NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
31 reportsClear category filter96,000 miles · May 23, 2017
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
PAINT COMES OFF THE CAR IN LARGE PIECES THAT, IF RAINING, WILL STICK TO WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR AND THE CAR BEHIND YOU, WHILE DRIVING. THIS BLOCKS THE VISIBILITY OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSES WIPER PROBLEMS AS THE LARGE PIECES GET STUCK TO THEM. AGAIN THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. THE LARGE PIECE O…
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PAINT COMES OFF THE CAR IN LARGE PIECES THAT, IF RAINING, WILL STICK TO WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR AND THE CAR BEHIND YOU, WHILE DRIVING. THIS BLOCKS THE VISIBILITY OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSES WIPER PROBLEMS AS THE LARGE PIECES GET STUCK TO THEM. AGAIN THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. THE LARGE PIECE OF PAINT WILL STILL COME OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVING, BUT THE SAFETY CONCERN IS WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. PIECES AS LARGE AS 1 INCH BY 1 INCH ARE NOT UNCOMMON, WITH THE LARGEST PIECE CURRENTLY MISSING IS ABOUT 8 INCHES BY 8 INCHES. PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING OVER 2 YEARS AGO. WHEN THE PIECES GET STUCK TO THE WINDSHIELD, YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER TO REMOVE THEM FROM BOTH THE WINDSHIELD AND WIPER BLADES. THIS IS ALSO DANGEROUS AS WE HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER ON A MAJOR FREEWAY BEFORE TO REMOVE THEM FROM PARTS OF THE VEHICLE, NAMELY THE WINDSHIELD AND WIPERS. THIS PROBLEM AGAIN CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH VISIBILITY OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR AND POSSIBLY THE CAR(S) BEHIND YOU WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LARGE PIECES (SHEETS) OF PAINT SHOULD BE COMING OFF OF A CAR AND STICKING TO A WINDSHIELD OF THE AFFECTED CAR AND CARS AROUND IT, WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. TRULY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10991234
93,000 miles · Aug 24, 2016
Unknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING ONTO A SIDE STREET THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO INDICATION AS TO WHAT HAPPENED, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO ERROR CODES SHOWED UP. THIS IS APPARENTLY A PROBLEM HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING HOWEVER IT ONLY COVERS MODEL YEARS 2010-2012.
NHTSA ODI #10898123
108,000 miles · Jun 22, 2016
Unknown Or Other
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT REGISTERING THAT THERE IS GAS AFTER HAVING FILLED THE TANK TO CAPACITY. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW IF THE CAR HAS GAS OR NOT.
NHTSA ODI #10875994
64,500 miles · Apr 22, 2016
Unknown Or Other
THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK AND DURING DRIVING THE GAUGE SUDDENLY INDICATE AN EMPTY TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID OF TRAVELLING I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTI…
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THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK AND DURING DRIVING THE GAUGE SUDDENLY INDICATE AN EMPTY TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID OF TRAVELLING I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS IT COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS WHO MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS IS ONLY A SENSOR PROBLEM AND CONTINUE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #10860915
106,000 miles · Dec 23, 2015
Unknown Or OtherFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS.
NHTSA ODI #10811957
106,000 miles · Dec 20, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS IN PARK, THE CAR WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN A FEW WEEK'S TIME. I WAS CONCERNED AND WONDERED IF THE CAR WOULD EVER JUST SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR A BUSY STREET. TO MY HORROR, IT HAPPENED! A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR JUST …
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I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS IN PARK, THE CAR WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN A FEW WEEK'S TIME. I WAS CONCERNED AND WONDERED IF THE CAR WOULD EVER JUST SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR A BUSY STREET. TO MY HORROR, IT HAPPENED! A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF!...THERE WAS A CAR BEHIND ME THAT CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT! AGAIN MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT THE CAR WILL STALL ON ME WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IF THAT HAPPENS ON A ROAD WHERE CARS ARE TRAVELLING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THEN I WOULD PROBABLY NOT LIVE TO TELL THE STORY.
