52 of the
507 complaints about the 2009 Hyundai Santa FE are about the
throttle and cruise control — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
26,572 miles.
F
52
Complaints
11
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
5198.1%
Cruise Control
11.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Hyundai Santa FE year
1.) Throttle Control failure, and is available for inspection 2.) My and the public saftey was put in risk, as I lost control of the vehicle an almost had an accident, and could have hit another vehicle or person or building. 3.) The problem has not occured again other than the multiple times on 10/10/2023. The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. I had O'Reilly Auto Parts check for failure codes on 10/10/2023 and found none. 4.) The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. 5.) There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The next morning when I started the vehicle the "Cruise" lamp was on. While idling in heavy traffic, vehicle throttle began over revving with my foot on the brake, I was not using Cruise Control, I had not used Cruise Control for over a week. I did not see the Cruise indicator on. I had to push hard on the Brake to keep the vehicle from lurching forward, I almost could not keep the vehicle from ramming the car in front of me. I pulled off of SR 32 in Eastgate, OH into a parking lot and it did it again, I put the vehicle in park and turned off the ignition. After a minute I started the vehicle again and it did it again, I turned off the ignition and waited longer. I started the vehicle again and within an hour, vehicle did it again in Covington, KY, I had to pull into a Motel parking lot and stomp on the Brake and throw the vehicle into Park with Throttle Running away. I turned the Ignition off and waited. Vehicle then acted normally.
NHTSA complaint #11549606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Napoleonville, LA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving on the interstate, I approached my exit. As I am slowing down, the engine shuts off and steering becomes very hard. I quickly shifted into neutral to restart the car to avoid a crash. There were no warning lights on the dash before shutting down. I immediately took it to a mechanic to see what the problem was. He said he saw none. This has been going on since September 2020 and it is happening more than one time a day. Since then, I have taken it to 4 other mechanics who have all told me that they don't see any problems. I take chances everyday not knowing when the car will shut down on me while driving because this is my only vehicle that I just bought in April of 2020. This is a very serious problem that should've been looked into.
NHTSA complaint #11417793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,000 milesHuron, OHCrash3 injured3 killed
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONTACT OWNED 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. AT 2PM ON JULY 7, 2017, DRIVER EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN, UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION THAT CAUSED A FATAL CRASH THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE SUBJECT INCIDENT. HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONS WITH THIS GENERATION OF VEHICLES. OTHER PUBLIC VOQS AND PRIVATE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS SUPPORT THE CONTACTS ALLEGATIONS THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AVAILABLE 'SMART PEDAL' BRAKE THROTTLE OVERRIDE TECHNOLOGY. IN 2012, HYUNDAI ADMITTED THAT "WITH VIRTUALLY ALL CARS USING ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL TODAY, THERE REMAINS THE REMOTE POSSIBILITY FOR AN UNFORESEEN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, CAUSING A VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE CONTRARY TO DRIVER INPUT. ALTHOUGH VERY UNLIKELY DUE TO VARIOUS BUILT-IN ELECTRONIC SAFETY PROTOCOLS, UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES COULD STILL EXIST THAT COULD CAUSE THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION.' HYUNDAI INTRODUCED `THIS CRITICAL SAFETY TECHNOLOGY' ON 100 PERCENT OF ITS NEW MODELS ANTICIPATING THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT MANDATE IT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. 'WITH HYUNDAI'S BRAKE PEDAL THROTTLE OVERRIDE CAPABILITY, ANY BRAKE PEDAL INPUT BY THE DRIVER, EVEN WITH A RUNAWAY THROTTLE CONDITION, COMPLETELY OVERRIDES ANY THROTTLE MALFUNCTION,' STATED THE DIRECTOR OF CERTIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE AFFAIRS FOR HYUNDAI'S AMERICAN TECHNICAL CENTER, INC. (HATCI), SAID IN A STATEMENT. 'IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO HAVE INCREASING ENGINE POWER ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED BY THE DRIVER. THIS ADDS A REASSURING, INCREMENTAL SAFEGUARD OF CONTROL FOR HYUNDAI DRIVERS.' PER CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 'LOCAL POLICE AGENCY SUGGESTS THAT HYUNDAI ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN BEFORE FATAL CRASH'. SPECIAL CRASH INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #11386678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 107,000 milesFlanders, NJCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPEED UP, CRASHING INTO A STORE FRONT, BREAKING THE GLASS WINDOW AND KNOCKING OUT SOME BRICKS.
