2001 Hyundai Santa FE electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The suv stalls while driving. This has happened multiple time. While driving, driving slow, taking a u turn. The battery, alternator, starter, power steering pump, water pump, rack and pinion, timing belt, serpentine belt, idler pulley, harmonic balancer, front axles, shocks, struts, some sensors, spark plugs/wires, gaskets, and many other parts are replaced in the last year. Don't know what is wrong but it is scary when it stalls suddenly.

NHTSA complaint #11474365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V030000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA complaint #10851470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ON A SECOND OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. UPDATED 03/24/15

NHTSA complaint #10669329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. DJR

NHTSA complaint #10637474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE BEING IN PARK - ENGINE WILL SURGE - RPMS JUMP TO ABOUT 6,000 AND ACCELERATES LIKE IT WANTS TO GO. I WILL PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND RPMS COME DOWN BUT STILL WANTS TO ACCELERATE. THIS SAME THING HAPPENS EVEN AT STOP SIGN - WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATES ON ITS ON ONCE FOOT COMES OFF BRAKE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON. VERY SCARY SITUATION AND ALMOST SCARED TO DRIVE IT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT LATELY IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. NOTICED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10313667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND SHIFTING GEARS,THE GEAR STUCK FROM FOURTH TO THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURRED DURING RAINY OR DAMP CONDITIONS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CRACKED CRANKSHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REPLACED ON MARCH 30, 2004. AFTER THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REPLACED THERE WERE NO OCCURRENCES UNTIL MAY 2005 AND AUGUST 2005, WHEN THE COIL WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY UNTIL NOVEMBER 2006. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.*AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PERTAINING TO THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONER AND INVOICES FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. UPDATE 5/3/07

NHTSA complaint #10183537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V030000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STARTER ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10171603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

SUSPENSION /CHECK ENGINE LIGHT /LOWER BALL JOINT: DEALER REPLACE @54,353 MILES, LOWER ARM IN 2004 AND 8/2006 REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED I HAVE TAKEN MY 2001 SANTA FE TO DEALER 8 PLUS TIMES FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WAS TOLD FOUND TETHER ON GAS CAP NOT LETTING CAP CLOSE TIGHT ENOUGH /MOVED TETHER AND RAN EVAP TEST AND CHECK OUT OK . I WAS TOLD CAP LOOSE 8 PLUS TIMES THIS PROBLEM IS ON GOING. RETURN TO DEALER FOR JERK TRANSMISSION ISSUES I HAVE TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT TAKES OFF SLOW AND ONCE GETS POWER THE CAR JERKS STARTS AS IF THE GEARS OR NOT SWITCHING OVER. DEALER SAID DO THE PRESSURE IN GAS CAP AND GAS CAP NOT CLOSED TIGHT ENOUGH EVAL TEST WAS DONE. BACK AT DEALER AFTER ROAD TRIP MY CAR WAS RUNNING AFTER BEGIN PARKED WITH A/C RUNNING AND I TURN CAR OFF AND CAR WOULD NOT START THOUGHT MAY BATTERY CHECK AND NO WATER WAS IN BATTERY I PUT WATER IN BATTERY AND LET CAR SIT FOR ABOUT HOUR AND CAR RESTARTED BACK AT DEALER EXPLAIN THIS ISSUE MY BATTERY WAS REPLACE I WAS TOLD FACTORY BATTERY WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH WAS FOR SANTA FE THIS IS 3RD BATTERY WITH IN FIVE YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10166021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAD A VERY BAD ODOR LIKE WIRES WERE BURNING IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THAT OCCURRED MY POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK AND MY REAR WIPER WOULD NOT WORK. THE SMELL WAS SO BAD I HAD TO LOWER ALL THE WINDOWS SO I WOULD NOT PASS OUT. I STOP TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A FIRE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT DID NOT OCCUR WHEN THEY CHECKED IT. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR BACK IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH 2001 SANTA FE'S.

