2004 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that on six separate occasions, the vehicle had independently accelerated without warning. On one occasion, the vehicle had accelerated through a red light with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. On a separate occasion, the vehicle accelerated through the contact's garage door upon entering the driveway. The air bags did not deploy and no injuries were reported. A police report was not filed; the garage door was replaced after the crash. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who could not determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000

NHTSA ID

11558733

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

Mileage

37,000 mi

In transit, it began smoking and the engine light came on. After pulling to the side, flames erupted and it became fully engulfed, followed by a small explosion. The vehicle and it’s contents were a total loss.

NHTSA ID

11548969

Incident

Oct 5, 2023

The contact owned a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the son was driving approximately 25 MPH the braking system malfunctioned and when depressing the brake pedal the vehicle did not reduce speed or stop causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of a second vehicle. During the crash, the rear driver-side passenger sustained a lacerated bottom lip and dental and oral injuries. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed and later deemed destroyed by the insurance company. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced for the same failure by the local mechanic. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11524781

Incident

Dec 10, 2022

Mileage

150,000 mi

driving in the rain hit brakes they locked up

NHTSA ID

11430564

Incident

Jul 2, 2021

This was a recall for hundai santa fe vehicles from 2001-2006. For unknown reasons I was not aware of recall. It was for 15 years or 150 miles. It is a danger as my car leaks gas. I am at 135,000 miles. But my car is a 2004. I purchased the vehicle in the last 2 years. I believe the recall should extend till the repair is complete for the reasons as follows. 1. it can explode. 2. it is a polluter 3. Hyundai acknowledges it as faulty equipment. 4. Corporations must be resonsible or they are irresponsible. 5. Cars are expensive they must maintain as least minimum safety requirements.

NHTSA ID

11420393

Incident

Jun 10, 2021

LAST NIGHT MY MOTHERS 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE CAUGHT FIRE THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR HOURS, THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE CAR IT WAS COMPLETELY OFF. IT MADE ABSOLUTELY NO SINCE UNTILL I DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SEEN THE LAWSUIT FOR THIS SAME THING AND I WONDERED WHY THIS MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. I ALSO SEEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE WONDERING THE SAME THING ABOUT THEIR 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. MY FATHER WAS THE ONLY ONE IAT THE HOUSE AND IN THE HOUSE HE COULD HAVE LOST HIS LIFE AND EVERYTHING THEY OWN THE ONLY WAY HE KNEW IT WAS ON FIRE WAS A NEIGHBOR SAW AND STARTED SCREAMING AND STARTED BACKING UP TO THE VEHICLE TO PULL IT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE BUT WHAT IS SHE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR A VEHICLE? WHEN NO ONE EVEN STARTED THE FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11387389

Incident

Jan 9, 2021

Mileage

260,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 HYUNDIA SANTA FE AND THE ENGINE STARTED WITH LOUD KNOCKING SOUNDS IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD IT TOLL TO AVONDALE EARNHARDT HYUNDIA'S DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGOSTIC WAS "FOUND ENGINE KNOCK CAN BE HEARD AT BOTTOM END OF ENGINE. FAILURE IN ROD BEARINGS IS CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE IN BOTTOM END. ENGINE REQUIRED" REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS 125,000 MILES WHICH EXCEEDS THE 100,000 POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. HOWEVER, MY ENGINE FAILURE IS THE SAME AS THE CURRENT "ENGINE FAILURE RECALLS (THETA II ENGINES) CAUSED BY MANUFACTURING PROCESSES. EXCEPT THE 2004 HYUNDIA SANTA FE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL LIST. I SPOKE AND SUBMITTED TWICE A COMPLIANT TO HYUNDIA CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AND WAS DENIED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR SINCE NOVEMBER 20, 2020. TODAY, CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME BY PHONE OF THE SECOND REJECTION. I AM AN ELDERLY WOMAN AND RETIRED, SO FINANCES ARE LIMITED. I FEEL THAT THE ENGINE SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE THAT THE "FAIR THING TO DO". THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO EARLY IN ITS LIFE-CYCLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEW AND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. PERHAPS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11383023

Incident

Nov 20, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE SUNROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ID

11317301

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

Mileage

119,000 mi

IT HAD 124 RECALL NHTSA 14V43500 I CALL HYUNDAI OFF GOVERNMENT SITE TOLD THEM ABOUT 124 AND BROKEN SPRING THEY SET UP APPOINTMENT SO THEY ONLY PUT ON BRACKETS BUT NO SPRING WANTED $1004 FOR THE STRUT SPRING ON THEY TOLD ME ON CALL CENTER THEY REPLACE SPRING AS IT SAID ON NHTSA SITE THEY WOULD NOT DO IT CALL BACK TO HYUNDIA AS NUMBER ON GOVERNMENT SITE THEY MADE A CASE NUMBER 16604156 AMBER AT 714 594 1764 SHE SAID SPRING WAS NOT IN RECALL I SEND PICTURE OF IT BEFORE UP THERE TO DEALER SHE HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS SO I DONT WHO RIGHT ON RECALL SHE SAID GOVERNMENT NHTSA SITE ARE NOT CORRECT BROWN LEESBURG HYUNDAI LEESBURG VA 20176