NHTSA complaint #11365373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,053 milesWeeki Wachee, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HYUNDAI OF NEW PORT RICHEY LOCATED AT 3936 US-19, NEW PORT RICHEY, FL 34652, (727) 477-8644, WHERE AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,053.
NHTSA complaint #11331748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesBoston, MACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS COMING FROM FOOD SHOPPING, ON AUGUST, 26, 2019 AND WAS TRYING TO LEAVE OUT MY PARKING SPOT. WHILE ME BACKING OUT, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARD AND WHILE I TRIED TO STOP MY VEHICLE IT TAPPED INTO A LIGHT POLE. I WAS TRYING TO GET MY SELF OUT OF THIS WEIRD SITUATION. I SWITCHED GEARS TO PARK MY CAR, AND MY CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD SLAMMING INTO A BRICK WALL AND ALSO RUBBING AGAINST IT. MY CAR THEN SLOWLY STARTED TO BACK UP NOT EVEN LETTING ME BE ABLE TO BREAK OR SWITCH GEARS. FOR THE LAST TIME IT ACCELERATED FORWARD SIDE SWIPING A LADY CAR AND HITTING THE BRICK WALL AGAIN. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF, LEAVING ME WITH AN CONCUSSION AND ALSO SEVER NECK AND HEAD PAIN. THIS ALL HAPPEN SO SUDDENLY AND RANDOMLY. I BARELY REMEMBERED WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL SEEING A VIDEO OFF OF THE CAMERA AT A NEAR BY GAS STATION. THIS SITUATION WENT FROM SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENING INTO A VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY SITUATION. I CONTACTED NATIONAL CONSUMERS AFFAIRS HYUNDAI MOTOR VEHICLE, BECAUSE MY CAR HAD BEEN TOTALED, I WAS LEFT WITH HOSPITAL BILLS AND ALSO MY INSURANCE MAY GO UP, BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE SITUATIONS. I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE CAME TO SOME CLOSURE WHEN IT CAME TO THEM HELPING ME OUT WITH MY SITUATION, BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THERE WAS NO DEFECT OR ANYTHING. AFTER SENDING THESE PEOPLE PICTURES, THE VIDEO, AND EVEN PROOF OF ME GOING TO THE HOSPITAL MORE THAN ONCE,THEY MADE ME FEEL LIKE THIS WAS ALL MY FAULT. I SPOKE TO A "PRIVATE" CONTRACTOR FROM HYUNDAI THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK INTO MY CAR AND ALSO A SPECIALIST THAT DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE ME HIS LAST NAME WHILE LOOKING INTO MY CASE. ALSO A LADY FROM HYUNDAI CALLED ME FROM A PRIVATE NUMBER FROM THE COMPANY. THIS ALL SEEM SO WEIRD TO ME AS IF THEY WERE SCAMMING ME WHEN IT CAME TO A SERIOUS SITUATION LIKE THIS. I FEEL LIKE HYUNDAI IS RUNNING FAKE INVESTIGATIONS. I'M HOPING NHTSA DO SOMETHING ASAP.
NHTSA complaint #11292573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesFrisco, TX
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR MORE THAN TWICE WHEN DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE TACHOMETER INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABOVE 90 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO REDUCE THE SPEED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER (HUFFINES KIA MCKINNEY, 1201 N CENTRAL EXPY, MCKINNEY, TX 75070, (888) 450-2260) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
NHTSA complaint #11115315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,600 milesPhoenix, AZCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED AGAINST A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN WRIST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAMELBACK HYUNDAI (1500 E CAMELBACK ROAD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014) AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,600.
NHTSA complaint #11082569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesJoliet, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 4D SPORT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I APPLIED THE BREAK AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW. LUCKILY, I DIDN'T WRECK. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER WITH MY HAZARDS ON, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #11023380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlanta, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/23/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #11000005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesGainesville, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. POWER STEERING AND BREAKS ARE GONE. THE CAR WILL CRANK RIGHT BACK OFF BUT THIS US VERY DANGEROUS. I'M NOT SURE IF WEATHER IS A FACTOR BUT WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED WHICH GAS BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES, IT HAS BEEN IN THE 80'S. MECHANICS AND DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING AND NO CODES ARE RECORDED.
