2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Driver assistance Problems

While merging onto the freeway, the accelerator pedal got stuck to the floor with the throttle wide open. The brakes and emergency brake were ineffective. Measures had to be taken to drive off of the road into ice plant, we we were able to turn off the engine. Further inspection revealed a missing grommet at the wall where the throttle cable passes through to connect to the gas pedal. Furthermore, the plastic around the throttle cable was cracked, which allows for the throttle cable and pedal to push through and get snagged. This could have ended horrifically. We are lucky to be alive.

NHTSA ID

11655016

Incident

Apr 12, 2025

WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE THROTTLE STUCK NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. FAULTY TPS SEEN MANY WITH SAME COMPLAINTS..

NHTSA ID

11292467

Incident

Dec 11, 2019

Mileage

102,000 mi

ME AND MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH OUR 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE HELP. I WENT TO HYUNDAI DEALER AND SAID THAT NO INDICATOR OR ENGINE LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ID

11219374

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

106,797 mi

VEHICLE HAD BEEN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE MOMENTS WHEN IT LURCHED ITSELF FORWARD QUITE VIOLENTLY, MORE SO AFTER TRANSMISSION HAD TIME TO WARM UP. HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED MOMENTS OF DECELERATION WITHOUT CAUSE. ITS AS IF THE VEHICLE CANNOT PROPERLY SHIFT GEARS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS. HAD VEHICLE LOOKED OVER BY MECHANIC BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. VEHICLE IS PARKED UNTIL ANOTHER MECHANIC CAN LOOK AT IT. IT IS BY NO MEANS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL PROBLEM IS FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11066166

Incident

Dec 12, 2017

Mileage

139,000 mi

WHILE SOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE. APPLYING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT SLOW ACCELERATION. I THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. WITHIN 2 SECONDS THE ACCELERATION STARTED TO DECREASE AND RETURNED TO NORMAL. VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED ON 15 JAN 2018. A SIMILIAR PROBLEM OCCURRED IN JUNE OF 2014 WHILE I WAS BACKING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. AT THAT TIME, I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. AN INSPECTION BY DEALER REVEALED SEVERAL CRACKED VACUUM HOSES AND A FAULTY PCV VALVE.

NHTSA ID

11062585

Incident

Jan 12, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FROM A STOP AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO TWO TREES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,600.

NHTSA ID

10909871

Incident

Sep 26, 2016

Mileage

58,600 mi

IN NOV, 2015, THE ABS AND TCS LIGHTS CAME ON. THE AXLE WAS BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN JULY 2016, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND NOW ANOTHER AXLE IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BROKEN AND A BAD SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED FOR A DAY THEN BROKE AGAIN AND IT WAS REPLACED AND NOW IT'S NOT WORKING AGAIN. WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IN JUNE, 2016, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BESIDES THE OTHER ISSUES, THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10891917

Incident

Jun 9, 2016

Mileage

108,000 mi

ON MAY 16, 2016 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HYUNDAI ON A CITY STREET AND IT STARTED TO SURGE AND I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT IN THE DRIVEWAY BUT THE UNFORTUNATE PART IS IT DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT MY HOUSE. IT WAS A VERY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10865374

Incident

May 16, 2016

Mileage

19,900 mi

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS CONSTANTLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED UNTIL IT IS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T TURN ON AT ALL AND THE FUSE IS GOOD.

NHTSA ID

10849825

Incident

Nov 3, 2015

Mileage

75,000 mi

WHILE WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE TO GREEN, MY CAR WAS STOPPED, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. . MY CAR LEARCHED FORWARD. I COULD FEEL THE ENGINE ACCELERATE. BY THE TIME I GOT THE CAR UNDER CONTROL, I HIT THE CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE TRUNK WAS DAMAGED, NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR. SINCE OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ACCELERATION BEFORE. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE DEALER, THE DISCUSSING ENDS UP WITH THE DEALER SUGGESTING THAT I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND NOT THE BRAKE. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT WHEN THIS OCCURS PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE SHIFT MUST BE MOVED TO NEUTRAL THE FOOT TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE. EVERY TIME I DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER HE SAYS SHOW HIM WHAT HAPPENS, THE PROBLEM I CAN NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THE OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM AND CANNOT BE CREATED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT AS I READ THE COMPLAINTS I AM NOT ALONE. HYUNDAI HAS GOT TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679289

