As I approached a stop light and my car began to slow, it didn't shift all the way into first gear. While stopped at the light, it remained at a high RPM while the brake was pressed. When the light changed, and the gas pedal was pressed, my car "kicked" down into first and immediately back in to second. A few days later while at a stop light, my car died. After a few minutes, it started back up. After bringing it to the dealer (it had died on my three times at this point) to have it serviced, I was told that they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. They were able to "feel" the shifting issues when stopping but they couldn't tell me what was wrong with it. Since I've had my vehicle back from the shop, it has been having high idle surges where the resting idle RPM is at 2000, in addition, when the vehicle is in neutral it acts as if something is pushing the gas pedal while my foot is on the brake going back and forth between 800 and 2000 RPM. When the vehicle is in drive and my foot is on the brake, it also feels like my vehicle wants to get up and go (again like something is pushing on the gas pedal). I have taken my vehicle to two different places and both places can't pinpoint what is wrong with my vehicle. It's starting to become a safety concern. What if whatever is going on with my vehicle overrides the brake system and I end up hurting someone?
2004 Hyundai Santa Fe engine complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 38 of 38, newest first, as owners wrote them.
This vehicle was driven approx. 1/2 mile from home when power steering and brakes failed. It was pulled off of the road and stopped with the emergency brake. Immediately flames shot up the windshield. The entire interior was completely destroyed as well 3/4 of the exterior.
The vehicle accelerated to a high rate of speed when just touching the gas pedal. The brake must immediately be engaged to slow the car. Once the car is moving the accelerator works. While cruising the engine RPM surges forcing the brakes to be engaged.this is a dangerous situation in traffic. The previous owner said the vehicle has been doing this for years and she just lived with it. It is unsettling to have a vehicle surge whenever it wants.
The first occurrence was tues. Oct. 21 backing out of a driveway and went to put the car in drive. It stalled right in the middle of a very busy road. I put it in park and tried to start it again. It did start but did not feel like it would continue to run. However, it did. The second time was yesterday when I was driving down a four lane road at 40 miles an hour and it just stopped running. I was so thankful it was later in the evening and traffic was very minimal. I put it in park and it did start but again did not feel like it would continue. It felt like it would stall again but did not, 2 more times before I got home. I called this morning to get it right in and never heard back. I am afraid to drive it because of the traffic on most of these roads. I do not feel like I was taken seriously even though I received a recall notice in sept. But have managed to misplace it. I do not remember what the recall was for. The second time this happened a panel light did come on. It was the malfunction indicator light. I am worried about an accident and possible death with this happening to the car.
Dies in the middle if road! Almost die. All the time!!!!!! Dies in the middle if road! All the time!!!almost died.
After starting vehicle and while driving, engine shuts down immediately and without warning. Was able to steer to the side of the street it as it was still rolling. No indications came on as to what the issue may point to. I shut the engine off and waited for a tow to my home which I total took about 45 minutes. Once at home the vehicle started with no issues. For the next two days my vehicle was at my mechanics and he could not reproduce the problem. I went ahead and had the transmission. Flushed as him and I had discussed as one of the last things to get serviced before winter. Later that day I drove a longer distance with top speed about 65 MPH with no issues. Just as I was returning home the car shutdown as I was crossing a busy intersection. Luckily, again I was able to steer the rolling vehicle to the side of the road. I attempted to start a few times but after a not so pleasant sound left it off. After being completely off for 30 to 45 minutes the vehicle was able to start again. This time the check engine stayed on. My search on the issue points to a crankshaft protection sensor, but this is not a clear solution and a costly thing to fix if this does not resolve. I see many complaints on the issue with no definitive resolution for hyundai owners even by hyundai technicians as they troubleshoot the problem. This is a scary thing to have happen and some of the vehicle jerks are rather hard and violent. Before these shutdowns become deadly please address. My last experience was 10/18 my vehicle is at my mechanic today.
I left my car parked in the parking garage at school. When I came back to my car at the end of the day, the car was on and running. I had my keys with me. It had somehow spontaneously turned on while I was away from it.
Vehicle shuts off while driving. While driving it will stall and then take off.
