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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.

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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

22 reports
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20,000 miles · Jun 6, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel/propulsion System

DIES IN THE MIDDLE IF ROAD! ALMOST DIE. ALL THE TIME!!!!!! DIES IN THE MIDDLE IF ROAD! ALL THE TIME!!!ALMOST DIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596553

105,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING IT WILL STALL AND THEN TAKE OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468973

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

126,000 miles · Feb 7, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsVisibility

SO MANY THINGS GOING WRONG BACK SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK, WASHER PUMP DON'T WORK TRIED TO ORDER PART FROM DEALER DO NOT HAVE ANY IN US THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR PIGTAIL DISINTEGRATED FROM BEING TO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE AND NO ONE SELLS THE PART HAVE TO BUY THE COMPLETE ENGINE WIRING KIT FOR ONE LITTLE PLASTIC PIECE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL…

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SO MANY THINGS GOING WRONG BACK SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK, WASHER PUMP DON'T WORK TRIED TO ORDER PART FROM DEALER DO NOT HAVE ANY IN US THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR PIGTAIL DISINTEGRATED FROM BEING TO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE AND NO ONE SELLS THE PART HAVE TO BUY THE COMPLETE ENGINE WIRING KIT FOR ONE LITTLE PLASTIC PIECE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS I READ ONLINE THAT EVERYONE WITH THIS CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10446991

40,000 miles · Apr 3, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT 40,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND, MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY FELT LIKE IT JUMPED, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. I WRESTLED WITH THE WHEEL TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT I WAS STILL I…

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THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT 40,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET AND THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND, MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY FELT LIKE IT JUMPED, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. I WRESTLED WITH THE WHEEL TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT I WAS STILL IN THE ROAD. THERE WAS A WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME GETTING OUT OF HER CAR WITH A TODDLER AND I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THEM AS I TRIED TO CONTROL MY TRUCK. I'M SO GLAD I WASN'T GOING FASTER THAN 10-15 MPH. THE REPAIR AGENT SAID HE'D NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN AT LESS THAN 100K+ MILES, AND IT TOOK OUT THE BRAKE LINE AND FUEL LINE ON THAT SIDE AS WELL. TOTAL COST WILL BE $1500. AS THE TIMING BELT ALSO NEEDS CHANGING. NOT HAPPY. I SEE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SITUATION (COIL SPRING GOING ON HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT LOW MILEAGE), BUT I DON'T SEE ANY KIND OF REPARATION OFFERED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY RECALL. THERE SHOULD BE - THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I'M NOT LIKELY TO BUY A HYUNDAI AGAIN. *TRW

NHTSA ODI #10394086

85,500 miles · Mar 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT WOULD WAIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSE BY THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT WOULD WAIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSE BY THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,500.

NHTSA ODI #10392533

66,000 miles · Feb 8, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

I TRIED TO START MY 2004 SANTA FE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER (IT CRANKED FINE SO WE KNEW IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY). WHILE IT WAS BEING DRAGGED ONTO THE TOW TRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE DEFLATED. THE WHEEL DID NOT TURN WHILE BEING DRAGGED UP THE TRUCK RAMP. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND…

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I TRIED TO START MY 2004 SANTA FE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER (IT CRANKED FINE SO WE KNEW IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY). WHILE IT WAS BEING DRAGGED ONTO THE TOW TRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE DEFLATED. THE WHEEL DID NOT TURN WHILE BEING DRAGGED UP THE TRUCK RAMP. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE FRONT SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND TRIGGERED A KILL SWITCH TO THE FUEL LINE WHICH PREVENTED THE CAR FROM STARTING. I NEVER HEARD ANY AWFUL SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING SO THE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING MUST HAVE SNAPPED WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AS DOES THE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381163

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FORTH TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. DURING THE LAST FAILURE, THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE VEHICLE BURNED AND WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TW…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FORTH TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. DURING THE LAST FAILURE, THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE VEHICLE BURNED AND WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT KNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135000.

NHTSA ODI #10366863

21,900 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI #10343119

60,086 miles · Sep 16, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I'VE OWNED 2 SANTA FE'S IN A ROW (2001 & 2004). BOTH HAD ENGINE FAILURES AROUND 60,000 MILES (BOTH ON FREEWAY). THE 2004 FAILED AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARIZONA DESERT- THESE BOTH PRESENTED ME WITH A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE. I END UP GETTING …

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I'VE OWNED 2 SANTA FE'S IN A ROW (2001 & 2004). BOTH HAD ENGINE FAILURES AROUND 60,000 MILES (BOTH ON FREEWAY). THE 2004 FAILED AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARIZONA DESERT- THESE BOTH PRESENTED ME WITH A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE. I END UP GETTING TOWED OVER 150 MILES TO HYUNDAI DEALER. SMALL BLOCK FAILED AND WAS REPLACED IN BOTH- HYUNDAI COVERED THE 2001 BUT ONLY COVERED 35% OF THE 2004 (86 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY). NEVER BUY HYUNDAI'S AGAIN!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284092

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.