Transmission shift issue

Asked by GuruTWWLK Jun 17, 2018 at 08:59 PM about the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.7L GL FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I've been looking for some answers online but the information is glib and
conflicting. My Hyundai Santa Fe, 03  2.7, is experiencing shift issues. Prior
to to this the speedometer has been randomly dropping out. My issue is
starting out in 2nd gear and shifting up to 3rd gear and that is all I get, even
when shifting manually. I would like to know some basic diagnostic steps to
determine the cause. Some say vss, others say detent adjustment and I
have read it can be the computer or solenoid valves. I'm not ready to just
throw parts at it and I am hoping someone has some real knowledge or can
direct me to service manuals for this vehicle. Thanks!

16 Answers

170

I am having this problem. You didn't say what milage... mine is at 105,000. So far I've thrown over $1,000 at it. Replaced solenoid and the linkage has been cleaned. It's still doing it. Hyundai doesn't care. This is nothing new and they know the transmission is crappy. This should have been a recall but I don't think they even know how to fix it. The next step, so I was told, is to replace the transmission but Hyundai will only give me a 1 year warranty on the work and they want over $3,000. I have also read the throttle position sensor should be cleaned. They're telling me the computer is fine.

17 people found this helpful.
100

Mitsubishi valve bodies are known to have issues. I have a Sportage and a Santa Fe both with Torque Converter control valves that leak (internal). Cars drives fine just get a slightly less mileage than best and the check engine light comes on occasionally with the torque converter unlocking at highway speeds. The valve bodies in the transmission need fluid changes(drain and fill) religiously. Like every 20K.

10 people found this helpful.
205

My 05 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2.7, is experiencing shift problems similar to these. I've changed and treated my AWD with little success. At any speed up to 60 it seems to not know if it should shift back and forth from a lower to higher gear and back again. I drive it in overdrive around town and back into drive at 60 because it is nerve racking. Since it does not throw me a code I will be looking to change the shift soleinoid, lock out, computer, or spent hours looking for a wiring connection gone bad. Any help would be appreciated as most shops just tell me to rebuild or swap it out ?

20 people found this helpful.
100

My son now has a 2012 Santa Fe having similar issues starting to creep in at 110000 mi. Great vehicle and engine up to now. Have there been any additional learnings about what to try that have actually worked? I have looked in other forums and it is all over the board most with minimal to no success in fixing the issue.

10 people found this helpful.
80

I bought a new Hyundai Santa Fe 2019 Turbo 2 months back, and I'm seeing transmission issues. the gears slip between 2nd and 3rd gears. I reported this to Hyundai and so far there has been no resolution. I did not expect the Hyundai cars to not have basic transmission system in place. It's a shame. but nothing that i can do but to wait and keep following up with the Hyundai customer care and the dealership. Let me know if i have any other options.

8 people found this helpful.
50

Hey Anil, how did you make out? I just came across the same issue with my 2019 Santa Fe 2.0T limited. I have about 6000 miles the transmission shits to neutral while driving. I am taking it back to the dealer on Monday.

5 people found this helpful.
40

Hey I have a Hyundai Sonata 06 3.3 engine size and I was looking for solenoid C in my Hyundai Sonata

1 people found this helpful.
50

My wife's 2012 Santa Fe shifted oddly by working better at lower rpms between startup up to about 3500. When we stomped the gas out the gate, we'd hit 4k and it would creep super slow in acceleration. When we slowly accelerated, everything operated normal. We could even get on the road up to normal speeds. Yesterday, I took it into Hyundai and they replaced and flushed the transmission. Currently after one day, everything seems well. On the way home, I took the back roads to avoid traffic and I ran her pretty hard. Speeding up and down through the hills, and the many stop signs and lights. Stopping and taking off quickly.

5 people found this helpful.
90

I have a 2010 Santa Fe Limited with 140,000 miles. Several months ago on a recent trip to North Al. the entire car started to shutter when driving at normal speed when I went up a hill. We live in a flat area of the country and what what I have noticed now is that when I accelerate or turn a corner where I brake and slightly accelerate, I can feel a vibration that last until I reach speeds of about 45 mph. Any suggestions?

9 people found this helpful.
50

2017 Santa Fe. Hard to shift from park to drive. Finally stuck. Had car towed to the dealer.

5 people found this helpful.
30

My 17 Santa Fe has been the dealership three times with hard shifting from first to second gear. They even installed a new transmission!?

3 people found this helpful.
30

I am having same issues. I have taken to the dealer five times now, but each time I’m there it doesn’t happen with him. Super hard shifting from first into second gear. Do you know what diagnostics they use to justify the transmission replacement? My 2016 had a transmission replacement at 3000 miles. Now I’m at 65,000 and it’s happening again

3 people found this helpful.
20

Same issue here on 2-3 flare. I'm getting ready to replace both the input and output sensor on the tranny and will report back if successful. I've owned a few Santa Fe's and that's usually the issue, with or without an 07-- code.

2 people found this helpful.
20

I have 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe V6 2.7L and have this issue and searched for a solution combing through the web and discussions forums like this. In one discussion thread, the solution was replacing the alternator and/ or the thick cable from alternator to the battery by 4 AWG cable to maintain steady 12VDC on lines all times. Personally I a aware the shifting needs right level of 12VDC. So better try that. In addition, I learned about a special solution is called as "Adaptive Learning Method" as explained below. Take and remove the negative cable from battery post.. find a way to touch the negative cable to the positive post to discharge the entire vehicle.. now put the battery cable back. Start engine, and run shifter back/forth through P-R-N-D and back numerous time with foot on brake. Now carefully drive with approx 25-30% throttle (just enough to effect an upshift and work along to 5th you can get there, 4th be fine and come to stop, do this a bunch of time to clean up the shifts... I take and do a manual upshift to beat some sense into the TCM adaptive learn process. Now carry on and see how it act. My guess is you may find situation worse after the reset.

1 people found this helpful.
20

2023 Santa Fe Turbo AWD. Bought Sunday. Tuesday car is in the dealership. Transmission problems. Engine revs without car moving forward or slowly creep forward. Or gets 'stuck' in first gear. Will see what dealership says.

2 people found this helpful.

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