My air bags light is always on and will not turn off. The suspension is horrible, I took it to a mechanic and he said" there was nothing he could do. And sometimes when I turn my vehicle on the engine revels up and sounds as if the acceleration is stuck. Scares me to death.
So many things going wrong back seat belts don't work, washer pump don't work tried to order part from dealer do not have any in us the camshaft sensor pigtail disintegrated from being to close to the engine and no one sells the part have to buy the complete engine wiring kit for one little plastic piece there should be a recall on this I read online that everyone with this car had the same problems.
The driver's side coil spring broke on my 2004 hyundai santa fe at 40,000 miles. I was driving down a street and there was a loud explosion type sound, my vehicle actually felt like it jumped, all the dash lights came on and the engine died. I wrestled with the wheel to get the car over to the side of the road but I was still in the road. There was a woman in front of me getting out of her car with a toddler and I came close to hitting them as I tried to control my truck. I'm so glad I wasn't going faster than 10-15 MPH. The repair agent said he'd never seen this happen at less than 100k+ miles, and it took out the brake line and fuel line on that side as well. Total cost will be $1500. As the timing belt also needs changing. Not happy. I see many other complaints of this situation (coil spring going on hyundai santa fe at low mileage), but I don't see any kind of reparation offered by the company or any recall. There should be - this is not acceptable. I'm not likely to buy a hyundai again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The contact would wait for several minutes before being able to restart the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and advised that the problem could be cause by the emission system. The contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The failure mileage was 85,500.
I tried to start my 2004 santa fe but the engine would not turn over (it cranked fine so we knew it was not the battery). While it was being dragged onto the tow truck the driver's side front tire deflated. The wheel did not turn while being dragged up the truck ramp. The repair shop said that the front spring had snapped and triggered a kill switch to the fuel line which prevented the car from starting. I never heard any awful sounds while driving so the the front driver's side coil spring must have snapped while parked in the driveway. The spring needs to be replaced, as does the tire.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that this was the forth time they had to replace the oxygen sensor. The check engine light came on when the failure occurred and the vehicle overheated. During the last failure, the main circuit board on the vehicle burned and was replaced three times in the past two years. The failure mileage was not known, but the current mileage was 135000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated while driving at approximately 20 MPH in heavy traffic, there was an abnormal increase in engine rpms and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the temperature gauge would fluctuate up and down as the failure occurred. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was left with the dealer where the contact was awaiting further diagnostic of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,900 and the current mileage was 22,000.
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!!!
Engine- defective short block engine car is back in shop now for the 5th time for the same problem. Check engine light on, loud rattling noises coming from engine. Dealer informed me it's a defective factory engine. Brand new short block engine replaced twice and car now back in shop for same problem. No longer feel safe in this vehicle, as twice I had to be towed to dealer b/c of engine failure and I had my 2 yr old son with me. In reviewing this website, I see countless numerous and similar complaints! The engine is the heart of a car so how many new hearts is hyundai willing to put in this one car? It cost more to fix this problem than to just accept the loss and properly compensate me! Repairs are as follows: new short block engine installed; return car same day b/c engine felt "loose"; told it was the sway bar links- installed same day; car still felt loose, next day check engine light on- car returned. This time told it was strut top needed to be replaced- done. Picked up car, 2 days later back in shop for same initial loud engine noise and check engine light on again. Told same problem with short block engine to be defective. Ordered brand new short block engine and replaced again! Picked up car after repair and again, same day, brought the car back b/c check engine light on again! Car presently still in shop and I'm forced to contact an attorney b/c the hyundai's consumer affairs states as long as the dealer keeps fixing the problem, they are not interested in offering me any compensation. How much more money are they willing to give this dealer before they realize this car is not worth another $6,500 repair bill?
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!
Since the purchase of this santa fe in 04 there have been six times where the vehicle had been driven down the road and died. I have been scared for my and my son's life as this just happened on an interstate and if it wouldn't have happened before I wouldn't have known how to react but I barely pulled the car off the road. Hyundai said the problem was unbalanced tire pressure...obviously they don't respect women.
Upon return from vacation, power steering was moaning, loss of fluid from under front of vehicle. Examination revealed loss due to fluid cooler line beneath radiator. Fluid was leaking onto the catalytic converter inches to the rear of the line. Examination revealed black staining on surface of converter due to skin temperature of approximately 1200 deg. Fix was to replace cooler line. This is potential cause of loss of steering control and/or vehicular fire.
