RoadVitals

2001 Hyundai Santa Fe Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest May 25, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 209 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed May 25, 2020

GAS PUMP PROBLEM KEEPS CLICKING AND I'VE REPLACE MANY PARTY BUT STILL LIKE ITS FULL OF GAS BUT I BE ON EMPTY.CAR ALSO JERKS LIKE I'VE BEEN REAR ENDED WHILE DRIVING LIKE IT HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND I'VE REPLACE TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES. GEARS ONLY WORK MANUAL IT'S LIKE THE CAR HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN .ALSO MY TIRE FLEW OFF MY CAR ON THE BACK AND HAD TO TAKE TO DEALER SHIP AND THEY WAS SAYING IT'S SOME PROBLEM THEY CAN'T HELP .

NHTSA ID
11325885
Incident
Feb 14, 2019
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 23, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO OVER 100 MPH WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE MECHANIC RE-CRIMPED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10494488
Incident
Sep 19, 2011
Mileage
143,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Jun 24, 2012

WHEN APPROACHING A STOP (<5MPH) AND BRAKING, THE CAR ENGAGES IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE WILL TACH TO OVER 3000 RPM AND IF YOU ARE NOT HARD ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. AT LEAST ONE TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10462884
Incident
Jun 21, 2012
Mileage
113,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 21, 2009

WHILE BRAKING NORMAL TO LIGHT PRESSURE FROM 25-5MPH ON DRY PAVED ROAD, ABS SYSTEM WILL TURN ON AND GREATLY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONE INSTANCE THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP BEFORE A STOP LIGHT OR STOPPED TRAFFIC. THERE ARE NO ABS CODES OR ABS IDIOT LIGHTS ON IN THE DASH WHICH INDICATE THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG. SAFETY IS A LARGE CONCERN. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER AND NO ISSUE WAS FOUND, WITHOUT BEING REQUESTED TO PAY $1500+ FOR AN ENTIRE NEW ABS. THIS WAS AFTER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND SOURCE TO THE PROBLEM. I SEE THIS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY FORUMS AND THERE IS A RECALL ON 2003-2005 SANTA FE'S FOR A SAME/SIMILAR ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10274535
Incident
Jan 10, 2008
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 5, 2009

I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO A PROBLEM WITH A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I BORROWED THE CAR FROM MY GIRLFRIEND TO RUN AN ERRAND. BEING 6 FOOT TALL AND HAVING A SIZE 13 FOOT I MUST SAY THE CAR WASN'T VERY COMFORTABLE EVEN WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK. IT SEEMED TO RESPOND AND HANDLE SMOOTHLY BUT AS I EASED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW FOR A RAILROAD CROSSING, THE TOE OF MY WORK BOOT BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LAUNCHED LIKE A ROCKET AND MY IMPULSE WAS TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY FREE (LEFT) FOOT. THIS ONLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR FURTHER TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED OUT OF CONTROL. IT WENT FROM 30 MPH TO NEARLY 90 MPH IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND IN A MOMENT OF CLARITY I REACHED FOR THE IGNITION KEY. I SWITCHED THE IGNITION OFF LOSING ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES BUT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. AT THIS POINT I WAS ABLE TO FREE MY RIGHT FOOT FROM IT'S TRAPPED POSITION BETWEEN THE TWO CONTROL PEDALS AND SAT IN A STATE OF SHOCK. IT WAS 2 DAYS LATER THAT I REALLY CAME BACK TO A SOMEWHAT LOGICAL STATE OF MIND AND DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND HOPEFULLY ALERT OTHER DRIVERS TO THIS POTENTIAL DEADLY PROBLEM. MUCH TO MY HORROR, I FIND THAT I'M NOT THE FIRST ONE TO EXPERIENCE THIS AND BEING MECHANICAL MYSELF CAN SEE THAT THESE CARS ARE NOT DESIGNED BY 6 FOOT ENGINEERS WITH SIZE 13 BOOTS. I FOUND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THE ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM FORUM WHILE SEARCHING THE 2001 SANTA FE ( COMPLAINT NUMBER 754795) AND AGREE THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE BRAKE / ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONFIGURATION. FOR A PERSON OF MY STATURE, THEY CAN BE POTENTIAL DEATH TRAPS ! *TR

