2002 Hyundai Santa Fe

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD AIR TO THE FOUR TIRES AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

AT LOW SPEEDS THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND THE CAR GOES INTO A JERKING MOTION WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND WHILE GOING INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. THE CAR IS HARD TO STEER AND STOP AND THE BRAKES MUST BE DEPRESSED HARDER THAN NORMALLY REQUIRED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR GETS WET BUT ALSO DURING DRY TIMES. THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON.

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A NORMAL OIL CHANGE, AND WHEN TECHNICIAN WAS UNDER THE CAR, HE TOOK SOME PICTURES OF THE FRAME IN THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER BY THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HE WAS SHOWING ME THE FRAME WAS RUSTING VERY, VERY BADLY. HE WARNED US THAT IF WE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE/BUMP OR THE CURB AT EVEN 5 MPH THE FRAME COULD BUST AND WE COULD CRASH. THE STEERING WOULD SHAKE AND MADE CHUGGING FEELING WHEN TRYING TO TURN, WAS LOOKED AT AND POWER STEERING LOOKED TO BE FINE AND FLUID WAS FULL. AFTER JULY 7TH IT MADE IT VERY HARD TO DRIVE AND NOT SAFE FOR OUR FAMILY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V123000 (SUSPENSION), THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDERBODY, THE FRONT STRUT FRAME AND THE COILS SPRINGS RUSTED WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION) AND PENDING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

POWER STEERING BECAME HARDER (WITH A SHIMMY FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL), AND NOTICED A LOUD WHINING SOUND WHEN STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED. STOPPED CAR, AND CHECKED P/S FLUID LEVEL, AND IT WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL (CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS). THIS MORNING (9/29/14), NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL ON DRIVEWAY BELOW CAR. AGAIN CHECKED P/S FLUID LEVEL, AND IT WAS WELL BELOW THE MIN. MARK. WENT TO STORE AND BOUGHT P/S OIL, AND FILLED UP THE RESERVOIR. RETURNED HOME AND SAW P/S FLUID DRIPPING ONTO THE DRIVEWAY, REFILLED THE RESERVOIR, AND WENT TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE DEALER INSPECTION REVEALED RUSTED METAL LINES LEADING TO AND FROM THE P/S COOLER (BELOW RADIATOR), AND QUOTED $540 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE METAL LINES AND COOLER (& 2 DAYS LEAD TIME TO GET PARTS). THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS CORROSION ISSUE. LATER WENT TO THE LOCAL AAA REPAIR CENTER, AND THEY CONFIRMED THE HYUNDAI DEALER'S FINDINGS. BOTH INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR IF THEY HAD BEEN DRIVEN IN THE NORTHERN STATES (THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN NORTHERN OHIO, & GARAGED THERE FOR 8 YEARS). THIS IS A SAFE DRIVING ISSUE IF THE P/S PUMP FAILS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT P/S OIL FOR COOLING & LUBRICATION DUE TO FLUID LOSS FROM CORRODED METAL LINES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V123000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AROUND A U-SHAPED DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND ABRUPTLY STOP. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE RIGHT WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF. THE RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD DETACHED AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RIGHT BALL JOINT, POWER STEERING HOSE AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,246. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 1/23/15*CN UPDATED 03/03/15

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE A NEAR SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH MY WIFE DRIVING THE TRUCK. 6/26/12 THE LEFT STEERING CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF THE TOTAL RUSTED OUT SUB-FRAME CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STEER DANGEROUSLY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS WAS CAUSED FROM THE SUB-FRAME BEING RUSTED THROUGH. THIS TIME ON JULY 21 THE RIGHT REAR TRAILING ARM, THAT SECURES THE RIGHT WHEEL IN POSITION, BROKE OFF. FORCING THE TRUCK TO SWERVE RIGHT ALMOST CARRYING MY WIFE AND THE TRUCK INTO A DITCH. BOTH OF THESE BREAKDOWNS ARE INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR, HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE I PURCHASED IT IN FLORIDA, NOT IN A NORTHERN SALT BELT STATE. SO I GUESS WHAT HYUNDAI IS SAYING IS, THAT THEY CAN BUILD A DEFECTED VEHICLE AND IF YOU BUY IT IN THE SOUTH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SAFETY. I WAS NEVER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WASN'T A CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE FIRST INCIDENT. THAT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS AND IT ENDED UP COSTING ME OVER $3,500. HOW DO I GET HYUNDAI TO STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT TELLING ME THAT WE WERE RISKING OUR LIVES FOR DRIVING A POSSIBLE DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND PAY FOR REPAIRS THIS TIME. I GUESS THE SALT AIR BLOWING IN SOUTH FLORIDA 24/7 DON'T QUALIFY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, THERE IS PULLING OF THE WHEEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT. THERE IS A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. AFTER HAVING THE TIMING BELT REPLACED, I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THERE WAS A RUST PROBLEM IN THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE TOWARD THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HE TOLD ME THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE RUST ON THIS VEHICLE IS MORE LIKE RUST OF A VEHICLE THAT IS 50 YEARS OLD NOT TEN YEARS. HE ALSO SAID THE FRAME COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME TO CONTACT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR MY VEHICLE. I CALLED HYUNDAI'S 800 NUMBER ONLY TO BE TOLD THE SAME THING. *TR