general problems of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

The engine rod broke creating a big whole in the engine which caused the engine and underneath of car to start on fire. There was a massive recall for this same issue in 2021-2023 for the year car! it is available for inspection! yes safety was at risk, the car was on fire on the highway in the middle of rush hour. The problem was confirmed by progressive and I contact Hyundai. The car was inspected by the police and insurance company. No lights, messages and the car was running fine before the fire!.

Per the mandated law in September of 2001 all vehicles sold in the united states are required to have a trunk release on the inside. The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe does not. The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe small SUV are very known for the lights to go out due to condensation in the tail lights. So needless to say it was built poorly as an owner like myself has to constantly change the tail lights or be rear-ended because I have no brake lights. To me this is a serious issue. One that Hyundai has failed to correct. However, I recently took my vehicle in to be serviced and to have the tails lights changed. The dealership lithia Hyundai of alaska informed me they could not do them because I had to much water in the tail light cover and that they couldn't get into the trunk due to my junction box having failure. Well I suggested they fix the light cover and change the bulbs so I wouldn't get hit from the back. Service advise there was no way to open the trunk from the inside. That I had to pay 5000. 00 to fix one part to be able to open the trunk. I advised that was illegal per NHTSA and they stated they never heard of that. I would like to make this complaint because even though I cannot get one thing fix I should still be able to get my trunk open from the inside, to fix my brake light bulbs.

Vehicle would not go in park only drive and neutral.

Car went into limp mode. Would not go over 60mph, accelerates slowly, and rpm is low. Does not shift properly and is throwing code p1326.

My car died after an engine recall and then another recall happened unknown at this time and today the car died again in the middle of driving. Lights flashing on dashboard and had to be towed into holler Hyundai winter park for the 17th time. This car was purchased November 2021 and I have had nothing but problems. My safety has always been put at risk ever since it blew up going down the highway and liquid bursted out of the hood. Now today without warning it completely died.

Exiting a parking lot on a slight decline coming to a stop between 0-7 mph without any warning the engine just stops. It starts right back up and have taken to a few different mechanics and they can't find any problems. This has happened 3 times within a two week period. I am just over 100,000 miles on the car. I'm thankful this has not caused and accident yet but scared that it will.

Very recently, the car has been stalling out with no warning, no odd sounds and no obvious reason as to why. I took the car to a well-known, trusted mechanic who was unable to find the cause, as the vehicle presented 0 fault codes. I was informed that I would have to drop the car off for a couple of days so that they could diagnose what the issue could be, and hopefully catch it happening. After doing so, I was then informed that it showed 0 signs of stalling while in their possession. In order to possibly find the issue, the car would have to be kept for more than just a couple of days, which would affect my job and the bill would most definitely be more than I could afford. The symptoms include the following. . . Engine stalls while in idle at a stoplight. Engine stalls while stopping at stop signs. Engine stalls while driving in low speeds. Engine has a rough idle in morning and stalls within first mile of driving the vehicle. This has all been occuring for the past month. Every mechanic I speak to for help agrees it's a mystery issue and that the vehicle would have to be kept for a period of time for diagnostic measures. I'm not sure where else to turn. I use my vehicle daily for work and have never experienced anything like this before. Not only is it a very unsafe and dangerous issue, it literally scares the crap out of me, because when it happens, it's sudden with no warning. Tired of fearing for my life if stalled out in heavy traffic. It usually starts right back up, but at times it takes a minute or a few tries at times. Any assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Dg.

My esc, dbc, and abs warning lights all illuminated at the same time this morning. There are many complaints of this happening on numerous Hyundai forms. Folks have been told to replace hubs, sensors and assorted other pieces. Most do not work costing hundreds of dollars. My particular vehicle had the lights come on maybe 6 or 8 months ago. Go off and come on again and off again. I've ignored them not noticing any driving impact. But the car is warning me that it isn't safe to drive the car. This is not a one of or two or three issue. This from another owner;all three light illuminated on my 2011 Santa Fe so I changed my front right abs speed sensor which was the cause of the lights, but the dash lights are still illuminated. Took it to the dealer and they said there is a short in the abs system wiring harness. What's the cost to fix? $4500. 00 really! I think a recall is due for this problem.

When a bluetooth device is plugged into the available plug(auxillary plug) in the front dash of the vehicle the radio/cd/phone connections work on and off(mostly off) if lucky you might hear the stereo for a few minutes then it goes off again for days. When unplugged the radio keeps working. My drivers side power window has not worked a few times. The available connection for the cell phone does not work all the time. There is some kind of electrical problem in my vehicle. These ongoing problems have been going on for about 1 1/2 years after I bought the vehicle.

