2007 Hyundai Santa Fe VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VISOR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WAS HANGING BY WIRES THEN CAME OFF AT 75,000 MILES NOW AT 114,000 MILES PASSENGER SIDE HANGING BY WIRES

THE DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AFTER A ROAD TRIP, DURING WHICH IT WAS NOT EVEN USED MUCH. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM, AND I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE WHICH GIVES AN EXAMPLE OF THE COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS EXACTLY OCCURRED FOR ONE OF MY SUN VISORS. THIS IS A FRUSTRATING PROBLEM, AND I HAVE NEEDED TO SPEND THE PAST 3 WEEKS DRIVING ONE-HANDED BECAUSE MY OTHER HAND IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE SUN VISOR FROM TOTALLY IMPAIRING MY VISION. I HAVE EVEN DEVELOPED PAIN IN MY ARM WHICH I MOST COMMONLY USE TO SUPPORT THE VISOR WHILE DRIVING. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT PREVENTS DRIVING WITH 2 HANDS. MY VISION IS TOTALLY OBSCURED WHEN IT IS NOT SUPPORTED BECAUSE I AM TALL PERSON (6'5"). IT IS AN ISSUE ALWAYS, WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVING OR PARKED.

THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BECAME DISENGAGED, SO THE VISOR FELL DOWN. IT FELL DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND COMPLETELY DISTRACTED ME AND BLOCKED MY VIEW. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT IS NOT JUST "LOOSE". IT IS ACTUALLY DISENGAGED. I TRIED (UNSUCCESSFULLY) TO HOT GLUE GUN IT TOGETHER.

DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. PART BROKE INSIDE RECESSED BODY. IT SHEARED OFF WHERE THE PLASTIC ARM HAS A LARGER DIAMETER FOR RETENTION. VISOR HUNG DOWN BY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OBSCURING VISION. VISOR WAS NOT IN USE AT TIME OF FAILURE. VISION FORWARD WAS COMPLETELY OBSCURED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE VISOR AND HOLD IT OUT OF THE WAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR OPENED, SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND FAILED TO LOCK BACK IN PLACE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ONE DAY LATER, THE VISOR COMPLETELY FRACTURED FROM THE ATTACHMENT POINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VISOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

AS I WAS DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR BECAME DETACHED UNEXPECTEDLY AND BLOCKED MY VISION. BECAUSE IT WAS ATTACHED BY A WIRE (FOR THE LIGHTED MIRROR), IT WAS DANGLING AND I HAD TO HOLD IT UP WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE TO A SAFE LOCATION TO PARK. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE VISOR HIGH ENOUGH OUT OF THE WAY AND BE ABLE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A FASTER SPEED, OR CORNERING. RECALL THESE VISORS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED!

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WAS HANGING BY THE MIRROR WIRES. LUCKILY IT WAS HELD UP SOMEWHAT WITH THE CLIP. THE PLASTIC ON THE PIVOT SIDE IS CHEAP AND CRACKED RIGHT OFF, THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR IT AND A REPLACEMENT IS 140.00. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA SUN VISORS FOR THE SAME ISSUE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DETACHED AND OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER SIDE VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

DRIVERS SIDE VISOR CAME DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THUS BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. VISOR ULTIMATELY FELL COMPLETELY OFF WITH ONLY WIRES DANGLING. A CRASH WAS BARELY AVOIDED HAD IT NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY A YOUNG EXPERIENCED FEMALE DRIVER. WITHIN 30 MINUTES THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR DID THE SAME ALTHOUGH IT HELD ON BY THE WIRES. THIS OCCURRED WITH A PASSENGER OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THIS SITUATION IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER NEARLY CAUSED A PILEUP ON THE BUSIEST STRETCH OF FREEWAY IN RENO NEVADA KNOW AS THE SPAGHETTI BOWL. ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED A SIMILAR SITUATION. HYUNDAI AND THE DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND LIBEL FOR ANY SUCH CAUSES OF PAST, PRESENT OR FUTURE INCIDENTS AND AN IMMEDIATE RECALL ISSUED BEFORE ANY FURTHER LOSS OF PROPERTY OR LIFE. DOCUMENTATION ON THE INTERNET CONFIRM THAT DEALERSHIPS AND MANUFACTURE ARE AWARE. REPAIR SHOULD BE MADE AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE AS THIS IS A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP AND PRODUCT. AT LEAST, AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE MADE REGARDING THIS EXTREME HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED 11/20/14. *TR

