What 414 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WAS DRIVING HOME TO SANTA FE NEW MEXICO WITH MY WIFE AND DOG. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED BLUE LINK WHICH IS THE HYUNDAI ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE CLUB AND THEY TOWED MY VEHICLE INTO FIESTA HYUNDAI IN SANTA FE. AT FIRST THEY SAID MY OIL WAS OVER FILLED. I CALLED JIFFY LUBE WHERE I HAD IT SERVICE 5 DAYS PRIOR AND THEY SENT THEIR MANAGER TO HYUNDAI. UPON HIS ARRIVAL THE SERVICE MANAGER AT HYUNDAI SAID THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND IT WAS A FUEL INJECTOR THAT WAS STUCK ON AND FILED THE CYLINDER WITH FUEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. THEY REPLACE THE FUEL NOZZLE AFTER 3 DAYS I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK AND HEADED TO MCKINNEY TEXAS, I MADE IT TO WICHITA FALLS TEXAS AND THE CAR SPUTTERED AND DIED AGAIN THIS TIME NOT EVEN TURNING OVER WHEN YOU PUSHED THE BUTTON. ONCE AGAIN I CALLED BLUE LINK AND THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE INTO HYUNDAI TO BE SERVICED. THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND ADVISE ME. THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK SO I HAD TO CALL THEM. THEY SAID THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BLEW OFF. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE IT IN THE MORNING. THAT NERVE HAPPENED AND THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK SINCE AND THAT WAS 6 DAYS AGO. THIS VEHICLE POURING FUEL INTO A CYLINDER IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS TIME IT BUILT UP ENOUGH COMBUSTION TO BLOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER COMPLETELY OFF. I DO NOT KNOW THE REASON FOR THIS AS OF YET AS THEY ARE NON RESPONSIVE BUT I HAVE FILED A LEMON LAW CASE AGAINST HYUNDAI AND AM AWAITING THEIR DECISION. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AND I REFUSE TO GET BACK ONTO IT AGAIN. IT HAS STRANDING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY DOG INCLUDED TWICE NOW ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE ENGINE DIED BOTH TIMES. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. COCONUT CREEK HYUNDAI (4960 NORTH FL-7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073, (888) 441-7737) DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

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DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE PARKWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ENGINE FELT LIKE IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN, CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING, ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING, SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, BLUE LINK NOTIFICATION SYSTEM ADVISED TO GET TO SERVICE TODAY. THIS OCCURRED ONE WEEK AFTER THE CAR RECEIVED A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR A KNOCK SENSOR RECALL. CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE 3/9/19; DEALERSHIP REPLACED WIRIING HARNESS PER HYUNDAI'S RECOMMENDATION, WHEN THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, THE ISSUE HAS NOT RESOLVED. THEY ARE WAITING FOR HYUNDAI TO ADVISE OF NEXT STEPS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE EVER GETTING BACK IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO ALL OF THE CURRENT ISSUES SURROUNDING HYUNDAI ENGINES, INCLUDING FIRES.

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON NJ PARKWAY IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. CAR THEN STUTTERED AND SLOWED DOWN, WITH HER HAVING TO MOVE THREE LANES OVER WHILE TRYING TO GET OVER BRIDGE. HYUNDAI BLUE LINK CAME ON AND TOLD HER TO GET CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER THEY SAID DUE TO THE KNOCK SENSOR UPDATE THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 27,000 MILES? THIS WAS DONE BY HYUNDAI TWO WEEKS AGO. UPDATE TO YESTERDAY 3/23/19 AND SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER AGAIN GOING TO WORK ON THE NJ PARKWAY. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, SAME ISSUES, SAME COMPUTER SCREEN SHOWED IN THE CAR AND WILL BE NEEDING NOW SECOND ENGINE AT 29,000 MILES. TWO BLOWN ENGINES UNDER 30,000 MILES, HYUNDAI ADMITS THE PROBLEM TO US AND NOT SURE WHY OTHERS ARE HAVING ISSUE. RECEIVED RENTAL CAR BOTH TIMES. WILL SEE HOW HYUNDAI RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD BUY BACK CARS FROM OWNERS AND REIMBURSE TIME MISSED FROM WORK, PAIN AND SUFFERING AS WELL AS THE STRESS OF DRIVING ON ,AMIR HIGHWAY AND LOSING POWER IN YOUR CAR.