NHTSA ID

11296864

Incident

Dec 20, 2019

Mileage

73,536 mi

BOUGHT AN USED 2004 SANTA FE IN AUGUST FROM A DEALER. TWO WEEKS AGO I STARTED NOTICING A STRONG SMELL OF GAS AROUND MY VEHICLE AND LAST WEEK I BEGAN SEEING A SMALL DISCOLORED AREA ON THE CEMENT IN THE GARAGE. MOM CHECKED MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE MY FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. THE DISCOLORATION OF THE CEMENT UNDER MY VEHICLE IS IN FACT LEAKING GAS. TANK IS CORRODED AND I WILL NEED A NEW TANK INSTALLED.

NHTSA ID

11271416

Incident

Oct 27, 2019

Mileage

133,673 mi

I JUST GOT IT A FEW MONTHS AGO AND HAPPENED TO LOOK UP RECALLS,AND SEEN 3 I TOOK IT TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WERE JUST 2 BUT ONE WAS SUSPENSION AND THEY HAVEN'T CALLED ME ABOUT IT IN AROUND A MONTH NOWB

NHTSA ID

11270897

Incident

Sep 17, 2009

Mileage

89,000 mi

MY AIR SBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. IT WON'T TURN OFF.I DON'T IF IT IS A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAGS OR JUST THE LIGHT.IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR YEARS.THERE WAS NOT REASON FOR IT TO TURN ON. I'VE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT,SO I DON'T IF IT WILL WORK WHEN NEEDED. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD FOR IT. I THINK THIS A MALFUNCTION AND SHOULD CHECKED BY A DEALER AT NO COST.

NHTSA ID

11256061

Incident

Jun 15, 2011

Mileage

45,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP ON THIS VEHICLE 15 YEARS OLD BRAKES ALSO NOT LIKE USE TO BE I AM OWN THIS SUV LAST 15 YEARS I NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT I AM WORRY NEED TO BE FIXED FOE MY SAFETY [XXX] OWNER, C [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11246188

Incident

Aug 7, 2019

Mileage

196,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITHOUT TITLE OR DISCLOSURE DEALERSHIP TOOK MONEY REFUSE TO HEAR COMPLAINTS. CONTACT ME AS I AM HANDICAPPED AND HAVE NO TITTLE TRYING TO RETURN VEHICLE IT VEERED TOWARD DITCH AS THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AND DANGEROUS PER DMV

NHTSA ID

11208686

Incident

Feb 6, 2018

Mileage

141,560 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON DURING THE MORNING DRIVE THEN SHUT OFF NEXT TIME THE CAR WAS STARTED. ON/OFF PERODICALLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. NOW THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME. A GLIMSPE ONLINE HINT SIMLAR OWNERS HAVEING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SAYING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WIRING.

NHTSA ID

11197037

Incident

Mar 8, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE VEHICLE KEEPS WON'T START AFTER PUMPING GAS. IT TAKES AWHILE, AND STALLS. EVEN STALLED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH TERRIFIES ME. I DON'T WANT TO BE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY POSSIBLY RISKING AN ACCIDENT. I WENT TO PEPBOYS AND SPENT $1800 ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