THIS IS NOT THE 1ST TIME. MY PASSENGER SUNVISOR ARM BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND HIT MY PASSENGER IN THE HEAD. SEVERAL YEARS AGO MY DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR BROKE AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD WHILE DRIVING, VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AN APPARENTLY THERE IS A DEFECT AND A RECALL FOR THE 2007 SONATA, BUT NOT THE SANTA FE. NOT SURE WHY BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND A KNOWN DEFECT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR FAILED AND BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE PLASTIC MOUNT HOLDER, CAUSING THE SUN VISOR TO HANG BY THE WIRES. THE SUN VISORS WERE ALSO OBSTRUCTING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SUN VISOR WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,500.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP INTO THE SETTING SUN WHEN MY DRIVERS SIDE SIN VISOR FLOPPED DOWN IN FRONT OF ME. IT HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE UPPER HOLDER EVIDENTLY AND WAS DANGLING BY THE TWO VANITY MIRROR WIRES. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE RAMP WITHOUT BEING HIT, BUT NOT SURE HOW. I NOTICE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS LODGES FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED. THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR MOUNT FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING THE SUN VISOR TO FALL DOWN AND DANGLE IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER BY THE ELECTRIC WIRE THAT RUNS INSIDE THE HINGE. THE VISOR DANGLED IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER BLOCKING THE VIEW, AND STARTLING THE DRIVER. HAD TO DISASSEMBLE THE VISOR HINGE TO REMOVE THE VISOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE SAFELY DRIVEN. UPON INSPECTION IT IS CLEAR THAT THE VISOR HINGE / BALL JOINT IS POORLY DESIGNED, WITH A PLASTIC TUBE LESS THAN 0.5MM THICK HOLDING THE ENTIRE VISOR AND FORCES WHILE IT IS MANIPULATED BY THE DRIVER. IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY ALL FAIL. WHILE PASSENGER SIDE FAILURE IS LESS DANGEROUS, DRIVER SIDE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND STARTLING IF OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. A GOOGLE SEARCH DEMONSTRATED THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY HYUNDAI OWNERS OF VARIOUS MODELS. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART DESIGN, AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED SO MANUFACTURER CAN REPLACE THE VISORS WITH BETTER DESIGNED VERSIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FRACTURED AND WOULD HANG ABNORMALLY, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION OF THE ROADWAY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

SUNVISOR FELL OFF. SMALL PLASTIC RING HOLDING THE SUNVISOR POST BROKE ALLOWING THE VISOR TO FALL AND BLOCK VISIBILITY. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ON LINE COMMENTING ON THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE WHILE MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. IT CAME DOWN BLOCKING HER LINE OF SITE AND NEARLY WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AS IT WAS STOP AND GO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. AFTER RESEARCHING, THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR YEARS BACK TO 2007 AND THERE ARE ENDLESS POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS HYUNDAI HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT TAKE MONEY TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. THE SONATA HAD A RECALL ON IT, SO CLEARLY THEY KNOW ITS AN ISSUE. IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW, THE PLASTIC IS VERY, VERY THIN. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 90000 MILES, THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD NO LONGER STAY "UP". IT BEGAN HANGING DOWN, WITH THE WIRES EXPOSED. WE DID NOT TAKE IT TO A DEALER, BUT REMOVED THE VISOR. NOW, AT 150000 MILES, THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR DID THE SAME THING WHILE DRIVING, IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. I HAD TO HOLD IT UP OUT MY VIEW UNTIL I ARRIVED HOME. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN JUST HANGING BY THE WIRES BLOCKING MY SITE OF THE ROAD. I PUSHED THE POST BACK UP INTO THE HOLE AND IT FELL AGAIN. IT STAYS FOR A WHILE BUT I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL FALL AGAIN. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER SAYS THE VISOR MUST BE REPLACED. IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

WE OWN A 2007 SANTA FE THAT OVERALL WE HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH. IN DECEMBER 2012 WITH JUST OVER 60,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR 2 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM THE LEFT SIDE. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND AFFECTED THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. WE TRIED TO PUT IT TO THE SIDE, AND PULLED OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PUSH THE PLASTIC PART BACK INTO THE SOCKET. A FEW MINUTES ON THE ROAD AND THE VISOR FELL AGAIN CAUSING MORE DANGEROUS DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. FOR OUR SAFETY WE HAD TO RIP THE WIRE OUT TO FULLY REMOVE THE VISOR. NOW WE ARE LEFT WITH NO VISOR TO KEEP THE SUN OUT OF OUR EYES. HERE WE ARE 6 MONTHS LATER AT 68,000 MILES AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DID THE SAME THING. SLIGHTLY LESS DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER, BUT DANGEROUS NONE THE LESS. WE ARE BEYOND OUR INITIAL WARRANTY AND THE VISORS ARE NOT COVERED ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SAID, 'THE VISORS SHOULD BE COVERED,WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME'. AFTER A QUICK REVIEW ON THE WEB I SEE THAT MANY HYUNDAI DRIVERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR DANGEROUS EXPERIENCES. IT SEEMS SOME OF THE VISORS WERE EVEN PART OF A RECALL, BUT NOT THE 2007 SANTA FE. WE DON'T USE OUR VISORS EXCESSIVELY AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY WEIGHT ON THEM, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE COVERED OR EVEN RECALLED AS IT PLACES PEOPLE IN DANGER WHEN IT FALLS DOWN, HANGS BY THE CORD, AND DISTRACTS DRIVERS. IN LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER THERE IS A SMALL PIECE OF THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE VISORS IN PLACE THAT BROKE ON BOTH OF THEM. THIS WOULD BE AN EASY FIX TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY ACCIDENTS. *TR

