← New search

2004 Hyundai Santa Fe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 212.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

250 reports with mileage · 53 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports7 fire reports27 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

43 reports
Clear category filter
105,000 miles · Apr 1, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE STERNUM. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE STERNUM. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505211

83,000 miles · Feb 19, 2013
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL AND NO CAUSE FOR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURREN…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL AND NO CAUSE FOR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10499317

70,000 miles · Feb 5, 2013
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED N…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10496499

110,000 miles · Oct 1, 2012
Air Bags

AIR BAG TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING ENGINE. QUESTIONED DEALER, THEY ARE AWARE OF KNOWN PROBLEM WITH DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG SWITCH AND WIRING CAUSING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME. HYUNDAI WILL NOT MAKE REPAIR TO THIS SAFETY DEFECT AT THEIR COST. COST IS WELL OVER $1000.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10478087

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2012
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingSuspension

MY AIR BAGS LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE SUSPENSION IS HORRIBLE, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID" THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. AND SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN MY VEHICLE ON THE ENGINE REVELS UP AND SOUNDS AS IF THE ACCELERATION IS STUCK. SCARES ME TO DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456747

81,779 miles · Apr 3, 2012
Air Bags

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AS THE SECOND OWNER IN MARCH 2010, I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS FIXED. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2010 AND BEFORE I TOOK OWNERSHIP I HAD TO LEAVE IT WITH THE DEALER AS THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS WERE ON.…

Read full complaint

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AS THE SECOND OWNER IN MARCH 2010, I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS FIXED. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2010 AND BEFORE I TOOK OWNERSHIP I HAD TO LEAVE IT WITH THE DEALER AS THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS, HOWEVER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE DIFFERENT CODES EACH TIME. WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN ORDER CORRECT THE AIRBAG LIGHT, HOWEVER, AS OF 4/3/12 WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP (HERB CONNOLLY HYUNDAI) THAT IN NEED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG. ALSO THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT USUALLY HAS TO BE REPLACED AT 60K MILES. WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IT HAD 81K MILES, GIVEN THIS FACT, THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE AIRBAG PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING IT. THE CODE THAT IS SHOWING NOW IS B1346 (AIRBAG HAS HIGH RESISTANCE). DEALER REFUSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT NO COST AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453971

56,000 miles · Jan 18, 2011
Air Bags

I TOOK MY CAR INTO MY NEW LOCAL DEALER WALLACE HYUNDAI , STUART FL. MY AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON ALL THE TIME. AT THE TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, MY VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS DEALER TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY $100.00 TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER IN THE LIFE OF OWNING …

Read full complaint

I TOOK MY CAR INTO MY NEW LOCAL DEALER WALLACE HYUNDAI , STUART FL. MY AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON ALL THE TIME. AT THE TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, MY VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS DEALER TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY $100.00 TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER IN THE LIFE OF OWNING 2 HYUNDAI SANTE FE'S (THIS BEING MY 2ND) DID I EVER HAVE TO PAY UP FRONT FOR BUMPER TO BUMPER ISSUES. I AM DISABLED AND DID NOT HAVE THE $100.00 SO I LEFT AND THEN THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, SO MY ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. TO THIS DAY, MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND I AM CONCERNED IT WILL EITHER DEPLOY OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 03/23/11

NHTSA ODI #10378893

60,000 miles · Aug 16, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemEquipment

3RD TIME CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WENT IN 1 YEAR/5 MONTHS. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ALL 3 TIMES, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN APPEARS AND SECONDS LATER THE CAR SHUTS OFF. TWICE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND LUCKY WE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN. 3 TIM…

Read full complaint

3RD TIME CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WENT IN 1 YEAR/5 MONTHS. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ALL 3 TIMES, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN APPEARS AND SECONDS LATER THE CAR SHUTS OFF. TWICE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND LUCKY WE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN. 3 TIMES IN A YEAR AND 5 MONTHS, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN... ALSO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR THE LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349641

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2010
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328637

82,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND RUNNING. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT EVERY TIME WHEN I EXIT THE SUV. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING I KNOW OF THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH IT. AS I CALLED THEM ABOUT IT HOWEVER, THEY SAY I MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS 82,000 MI…

Read full complaint

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND RUNNING. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT EVERY TIME WHEN I EXIT THE SUV. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING I KNOW OF THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH IT. AS I CALLED THEM ABOUT IT HOWEVER, THEY SAY I MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS 82,000 MILES ON IT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. I HAVE BEEN ON LINE AND NOTICED THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308302

Official recalls

3

14V435000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Jul 18, 2014

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model Year 2001-2006 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2000, through February 15, 2006, that are registered and operated, or which were originally sold and registered, in the following 20 “salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.

04V131000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Mar 16, 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS), IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PAD FRICTION SURFACES ARE WET, A VIBRATION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CAUSING ABS SENSOR ELECTRONIC SIGNAL NOISE TO DEVELOP. AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE ABS SENSOR SIGNAL NOISE MAY CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

03V520000 · Equipment:other:labels

Dec 18, 2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECT LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.