NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
109 reportsClear category filter73,000 miles · Sep 21, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
THE FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT IS INOPERATIVE. PERUSAL OF THE INTERNET SHOWS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2007-2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. THE FIX IS $ 500. HYUNDAI USA AND HYUNDAI WORLDWIDE H.Q. REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS OR OFFER ANY REPAIRS FOR THE FAULTY UNIT OR WHY INDEED IT FAILED. TRY DRIVING ANY DISTAN…
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THE FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT IS INOPERATIVE. PERUSAL OF THE INTERNET SHOWS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2007-2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES. THE FIX IS $ 500. HYUNDAI USA AND HYUNDAI WORLDWIDE H.Q. REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS OR OFFER ANY REPAIRS FOR THE FAULTY UNIT OR WHY INDEED IT FAILED. TRY DRIVING ANY DISTANCE WITHOUT A GAS GAUGE. THE CAR IS USELESS UNLESS REPAIRED. MANUFACTURERS SHOULD EITHER STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES OR THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ADVISED TO LOOK TO A MORE RELIABLE MANUFACTURER FOR A BETTER, SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE PRODUCT.
NHTSA ODI #10766527
90,000 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
FUEL FLOAT IN GAS TANK STUCK THEREFORE NO FUEL GAGE READING.
NHTSA ODI #10762227
99,000 miles · Sep 6, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY, ALONG WITH THE LOW-FUEL WARNING LIGHT. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, THE GAUGE THEN APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE GAUGE CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION IF THE GAS TANK IS FILLED. WHEN THE TANK IS BELOW HALF FULL, THE GAUGE WILL RANDOMLY READ EMPTY OR HALF FULL. …
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AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY, ALONG WITH THE LOW-FUEL WARNING LIGHT. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, THE GAUGE THEN APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE GAUGE CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION IF THE GAS TANK IS FILLED. WHEN THE TANK IS BELOW HALF FULL, THE GAUGE WILL RANDOMLY READ EMPTY OR HALF FULL. AN INTERNET SEARCH QUICKLY REVEALED THAT MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE HYUNDAI WILL INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL TOO CORRECT THE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10761850
87,000 miles · Aug 29, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE GETS AROUND HALF FULL, THE GAUGE BOUNCES AROUND BELOW THE HALF FULL AND EMPTY. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. CANNOT EXACTLY DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL IS LEFT IN TANK. HAD FUEL SENSING PARTS REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600 BY A MASTER ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. AFTER REPAIRS WE …
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WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE GETS AROUND HALF FULL, THE GAUGE BOUNCES AROUND BELOW THE HALF FULL AND EMPTY. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. CANNOT EXACTLY DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL IS LEFT IN TANK. HAD FUEL SENSING PARTS REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600 BY A MASTER ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. AFTER REPAIRS WE FILLED THE TANK WITH FUEL. ALTHOUGH TANK WAS FULL IT ONLY REGISTERED 3/4 FULL WITH A RANGE OF 254 MILES. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, THE RANGE WAS 320 - 324 MILES. RETURNED TO TECHNICIAN WHO ALERTED US THAT HE HAS SEEN MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH HYUNDAIS AND KIAS. HE BELIEVES HYUNDAI SHOULD RECALL AND FIX PROBLEMS. THIS ATTESTED TO BY SIMILAR PROBLEMS LISTED ON YOUR SITE SAFER CAR.GOV. MY WIFE AND I ARE IN OUR 70S AND ARE CONCERNED WE WILL RUN OUT OF GAS ON A REMOTE HIGHWAY OR ENGINE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA ODI #10760154
132,000 miles · Aug 28, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE INSPECTION TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO THE FUEL SENSOR GAUGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE INSPECTION TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO THE FUEL SENSOR GAUGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10759917
