MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS EXPERIENCED FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE A LONG LAG TIME BETWEEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTING TO MOVE. THE TIME CAN BE UP TO A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNOYING AND AT TIMES DANGEROUS. IF THE VEHICLE ALWAYS DID THIS, YOU COULD GET USED TO IT, THOUGH IT IS STILL NOT SAFE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BARELY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR RESULTS IN INSTANT TIRE SPINNING AND ASSOCIATED QUICK ACCELERATION. THE INCONSISTENT NATURE OF THE ACCELERATOR RESPONSE MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS. AS MY DAUGHTER IS LEARNING TO DRIVE, I CANNOT LET HER USE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WITH ANY INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, THIS CAR WOULD BE DEADLY. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ONCE (IN PA) AND WAS BRUSHED OFF WITH THE EXCUSE THAT THE ENGINE COMPUTER DID NOT REPORT ANY PROBLEM. *TR
2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE SHUTS DOWN IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT WARNING. WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET IT AS IT WAS STILL ROLLING. NO INDICATIONS CAME ON AS TO WHAT THE ISSUE MAY POINT TO. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED FOR A TOW TO MY HOME WHICH I TOTAL TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES. ONCE AT HOME THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH NO ISSUES. FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS MY VEHICLE WAS AT MY MECHANICS AND HE COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I WENT AHEAD AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION. FLUSHED AS HIM AND I HAD DISCUSSED AS ONE OF THE LAST THINGS TO GET SERVICED BEFORE WINTER. LATER THAT DAY I DROVE A LONGER DISTANCE WITH TOP SPEED ABOUT 65 MPH WITH NO ISSUES. JUST AS I WAS RETURNING HOME THE CAR SHUTDOWN AS I WAS CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE ROLLING VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I ATTEMPTED TO START A FEW TIMES BUT AFTER A NOT SO PLEASANT SOUND LEFT IT OFF. AFTER BEING COMPLETELY OFF FOR 30 TO 45 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AGAIN. THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE STAYED ON. MY SEARCH ON THE ISSUE POINTS TO A CRANKSHAFT PROTECTION SENSOR, BUT THIS IS NOT A CLEAR SOLUTION AND A COSTLY THING TO FIX IF THIS DOES NOT RESOLVE. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE ISSUE WITH NO DEFINITIVE RESOLUTION FOR HYUNDAI OWNERS EVEN BY HYUNDAI TECHNICIANS AS THEY TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SCARY THING TO HAVE HAPPEN AND SOME OF THE VEHICLE JERKS ARE RATHER HARD AND VIOLENT. BEFORE THESE SHUTDOWNS BECOME DEADLY PLEASE ADDRESS. MY LAST EXPERIENCE WAS 10/18 MY VEHICLE IS AT MY MECHANIC TODAY. *TR