FaultScore

2006 Hyundai Santa FE fuel system problems

10 of the 143 complaints about the 2006 Hyundai Santa FE are about the fuel system — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 54,728 miles.

A

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel System, Gasoline 5 50.0%
Fuel/Propulsion System 3 30.0%
Fuel System, Other 1 10.0%
Storage 1 10.0%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Hyundai Santa FE year

2001 13 1.4%
2003 19 2.1%
2004 40 4.4%
2005 24 2.7%
2006 10 1.1%
2007 157 17.4%
2008 274 30.4%
2009 128 14.2%
2010 19 2.1%
2012 12 1.3%
2013 43 4.8%
2014 32 3.5%
2015 13 1.4%
2017 60 6.7%
2020 15 1.7%
2022 31 3.4%
2023 12 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Hanover Park, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the exhaust muffler detached and fell off the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with fuel tank failure. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that upon arriving at the dealer, the dealer noticed fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact was informed that the exhaust muffler had detached because of the fuel tank failure. The contact was initially informed that the repair was covered under an extended warranty. The contact was later informed that the repair was not covered under the extended warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the safety failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11686706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rockford, IL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Gas tank rusted and started leak in June of 2000. Minor at first then worse. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, LUCKILY NEW CAUGHT FIRE OR EXPLODED. MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY US OF EXTENED WARRANTY,

NHTSA complaint #11475176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Jamaica, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. The contact discovered that there was fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel tank was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA complaint #11427123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Jamaica, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. The contact discovered that there was fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel tank was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA complaint #11427123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Orange, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION RECALL NOTICE AND FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT PARTS STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. *SMD

NHTSA complaint #10870976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Natick, MA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I BROUGHT CAR FOR A INSPECTION STICKER AND IT FAILED BECAUSE A SMALL VAPOR LEAK. THIS WAS DONE IN MAY OF 2015. THE REPAIR MADE WAS TO REPLACE THE CELLULOID IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WAS TOLD TO DRIVE VEHICLE SO COMPUTER COULD RESET ITSELF. WEEKS PASSED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. IT DID NOT WORK. BROUGHT BACK TO SHOP ONLY THIS TIME I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE AND UNDER CAR. WHEN MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT HE NOTICED 3 SMALL PIN HOLES IN THE TANK AND THAT'S WHERE WE GETTING THE VAPOR. I RESEARCHED IT FOR RECALL NOTHING FOUND CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT MY PROBLEM. DURING MY RESEARCH I CAME ACROSS MANY ARTICLES OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. BUT HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH GAS TANKS.

NHTSA complaint #10750416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,137 miles Prescott, AZ

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER ENGINE IS WARM, ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, THERE IS A GURGLING IN THE FUEL TANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON (BEFORE AND AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED). I THINK IT IS FUEL BEING RETURNED FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD IT IN TWO DIFFERENT HYUNDAI SERVICE SHOPS, WITH THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE, AND A FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED. HAVING GIVEN UP, BOTH SHOPS CONTACTED THE DISTRICT HYUNDAI OFFICE AND A FIELD SERVICE ADVISER TOLD THE LOCAL SHOPS TO SHOW THE EVENT AS "NORMAL". IT IS NOT NORMAL AND I THINK THE HYUNDAI DISTRICT OFFICE IS HIDING THE PROBLEM. COULD BE A FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM AND COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF FUEL STARTS LEAKING. BOTH LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS NOW SHOW THE PROBLEM AS "NORMAL" AND NOTHING MORE WILL BE DONE ON THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IS APPROPRIATE.

NHTSA complaint #10465708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,200 miles Carlsbad, NM

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK AND THEN ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. TAKEN TO HYDRAIN MECHANIC TWO TIMES. THE SECOND TIME THE MECHANIC EXPERIENCE THE GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK. JUST EXPERIENCE AGAIN ON MARCH 7-8, 2011 THIS HAS GONE ON FOR TWO YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10389673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,000 miles Tucson, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

EVERY SUMMER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES 100' RANDOMLY WITH OUT CAUSE MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON, WHERE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY FILLS WITH THE TASTE AND SMELL OF RAW FUEL FUMES, CHOKING ME AND ANY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE,. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO MY DEALER EVERY SUMMER FOR THIS SAME REASON,. THIS 12 AUGUST, THE 'INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ONLY 4.2 MILES FROM THE DEALER, AND ROVE DIRECTLY THERE, WHILE ON THE BLUETOOTH WITH HYUNDAI AMERICA. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER AND SEVERAL SENIOR SERVICE WRITERS WITNESSED THE 'INCIDENT' GAS FUMES COULD BEE SEEN ROILING FROM UNDER THE HOOD,. FOR FOUR YEARS, SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM, NOT ONLY DID THEY WITNESS THIS FIRST HAND , BUT DUPLICATED IT AGAIN,. AFTER MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME, AS HYUNDAI AMERICA REFUSED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, I WAS TOLD BY A REGIONAL 'PARTS MANAGER', WHO CALLED ME FROM A CELL PHONE SO THE CONVERSATION COULD NOT BE RECORDED, AND TOLD ME THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN DOCUMENTED, HOWEVER, IT IS A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO MY CAR, AND FOR ME NOT TO DRIVE WITH THE A/C ON IN THE ARIZONA DESERT, DURING THE SUMMER,.

NHTSA complaint #10356627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,256 miles Arvada, CO

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SURGING. SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, FEELS LIKE YOU ARE ALSO LAYING ON THE GAS PEDAL. OTHER TIMES, WHEN JUST BARELY ACCELERATING, IT'S LIKE TAKING OFF AT THE STARTING LINE. REAL SURGING, IT'S SCARY. MY WIFE DOESN'T LIKE DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECH'S AT THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG, THAT IT IS DESIGNED TO DO THIS. I FIND THAT TO BE STUPID, OR NOT TRUE.

NHTSA complaint #10238141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2006 Hyundai Santa FE problems

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