2007 Hyundai SANTA FE: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA, SOMETIMES THE LIGHT ON THE DASH IS LIT, INDICATING THE CAR DOES NOT SENSE A PASSENGER IS SITTING THERE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE JELL PACK UNDER THE SEAT BUT THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUING. MY WIFE IS 5"7" AND WEIGHS 126 LBS. THE DEALER SAID TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT POSTURE. WE DROVE THE CAR TO PENNSYLVANIA AND BACK WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171943 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR IS NOT CLASSIFYING MY WIFE CORRECTLY AND DISABLING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN SHE SITS IN THE SEAT. CONTACTED MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. (THEY DID CONTACT SOMEONE AT HYUNDAI WHO TOLD THEM THIS) *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174450 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE PROBLEM IS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ALWAYS ENABLE WHEN MY USUAL 115 POUND PASSENGER SITS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WHEN A HEAVIER PERSON SITS ON THE SEAT, BUT WHEN MY USUAL PASSENGER (WHO IS MY 75 YEAR OLD WIFE) SITS ON THE SEAT THE AIR BAG SEAT SENSORS DO NOT ALWAYS ACTIVATE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP REFERRED ME TO THE MANUAL WHICH DESCRIBES THE PROPER SEATING POSITION. WHEN MY PASSENGER SITS IN EXACTLY IN THAT MANNER, ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME THE SEAT SENSOR ACTIVAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175828 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DURING THE NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY PROVIDED 30 FEET OF ILLUMINATION. AFTER THE 30 FOOT DISTANCE, THERE WAS A DISTINCT SHADOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE HEADLIGHTS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED

Owner-reported narrative. 88 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177308 at NHTSA ↗

TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS OVER HEAD MAP LIGHTS DON'T FUNCTION AT ALL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE MAP LIGHTS ONLY WORK IF SHE PRESSES THE MAP LIGHT BUTTON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE AN OVER HEAD LIGHT IN HER VEHICLE WHEN SHE GETS INTO HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SHE GETS INTO HER VEHICLE EVERY NIGHT AFTER WORK AND IT IS COMPLETELY DARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL VEHICLES SHOULD HAV…

Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185749 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 07 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. EVER SINCE I BOUGH THE CAR IN OCTOBER I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. WHEN I SIT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE THE AIR BAG SENSOR EITHER DOES NOT SENSE MY WEIGHT AND TURNS THE AIR BAG OFF OR IT ACTUALLY TURNS THE AIR BAG ON, BUT IT FLUCTUATES BETWEEN ON AND OFF. I HAVE READ THE MANUAL, AND I AM SITTING PROPERLY ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI INSTRUCTIONS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER, AND THE BEST THEY COULD TELL ME WAS SIT IN THE BACK MAM. HOWEVER I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A REASONABLE RESPON…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10186083 at NHTSA ↗

THE 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT A FRONT DOME LIGHT THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE ACTUATED VIA KEYLESS REMOTE OR BY UNLOCKING OR BY OPENING ANY OF THE DOORS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN APPROACHING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. SUCH DEVICES HAVE BEEN STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN VEHICLES FOR MANY YEARS. WHY HAS HYUNDAI CHOSEN TO FOREGO THIS BASIC SAFETY ITEM? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188415 at NHTSA ↗

1/26/07-TOOK CAR IN FOR 3,000 MILE SERVICE ACTUAL MILEAGE WAS 3,154. 4/4/07- TOOK CAR IN FOR AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH. TECHNICIAN CLEARED ALL FAILED CODES- RECHECKED CODES TO FIND ALL OKAY. MILEAGE WAS 6,138. *AK 4/6/07- AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH IS COMING ON AGAIN. 4/12/07- TAKE CAR BACK TO DEALER TO CORRECT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 3 DAYS WHILE THEY ORDERED AND REPLACE THE MODULE ASSY-AIR B. I AGAIN INDICTAED MY CONERN ON SAFETY OF BAGS DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT. MILEAGE WAS 6,391. 5/12/07 '' AIR BAG WARN…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,138 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190898 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-08-31 (August 31, 2006)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WALL THICKNESS OF THE RIGHT FORWARD BAFFLE OF THE FUEL TANK MAY BE BELOW SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM. ALL VEHICLES ARE EITHER STILL AT THE MANUFACTURING PLANT OR IN DEALERSHIPS. NO VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SOLD TO CONSUMERS.

Reported: 2008-06-19 (June 19, 2008)

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 88,943 MY 2007-2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH P235/60R18 TIRES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE LABELING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110 "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE BLACK CERTIFICATION LABEL AFFIXED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE CENTER PILLAR, INCORRECTLY LISTS THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS (GAWR).

Consequence: OVERLOADING YOUR VEHICLE MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT HANDLING AND BRAKING AND MAY CAUSE TIRE DAMAGE, RESULTING IN TIRE FAILURE AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: HYUNDAI WILL MAIL CORRECTED CERTIFICATION LABELS ALONG WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AFFECTED OWNERS. THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2009-04-15 (April 15, 2009)

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2011-09-09 (September 9, 2011)

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 26, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 19, 2006 THROUGH MARCH 20, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.

Consequence: IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy: HYUNDAI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CONNECT CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2012-07-25 (July 25, 2012)

Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2006, through July 7, 2008. The occupant classification system (OCS) may need recalibration to accurately detect small statured adults.

Consequence: Improper classification or detection may cause the front passenger airbag not to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the classification software free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

Reported: 2020-02-04 (February 4, 2020)

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

Consequence: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 188.