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THE DRIVER'S SEAT APPEARS TO BE SET TOO LOW AT THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE SIDES OF WINGS OF THE BUCKET SEAT ARE TOO HIGH NEAR THE REAR OF THE SEAT. DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN IT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO POSITION THEMSELVES AWAY FROM THE LEFT SIDE WING EITHER FORWARD OR FORWARD AND TOWARDS THE CENTER CONSOLE. I WORRY THAT DUE TO THE POOR SEAT DESIGN SITTING PROPERLY POSITIONED WITHIN THE SEAT IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT SIT COMFORTABLY. IT APPEARS ONLINE THAT MANY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DRIVER'S SEAT. DURING AN ACCIDENT I BELIEVE GREATER PERSONAL BODILY INJURY COULD OCCUR TO A DRIVER BECAUSE OF THE POOR SEAT DESIGN AND NOT BEING PROPERLY SEATED IN THE SEAT. I HAVE RIDDEN IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. IT MIGHT BE THE OUTER PLASTIC SHROUD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT CAUSES THE IMPROPER SEATING WITHIN THE VEHICLE. I WORRY FOR MY SAFETY, MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AND OTHER DRIVER'S SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE POOR SEAT DESIGN.

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I WAS PARKING THE CAR. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND MY HAND WAS ON THE GEAR SHIFT. THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB I WAS FACING AND ENDED UP IN A GRASS MEDIAN. I HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE VERY HARD TO GET THE CAR TO STOP.

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WENT TO DINNER WITH MY HUSBAND 2/28/2019. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND HESITATED. WE WERE GOING 35MPH. WE GOT TO RESTAURANT, I CALLED JACK GIAMBALVO HYUNDAI SERVICE. I WAS TOLD TO GET VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ASAP. MY ENGINE IS BLOWN DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I AM BEING TOLD IT COULD BE 3-6 MONTHS OR MORE TILL HYUNDAI CAN GET A NEW ENGINE. I NEED A RELIABLE VEHICLE,JACK GIAMBALVO HYUNDAI IS REFUSING A LOANER CAR UNTIL HYUNDAI APPROVES. I AM NOW GOING INTO MY SECOND WEEK WITH A RENTAL I CAN'T AFFORD, BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS USED FOR WORK PURPOSES. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!😞😞😞😞

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MY CAR IS 6MONTHS OLD WITH 7600 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE/SHUDDER AND THEN SHUT OFF. I HAD TO TRY AND RESTART IT 4 TIMES BEFORE IT SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET, THANKFULLY RIGHT BEFORE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY.

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TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. DEALERSHIP PUT A NEW COMPUTER UPDATE ON CAR DUE TO BAD ENGINES. THE NEXT DAY 1-30-19 THE VEHICLE HAD A ERROR COME ON THE CAR PUTTING IT IN SAFE MODE NOT ALLOWING THE CAR TO MOVE OVER 67 MPH. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MURDOCK HYUNDIA OF LINDON. THEY DID A TEST TO DETERMINE THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS TOOK 29 DAYS FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX AND MY CAR IS NOT THE SAME. THE MOTOR SEEMS SLUGGISH. CAR IS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD WITH 14000 MILES.

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ON 2/19/2019 AN UPDATE FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER THE UPDATE I WAS DRIVING ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER UPON ACCELERATION. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS CALLED LIMP HOME MODE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT IS LIKELY DUE TO THE UPDATE DONE ON THE KNOCK SENSOR AND TO DRIVE IT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER THAN NECESSARY SO I HAD IT TOWED . THE DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT CAME BACK IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THE CURRENT ENGINE ONLY HAS APPROX. 13,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE DEALER REQUESTED A NEW ENGINE FROM HYUNDAI WHICH WAS APPROVED IN A FEW DAYS. THE DEALER SAID THEY ARE HAVING SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY HAZARDOUS HAVING A VEHICLE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO SPEED ON AN ENTRANXE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY YET ALONE ANYWHERE. WITH ALL THE RECALLS AND LACK OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO ME FROM HYUNDAI OR THE DEALERSHIP IT HAS MADE ME VERY UNEASY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD

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ON 2/8/2019 AN UPDATE FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE. ON 2/18/19 I WAS DRIVING UP A STEEP HILL ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER UPON ACCELERATION. I WAS UNABLE TO GO FASTER THAN 17 MPH UPHILL AND 50 MPH ON LEVEL HIGHWAY (SPEED LIMIT IS 70 MPH). IT WAS 16 DEGREES F AND I HAD AN INFANT IN THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP IT IS LIKELY DUE TO THE UPDATE DONE ON THE KNOCK SENSOR AND TO DRIVE IT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER THAN NECESSARY SO I HAD IT TOWED (I HAD TO PULL OVER CONSTANTLY BECAUSE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 70 MPH). THE DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT CAME BACK IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THE CURRENT ENGINE ONLY HAS APPROX. 14,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE DEALER REQUESTED A NEW ENGINE FROM HYUNDAI BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED YET AND THEY BELIEVE IT IS A RESULT OF THE KNOCK SENSOR UPDATE. THEY ESTIMATE I WILL NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS. THE DEALER SAID THEY ARE HAVING SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY HAZARDOUS HAVING A VEHICLE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN WINTER WITH AN INFANT IN THE CAR. I WAS IN A REMOTE AREA AND THIS COULD HAVE HAD THE POTENTIAL FOR A MUCH WORSE OUTCOME THAN IT DID.

