2004 Hyundai Santa Fe problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (42) · Vehicle Speed Control (35) · Air Bags (25)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Santa Fe model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
248 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs 2014-07-18 · campaign 14V435000 · 271,773 vehicles
Defect: 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 Vi
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (77)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Visibility/Wiper 2024-02-14 · 24-BD-001H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. if the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, w
Showing the 6 most recent of 77 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-12-06 · Power Train · 37,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 …”
2023-10-09 · Engine · 🔥 fire“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.…”
2023-06-01 · Service Brakes · 150,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 l…”
2021-08-25 · Service Brakes · 🔥 fire“driving in the rain hit brakes they locked up…”
2021-06-10 · Fuel/Propulsion System“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 re…”
2021-01-10 · Unknown Or Other · 260,000 mi · 🔥 fire“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 the…”
2020-12-11 · Engine · 125,000 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 125,0…”
2020-03-10 · Visibility/Wiper · 119,000 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.…”
2020-01-03 · Suspension · 73,536 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 govern…”
2019-10-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 133,673 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 g…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.