NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
31 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Oct 2, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS STALLED MORE THAN 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING SINCE 2010. IT LOSES POWER WITHOUT WARNING RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FIRST TIME IN 2010 IT STOPPED WHILE ON THE EXIT RAMP OF A HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE TH…
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MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS STALLED MORE THAN 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING SINCE 2010. IT LOSES POWER WITHOUT WARNING RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FIRST TIME IN 2010 IT STOPPED WHILE ON THE EXIT RAMP OF A HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" SO THEY DID NOTHING. BROUGHT SAME VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP IN 2011, 2014 AND 2019. EACH TIME WE ARE TOLD "COULD NOT DUPLICATE AT THIS TIME". THE MOST RECENT ON AUGUST 7, 2019 THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY COMMENTING THAT "VEHICLE NOW OPERATES NORMALLY. VEHICLE DOES NOT STALL". THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE STALLED AGAIN DURING DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY LOOK AGAIN AT THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF $100.00 PER HOUR. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL, IN FACT RUDE AND HUNG UP. AFTER READING SO M;ANY COMPLAINTS ON JUST THIS SITE I HOPE OUR GOVERNMENT CAN HELP GET HYUNDAI TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED.
NHTSA ODI #11265785
197,000 miles · Jul 9, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN 2011. OVER THE YEARS, AT RANDOM TIMES, THE RADIO WILL "POP" OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR, BUT IT'S A LITTLE SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS - MECHANIC CAN'T REPLICATE. NOW, TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK, MY CAR HAS STALLED WHILE SLOWING DOWN, ONCE ON A …
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I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN 2011. OVER THE YEARS, AT RANDOM TIMES, THE RADIO WILL "POP" OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR, BUT IT'S A LITTLE SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS - MECHANIC CAN'T REPLICATE. NOW, TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK, MY CAR HAS STALLED WHILE SLOWING DOWN, ONCE ON A MULTI-LANE STREET AND ONCE AFTER DECELERATING COMING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY (COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, STEERING, BRAKES, ETC). I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND SCARED THE CR*P OUT OF ME! I'M TERRIFIED THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AT A HIGHER SPEED ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL MENTIONS OF SIMILAR POWER LOSSES FOR THIS SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND NO CODES COME UP WHEN SCANNED. NO RECALLS REPORTED EITHER, ALTHOUGH A POWER LOSS AT THE WRONG TIME COULD KILL SOMEONE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS ELECTRICAL, ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM RELATED - I HAD OVER A HALF A TANK OF GAS IN THE CAR DURING BOTH OCCURRENCES.
NHTSA ODI #11230602
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2018
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR FELL OUT OF THE CEILING AS IF THE WIRES WERE CUT IN HALF IN THE HOLE THAT HELD THE VISOR IN PLACE. I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN EVENT BUT I HAVE BARELY BEEN ABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING EARLY IN THE MORNINGS OR LATE IN THE EVENINGS WHEN THE SUN IS LOW IN THE SKY AND…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR FELL OUT OF THE CEILING AS IF THE WIRES WERE CUT IN HALF IN THE HOLE THAT HELD THE VISOR IN PLACE. I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN EVENT BUT I HAVE BARELY BEEN ABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING EARLY IN THE MORNINGS OR LATE IN THE EVENINGS WHEN THE SUN IS LOW IN THE SKY AND SHINING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE WINDOW.
NHTSA ODI #11129155
110,000 miles · Aug 9, 2018
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other
"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AT APPROXIMATELY 110 MILES, DEVELOPED A PROBLEM, WHICH ACTUALLY RESULTS IN A SERIOUS/SAFETY PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE TANK. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUEL PUMPS, OR THE FUEL SENSING UNITS I…
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"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AT APPROXIMATELY 110 MILES, DEVELOPED A PROBLEM, WHICH ACTUALLY RESULTS IN A SERIOUS/SAFETY PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL AVAILABLE IN THE TANK. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUEL PUMPS, OR THE FUEL SENSING UNITS IN THE GAS TANKS, OR WITH THE WIRING BETWEEN THE GAS TANK AND THE GAS GAUGE, OR WITH THE GAS GAUGE ITSELF. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING NOR IF THE VEHICLE IS SLANTED AT AN ANGLE. QUITE OFTEN THE PROBLEM RESULTS IN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON. SO FAR I'VE ONLY RUN OUT OF GAS ONCE, AND SINCE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS I LOST BOTH MY STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. ANY MORE I STOP FOR FUEL AFTER ABOUT 120 MILES OR SO. MY HYUNDAI DEALER HAS QUOTED MY A PRICE OF AROUND $3,000.00 (THAT'S THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS) TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND HE SAID THAT THEY CAN'T EVEN GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WON'T REOCCUR. AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT "HYUNDAI" SHOULD TAKE CARE OF !!!