My son was driving with 3 other young people in the car at low speed and the car began making a loud knocking noise and stopped in the middle of an overpass. He had to coast backward off the overpass. Thank god no one was behind them or they could have been killed! when I called Hyundai customer service they said the 2012 had �no recalls� but when I reviewed the information on other recalled vehicles different year but same issues. My question is are people going to have to die for something to be done about this? why aren't these 2012 Santa Fe's being recalled like the others? please make this a mandatory recall so no one is killed before it's too late. Please! mother's love for her child and his friends. Recall this car!! he has not had the chance to bring the car to the dealership yet as he was afraid to drive the car. It was towed to his apartment because it was 9:30pm. He is not familiar with the area because he's in college for his masters degree. What are we supposed to do? help please! electrical lights came on vehicle made a loud knocking noise and stopped in the middle of the road the car starts but makes the loud noise.

Water keep getting into my rear light casing. I had them replaced once but there is water in them again and I understand this might short out my rear lights. We are getti g a lot of rain this season.

To whom it may concern ,I currently own Santa Fe the problem is Hyundai is not recognize the problem with the vechicle I expiain to the service dpt,I absorb a jerk loses acceleration power next escindicator dbc lights comes on tachometer goes 0. The vechicle is still in motion . I turn the ignitionoff restart the vechicle thevechicle return back in normal state service replied I have to wait for a service lights. Iam aware that santafe fires begins in the eng also in the rear. Hyundai dont have an answer they want me to drive in danger. I dont need a tragedy. Please help 7734406537 thx you.

The airbag light stays on even after it was reset by the dealership.

There have been numerous incidents that have occurred over the past few months. Is intermittent - can happen 2 days in a row or weeks apart. Symptoms when moving forward at a low rate of speed (stop and go traffic on expressway) stop to 10 miles per hour . . . Every now and then hear a "clunk" sound from the rear of the vehicle - from above the spare tire area. Intermittent - can happen minutes apart or a week apart. Have read same type of complaints on internet. Took it to multiple mechanics ( Hyundai & non-Hyundai ) - neither of them could "reproduce" the problem. . . . Which is the "problem". . . . As I told them and have posted here. . . . This can happen twice in one day and then not re-occur for a week or two. . . . . The mechanics look at me like I'm nuts after they've driven it around and not been able to "reproduce" the problem. . . Scenarios #1 the vehicle was in motion; at a very low rate of speed (0-7mph); on an upward incline; stop & go traffic #2 the vehicle was in reverse, at a very low rate of speed (0-7mph); on a downward incline with sharp turn to the right - backing out of driveway to street #3 the vehicle was in reverse, at a very low rate of speed (0-7mph) straight back.

I have been having continuous issues with a loud "clunk" when my car is placed in reverse, turning, shifting gears. It's intermittent, but loud and hard enough that it feels as though the vehicle has been hit. The car does not kick off any codes, however a number of other Santa Fe owners have has the same issue and eventually needed to have the transmission replaced.

As early as last summer, my 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe started to (intermittently) accelerate when I stepped on the brake. Frankly, I thought it was related to the sandals I was wearing. I thought I was occasionally stepping on the gas and the brake at the same time (I have very big feet -- size fifteen). The problem stopped when I switched shoes (which also corresponded to the end of summer). The problem came back intermittently this summer and is now repeatable. When I am going down a steep hill at speeds over about 20 mph, the engine rpm's increase when I step on the brake. It does that while in gear and while in neutral. Obviously, if the drive train is in gear, the engine "fights against" the brake; if the drive train is in neutral, the engine revs. If the engine is in neutral or is shifted into neutral after the acceleration starts, the engine races until I let off the brake. It has gone as high as 4-5 k rpm before I let off the brake. All that's required to get the car to return to normal idle is that I pump the brake (let off the brake all the way -- I can immediately re-apply the brake and the problem won't happen again). I have identified a stretch of road near my house where the problem always occurs. Driving east at the end of walnut street at the intersection of walnut and boston hill circle, near south street in shrewsbury, MA 01545, it problems always replicates. It also always happens at the bend in the road while going down hill on boston hill circle.

I was turning into a parking lot doing about 5mph when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to a high rate of speed, took me over a cement barrier, a curb, went airborne, landed in a bush which it tore in half and took with me, across the sidewalk and spun in the middle of a busy intersection before the tire blew off the rim and I got it to stop. It was towed to the dealership where it has been for one month as Hyundai dragged their heels until I got angry and emailed them. Two days after I emailed them I got the following leaving me with the repairs as well as paying for the rental for a month. Thank you for your recent correspondence. We have thoroughly reviewed your comments and regret the circumstances you have experienced. We have reviewed the materials provided and inspected your Santa Fe. The entire acceleration system, including the pedals and throttle, the brake system, and the transmission were thoroughly reviewed and checked. We were unable to find any malfunctions or defects that would have resulted in the condition you claim caused your accident.