Incident

Jan 6, 2015

Mileage

62,000 mi

AFTER A RAIN WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AND START DRIVING IT IS FINE UNTIL I REACH 20MPH. THEN IT ACTS LIKE IT IS NOT RECEIVING ANY POWER. IT WILL NOT SPEED UP NO MATTER HOW I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR. I NOTICE THAT IF I PUT IT IN MANUAL AND GO FROM 1ST TO 2ND IT WILL STRAIGHTEN OUT AND DRIVE FINE. BUT, IF I PUT IT BACK INTO AUTOMATIC DRIVE AT A STOP SIGN IT WILL DO THE SAME THING STALLING OUT AT 20 MPH. IF I DRIVE IT FAR ENOUGH WITH OUT STOPPING IT WILL EVENTUALLY STRAIGHTEN ITSELF OUT. I AM WORRIED ABOUT PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THIS. WE HAVE DONE A TUNE UP ON IT AND IT DID NOT HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627506

Incident

Jun 3, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY MOMS SANTA FE HAS SPED OUT OF CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. THE LAST INCIDENT CAUSED INJURIES BECAUSE THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL CARS. SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON THE ROAD WHERE CAR SPED UP AND SHE TURNED IT OFF. THE THIRD WAS BACKING OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE HITTING A CAR AND THEN TRIED TO PUT IN NEUTRAL BUT WENT INTO DRIVE INSTEAD. SHE HIT A POST AND THE FRONT END WRAPPED AROUND THE POST BUT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY. STATE FARM AND MANY ATTORNEYS WON'T TOUCH THIS CASE BECAUSE OF THE COSTS INVOLVED TO SUE SUCH A LARGE CORPORATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500947

Incident

Feb 19, 2013

Mileage

71,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10482310

Incident

Oct 25, 2012

Mileage

30,000 mi

MY MOTHER DIED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. HER SANTA FE WENT THROUGH A "T" INTERSECTION WITHOUT STOPPING CROSSING HIGHWAY, WENT AIRBORNE OVER HILLSIDE AND STRUCK A TREE. SEVERED SPINE, CHEST TRAUMA AND SHATTERED ANKLE. THERE ARE NO SKIDS MARKS AT THE SCENE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOY BUT WHEN? STEERING COLUMN IS CRUSHED IN AND STEERING WHEEL WAS BENT INWARD. THE ROAD SHE WAS ON IS A RESIDENTIAL SIDE STREET. THERE IS A 100 FEET DOWNGRADE BUT STRAIGHT AS YOU APPROACH THE STOP SIGN. THE "T" INTERSECTION IS A TWO LANE NOT WELL TRAVELED ROAD. SHE DROVE THIS ROAD MANY TIMES BEFORE. WHAT MAKES A VEHICLE TRAVEL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN A 100 FEET STRAIGHT AWAY, GO THROUGH A STOP SIGN GET AIRBORNE AFTER CROSSING HIGHWAY? ACCELERATION STICKING? WHY IS THERE SO MUCH DAMAGE TO STEERING COLUMN IF AIRBAG WENT OFF? COULD THE ACCELERATOR GET STUCK AND MY MOTHER PANIC AND TRIED TO STOP CAR BY STEPPING ON BRAKES MAKING A PANIC DECISION, NOT KNOWING TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR OR TURNING VEHICLE OFF? WAS THERE ENOUGH TIME. I LOST MY MOTHER AND AFTER READING ALL THE PROBLEMS, I THINK THESE AND ALL HYUNDAI VEHICLES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10468754

Incident

Jul 30, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO LOOSE POWER WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,010.

