2007 Hyundai Santa Fe SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V122000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE LIGHT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

WITH OUT ANY WARNING MY REAR BRAKES FAILED. I HAD TO APPLY AS MUCH BRAKE PEDAL AS I COULD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER THAT I KEPT MY SPEED DOWN TO A SPEED THAT I FEEL THAT I COULD STOP THE CAR SAFELY. A SHORT TIME AFTER THAT THE FRONT BRAKES STARTED SHUDDERING. I WAS HEADED FOR MY COTTAGE IN NORTH ONTARIO AT NIGHT WERE THERE ARE NO GARAGES SO I HAD TO HAVE PARTS SENT TO THAT LOCATION WERE I REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. IF HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP WITH THE BRAKES IN THAT CONDITION I WOULD HAVE SURELY HAD AN ACCIDENT. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. THE REAR BRAKE PAD WAS SO TIGHT IN THE CALIPER THAT I HAD TO HIT IT WITH A HAMMER TO FREE IT AND I HAD TO GRIND PART OF THE NEW PAD SO THAT IT WOULD FIT LOOSE IN THE CALIPER. I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THE FRONT BREAKS HAD TO WORK SO HARD WITH NO BACK BREAKS THAT THE FRONT ROTOR WARPED FROM THE HEAT SINCE THEY WERE FINE UP TO THAT TIME. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE HYUNDAI BRAKES. THE FIT OF THE BRAKE PAD TO THE CALIPER IS TOO CLOSE AND THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF RUST CAUSES THEM TO JAM. EVEN WITHOUT RUST THE NEW ROTORS WERE SO TIGHT THAT ANY GOOD MECHANIC WOULD NOT INSTALL THEM IN THAT CONDITION. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAULTS AND I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HYUNDAI'S ANSWER IS TO PAY $ 200 EVERY YEAR AND HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED. THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION SINCE THEY COULD SEIZE UP TO 6 MONTHS AFTER SERVICE THE WAY THE HYUNDAI BRAKE PARTS ARE RUSTING. I HAD CHECK ALL MY BRAKES AT THE END OF THE WINTER AND THEY SEEMED TO BE FINE. THE PADS WERE NOT WORN AND THE CAR WAS STOPPING OKAY. [XXX] NOTE THAT I LIVE IN CANADA BUT THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN BUFFALO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $375 AT ONLY 18,500 MILES.. ROTORS SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO RUST FROM SALT ON ROADS. HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES PRIOR AND DRIVEN ON SAME ROADS AND NEVER NEEDED ROTOR REPLACEMENT SO EARLY. INTERNET IS FILLED WITH HYUNDAI OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. HYUNDAI USES INFERIOR PARTS AND IS AWARE OF THESE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT DOES NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HYUNDAI'S DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS OR PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE PAYING FOR EXPENSIVE BRAKE WORK AT EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGES. WILL NEVER BUY A HYUNDAI AGAIN!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING AND SQUEALING NOISE UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE OVERHEATED BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY RESURFACED BOTH FRONT AND REAR ROTORS. ALSO, THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 2/21/12 *CN

HYDRAULIC BRAKE PROBLEMS ON HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2007. REAR BRAKES ON DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER SIEGE CAUSING TO WARE OUT BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR. REPLACE THEM ONCE ALREADY. CALLED THE HYUNDAI DEALER THEY SAID IT WILL NOT BE COVERED. I SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LEFT CALIPER AND NO ONE CAN HELP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SLIDE PLATE AND BRAKE PADS FROZE AND REMAINED ON THE ROTORS, AS A RESULT. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,200. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF UPDATED 3/20/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V122000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE LIGHT). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ~36,000 MILES. REAR BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED IN MAY 2010. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, LOUD GRINDING BRAKE NOISE HEARD FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. LARGE AMOUNTS OF 'BRAKE DUST' ON RIM OF REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. DETERMINED CALIPER WAS SEIZED UP DUE TO RUST. THEY WILL NOT REMEDY VIA WARRANTY B/C THEY DETERMINE THAT IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. (SALT/ROAD DEBRIS BUILDUP). NEW BRAKE PADS/ROTORS WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT. THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE RIM OF THE WHEEL GOT EXTREMELY HOT DURING USE. COULD THIS EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A TIRE BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING? NOT SURE!? SEARCHING ONLINE RESULTS IN A LOT OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON BLOG/CAR SITES. SAME PROBLEM EVERYTIME: REAR DRIVER'S SIDE CALIPER IS STUCK RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO ROTORS AND PADS. *TR

