NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
358 reports12,225 miles · Mar 1, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,225. UPDATED 3/21/11 *CN UPDATED 04/28/11
NHTSA ODI #10384876
12,000 miles · Feb 4, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
IN COLD WEATHER (10-15 DEG.) BRAKES ARE VERY SOFT/SPONGY. NEED TO DEPRESS BRAKES NEARLY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT. AFTER DRIVING AND PUMPING THE BRAKES, THEY COME BACK BUT NOT TO NORMAL CONDITION. DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS AND SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10380789
20,000 miles · Dec 27, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR COMPUTER MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
NHTSA ODI #10372497
12,650 miles · Dec 20, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY SUV TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A LARGE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, THE SUV INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATED FORWARD AT A GREAT AMOUNT OF SPEED. I APPLIED THE BRAKE FIRMLY, BUT THE SUV CONTINUED TO SPEED FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPACE. MY FEAR WAS THAT THERE WAS A CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF …
Read full complaint
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY SUV TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A LARGE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, THE SUV INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATED FORWARD AT A GREAT AMOUNT OF SPEED. I APPLIED THE BRAKE FIRMLY, BUT THE SUV CONTINUED TO SPEED FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPACE. MY FEAR WAS THAT THERE WAS A CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS PARKED FACING IN. I ASSUMED THAT THE ONLY WAY I WAS GOING TO STOP WAS IF I CRASHED HEAD ON WITH THE CAR OPPOSITE ME. FORTUNATELY, I HAD THE BRAKE ALMOST TO THE FLOOR OF THE SUV WHEN IT FINALLY LURCHED TO A STOP. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO SENT A TOW TRUCK TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE APPROXIMATELY 4:30 P.M. ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2010. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT TODAY, MONDAY, DECEMBER 20. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM THIS MORNING.
NHTSA ODI #10372736
21,930 miles · Nov 20, 2010
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHILE GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE ON RAMP THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE GAS PEDAL BEGAN TO DEPRESS ITSELF WITHOUT ME DOING IT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AND THE FLOOR MATT WAS NOT THE CAUSE. BRAKING WAS DIFFICULT AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. AF…
Read full complaint
WHILE GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE ON RAMP THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE GAS PEDAL BEGAN TO DEPRESS ITSELF WITHOUT ME DOING IT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AND THE FLOOR MATT WAS NOT THE CAUSE. BRAKING WAS DIFFICULT AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. AFTER TELLING MY FAMILY ABOUT THE INCIDENT MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME THAT IT HAD OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE IN THE SAME MANNER ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO.
NHTSA ODI #10367569
12,579 miles · Oct 18, 2010
Equipment
HAD A FLAT TIRE ON 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SET BRAKE AND JACKED THE CAR UP TO REMOVE FLAT TIRE. CAME BACK A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER TO FIND THAT THE JACK HAD TWISTED AND COLLAPSED. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. BUT IT WAS A PAIN TO HAVE TO OBTAIN A FLOOR JACK AS NOTHING ELSE WAS GOING TO WORK. SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DANGEROUS TYPE O…
Read full complaint
HAD A FLAT TIRE ON 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SET BRAKE AND JACKED THE CAR UP TO REMOVE FLAT TIRE. CAME BACK A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER TO FIND THAT THE JACK HAD TWISTED AND COLLAPSED. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. BUT IT WAS A PAIN TO HAVE TO OBTAIN A FLOOR JACK AS NOTHING ELSE WAS GOING TO WORK. SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DANGEROUS TYPE OF FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10361069
25,000 miles · Oct 15, 2010
Power Train
2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN & COULD NOT BE STOPPED UNTIL I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL & SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO DAYS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED ON THE TURNPIKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 100MPH BEFORE I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL BUT THE RPMS CONTINUED TO RISE UNTIL I SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. APPLYING TH…
Read full complaint
2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN & COULD NOT BE STOPPED UNTIL I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL & SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO DAYS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED ON THE TURNPIKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 100MPH BEFORE I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL BUT THE RPMS CONTINUED TO RISE UNTIL I SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID NOT HELP BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING AT TOO HIGH A RATE OF SPEED. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER & IT WAS DIFFICULT TO APPLY THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER TO THOSE SYSTEMS CAUSING AN ADDITION HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10360640
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2010
Air Bags
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OF A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DISENGAGES WHEN A PERSON WEIGHING 106 POUNDS PLACES THEIR ARMS ON THE ARM RESTS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS ALSO DISENGAGE WHEN THE PERSON SIT WITH THEIR FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR BOARDS, BUT THEIR KNEES RISE ABOVE THE SEAT. THE PERSON HAS TO STRETCH THEIR LEGS OUT SO THAT THEY LAY ACROS…
Read full complaint
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OF A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DISENGAGES WHEN A PERSON WEIGHING 106 POUNDS PLACES THEIR ARMS ON THE ARM RESTS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS ALSO DISENGAGE WHEN THE PERSON SIT WITH THEIR FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR BOARDS, BUT THEIR KNEES RISE ABOVE THE SEAT. THE PERSON HAS TO STRETCH THEIR LEGS OUT SO THAT THEY LAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SEAT. WE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES TO OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP (WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW). THEY WERE UNAPOLOGETICALLY AND SAID THAT THIS WAS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10357733
3,097 miles · Sep 16, 2010
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE . WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF DUE TO THE GLAZE COMING FROM THE SUN. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD POLISH THE WINDSHIELD IN ORDER TO CLEAN THE OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS STILL DIFFICULT …
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE . WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF DUE TO THE GLAZE COMING FROM THE SUN. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD POLISH THE WINDSHIELD IN ORDER TO CLEAN THE OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS STILL DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOW WHILE DRIVING. THERE HAVE BEEN NO WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3097 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10114.
NHTSA ODI #10356030
6,773 miles · Aug 3, 2010
Air Bags
ON MAY 2010 THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT GO OUT EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. GOT AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK MY 2009 SANTAFE LIMITED AWD V6 INTO THE DEALER AND HERE'S THE NARRATIVE FROM THE DEALER: "CUSTOMER STATES HIS AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON PRESENT CODE B1334 F15…
Read full complaint
ON MAY 2010 THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT GO OUT EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. GOT AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK MY 2009 SANTAFE LIMITED AWD V6 INTO THE DEALER AND HERE'S THE NARRATIVE FROM THE DEALER: "CUSTOMER STATES HIS AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON PRESENT CODE B1334 F15 FRONT IMPACT SENSOR ERROR IN HISTORY CLEARED CODE VERIFIED TO BE OK" THERE WERE NO REPAIRS COMPLETED, ONLY THE ERROR CODE WAS CLEARED. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THE CODE WAS CLEARED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN DURING DRIVING AND WOULD STAY ON FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS AT A TIME, WHILE DRIVING, AND THEN GO OFF. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. TODAY, AUGUST 3, 2010 THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN, WHILE DRIVING, AND DID NOT GO OFF. IT REMAINS ON. I WILL BE RETURNING BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10347148
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.
Illustration