Hyundai Santa Fe ABS Problems?

Depending on the year of your Hyundai Santa Fe, it may actually be under recall for problems with the ABS and brake system. These sport utility vehicles have undergone several problems and owners have made numerous complaints about ABS issues even on cars that were not involved in the recalled years.
The 2003 and 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe models were recalled due to a problem with the ABS system. In these years, it was noticed that owners experienced a vibration which resulted in a sensor electronic signal noise. This noise caused the ABS to activate and therefore extended the stopping distance for the vehicle.  Anyone owning a 2003 or 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe could return the car to the dealership for the necessary repairs to the ABS system.
The 2007 and 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe faced recalls for various brake problems that could occur with the vehicles and the 2001 to 2003 models faced recalls for suspension problems. There have also been recalls for fuel systems, air bags and tires in recent years.
Many Santa Fe owners have shared similar problems with the ABS system in their vehicle even if it was not a part of the recall. The most common issue begins with the tone ring separating from the axle and continues to progress until everything including the axle has been replaced. In some cases, owners have said even full replacement did not solve the problem. Most noticed their first problems when they felt pulsating when the brake was applied. No lights or warnings indicated a problem.

I had the same thing on my 2005;pedal jittering at slow to normal speeds. The dealer redid all the brakes and calipers which did nothing. I left it with them for a couple of days and it happened to a tech wile driving with an analyzer hooked up. They found a fractured tone wheel with a few teeth missing. Seems to be working well now.

I have a 2002 hyundai santa fe and I was just told that the front abs seal is cracked what is that and can it be fixed outside of the of the shop

Thank you for your response. The light is not on. I actually feel the peddle pulsating when I brake at normal speeds. I could be driving five miles per hour on a dry road and the brakes will start pumping. It doesn't happen everytime, but it is definitely happening when it shouldn't. This problem has just surfaced in the last few months.

I have a 2002 Santa Fe with 90k on. I am also a qualified car technician for Honda. When the wife was driving she reported that the ABS light had illuminated whilst driving. I jumped in, but no light on dash, everything seemed ok. About a week later when I was driving I felt a light pulse on the brake pedal from the ABS, I was doing approx 10mph, and there was no chance the wheels were locking up. This has happened a few times so I decided to give her a look over when I next took her in. This week I have had the ABS light come on for me twice, neither time I was braking. Ignition cycle (on then off) immediately turned the light off, and it stayed off. I had the car in this Saturday to fit an auxiliary tensioner so I had the OSF wheel off. I decided to visually inspect the ABS sensors before I took it to my mate's garage to code read the ABS (our Honda system won't talk to Hyundai).
I found the cause of the problem just by looking. The ABS inductor ring had broken. This causes a larger air gap, which the ABS sensor uses to detect wheel speed. I checked the other 3, they were all ok. For anyone who does not know where these are they are on the end of the Constant Velocity or CV joint, just before it attatches into the hub, and the teeth look like a castles turrets. You can get replacement ABS rings or get a full new CV joint for not very much from eBay (rings about £8, CV joints approx £25). But if you want to fit just the ring the new one must be expanded by heating up with a blowtorch before fitting, much easier to fit the whole joint as they're that cheap! This seems to be a common problem, and the dealers are missing it because the light is not always on. If you can gain access to the underside of the vehicle so you can turn the wheels then it is fairly easy to check yourself with a torch/flashlight. Hope that helps somebody!

I have the very same problem with my 2001 sante fe. I have had the vehicle into hyundai on 2 occasions over the past 2 years now and they were not able to diagnose what it was.I have researched this problem on line and discovered that it is also a problem on the 2003 -2004 models and that they have a recall on this for the 03-04 models but not the 2001. It has gotten worse now and it happens at least 3- 4 times during my 20 minute drive into town. I took it in again this month and now they tell me that I indeed have a faulty abs system as described in the recalled models but because my year is not on the recall list the repair will cost me $1300.00! Whats up with this?

Also a problem for my 2001 Santa Fe. Quick fix is to disconnect the ABS unit, which leaves the  warning lights on the dashboard. Perhaps removing the fuse is a better quick fix.
I was going to replace the system with a second hand wreckers part.  Maybe that is not such a good idea, based on the above conversation.

I have a 2005 Santa Fe.  PLEASE let me know where to look for a recall list.  I have had the same problems others have had.  Hyundai advised me that I have to have the axle replaced for the SECOND times.  The extended warranty I paid a fortune for covered the axle the first time, but now say that they actually covered it in error the first time and will not cover it now.  Help?

Sher

I am responding to my own entry so others may see what occurred.  This site lead me to check my extended warranty.  I emailed my Hyundai service manager and he assured me that the axle is indeed covered by my warranty.  I do not know why the previous service manager told me it was not, but am very happy that it is covered.  He advised me that the repair will only take an hour and will only cost me my $50 deductible!  

Thanks so much,

Sher

ABS problems can get very difficult to diagnose. There is a sensor at each wheel or in the area to notify the system if that wheel is turning or not. Then there is the valve system that reduces the pressure on those wheels that are not turning when the rest are.

By you saying the ABS comes on, does that mean that the light comes on possibly indicating there is a problem or do you actually feel the peddle pulsating to reduce the pressure thinking a wheel is not turning when it should?

I have a 2001 Santa Fe and had the same problem (01/2008 70,000).  We went to the dealer 3 times and they couldn't find the problem.  When the ABS failed so bad it was continually locking up they replaced the left front drive axle (tone ring separated from axle), a bushing that collapsed, and right front lower control arm.  All under warranty. 01/2010 (90,000) it just started again.  Went to a different dealer and showed them previous repair.  They took it apart and found the same issues.  Again repair under warranty. Also first repair was not put into Hyundai data base, luckily we saved a copy of our repair report. This sounds like a defect that should be in a recall but appears to be being kept out of the Hyundai tracking system.

Front drive axles