While driving a/c turned itself on, would not turn off with the off button, had to select head/foot airflow button to get system to turn off. Second incident on March 30th a/c would not turn off while vehicle was in park prior to engine shut off, had to select several different settings before a/c would shut off. Third incident today again a/c turned itself on and would not turn off prior to engine shut off - had to again select several different settings to turn off a/c.

Was making left hand turn, car just died, no warning and no lights came on. Coasted to stop and car started right up[. Another time leaving parking lot car started was runing fine then lost speed, couldn't go over 25 mph took car to Hyundai shop and they ckeck car and they did all the checks and repairs and said car should be ok. Ticket #k1cs220981. Also called Hyundai company and reported the incident to them,, case #7241533.

This incident has happened 3 times so far. While driving I start to reduce speed. The speed gets down to about 20-25 mph and the vehicle completely loses all power. It just shuts down in the middle of driving. There is no power steering or anything. I turn the ignition to start the car again and it starts no problem. I may not have the problem again for another month or so. This is a very dangerous and scary situation. I pray to god that it doesn't happen while I'm traveling down the highway. I asked Hyundai about it and they didn't seem to be too concerned. They said there weren't any recalls but I could bring it in to get checked out.

This is the third time this has happened but by far, the most significant. This incident occurred 9/8/13 - driving down nys interstate and was passing another vehicle when the car began to lose power. I was travelling at 70 mph and before I knew it was down to 35. I immediately pulled over onto the median, turned the car off and re-started it. (this is what I was told to do on 8/19/13 during the first incident). Prior to that, I put on my emergency flashers, waved my hand frantically out the window for the cars behind me to get over, as there was nothing I could do. After restarting my car I ultimately removed myself from the highway and took the back road home. Needless to say, I an quite anxious to get back on the highway and drive my vehicle. I called the dealership again and they told me to bring it in for a software upgrade. I asked if in fact they could just put in a new throttle actuator and they said it cost between $600-$1,000. Apparently this condition causing accidents or even possible injuries still does not warrant the new equipment.

In stop and go traffic, I took my foot off the brake to coast towards the car in front of me. This pattern had been going on for several miles. I was not touching the accelerator and in fact, my foot was not on the brake either, and the car suddenly accelerated full throttle. I had just a couple of seconds to try to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me. I swerved to the right, towards the shoulder, but I hit the truck in front of me. I was braking the entire time, but it was not enough to stop the sudden unintended acceleration. My left bumper hit his truck on the right hand side of his bumper. My radiator was damaged and leaked all the fluid out onto the highway. The car was not drivable because of the radiator.

We experience a feeling of loss of power and almost stalls while trying to make left or right hand turns from a complete stop. It has happened since we purchased car in 2012 but so intermediately that we would just try and explain it away (we came up with OH - we are traveling in the mountains, got bad gas, weather hot, weather cold, maybe I imagined it) but when I almost got hit in the side took it in to dealer again. They have had it 4 times for the same trouble and until the last visit could not duplicate it - dealer in June 2014 kept car many days and then I received a call from service manager who asked if I braked left footed - well yes I do as my husband does. He said they could duplicate the problem only when they left footed braked and their solution was to not do that. I asked some more questions, basically why that would make a difference since we have always done it. He said since the Toyota problems the sensors in cars are more sensitive? I told him there are over 80 complaints with the odi for same problem in 2012 Santa Fe - he said OH that is a different problem - I read all of them - trouble sounds the same to me. We researched this car before buying - nothing in their advertisements, paperwork or on the net said left footed braking will cause your car to stall - we would not have purchased it however, I am not even positive that is the problem. I did also open a complaint with Hyundai - they denied a claim of a lemon car and said to just to stop braking left footed. The letter said they drove it 200 miles with no duplication of trouble which is not what the service manager told me - they were able to duplicate it. We now have a car I will not drive because it is dangerous and who would buy it since we would have to disclose this hesitation problem. Just rec. Letter from lawyer asking us to call him - have not yet.

After driving the vehicle for approximately 7500 miles I notice an unpleasant odor that smells like melted plastic. It's not the new car smell and at times it can make one nauseous. It is intensified when accelerated. August 2012 (purchased the vehicle June 2012) reported the smell to the Hyundai service department at sport durst. I was informed that possibly a "plastic bag" has gotten stuck on the bottom of the car and will burn off. December 2012, I once again informed them of this uncomfortable smell. I can not ride in the vehicle with the outside air coming in because I can smell the melted plastic no matter what state, city, or time of day the nauseating smell is there. The cabin air filter has been changed, the oil has been changed and the way I drive has been changed and even under very slow acceleration the smell is there. The vehicle was taken in June 2013 and still nothing has been done. I nor other passengers or other drivers should not have to smell this burnt smell.