Oil was leaking and I took the vehicle for service department of dealer OTE. They called me to inform its transmission oil pump problem and they said they will change the oil seal of transmission, when I insisted they change transmission and spoke to their manager they changed it.

My question is, the vehicle is just 9 months old, how can it have a major issue that they have to open gear box, and I was advised it is a manufacturing fault. I should be provided extended warranty as the vehicle is giving problems in first 9 months, for which they never gave. I am really disappointed with the built quality.

And for my surprise again on 03 Oct 14 while I was driving I saw some fumes coming out. I parked the car and I saw transmission oil leaking heavily. Again I took the car to the dealer (OTEOman Trading Establishment LLC) and they say same problem as earlier and they are changing the transmission unit with improved version of oil pump assembly. I really don't have trust on their words.

If HMC (Hyundai Motor corp had this problem they would have recalled the cars of the batch and changed but they have not done that so I really need help. I am sure it's a faulty vehicle they need to replace and every time I send email to HMC worldwideinquiry@hyundai.com they don't bother to reply. I really need help, awaiting for your reply.