Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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).
The contact's daughter owns a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that her daughter informed her that the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds and also while the vehicle was idling. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced tire failures with the vehicle despite having the front-end aligned. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic who aligned the wheels and replaced the tires. The contact was unsure if any other repairs had been performed on the vehicle. The failure had persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
My car has active recalls for the brake switch (prevents brake lights from working properly) and systems related to proper airbag deployment. In addition, there is a service recall (it doesn't show in your database, but it is Hyundai Service Campaign 936 [redacted] ) related to the valve gasket literally dumping oil out to the point that it destroys the alternator - it destroyed my AC Compressor, too! That's not the main point of this, but it's relevant in general. I have been attempting to schedule an appointment to get these issues resolved, but all local dealers tell me the recalls have "expired" and refuse to even look at the car. Some legitimately stop answering the phone when I call at this point, it just rings forever. …
At 3:30 p.m. I was in my 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe on my driveway, waiting for the garage door to go up. My foot was on the brake. Without warning, the car accelerated. (the 20 MPH shown above is approximate.) the car ran into the garage door and knocked it off its tracks. It crashed into built-in wooden cabinets along the side of the garage and came to rest against a wooden platform at the front of the garage. My foot did not leave the brake pedal during this time. The garage door and wooden cabinets were destroyed. The car was declared to be unrepairable. I was considerably shaken up but luckily not injured physically.
Our 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe has loud noise from the back wheels. Took to the dealer. The dealer said the brake rotors and calipers were rusted. For safety concern, the dealer advised that we have both rotors and calipers changed. It was 6/29/2015 and the car has driven only 257664 miles. Reportedly, dealer replaced rotors and caliper with OEM parts. Within 3 months. We notices the rotors are rusted. We took the car back to the dealer on 9/26/2015 and was told, nothing they can do. Asked us to contact Hyundai corp. On 9/29/2015, we contacted Hyundai USA, but Hyundai kept saying it has passed the 5-year warranty for brake, and ignore the OEM parts rusted with 3000 miles and 3 months. When pointed this out, Hyundai practically ignore our concern. Our cars are always kept inside garage. …
I have a problem with the ESC unit. I can be driving down the road and the right hand front break will all of a sudden at radium grab and jerk the car to the right. This problem has occurred at speeds ranging from 35 to 70 MPH. I have taken the car to the Hyundai dealership 3 or 4 time to get the problem fixed and have spent $1,300.00 and they still haven't fixed the problem. I am being told we don't find anything wrong. We never know when it is going to happen and I can only hope that it doesn't happen when in a situation that it causes someone to get hurt or killed. I have asked that either disconnect the ESC system or reverse it so that it is not on until you need it and the Hyundai service people say that can't be done. I do not believe that is correct but they are the Smart people on the car. …
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 waiting to cross a railroad crossing the two cars ahead of me started moving. The first car suddenly stopped causing the 2nd car to hit it. I slammed on my brakes but my car surged ahead into the car in front of me causing much damage of that car and considerable damage, (undrivable) to my car. Police were called and a report take,. I srepped on my brakes hard yet I surged forward very fast. About three months earlier I experienced the same problem comming out of a store parking lot onto a busy road. I applied my brake only to have the car keep going forward almost entering on coming traffic. I could only assume when I applied the brake my food hit the accelerator on the down push. I feel the same thing happened during the aug. 4, 2011 accident. …
3/18 driving down a road hit a large pothole ESC off and ABS lights pop on the dash press the ESC button which did nothing.I stop in a parking lot turn the car off and then back on the lights came back on as I pulled away the lights turned off. 3/19 I was driving at about 25-30 and all of a sudden the ESC off and ABS lights came one once again I park at the grocery store to shop. Leaving the grocery store I turn on the vehicle on the dash the same lights are light up as I pull away they turn off NHTSA campaign number: 09V122000 is a recall in place for this issue on my make and model vehicle but it starts for the Santa fes that were manufactured from April of 2007 and further. My Santa Fe was manufactured in mid March of 2007 please look into adding my vehicle to NHTSA campaign number: 09V122000.
My 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe suddenly accelerated when I attempted to apply the brakes to slow down so I could get into a left hand turning lane. As soon as I touched the brakes, the car revved up and accelerated to a very high speed on its own. I'm not sure how fast I was going, but fast enough to throw me back against the car seat as I ran through a red light unable to stop. I tried the brakes again but they didn't work.. Shifting the car into neutral or any other gear did nothing to slow or stop the car either. I finally reached down and turned the key off, at which time I lost my power steering. I steered into an open field, hit a fence, and continued quite a ways the car was stopped by an incline to a ravine.
Sometimes when I make a left or ight turn, the anti lock brakes cause the vehicle to slow down. This isn't the only issue but the car turns off and the steering locks. Im not able to turn or stop. This happens when im at a very slow speed while turning. It happened numerous times. I went online and it was many compliants and reviews on the 2003 to 2006 models. Im really afraid this can cause a collision. Im not the only person who had issues with my vehicle. This happened when I got off the interstate and made a turn on a street while steering. Someone need to investigate this issue. I had other recalls on my vehicle in the past.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Elantra and 2009-2011 Elantra Touring vehicles. On February 21, 2020 Hyundai expanded the recall to include 46,425 model year 2007-2008 Entourage and 2007 Santa Fe vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2020.
Brake complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 87 complaints about the brakes of the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, 13% of the model year's 684 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-061 (control unit/module, Feb 4, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 2 fires and 5 injuries to brakes 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.