2010 Hyundai Santa Fe: hesitation when accelerating

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 Jun 7, 2021 · Transmission · 200,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact mentioned the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 11V261000 (Power Train) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

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 May 28, 2019 · Transmission · 92,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 hyundai santa fe. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was taken to wiesner hyundai (located at 1645 interstate 45 n, conroe, tx 77304, (936) 523-6300) where it was diagnosed that the passenger side axel and driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred six months later. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 92,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2018 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · MI

Vehicle hesitates and has no forward motion for perhaps 2-3 seconds. This happens when driving after slowing down and then accelarating, then backing off again. This has happened at least a dozen times over the years I have owned the vehicle. The risk is that you can not move to get out of the way of traffic. City driving, on and off the throttle most of the time during a slow speed left turn. Transmission appears to go into natural because it does not know what gear to go into, suspect it is a software issue/ driving style as wife does not have the same problem . Local dealer was provided information on several occasions, they could not duplicate the problem. Issue still exists. Comments on invoices: 100371 / 101673 / hycs414425

Filed Dec 19, 2017 · Transmission · 5,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 hyundai santa fe. While driving 20 MPH and attempting to merge into traffic, the vehicle hesitated and made a loud noise. The contact stated that the automatic transmission appeared to fail to shift gears. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred ever since the vehicle was purchased in 2010. The vehicle was taken to hudson hyundai (977 communipaw ave, jersey city, nj 07304, (866) 710-6765), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact continued to drive the vehicle as the failure progressed over the years. While driving to the dealer, the failure occurred at least six times. The contact stated that diagnostic testing could not find an error. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was still under warranty and no failure could be found. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

Filed May 12, 2017 · Engine · 89,894 miles · VA

While driving last week, the engine cut off. I was able to slow down and stop as I was approaching a red light, but it took 3 starts to get the engine to turn over again. The vehicle drives like it is hesitating. I've had all factory maintenance done and dealer can't find anything wrong. Just hit 90k miles. Additionally, the A/C turns itself on randomly. This happened before and the technician repaired it while it was under warranty. It is doing it again, and is no longer under warranty for repair. I'll be driving along and all of a sudden the A/C unit comes on. Also, my doors won't lock with the auto lock on the key fob nor with the door lock button on the door panel. It affects one door at a time. I have had to pay for the lock attenuator to be repaired on the driver's door twice, rear passenger door and now the front passenger door.

Filed Jul 28, 2016 · Transmission · 84,999 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 hyundai santa fe. When the vehicle was shifted from park to drive, there was a hesitation and the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics to be diagnosed. The mechanics were unable to duplicate the failure or produce a fault code for the failure. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v261000 (power train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,999. Updated 09/23/16*lj

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 Sep 22, 2013 · Electrical, Fuel system · 89,453 miles · TX

Vehicle when starting from stop, hesitates then acclerates fast. Sometimes more so left turn but also straight ahead. Almost ran through garage door because of this problem. Also last night I tried to acclerarate turning left from stop sign. Vehicle scares me, the way it is working. Appears to be getting worse. Thank you. I think this is a serious safety concern.

Filed Apr 29, 2013 · Fuel system · 500 miles · FL

This is a 4 cylinder gas engine. When in traffic stop and go, there is a hesitation when trying to accelerate. Sometimes this happens at a stop sign or at any time there is a low speed stop and go. It hesitates and then takes off because you naturally give it more gas because it isn't responding to the accelerator. This is dangerous, as it also happens when you pull out into traffic.

Filed Sep 19, 2011 · Acceleration, Electrical · 20,800 miles · NY

When slowing down for traffic lights, turns or merging into traffic lanes, when the brake is released and the accelerator is pushed, at random times the car hesitates and all power is lost momentarily. The vehicle seems as if it has or is in the process of stalling out. At first, it feels as if all power has been lost and that the vehicle should be steered to the side of the road. However, then the engine suddenly re-engages and the vehicle lunges forward. The engine warning light does not come on, and the engine apparently does not "die," since there is no requirement for an ignition re-start. The problem happens sporadically (about once or twice a week--but sometimes once or more in the same day). The vehicle starts well, idles well and otherwise performs in an okay fashion. The dealer cannot find anything wrong. The car did not do this for the first 20,000 or so miles. On at least two occasions, this "stalling out" has almost created an accident situation.