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
What owners actually said
216 reports
114,234 miles · Jun 13, 2020
Air BagsSeat Belts
DRIVERS CHEST SEAT BELT IS LOOSE AND THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT BELT YOU SNAP AND LOCK IT IN PLACE MAKES THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT FOR THE DRIVER ONLY COME ON. I'VE HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND CHECKED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTED, AND CURRENTLY, AS LONG AS THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT REMAINS ON, EVEN IF THEY TURNED IT O…
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DRIVERS CHEST SEAT BELT IS LOOSE AND THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT BELT YOU SNAP AND LOCK IT IN PLACE MAKES THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT FOR THE DRIVER ONLY COME ON. I'VE HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND CHECKED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTED, AND CURRENTLY, AS LONG AS THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT REMAINS ON, EVEN IF THEY TURNED IT OFF, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF IMPACTED HARD ENOUGH IN VEHICLE COLLISION. THE AIR BAG IS OKAY AND IN WORKING CONDITION, ITS THE SENSORS IN THE SEAT BELTS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT ARE OUT OF DATE. THE "RED LIGHT" REMAINS ON FROM THE TIME I START THE VEHICLE AND ITS IN PARK, IDLING, MOVING, UP UNTIL WE ARE BACK IDLING, AND THE ENGINE IS OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11328664
102,000 miles · Jan 1, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE THROTTLE STUCK NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. FAULTY TPS SEEN MANY WITH SAME COMPLAINTS..
NHTSA ODI #11292467
225,000 miles · Oct 22, 2019
Air Bags
THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STAYS ON ALL THE TIME WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED ON. THIS INDICATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SYSTEM AND NEEDS FURTHER EVALUATION. BECAUSE THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON, POSES A SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR OCCUPANT SAFETY DURING A CRASH EVENT.
NHTSA ODI #11270284
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2019
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON FOR A WHILE, THEN IT GOES OUT CHANGES SOMETIMES IN MOTION OR PARKED, NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED.
NHTSA ODI #11243776
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2019
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON
NHTSA ODI #11233551
187,880 miles · Jun 19, 2019
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V450000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHEEHY HYUNDAI OF WALDORF (LOCATED AT 2910 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20601, (301) 812-3318) TO BE DIAGNOSE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V450000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHEEHY HYUNDAI OF WALDORF (LOCATED AT 2910 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20601, (301) 812-3318) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,880. *TR CONSUMER STATED ISSUE WAS REPORTED IN 2010/11. IT IS ALSO RELATED TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY AGREED THAT THEY HAVE THE NAME OF THE CONSUMER BUT THEIR SYSTEM CAN'T RETRIEVE SERVICE DETAILS. THE LIGHT IS STILL ON FOR AIR BAG. *JB
NHTSA ODI #11221286
106,797 miles · Jun 11, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control
ME AND MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH OUR 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE HELP. I WENT TO HYUNDAI DEALER AND SAID THAT NO INDICATOR OR ENGINE LIGHT ON.
NHTSA ODI #11219374
159,000 miles · May 15, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
GAS TANK HAS CORROSION AND MECHANIC CONFIRMS THE TANK IS LEAKING GASOLINE DUE TO THE CORROSION!!!!
NHTSA ODI #11207875
45 miles · Apr 13, 2019
Air BagsStructure
THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AN OFF, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, I FEEL INSECURE IN THIS VEHICLE, I DON'T THINK THE AIR BAGS WOULD WORK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. NEED ATTENTION IN THE MATTER
NHTSA ODI #11195974
58,000 miles · Jan 1, 2019
Air Bags
THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A FEW WEEKS. I WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THERE ARE ALSO DIFFERENT REASONS FOR THIS OCCURRENCE. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE?
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.
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.
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.
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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