36,410 miles · Jul 8, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS TRYING TO FIX AN ISSUE WHERE I RANDOMLY CANNOT PUT FUEL IN THE CAR. THE NOZZLES CLICK OFF AS IF THE TANK IS FULL, USUALLY AFTER PUMPING A FEW GALLONS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE…
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I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS TRYING TO FIX AN ISSUE WHERE I RANDOMLY CANNOT PUT FUEL IN THE CAR. THE NOZZLES CLICK OFF AS IF THE TANK IS FULL, USUALLY AFTER PUMPING A FEW GALLONS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES AND THEY'RE NOT SURE WHY. SOMETIMES IT WORKS FINE; SOMETIMES PUMPING GAS SLOWLY HELPS AND I'M ABLE TO FILL UP; SOMETIMES NOTHING I DO WORKS AND I HAVE TO DRIVE OFF AND TRY AGAIN ANOTHER DAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ONLY COME ON ONCE, WITH THE FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT IN 2013. SINCE THEN, THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS, JUST THE INABILITY TO PUMP GAS. I'VE TRACKED MILEAGE TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWING AS BEING EMPTIER THAN IT REALLY IS. UNLESS THIS SUV IS GETTING 60+ MPG, IT'S NOT THE GAUGE. I GENERALLY START ATTEMPTING TO FILL UP WHEN I GET DOWN TO HALF A TANK OF GAS, BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I'LL BE ABLE TO PUT INTO THE VEHICLE AT A TIME.
NHTSA ODI #10732724
80,000 miles · Jul 2, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
WE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. HAD TO GET OVER QUICKLY AS THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT DELIVER ANY POWER, OTHER THAN IDLE. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, THEN STARTED THE CAR AND HAD POWER BACK FOR ABOUT 3 MILES. HAPP…
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WE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. HAD TO GET OVER QUICKLY AS THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT DELIVER ANY POWER, OTHER THAN IDLE. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, THEN STARTED THE CAR AND HAD POWER BACK FOR ABOUT 3 MILES. HAPPENED AGAIN AND DID THE SAME FOR ABOUT TEN MILES UNTIL GOT HOME. RECENTLY STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN, SAME CODES COME UP EACH TIME. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS JUST GLITCHES CAUSING CODES TO COME UP AND CAUSE THE ESC TO GO INTO SAFE MODE. SINCE THEN I HAVE SEEN THE EXACT SAME CODES AND NOT A LOT OF CODES, BUT CODES THAT INDICATE AN IGNITION/FUEL/CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AS BAD AS ACCELERATION, BUT IF PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR ON AN ON RAMP, COULD BE DEADLY. HAS NOW HAPPENED SEVEN TIMES. FIRST DATE WAS APRIL 2014, COULD NOT ENTER DATE IN YOUR FORM FOR SOME REASON.
NHTSA ODI #10731812
79,000 miles · Jun 22, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY NOW. I CHECKED AND THERE HAS BEEN MANY MORE REPORTS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. COMPANY SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AT LITTLE OR NO COST.
NHTSA ODI #10726472
110,000 miles · Jun 5, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MAY 28 2015, DEALER ADVISED FUEL SENSOR/PUMP ISSUE, REPAIRED IT $$$$ JUNE 5TH SAME ISSUE BACK AT DEALER, ALSO WILL NOT START AND FUEL GAUGE ACTING UP 33RD RECORD OF THE SAME ISSUE AT NTSHA FOR THIS 2009, OVER 100 FOR THE CUMULATIVE YEARS FOR THE SANTA FE SAME ISSUE
NHTSA ODI #10723731
70,000 miles · Apr 24, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE A PROPER READING AND WOULD FLUCTUATE FROM FULL TO EMPTY AFTER THE TANK WAS REFUELED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CONTA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE A PROPER READING AND WOULD FLUCTUATE FROM FULL TO EMPTY AFTER THE TANK WAS REFUELED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10712747
Official recalls
2Apr 1, 2013
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Jul 25, 2012
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2006, through July 7, 2008. The occupant classification system (OCS) may need recalibration to accurately detect small statured adults.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Improper classification or detection may cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the classification software free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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