WE FLIPPED DOWN THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR AS USUAL AND ALWAYS TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE BUT THIS TIME YOU COULD HEAR IT CRACK. FROM THAT MOMENT ON WE WERE FIGHTING WITH IT WHILE DRIVING MANY TIMES. IT BECAME TO OSERIOUS OF A DRIVING HAZARD MIXED WITH A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY AS THE VISOR LIGHT WOULD STAY ON DUE TO THE WIRE INSULATION BREAKING THROUGH FROM WEAR DUE TO STRESS FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE HANGING VISOR AND REPEATEDLY FALLING. THIS SAME VISOR WAS A RECALL ON THE2007 HYUNDAI SONATA BUT NOT THE 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE??? WHY NOT??? *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR FELL DOWN. WE POPPED IT BACK IN BUT COULD SEE THE WIRES HANGING OUT. WE CONTINUED TO POP IT BACK IN. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS IT EVENTUALLY BROKE OFF AND NOW IT IS NOT ABLE TO BE USED AT ALL. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR HAS FALLEN DOWN. I CAN CURRENTLY POP IT BACK IT BUT IT DOES NOT STAY UP LONG. I HAVE NEVER EVEN HAD TO REPLACE A VISOR ON A CAR BEFORE. YOU CAN SEE ON BOTH PARTS WHERE THE CHEAP PLASTIC BROKE OFF. THERE IS DEFINITELY AND ISSUE WITH THESE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I AM NOT CONFIDENT IN THE PART AND FEAR THAT IF I REPLACE IT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 295 IN NEW JERSEY DURING THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, THE DRIVERSIDE SUN VISOR DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTING POINT AND DROPPED INTO MY LINE OF DRIVING VISION. THIS EVENT STARTLED ME AND PREVENTED ME FROM SEEING WHERE I WAS DRIVING. I MOVED TO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER AND TEMPORARILY PROPPED-UP THE SUN VISOR TO PREVENT MY VISION BEING BLOCKED AGAIN. THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD DRIFTED INTO ANOTHER LANE OF THE INTERSTATE AND SIDESWIPED AN 18-WHEELER. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. HAVING RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET, I SEE MANY INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING. AS AN ENGINEER, I SEE THE SUN VISOR SUPPORT AS BOTH INADEQUATE AND POORLY DESIGNED. CONSIDERING THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES FROM A BLOCKING OF VISION, I WOULD FIND HYUNDAI TO BE BOTH NEGLIGENT AND IRRESPONSIBLE IF A RECALL WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY ISSUED FOR THE DEFECT. *TR

THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SUDDENLY CAME OFF FROM THE MOUNT THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE. THE ACTUAL MOUNT WAS STILL ON, HELD BY THREE SCREWS. HOWEVER, THE VISOR CAME OFF AT THE HINGE. I WAS CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT COMPLETELY BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE LANE TO MY RIGHT HAND SIDE AND I CAME CLOSE TO CRASHING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF REPORTS NOTING THAT THESE VISORS COME OFF SUDDENLY BECAUSE THEY ARE HELD TO THE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY BY WHAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A RUBBER BAND. HEAT AND TIME EVENTUALLY CAUSE IT TO CRACK. IF THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FALLS IN THIS FASHION IT WILL LOCK ITSELF BETWEEN THE DASH BOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WILL PREVENT ME FROM STEERING THE CAR. NOT TO MENTION, BLOCK MY FIELD OF VIEW AS IT FALLS FORWARD. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO DO THE HYUNDAI DEALER ON OCTOBER 10, 2012 REPAIR "OFF THE BOOKS". THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE PART SEPARATE FROM MY REPAIR BILL BUT INSTALL IT FOR FREE SO THAT THERE WOULD BE NO PAPER TRAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED ME THAT THIS HAPPENS A LOT TO THE SANTA FE MODELS. I HAVE PICTURES THAT CAN BE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT IF NEEDED. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE DRIVER SUNVISOR JUST BROKE OFF AND FELL RIGHT INFRONT OF ME, BECAUSE OF THE WIRES TO THE MIRROR ON THE SUNVISOR, THE SUNVISOR WAS JUST HANGING IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE SUNVISOR CHANGED AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT HYUNDAI HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS IN DIFFERENT VEHICLE MODELS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE LIMITED WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED ASAP. *TR