2010 Hyundai Santa Fe: complete transmission failure

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 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 Oct 14, 2019 · Transmission · 72,000 miles · CO

We purchased the vehicle 7 months ago with just over 62k miles. The vehicle will not go faster than 30 on the road. Dealership did a diagnostic and told us we need to replace the transmission and cd axle. After research there was a recall on this model's transmission. Ours was built 3 months after the recall but is doing the same thing. Safety issue and a quality hyundai should stand behind and repair. We have the diagnostic report from the dealership.

Filed Oct 1, 2019 · Transmission · 107,000 miles · ME

Vehicle has 107k mi and automatic transmission needs to be replaced (symptoms: upshifting lag and "thunk" when downshifting at 15-25mph). According to dealer, it can not be re-built due to design and must be replaced. Car has been very well-cared for and driven less than 10,000/mi/yr for the last 8+ years. There was a recall on some 2010 santa fe transmissions but dealer says ours was not impacted. We feel that a transmission that fails after 107k gentle miles must have a design flaw.

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 Aug 22, 2016 · Transmission · 78,000 miles · PA

Only 80000 orig miles . Have to finance & pay for a new transmission. Put it in drive it bangs now starting to do it when putting it in reverse . Cost 3000.00 to fix dealership said there is no recall on it . I know if others are experiencing this same problem . Heard now they are offering 2000 .00 to owners now because of a stalling problem something with the alternator being overheated lose everything even if your driving on the interstate at 65-70 MPH . Really !!! . Feel like we are driving a death trap very frustrating to spend so much on a used vehicle that we thought we could trust . Wish someone would help to get this resolved .

Filed Oct 5, 2014 · Transmission · 101,300 miles · NJ

My transmission blew up,no warning no indication when I called the dealer and gave them my VIN number they said there was no recall on my truck on the trans the only recall is on the reverse light, so where do I go from hear.

Filed Nov 28, 2011 · Transmission · CT

The car will go into neutral gear all on its own and then slip back into gear lunging the car forward. Occupants of the car will get a whiplash effect. The car is usually in 2nd or third gear when it no longer has power. This can be very very dangerous in a merging type of driving situation. The driver is counting on the car to bring them into traffic, maintaining a certain speed and control. All of a sudden when the car is not responding. It is a very frightening situation. Followed by the lurching of the car. It feels as if the car has just been hit in rear. The problem happens once or twice a month, for over a year now. There are thousands of complaints on line on many many web sites. Everyone says the same thing. They bring it to the dealer, and the dealer usually can not replicate the problem. In some cases the dealer has test driven the car and has felt the problem and has replaced the transmission, only to have the new transmission do the same thing. Usually though, the dealer and or hyundai get around this problem by saying that even though they have heard of this as being an issue, they will not do anything about it until the dealer experiences the problem or sees that the computer registers it in the cars computer system. But that is part of the problem. No check light comes on, nothing registers. So, all of these unsafe cars are out there. A situation waiting to cause an accident. We had a friend's car behind us when we lost power, and they said they almost ended up rear ending us. It's not a safe car. Hyundai said "they can not do anything for us even though they know there is an issue. That more people have to complain". They need to do a recall. It is my hope that you all can take some action. I do not want to sell this car or trade it in, it would be putting someone else's life on the line. Hyundai is brushing us all off.

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 Aug 22, 2011 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · OR

My 2010 at santa fe started with occasional lurching forward when started, then progressed to harsh shifting, bumping and banging noises from the at. This was episodic, when the car was cold. (see my initial complaint #10379504) since my original complaint, the dealer put in a "data recorder" to try to capture what was happening. Despite 2-3 episodes of this happening while the recorder was on, they were not captured on the unit. They told me there was nothing wrong with the car, yet it continued to get progressively worse. At about 9000 miles, it happened again- the worst episode yet. At that point I was afraid for my safety. I drove the car home and then to the dealer. After the dealer did further testing on the at, they told me there was in fact something wrong with the at, and they put in a new transmission. Within 1000- 2000 miles on the new transmission, in started bumping again when cold, shifting from 1st to 2nd. I took it back to the dealer, but of course they can not duplicate the problem. They said it had a fast idle and adjusted it. They also said I should warm the car up 5-7 minutes prior to driving it each time, since I report this only occurs while it is cold. They say there is nothing wrong with my car, just as they told me earlier, prior to finding out there was a problem with the at. When I left the dealer after telling me this, it bumped twice before I got out of their parking lot, and continues to do so, once even while it was warm. I called hyundai consumer affairs, they parrot back to me everything the dealer tells me, and offer no new suggestions other than to consult my owners manual on conflict resolution.

Filed Jun 1, 2011 · Transmission · 31,000 miles · MA

Started car to back up out of driveway. Car jumped a little. Continued on road and felt little jumping at random. Went slow and tried to brake and accelorate to understand trigger. Turned around after 1.5 mile to head back home. A few yards in the car made loud dropping sound and grinding and scraping and would not accelarate. So loud I thought the bottom came out. People pushed it into parking lot for me. Aaa towed it to dealer. 24 hours later told it was a transmission problem. 24 hours after that told they are replacing with new transmission. Asked if this would trigger any future problems and they claim no.

Filed Apr 18, 2011 · Transmission · 7,889 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2010 hyundai santa fe. While driving approximately 25 MPH the contact took her foot off of the accelerator pedal and was coasting. When the contact applied pressure to the accelerator pedal the rpms increased and there was a hard bump and a shutter felt inside the vehicle. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times. The transmission adapter was reset, the keep alive memory and adaptive values were cleared, and an ecu update was performed. The failure continued to occur. The contact was taking the vehicle to the dealer a forth time for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 7,889. Updated 5/9/11 *cn the consumer stated there was a harsh shift between 20-30 MPH. The consumer stated the vehicle has been to the dealer six times for the same problem and the transmission was replaced twice. Updated 08/17/11.