NHTSA ID

10449626

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

57,000 mi

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE CAR "LURCHES" FORWARD AND THE ENGINE "REVES" UP. I'VE HAD IT TO THE MECHANIC NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND A REASON FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING. IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVE BECOME FEARFUL WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS REGULAR STREET ROADS. I'VE SEEN MANY FORUMS ON LINE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS. I REALLY HOPE THAT SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THESE COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447908

Incident

Nov 7, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS HAS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE IN 2005 GETTING WORSE TO AN EVERY DAY POINT NOW HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES NOW GOING AGAIN TOMORROW EACH TIME IT CANNOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384240

Incident

Feb 21, 2011

Mileage

34,000 mi

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) HAS TWICE NOW THROWN THE VEHICLE INTO VIOLENT AND UNCONTROLLABLE OUT OF CONTROL SKID ON HARD PACKED SNOW. THE TCS EXASERBATED WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A NORMAL SLOW SPEED CURVE TO THE RIGHT ON HARD PACKED SNOW. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH A CURVE TO THE RIGHT. THIS LAST INCIDENT WAS ON A SLIGHT DECLINE WITH A CURVE TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE 46 YEARS OF DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE IN ALL SORTS OF VEHICLES WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WITHOUT TCS. (2WD REAR DRIVE, 2WD FRONT DRIVE, 4X4 CARS AND TRUCKS. THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE WITH TCS AND THERE IS NO SWITCH TO DISABLE IT. I FEEL THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE DISABLED AT THE DRIVER'S DISGRESSION. THE TCS ACCORDING TO ITS DESCRIPTION, AFFECTS THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. I FEEL THAT THE TCS IS CAUSING INAPPROPRIATE BRAKING ACTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE THROWN INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE AND DANGEROUS SKID.

NHTSA ID

10382320

Incident

Jan 23, 2006

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN UNUSUALLY LARGE INCREASE IN RPMS. THE CONTACT APPLIED SLIGHT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE STOPPED, WITH PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,400.

NHTSA ID

10361616

Incident

Oct 20, 2010

Mileage

22,400 mi

THROTTLE SENSOR FOR 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346768

Incident

May 9, 2010

Mileage

56,000 mi

ENGINE RACES WHEN STARTED WHEN ENGINE IS COLD (FIRST TIME STARTED EVERY DAY.). WHILE DRIVING, CAR WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED TRANSMISSION SETTINGS PER A TSB, ENGINE STILL RACES WHEN STARTED AND THE SURGING HAS GOTTEN WORSE. SURGING OCCURS AT SPEEDS FROM 15 TO 65 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10345916

Incident

Jul 28, 2010

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL STUCK AND ACCELERATED TO ALMOST 80 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. BEFORE HIS FAILURE, HIS WIFE TOLD HIM SHE NOTICED THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE STICKING PEDAL. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. HE WROTE A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,390. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,549. UPDATED 3/17/10 *CN THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE THROTTLE CABLE FROM THE PEDAL TO THE ACCELERATOR JAMMED. UPDATED 07/15/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10312150

Incident

Oct 21, 2008

Mileage

65,549 mi

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A HYUNDAI SANTA FE CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT AT OUR HOUSE WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND PROPERTY, AND SOME PERSONAL INJURY. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPORTED AS HAVING OVER-REVVED ON OCCASION, BUT THE DEALER HAD BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAULT, AND THIS HAD NOT OCCURRED FOR SOME TIME. ON THIS OCCASION THE ENGINE STUCK IN MAXIMUM REVS, EVEN IN NEUTRAL, AND AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER ATTRIBUTED THIS TO FAULTY CABLE POSITIONING, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT KNOW WHETHER THAT CAUSED THE ORIGINAL SUA OR JUST THE STICKING. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO INFLATE DESPITE MAJOR IMPACT. HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN SINGULARLY UNHELPFUL AND DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SORT OF THING OCCURRING BEFORE, WHICH IS CLEARLY UNTRUE. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE NOT, AND THE INCIDENT WAS NOT, IN THE US, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REPORT THIS TO YOU BY OTHERS IN THE US AFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM, BECAUSE OF HYUNDAI'S DISINTEREST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311167

Incident

Apr 9, 2009

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH OR LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,600.

NHTSA ID

10278420

Incident

Aug 19, 2006

Mileage

8,600 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN DEPRESSING BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE JOLTED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED LOUDLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE, HIS FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE MOVED SLOWLY. ONCE HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, THE ENGINE SURGED. UPDATED 12/11/08.*JB

NHTSA ID

10243200

Incident

Jun 10, 2007

Mileage

20,000 mi