NHTSA complaint #10970982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,500 milesTucson, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE TURNING ON TO A BUSY INTERSECTION, TWO OTHER INSTANCES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON CITY STREETS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. VERY LEARY OF DRIVING CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10970020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesGraham, NC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR AND HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY THE LAST 2 MONTHS. AT RANDOM TIMES, IN TOWN OR ON HIGHWAY WITH VARYING SPEEDS, THE RPM WILL JUMP WITHOUT ME USING ANY MORE PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL, WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THEN, THE RPM WILL GO BACK DOWN IN THE SAME MANNER JUST AS QUICKLY.
NHTSA complaint #10779302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 21,000 milesLady Lake, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE WERE EXITING A RAMP OFF RT 75 IN FLORIDA. OUR SPEED WAS ABOUT 30 MPH. SUDDENLY WE LOSS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING AND ACCELERATION. WE COASTED TO A STOP. WE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES...EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. IT WAS THE SECOND SUCH EXPERIENCE. THE FIRST WAS AUGUST 2013. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE SENSOR AT THAT TIME. THIS LATEST EXPERIENCE IS THE EXACT DUPLICATE OF THE FIRST. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW MORNING.
NHTSA complaint #10715557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesJarrettsville, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RPM JUMPED WITHOUT DRIVER INCREASING PEDAL PRESSURE, CAUSING SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10695003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,250 milesAkron, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN A SPACE AT A LOCAL STORE. THE CAR TOOK OFF. SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WENT FORWARD PROBABLY A GOOD 15 FEET BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE BOTH FUEL TANK SENSORS REPLACED. MY GAS GAUGE WOULD NOT REGISTER PROPERLY. FLUCTUATED UP AND DOWN AT RANDOM MOMENTS. COST ME $364.51! SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10689527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,269 milesELK Grove, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SLOWED WITHOUT WARNING ON FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEED, THEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WENT TO IDLE MODE. BEFORE SLOWDOWN, HAD MILD SURGING AT SPEED. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AT TPS OR THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. PROBLEM WITH SAME SENSOR REPORTED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP PREVIOUS, DIAGNOSED AS LOOSE CONNECTION REPORTED FROM PERIODIC SURGING WHILE DRIVING. AFTER RECENT PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATOR, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF PART, WITHIN ONE WEEK, TPS PARTIALLY FAILED. FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AS KIA DEALERSHIP (SISTER COMPANY TO HYUNDAI) WHEN UNDERWENT FIRST REPAIR. FAILURE REQUIRED HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD EXACT PROBLEM, WHEREBY THEY CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS. PART REQUIRED REPLACEMENT WITH SOFTWARE UPDATES. PART PROBLEM LEADING TO FAILURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED UNDER FIRST ROUND OF TESTING, AND UNDER FIRST REPAIR A WEEK PRIOR. PARTS UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE IS BELIEVED TO PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT RISK WHILE VEHICLE IS OPERATING.
NHTSA complaint #10654195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,938 milesChesapeake,, VA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I ENTERED A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WILDLY WITH NO CONTROL OVER SPEED. I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR BUT IT KEPT ACCELERATING. I PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE WAS OVER-REVVING FRIGHTENINGLY SO I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION.I FELT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COME UP OFF THE FLOOR AND TAP THE SOLE OF MY RIGHT FOOT. AT THIS POINT I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND PUT ON MY 4 WAY FLASHERS. I ESTIMATE MY TOP SPEED TO BE ABOUT 75 MPH DURING THIS INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT CONTACT ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS. MY WIFE WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES,I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT BEHAVED NORMALLY. WHEN I REACHED HOME I CALLED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.
