2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL LINES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,350.

THE RIGHT FRONT ROCKER ARM RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO NO LONGER BE PROPERLY SUPPORTED. THE LOWER SUPPORT ARM IS NO LONGER FASTENED TO THE FRONT SUPPORT FRAME. THIS CAUSED THE ALIGNMENT TO BE OFF, IMPROPER AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR (REPLACED TIRES WELL BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP). HYUNDAI HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER MODELS (FRONT SUB-FRAME) BUT NOT ON SANTA FE'S (ONLY REAR TRAILING ARM WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL). WHEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES IN MULTIPLE VEHICLES FOR THE SAME REASON, BUT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, ALL LOCATIONS SHOULD BE CHECKED AND NOT ONLY THE ONLY THAT IS PROMINENT. A 5 MINUTE ADDITIONAL INSPECTION VS. THE ULTIMATE WORSE CASE SCENARIO OF A DEATH, SEEMS LIKE A NO BRAINER. HYUNDAI KNEW THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO ADDRESS IT. THIS HAS NOW COST US ALMOST $3000 IN REPAIRS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE MECHANIC THAT FOUND THE PROBLEM WILL NOT LET THE VEHICLE BE DRIVEN FROM HIS SHOP, AS IT IS TOO DANGEROUS. THE WORST PART IS IF THAT IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING OVER THE HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SEVERE CRASH, WHICH AS YOU KNOW COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. HYUNDAI WAS NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN WE CONTACTED THEM. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS 124,350 MILES AND LOOKS TO BE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION YET HAS UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT HAS GONE UNDETECTED UNTIL VERY RECENTLY. ONE IS THE FRONT FRAME RAIL ATTACHMENT TO UNDERSIDE (FLOORBOARD) OF BODY ON PASSENGER SIDE WHICH IS HEAVILY RUSTED AND ONE LARGE AREA IS HOLED. ALSO THE METAL SHIELD OVER THE BOTTOM OF FUEL TANK IS NEARLY COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND FELL DOWN ONTO REAR ROTATING DRIVE SHAFT. I FEEL BOTH OF THESE ISSUES SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I ALSO FEEL BOTH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY IF THE REMAINING STEEL ATTACHMENTS TEAR AWAY DUE TO SEVERE SECTION LOSS OF COMPONENTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO ADVISED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTEN AND CORRODED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE HAVE CHIPPING/PEELING PAINT. (THE CHROME PAINT) OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT THE CHROME PAINT IS SHARP LIKE A RAZOR AND CUTS MY FINGERS AND MY CHILD'S FINGERS AS IT IS HAPPENING ON ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. IT GETS EMBEDDED INTO YOUR FINGER SOMEWHAT LIKE A SPLINTER BUT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND IS VERY PAINFUL. *TR

I TOOK MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR IS A RUST HOLE A LITTLE LARGER THAN A GOLF BALL IN THE CRADLE WHERE THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM BOLTS INTO THE CRADLE. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD! AND I SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER REPLACING THE CRADLE TO THE TUNE OF 1700 DOLLARS! *TR

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES, AND HAS THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *LA THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE WIPER BLADES BUT BE LOOSENED FROM THE WINDSHIELD MANUALLY BEFORE THEY ARE TURNED ON OR THEY WILL NOT WORK. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD THE CONSUMER TO TRY AND FIND ANY LOOSE NUTS AND RE-TIGHTENED THEM, WHICH THE CONSUMER DID, WHICH DID NOT KEEP THE WIPERS FROM STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE RUNNING BOARDS AND HAD THEM REPLACED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE HEATER MADE A NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT IN THE FAN BOX. *JB

TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY SANTA FE, I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR WATER A WATER LEAK. THEY STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE LEAK BY SEALING THE TAIL LIGHTS, HOWEVER, THERE WAS WATER ON THE CARGO COVER IN ADDITION TO THE CARPET. THIS REPAIR DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AS THE REAR CARGO AREA OF MY VEHICLE WAS WET AFTER IT RAINED YESTERDAY!*AK