This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2009 Hyundai Santa Fe limited with a 3.3 liter engine with approximately 53,500 mi. I was setting stopped on a city street with my foot on the brake when the engine suddenly started revving up as fast it could go (app 6K to 7K RPM's). It was all I could do to keep the vehicle from taking off and slamming into the vehicle in front of me. It was creeping along and tapped the truck in front of me when I got the vehicle in neutral and the engine suddenly slowed down. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer which not to my surprise cannot find anything wrong with it. After I talked to the owner of the dealership they contacted Hyundai who is supposedly looking into it. Not that I blame her my wife is very reluctant to drive it unless they can fix the problem.
Faulty fuel sensor gauge. When trying to fill an empty tank the pump shuts off after only a couple of gallons. If I wasn't paying attention I would have thought it was full. I've seen complaints that the fuel gauge stops working on this car at similar mileage, if that happens too I won't know how much gas is in my car. I could then run out of gas while driving and lose power steering. This is an accident hazard.
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving various speeds, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the fuel gauge displayed an incorrect reading. The dealer diagnosed that the fuel sender assembly and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000. Updated 01/05/2017
My address is [xxx]. my name is [xxx]. the problem in my car is fuel level sensor when I drive in highway my fuel gauge is goes crazy their going up then down then warning light no fuel in tank but fuel is full that the problem in my car. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
As with many other owners, we share the fuel sender sensor problem with our 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. The codes are for both the left and right sides, meaning both will have to be replaced. The fuel gauge empty light is always on, no matter how much gas is in the tank, and check engine light as well. Quoted from $350 to $620 dollars from local repair shops. We failed NJ inspection due to engine light, and this is a dangerous and costly problem, and we ran out of gas on the busy garden state parkway with our children in the car, incurring towing charges. It is certainly a safety issue that Hyundai is avoiding. I have another 2009 Hyundai (accent) with no problems, so it is safe to assume ( with so many complaints ) that it is a Santa Fe problem. Please have Hyundai look into this dangerous problem. Thank you.
- Point Pleasant, NJ, USA
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The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the fuel gauge reading fluctuated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel sender assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,500.
The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai sante fe. The contact stated that when refueling to capacity, the low fuel warning light would illuminate and the fuel level gauge would shoe empty within 50 miles. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 86,000.
I have 2009 Santa Fe. This happened first time in February 2014 that I was filling gas (I always do full) and as I started leaving the gas station my fuel gauge showed empty. I went back to the gas station and ask the attendant that there is a mistake, my tank is not full it is empty. But I was wrong, because he told me there is no way the pump machine will lie and he fills 100S of vehicle per day from each of his machine. Just to double check, the next filling I used a different gas station and it happened again. Now this has become routine and since my last two visit at pump, even the check engine light is coming on now. I have to wait few days and mileage to put on that the check engine will go off but the fuel gauge will still show less than half the tank. At this moment, I know my car and can predict with some degree of certainty about the mileage my car will provide but as the car ages and other things in the engine ages, it will become more difficult to predict the gas level. So I might be in trouble stranded on highway or in city during rush hour. Also I found online that this is not just my problem, many of other Santa Fe had similar issues. Therefore, I thought I should also share my experience here.
While driving on the interstate at approximately 70 mph, using cruise control, the car suddenly lost power. I stepped on the gas and it would not accelerate. I coasted to a stop and pulled onto the shoulder. The engine was running, transmission was in gear, but the car would not move. I turned off the ignition and let it sit for a few minutes. I restarted it, had power, everything seemed normal, except the engine light remained lit. I drove approximately 10 miles to my destination. The car sat for six hours and I was then able to drive the 65 miles home without incident. Repair results: My Hyundai dealer indicated the problem was caused by a 'throttle position sensor'. they replaced the electronic component and reset the error codes in the vehicle's computer.
While driving down road, gas gauge went from full to empty and back again. Since that day, gauge moves every 5/10 minutes, daily. Have to set trip mileage after each fill up.
About 6 to 9 months after purchasing Santa Fe car stalled while driving down road with 1/4 tank of gas indicated. Gas was put in car and driven to dealership with car stalling a second time in route. Dealer said it was a faulty fuel sensor and it was replaced under warranty. Car stalled on interstate while going 70mph 3/2013 with 1/3 tank of gas showing. Upon adding gas car ran again. Waited a few months until car stalled again while driving around town with "plenty of gas." Took it to dealership 7/2013 and they said it was a fluke and the fuel sensor was replaced again. Once again, 12/2013 car stalled on highway while traveling at 65 while gauge indicated 1/3 tank of gas. Filled with gas and car ran. Took it to dealer 12/2013 and they said it was just a fluke (seems to be party line) but this time they said the float in the fuel tank was getting hung up on something so was giving a false reading. Dealer said hose that got caught on float had been reconnected and should not cause any further problems. Driving around town two days ago with 1/4 tank of gas car stalled again. Have added gas but it is sputtering. Assume it will be another fluke!
Fuel sensor failed and registered empty tank with low fuel warning light, check engine light activated. Since then the fuel gauge has not operated correctly and the check engine remains lit. Fault has been traced to fuel tank sensor which requires removal and replacement.
Was going about 70 mph around topeka Kansas when the vehicle lurched, then the ESC, engine and chassis lights flashed. Immediately afterwards the car lost all propulsion. Fortunately I was by an off-ramp, but could of gotten in an accident which such a sudden deceleration. Managed to get to an autozone store to check the fault. The fault came up as the throttle position sensor (tps). Managed to get it to the dealership in topeka. They fixed in within 10 minutes, but after completing my trip back to Colorado noticed the car is lurching again in lower speed, in-town traffic...very dangerous!!! will be contacting the dealership in Colorado on Monday morning!! had a similar problem two years ago, took it into the dealership and they said they couldn't find a problem with it. Guess they won't be satisfied until the warranty period ends and someone gets killed.
Incident 1: (10-20-2010) driver side head light was fogging up constantly. Dealer replaced the head light under warranty. Incident 2: (02-22-2011) upon fill-up of the gas tank, just before it was topped off, there was a series of clunking noises. After taking it to the dealership, the gas tank was replaced. Incident 3: (05-01-2011 approx.) upon removal of the cabin air filter cover, the little plastic parts that are squeezed to remove the cover broke, which wouldn't allow the cover to go back on. The dealer replaced the part and I have not yet replaced the filter yet. Incident 4: (11-12-2011) driving 60 mph down the highway, I heard a loud banging noise coming from the engine compartment. As I was pulling over to check out the situation, the car lost power steering and air conditioning! my serpentine belt broke! after it was towed, the dealer replaced it, along with belt tensioner and idler pulley! incident 5: (07-30-2012) I was coming up to a stop light and upon deceleration, the check engine light and ESC off light came on. After coming to a complete stop, the RPM gage showed 1100 RPM and it felt like the vehicle wanted to move as if I was pressing the accelerator. When I did try to accelerate, there was no power to accelerate ( the engine was still running, etc, but when I pressed the accelerator, I could only move a few miles per hour.) I pulled over and shut the vehicle off for a few minutes. I started it back up and the check engine light remained on, and I gained acceleration power. I took the vehicle to the dealership. They determined I had a faulty throttle position sensor as well as brake light switch and both were replaced by the dealer. [current mileage on vehicle after all incidents: 48,897]
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Yorktown, VA, USA