NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
358 reports90,000 miles · Nov 20, 2017
Electrical System
AT AROUND 90,000 MILES, THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. EVEN AFTER FILLING THE TANK WITH GAS, THE GAUGE SHOWS "EMPTY". THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE FUEL SENDING UNITS IN THE TANK - THE SENSOR BRUSHES BREAK OFF AND THE UNIT NO LONGER SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE GAUGE. THIS POSES SAFETY ISSUES TO PEOP…
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AT AROUND 90,000 MILES, THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. EVEN AFTER FILLING THE TANK WITH GAS, THE GAUGE SHOWS "EMPTY". THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE FUEL SENDING UNITS IN THE TANK - THE SENSOR BRUSHES BREAK OFF AND THE UNIT NO LONGER SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE GAUGE. THIS POSES SAFETY ISSUES TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T CAREFULLY TRACK THEIR CAR'S FUEL USE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CAR STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PROBLEM SETS TROUBLE CODES AND LIGHTS THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #11047656
137,100 miles · Nov 11, 2017
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD WILL NOT GO OFF.
NHTSA ODI #11045337
45,000 miles · Oct 24, 2017
Visibility/wiper
OUR SUNROOF BURST WHILE DRIVING ON A CLEAR, SUNNY DAY. OUR SPEED WAS ABOUT 40MPH, THE SHADE ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CLOSED AS WAS THE SUNROOF. WE HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND WHEN WE SLID THE INTERIOR SHADE OPEN A SHOWER OF GLASS FELL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA ODI #11036067
88,703 miles · Oct 17, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SuspensionUnknown Or Other
TAKATA RECALL: ON JUNE 2 2017 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAPPY HYUNDAI OF OAK LAWN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE OF RUSTING OF MY CARS UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE UNTIL AUGUST 17,2017. ON OCTOBER 5TH, I WAS BACKING IN A PARKING SPOT, WHAT I KNOW NOW AS MY CONTROL ARM, LEFT AXLE AND LEFT BALL JOI…
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TAKATA RECALL: ON JUNE 2 2017 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAPPY HYUNDAI OF OAK LAWN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE OF RUSTING OF MY CARS UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE UNTIL AUGUST 17,2017. ON OCTOBER 5TH, I WAS BACKING IN A PARKING SPOT, WHAT I KNOW NOW AS MY CONTROL ARM, LEFT AXLE AND LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE. HAD IT TOWED HOME, CALLED HAPPY HYUNDAI, HAS IT TOWED THERE. AFTER INSPECTIONING MY VEHICLE THEY DETERMINED THE CONTROL ARM & AXLE WERE A PART OF THE CAMPAIGN RECALL BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX MY VEHICLE. REUBEN TOLD ME ON JUNE 2, THEY WERE CONFISCATING IT BECAUSE I COULD BE DRIVING AND THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE COULD FALL OFF. THANKFULLY I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. HYUNDAI RETURNSES AN UNSAFE VEHICLE TO ME AND ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN REPAIRING MY VEHICLE WHEN THEY SHOULD AT LEAST REPAIR THEY RECALL SINCE THE CONTROL ARM & AXLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I THINK AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OPENED REGARDING THIS RECALL TO ENSURE HYUNDAI IS REPAIRING VEHICLES UP TO SAFETY STANDARDS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A STATUS UPDATE. UPDATED 12/07/2017*JS
NHTSA ODI #11033969
99,000 miles · Oct 3, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
FUEL SENDERS ARE FAILING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND FUEL GAUGE SHOWS NEAR EMPTY EVEN WHEN VEHICLE HAS FULL TANK.
NHTSA ODI #11031467
115,000 miles · Sep 30, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING RIGHT TURN ENGINE STALLED LOST BRAKES AND STEERING, WAS ABLE TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH TRAFFIC COMING UP FAST, PUT IN PARK RE-STARTED. THIS SECOND TIME WITHIN A YEAR
NHTSA ODI #11030638
100,000 miles · Sep 13, 2017
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 4D SPORT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I APPLIED THE BREAK AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW. LUCKILY, I DIDN'T WRECK. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER WITH MY HAZARDS ON, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED T…
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MY 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 4D SPORT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I APPLIED THE BREAK AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW. LUCKILY, I DIDN'T WRECK. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER WITH MY HAZARDS ON, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA ODI #11023380
100,000 miles · Aug 29, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
LIKE THE OTHER POSTED COMPLAINTS, MY 2009 SANTA FE IS HAVING FUEL GAUGE ISSUES. IT NEVER SHOWS THE CORRECT LEVEL. I CHANGED THE FUEL CAP BUT THIS DID NOTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE READOUT COMES BACK: "FUEL LEVEL SENSOR". THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WILL PREVEN…
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LIKE THE OTHER POSTED COMPLAINTS, MY 2009 SANTA FE IS HAVING FUEL GAUGE ISSUES. IT NEVER SHOWS THE CORRECT LEVEL. I CHANGED THE FUEL CAP BUT THIS DID NOTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE READOUT COMES BACK: "FUEL LEVEL SENSOR". THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WILL PREVENT ME FROM PASSING A STATE INSPECTION. I USE MY TRIP ODOMETER TO GAUGE WHERE I AM WITH FUEL TANK LEVEL. I HAVE TO SET MY TRIP TO ZERO AT EVERY FILL-UP. AT 144 MILES I KNOW I'M AT 1/2 A TANK ROUGHLY. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HYUNDAI IS REFUSING TO ADMIT TO SO THEY CAN SAVE MONEY. MAYBE THIS ISN'T AN AIR BAG, BUT, IF I LOAN MY CAR TO MY DAUGHTER AND SHE RUNS OUT OF FUEL ON A HIGHWAY......I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT. FORCE HYUNDAI TO FIX THIS!
NHTSA ODI #11020379
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
THE FUEL GAUGE SLOWLY OSCILLATES BETWEEN THE (ASSUMED) CORRECT VALUE AND ZERO, OFTEN TRIGGERING THE LOW-LEVEL LIGHT. IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BE CONFIDENT ABOUT HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE IN THE VEHICLE. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, OR WHAT KIND OF DRIVING CONDITION YOU ARE IN, OR WHETHER THE ENGINE IS …
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THE FUEL GAUGE SLOWLY OSCILLATES BETWEEN THE (ASSUMED) CORRECT VALUE AND ZERO, OFTEN TRIGGERING THE LOW-LEVEL LIGHT. IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BE CONFIDENT ABOUT HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE IN THE VEHICLE. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, OR WHAT KIND OF DRIVING CONDITION YOU ARE IN, OR WHETHER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR NOT. IT SEEMS TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE SENSOR OR ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. MY LOCAL DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE (~$400 TO FIX) BUT HYUNDAI HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL BECAUSE IT'S NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE". THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU ARE NEVER SURE WHETHER IT IS CORRECTLY INDICATING A LOW FUEL LEVEL OR NOT... I WORRY ABOUT MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVING BY HERSELF AT NIGHT WITHOUT KNOWING WHETHER SHE HAS ENOUGH GAS OR NOT TO MAKE IT HOME! IF THIS IS A KNOWN/COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY HYUNDAI.
NHTSA ODI #11015755
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2017
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/23/17*LJ *CN
NHTSA ODI #11000005
Official recalls
2Apr 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 & remedy
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.
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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