NHTSA complaint #10649956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 67,000 milesSpencer, INCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS LEAVING TO GO TO WORK, MY HUSBAND WALKED ME OUT OF OUR HOUSE SAYING GOODBYE, I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, TURNED MY WHEEL TO GO AROUND OUR OTHER CAR, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SANTA FE FORCEFULLY ACCELERATED (NOT BY ME HITTING THE GAS ON ACCIDENT) HITTING MY HUSBAND THROWING HIM TO GROUND (WHICH HE IS A STURDY GUY) AN THEN HITTING MY OTHER CAR, IT WOULD NOT STOP I HAD BRAKE PEDEL DOWN AND PUT ON EMERGENCY BRAKE ON PUT IN REVERSE AND YET NOTHING JUST GOING FULL FORCE IN THE BACK OF MY OTHER CAR. I EVEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS NOT THE GAS PEDEL. IT WAS SO SCARY I DID NOT KNOW IF MY HUSBAND WAS BEENING CRUSHED BETWEEN CARS. I WAS SO SCARED THAT MY KIDS WOULD COME OUT AND GET RAN OVER TRYING TO HELP. I TURNED OFF THE CAR (WISH I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT SOONER) AND FINALLY AFTER PUSHING MY OTHER CAR AT LEAST 5 FEET IT FINALLY STARTED WINDING DOWN AND MAKING A LOUD HISSING SOUND. I FOUND MY HUSBAND LYING ON THE GROUND THANKING GOD I DIDNT KILL HIM . I CALL THE POLICE TO REPORT WHAT HAD HAPPEND, TOOK PICTURES OF ALL THE DAMAGE THAT THE SANTA FE DID. WE TOOK THE SANTA FE BACK TO DEALERSHIP STILL UNDER WARRENTY JUST PURCHASED 8 MONTHS AGO ONLY 63,000 MILES ON IT, THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. ONLY THING THEY SAID WAS POWERSTEERING LINE CRUSH AND WHATEVER DAMAGE DONE FROM THE INCIDENT, AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME $120.00. SO NOW ITS AT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, BUT SEEMS NO ONE CARES WHAT HAPPENED. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS PROBLEM, WHERE I WORK I PARK IN A COLLAGE CAMPUS AREA WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND ALL THE TIME, I"M AT MY KIDS SCHOOL AT LEASE 8 TIMES A WEEK, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AT THE SCHOOLS? SO WORRIED THAT THEY WILL SAY ITS OKAY NOTHING WRONG,( WHICH ALREADY HEARD THAT!) BUT NEXT TIME MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. NEED HELP PLEASE!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10639640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,500 milesColumbus, OHCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK BETWEEN TWO CARS AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO CUT THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO FINISH THE PARK, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (WITHOUT MY DOING) INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD NO TIME TO COMPENSATE AND ULTIMATELY CRUSHED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT/FRAME OF THE CAR BEHIND ME.
NHTSA complaint #10628033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,956 milesLemont, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS CARBON BUILD UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO STICK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,956. UPDATED 8/12/14
NHTSA complaint #10596398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,900 milesLexington, KY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,900. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ UPDATED 1/7/2015
NHTSA complaint #10595782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,900 milesLexington, KY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,900. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ UPDATED 1/7/2015
NHTSA complaint #10595782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesEden, UT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAD MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP, I TRIED TO PUSH THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND FINALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE GAS PEDAL CAME UNSTUCK. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND I PULLED OVER. LATER THAT DAY MY SON DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT HAPPENED TWICE TO HIM WHEN HE WENT TO ACCELERATE HE SAID IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING AND HE SAID HE KEPT HITTING THE BRAKES UNTIL THE CARE WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I DID TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I DID DO A GOOGLE SEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE REPORTED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10586146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesNewburgh, INCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENTERED HORSESHOE CASINO PARKING GARAGE AND TURNED INTO PARKING LEVEL. AS I FOLLOWED FORD TAURUS, HYUNDAI ENGINE CHANGED FROM NORMAL SPEED TO A ROARING ACCELERATION IN AN INSTANCE. I COULDN'T BRAKE IT TO A STOP AND IT RAMMED THE REAR END OF THE TAURUS. DAMAGE TO THE SANTE FE WAS LIMITED TO FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE WHILE THE BACK END OF THE TAURUS WAS DRIVEN FORWARD AND TORN UP. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT THE CRUISE MIGHT HAVE GONE ON; BUT, HE DECIDED THE ACCELERATION WAS TOO RAPID FOR THE CRUISE. HE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER TROUBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10557661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesNiantic, CT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK AND IN ORDER TO RELEASE IT, THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01/07/14
NHTSA complaint #10554752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,000 milesHoffman Estates, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING MY WIFE'S CAR AROUND 40 MPH AND FOR NO REASON THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND I HAD TO LAY ON THE BRAKE BUT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT AGAIN STARTED ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS RACING VERY HIGH I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. TALKED TO HYUNDAI SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER.
