2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Complaints

While merging onto the freeway, the accelerator pedal got stuck to the floor with the throttle wide open. The brakes and emergency brake were ineffective. Measures had to be taken to drive off of the road into ice plant, we we were able to turn off the engine. Further inspection revealed a missing grommet at the wall where the throttle cable passes through to connect to the gas pedal. Furthermore, the plastic around the throttle cable was cracked, which allows for the throttle cable and pedal to push through and get snagged. This could have ended horrifically. We are lucky to be alive.

NHTSA ID

11655016

Incident

Apr 12, 2025

The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the tailgate failed to open while using the tailgate handle. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

NHTSA ID

11616406

Incident

Sep 24, 2024

Mileage

99,000 mi

Car all of a sudden stopped running like normal. Can't go above 20 mph without sounding like backfiring or dying

NHTSA ID

11517629

Incident

Apr 16, 2023

The airbag light stays on constantly - mechanic says it's the switch in the passenger seat belt and they encounter this problem with this vehicle all the time. Prevents the airbag from deploying if not repaired.

NHTSA ID

11511672

Incident

Mar 13, 2022

Mileage

145,670 mi

The Air Bag light stays on and from my research the air bag will not work in an accident.

NHTSA ID

11500381

Incident

Dec 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11497467

Incident

Nov 14, 2022

Airbag light is constantly on from the time I start the car, until I turn it off, mechanic stated it was the passenger seatbelt buckle switch. I've seen many posts online about the same exact thing happening to them. It poses a safety threat, as the airbags are not going to go off.

NHTSA ID

11471605

Incident

Jun 24, 2022

Emergency brake light does not turn off even when not used, since I finalized the vehicle when I fill the gas tank up the car doesn’t want to start unless you rev the engine giving it some power, recently the vehicle has been not turning off after keys out of ignition unless pressing on the gas to kick start the engine turn off.

NHTSA ID

11456515

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

A 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.

NHTSA ID

11433492

Incident

Dec 11, 2020

I HAVE BEEN GETTING ELECTRICAL SHOCKS FROM MY CAR AROUND THE WELL OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE 7 SERVICE BULLITANS ON THE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO GO TO URGENT CARE AND THE EMERGENCY ROOM OVER THIS AND THE DOCTOR WAS WORRIED THAT I MAY HAVE NERVE DAMAGE TO MY FOOT OVER THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL/ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP WITH THIS AND HYUNDAI WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS. I HAVE WOUND UP IN THE HOSPITAL OVER THIS AND FEEL THAT THIS IS HIGHLY UNFAIR. THIS IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11374286

Incident

Oct 1, 2020

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 ID

11328664

Incident

Apr 18, 2020

Mileage

114,234 mi

WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE THROTTLE STUCK NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. FAULTY TPS SEEN MANY WITH SAME COMPLAINTS..

NHTSA ID

11292467

Incident

Dec 11, 2019

Mileage

102,000 mi

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 ID

11270284

Incident

Oct 16, 2019

Mileage

225,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON FOR A WHILE, THEN IT GOES OUT CHANGES SOMETIMES IN MOTION OR PARKED, NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

11243776

Incident

Jul 10, 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON

NHTSA ID

11233551

Incident

Jul 20, 2017

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 ID

11221286

Incident

Oct 1, 2007

Mileage

187,880 mi

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 ID

11219374

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

106,797 mi

GAS TANK HAS CORROSION AND MECHANIC CONFIRMS THE TANK IS LEAKING GASOLINE DUE TO THE CORROSION!!!!

NHTSA ID

11207875

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

159,000 mi

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 ID

11195974

Incident

Apr 11, 2019

Mileage

45 mi

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?

NHTSA ID

11164349

Incident

Dec 7, 2018

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT A CODE OF B1513: PASSENGER SEAT BELT DISPLAYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11144690

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

I TOOK MY CAR TO GET CHECKED AFTER A AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER THEIR DIAGNOSTIC THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $2500 TO FIX A SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND A SENSOR UNDER THE OCCUPANT SEAT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR UNDER A YEAR AND DO NOT HAVE THE TYPE OF INCOME TO CORRECT THIS ASAP. THE LIGHT IS KEEPING ME FROM GETTING MY CAR INSPECTED WHICH IN THE LONG RUN CAN COST ME MY JOB. I CALLED THE PHONE NUMBER HERE PROVIDED HERE TO BE TOLD 61 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS THE SECOND PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR,THE FIRST BEING A RECALL ON THE COIL SPRINGS. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID

11122793

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE, IT FEELS LIKE THE ABS ON STEROIDS KICKS IN, ON DRY PAVEMENT, (THIS WAS AFTER I HAD NEW BRAKES INSTALLED) I ENDED UP HAVING TWO NEW SETS OF BRAKES INSTALLED. HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME ISSUE AFTER THEY PUT THE 'FACTORY BRAKES' INSTALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY LOOKED AT ME LIKE I AM CRAZY, SO THEY GREASED WHAT THEY COULD AND SAID IF IT KEPT DOING IT TO BRING IT BACK. THIS WAS OCT 2017. IT WAS GOOD FOR A WHILE AND THEN STARTED UP IN NOVEMBER AND AGAIN IN DECEMBER ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. I BOUGHT A NEW 2018 ELANTRA AND GAVE THE SANTA FE TO MY GRANDSONS. THEY CAME OVER AND SAID 'GRANDMA, WHAT'S UP WITH THE BRAKES' THEY FINALLY KNEW WHAT I MEANT. WHEN DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT, IN THE CITY, PUTTING ON BRAKES COMING TO A LIGHT THEN THE ABS KICKS IN. I PUT IN A COMPLAINT TO THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS AT HYUNDAI. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT. MY GRANDSONS TOOK IT OVER TO THE SAME PLACE AND AN OLDER MAN DROVE IT (KEEP IN MIND IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME) AND HE SAID HE COULD FEEL SOMETHING AND SAID IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WOULD COST $800 TO BLEED THE LINES AND PUT A NEW MASTER CYLINDER IN. WELL, THE BRAKES DON'T GIVE OUT AND THEY DO NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR ' THEY ACT LIKE ABS ON STEROIDS. SO IF I HAVE THEM REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR $800, PLUS WHATEVER, AND IT STILL DOES IT, THEN WHAT? I SEE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE ' WHAT IS UP HYUNDAI? SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS TOO. :/ THIS STARTED ABOUT JUNE 2017 AND SPORADICALLY UNTIL NOW. FEW TIMES A MONTH AND NOW MORE . FOR THE LIGHTING - THE FRONT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT ONCE A YEAR LIKE CLOCKWORK AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT IS ONLY HALF ON.

NHTSA ID

11118085

Incident

Jun 29, 2017

Mileage

87,500 mi

GAS IS LEAKING OUT OF OF THE CAR THE GAS TANK IS BAD I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STOPPED

NHTSA ID

11103708

Incident

May 11, 2018

Mileage

147 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO O'BRIEN HYUNDAI (2850 COLONIAL BLVD, FORT MYERS, FL 33966, (239) 277-1222) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR THE AIR BAG AND IT WAS ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,769.

NHTSA ID

11097555

Incident

Mar 13, 2018

Mileage

109,769 mi