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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

Visibility complaints

6 reports
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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

96,000 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Visibility

2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BROKEN - HANGS IN FRONT OF DRIVER. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL HYUNDAI MODELS FROM 2000 - 2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370512

70,000 miles · Feb 5, 2010
Visibility

WE OWN A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTE FE AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SUN VISORS. THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN TWICE. IT NO LONGER HAS ENOUGH FRICTION TO HOLD IT UP AND HANGS DOWN IN THE DRIVERS LINE OF SITE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, 70,000 MILES, A…

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WE OWN A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTE FE AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SUN VISORS. THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN TWICE. IT NO LONGER HAS ENOUGH FRICTION TO HOLD IT UP AND HANGS DOWN IN THE DRIVERS LINE OF SITE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, 70,000 MILES, AND REPLACEMENT PART IS A $170. THE DRIVERS VISOR BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW IS SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM AFTER IT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE TWICE. AVAILABILITY OF USED PARTS IS SCARCE DUE TO SO MANY PROBLEMS AND I HAVE FOUND OTHER REMARKS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS. THESE VISORS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY HYUNDAI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10306672

39,995 miles · Aug 8, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER SHUT OFF. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39,995.

NHTSA ODI #10198896

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2005
VisibilityInjury

A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE EVEN THOUGH THE OBJECT DID NOT COME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMPACT LITERALLY BROKE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD APART AND CAUSED SHARDS OF GLA…

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A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE EVEN THOUGH THE OBJECT DID NOT COME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMPACT LITERALLY BROKE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD APART AND CAUSED SHARDS OF GLASS AS WELL AS PULVERIZED (POWDER CONSISTENCY) GLASS TO STRIKE THE CONSUMERS WIFE IN THE FACE AS WELL AS SPRAYING GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115587

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2004
Visibility

CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE HEATER KNOB WAS LOOSE. WHILE TURNING HEAT ON HEATER IT DID NOT RESPOND. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10053647

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.