AT THREE YEARS AND 63000 MILES ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT DUE TO WHAT THE DEALER DESCRIBES AS "NORMAL" WEAR. THERE IS NO SCORING ON ANY OF THE ROTORS IT IS OUT OF SPEC BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEET MINIMUM THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS. IDENTIFIED THROUGH LOUD NOISE AND POOR BRAKING. *TR

DURING NORMAL DRIVING THE LEFT REAR DISC BRAKE BEGAN TO GRIND METAL ON METAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY FOUND "THE PADS WERE SEIZED IN THE CALIPER BRACKETS DUE TO RUST". THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. NO INDICATION WAS GIVEN THAT THE DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE PRE-MATURE FAILURE WAS FIXED. *TR

2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. REAR BRAKES ( DRIVER SIDE ) CALIPER SIEGE, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAROUT OF BRAKE PADS ON LEFT SIDE. SOME ROTOR SCORING. REAR BRAKES REPLACED AND CALIPER LUBE AND CLEANED OF RUST. COST $153.58. *TR

WITH ONLY 21,132 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER STUCK RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN PADS WORE OUT. BRAKES WERE INSPECTED LESS THAN 3000 MILES PRIOR TO LOSS OF BRAKING. *TR

R.R. BRAKES FROZEN BY RUST & CORROSION AT 26,00 MILES. *TR

TOOK CAR IN FOR ISSUE UNRELATED TO BRAKES DURING COURTESY INSPECTION FOUND REAR BRAKES NEED REPAIR. SCORES PER WHEEL WHERE ARE AS FOLLOWS LF 10 RF 10 LR2 RR 8. THE VARIANCE SEEMS TO INDICATE AN ISSUE AND A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

BACK DRIVER SIDE CALIPER OVERHEATED ON A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKE PADS WERE RUINED AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ONE DAY 3/15/2010. I DROVE OVER 200 MILES BEFORE I HEARD THE LOUD DRONING SOUND OF THE BRAKES. EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED THE CALIPER WAS STILL PRESSING AGAINST THE BRAKE PAD. SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHEEL AS WELL AS RESIDUE ON THE RIMS.THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY AS PER HYUNDAIS INSTRUCTIONS. THE COST WILL BE #300.00-$400.00 AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY RUST WHICH THEY SAID THEY SAW IN OTHER SANTA FE'S. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AS THE TIRE COULD CATCH FIRE AND EXPLODE CAUSING A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. HYUNDAI DOESN'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS ISSUE. *TR

REAR BRAKE PROBLEM IN A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTE FE VEHICLE WITH 29K MILEAGE. LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER STICKS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING HIGH PITCH SQUEALING/SCRAPING NOISE AND HOT WHEEL HUB. MULTIPLE OTHER CUSTOMERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE ON WEBSITE FORUM @HYUNDAI SANTE FE CARSPACE AUTOMOTIVE FORUM. MANY WITH MUCH LOWER MILEAGE CLAIMS. MY DEALER INSPECTED AND SAID NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS POINTS TO REAR BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY RUSTS FROM SALT CORROSION AND CAUSES THE CALIPER TO STICK ON THE BRAKE WHILE DRIVING WITH FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. PROBLEM RESURFACED 50 DAYS LATER. WAITING FOR MY APPOINTMENT TO HAVE DEALER LOOK AT THE ISSUE READDRESS THE PROBLEM. HYUNDAI TECHNICAL SAFETY BULLETIN 08-BR-002 DATED 12/2008 CALLS FOR CLEANING AND GREASING THE PAD CONTACT SURFACE OF THE CALIPER CARRIER TO RECTIFY THE CAUSE. THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF MATERIAL DEFECT OF RUSTING ON REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. *TR

2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED 27,300 MILE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CALIPER IS STICKING TO THE DISC BRAKE CAUSING BURNING SMELL AND HEAT. *TR

