2004 Hyundai Santa Fe: sudden loss of power

Filed Jul 2, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 28,000 miles · CA

Car shuts off while driving, losing power steering and brakes, while traveling at highway speed or braking down a windy canyon road. Problem includes intermittent jerking, jumping, hiccupping - whatever you want to call it, it's not safe to drive. First month, after brand-new ny dealership purchase, I replaced my throttle position sensor 3 times. Trouble with my current problem began at 4 years, well under 30,000 miles. For a year I had to fear for my life every time I drove, never knowing if this trip would kill me or other motorists. Why did I have to drive it? Because the hyundai dealerships in los angeles couldn't diagnose the problem if they couldn't cause it to happen and there is no error code when tested. A year of fear. Just the hesitation jerking is scary enough while driving, but when it actually shuts down? When your RPM indicator drops from 2,000 to 0 and you're fighting for your life turning the stuck steering wheel and pulling up the emergency brake hoping you don't careen off a winding cliff or coast head on into unsuspecting traffic or clicking your hazards on and praying no one hits you on an oily rain slick pavement at night on the 101 freeway - that is when it really makes your heart jump out of your chest. After 11 months of shutting off, it got so bad it wouldn't turn on again and finally my check engine light came on and they were able to diagnose the crank shaft sensor. In the process of fixing, they made a leak in my power steering hose and damaged my pump. Because it was days after my warranty, the van nuys dealership charged me for the crank shaft sensor and other damage! 33,000 miles on my car. Well, that was november 2009. It's now 2015 (70,540 miles) and once again, I'm okayed to drive my unsafe car. The performance of these vehicles put drivers at an unreasonable risk of accident and since there is no error code, hyundai will do nothing.

Filed Aug 20, 2012 · Transmission · 53,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that while driving at any speed ,the vehicle would lose power and become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four times for the same failure and the dealer stated that no failures were found, offering no further assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000 and the current mileage was 54,800.

Filed Sep 16, 2009 · Engine · 60,086 miles · CA

I've owned 2 santa fe's in a row (2001 & 2004). Both had engine failures around 60,000 miles (both on freeway). The 2004 failed at night in the middle of the arizona desert- these both presented me with a very serious safety hazard. I was driving at 70 MPH when the engine lost power and made a terrible noise. I end up getting towed over 150 miles to hyundai dealer. Small block failed and was replaced in both- hyundai covered the 2001 but only covered 35% of the 2004 (86 miles out of warranty). Never buy hyundai's again!!!

Filed Oct 6, 2008 · Engine · 73,010 miles · AZ

Was driving on the freeway doing freeway speeds at 5:30 am going to work when my truck just shut down. Check engine light came on, I lost all power coasted about 300 feet, pulled off on left and engine died and would not restart. Come to find out, timing belt went bad, also had to replace the crank position sensor. I've got less than 75000 miles on this truck and am very upset that this is not covered on the warranty and that the parts they use to put these trucks together are so cheap!

Filed Jun 29, 2004 · Transmission · IN

Problems with 2004 hyundai santa fe drive train.*mr when the vehicle was warmed up and the consumer attempted to shift gears, the vehicle jerked and when the vehicle was transitioned from park to drive the vehicle stuttered as if it lost power. After the vehicle was up and running, the problem went away. The dealer informed the consumer the problem was the transmission controller. The consumer asked if the transmission controller board could be replaced and the dealer replied that they could not just throw parts into the vehicle in hopes that would make it right since the problem could not be duplicated when the vehicle was test driven.

Filed Jun 5, 2004 · Transmission · 100 miles · IN

I would like to first thank you for taking the time to review this letter. March of this year I purchased a 2004 hyundai sante fe. I was motivated to do this based on my prior experience, as a former owner, along with the coupled knowledge of hyundais improved warrantees. In the past I had no reason to bring a hyundai into the shop for repairs, other than for routine maintenance. The problem Im having with my current vehicle is focused in the drive train, specifically the transmission. It has been going on for approximately 5000 miles. Initially I thought it was just a matter of breaking the car in, after which point things would start to work smoothly. The nature of the problem is as follows: when the vehicle gets warmed up the shifting, on occasion becomes jerky. Also when the vehicle is transitioned from park to drive, the initial takeoff stutters, as if the car is intermittently losing power. After the vehicle is up and running in drive, the problem goes away. It only occurs for the first 20 yards of initial takeoffs. The problems described above are intermittent. Knowing that the vehicle is covered under hyundais warrantee, I took it in to have it looked at. Prior to this, I spoke with one of the shops managers and described my problem. He indicated to me that it was probably the transmission controller. I asked him if he had seen this problem before and his reply was yes. After the mechanic road-tested my vehicle they came to me and said they could not duplicate the problem. I said, after I leave here its going to continue to exhibit the same problems, requiring a return visit. He replied, yes. I asked if they could replace the transmission controller board. They replied that they could not just throw parts at my car in an effort to make it right.