11193245

Incident

Mar 20, 2019

THIS WAS COVERED BY HYUNDIA RECALL CAMPAIGN 124. I FILLED UNDER CASE # 9878948. SPRING REPAIR 2/12/14, SOLD CAR 4/5/14, RECALL 2/4/15. THEY ONLY WOULD PAY FOR $318 OF THE $917 TOTAL REPAIR AND SAID IT HAS TO GO TO A HYUNDIA DEALERSHIP. THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE SENSERS, STRUT MOUNTS , SWAY BAR LINK ETC PER THE INVOICE. I CONTACTED THE PERSON I SOLD IT TO AND MADE A DEALER APPMT BUT THEY DIDN'T SHOW. HYUNDIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS 800-633-5151 TOLD ME TO FILE A DISPUTE WITH BBB AUTOLINE WHICH I DID UNDER CASE # HYU1713624. THEY NEVER RESPONDED. BBB AUTOLINE NOW SAYS THAT THEY DON'T HANDLE RECALLS DISPUTES BUT YOU DO. I JUST TALKED TO THEM AND THEY REFERRED ME TO YOU. WITHOUT EVER TALKING TO ME, WHILE I WAS TRYING TO GET THE CAR INTO A DEALER AND WAITING FOR THE BBB AUTOLINE RESPONSE HYUNDIA CLOSED OUT THE CASE. IRONICALLY HYUNDIA WOULD HAVE REPLACED BOTH SPRINGS WITH OEM, ALL OTHER DAMAGED PARTS AND ANY DAMAGED TIRES PER THEIR RECALL. IT WOULD HAVE COST THEM 2X AS MUCH AS THE $917. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN CALL MY MECHANIC WHO THE LOCAL HYUNDIA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED AS REPUTABLE. IN OUR CASE, THE BROKEN SPRING BENT THE STRUT, DAMAGED THE SWAY BAR AND TORE THE ABS SENSOR WIRE. THE LANGUAGE IN THE RECALL INFORMATION ACTUALLY CALLS FOR THE DEALER TO REPLACE INSTALLED NON-OEM STRUTS WITH OEM STRUTS SO THE NEW BRACKET WILL FIT PROPERLY. GIVEN THIS, I AM SURPRISED THAT YOU CHOSE NOT TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE ONE STRUT AND MOUNT ($62.1 6 +$135.88) & REPAIR ($37.20) AND THE SPRING REPAIR ($37.20). LIKEWISE HYUNDIA CHOSE NOT TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGED ABS SENSOR ($175.94) AND ITS REPAIR ($55.80). IN MINNESOTA, LIKE MOST STATES, PARTS ARE SUBJECT TO SALES TAX OF 7.125%. IN THIS CASE IT ADDED UP TO ($45.25) WHICH HYUNDIA CHOSE NOT TO PAY. LIKEWISE HYUNDIA CHOOSE NOT TO PAY THE SHOP SUPPLIES ($13.18) AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE ($4.93) WHICH ARE PRETTY TYPICAL.

NHTSA ID

11186631

Incident

Mar 10, 2017

Mileage

157,713 mi

ABS TCS TRACKING SYSTEM TURNS OUT WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11176011

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN ALIGNMENT, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE RUSTED, FRACTURED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CAUTIOUSLY APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL AND, AT TIMES, DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION) AND 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED THREE TSBS FOR THE BRAKES AND THREE TSBS FOR THE SUSPENSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11154425

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

WELL MY VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE ABS ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER 04 SANTA FES AS WELL AS THE CORROSION FROM ROAD SALT TO THE COIL SPRINGS. THEY ARE CORRODED AND HAVE COMPLETELY SNAPPED. MY CAR IS WITHIN THE YEARS AND MODEL FOR THOSE RECALLS BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL,BUT I MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THOSE EXACT ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE RECALL

NHTSA ID

11141555

Incident

Oct 18, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

VEHICLE FUEL TANK IS ROTTED AND LEAKING FUEL. CALL HYUNDAI AND THEY SAY ITS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 15 YEARS OR 150000 MILES. I AM OVER ON MILEAGE. THEY SAY NOT COVERED. WHAT DOES MILEAGE HAVE TO DO WITH CORROSION?

NHTSA ID

11133468

Incident

Oct 5, 2018

Mileage

180,050 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED

NHTSA ID

11123793

Incident

Aug 19, 2018

Mileage

171,000 mi

MY STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING ONE DAY WHILE ON THE FREEWAY(IN MOTION). I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER IT STARTED TO MESS UP AGAIN. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

11097837

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.7 LITER ENGINE, HIGH IDLES AT 3,000 RPM ON START UP AND NEVER GOES DOWN EVEN WHEN ENGINE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT EVEN ACTING RIGHT SINCE THIS PROBLEM STARTED, THIS IS A HAZARD AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR SHOWS NO ENGINE CODES, OR TRANSMISSION CODES, IT HAS HAD LOWER INTAKE, UPPER INTAKE GASKETS CHANGED, IAC MOTOR CHANGED, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CHANGED, TEMPERATURE SENSOR CHANGED, CLEANED THROTTLE BODY BORE WHERE THROTTLE PLATE CLOSES, CHANGED VACUUM HOSES, MADE SURE THROTTLE CABLE AND CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WERE BINDING OR HOLDING THROTTLE OPEN, AND NONE OFF THESE THINGS HAVE HELPED. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM, MANY ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE READ A FORUM THAT SAID HYUNDAI DOES NOT HAVE A FAIL SAFE MODE BUILT INTO THERE COMPUTERS LIKE MOST CARS DO SO THIS KIND OF SITUATION DOES NOT OCCUR. VEHICLE STILL NOT FIXED, AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE ANY FATALITIES FROM NEGLECT OF A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11093495

Incident

Jan 3, 2018

Mileage

216,721 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (COLUMBIA HYUNDAI, 10981 MONTGOMERY RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249, (513) 489-2000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL SPRING AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 15 YEARS OLD AND EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE TO BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

NHTSA ID

11084734

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

198,000 mi