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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Electronic Stability Control complaints

1 reports
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1 miles · Dec 14, 2005
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability ControlEngine And Engine Cooling

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL, WHICH ALLOWED THE FRONT WHEELS TO SLIP IN THE SNOW. THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR CUT IN AND OUT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS ON. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY SUGGESTED TURNING THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF. THE CONTACT TRIED THE DEA…

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DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL, WHICH ALLOWED THE FRONT WHEELS TO SLIP IN THE SNOW. THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR CUT IN AND OUT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS ON. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY SUGGESTED TURNING THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF. THE CONTACT TRIED THE DEALER'S SUGGESTION. AND NOW, ONLY ONE WHEEL WILL TURN IN THE SNOW, THE ENGINE IDLED LOW, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. THE LAST PROBLEM WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DPS VALVE SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE. THE CONTACT HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ONCE SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10145206

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.