NHTSA ODI #11118792
85,000 miles · Aug 5, 2018
Unknown Or Other
SHIFTING CABEL BROKE,WHILE IN GEAR,MOVING
NHTSA ODI #11115804
122,000 miles · Apr 26, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other
FIRST PROBLEM, GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. FLUCTUATED UP AND DOWN, THEN WOULD READ EMPTY RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE TANK. HAD TO HAVE 2 SENSORS AND FUEL PUMP CHANGED. VERY EXPENSIVE!! NOW THE CAR STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN. EVERY MORNING WHEN I LEAVE FOR WORK IT STALLS AT LEAST ONCE, IT HAS STARTED BACK UP, BUT THIS MORNING THE…
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FIRST PROBLEM, GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. FLUCTUATED UP AND DOWN, THEN WOULD READ EMPTY RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE TANK. HAD TO HAVE 2 SENSORS AND FUEL PUMP CHANGED. VERY EXPENSIVE!! NOW THE CAR STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN. EVERY MORNING WHEN I LEAVE FOR WORK IT STALLS AT LEAST ONCE, IT HAS STARTED BACK UP, BUT THIS MORNING THE MOTOR FELT VERY GROGGY AND I DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN DRIVING IT ANYMORE. TOOK IT HOME. I'VE BROUGHT IT TO MECHANICS AND IT NEVER DIES FOR THEM AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, DID IT TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THAT, TAKING IT TONIGHT TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIGURE IT OUT. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE!! IT DIED THE FIRST TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET! I WAS SO AFRAID SOMEONE WAS GOING TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF ME! THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS FOR THIS YEAR. I WANT HYUNDAI TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THESE CARS! THEY ARE UNSAFE!!!
NHTSA ODI #11090314
5,500 miles · Mar 31, 2018
Unknown Or Other
DOOR PANELS HAVE BECOME GOOY, THE VINYL/LEATHER HAS BECOME GOOEY AND COMES OFF ON YOUR HANDS, ARMS, CLOTHING, ETC. IT IS VERY STRANGE AND IS NOT NORMAL. NEEDS TO BE FIXED BUT NOT BY ME. WHAT DO I DO AND WHERE DO I TAKE IT? THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6…
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DOOR PANELS HAVE BECOME GOOY, THE VINYL/LEATHER HAS BECOME GOOEY AND COMES OFF ON YOUR HANDS, ARMS, CLOTHING, ETC. IT IS VERY STRANGE AND IS NOT NORMAL. NEEDS TO BE FIXED BUT NOT BY ME. WHAT DO I DO AND WHERE DO I TAKE IT? THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
NHTSA ODI #11082295
140,000 miles · Feb 10, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 3.3 LITER HAS EXPERIENCED OCCASIONAL, RANDOM STALLING OVER A FEW YEARS, ALWAYS WHILE BRAKING AND OFTEN WHILE TURNING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER A PERIOD OF STEADY SPEED DRIVING AND THEN SLOWING DOWN AND TURNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE STEERING INSTANTLY GETS VERY DIFFICULT AND BRAKING A…
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2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 3.3 LITER HAS EXPERIENCED OCCASIONAL, RANDOM STALLING OVER A FEW YEARS, ALWAYS WHILE BRAKING AND OFTEN WHILE TURNING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER A PERIOD OF STEADY SPEED DRIVING AND THEN SLOWING DOWN AND TURNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE STEERING INSTANTLY GETS VERY DIFFICULT AND BRAKING ABILITY LIKEWISE BECOMES INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT. AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, OR PULLING OVER AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT WILL ALWAYS START RIGHT BACK UP AND RUN FINE. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I AM A 50 YEAR OLD MAN WHO CAN WRESTLE THE CAR TO SAFETY (SO FAR), BUT MY WIFE, CHILDREN, OR OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE. THERE ARE REPEATED MENTIONS OF OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND THESE MOSTLY MENTION A TPS REPLACEMENT AND AN ACCOMPANYING ECU FIRMWARE UPDATE. THERE ARE NO APPARENT RECALLS OR TSBS WITH HYUNDAI THAT AFFECT THIS VEHICLE AND ENGINE COMBINATION, AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM FOR WHICH THERE APPEARS TO BE A REMEDY PATH.
NHTSA ODI #11072039
88,703 miles · Oct 17, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SuspensionUnknown Or Other
TAKATA RECALL: ON JUNE 2 2017 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAPPY HYUNDAI OF OAK LAWN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE OF RUSTING OF MY CARS UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE UNTIL AUGUST 17,2017. ON OCTOBER 5TH, I WAS BACKING IN A PARKING SPOT, WHAT I KNOW NOW AS MY CONTROL ARM, LEFT AXLE AND LEFT BALL JOI…
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TAKATA RECALL: ON JUNE 2 2017 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAPPY HYUNDAI OF OAK LAWN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE OF RUSTING OF MY CARS UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE UNTIL AUGUST 17,2017. ON OCTOBER 5TH, I WAS BACKING IN A PARKING SPOT, WHAT I KNOW NOW AS MY CONTROL ARM, LEFT AXLE AND LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE. HAD IT TOWED HOME, CALLED HAPPY HYUNDAI, HAS IT TOWED THERE. AFTER INSPECTIONING MY VEHICLE THEY DETERMINED THE CONTROL ARM & AXLE WERE A PART OF THE CAMPAIGN RECALL BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX MY VEHICLE. REUBEN TOLD ME ON JUNE 2, THEY WERE CONFISCATING IT BECAUSE I COULD BE DRIVING AND THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE COULD FALL OFF. THANKFULLY I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. HYUNDAI RETURNSES AN UNSAFE VEHICLE TO ME AND ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN REPAIRING MY VEHICLE WHEN THEY SHOULD AT LEAST REPAIR THEY RECALL SINCE THE CONTROL ARM & AXLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I THINK AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OPENED REGARDING THIS RECALL TO ENSURE HYUNDAI IS REPAIRING VEHICLES UP TO SAFETY STANDARDS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A STATUS UPDATE. UPDATED 12/07/2017*JS
NHTSA ODI #11033969
115,000 miles · Sep 30, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING RIGHT TURN ENGINE STALLED LOST BRAKES AND STEERING, WAS ABLE TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH TRAFFIC COMING UP FAST, PUT IN PARK RE-STARTED. THIS SECOND TIME WITHIN A YEAR
NHTSA ODI #11030638
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.