IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ UPDATED 03/14/16.*JB
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 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
410–25K
1825–50K
2450–75K
3875–100K
38100–150K
16150K+
175 reports with mileage · 41 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports0 fire reports10 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
74 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS DUE TO THE PASSENGER SEATBELT. SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TENSION AND THE COMPUTER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
UNABLE TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN TWELVE MONTHS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. LAST MAY 2014 I WAS IN GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN GOING ABOUT 45 AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED I KEPT MOVING OVER TO A CLEAR LANE ON MY LEFT TRYING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND HAD TO TURN INTO THE MEDIAN AND DO A U- TURN, THE CAR ROLLED TO A S…
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UNABLE TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN TWELVE MONTHS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. LAST MAY 2014 I WAS IN GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN GOING ABOUT 45 AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED I KEPT MOVING OVER TO A CLEAR LANE ON MY LEFT TRYING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND HAD TO TURN INTO THE MEDIAN AND DO A U- TURN, THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED UNDER THE PEDAL AND THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS FULL. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND TESTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND THEM TO WORK. I CALLED MY HYUNDAI DEALER AND HAD THEM LOOK THE CAR OVER AND THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION. YESTERDAY I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC APPROACHING A LINE OF TRAFFIC AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, I DID NOT THINK TO USE THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE BUT THE GOOD NEWS NO DAMAGE. ..UPDATED 03-16-15 *BF ALSO, THE FRONT SPRING WAS REPLACED AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS SINCE ILLUMINATED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V450000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V450000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,200. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN
AIR BAG SIGN POPS UP ON DASH BOARD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,266.
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE DRIVER SIDE. MECHANIC IS TELLING ME IT IS A BAD SENSOR IN THE SEAT BELT HARNESS. COST TO REPAIR IS $520. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
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.
05V527000 · Air Bags:frontal
Nov 17, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
05V450000 · Air Bags
Oct 4, 2005
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY 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.