2011 Hyundai Santa Fe: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jul 21, 2022 · Engine · OH · fire

UNKNOWN warning I’m the owner of a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and a week ago at 185k mikes all of a sudden driving on the freeway it started hesitating and sounded like metal grinding and smoking really bad. Pulled to the side of the freeway on a ramp at that. Tried to restart the vehicle and I heard a bang noise which upon later discovery the engine blew a rod with no warning locked the steering wheel couldn’t get the keys out of the ignition DO NOT buy this car still owe 5k on the vehicle

Filed Jul 29, 2015 · Engine · 70,000 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 hyundai santa fe. While driving at high speeds, there was a sudden increase and sudden decrease in engine rpms. The contact stated that the electrical functions of the vehicle failed and a loud noise emitted from underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine stalled briefly, but was able to resume normal operation. While driving at low speeds, the failure recurred; however, the engine stalled completely. The contact maneuvered to the emergency lane and was able to restart the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed for hesitation of the motor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 09/18/15

Filed Oct 1, 2014 · Acceleration · 6,000 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 hyundai santa fe. While attempting to accelerate from a stationary position, the vehicle hesitated to move. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 6,000.

Filed May 23, 2014 · Acceleration · 8,000 miles · NY

This car hesitates at least once a week. I am getting afraid to drive it. While sitting at a light and I start to go I turn the wheel and the car hesitates and lunges forward and I have to step on the brake to slow it down. My foot is not stuck on the pedal and the carpet is not doing anything. I went on line and looked up my car santa fe hesitations. I must of read twenty articles on the same problem I have. Not only this year but a lot of other years of the santa fe. They are having the same problem. It happens like once a week.. It's scary.other people have went to hyundai and where told nothing was wrong. Please get me an answer. Thank you.

Filed Jun 21, 2013 · Engine · 40,300 miles · NJ

I took it in for service after the engine hesitated and bucked forward sept, 2012. It had approx. 29,500 miles. Today june 21, 2013 while putting it in reverse, I heard a loud "clunk" and also heard same "clunk" when I changed it from reverse to drive. Engine then proceeded to hesitate and buck all the way home. It is going in for service again (second time) tomorrow. This is very frustrating!!

Filed May 29, 2013 · Fuel system · 50,900 miles · GA

I bought the car in late march 2013 and the mileage was around 50,800. Every since then it periodically hesitates to accelerate from a stop or sometimes when the car is rolling forward very slowly. In every case the gas peddle (throttle) is fully released and when I push on the gas peddle, nothing happens. The motor does not speed up, the throttle is not engaging anything. Several times I pushed the peddle half the way to the floor, and nothing happened. Then all at once, it catches, and the car takes off at a high rate of speed. The car is not "coding" so the brunswick, ga hyundai dealing will not repair what is wrong. And naturally it has not happened the few time they have driven the car. This is a highly dangerous situation that could result in death when pulling out from a stop on to a busy road. It is nerve racking to think, this might be the time the car won't move! I took a quick look at the data base of complaints and this same complaint is in your data base. Again it is a periodic happening which makes it more dangerous.

Filed Apr 6, 2013 · Engine · 34,530 miles · CA

Was negotiating a left sided curve on the downhill side of a steep, windy road in a remote area between oakland and moraga, ca when I suddenly lost steering power. I went to hit the brakes and found that my brakes also had no power. I pushed very hard on the brakes and managed to get the vehicle to stop. Had I been unable to stop, my car would've gone directly over a very steep hillside that borders a reservoir. As it was, the rear end of my car was jutted out halfway onto the roadway and only a few yards from a blind curve. This particular spot also has no cell phone coverage. After putting the car in park, I noted that my ignition was still in the "on" position and that all the appropriate dash lights were on, but the engine sound was absent and the tach read zero. I did not notice any error messages on my dash. I turned the car off, then turned the ignition back on. The car started right up with no hesitation. I heard no unusual engine noises or experienced any difficulties with driving the vehicle. I drove to the closest service station approx. 3-4 miles from the incident location. The mechanic did a quick check under the hood, found nothing unusual and suggested I go directly to the hyundai dealership. I took my car to future hyundai in concord, ca. They ran diagnostics the next day, then reported that they "could find nothing wrong with the car." I expressed my fear of driving the vehicle based on very rational safety concerns and what I felt had been a close call on my life the day prior. I also told the service person that a quick look online lead me to find several stories similar to mine. I was told I would need to talk with the service manager the next day as he was not available. I then called hyundai customer service and reported the entire history of this issue. I have been assigned case # [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Nov 20, 2012 · Acceleration · 26,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that the vehicle hesistated when accelerating. The contact stated that after a brief hesitation the vehicle took off. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer four times, but the dealer had not been able to duplicate the failure. The contact believed the problem was related to the throttle, but the dealer would not replace it without diagnosing the problem. The failure mileage was 26,000 and the current mileage was 32,000.

Filed Jul 27, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 100 miles · NJ

After light turned green, I pushed on the pedal and the car did not move for seconds. Car hesitates all the time. Afraid to make left turn from a stopped position because I am not sure if the vehicle will move. Vehicle also hesitates when accelerating to pass slow moving vehicles. Reported issue to dealer and dealer would not acknowledge problem. Read and heard of other santa fe acceleration issues.