Allstate found that there was 1) water pump failure 2) some form of drive belt failure, and 3) the interference engine had parts collide within the engine leading to a fire. This occurred as my pregnant wife was driving down the road. Hyundai is currently negotiating with me to reimburse me for the total loss. Of course, they are not offering me what I lost on the investment at this point. The dealership was found to not be liable by the bbb; therefore I am communicating directly with representatives at hyundai motor co. I am very concerned about the safety of this vehicle, and I am curious about whether we are the only family that this has happened to. I can provide you with the 12 page insurance company report; I lack any knowledge of engines and how they work, but it appears to me that this is an extreme danger to consumers. I believe this should be investigated further. Since hyundai is willing to settle with me, it can only be recognized that they know this product was unsafe. I have filed a complaint with the federal safety agency and numerous other sites. In fact, I have created my own blog: www.flaminghyundai.blogspot.com, which has links to 5 other blog pages describing my story. What is so crazy about all of this is you can find 50 stupid & petty things recalled at walmart everyday, but a vehicle catches fire and your told "it's an act of god." please feel free to contact me at anytime; I welcome your response. Thank you.
My pregnant wife was driving down the highway. There was no accident. There were no warning signs before it was to late. Wife saw smoke coming up from the engine of our 2004 hyundai santa fe (odo 24,000 miles). She pulled over to the curb. The vehicle had never done this before. My pregnant wife was pulled out of the burning vehicle by a passerby. Wife suffered a contusion to her right cheek during this incident. She did not know the vehicle was on fire. She notified 911 who sent a fire truck and police officer. The vehicle exploded at least 3 times as she waited outside in the cold, frenzied by the disaster. The fire was so intense that the front wheels were melted. A policeman and 2 fire trucks responded to the blaze. The vehicle has been declared a total loss by allstate. Reliable imports (springfield, mo.) would not even help us obtain a rental car. The safety features of this hyundai vehicle were proudly acclaimed by the car salesman and manager at the dealership. Both the manufacturer and the dealership have been unhelpful in helping us in any way. The vehicle was under a full bumper-to-bumper, new vehicle warranty. They will not accept responsibility for the fire, and do not offer to conduct their own investigation on the vehicle. Hyundai and reliable imports show complete disinterest in the vehicle's spontaneous combustion, and show the world no concern over the fact that this may prove to be a non-isolated event. Since then, reliable imports in springfield, missouri has fiendishly sent me an email reminder to have my vehicle service renewed. The insurance company and hyundai both failed to instruct me to file my complaint @ the federal safety agency. An attorney instructed me to file the complaint here.
Engine cuts out while driving, unable to have power steering, car lurches without warning, usually when moving from a stop.
While driving, the check engine light came on. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and the engine cylinder was found to be defective. *jb vehicle came out of the factory with defective cylinders. It took 5 months for the engine light to come on.
The vehicle would cut off, the steering would then lock up and the vehicle would turn itself back on again. *bf
My husband and I purchased a 2004 hyundai santa fe in septmeber of this year (2004). 2 months later, the engine blew. Hyundai is offering only to replace the engine. However, their lack of customer service is appaling. No one returns my calls, I constantly have to follow up with them. We initally felt that a new comparable vehicle was more appropriate. They seem very unconcerned that the car died on a highway in the dark and that my husband and 6 month old son had no heat for an hour nor that they could have been involved in an accident when the engine died. Safety of their customers should be the #1 priority.
When coming to a stop, the engine revved at a high rate. The consumer shut the vehicle off applied the parking brake to try and stop the engine from revving. Please provided additional information. *jb engine revved repeatedly despite brake being pressed all the way to the floor and car leaped forward with every surge at least 6 times. Dealer could not find the problem. The consumer traded in the vehicle.
While driving at any speed the consumer felt the vehicle shaking. When the vehicle was being shifted from reverse to drive the consumer could feel the engine slipping. The dealer has examined the vehicle three times concerning the engine. The dealer found there is a component that is missing from the engine. The dealer did not explain what the component was that is needed. *nm
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