2003 Hyundai Santa Fe: jerking or lurching

Filed Dec 7, 2015 · Fuel system · 74,900 miles · PA · crash

My wifes vehicle is a 2003 hyundai santa fe with approx. 75,000 miles on it. We've purchased it new. About a year ago, she brought the car to a stop and it suddenly started lurching forward. She was able to arrest it in 10-12 feet. No damage occurred. About two months later, the exact same thing happened with the same results. Then, six weeks ago, as she was backing out of the driveway, and rolling a few miles an hour in reverse, it happened again. This time, after doing a uncontrolled donut in the street she hit a neighbors garage and a utility pole before the car stopped, in spite of her frantically braking. Fortunately, there was no one in the street at that time. Damage to the garage was $2300.+ and the car was another $1925.+. Two weeks ago, it happened again after stopping in traffic. This time she hit the back of a pick-up truck. No damage to the truck, but $1710+ to her front end. Each accident cost us $250 in deductible. The car is being repaired right now and we will trade it in as soon as it is fixed.

Filed May 16, 2014 · Acceleration · 95,000 miles · CA

The accelerator pedal position sensor had just been replaced. Three blocks from the mechanic, while stopped at a red light, the vehicle unexpectedly increased acceleration. The brake pedal was applied to no avail. The e-brake was applied. Vehicle kept lurching forward against the restraint, then died. Ten minutes later, vehicle started and was returned to mechanic to avoid accident or injury. No cause has yet been found. Approximate mileage was 95,000.

Filed Mar 11, 2014 · Transmission · 126,000 miles · OR

3 times this happened on said day. Driving on freeway. With cruise control on car lurched forward jerking all three of us. A couple days later sitting at an intersection waiting for the light to change green. The car lurched forward again. Tossing me back causing my foot to come off the brake! Luckily I was able to get my foot back on the brake before I moved too many feet into the crosswalk. I spoke to beaverton hyundai and they said they were unaware of this... I mentioned it was out on the internet and on the hyundai forum. I was told it was not their forum therefore they don't look at it... I have owned the car for 10 years. This has happened several times through the years I have driven this car but it is getting worse and scarier!!

Filed Jul 29, 2011 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · CA

Car jerks violently when at highway speed even though it has new shocks, struts, and front drive axles. The transmission also seems to engage suddenly when moving forward from complete stop. Regular maint. And transmission inspection performed.

Filed May 5, 2011 · Transmission · 64,400 miles · CA

I purchased a used 2003 hyundai santa fe in december 2008. The vehicle operated well for six months. Suddenly, while driving on the freeway one day, the car began to jerk. The problem went away for two months, then returned more violently with the vehicle turning off while at stops and driving in traffic, even at 35 to 40 MPH. I noticed the RPM's drop suddenly when the car jerks. However, the check engine light doesn't come on, and neither do any other indicators that something is wrong with the vehicle. I have paid to get the crankshaft sensor and coils repaired on the car, but the problem still persists. After almost three years of having the vehicle, which I am still paying off to the finance company, the car still jerks while driving even at 30 MPH within in a 2 mile radius of my home. I have to drive the vehicle slowly, without accelerating and sudden stops to keep the jerking to a minimum. I have called hyundai USA about the problem, but they cannot do anything because I no longer have the warranty, since I am the second owner. The hyundai dealership cannot pinpoint the problem and neither can other mechanic shops. I am practically paying for a car that doesn't work! I have seen that there are several other owners who have this problem, and have heard that there was a recall in canada about the same issue on the car jerking, but not in the united states. I seriously believe there needs to be a recall for this same problem here in the u.s. Before a serious accident occurs, such as with toyota vehicles.

Filed Feb 9, 2011 · Brakes · 99,000 miles · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 hyundai santa fe. When stopped while applying pressure to the brake, the vehicle jerked forward. The contact stated the failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians could not diagnose or duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000. Updated 03/08/11 *bf updated 1/4/11

Filed Jan 8, 2011 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · TX

From time to time, my 2003 hyundai santa fe with an automatic transmission jerks violently while under normal operating conditions. Sometimes this occurs while traveling at a steady speed (around 40 MPH) and sometimes it happens just after I resume acceleration after lifting off of the accelerator (coasting). I really have to 'baby' the accelerator all of the time or this would happen much more often. There is a definite problem here, which could potentially cause harm to myself and others on the road. Unfortunately, I know that nothing will ever be done to correct or address this problem.

