2004 Hyundai Santa Fe: jerking or lurching

Filed Mar 2, 2017 · Transmission · 160,000 miles · VA

When you first start the car.then you put it in drive .the car jerks a bit before smoothing out.

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 Oct 20, 2014 · Suspension, Wheels · 192,000 miles · OH

This vehicle has been driven extensively year round, including snowy northeast ohio winters. On a somewhat cold day in march 2014, my 2004 santa fe sat outside on a surface lot for approximately 14 hours. As I pulled my car out of the parking space, the car lurched to the front right and came to a halt. I had pulled forward approximately 3 feet, had turned the wheel slightly to the right, and just began to hit the gas to pull out of the parking space. It was quite obvious that my front right tire had blown violently. No accidents occured with other vehicles and no injuries occured; however, should someone have been standing near the front right tire, someone may have been hurt. While trying to change the tire, it became obvious that the spring had broken and made contact with the tire. The vehicle needed to be towed on a flatbed and repairs were made. I still own the vehicle, and I am now aware that this part has been recalled for this exact issue. I am concerned about the integrity of the spring on the opposite side as it is currently an original part.

Filed Oct 22, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 70,863 miles · NY

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.

Filed Jun 19, 2012 · 67,700 miles · AZ

Stopped at intersection, with my foot on the break, the SUV lurches forward and jerks. I placed it in park while waiting for the light to change. I was concerned that I would hit the car in front of me. I drove 2 hours and noticed continued misfiring and jerking while driving. It was ok when the engine was cool, but felt unsteady when up to temp. After being parked in grocery parking lot, while backing up the car stalled, I restarted and drove home. Took it to mechanics next day. At the hyundai dealer now. They could not get any codes and the engine failure light never showed. The mechanic, said that he was 90% sure that replacing the timing belt/crank shaft position sensor/balancer shaft belt/pick up plate would correct the problem...this didn't work and the dealer asked to keep it a 5th night. I have not heard from them as of yet. I'm concerned that my car will not be repaired and am afraid to drive it.

Filed Dec 7, 2006 · Transmission · 75 miles · IL

6/11/06: upon breaking off highway, vehicle made a crunching noise, then a hard screeching stop, proceeded to idle, make a hard stop. The vehicle wasn't recognizing gears, continuing to thrust the car into hard stops, jerking repeatedly as I tried to accelerate. Heading home, it happened again. The next day took it to our dealership. As soon as I put it in reverse, the problem occurred. They replaced the ABS module, test drove it and said it was fixed. 6/25: same problem (same distance: 75 miles). The dealership test drove, said they couldn't find problem. I told them to drive it some distance. Service advisor drove it and nothing. They drove it again, duplicated the problem, recorded data. Called their tech line, unhooked rear coupler to see if that was it. They replaced the rear coupler, test drove it and said it was fixed. I questioned if it could be the transmission. Was told they couldn't replace things on a whim. 10/26: problem occurred (same distance). Wife phoned service advisor,he told her the vehicle was fixed previously. Towed it to a nearby dealer. They checked the fluids, reset the computer, couldn't duplicate the problem. Since this time, the following has occurred: 10/31: wrote a detailed letter and sent it to hyundai. 11/04: letter was received. 11/20: didn't hear back, I phoned hyundai. 11/22: representative phoned (I was unavailable). 11/27: spoke with rep; told to contact service manager to set up appt with a factory rep next time they are at dealership. 11/28: sent email with letter to the service manager and hyundai, asking for a call back. 11/29: received survey from hyundai, I responded unfavorably. 12/06: received email from hyundai, again referring me to the service manager. This is a genuine a lack of service from our dealership and hyundai itself. Most importantly it's a safety concern. I ask you to consider this information. Please assist me in any way that you can. Respectfully, brandan pierard.

Filed Aug 21, 2006 · Acceleration · DE

Last week, my husband was slowly pulling out of a parking lot and was applying the brakes as a group of people passed in front of him. The vehicle spontaneously lurched forward and revved to 4-5,000 RPM. My husband was standing on the brakes but the vehicle continued to move forward; the passenger turned the car off at which point the vehicle stopped going forward--the people in front of the vehicle barely escaped being run over by our santa fe. Needless to say, this is an unsafe vehicle for all involved--driver, passengers, other cars, pedestrians, etc. We were 100 miles away from home on vacation and had the car towed to the local dealership where we bought the vehicle. That dealership (porter chevrolet/hyundai, newark, delaware) has had the vehicle for over a week and is telling us that no codes are appearing and they can do nothing to further investigate and/or correct the problem.

Filed Jan 4, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · WA

Engine cuts out while driving, unable to have power steering, car lurches without warning, usually when moving from a stop.

Filed Mar 23, 2005 · Acceleration, Brakes · MI · crash

While applying the brakes inside of the parking garage the pedal went to the floor. The driver skidded into another vehicle. This problem has happened three times. The driver took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic informed determined that the problem could not be duplicated. *ak the driveway was on an uphill incline and was covered in snow. The brake pedal vibrated and the vehicle lurched forward instead of stopping. This was an intermittent problem. *sc the consumer stated a recall was issued on the ABS.

Filed Sep 13, 2004 · Acceleration · 200 miles · TX

Intermittently when applying the accelerator pedal from a stop position vehicle suddenly accelerated and lurched forward. Vehicle had been to dealer on 10 separate occasions, and they were unable to locate the cause of the problem.

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.