Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Park N Fly Mississauga Canada. Vehicle in parked position. Vehicle reversed from position and driven for 50-75 feet. Driver made a left turn and within two seconds the vehicle started accelerating on its own. Driver's head and hands bounced off the steering for a brief moment and then returned. Engine could be heard revving continuously in an increasing manner. Nothing on the gas pedal nor was it manually depressed. The pedal felt stuck with no recoil like what is usually felt when ones foot is taken off the accelerator. Driver attempted to depress brakes to maximum capacity but the system would not override the acceleration and the motion the car was travelling. Car continued to pickup speed to about 70 km/hr. Attempted to slightly turn into a side lane. Cars were parked in facing each other position. …
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds with the cruise control activated, the cruise control failed to disengage when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact pulled over, placed the vehicle in neutral, and restarted the vehicle for the cruise control to disengage. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed, but the brake lights failed to illuminate. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V122000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The failure mileage was 82,500. Parts distribution disconnect.
We bought the car from on a Sunday afternoon it was my gift for mother's day, the same day we drove the car of the lot the car stall for the first time and we call the dealership to ask about the problem. The dealership stated to bring the car in. After a few hours I received a call to come pick up the car. My husband was very surprise to know the car had stall and asked if there was something wrong with the car and we were told all it needed was a battery change. My husband proceeded to ask for management but the sales associate told us that it was normal for a car to stall once in a while??? My husband was frustrated with everyone, the sales associate informed us that the car had 3 previous owners only because they had purchased the same car newer. …
In 8/2015 we experienced an occurrence of sudden, unintended acceleration on a city street while driving. My wife was able to stop the vehicle by hard braking and shutting the engine off. She was able to drive it home and we had it towed to the Hyundai dealer. They diagnosed the problem: "...checked and found vehicle throttle body to have a poor responce (sic)." they replaced the throttle body for a charge of $597.94, informing me that it wasn't covered under the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. The problem recurred today (7/14/2015), again while driving on a city street. When I called the service manager to report the incident I was told to drop the vehicle off and they'd look at it. I'll have it towed in to the shop, as this is not a condition with which I'd not care to drive. …
Sudden unintended acceleration 2007 Santa Fe Hyundai - 2nd time around..this time on a private road car engine revved up , all brake systems failed, could not shift into neutral - mechanism would not move, had to hold on the stirring wheel and ride it out.; saw main thoroughfare coming up swerved into gas station; saw wall had thought to swerve into street; would have toppled vehicle saw small park went across thoroughfare unto park area; understood car was airborne and when it hit the ground went on two wheels on the right hand side and then came down unto the 4; stirred strait into clearing between trees; sampling and dirt stopped vehicle. 1 passenger contests he has slight fracture on skull; the near fatality might have been to a plausible number of children, parents, adults , cars and tractor trailers on main road. This could have been . …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle began to accelerate independently without warning. Due to the unintended acceleration, the contact had to depress her brake pedal to the floor board as well as use her emergency hand brake in order to slow down the vehicle. Once the contact eased her foot of the brake pedal, the vehicle began to accelerate. Due to the force applied to her brakes, smoke began to emit from vehicle's exhaust pipe. The contact had to coast the vehicle until a parking lot until the vehicle came to a complete stop. The contact then turned off the vehicle and called titus-will Hyundai 2255 carriage loop sw, olympia, wa 98502 where they informed her to have the vehicle towed to there dealer. …
While accelerating to pass a car, my accelerator got stuck and I couldn't get my car to stop with the brakes. This had happened once before, a couple of years ago and I was able to get it 'unstuck' by pumping brake and accelerator. I took the car in to be checked and the dealer said they couldn't 'recreate' the issue and that it was probably my floor mats. I basically chalked it up as a fluke, although I never agreed with the floor mat scenario. When it happened this time, I tried pumping brakes, accelerator, downshifting, etc. And the car slowed down some, but wouldn't actually stop until I ran into the back of another car. Even then, the engine was revving and the only way I could get it to stop was to turn it off. I was too afraid to drive it again so it was towed and is being checked for mechanical malfunction. …
For the last three years I have had issues with my fuel gauge not working. I have taken it in and was told it would cost a good amount of money to fix. I asked if this is a common problem with massey Hyundai and they told me yes this is a current issue, and could not be recalled because it was not dangerous. So on 3.9.17 as a result of not fixing this issue with my vehicle because of the price. My car has stalled out once while on the interstate and almost lost control of my car and crashed. And a second time while turning into work road and stalling out again mid turn and almost turning into a ditch. I was told that the fuel sensor needed to be replaced and they had to do both because they weren't sure which one it is. …
After starting my vehicle and proceeded to work my Santa Fe ESC light came on and the car went into a "limp mode". It slowed down to 10 MPH and wouldn't let me accelerate. I pulled over and I could feel the engine sputtering. I turned off the engine and waited a minute. Turned the engine back on and proceeded to work without incident. Now no matter when I drive whether its a cold start or after 30 minutes of driving the vehicle goes into limp mode. While driving at a slow speed on back roads is not a serious issue I feel that when I am on the highway traveling at 65mph and it happens is a major safety issue. This has happened on numerous occasions and I no longer feel safe in my vehicle. I have done some research on this problem and I am not the only one. This is a serious issues that I feel needs to be addressed by Hyundai immediately before someone gets injured or killed.
When sitting in a traffic jam car starting jumping like it was going to turn off traffic started to move on the highway and the car seemed like it was choking then the check engine light went on I made it to the car shop they put it on the machine they said it was a coil pack and this year Santa Fe was known for this problem got it fix and they car still shakes like it wants to turn off it's driving me crazy the vibration when at a still mode is so annoying Hyundai knows this problem exists why dont they recall them I just wish I could find the problem and fix it honestly it is annoying worrying if the car will shut off and leave me stuck somewhere alone late at night because I work 3 to 11 pm please help
NHTSA investigations
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.
Acceleration complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 58 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, 8% of the model year's 684 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 10 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.