MY 2007 HYUNDAI SATA FE, WITH 15,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER-HAS SQUEALING REAR BRAKES. DEALER SAYS,THERE IS A CORROSION PROBLEM IN THE CALIPERS,AND THEY HAVE TO BE CLEANED OUT EVERY 8,000 THOUSAND MILES,AT A COST OF $90.DOLLARS WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. I BELIEVE POOR QUALITY METAL IS BEING USED IN THE BRAKE PARTS , A VERY DANGEROUS PRACTICE ! I GOT NO SATISFACTION FROM HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA, CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CNTR. ,TO PAY FOR THIS SO CALLED "BRAKE SERVICE". I, PAID FOR IT, MYSELF, PROBABLY LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER HYUNDAI OWNER'S. PLEASE,MAKE THEM RECALL THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES, AND INSTALL QUALITY BRAKE PARTS,AND SAVE THE OWNER'S FROM THE COST OF UNNECESSARY SERVICE, ON REAR BRAKES. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 SANTA FE WITH 33K MILES, ON WHICH THE REAR RIGHT BRAKES WORE THROUGH "METAL TO METAL" AND I WAS TOLD THE OTHER SIDE WAS JUST AS BAD & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMED TO BE INCREDIBLE SHORT LIFESPAN SO I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE 60% LIFE REMAINING ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. HYUNDAI SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR, AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK ITS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE WAS NO WARNING UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE CRUNCHING METAL TO METAL AND COMPLETELY GONE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS, AT AN ASTRONOMICAL $480! BUT AS I'D HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED IN AND LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA, IT WOULD HAVE COST ME AS MUCH TO TOW IT ELSEWHERE AND GET IT FIXED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FOUL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. HE ALSO NOTICED A SEVERE HEAT WAVE FROM THE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE ITSELF WAS EXTREMELY HOT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PADS WERE RUBBING UP AGAINST THE ROTORS. THE DEALER CLEANED AND GREASED THE CALIPERS, WHICH CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME FAILURE HE WAS EXPERIENCING. HE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SINCE THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,700. UPDATED 07/17/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ODOR FROM THE OVERHEATING PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS ONLY NOTICED AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE PADS FREEING UP AGAINST THE ROTORS DUE TO CORROSION AT THE PLACE WHERE THE PADS SET IN THE BRAKE CALIPER. UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB

REAR BRAKES SEIZED UP DUE TO RUST BUILD UP ON ROTORS. THIS CAUSED THE ROTORS TO GET VERY HOT. WE FEEL THAT THIS WAS DUE TO FAULTY METAL USED FOR THE ROTORS> HYUNDAI SAID IT WAS A ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. WE FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HYUNDAI REPORTS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES SEIZED UP AND BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED AND THERE WAS RUST BUILD UP ON THE ROTORS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,282 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000.

PROBLEM WITH CALIPERS ON VEHICLE STICKING AND NOT RELEASING THE BRAKES FROM THE ROTOR, CAUSING THE ROTOR AND TIRE RIM TO REACH TEMPERATURES OVER 300 DEGREES. *TR

MY 2007 HYUNDAI SANTE FE WAS EXPERIENCING BRAKE OVERHEATING FROM DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKE AND MILD HEATING WITH PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKES. AT 28K MILES I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SITUATION. THE BRAKES HAD FAILED VERY PREMATURELY DUE TO THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND CLEANED AND LUBED THE BRAKE SLIDES, AND REPLACED THE OVERHEATED DAMAGED PADS TO THE TUNE OF $389. I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE 3YR 36K MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AS THERE WAS AN EXCEPTION TO THIS FOR THE BRAKES, THEY WERE ONLY 1 YR 12K FOR THE WARRANTY AS I AM IN A "SEVERE" OPERATING ZONE IN UPSTATE NY. I HAVE CHECKED MANY OTHER FORUMS ON THIS SUBJECT AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS TO BE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES AND ALMOST ALWAYS IT IS THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR CALIPER THAT FAILS. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE BRAKES ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE AND HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY HYUNDAI AMERICA. I PLACED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT BASICALLY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS AS THEY SAID THEY DISPOSED OF THEM PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL. I HAVE ALWAYS SERVICED MY VEHICLE MYSELF ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS AND NO WHERE DOES IT STATE THE BRAKES NEED TO BE LUBRICATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKES WERE WORN. THE CALIPER IS RUSTED SHUT AND THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE DESTROYED. HE MUST PURCHASE NEW CALIPERS, RODS, AND ROTORS AT THE COST OF $405. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,127. UPDATED 06/25/09 *BF UPDATED 06/26/09.*JB