NHTSA complaint #10551176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,830 milesColorado Springs, CO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AROUND TOPEKA KANSAS WHEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED, THEN THE ESC, ENGINE AND CHASSIS LIGHTS FLASHED. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE CAR LOST ALL PROPULSION. FORTUNATELY I WAS BY AN OFF-RAMP, BUT COULD OF GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH SUCH A SUDDEN DECELERATION. MANAGED TO GET TO AN AUTOZONE STORE TO CHECK THE FAULT. THE FAULT CAME UP AS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS). MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TOPEKA. THEY FIXED IN WITHIN 10 MINUTES, BUT AFTER COMPLETING MY TRIP BACK TO COLORADO NOTICED THE CAR IS LURCHING AGAIN IN LOWER SPEED, IN-TOWN TRAFFIC...VERY DANGEROUS!!! WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO ON MONDAY MORNING!! HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO, TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. GUESS THEY WON'T BE SATISFIED UNTIL THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDS AND SOMEONE GETS KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10546038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesYukon, OK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ESC LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAR LOST POWER. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES, CAR RESTARTED AND RETAINED POWER FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THIS YEAR, THE CAR HAS DUPLICATED THE SAME PROBLEM 4 TIMES WITHIN A MONTH, AND WHEN FOOT ON BRAKE IN DRIVE, THE CAR SURGES SO BADLY THAT AT TIMES I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD BUMPED THE REAR OF CAR. I TOOK TO DEALER TODAY AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WAS VERY MUCH A SAFETY CONCERN , WOULD OFTEN HAPPEN THIS YEAR WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLOWING, SO THAT MAKING A LEFT TURN PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE SENSOR SEEMS TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10523792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesSunland, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS ON A RETURN TRIP OF 5 HOURS OR SO EACH WAY WHICH I TOOK AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND NOTICED A VERY PRONOUNCED DROP IN POWER AND ACCELERATION CAPABILITY QUITE SUDDENLY. IT WAS AS IF SOME WIRING OR HOSE HAD COME LOOSE UNDER THE HOOD. A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHEN THE PROBLEM HAD NOT CHANGED AT ALL IN OVER 3000 MILES OF DAY-TO-DAY DRIVING, INCLUDING A DAILY STINT (TO WORK) OF MAYBE 12 MILES EACH WAY ON THE FREEWAY WHICH ENTAILS ACCELERATING UP THE ON-RAMP INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, I STILL COULD FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN ACCELERATION AND RESPONSE TIME WHILE ACCELERATING. WHEN I TOOK THE SANTA FE IN FOR A NORMAL OIL CHANGE, I REPORTED TO THE DEALER THESE SYMPTOMS, AND ASKED TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY CHANGED THE OIL, AND CHECKED OUT THE COMPUTER READOUTS FOR THE VEHICLE, AND SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS DETECTED BY THE COMPUTER AT THAT TIME, BUT WHEN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR ON THE VEHICLE OCCURRED, IT WAS MOST OFTEN DUE TO THE FUEL FILTER BEING ALL CLOGGED UP, ALTHOUGH THAT STILL MIGHT NOT BE THE PROBLEM. THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $270 TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER, AND AFTER I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY COUPON DISCOUNT FOR THIS SERVICE EVER THRU THEIR DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME A COUPON BOOK FOR A FLAT RATE OFF DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH WAS BEING PAID FOR. (IT AMOUNTED TO MAYBE $25 OFF THIS SERVICE.) THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME THAT DAY TO CHANGE IT OUT, SO I DECIDED TO CHECK OUT BOTH WHETHER THERE HAD BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS, SERVICE REPORTS, OR RECALLS ABOUT THIS FUEL FILTER, AND THAT IS WHAT LED ME HERE TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT BOTH THE COST OF THIS REPLACEMENT AND THE POOR PROGNOSIS OF IT SOLVING THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO CHECK WITH A REPAIR PLACE I FEEL CONFIDENT IN ABOUT THEIR COST TO DO THIS REPLACEMENT. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE MUCH LESS.
NHTSA complaint #10513166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.