Filed Nov 13, 2010 · Transmission · 37,000 miles · FL

I have a 2003 hyundai sante fe and I have had continual transmission problems since I bought it in 2004. My first encounter started around 37,000 miles,the vehicle began to slip/hesitate while driving on the road. The dealer couldn't find the problem three separate times. I tolerated the nuisance for about a yr until one day I was driving and the transmission 'got stuck'! I had to drive home in first gear for 15 miles! The dealer couldn't re-enact it, but definitely charged me $1800 to flush the transmission, amongst various other 'part replacements'. The problem seemed to 'disappear' for about 4 mths and it started again! Transmission would jerk, skip and miss no matter what speed I was going, but then disappear.. It was moody and intermittent, not constant and dangerous. The dealer still couldn't find the problem! Then one day I placed the vehicle into reverse and it jerked back hard!! My head was close to hitting the steering wheel. At first I thought the vehicle was struck by another vehicle, but soon realized that it was the transmission because it began to squeal and whine! The serpentine belt and the crankshaft pulley were replaced and the problem seemed to be corrected. Just two months later, I was stranded on the highway, again, without any forewarning! I was driving my son to school and all of a sudden, the tranny didn't want to go into gear, again, and it jerked a few seconds after it slipped. I had to creep my way home by driving about 500-750 ft and then the tranny slipped and violently jerked, put vehicle in reverse a few times and then tried again. Ever since I began to have these problems when I first bought the car I have been searching online and following the large amount of similar and worse complaints regarding the same problems. I am surprised that this problem has not been addressed and further looked into. Please, research this.. Please investigate this type of problem, please.

Filed Aug 14, 2009 · Acceleration · 22,112 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 hyundai santa fe. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk. Suddenly, the engine stalled without warning and the vehicle failed to restart. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. Roadside assistance was called to the scene and the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the throttle position sensor failed, which was replaced at that time. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on a separate occasion for the same failure. The throttle position sensor was replaced again; however, the failure still persists. The vehicle is currently at the dealer. The failure mileage was 22,112 and current mileage was 41,496. Updated 08/27/09 *bf updated 08/31/09.

Filed Aug 4, 2009 · Engine · 22,112 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 hyundai santa fe. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle jerked and the engine stalled without warning. Roadside assistance was called to the scene and the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. The throttle position sensor was replaced. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on a separate occasion for the identical failure and the throttle position sensor was replaced again. The vehicle has not been repaired properly and the failure still persists. The failure mileage was 22,112 and current mileage was 41,496.

Filed Jul 2, 2009 · Transmission · 46,000 miles · FL

Since buying my car used in 2006, my 2003 hyundai santa fe slips out of gear and violently jerks. On the highway it scares one half to death. And I see that there are many other complaints of this problem along with the vehicle stopping altogether. This problem happens so intermittently without an engine check light, that I knew a dealership would not be able to find a problem. Now the vehicle won't shift out of first gear.

Filed Mar 21, 2009 · Electrical · 28,995 miles · IL

I own 2003 hyundai sante fe on june 2008 it started stalling,hestitating on the highway it started jerking and engine light came on pulled to side it shut off would not start until hours later, took to dealer diagnostic showed crankshaft ,belt timing plugs, total cost was $1219.84 stated was not warranty, I had them repair , last couple months ,same thing again, but I notice that the jerking and stalling happens after a rainy/humid day the jerking and stalling happen more, was told spark plugs needed to be replace again,still the same problem. I will contact hyundai america and also the bbb about this, I think there should be a recall and taken care of, the stalling while driving can cause an accident which 2 times it almost happen with me. I can not afford to pay this again. Doing research this is happening to lots of 2003 , but this has happen prior to 2001 & 2002. I hope to get something resolved.