2009 Hyundai Santa Fe: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Jan 5, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 118,000 miles · OH · crash · 3 injuries

Contact owned 2009 hyundai santa fe sport utility vehicle. At 2pm on july 7, 2017, driver experienced a sudden, uncommanded acceleration that caused a fatal crash that resulted in the death of the driver and two passengers. Manufacturer was informed about the subject incident. Hyundai is aware of a statistically significant number of unintended accelerations with this generation of vehicles. Other public voqs and private consumer complaints support the contacts allegations that the vehicle had a catastrophic failure with the electronic throttle control system. The 2009 hyundai santa fe was not equipped with available 'smart pedal' brake throttle override technology. In 2012, hyundai admitted that "with virtually all cars using electronic throttle control today, there remains the remote possibility for an unforeseen electronic throttle control malfunction, causing a vehicle to accelerate contrary to driver input. Although very unlikely due to various built-in electronic safety protocols, unforeseen circumstances could still exist that could cause this type of malfunction.' hyundai introduced `this critical safety technology' on 100 percent of its new models anticipating the government might mandate it sometime in the future. 'with hyundai's brake pedal throttle override capability, any brake pedal input by the driver, even with a runaway throttle condition, completely overrides any throttle malfunction,' stated the director of certification and compliance affairs for hyundai's american technical center, inc. (hatci), said in a statement. 'it is no longer possible to have increasing engine power once the brake pedal is depressed by the driver. This adds a reassuring, incremental safeguard of control for hyundai drivers.' per consumer affairs, 'local police agency suggests that hyundai accelerated on its own before fatal crash'. Special crash investigation.

Filed Jun 30, 2020 · Acceleration · 79,053 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated without warning. The vehicle was towed to hyundai of new port richey located at 3936 us-19, new port richey, fl 34652, (727) 477-8644, where an unknown repair was performed however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was informed of failure. The failure mileage was 79,053.

Filed Sep 13, 2017 · Acceleration, Brakes · 100,000 miles · IL

My 2009 hyundai santa fe 4d sport accelerated on its own while I was driving on a highway. I applied the break as hard as possible, and the vehicle would not stop or slow. Luckily, I didn't wreck. I was able to pull over onto the shoulder with my hazards on, put it in neutral, and turned the engine off. I had the vehicle towed to a hyundai dealership.

Filed Apr 2, 2017 · Acceleration · 42,500 miles · AZ

Unintended acceleration while turning on to a busy intersection, two other instances of unintended acceleration on city streets. Have taken to dealership could not find problem. Very leary of driving car.

Filed Mar 18, 2015 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 65,000 miles · MD

Rpm jumped without driver increasing pedal pressure, causing sudden unintended acceleration. Dealership unable to identify issue. This is the second occurrence in the last couple months.

Filed Feb 20, 2015 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 65,250 miles · OH

I was parking my car in a space at a local store. The car took off. Sudden acceleration. Went forward probably a good 15 feet before I was able to stop. I also had to have both fuel tank sensors replaced. My gas gauge would not register properly. Fluctuated up and down at random moments. Cost me $364.51! Seems to be a continuing problem.

Filed Aug 25, 2014 · Acceleration, Body · 57,500 miles · OH · crash

I was attempting to parallel park between two cars and as I was about to cut the wheel to the left to finish the park, my vehicle suddenly accelerated (without my doing) into the car behind me. I had no time to compensate and ultimately crushed the right headlight/frame of the car behind me.

Filed Aug 14, 2014 · Brakes · 40,486 miles · MO · crash

Vehicle was being driven and pulled in to driveway of home to a controlled stop by pressing the brake pedal. At which point, vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed through the closed garage door and proceeded at accelerating speed into garage and hit a wall (wooden beams and sheetrock walls) separating interior of garage and interior of kitchen area of home. Vehicle came to a stop against the wall with brake pedal continuously pressed down. When attempting to shift into park, it resisted and key also would not come out. Emergency brake was pressed at this time and after several failed attempts, vehicle finally was able to shift to park and key was able to come out to turn vehicle off. Vehicle caused damage to garage door and interior wall of home.

Filed Jun 3, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 8,900 miles · KY

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 hyundai sante fe. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 90 MPH. The contact mentioned that the transmission was able to shift into neutral but the vehicle failed to shut off. Also, the contact stated that he attempted to engage the brakes but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 8,900. Updated 09/15/14*lj updated 1/7/2015

Filed Sep 21, 2012 · Acceleration · 45,000 miles · WV · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that while attempting to engage the brakes, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The brakes were applied but the vehicle would not respond. As a result, the contact crashed. The police were present and a police report was filed of the incident. The contact sustained a hematoma and the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 45,000.

Filed Feb 13, 2012 · Transmission · 59,000 miles · MO

My wife and I were driving out to eat at a local restaurant. We were slowing down upon entering the parking lot. There was a loud bang and we lunged forward, like someone had hit us from behind. My wife had told me this had happened to her a few other times where she thought she hit someone or they had run into her. We took the car to the dealer and they said that they could not replicate the problem so there was nothing they could do for us. We then searched the internet and found that thousands of people seem to have the same problem with these wonderful cars! We spoke with the customer service department at hyundai and told them of our concern with the car and we did not feel safe driving the car. The woman then told my wife to trade the car if she did not feel safe. My wife said so you want me to get rid of a car and have someone else purchase the car when there is a known problem. Her reply was, "yes I think that is what you should do." it blows my mind to think that someone would rather put the lives of people in danger than to fix a problem that is widely known.

Filed Aug 24, 2011 · Acceleration · 26,572 miles · WI

On monday, august 22, as I was driving down pewaukee road, I decided to get in the left lane to pass a semi truck. Suddenly I hear the car engine revving and the car's speed was accelerating. As there was a car directly in front of me and the semi truck to the right, I was pressing on the brake as hard as I possibly could. The car was hard to control and for a brief time I was in the on-coming traffic lane. All I could think of is get on a side road. The car would not react to the brakes. I turned onto a side road, aimed my car at a road sign and steel bollards on the side of the road so they could at least stop the car, threw the car in park and turned the key off (I am not sure in which order I did the last 2 steps). Fortunately the car coasted to a stop. The engine was making a winding noise. Hyundai roadside service picked up the car. Their service manager indicates they can not replicate the problem. It was suggested I had the floor matt bunched up under the gas and brake pedals. Give me a break! I'm not a complainer. This is the first time I have ever lodged a consumer complaint. But I was scared to death at the time and I am very hesitant about getting back in that car tonight (my husband is picking it up from arrow hyundai). I am not concerned about hurting myself -- I don't think I could ever get over it if I hurt someone else because of this car. So hyundai can't replicate the problem. Did anyone think they would be able to? The question is what is hyundai doing about a problem that seems to be very documented on the internet. What is hyundai going to do when a sudden acceleration problem kills someone? Hyundai did nothing for me. They initially seem very perplexed about such a problem. However, today when my husband arrived with a hand full of printed blogs all they wanted to say was they couldn't replicate the problem but would document the problem. I don't trust that they will so I am documenting the problem myself.