RoadVitals

2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Apr 18, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 216 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 18, 2023

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
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jan 1, 2020

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
Fuel system
Filed May 15, 2019

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
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 25, 2018

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
Fuel system
Filed Nov 10, 2017

LEAKY GAS TANK WAS REPLACED THIS SUMMER AND NOW I HAVE GAS FUMES AGAIN

NHTSA ID
11045182
Incident
Nov 10, 2017
Mileage
142,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 26, 2017

I WAS DRIVING COMING UP TO A TURN, TOOK THE LEFT TURN, AND ACCELERATED LIKE A NORMALLY DO, THE CAR'S RPMS WENT UP TO ABOUT 5 THOUSAND RPMS. I HEARD A POP LIKE NOISE AND THE RPMS JUST STARTED DROPPING AND THERE WAS NO RESTRICTION ON THE GAS PEDAL (FELT LIKE I WAS PUSHING AIR). THE VEHICLE THEN JUST ROLLED ONCE IT WAS AT ABOUT 10 MPH RPMS WENT UNDER 1 THOUSAND AND THE VEHICLE DIED. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART IT IT WAS JUST CRANK AND CRANK, DOESN'T EVEN SOUND LIKE IT WANTS TO TURN OVER. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
11010693
Incident
Jul 26, 2017
Mileage
171,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 24, 2016

PURCHASED A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AND FOUND AFTERWARD THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING FROM INSIDE THE PLASTIC SHELL SURROUNDING IT. DISCOVERED AT THAT TIME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN STATES THAT HAVE CORROSION (ROAD SALT) AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SPOT BECAUSE OF THE PLASTIC SHELL. FOUND THAT HYUNDAI HAD NOT DONE A RECALL BUT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, BUT ONLY AN ADDITIONAL 5 YEARS OR 50, 000 MILES ON THE FUEL TANK. CONTACTED HYUNDAI BECAUSE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THEY (THE COMPANY) HAVE REPAIRED THESE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED 150,000 MILES AT COMPANY COST BUT I WENT THROUGH THE STEPS WITH THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION AND WAS TURNED DOWN. VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF LEAKING FUEL RIGHT NEXT TO HOT EXHAUST PIPE. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10918517
Incident
Oct 7, 2016
Mileage
190,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 28, 2016
2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EVAC CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUMES CAUSED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO BECOME NAUSEOUS AND NEARLY PASSED OUT WHILE DRIVING. *JS

NHTSA ID
10877106
Incident
Apr 27, 2016
Mileage
55,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED IN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V317000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID
10876060
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Mileage
94,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 22, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS A FUEL PUDDLE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V317000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID
10875853
Incident
Jun 13, 2016
Mileage
96,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 7, 2016

GAS TANK IS CORRODED AND LEAKING FUEL DUE TO ROAD SALT BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT HYUNDAI HAS "EXTENDED THE WARRANTY" ON MODEL YEARS 2001-2006 UP TO 150,000 MILES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS "EXTENDED WARRANTY" SHOULD HAVE A MILEAGE RESTRICTION, AND I ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY BUT AN ALL OUR RECALL BY HYUNDAI. CARS ARE LEAKING GAS! MY CAR HAS NO OTHER RUST ON IT AND I KEEP MY CAR CLEAN AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE. MY GAS TANK SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED OUT ON A CAR THAT IS 10 YEARS OLD. I ALSO OWN A 1999 AND ANOTHER 2005 HYUNDAI (ELANTRA & SONATA) AND NEITHER HAVE ANY GAS TANK CORROSION. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID
10840195
Incident
Jan 15, 2016
Mileage
163,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 29, 2014

IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE WHEN THE REDUCE SPEED/COAST BUTTON WAS PUSHED. THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT THE FIRST SUCH INCIDENT; AT LEAST 10 SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRED PREVIOUS TO THAT INCIDENT, AND 4 INCIDENTS SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650984
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
136,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTING IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THAT APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 11/06/14*LJ

NHTSA ID
10638079
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
68,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING AND CONSISTENT ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10576341
Incident
Mar 18, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsFuel systemSeat belts
Filed Mar 2, 2014

WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2013. WE HAD IT ALMOST A MONTH WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE BLEW OUT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY FIXED THE LINE. THREE DAYS LATER THE STEERING WENT AGAIN WE GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE US $300.00. I GOT UPSET BUT THE MOST THEY WOULD DO FOR ME WAS SPLIT THE COST.THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER I STARTED TO SMELL GAS. I DIDN'T SEE ANY THING ON THE GROUND SO I LEFT IT GO. THEN IN NOVEMBER 2013 THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF AND THE BELL WOULD DING AS IF THE SEAT BELT WASN'T BUCKLED BUT IT WAS.I JUST HAD IT TESTED BY A HYUNDAI DEALER AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSES THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT AND BELL TO GO OFF. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE GAS TANK. THE WHOLE REPAIR WILL COST ME ABOUT $2000.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. IF THE SENSOR IS NOT REPLACED HE SAID THE AIR BAG WILL PROBABLY NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE SENSOR AT LEAST BECAUSE THAT SHOULDN'T BE SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10566721
Incident
Dec 2, 2013
Mileage
82,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Dec 1, 2013