NHTSA ODI #10811346
88,000 miles · Nov 26, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
ONLY 85K MILES ON THE HYUNDAI USED FOR NORMAL DRIVING. THE FUEL GAUGE/SENSORS HAVE BEGUN ACTING ERRATIC. FILLED THE GAS TANK AND GAUGE SHOWED FULL. VERY NEXT MORNING GAUGE DOWN TO A QUARTER TANK. PURCHASED GAS AND ONLY NEEDED 3 GALLONS. FUEL GAUGE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NOT MEASURING GAS CORRECTLY. CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDIT…
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ONLY 85K MILES ON THE HYUNDAI USED FOR NORMAL DRIVING. THE FUEL GAUGE/SENSORS HAVE BEGUN ACTING ERRATIC. FILLED THE GAS TANK AND GAUGE SHOWED FULL. VERY NEXT MORNING GAUGE DOWN TO A QUARTER TANK. PURCHASED GAS AND ONLY NEEDED 3 GALLONS. FUEL GAUGE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NOT MEASURING GAS CORRECTLY. CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION AS DRIVER DOES NOT RELIABLY KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS AVAILABLE. MANY ISSUES LIKE THIS ACCORDING TO POSTS ON INTERNET. HYUNDAI HAS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM AND SHOULD REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE.
NHTSA ODI #10807081
77,450 miles · Oct 11, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
WE WERE EXITING WEST BOUND I-10 IN PENSACOLA, FL, AND WHEN TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE SURFACE ROAD AT SLOW SPEED THE ENGINE DIED AND WE LOST POWER INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD INTO A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT AND RESTART THE CAR, BUT HAD A CLOSE CALL WITH SUDDENLY REDUCED SPEED IN MERGING TRAFFIC.…
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WE WERE EXITING WEST BOUND I-10 IN PENSACOLA, FL, AND WHEN TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE SURFACE ROAD AT SLOW SPEED THE ENGINE DIED AND WE LOST POWER INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD INTO A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT AND RESTART THE CAR, BUT HAD A CLOSE CALL WITH SUDDENLY REDUCED SPEED IN MERGING TRAFFIC. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US IN THIS CAR. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN AUG, 2013 AND WAS REPORTED AS INCIDENT REPORT #1053149. AT THAT TIME, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE, SO NO REPAIR WAS MADE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
NHTSA ODI #10781345
70,333 miles · Aug 18, 2015
StructureSuspensionUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury
AT AROUND 4:50 PM ON AUGUST 11, 2015, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED 2WD 4 DOOR WAGON NORTH-BOUND ON SECOND AVENUE, THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF SECOND AVENUE AND FOOTHILL BOULEVARD IN UPLAND, CALIFORNIA. WHILE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR ENTERING THE INTERSECTION FROM…
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AT AROUND 4:50 PM ON AUGUST 11, 2015, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED 2WD 4 DOOR WAGON NORTH-BOUND ON SECOND AVENUE, THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF SECOND AVENUE AND FOOTHILL BOULEVARD IN UPLAND, CALIFORNIA. WHILE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR ENTERING THE INTERSECTION FROM THE WEST. THE IMPACT TO THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE BY THE OTHER CAR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. ADDITIONALLY, MY WIFE SUFFERED SOFT TISSUE INJURIES TO HER HIP, SHOULDER, BACK AND RIGHT TEMPLE (HEAD). WHILE THE IMPACT TO THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAGON WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS AND CAUSE INJURIES TO MY WIFE, NONE OF THE FRONT OR SIDE IMPACT AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (CLAIM NUMBER 012002790. I TOOK SOME PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLES, WHICH I CAN PROVIDE IF REQU
NHTSA ODI #10749621
54,000 miles · Aug 9, 2013
EngineStructureUnknown Or OtherCrash
I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT DOING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. THE SEATBELT FAILED TO LOCK AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CAR HAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE UNDERBODY, FRONT-END, THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DASH, THE MOTOR MOUNTS, ENGINE AND OTHER DAMAGES ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534413
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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