Car all of a sudden stopped running like normal. Can't go above 20 mph without sounding like backfiring or dying
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
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
8 reportsA car in front of me lost control and I braked to avoid an accident but the car turned and had no stability, forcing me to maneuver it to avoid crashing by leaning on my neck.
I HAD PURCHASED THIS AUTO IN MAY 2017. FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD GOTTEN THE AUTO FROM A AUTO AUCTION. WHEN I PURCHASED THE AUTO - I PURCHASED AS IS- NO WARRANTY- I TEST DROVE AUTO- HAD INSPECTED- NO MAJOR PROBLEMS AT THAT TIME. HAD AUTO FOR A WEEK- BROKE DOWN- PROBLEMS::::: VERY SLOW ACCELERATION, SHIFTING GEARS …
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I HAD PURCHASED THIS AUTO IN MAY 2017. FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD GOTTEN THE AUTO FROM A AUTO AUCTION. WHEN I PURCHASED THE AUTO - I PURCHASED AS IS- NO WARRANTY- I TEST DROVE AUTO- HAD INSPECTED- NO MAJOR PROBLEMS AT THAT TIME. HAD AUTO FOR A WEEK- BROKE DOWN- PROBLEMS::::: VERY SLOW ACCELERATION, SHIFTING GEARS AND JERKING OF THE AUTO, VERY FAST IDLING WHEN STOPPING- I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE :::::AFTER PURCHASING AUTO::::- CAN NOT DRIVE. I HAVE HAD 3 ESTIMATES- NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE AUTO OR DIAGNOSE THE AUTO PROPERLY. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE SINCE I PURCHASED THE AUTO. IT JUST SITS, AND WHEN I THINK THE PROBLEM IS FIXED, THEN IT STOPS RUNNING. SOME SAY IT IS THE :::::CATALYTIC CONVERTERS - IT HAS 3 THAT NEEDS REPLACED.::::::: I REPORTED IN MY RESIDENCE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU - COMPLAINT RESOLUTION AND TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE- BOTH SAID THEY NOT NOT RESOLVE :::: THE DEALERSHIP- DOES NOT WANT TO MEDIATE - OR TAKE BACK THE AUTO. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FILE A CLAIM- IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT- AND DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD BE WORTH MY TIME. ::::::::: I KNOW THE AUTO IS 2005 AND HAS 189,000 NOW- BUT I FEEL THAT I HAVE A AUTO NOW THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD- IF I AM ABLE TO GET THE AUTO RUNNING - AND IT JERKS AROUND- AND STOPS IN TRAFFIC - IT COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE A ACCIDENT. IT IS UNSAFE TO HAVE THE AUTO ON ROAD AT ALL.. IT IS ALSO A ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM DUE TO THE UNSAFE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS- THEY GET HOT AND CAN CATCH ON FIRE.:::::::::: I CAN NOT FIND MECHANICS THAT WANT TO WORK WITH THE CONVERTERS................. I PAID 3,000 FOR THE AUTO- IT WILL COST THIS OR MORE TO ACTUALLY FIX THE AUTO............. I AM WRITING TO THE NHTSA- TO GET ANY FEEDBACK FROM YOU. SINCERELY, M- VERY FRUSTRATED DRIVER
MY VEHICLE STARTED HANDLING FUNNY. SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING AND SLIDING AND DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. THIS WAS VERY CONCERNING SEEING I WAS DRIVING 55 MILES AN HOUR AT 5:00 AM ON A COUNTRY ROAD. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN PLACE IS TOTALLY RUSTED AWAY AND WAS FAL…
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MY VEHICLE STARTED HANDLING FUNNY. SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING AND SLIDING AND DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. THIS WAS VERY CONCERNING SEEING I WAS DRIVING 55 MILES AN HOUR AT 5:00 AM ON A COUNTRY ROAD. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN PLACE IS TOTALLY RUSTED AWAY AND WAS FALLING APART. THERE WAS A RECALL ON DIFFERENT HYUNDAI VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT, MY SANTA FE WAS NOT INCLUDED. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT OWNERS OF THE SONOTA WERE HAVING AND THEY HAD A RECALL. MY VEHICLE IS PARKED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN AND MY REAR SUB FRAME SNAPPED, I CONTACTED THE DEALER WITH WHOM I STILL MAKING PAYMENTS WITH ONLY TO BE TOLD THE MECHANIC CAN LOOK AT IT ON WED 7/19 , THE HAVE MADE NO OFFER TO FIX THIS AT NO COST WHICH I BELIEVE IS WRONG DUE TO THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING I HAVE DONE. I W…