NHTSA ID
10257556
Incident
Jan 31, 2009
Mileage
120,295 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THE RPM'S SURGED TO APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT REMEDY. AS OF OCTOBER 8, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10244898
Incident
Nov 16, 2007
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 17, 2007

I WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT AND LET OFF THE GAS TO COAST BEFORE PUTTING ON MY BRAKES(MY DAD TAUGHT ME WELL TO DO THIS INSTEAD OF BEING A QUICK BRAKER TO MAKE MY BRAKES LAST LONGER). AT ABOUT 25MPH MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE BACK UP TO 30, THEN 35, THEN 40. I PANICKED. I PRESSED THE BRAKES VERY HARD BUT THE RPM'S WERE STILL RISING AND I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE STILL ACCELERATING. I TRIED PUTTING IT INTO PARK, NO LUCK. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE IN PARK. SCARY!!!! MY KIDS WERE WITH ME. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP WE'D HAVE BEEN KILLED WHILE PLOWING INTO CROSS TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT 55MPH OR MORE! AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, IT SEEMED BETTER. THEN 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT DID IT AGAIN. I DROVE IT BACK HOME (8MILES) WITH NO INCIDENT. 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING MY SON HOME FROM SCHOOL, THIS EPISODE REPEATED 4 TIMES. WITH EACH "RESTART" IT BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO START THE CAR AND I HAD TO WAIT (YES, IN TRAFFIC) 5 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING THE CAR AGAIN. I NEEDED TRANSMISSION WORK, TOOK IT IN, $2000 REBUILD. TOLD THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING BUT HOT MAYBE AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WORK WAS DONE IT WOULD RESOLVE. NOT A CHANCE. THEY ARE STUMPED AS TO WHAT'S WRONG. THEY'VE CHECKED THE THROTTLE BODY AND PARTS. NO CODES COME UP. THEY'VE UNHOOKED THE CRUISE CONTROL. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT HOME THIS PAST WEEKEND SO A FRIEND COULD LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT HE THOUGHT AND MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON A LONG STRETCH OF ROAD WITH NO STOPS AND THE CAR WAS DRIVING AT 50MPH WITH HIM NOT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. HELP!!! THIS IS GOING TO HURT OR KILL SOMEBODY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212087
Incident
Dec 7, 2007
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Aug 19, 2006

SUSPENSION /CHECK ENGINE LIGHT /LOWER BALL JOINT: DEALER REPLACE @54,353 MILES, LOWER ARM IN 2004 AND 8/2006 REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED I HAVE TAKEN MY 2001 SANTA FE TO DEALER 8 PLUS TIMES FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WAS TOLD FOUND TETHER ON GAS CAP NOT LETTING CAP CLOSE TIGHT ENOUGH /MOVED TETHER AND RAN EVAP TEST AND CHECK OUT OK . I WAS TOLD CAP LOOSE 8 PLUS TIMES THIS PROBLEM IS ON GOING. RETURN TO DEALER FOR JERK TRANSMISSION ISSUES I HAVE TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND IT TAKES OFF SLOW AND ONCE GETS POWER THE CAR JERKS STARTS AS IF THE GEARS OR NOT SWITCHING OVER. DEALER SAID DO THE PRESSURE IN GAS CAP AND GAS CAP NOT CLOSED TIGHT ENOUGH EVAL TEST WAS DONE. BACK AT DEALER AFTER ROAD TRIP MY CAR WAS RUNNING AFTER BEGIN PARKED WITH A/C RUNNING AND I TURN CAR OFF AND CAR WOULD NOT START THOUGHT MAY BATTERY CHECK AND NO WATER WAS IN BATTERY I PUT WATER IN BATTERY AND LET CAR SIT FOR ABOUT HOUR AND CAR RESTARTED BACK AT DEALER EXPLAIN THIS ISSUE MY BATTERY WAS REPLACE I WAS TOLD FACTORY BATTERY WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH WAS FOR SANTA FE THIS IS 3RD BATTERY WITH IN FIVE YEARS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10166021
Incident
Jun 17, 2006
Mileage
54,353 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 14, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THEN DRIVE AND THE TACHOMETER WENT TO THE RED ZONE. ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE MOVED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET FORWARD IN 30 SECONDS. THEN, HE THEN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. THIS REPEATED A WEEK LATER. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY WAS RUN DOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY RULED OUT A CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED. *AK UPDATE 1/4/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10145219
Incident
Dec 1, 2005
Mileage
34,650 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 3, 2003

