2010 Hyundai Santa Fe: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Oct 24, 2022 · Transmission · 63,000 miles · CA

The contact's mother owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that upon a cold start, the vehicle would make an abnormal, clunking sounds while shifting gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the transmission was replaced. Recently, the contact stated that the failure had recurred, and the check engine warning light briefly appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was diagnosed and showed low pressure in the transmission sensor. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the mechanic could not diagnose the failure. The dealer drained the transmission fluid and discovered metal shavings inside the transmission fluid. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer also stated that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

Filed Jun 14, 2021 · SD

The problem is that the vehicle sometimes hesitates to move forward, and then suddenly accelerates quickly and roughly. It happens when the vehicle is stopped as in traffic. It sometimes makes a clunking noice, it feels like someone hit me from behind. I have taken it to the dealership before a couple years ago, when this happened and they re-programmed it. It was fine for awhile then it happened again, so I took it to the dealership again, they did an inspection….they are saying now it needs a $1300 part, it will cost over $1600.

Filed Jul 21, 2020 · Body, Transmission · CA

When traveling at different speeds and upon acceleration there's loss of power for a split second, and then it's bumping real hard. It can be described as a bumping noise, clunking noise or thumping noise. More likely to happen between 50-70 MPH. Also, the passenger back door lock has been working off and on. It finally has stopped opening the door entirely. I've taken it to the dealer and they have yet to diagnose an issue after two inspections. As of 7/21/20 the vehicle is still having these issues.

Filed Feb 6, 2020 · Transmission · 91,150 miles · CO

In nov 2012 after purchasing the vehicle used with 38,000 miles, we notice the transmission was not shifting properly. Took the vehicle to shortline hyundai in aurora, co. To have them inspect the vehicle and test drive. They were unable to find any issues with the vehicle during their inspection, no codes. We still noticed the issue for the next few years. Fast forward to nov. 2014 - we decided to try another dealership in centennial, co. Arapahoe hyundai. The vehicle had 52,000 at this point. They confirmed the transmission had a harsh engagement in higher gears, still no codes. They stated the fluid was low and topped off the fluid. Through the following years the issue was still present. Feb 2018 the extended warranty expires and the issue at this point is very noticeable. 5th gear would hesitate up sifting to 6th gear, along with a delayed reaction on a downshift from 5th to 4th. Once the downshift engaged there was a hard band into 4th.june 2018, 79,850 miles - feeling brushed off by the local hyundai dealers, we decided to take the vehicle to a local independent repair shop. The transmission fluid was in need of change, so we changed the fluid. The fluid change eased the harsh shifting slightly. As of today feb. 2020, 91,150 miles - the transmission need to be replaced at our expense. The vehicle drive fine until it hits 5th gear. The downshift is now very hesitant with an extreme bang once it engages 4th. There has been an known issue with the transmission, which is a safety concern. Hyundai has known about this issue but refused to do anything about it, other than putting a band-aid on the issue.

Filed Dec 29, 2018 · Steering, Suspension · 128,000 miles · MD

Tie rod and front suspension. When turning it makes a clunking sound . I've had to get suspension and toe road changed 3 times within 6 months

Filed Sep 5, 2018 · Transmission · 94,235 miles · RI

Transmission hard shifts down when trying to merge onto highway causing loss of power. I feel like I'm going to get killed by causing an accident. This happens multiple times a day. Constant slippage between gears while moving, causing loud hard banging noises.