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RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILS TO ENGAGE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. PRESSING THE RED BUTTON MAY RESET THE LATCH SO THAT MECHANISM WILL AGAIN WORK.

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OCCASIONALLY STALLS WHEN STOPPED & TAKE OFF & TURN RIGHT OR LEFT AT A SLOW SPEED..ONE T IME DIED COMPLETELY ABLE TO PULL OVER & RESTART ENGINE. HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS. THE DATES IT STALLED ARE 9-14-18 10-5-18 10-18-18 11-16-18 11-28-18 12-04-18

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ENGINE PROBLEM

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WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 60MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK IN ONE POSITION AND JERK WHEN YOU TRY TO ADJUST THE STEERING IN THE SLIGHTEST.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO MAKE AN AUDIBLE SOUND WHEN IT WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SPOKANE HYUNDAI (8801 E SPRAGUE AVE, SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 99212, (509) 922-1450) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V145000 (SEAT BELTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500.

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HAS A HESITATION WHEN YOU PRESS ON ACCELERATOR FROM STOP AND THEN SUDDENLY TAKE OFF FAST.

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WHEN DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD GOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPMS SPIKED WAY UP AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE BUT THE RPMS WOULD GO EXTREMELY HIGH. EVERY TIME I HAD A STOP LIGHT AND TRIED ACCELERATING ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE AND RPMS WOULD JUST KEEP REVING UP REAL HIGH. I WAS AFRAID I WAS GOING TO GET HIT OR REAR ENDED. HUGE SAFETY CONCERNS.

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WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT, 65 MPH, THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED, SOUNDING LIKE A SHOTGUN HAS SUDDENLY GONE OFF IN THE CAR. THE OVERHEAD PANEL WAS CLOSED SO NO GLASS CAME INTO THE DRIVERS AREA. IT WAS A CLOUDY DAY, NO RAIN AT TIME OF INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THEN DRIVE HOME AT A REDUCED SPEED.

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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, THE CAR MAINTAINED THE SPEED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED. THE ODOMETER STAYED AT 4 FOR NO REASONS. IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE.

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YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS TEACHING MY VEHICLE I SUDDENLY MARKED STEERING WHEEL ON THE BOARD. AND ON THE BRAKES EVERY TIME I PUT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IT MAKES A LOUD SOUND ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE.

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BOTH OF HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHT IS GETTING FOGGY TWO DAY AFTER I GOT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER.REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AND STILL GETTING FOGGY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

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LED HEADLIGHTS PARTICULARLY ON UNLIGHTED ROADS PRESENT A DARKEN SHADOW ON THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. NARROWING VIEW IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS ONE IS UNABLE TO SEE APPROACHING TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS. DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SUPPORT STATED THAT HEADLIGHTS MEET SPECS. SERVICE MANAGER DROVE CAR AT NIGHT AND TOLD ME THAT HE SEES THE ISSUE BUT HAS NO FIX. HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SUPPORT SAID IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE, BUT A DESIGN ISSUE AND I COULD MODIFY THE HEADLIGHTS AT MY EXPENSE AND BREAK THE WARRANTY. I WILL ATTACH A PICTURE AND CAN BRING THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT AGENT TO VALIDATE.

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THIS PAST SATURDAY I HAD TAKEN MY CAR INTO RICK CASE HYUNDAI IN PLANTATION FL TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP INSPECT MY CAR FOR THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY RECALL. THEY GAVE ME THE CAR BACK AND SAID THAT THE LOT NUMBER OF MY ASSEMBLY WAS NOT ON HYUNDAI'S RECALL. TWO DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING, I STARTED TO NOTICE THE WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE. ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS CONCERNED IT WOULD FALL OFF. I HAD MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR ALONG WITH MY WIFE FOR A WEEK TRIP DOWN TO THE FL ALETA. I DECIDED THE CAR FOR UNSAFE AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. UPON INSPECTION AFTER THEY PULLED THE AIRBAG OFF, THE WHOLE STEERING ASSEMBLED WAS CRACKED OFF. I HAVE DOCUMENTED WITH PICTURES. I BELIEVE HYUNDAI USA MUST EXPAND THEIR RECALL PART TO INCLUDE MORE LOT NUMBER ASSEMBLIES AS MY DEALER CLAIMS THEY DID NOT DISASSEMBLE THIS PIECE IN ORDER TO INSPECT. THEY CLAIM ALL LOT NUMBERS ENDING IN 9 ARE DEFECTIVE WHILE MINE WAS AN 8. MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR BADLY INJURED IF THE WHEEL HAD FULLY DETACHED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ARE THE DEALER CONFIRMED MY STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FINE.

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