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I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN AND MY REAR SUB FRAME SNAPPED, I CONTACTED THE DEALER WITH WHOM I STILL MAKING PAYMENTS WITH ONLY TO BE TOLD THE MECHANIC CAN LOOK AT IT ON WED 7/19 , THE HAVE MADE NO OFFER TO FIX THIS AT NO COST WHICH I BELIEVE IS WRONG DUE TO THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING I HAVE DONE. I WILL UPLOAD A COPY OF THE ESTIMATE AS SOON AS I GET IT. I BELIEVE THE DEALER I AM DEALING WITH IS ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY AND DOES NOT CAR ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VECHICLES SOLD.I DO KNOW AS I TALKED TO MY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY RISK AND THAT HYUNDIA SHOULD RECALL VECHICLES IN THE "SALT BELT STATES".
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON I STARTED MY VEHICLE ON THE MORNING OF 2/5/16 AND IT WON'T TURN OFF.
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTED TO "JUMP" PERSAY. IT JUMPED FROM 1 RPM TO 5 RPM, WHEN I TRIED RO BRAKE IT ACTED AS IF MY GEARS WERE GRINDING, AND IT THRUSTED ME FORWARD. THIS IS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT THAT HAS HAPPENED ALOT, BUT UP TIL THIS MORNING, THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON. THE CHECK ENGINE …
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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTED TO "JUMP" PERSAY. IT JUMPED FROM 1 RPM TO 5 RPM, WHEN I TRIED RO BRAKE IT ACTED AS IF MY GEARS WERE GRINDING, AND IT THRUSTED ME FORWARD. THIS IS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT THAT HAS HAPPENED ALOT, BUT UP TIL THIS MORNING, THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO MY HUSBAND DISCONNECTED MY BATTERY IN HOPES IT WOULD RESET. AFTER ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES WE HOOKED THE BATTERY BACK UP AND TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I ALMOST CRASHED THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK WHILE I WAS DOING 55MPH I CAME TO A CURVE AND MY CAR JUMPED TO 5 RPMS AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR....THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!!!
I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE(2.7L AWD AT4) ON AUG 15, 2005. THEN TWO DAYS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED THE NHTSA ROLL OVER TEST (TIP). *JB " NHTSA 2005 SUV CRASH, ROLLOVER RATINGS <HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM/NEWS/2005/06/22/133124.HTML>" 1. WHY THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER…
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I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE(2.7L AWD AT4) ON AUG 15, 2005. THEN TWO DAYS LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED THE NHTSA ROLL OVER TEST (TIP). *JB " NHTSA 2005 SUV CRASH, ROLLOVER RATINGS <HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM/NEWS/2005/06/22/133124.HTML>" 1. WHY THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER NOT MANDATED TO WARN THE CUSTOMERS THE SAFEY DEFICIENCY INFO? A. DO I HAVE GROUND FOR RETURNING THE PURCHASE AND ASKING FOR REFUND? 2. WHAT ARE THE FOLLOW-UPS FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO REMDEY THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE VEHICLES ON ROAD? 3. WITH SANTA FE HAS BEEN IN THE MARKET FOR MANY YEARS ALREADY, DOES THE TRAFFIC STATISTICS INDICATES THAT IT IS INVOLVED IN MORE ROLL OVERS THAN OTHER VEHICLES, SAY HONDA CRV? PROMINENT UNDER WHICH CIRCUMSTANCES ( ROAD/WEATHER/DRIVER)? WHERE TO FIND THIS TYPE OF INFO? THANKS. LI CHEN, CALGARY, CANADA, (403) 685-8101 4. 3.
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.
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