[tedrik]

I periodically log on to Edmunds.com to read the latest customer reviews of the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. Most are very good reviews ( happy owners). The latest review was a customer stating that there was a continuous THUMPING noise during normal driving if the gas tank was not FULL on her 2010 SE, 3.5 v-6. She gave the Santa Fe a bad review based on this. She further stated she took the vehicle to the dealer where they gave her a loaner (4 cyl.) and it did the same thing. The service department told her "that's the way it is" on the 2010's! I am perplexed! I'm beginning to imagine a THUMPING noise now!! LOL-power of suggestion? Anyone have any ideas/theories/experiences on the subject? I would have thought I would have seen something on this board if it was a real problem. Is the owner/reviewer maybe a bit bonkers!

UPDATE: Ok-yesterday I was driving around RAFB on some uneven roads and I listened very closely as I drove over the minor road imperfections/small bumps. I did hear/feel a thumping noise. When I entered the smoother surface road leading to the exit gate-NO thumping. Bottom line: it doesn't bother me-when driving on bumpy roads I think you're going to hear a bit of suspension noise (IMO). I'd rather hear the thumping noise than a louder clanging/mechanical noise. I have the solaris 21 tires and that could be the thumping noise. Again-no big deal to me.

 

[jabarker219]

I have some thumping coming from the suspension. Most noticable in the right front. I am pretty convinced it is the tires or the stiff suspension. Had all the sway bar links checked at my last service at they are all tight. So I have been just living with it.

 

[Don67]

QUOTE (jb10 @ Jul 20 2010, 03:04 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=343254

I have some thumping coming from the suspension. Most noticable in the right front. I am pretty convinced it is the tires or the stiff suspension. Had all the sway bar links checked at my last service at they are all tight. So I have been just living with it.

That is the most likely cause. It is normal for Santa Fes to display a bit of suspension "thumping" on some surfaces, and if the stabilizer links go bad it only gets worse. But it's hardly a serious problem. Even if the stabilizer links do go bad it is little more than an acoustic nuisance, and fully covered by warranty.

 

[pen411]

QUOTE (tedrik @ Jul 20 2010, 12:24 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=343224

the Santa Fe a bad review based on this. She further stated she took the vehicle to the dealer where they gave her a loaner (4 cyl.) and it did the same thing.

I've got an 09 with the 2.7l v6 and it has a low rumble at idle with the a/c on (regardless of in gear/neutral/park), dealer said they compared it to another, and it was worse. If I lived in a high traffic area, that alone would be a deal breaker for buying the vehicle, having to listen to that deep rhythmic rumble would give me a headache after a few minutes. All it needs is to idle a bit faster than 600 rpm, stupid epa regs.

A thumping certainly isn't normal, and the santa fe's suspension is not stiff by any comparison.

 

[PoMansAWD]

QUOTE (pen411 @ Jul 21 2010, 01:29 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=343607

I've got an 09 with the 2.7l v6 and it has a low rumble at idle with the a/c on (regardless of in gear/neutral/park)....

Is the noise from the a/c compressor? I have a 2008 2.7L AWD and it's whisper quiet at idle with the a/c on aside from the whine of the auxiliary cooling fan that kicks on with the a/c. I guess I've been lucky w/ no thumps/clunks either. I'm at 53Kmi.

Joel

 

[lovemysantafe]

Thumping but only when the fuel tank is full? Anybody consider that it might be fuel sloshing around in the tank?

 

[Don67]

QUOTE (lovemysantafe @ Jul 21 2010, 06:00 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=343701

Thumping but only when the fuel tank is full? Anybody consider that it might be fuel sloshing around in the tank?

Could be. It's hard to diagnose when the original poster isn't here to answer questions. The complaint almost reads like a Bugs Bunny skit, with the noise only occurring while a stampede of wild elephants runs through her house between 3:55 and 4:00 on the Fourth of July during a hailstorm. :whistling:

PS: Both stabilizer links are making thumping noises on my SF again, even though one of them was replaced just a year ago. Seems that all it takes is a few low-speed trips up the back roads and an otherwise solid vehicle sounds like an old Chrysler. Hopefully Hyundai improves the design of these parts soon... this is one problem I never experienced with other vehicles.

 

[romuir]

QUOTE (tedrik @ Jul 20 2010, 01:24 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=343224

UPDATE: Ok-yesterday I was driving around RAFB on some uneven roads and I listened very closely as I drove over the minor road imperfections/small bumps. I did hear/feel a thumping noise. When I entered the smoother surface road leading to the exit gate-NO thumping. Bottom line: it doesn't bother me-when driving on bumpy roads I think you're going to hear a bit of suspension noise (IMO). I'd rather hear the thumping noise than a louder clanging/mechanical noise. I have the solaris 21 tires and that could be the thumping noise. Again-no big deal to me.

My recent experience may help -- not sure if it is the same problem, however. I have a 2009 Sante Fe Limited and I clearly heard "metallic rattling" when driving over course pavement at low speeds (10 to 30 MPH). I made 4 trips to the dealer and they seemed to want to find the problem, but never could. I finally discovered that while the brakes were lightly applied (while driving over course pavement) the rattling immediately stopped. Back to the dealer -- they applied a disc brake compound between the calipers and the pads (I believe, and I'm not a brake expert). I am elated that now I'm driving rattle-free. We'll see how long it lasts. My understanding is that the Sante Fe uses floating disc brake calipers, which allows movement, as opposed to "fixed" calipers. Also, the 18" wheels probably transmit more vibration to the brake assembly and that may amplify the problem.

