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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2006
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN 2005 SANTA FE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IT HAS A DELAYED REACTION. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE DELAYED ACCELERATION OCCURRED IT CAUSED THE TIRES TO SPIN ON WET OR SNOW COVERED PAVEMENT. THE STARTER HAD TO TURN OVER MUCH LONGER THAN IT SHOULD BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS. THE BRAKES WOULD CATCH AS IF SOMETHI…

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WHEN 2005 SANTA FE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IT HAS A DELAYED REACTION. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE DELAYED ACCELERATION OCCURRED IT CAUSED THE TIRES TO SPIN ON WET OR SNOW COVERED PAVEMENT. THE STARTER HAD TO TURN OVER MUCH LONGER THAN IT SHOULD BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS. THE BRAKES WOULD CATCH AS IF SOMETHING IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS LOOSE, THERE WAS A GRINDING/RUBBING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PARTIALLY APPLIED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155188

1,000 miles · Mar 24, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 15 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES IT FINALLY STOPPED. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WARPING, BUT THE PROBLEM STIL…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 15 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES IT FINALLY STOPPED. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WARPING, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THE DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT SHE DIDNT HAVE A PROBLEM WITHTHE BRAKES UNTIL THE ROTORS AND LEFT WHEEL SENSOR WERE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10153588

7,400 miles · Jan 24, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

WHILE DRIVING AND STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO APPLY EXTENSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO CLAIMED BRAKES WERE OKAY. THE SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVED REAR DOOR MISALIGNMENT. THE THIRD FAILURE WAS PAINT PEELING OFF UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10148483

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.