NHTSA complaint #10154649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THEN DRIVE AND THE TACHOMETER WENT TO THE RED ZONE. ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE MOVED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET FORWARD IN 30 SECONDS. THEN, HE THEN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. THIS REPEATED A WEEK LATER. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY WAS RUN DOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY RULED OUT A CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED. *AK UPDATE 1/4/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10145219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE CPS CAPACITOR THAT IS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE FREEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THIS PROBLEM CAME UP AS A CRITICAL CODE. THE CONSUMER FOUND NHTSA RECALL 03V030000 FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10142012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IN DEC 04, JAN 05 AND FEB 05, MY 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE V-6, EXPERIENCED ARCING OF SPARK PLUG WIRES, REQUIRING THE WIRES TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER 3 SEPARATE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10109900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR WITH OUT NOTIFICATION THE CONSUMERS PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRANDED AS A LEMON. PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, HEADLIGHT DIMMERS, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THEY'RE REQUESTING THE DEALERSHIP TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10020369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND IDLED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE 5 TIMES AND REPLACED IGNITION COIL, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND 2 OTHER COMPONENTS. BUT THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 3 TIMES FOR BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE. BUT GRINDING CONTINUED.

NHTSA complaint #10074086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LIGHTS DIMMING WIPERS GOING SLOW RADIO GOING OFF ALSO WHEN I WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE IN THE RAIN SOMETHING GOT WET IN THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO SMELL .I WENT TO HYUNDAI IN MANHATTAN AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. SO FAR SO GOOD KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED.

NHTSA complaint #10058608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM A MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND WORK NIGHT HOURS. I OWN A HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2001 AND HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CAR RUNNING BUT AT STOP CANNOT HANDLE HEADLIGHTS, HEATER, RADIO AND INTERNAL LIGHTS, WHICH IS A PROBLEM IF I WERE EVER STUCK. IT HAS HAPPENED IN SUMMER AND WINTER AND CAN BE DANGEROUS IF I'M STRANDED. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO 2 DIFFERENT HYUNDAI DEALERS AND THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS FOUND, YET I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS AND SEARS AND THEY SAID MY BATTERY WAS FAILING. I REPLACED BATTERY AT SEAR'S 3 MONTHS AGO AND LIGHTS ARE STARTING TO DIM AGAIN. THE RESPONSE FROM HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS? ISN'T THAT DANGEROUS?

NHTSA complaint #10047220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR/BATTERY PROBLEMS: LIGHTS DIM, WINDSHIELD WIPER DELAY CHANGES SPEED, ELECTRIC WINDOWS SLOW AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10045731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

ALTERNATOR/BATTERY PROBLEMS: LIGHTS DIM, WINDSHIELD WIPER DELAY CHANGES SPEED, ELECTRIC WINDOWS SLOW AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10045731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND SHUT DOWN, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE SUV WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. DRIVER PICKED UP THE TRUCK FROM THE DEALER THAT DAY, BUT WITHOUT WARNING THE SUV SHUT DOWN ON THE WAY HOME.

NHTSA complaint #10043913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FOR THE PAST MONTH, CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING. USUALLY, IT DOES NOT START FOR THE FIRST TIME OR IT HAS A SLOW START. IN ADDITION, THERE'S AN OCCURRENCE THAT IT DID NOT START AT ALL, WHICH HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IN THEY REPROGRAMMED THE MODULE. WILL WAIT AND CHECK IF THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR STARTS SLOWLY THAT MORNING.

NHTSA complaint #10041406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

VEHICLE DASH BRAKE AND ALTERNATOR LIGHTS COME ON WHEN VEHICLE SPLASHES THROUGH WATER PUDDLES. ON ALL OCCASIONS I ALSO LOSE POWER STEERING CONSTROL. THE DEALER'S RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM REPORTED IS SIMPLY NOT TO SPLASH WATER WHILE GOING OVER PUDDLES. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO DURING THUNDER STORMS FOR WHICH TAMPA BAY IS WELL KNOWN. WATER IS OBVIOUSLY GETTING INTO THE ALTERNATOR AND WETTING THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. ON ONE OCCASION I LOST POWER STEERING AS I WAS NEGOTIATING A RIGHT TURN. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #768451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

HYUNDAI WILL NOT REPLACE ALTERNATOR WITH HIGHER OUTPUT.

