2004 Hyundai Santa Fe problems and complaints

Owners have filed 303 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most-reported areas: Suspension (69), Service Brakes (43), Air Bags (43).

Key takeaways

  • 303 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 32 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 35 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Suspension6923%
Service Brakes4314%
Air Bags4314%
Vehicle Speed Control3913%
Fuel/Propulsion System258%
Hydraulic248%
Engine And Engine Cooling227%
Power Train217%
Electrical System186%
Engine165%
Fuel System155%
Gasoline134%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2004 Hyundai Santa Fe 4-DR. w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Power Train - filed 2023-12-06

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 thro...

Engine - filed 2023-10-09

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.

Service Brakes - filed 2023-06-01

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 drive...

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More for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.