2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Airbags Problems

I request that NHTSA review what I believe is a misleading Hyundai warranty extension involving the Occupant Classification System (OCS/ODS), part of the air bag system. Around Mid May 2026, my air bag warning light began illuminating intermittently. I waited because I needed to save up the cash. Around June 2026, Hyundai mailed me a Warranty Extension Notice stating that if the air bag warning light came on, I should take the vehicle and the letter to a Hyundai dealer. The notice contains no exclusions or limitations. I was excited because my local repair shop said it would cost $800 to $2000 depending on the issue. Relying on Hyundai's written instructions, I took my vehicle to the dealer. I was told my repair not covered under the scope of the warranty and was charged over $900. I paid under protest because I felt it was a safety risk to continue driving with an air bag warning. Although my initial goal was to receive a full refund, my main concern is that owners may rely on Hyundai's notice, only to discover the repair is denied. Some may delay repairing an air bag system because of the unexpected cost, creating a potential safety risk. I have written Hyundai July 2026 requesting a full explanation as to why my repair was excluded or a full refund but to date I have not received a response. I ask NHTSA to review whether Hyundai's warranty notice adequately discloses its actual coverage and limitations. I have attached the warranty letter, which contains no exclusions, and my repair invoice. Thank you for your attention to this matter [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755191

Incident

Jul 7, 2026

Clock spring is defective/broken. This could be very dangerous as the airbag may not deploy in the event of an accident. Hyundai has used this exact part on other vehicles that have had issue and have recalled/extended the warranty to cover. Hyundai however won't fix this very dangerous issue on the Santa Fe and even wanted almost $200 just to look at the car even though the part is very obviously broken.

NHTSA ID

11506459

Incident

Feb 9, 2023

My air bags don’t work and the brake system fails. Motor went out recalled and dealership not working on it

NHTSA ID

11484654

Incident

Aug 29, 2022

The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately at 75-80 mph when another vehicle driving at high speeds crashed into the rear of the vehicle causing the vehicle to sway. The contact attempted to avoid crashing into another vehicle but crashed into a concrete divider. When the contact depressed the brake pedal, it failed to respond. As a result, the vehicle flipped over. During the incident, the seat let's failed to retract and secure the contact therefore he collided with the windshield during the impact. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to his back, ribs, and shoulder that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,100.

NHTSA ID

11465105

Incident

Jan 4, 2022

Mileage

70,100 mi

THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH IT APPEARS THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS GONE BAD. HYUNDAI HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR OTHER MODELS WITH CLOCK SPRING ISSUES (SEE ATTACHMENT) BUT NOT THE 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT TO DATE. A BAD CLOCK SPRING COULD AFFECT THE AIR BAG INCLUDING POSSIBLY DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLOCK SPRING GOING BAD, THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD WORK WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY IN EITHER DIRECTION. NOW, THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL. SINCE THE CLOCK SPRING COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THE 2014 MODEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY OR RECALL....OR SHALL THEY WAIT TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE GET HURT OR POSSIBLY KILLED FIRST. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY OR RECALL FOR MY MODEL CAR. I TOLD HER I WAS GOING TO REPORT IT NHTSA AND SHE SAID I SHOULD BECAUSE THAT IS HOW THESE THINGS GET TAKEN CARE OF.....SAD THAT A COMPANY WILL WAIT ON SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11360301

Incident

Sep 12, 2020

Mileage

149,000 mi

THE ELECTRICAL PROMPTS ON THE FACE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BEGIN TO MALFUNCTION. FIRST THE VOLUME CONTROL STOPPED, NEXT THE HANDS MOBILE PHONE CONTROLS. THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS AND THE MENU FOR USER SETTINGS STOPPED AS WELL AS AIRBAGS. WHEN TURNING CALLS ARE DROPPED , ALL FUNCTIONS ARE INOPERABLE WHETHER CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11302158

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

BEFORE 50,000 MILES HAD TO PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES 1 BLOWOUT A&UNUSUAL VIBRATING FROM TIRES 4 NEW TIRES BEFORE 50,000 MILES!I'M A WIDOW OF A VETERAN&LOST MY ONLY SON!A/C WENT OUT 2 YEARS AGO! I'M A DISABLED NURSE&PURCHASED 4 SANTA FE'S,TUCSON&SONTA NEVER EVER WILL I BUY ANY HYUNDAI'S FROM ANY DEALERSHIP BYE BYE HYUNDAI!!!

NHTSA ID

11234688

Incident

Dec 20, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON IN MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY, AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A CLOCK SPRING PROBLEM. THEY SAID MY AIRBAG IS NOT SAFE (MAY NOT DEPLOY). THEY SAID THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALL, BUT I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THE OLDER SANTA FE, VERACRUZ, SONATA AND ELANTRA ALL HAVE RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY A HYUNDAI PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE LATER MODEL VEHICLES (MINE IS A 2014).

