2006 Hyundai Santa Fe: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Apr 6, 2020 · Acceleration, Brakes · 215,000 miles · CA

On march 4, 2020, heading home at night on a curvy mountain road my car (2006 hyundai santa fe) suddenly jerked, started to accelerate to over 80 miles hour. At the same time half of the panel light behind part of the RPM's and half behind the MPH went out; the rest of the panel was still lit up; I was heading down the curvy road accelerating heading quickly towards an 18 wheeler when I tried to brake, my brake pedal would not move and my car kept accelerating (I was not stepping on the gas pedal). I quickly dropped my car into low gear and maneuvered around the 18-wheeler and trying the brakes, the emergency brakes, and as quickly as it started up, it stopped, and my car started to drive normal (except the panel lights). On my way home (march 5th), it happened again while driving down the curvy mountain road at night! As I begin descending the curvy road (driving 40mph in the right lane), my car suddenly began accelerating again up to 90mph! There were not as many people on the road, so I was able to maneuver it by dropping down into low gear and as I began ascending the mountain road, the unintended acceleration stopped, and the car drove normal. Each incident lasted about 5 minutes. On march 6, 2020, I took my car to the mechanic and ran a diagnostic and did not find a cause. He told me to call the hyundai dealership to see if there were any recalls. The dealership informed me to contact hyundai headquarters, which I did. I reported my issue and made a claim on march 6, 2020. I was told to take my car to capital hyundai dealership and hyundai headquarters would send a forensic engineer out to investigate the issue. They told me to not drive my car and have it towed. I received a call from hyundai headquarters informing me the dealership ran a diagnostic on my car and did not find anything wrong and could not duplicate the unintended acceleration.

Filed Apr 16, 2016 · Acceleration · 220,000 miles · AZ

Four separate incidents within a 30 day period at higher speeds (>65 MPH on a freeway) of unintended acceleration, remediated by shifting into neutral and braking hard without pumping. These actions disengaged the acceleration without having to come to a complete stop and turning the ignition off. Unintended acceleration occurred again, in the latest incident while traveling at 40 MPH on a city street, however car would not come to a complete stop even with full weight on the brake, and while shifting into neutral solved the immediate acceleration problem, the ignition had to be turned off to bring the vehicle to a full stop. Driver almost wrecked several cars while trying to dodge traffic as car accelerated very rapidly. This could have been had a tragic ending but fortunately only resulted in a mechanics' visit.

Filed Nov 2, 2015 · Acceleration · 59,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai santa fe. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000. Updated 1/15/16 *cn the consumer stated the dealer performed two ECM updates. Updated 01/25/16.

Filed Nov 18, 2014 · Acceleration, Steering · 5,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai santa fe. While driving various speeds and making a right turn, a squealing noise emitted from underneath the vehicle. Also, the vehicle lunged forward when making a turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician discovered that the steering shaft was bent and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the squealing sound continued to occur. In addition, the failure caused the front passenger side tire to deflate. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 5,000.

Filed Sep 29, 2010 · Acceleration · 15 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed from a stopped position, the vehicle would lunge forward. Also, the vehicle would accelerate up to 15 MPH although the accelerator pedal had not been depressed. The dealer stated that the link system could be the cause of the failure. The manufacturer sent out a technician to inspect the vehicle but could not duplicate the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 15 and the current mileage was approximately 11,000.

Filed Apr 11, 2010 · Acceleration · 55,000 miles · CO · crash

I have a 2006 santa fe 6 cyl. Front wheel drive. I purchased the car in 2007 from go hyundai. The car has run very good, except the surging or acceleration problem. I took it back to the dealer two times specifically for this problem. They said they could find no problem. I took it to a second dealer, planet hyundai, and they could find nothing. The problem got so bad even I was afraid to drive it. My wife was really scared to drive it. I finally took it back go and they called, said it was ready. When I picked it up, the service guy said they replaced a part and that I shouldn't have any more surging problems. Last night, my wife drove the santa fe to church. As she was parking it in the garage, (something she had done a thousand times), the car suddenly accelerated, slamming into our volvo convertible, pushing it about five feet forward, jamming it under our stairs into the house. In all, there is a lot of damage to both vehicles.

Filed Jan 23, 2009 · Acceleration · 22,750 miles · MN

Occasionally, when accelerating from a stop position the car will unexpectedly surge forward. We have had this car for 3 years now and it has happened about 6 times so far. Consequences have been none so far, but I am concerned something may happen in the future.

Filed May 12, 2007 · Acceleration, Transmission · 23,000 miles · FL

At the recommendation of the dealer mechanic I had a transmission flush done. Now the car idles erratically, and surges when slowing to a stop. At times.when stopped the idle drops to 300-400 rpms, almost a stall, and sometimes it jumps to 1200-1500 rpms and wants to lunge forward. I have to make sure I am really stomp on the brake, or else I would hit something. I took the car to the dealer, and they said they used the computer and found no codes, so nothing was wrong. They recommended an injector flush, though the car seemed to run fine at speed.