Filed Apr 6, 2018 · Suspension, Transmission · 50,000 miles · WA

My 2010 hyundai santa fe limited awd 3.5l, with approx. 60,000 miles, was making noise in the front end when I went over bumps or rough terrain. A local dealer told me it was most likely the end links going from the struts to the stabilizing bar. Two shocks were leaking so I had the struts (front) and shocks (rear) replaced along with the end links. On a test drive it was still making a clunking noise so I research the hyundai forums for possible causes. There were four possible causes, one which had been corrected, the end links, the lower control rod, the connection mounts between the frame and the body, and the front and rear engine mounts. Upon inspecting the engine mounts I found the front engine mounts bolt, a 12mm x 5 inch bolt, missing. Apparently when the car was engineered the bolt wasn't secured with a locking nut or cotter pin so when the nut loosened and vibrated off the bolt, the bolt also vibrated out of the mount. I actually remember when this occurred, at around 50,000 miles. I remember a loud bang under the car and in the rear view mirror I saw a bolt tumbling down the highway. I thought I had run over it with a wheel. I took the car into the hyundai dealer at 56,652 miles for an oil change and "12-point inspection" and "multi-point inspection" and the mechanic didn't discover the missing front engine mount bolt. (I found it myself when I took the car to a local car shop for the strut and shock replacement.) I then went to the hyundai dealer and told them what I discovered. The part number for the bolt is 21920-2b000, and the part number for the nut is 13396-12007k. There was no description as to the size of the bolt, the thread of the bolt and nut, nor whether the nut was a locking nut. I had the local mechanic make the repair with a 12mm x 5" galvanized bolt with washers, lock washer and a 12mm nylon locking nut. I consider this a safety issue.

Filed Sep 12, 2016 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · FL

In 2011, 1000 miles had to replace transmission through dealer same problem as listed below. Now 2016 having to replace another transmission. Loud clunking noise when you let up on gas or when you would initially put in reverse. When in park it constantly would be stuck in park and could not shift had to call towing twice for that problem. Which never could be found. Now again replacing transmission.. Car came to dead stop while driving down street when the transmission locked up sounded like bottom dropped out of car and metal dragging on metal car stopped sharply and would not move.

Filed Mar 2, 2016 · Transmission · 200 miles · NM

Purchased new a 2010 hyundai santa fe, se. The problem that occurs randomly every few days is when accelerating slowly at around 20-30 MPH and the transmission slips out of 2nd gear effectively putting the transmission in neutral for about 1 second, and then will hard shift into 3rd gear making a loud bang noise. It can feel as though I was rear ended. This problem has been occurring since new and has been taken to the dealer multiple times where there the problem could not be replicated. This is the same complaint as with about 10% of the 140 or so complaints on the federal safety agency site for this year and model. There are at least 2 and possibly more tsb's that appear to address this problem (tsb-10-at-006, 12-at-012, 12-at-009-2). I will attempt to address the problem again with the dealer asking him to review these specific tsb's. After so many complaints about a very specific problem to a vital drivetrain component, it is time for hyundai to take ownership of this problem and fix it! The consumer should not have to go through so much hassle for a widely known issue. How many more people have this problem and don't take the time to report it?

Filed Sep 8, 2015 · Transmission · 52,300 miles · NY

Purchased 2010 santa fe, 52,200 miles for wife. After a couple of days, she said car was rough on occasion on way to work. I drove car to find out what she meant. Turning left out of driveway car jumped while shifting, good no car was coming from other direction. I noted that during first 5 miles or so when first run from cold start, shifting between 1st, 2nd, 3rd gears that there were occasional rough shifts. There seems to be hesitation and then abrubt shift. This happens when up and downshifting between gears. On a few occaions, it is extremely hard and feels like car has been rear ended. We brought the car to hyundai and service department confirmed the problem. They charged us almost $150 for 2 software updates. Then after paying for this service, hyundai told us that it did not fix the problem. It would cost us another aproximately $2,800 since the transmission would have to be replaced. Just a few months out of 5/60 warranty, inside 100,000 mile 7 year, but first owner only, warranty. I cannot imagine the nerve to charge someone for a software update on a known transmission problem and say sorry you have to pay us more to realy fix our design problem. Unfortunately I did not join a hyundai forum that this common problem is talked about till after the purchase. And to think hyundai advertises their great and worthless warranty.

Filed Oct 9, 2011 · Transmission · 7,800 miles · AL

The vehicle was delivered in 01/2010, shortly after we noticed shuttering in the transmission and hard shifts from 2-3 3rd gear, at 7800 mile we took the car back to there dealer who stated they were unable to recreate. They changed the shift settings of the ecu and was told nothing to be done, the problem continued with multiple visits to the dealer, 2 weeks ago they replaced the transmission with a remanafactured unit, lastnight the new transmission exploded and it felt like a bomb went off under the hood there was transmission fluid everywhere and the and horrible grinding sound was noted. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer for repair and we are still awaiting word. This problem needs to be fixed before someone dies.

Filed Sep 1, 2011 · Transmission · 300 miles · AR

Transmission slams into gear, also slips into gear and sometimes moves when in park.