NHTSA ID

11096749

Incident

May 17, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A FOUR WAY LANE GOING NORTH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CROSS INTO THE SOUTH BOUND LANE WHERE IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT END TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NOSE THAT REQUIRED SURGERY, CUTS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT HANDS, AND A BURNING SENSATION TO HIS FEET THAT HAS YET TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ID

11014022

Incident

Jun 26, 2017

Mileage

112,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL VERY LOW QUALITY OF MATERIAL USED FOR THE RUBBER HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE COOLANT . MY SANTA FE'S RUBBER HOSE DETERIORATED WHICH CAUSED A LEAK. WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS OR CHANGES IN THE TEMP GAUGE, I DROVE THE CAR NORMALLY UNTIL ONE MORNING I WAS ON THE PARKWAY AND EACH TIME I WOULD ACCELERATE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME, IT FELT LIKE I AM DRAGGING. FINALLY GOT TO MY DESTINATION HALF AN HR LATER AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. DROVE IT NEXT BLOCK OVER TO A GAS STATION POPPED THE TRUNK OPEN AND THE COOLANT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY EVEN THOUGH I JUST TOPPED IT OFF FEW DAYS AGO. TURNED OFF MY CAR TO RUN IN AND GET A BOTTLE OF COOLANT. TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND IT STALLED. I WAITED ABOUT AN HR AND A HALF AT THE PARKING LOT SITTING AND WAITING AND IT FINALLY STARTED BACK UP. ELECTRICAL ISSUE: A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I WAS DRIVING IN MY 2014 SANTA FE SPORT AND THE RADIO SUDDENLY SHUT OFF THINKING I PRESSED A BUTTON BY ACCIDENT. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES IT TURNED BACK ON. IT WAS RANDOMLY DOING IT UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO IT FINALLY STOPPED WORKING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A HYUNDAI SERVICE AGENT. VEHICLE AT 40,000 MILES APPRARENTLY IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY (36,000MI) OFCOURSE, FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THEY CHARGE YOU ABOUT $140 AFTER TAX JUST TO DIAGNOSE IT. HOW MUCH TO FIX THE RADIO? AGENT SAID, "IT WILL BE ABOUT $1700 BUT SINCE THE LEASE IS UP I CAN PUT YOU IN A BRAND NEW TUCSON AND I WILL FIX THE RADIO FREE OF CHARGE AND CREDIT YOU BACK FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS CHARGE". I WALKED OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP. AND AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON PAS SIDE.

NHTSA ID

10990735

Incident

Mar 20, 2017

DRIVING IN THE FAR LEFT LANE ON THE INTERSTATE AT ROUGHLY 55 MPH I ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A DRIFTING CAR AS I CORRECTED THE STEERING WHEEL AND ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT I STRUCK A VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. THE AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT END COLLISION WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE SUV WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE ADJUSTER ALSO FOUND THAT THE FIREWALL HAD SPLIT AND APPEARED TO BE FAULTY. DUE TO THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING DURING THE COLLISION I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND VARIOUS OTHER INJURIES AS WELL AS LOSS OF HOURS AT WORK, LOSS OF PAY, MEDICAL BILLS AND EXPENSES IN ADDITION TO OWNING MONEY ON MY CAR LOAN AS THE INSURANCE DID NOT COVER THE COST OF THE LOAN.

NHTSA ID

10971940

Incident

Mar 28, 2017

Mileage

78,000 mi

EXACTLY 2,000 MILES AFTER MY 60,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY CAR EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE WHICH ALSO IMPACTED STEERING, YAW/STABILITY AND OTHER VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES. THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS STARTING THE VEHICLE BUT I ENCOUNTERED NO ISSUES WHEN DRIVING IT 25 MINUTES TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT (FORTUNATELY). IT TOOK FROM 2 PM APRIL 4 TO 4 PM APRIL 6 TO GET THE NECESSARY REPAIRS DONE (THE PART HAD TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED). IT WAS NOT COVERED BY EITHER THE EXPIRED 60,000 MILE WARRANTY OR THE EXTRA ($1,500) 100,000 MILE WARRANTY (I WAS TOLD THAT THAT WARRANTY DID NOT COVER SAFETY ISSUES).

NHTSA ID

10971762

Incident

Apr 4, 2017

Mileage

62,285 mi

I WAS DRIVING EAST TO AN AVE, BUT ANOTHER DRIVER HIT ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE DRIVER HIT MY CAR WE SPINNED HALF WAY. THE PASSENGER SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE GOT HURT ON HER ARM. THE ACCIDENT WAS SORT OF BIG. THE CAR DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER WAS DENTED IN. GETTING HIT THAT HARD SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAG AND THE HYUNDAI EMERGENCY CALLING SYSTEM. HOWEVER NONE OF THEM WERE WORKING WHEN THE CAR WAS HIT. ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI THEY HAVE MORE AIRBAGS THAN ANY OTHER COMPANIES BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE MORE, THE AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY WHICH MADE THE PASSENGERS ARM GET HURT. ALSO THE DRIVERS KNEE GOT HURT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A SO CALLED "AIRBAG." HYUNDAI SANTA FE DID NOT DO WHAT IS MEANT FOR ITS SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595718

Incident

Jun 2, 2014