NHTSA complaint #766624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE CAR "MISSES" SO BADLY IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, IT PERIODICALLY DIES WHILE IDLING. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HYUNDAI HAS REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY WITH HIGHER OUTPUT EQUIPMENT AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE WORSENED.

NHTSA complaint #766631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THE CAR "MISSES" SO BADLY IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, IT PERIODICALLY DIES WHILE IDLING. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HYUNDAI HAS REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY WITH HIGHER OUTPUT EQUIPMENT AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE WORSENED.

NHTSA complaint #766631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE CAR "MISSES" SO BADLY IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, IT PERIODICALLY DIES WHILE IDLING. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HYUNDAI HAS REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY WITH HIGHER OUTPUT EQUIPMENT AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE WORSENED.

NHTSA complaint #766631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN LEAVING FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASING, CAUSE ACCORDING TO DEALER WAS DEFECTIVE BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. ELEVEN MONTHS LATER I EXPERIENCED ENGINE HAD SLOW CRANKING TO START AND LIGHTS DIMMED WHEN AIR COMPRESSOR ENGAGED AND THE CAR WAS AT LOW RPMS. RADIO THEN TURNED OFF LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED. TURNED OFF AIR, RADIO AND LIGHTS (LUCKILY IT WAS SUNDOWN NOT DARK YET) AND PROCEEDED HOME. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND ONCE AGAIN PROBLEM WAS ATTRIBUTED TO DEFECTIVE BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT HYUNDAI HAD INCREASED THE OUTPUT OF THE ALTERNATOR IN THE NEWER SANTA FE MODELS TO 110AMP OUTPUT. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THEY HAVE NOTED THE INADEQUATE OUTPUT OF THE EARLIER ALTERNATOR. I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE RETROFITTING OF EARLIER VEHICLES TO THE HIGHER OUTPUT ALTERNATOR. ALSO DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE IN SOME INSTANCES OBTAINED A REPLACEMENT FOR THE UPGRADED ALTERNATOR THROUGH WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #766547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR SHOWED A LONG TERM "LOW" CHARGE LEVEL, AND DURING VERY HOT WEATHER, BATTERY FAILED TO START VEHICLE DUE TO ALTERNATOR NOT KEEPING BATTERY CHARGED UP PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #766496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

FROM THE FIRST DAY WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE (6-01-01) THE KEYS STUCK IN THE IGNITION & WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THEM OUT WITHOUT JIGGLING THE GEARSHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO PATTERSON'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 10-25-01, 3-1-02, 7-5-02, & 8-7-02, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER REPAIRED. ON THE LAST OCCASION THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAUSED AN EVEN GREATER PROBLEM TO OCCUR. EVIDENTLY THEY HAVE DISCONNECTED THE SAFETY MECHANISM WHICH KEEPS ONE FROM REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN ALL GEARS EXCEPT PARK. NOW WE CAN TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR. WHEN WE DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO OUR GARAGE THIS PAST FRIDAY, AUGUST 23RD, WE PUT THE GEARSHIFT INTO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS PARK (THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER), TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND STARTED GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT TURNED OUT THE GEARSHIFT WAS IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO PARK NOW ESPECIALLY IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT FULLY DEPRESSED PAST THE NORMAL STOPPING TENSION. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #766231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

OCCASIONALY AS I DRIVE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM, CLOCK WILL FLASH, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE ALERNATOR WILL NOT CHARGE THE BATTERY. OCCASIONALY WHEN I STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF I WILL COME BACK OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY BEING DEAD AND NOT BEING CHARGED BY THE ALTERNATOR. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ONCE ON 7/26/02 AND IT IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. I AM IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS AT WWW.SANTAFEFORUM.NET AND ALOT OF THEM ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #766296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

OCCASIONALY AS I DRIVE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM, CLOCK WILL FLASH, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE ALERNATOR WILL NOT CHARGE THE BATTERY. OCCASIONALY WHEN I STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF I WILL COME BACK OUT TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY BEING DEAD AND NOT BEING CHARGED BY THE ALTERNATOR. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED ONCE ON 7/26/02 AND IT IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. I AM IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL OTHER SANTA FE OWNERS AT WWW.SANTAFEFORUM.NET AND ALOT OF THEM ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #766296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.