NHTSA Complaint #10681386 — 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

FUEL LEVEL GAGE READOUT IS FAULTY, PROVIDING ERRONEOUS AND IRREGULARLY FLUCTUATING READINGS ON REMAINING GAS LEVELS. TOOK IT TO DENNIS HYUNDAI OF DUBLIN OH AND WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS IS A REGULAR PROBLEM ON 2007 SANTA FE'S. HE SAID THE YELLOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT SPORADICALLY LIGHTS IS TRIGGERED BY FAULTY GAS LEVEL SENSOR. THE DEALER CLEARED THE TROUBLE CODE FOR ME AND SUGGESTED I NOT WASTE MY MONEY ON THE COSTLY REPAIR OF THE SENSOR AND USE MY ODOMETER TO TRACK WHEN I SHOULD FILL THE TANK. UNFORTUNATELY THE ODOMETER IS NOT DESIGNED OR INTENDED FOR THIS PURPOSE. MOST OF THE TIME THE FUEL LEVEL GAGE ON THE DASHBOARD READS COMPLETELY EMPTY SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUEL REMAINS IN MY TANK. ALSO WITH THE YELLOW CHECK ENGINE CONTINUALLY LIT I'LL HAVE NO PRACTICAL WAY OF KNOWING IF SOME OTHER EMISSION CONTROL FAULT HAPPENS WITHOUT REPEATEDLY HAVING TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO VERIFY THE TROUBLE CODE CAUSE. GAS GAUGES SERVE A VITAL ROLE IN KEEPING THE DRIVER INFORMED OF WHEN THE TANK NEEDS MORE FUEL. WITHOUT A RELIABLE FUNCTIONING GAUGE THERE IS CONTINUAL RISK OF DEPLETING THE FUEL, RESULTING IN A STALLED ENGINE AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING, GREATLY INCREASING RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. IT IS EVIDENT FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED ON THIS PROBLEM THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR DEFECT IN THE PARTS OR SYSTEM INVOLVING THIS FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND GAUGE. ISN'T TIME HYUNDAI BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING/FUNDING A REMEDY FOR THIS DEFECT? *TR