2007 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
683 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 565 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 121 of 683 complaints (17.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 157 | 23.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 52 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 49 | 7.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 44 | 6.4% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 121 |
| Electrical System | 93 |
| Air Bags | 70 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 68 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 54 |
| Engine | 53 |
| Service Brakes | 44 |
| Unknown Or Other | 44 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 121; Electrical System: 93; Air Bags: 70; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 68; Vehicle Speed Control: 54; Engine: 53; Service Brakes: 44; Unknown Or Other: 44
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 88 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 81 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 113 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 137 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 111 |
| 150,000 and above | 35 |
Under 25,000: 88; 25,000 to 49,999: 81; 50,000 to 74,999: 113; 75,000 to 99,999: 137; 100,000 to 149,999: 111; 150,000 and above: 35
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (137). 118 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 38 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2010 | 48 |
| 2011 | 55 |
| 2012 | 67 |
| 2013 | 75 |
| 2014 | 83 |
| 2015 | 76 |
| 2016 | 51 |
| 2017 | 37 |
| 2018 | 26 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2006: 4; 2007: 18; 2008: 38; 2009: 26; 2010: 48; 2011: 55; 2012: 67; 2013: 75; 2014: 83; 2015: 76; 2016: 51; 2017: 37; 2018: 26; 2019: 25; 2020: 14; 2021: 9; 2022: 8; 2023: 9; 2024: 7; 2025: 3; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 157 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 52 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10199385 · 2007-08-13 (August 13, 2007)
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223543 · 2008-04-07 (April 7, 2008)
WAS DRIVING 2007 HYUNDAI SANTE FE AT 90KM PER HOUR ON HIGHWAY. WENT TO ACCELERATE TO 110KM PER HOUR AND IMMEDIATELY FELT ACCELERATOR MOVE AWAY FROM MY FOOT WHERE IT REMAINED PINNED AGAINST THE FLOOR. NOTICED THAT CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT HAD COME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BUT I DID NOT ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I TURNED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON OFF AND TAPPED BRAKES. VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND ACCELERATOR REMAINED PRESSED TO MAT. APPLIED FULL FORCE TO BRAKES AND MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. VEHICLE BEGAN REVVING VERY HIGH S…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314180 · 2010-02-25 (February 25, 2010)
2007 HYUNDAI SANTE-FE PURCHASED NEW FROM PLAZA HYUNDAI, LTD, 2740 NOSTRAND AVENUE IN 2006, ON OCTOBER 3, 2007 WHILE SITTING IN VEHICLE I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THEN THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PLAZA HYUNDAI, THEY INSISTED THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK AND SAID I SHOULD CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH I DID, THEIR INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A "DEFECTIVE WIRING IN THE DEFROSTER CAUSED A FIRE WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO WINDSHIELD." THIS REPORT WAS GIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STI…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,141 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316559 · 2010-03-04 (March 4, 2010)
WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. I PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, BUT WOULD NOT HOLD, I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. WHEN I RESTARTED IT WAS OK BUT MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN I GOT HOME I PARKED AND PRESSED THE KEY REMOTE TO LOCK, THE DOORS LOCKED BUT THE LIGHTS DID NOT FLASH. I THEN RESTARTED THE CAR, SHUT IT OF AND RELOCKED. THIS TIME THE LIGHTS FLASHED BUT AFTER ABOUT 30 SEC. THE CAR ALARM WOULD SOUND. I AGAIN RESTARTED AND SHUT IT OFF, RELOCKED AND AGAIN THE ALARM. I THEN DISCONNECTED…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225688 · 2008-04-25 (April 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A POWER STEERING RESERVOIR LEAK. THE FRONT STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AT THAT TIME. THE NEW FRONT STEERING RACK DEVELOPED A LEAK AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. HE IS CURRENTLY PREPARING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE, AS WELL AS A NEW ONE. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT ANY SPEED, MAKING A TURN, OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES FROM CENTER AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230795 · 2008-06-12 (June 12, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT ACCELERATED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE STEERING FELT LIGHT, AS IF IT WERE LIFTING OFF THE GROUND. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND HE MUST OVERCOMPENSATE TO THE LEFT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE FAILURE STOPPED. HE CALLED THE DEALER ONCE HE ARRIVED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND ASKED SOMEONE TO RETURN HIS CALL; HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS YET RESPONDED. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SIMILAR FAILURES AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212687 · 2007-12-25 (December 25, 2007)
ON MONDAY DECEMBER 18, 2007 I GOT A 2007 SANTA FE TO DRIVE AS A LOANER FROM A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN I FILLED THE GAS TANK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO TOLD ME TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP, WHO IN TURN TOLD ME TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. BROWN'S MANAGER, ISHMAEL TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT HE COULD NOT HELP US. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER WHO SAID THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE REMOTE STARTER ON THE KEY CHAIN, WHICH I COULD PRESS TWICE AND THE CAR WOULD R…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239690 · 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)
MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE INCLUDING GAS TANK DOOR LATCH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, CAR SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY, WHICH THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AS A COIL ISSUE. THE LAST PROBLEM LED TO THE CAR BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION DUE A FAILURE OF THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND THEN LURCH INTO GEAR, CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259826 · 2009-02-24 (February 24, 2009)
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST ON ROUTE 140 WEST IN WESTMINSTER, MD. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND NO LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD THIS TIME -- PREVIOUSLY THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT WOULD COME ON. AGAIN, THIS MORNING, FEBRUARY 24TH ON MY WAY DOWN A HILL TO WORK, THE CAR FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO STALL. THIS TIME THE ESC LIGHT WAS FLICKERING. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE CAR AND WILL REPORT EACH INCIDENT. I AM ALS…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,236 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319062 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND CAR DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AND CAR APPEARED TO HAVE STALLED AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE POWER STEERING WAS AGAIN ENGAGED. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS ROUNDING A CURVE IN THE ROAD. DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,647 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209887 · 2007-11-26 (November 26, 2007)
UNCOMMANDED TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. DOWNSHIFTS OCCURS AT UNPREDICTABLE INTERVALS AND SPEEDS, OCCASIONALLY LEAVING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DOWNSHIFT EVENTS ARE INSTANTANEOUS BUT, WHILE STARTLING, THE VEHICLE IS CONTROLLABLE. HOWEVER, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SPEED LOSS CAN BE AS HIGH AS 20 MPH, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE REAR-END COLLISIONS, AS WELL AS, POSSIBLE CONTROL ISSUES. THESE EVENT HAVE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209887 at NHTSA ↗