 

[mwheless]

Thumping is definately a problem. With less that 2,000 miles on 2010 Limited AWD I hear it on uneven pavement. It is most pronounced between 20-45 mph. Best description I can make is "muffled thumping". Amount of gas in tank makes no difference. Very annoying on an otherwise excellent vehicle.
Mark

 

[Donaldd]

Exact same problem with my 2010 Santa Fe. I brought it back to dealer at 700 miles, they replaced front struts still a problem. Dealer said it was "normal" for the Santa Fe. It drives me nuts while driving slower speeds over local roads! I am going to ask the dealer to look at it again but I am not optimistic about a fix. Other posters stated it could be stablizer bars but seems unlikely with the low mileage. I love the car otherwise. Hyundai needs to fix it.............

 

[texanna]

I've also experienced the "muffled thumping" sound on my 2010 SF limited. I inquired about it at my first oil change about a month ago and the guy said something about the placement of the fuel injector and that was what I was hearing, he said it wasn't a problem. I just thought it was part of driving a hyundai until last week when I was out of town and had a santa fe for a week long rental (I presume it was a 2010 as it only had 17k miles), never heard the thumping noise all week. I plan on talking to the dealer again, but it's hard to have something diagnosed that doesn't happen all the time! I've found it's intermittent and I don't believe it's the gas sloshing as I've had it sitting in park before when the thumping starts.

--the first time I heard it, i thought it was the bass from another car just to give you an idea of what the noise sounds like.

 

[spinalator]

My 2010 has no suspension noise, but iirc, Consumer Reports had it as a negative comment before I test drove the Santy, and I ended up buying the one I test drove, and I could not hear what they were talking about, to this point.

 

[kbair]

QUOTE (skywave @ Jul 30 2010, 06:04 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=346248

My recent experience may help -- not sure if it is the same problem, however. I have a 2009 Sante Fe Limited and I clearly heard "metallic rattling" when driving over course pavement at low speeds (10 to 30 MPH). I made 4 trips to the dealer and they seemed to want to find the problem, but never could. I finally discovered that while the brakes were lightly applied (while driving over course pavement) the rattling immediately stopped. Back to the dealer -- they applied a disc brake compound between the calipers and the pads (I believe, and I'm not a brake expert). I am elated that now I'm driving rattle-free. We'll see how long it lasts. My understanding is that the Sante Fe uses floating disc brake calipers, which allows movement, as opposed to "fixed" calipers. Also, the 18" wheels probably transmit more vibration to the brake assembly and that may amplify the problem.

I'm wondering if this is my issue. I hear a similar noise in the front when I hit little bumps at low speed. I drove another when service said it was normal and heard similar but it still doesn't sound right to me. The tech said both front and rear should sound same and I know I heard it only in the front. The sound is similar to tapping the headliner, kind of like a light dull thud.

I'll try brake thing later.

Edit: braking makes no difference.

 

[peachferrari]

I've noticed some thumping in my 2008, seems to come from the front end and if I had to guess the passenger side. I took it in, they said everything sounded normal. For me it doesn't matter if the road is smooth or not, it still happens. It seems to be worse at higher speeds though (60, 70, 80mph) and if I'm going fast and lightly hit the brakes it gets worse.

 

[keithg9987]

thumping

i have a thumping noise coming from the gas tank when braking, its caused by the contraction/expansion of fuel tank during evap test due to the lack of tension at the bottom of the fuel tank. the thumping noise is transmitted to the fuel tank mounting strap and amplified by it. this explanation came from hyundai, they insulated the fuel straps with i believe foam, then rubber, then they replaced the fuel tank, then they insulated the new fuel tank with rubber again but has yet to solve the problem. we went to their corporate office and they said we had to live with it and it wasn't covered under warranty even though they tried all of those things with no cost, after telling them we are going to arbitration they came back with an offer which they wouldn't put on paper, we couldn't except their offer because it included buying a new vehical from them

 

[cookiedough]

if you search here for front sway bar end links there is a good posting of aftermarket much better end links in front behind the front wheels that solved this thumping/bumping sound. IMO, the stock OEM's are adequate at best but these aftermarket ones installed by this guy had thicker rubber bushings that nearly eliminated the thumping sound over bumps. My santa fe 2011 v6 also does this since brand new and although I don't like it, I have grown used to it.

 

[seamsealer]

Don't forget the spare tire under the back. Also, inside is the jack and lug wrench in there too. They could be bouncing around as you hit bumps.

 

[SAM33R]

I have a 09 Santa Fe that has an odd thump noise. When the vehicle is stationary and I'm filling up the fuel tank, i'll hear a thump. As the tank gets to be full there will be another thump, followed by a louder thump and then the fuel pump shuts off.

My theory is the tank is contracting and as it fills up, it retakes its form. Curious if any one else experiences this??

 

[canderson]

Someone else reported a very similar sound and suspected that it was the gas tank they were hearing. Unless it was earlier in this thread (can't read backwards to page 1 readily while typing), finding that comment in these threads may be a bit difficult, but if you perform a search using "tank" and "noise" or "thump" and the like, you may turn it up. Has been in the last 60 days.

 

[SAM33R]

Thank you, I saw one saying the dealer explained what the tank was doing and they replaced it, but it didn't fix the problem. I think i'm going to try to lay under there while someone else pumps gas to see if i see any expansion of the tank. I'm just curious, if it is the tank expanding and contracting, is it a safety issue??