THROTTLE STUCK ON VEHICLE IN A FAST IDLE POSITION. CONTROL OF VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED BY USE OF FOOT BRAKE. VEHICLE HAD 23020 MILES AND IS A GLS WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, DATE OF MANUFACTURE WAS 13 JAN 01. NO INJURIES, NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. DEALER REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AND STATED THAT THE CAUSE WAS THAT THE CABLE WAS MISROUTED. ACCORDING TO DEALER THE CABLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ROUTED THROUGH A METAL CLIP AT RIGHT REAR OF SURGE TANK/INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS CLIP IS ADJACENT TO THE CLIP USED TO SECURE THE GAS PEDAL CABLE. THE REPLACEMENT CABLE APPEARS TO BE SHORTER THAN THE ORIGINAL CABLE AS IT IS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO BE PLACED IN THE METAL CLIP. THE REPLACEMENT CABLE USED WAS PART #96430-26110 AND HAS A YELLOW LABEL WITH "TO2" ON IT.

NHTSA ID
10013938
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Mileage
23,020 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 12, 2002

MY CAR LURCHED (DUE TO TRANSMISSION) OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF A MAIN ROAD AND LURCHED ALMOST INTO ANOTHER CAR AT A SEPARATE TIME, AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID
758143
Incident
Jan 11, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 22, 2001

THIS VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHILE BRAKING. WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL YOU CAN ACCIDENTLLY PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THIS HAPPENS SINCE YOUR FIRST REFLEX IS TO PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE MORE. VERY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THIS IS CAUSED BY THE POSITION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IN RELATION TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT MORE OF A DESIGN FLAW. AS A MECHANIC FOR 31 YEARS AND DRIVER OF NUMEROUS FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC VEHICLES I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANYTHING QUITE AS UNNERVING. IF ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED PLEASE DO CONTACT ME. *AK

NHTSA ID
754795
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 24, 2001

VEHICLE HESTITATES ON ACCELERATION,AND CUTS OFF. HARNESS, THROTTLE BODY, THROTTLE BODY SENSOR, COMPRESSOR, EGR GASKET, PLUGS, VALVES, ETC., ALL REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIX PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM, PER STEVE HICKMAN (MAN. REP) AND DEALERSHIP. AFTER REPLACING HARNESS, STEVE HICKMAN ASSURED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FIXED, THE VEHICLE STILL CUTS OFF AND THE RPM BOUNCES UP AND DOWN WHILE THE TRUCK IS BUCKING AND THEN IT WILL CUT OFF!! SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD!! *AK (DOT NUMBER: HMA010900 TIRESIZE: P225/70-16)

NHTSA ID
753598
Incident
Oct 19, 2001
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jul 9, 2001

WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHS APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BUCKS, STUTTERS, HESITATES, DOWNSHIFTS FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS IT IS LIKE YOU ARE TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PUTTING YOUR FOOT BACK ON. WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION BREAKS LEAVING US STRANDED OR EVEN WORSE CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT. AMERICAS BEST WARRANTY IS A MEANINGLESS SLOGAN WHEN A COMPANY CHOOSES TO DENY THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS DEFECT IN A VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
748134
Incident
May 1, 2001
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Mar 30, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD , ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN DEPRESSED WILL SLOW DOWN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ACCELERATOR WILL RESPOND AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, DID NOT REMEDY. CURRENTLY, DEALER INSISTED IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
884700
Incident
Mar 2, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .