← 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

Electrical System complaints

18 reports
Clear category filter
90,000 miles · Mar 17, 2009
Air BagsElectrical System

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY WIRING. DEALER GOT IT TO GO OUT, BUT IF IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN THEY SAY THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CANNOT SAY IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT AND SAYS THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SAY EITHER. NOW, THE LIGHT IS OUT BEHIND THE HEATER CONTROL B…

Read full complaint

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY WIRING. DEALER GOT IT TO GO OUT, BUT IF IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN THEY SAY THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CANNOT SAY IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT AND SAYS THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SAY EITHER. NOW, THE LIGHT IS OUT BEHIND THE HEATER CONTROL BUTTON. ONCE AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY WIRING. FAULTY WIRING SOUNDS LIKE A FACTORY PROBLEM TO ME. ALL SERVICES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DONE SINCE DAY ONE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262119

63,200 miles · Mar 6, 2009
Air BagsElectrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesCrashInjury

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN AUG/2005 FROM A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP (# ). IN AUG/2006, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RESULTS WERE "CODE B1382 PSAB RESISTANCE HIGH - RESECURE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT/CLEAR CODE". IN FEB/2008, THE AIRBAG SENSOR AGAIN APPEARED. THE SA…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IN AUG/2005 FROM A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP (# ). IN AUG/2006, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RESULTS WERE "CODE B1382 PSAB RESISTANCE HIGH - RESECURE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT/CLEAR CODE". IN FEB/2008, THE AIRBAG SENSOR AGAIN APPEARED. THE SAME TECHNICAL CODE WAS DETECTED, AND THE DEALERSHIP RESOLUTION WAS TO "REROUTE WIRE HARNESS". IN MAR/2008, THE AIRBAG LIGHT AGAIN APPEARED AND WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP. IN NOV/2008, THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARING. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE IN NOV/2008, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE AIRBAG FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE WARRANTY, AT WHICH TIME, THEY WERE INFORMED THAT A COMPLAINT WOULD BE FILED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW DUE TO REPEAT FIXES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP THEN FIXED THE ISSUE. ON NOV. 26, 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN A HIGH-SPEED REAR END COLLISION (~35MPH) WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND PUSHED INTO AN INTERSECTION, WHERE IT BROADSIDED A MOVING VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACTS, THE HYUNDAI WAS TOTALED, ALL REAR SEATED PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURY DUE TO THE SPARE TIRE BEING LIFTED FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT AND RAISING THE 60/40 SPLIT REAR SEAT AND PUSHING IT FORWARD, THE FRONT PASSENGER RECEIVED CHEST CONTUSIONS AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED UPPER BODY INJURIES. DESPITE BEING PUSHED FORWARD AND MAKING A STRONG IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I REQUESTED HYUNDAI INVESTIGATE THE MATTER, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT ALTHOUGH THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED FROM THE SECONDARY IMPACT, IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS REGARDING REPEATED AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT REPAIRS AND OTHER AIRBAG FAILURES, INCLUDING STORIES OF CRASHES INTO POLES WITH FAILED AIRBAGS. HYUNDAI HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL, BUT THEY PROBABLY SHOULD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260997

18,000 miles · Sep 25, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DOWN TO 0 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER PICKED BACK UP BETWEEN 2-5 MINUTES. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED 2-3 TIMES A DAY.*AK UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON…

Read full complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED DOWN TO 0 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER PICKED BACK UP BETWEEN 2-5 MINUTES. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED 2-3 TIMES A DAY.*AK UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169180

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO HAVE POWER STEERING, CAR LURCHES WITHOUT WARNING, USUALLY WHEN MOVING FROM A STOP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146921

100 miles · May 20, 2005
Electrical System

DT: THE END OF JANUARY 2004 OR BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2004 WHILE IN THE CAR IT SHOUT OFF AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE CAR JUST STARTED UP BY ITSELF. THEN, IN APRIL 2004 THE CAR DID THIS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. GOT A RECALL 03V030000 NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH STATED IT WOULD STALL …

Read full complaint

DT: THE END OF JANUARY 2004 OR BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2004 WHILE IN THE CAR IT SHOUT OFF AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE CAR JUST STARTED UP BY ITSELF. THEN, IN APRIL 2004 THE CAR DID THIS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. GOT A RECALL 03V030000 NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH STATED IT WOULD STALL IN COLD DAMP WEATHER, TOOK VEHICLE TTO HE DEALER THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. . THEN IN JUNE 2004 WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A SUNSHINE DAY THE CAR DID SAME THING. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY ASSURED CONSUMER THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. EARLY AUGUST THE CAR STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AGAIN, SAID THEY FIXED IT AGAIN. LATE AUGUST, TWO DAYS AFTER THE I GOT THE CAR BACK,K THE CAR STALLED AGAIN.ALSO, SEPT 12, 2004 THE CAR DID THIS AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10121686

100 miles · May 3, 2005
Electrical System

CONTACT STATES: WHILE DRIVING RADIO WAS GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND REPLACED RADIO BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH LOCKS. WHILE ON INTERSTATE OR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME THE LOCKS BEGIN FLIPPING ON AND OFF. HAD TO REPLACE TWO INTERIOR LIGHT BULBS AS WELL. DEALER DOES NOT LISTEN TO COMP…

Read full complaint

CONTACT STATES: WHILE DRIVING RADIO WAS GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND REPLACED RADIO BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH LOCKS. WHILE ON INTERSTATE OR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME THE LOCKS BEGIN FLIPPING ON AND OFF. HAD TO REPLACE TWO INTERIOR LIGHT BULBS AS WELL. DEALER DOES NOT LISTEN TO COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ODI #10119539

112 miles · Nov 1, 2004
Electrical System

FAILURE: GAS GAUGE, ACCELERATION ISSUE, AND SEAT BELT SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10098110

5,000 miles · Aug 16, 2004
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Air

THE NIGHT I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICAL I HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THIS WAS TO BE FIX BY DEALERSHIP, WELL NOW 8/15/2004 THERE ARE MORE ELEC. PROBLEMS THE FUSES ARE BLOWING AND THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING AS SHOULD BE.ALSO THE TRASMISSION WHEN APPLING THE GAS PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND BETWEEN 40/60 MPH JECKSING SENSATION TO THE VE…

Read full complaint

THE NIGHT I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICAL I HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THIS WAS TO BE FIX BY DEALERSHIP, WELL NOW 8/15/2004 THERE ARE MORE ELEC. PROBLEMS THE FUSES ARE BLOWING AND THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING AS SHOULD BE.ALSO THE TRASMISSION WHEN APPLING THE GAS PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND BETWEEN 40/60 MPH JECKSING SENSATION TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10086919

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.