NHTSA Complaint #10704384 — 2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE TENDS TO WANDER AND REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTIONS TO KEEP IT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE EVEN ON A STRAIGHT LEVEL ROAD WITH NO WIND, AND WILL SOMETIMES VEER OFF QUICKLY IN EITHER DIRECTION, LEAVING ITS LANE, FOR NO APPARENT REASON.THIS CAN BE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE--ESPECIALLY A TRUCK. WHEN DRIVING FOR A LONG DISTANCE, IT IS ALSO VERY TIRING TO CONSTANTLY HAVE TO BE "STEERING" THE VEHICLE ALL DAY LONG. MY DESCRIPTION OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS THAT, "IT IS LIKE HERDING A CAT DOWN THE HIGHWAY.". I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY DEALER TWICE: THE FIRST TIME THEY CHECKED ALIGNMENT (NOTHING FOUND), THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL KUHMO TIRES WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES FROM A 2015 SANTA FE (THIS MADE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT, AND MADE THE VEHICLE DRIVABLE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS). I THEN WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER (THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, BUT DID SUGGEST INCREASING THE TIRE PRESSURE TO 40 PSI). I THEN CONTACTED HYUNDAI CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY SUGGESTIONS/RECALL/ETC. & ALTHOUGH THEY WERE VERY PLEASANT TO TALK WITH, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH IT WILL COST ME ALMOST $10,000 TO MAKE A CHANGE; BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE DECIDED TO SELL THE VEHICLE, AS I FEEL THAT IT IS TOO UNSAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. (I ALSO HAVE A 2008 SANTA FE, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW, AND WHICH HAS NEVER HAD ANY KIND OF STEERING/HANDLING ISSUE.). *TR