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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

What owners actually said

303 reports
18,000 miles · Mar 16, 2006
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

SOMEONE TURNED LEFT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT SIDE OF MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2004, AS I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR AS POSTED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. MY SEAT BELT BROKE. I HAD BRUISES ON MY ABDOMEN AND CHEST. I GOT NECK AND BACK INJURIES, WHICH I AM STILL DEALING WITH AFTER 3 …

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SOMEONE TURNED LEFT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT SIDE OF MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2004, AS I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR AS POSTED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS PUSHED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. MY SEAT BELT BROKE. I HAD BRUISES ON MY ABDOMEN AND CHEST. I GOT NECK AND BACK INJURIES, WHICH I AM STILL DEALING WITH AFTER 3 MONTHS. I HAD DAMAGE TO MY OPTIC NERVE AND A TEAR IN THE DISC IN MY DECK, ACCORDING TO AN MRI AND A NEUROLOGIST. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10152909

38,000 miles · Mar 1, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

ABS BRAKES ENGAGING PREMATURELY. 1ST INSTANCE AFTER HEAVY RAIN STOPPED AT STOP SIGN ON SLIGHT SLOPE ABS ENGAGED AND KEPT MOVING VEHICLE OUT ONTO ROAD. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, HOWEVER THERE WAS A RECALL TO ADJUST BRAKES. 2ND INSTANCE ON SNOW COVERED DOWN GRADE VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED TO MAKE LEFT TURN AND I PUT MY FO…

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ABS BRAKES ENGAGING PREMATURELY. 1ST INSTANCE AFTER HEAVY RAIN STOPPED AT STOP SIGN ON SLIGHT SLOPE ABS ENGAGED AND KEPT MOVING VEHICLE OUT ONTO ROAD. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, HOWEVER THERE WAS A RECALL TO ADJUST BRAKES. 2ND INSTANCE ON SNOW COVERED DOWN GRADE VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED TO MAKE LEFT TURN AND I PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE ,IMMEDIATELY THE ABS BRAKES ENGAGED CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE THE ENGAGING OF THE ABS BRAKES INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF MY VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT ABS BRAKES ARE WORTHLESS IN SLOW STOPS ON SLIPPERY ROADS AND THERE SHOULD BE A SWITCH TO SHUT THEM OFF. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151513

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BRAKES MADE GRINDING NOISE IN SLOW TRAFFIC AND WET CONDITIONS. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SLOW SPEED ACCIDENT WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEH…

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2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BRAKES MADE GRINDING NOISE IN SLOW TRAFFIC AND WET CONDITIONS. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SLOW SPEED ACCIDENT WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION. SIX MONTHS AFTER ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER THE CONSUMER NOTICED INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOSS AND GRINDING NOISE WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS USUALLY OCCURRED DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AT THE DEALER AND CLAIMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE ABS ECU. THE RECALL DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CONSUMER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR. AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148673

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

200,008 miles · Dec 17, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

10/11/2005 - BREAKS FAILED AT LOW SPEED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL - MANAGED TO COAST TO STOP BEFORE HITTING VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 10/12/05 - THEY INDICATED THAT THEY "COULD NOT REPRODUCE CONCERN. OPERATES NORMALLY" : ON 12/16/05 THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURED RESULTING IN MY VEHICLE HITTING…

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10/11/2005 - BREAKS FAILED AT LOW SPEED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL - MANAGED TO COAST TO STOP BEFORE HITTING VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 10/12/05 - THEY INDICATED THAT THEY "COULD NOT REPRODUCE CONCERN. OPERATES NORMALLY" : ON 12/16/05 THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURED RESULTING IN MY VEHICLE HITTING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT TRAFFIC LIGHT INTERSECTION (AGAIN I APPLIED BREAKS AT A SPEED OF BETWEEN 5 & 10 MILES PER HOUR. BREAKS INITIALLY SEEM TO GRAB THEN DISSAPPEAR WITH PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR BOARD WITH NO AFFECTIVE BREAKING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10145513

10 miles · Oct 20, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVER SINCE SHE OWNED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HALF WAY DOWN THE BRAKE WILL START TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT INSTEAD OF COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL GRADUALLY COME TO A STOP. NO WARN…

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DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVER SINCE SHE OWNED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HALF WAY DOWN THE BRAKE WILL START TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT INSTEAD OF COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL GRADUALLY COME TO A STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE BRAKE DESIGN ON THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10137300

1,030 miles · Oct 12, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

2004 HYUNDAI - SANTA FE, CAR SURGES TO FULL THROTTLE AND GOES THROUGH RED LIGHTS OR STOPS SIGNS, SURGE IS SO GREAT IT TAKES ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC, DRIVER IS STANDING ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME HAS HAPPENED X3, VIN IS[XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5…

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2004 HYUNDAI - SANTA FE, CAR SURGES TO FULL THROTTLE AND GOES THROUGH RED LIGHTS OR STOPS SIGNS, SURGE IS SO GREAT IT TAKES ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC, DRIVER IS STANDING ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME HAS HAPPENED X3, VIN IS[XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10139427

3,965 miles · Oct 12, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONTACT STATED 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS AT A RED LIGHT, WITH ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THEY ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND FLUSHED THE COMPUTER. THE PR…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS AT A RED LIGHT, WITH ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THEY ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND FLUSHED THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HYUNDAI AS OF NOW. THIS HAPPENED WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWLY MOVING AS INCHING UP TO A STOP SIGN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10139410

11,588 miles · Oct 9, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS DEVELOPED A POTENTIAL FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD WHICH HYUNDAI HAS IGNORED AFTER I POINTED IT OUT. HYUNDAI ALSO REFUSED TO RELEASE TO ME THE SANTA FE'S "OFF ROAD" CAPABILITIES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139144

22,496 miles · Sep 12, 2005
Power Train

CUSTOMER RESOLUTION TO WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE 2004 SANTA FE DUE TO OBVIOUS DEFECT AND/OR INHERENT PROBLEM REGARDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH SNAPPED RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THE WAS NO WRINGING OF INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO REF…

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CUSTOMER RESOLUTION TO WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE 2004 SANTA FE DUE TO OBVIOUS DEFECT AND/OR INHERENT PROBLEM REGARDING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH SNAPPED RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THE WAS NO WRINGING OF INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO IMPROPER USE BY THE CONSUMER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137731

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.