STARTED ENGINE. PLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTION INTO REVERSE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY HAD AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION TO PERHAPS 2500 RPM. OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY APPLIED VERY HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP ANY REAR DIRECTION MOVEMENT. OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER BACK TO THE PARK POSITION, SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESTARTING, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAD ALSO OCCURRED ONE OTHER TIME IN SEPTEMBER, 2013 UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. OPERATOR INITIALLY ASSUMED THAT PERHAPS HIS FOOT HAD MOVED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS DEPRESSING BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE DONE, OPERATOR COULD NOT REPLICATE. IT IS ASSUMED THE THROTTLE SENSOR LOCATOR MAY BE FAULTY. VERY DISTURBING WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND COULD EASILY RESULT IN PROPERTY OR PERSONAL DAMAGE.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554266
Incident
Nov 13, 2013
Mileage
119,131 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 19, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE SMELLED GASOLINE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,264. UPDATED 12/20/13*CN

NHTSA ID
10552964
Incident
Nov 6, 2013
Mileage
76,264 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Feb 14, 2012

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE CAR "LURCHES" FORWARD AND THE ENGINE "REVES" UP. I'VE HAD IT TO THE MECHANIC NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND A REASON FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING. IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVE BECOME FEARFUL WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS REGULAR STREET ROADS. I'VE SEEN MANY FORUMS ON LINE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS. I REALLY HOPE THAT SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THESE COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10447908
Incident
Nov 7, 2011
Mileage
55,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 5, 2010

HYUNDAI, SANTA FE--2005. SOMETIMES AFTER STOPPING, WHEN YOU AGAIN PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO RESUME DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SURGE AHEAD QUICKLY. THE SURGE IS NOT CONTINUOUS BUT DOES REQUIRE THE OPERATOR TO LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL (NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU). THIS PRIMARILY APPEARS TO HAPPEN AFTER MAKING A STOP THAT IS FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION OF DRIVING. NO INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED THAT HAVE CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES AS OF THIS DATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10306276
Incident
Jun 15, 2009
Fuel system
Filed Nov 2, 2008

ON A FREQUENT BASIS I CAN SMELL GASOLINE FUMES IN THE VEHICLE INTERIOR WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE FUMES THEY ACTED LIKE IT WAS NORMAL, AND DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. IF THE FIRE WALL AROUND THE VEHICLE IS INTACT HOW CAN FUMES GET INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR? THEY DID SUGGEST IT MAY BE CAUSED BY AN AIR LOCK IN THE SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247482
Incident
Oct 23, 2006
Fuel system
Filed Aug 11, 2006

I AM EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM THAT THREATENS MY SAFETY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH DELAYED ACCELERATION WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL, WHICH CAUSES FEAR WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC OR MAKING A TURN AS OPPOSING TRAFFIC APPROACHES. THE DELAYED ACCELERATION IS THEN FOLLOWED BY A LUNGING ACCELERATION WHICH REDUCES THE FEELING OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER IN ELGIN, IL A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY BRUSHED IT OFF AS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC OF HYUNDAI VEHICLES WITH THE 3.5 LITER ENGINE. THEY CLAIMED THAT AFTER SOME TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD ''ADJUST'' TO MY DRIVING HABITS AND THE SYMPTOMS WOULD GO AWAY. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE VEHICLE OVER. THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAD DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY HAD NOT SUBSIDED AT ALL. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND I TOOK A RIDE AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE SYMPTOMS AS THEY OCCURRED AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD DO A VERY THOROUGH CHECK OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP'S NEW SERVICE MANAGER AND FROM A SALES PERSON WHO REPLACED THE SALES PERSON THAT I HAD BOUGHT THE VEHCLE FROM (HE WAS FIRED). I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THEY HAD ME BRING IT IN. THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE ACCELERATION WAS SWAPPED WITH ONE FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM LESSENED IN SEVERITY, BUT CONTINUED TO BE QUITE NOTICEABLE. I NEVER DID GET A RESPONSE FROM HYUNDAI CORPORATION TO A MARCH 17, 2006 LETTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. TO THIS DAY, THE ACCELERATION WAS STILL ERRATIC AND MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR EVEN WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE EXPRESSWAY.THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO, BECAUSE NO OFFICIAL RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED.

NHTSA ID
10165272
Incident
Aug 11, 2006
Mileage
10 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Jul 25, 2006

2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BRAKE PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. ROTORS HAD ALREADY BEEN RESURFACED. *KB THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE. THE LEFT SPEAKER WAS MAKING AN NOISE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164740
Incident
Nov 29, 2005
Mileage
3,962 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .