IllustrationAIR BAG LIGHT KEEP ON THIS VEHICLE 15 YEARS OLD BRAKES ALSO NOT LIKE USE TO BE I AM OWN THIS SUV LAST 15 YEARS I NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT I AM WORRY NEED TO BE FIXED FOE MY SAFETY [XXX] OWNER, C [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Santa Fe years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
550–25K
2825–50K
4550–75K
3875–100K
50100–150K
34150K+
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
Wheels complaints
7 reportsVEHICLE WAS SOLD WITHOUT TITLE OR DISCLOSURE DEALERSHIP TOOK MONEY REFUSE TO HEAR COMPLAINTS. CONTACT ME AS I AM HANDICAPPED AND HAVE NO TITTLE TRYING TO RETURN VEHICLE IT VEERED TOWARD DITCH AS THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AND DANGEROUS PER DMV
PLEASE I NEED SOMEONES HELP ME CALL ME [XXX] I HAVE DC IN MY BAKE INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
ON 12/31/2012, THE COIL SPRING ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE VEHICLE. I PAID UPWARDS OF $2000 ON 1/7/2013 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I HAVE SINCE TRADED IN THE VEHICLE AND NO LONGER OWN IT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HYUNDAI USA DESCRIBING THE SAME COIL SPRING F…
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ON 12/31/2012, THE COIL SPRING ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE VEHICLE. I PAID UPWARDS OF $2000 ON 1/7/2013 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I HAVE SINCE TRADED IN THE VEHICLE AND NO LONGER OWN IT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HYUNDAI USA DESCRIBING THE SAME COIL SPRING FRACTURE THAT I EXPERIENCED A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLIER. THIS RECALL IS CALLED 'CAMPAIGN124' BY HYUNDAI. TODAY (11/4/2014), I CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR SOME REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR I HAD PERFORMED AFTER MY INCIDENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE I NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE AND THE REPAIR COULD NOT BE INSPECTED BY HYUNDAI, I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS RIGHT AND I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO SOME REIMBURSEMENT. IF REQUESTED, I WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE DETAIL OF THE WORK PERFORMED BY THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE SERVICE. *TR
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN EXTENSIVELY YEAR ROUND, INCLUDING SNOWY NORTHEAST OHIO WINTERS. ON A SOMEWHAT COLD DAY IN MARCH 2014, MY 2004 SANTA FE SAT OUTSIDE ON A SURFACE LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY 14 HOURS. AS I PULLED MY CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR LURCHED TO THE FRONT RIGHT AND CAME TO A HALT. I HAD PULLED FORWARD APPR…
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THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN EXTENSIVELY YEAR ROUND, INCLUDING SNOWY NORTHEAST OHIO WINTERS. ON A SOMEWHAT COLD DAY IN MARCH 2014, MY 2004 SANTA FE SAT OUTSIDE ON A SURFACE LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY 14 HOURS. AS I PULLED MY CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR LURCHED TO THE FRONT RIGHT AND CAME TO A HALT. I HAD PULLED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET, HAD TURNED THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, AND JUST BEGAN TO HIT THE GAS TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. IT WAS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD BLOWN VIOLENTLY. NO ACCIDENTS OCCURED WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND NO INJURIES OCCURED; HOWEVER, SHOULD SOMEONE HAVE BEEN STANDING NEAR THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, SOMEONE MAY HAVE BEEN HURT. WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED ON A FLATBED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. I STILL OWN THE VEHICLE, AND I AM NOW AWARE THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SPRING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE AS IT IS CURRENTLY AN ORIGINAL PART. *TR
RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL FOR FRONT COIL SPRING ISSUE IN MAIL, MY FRONT COIL SPRIG IS CURRENTLY BROKEN. CALLED DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX IT OR A REMEDY FOR ME TO HAVE A DRIVABLE CAR UNTIL IT CAN BE FIXED. NO TIME FRAME CAN BE GIVEN WHEN THEY CAN FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
DT: CALLER STATED ALL FIVE OF THE LUGS: NUTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BROKE AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. SOME DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FENDER. VEHICLE WAS FIXED BY A BODY SHOP PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DEALER WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO TAKE VEHICLE THERE. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT'S HOU…
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DT: CALLER STATED ALL FIVE OF THE LUGS: NUTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BROKE AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. SOME DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FENDER. VEHICLE WAS FIXED BY A BODY SHOP PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DEALER WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO TAKE VEHICLE THERE. MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT'S HOUSE.*AK
Official recalls
314V435000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.