What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2004 Hyundai Santa FE

Typical pattern

8.3% of complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Santa FE came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is suspension (71 complaints), typically at 9.5 yr or about 91,000 miles.

Complaints
384
Median age at failure
8.3 yr
Median mileage
74,000 n=315
Crash / fire / tow
18% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Suspension
71 reports · 91,000 mi
9.5 yr
0%
Air bags
42 reports · 99,000 mi
9.3 yr
31%
Speed control
39 reports · 69,500 mi
4.3 yr
15.4%
Service brakes, hydraulic
25 reports · 34,000 mi
2.6 yr
48%
Fuel / propulsion
25 reports · 133,673 mi
12.0 yr
0%
Engine cooling
22 reports · 40,000 mi
5.0 yr
9.1%
Power train
21 reports · 37,000 mi
8.3 yr
23.8%
Electrical system
18 reports · 60,000 mi
6.3 yr
16.7%
Service brakes
16 reports · 118,000 mi
13.3 yr
25%
Engine
16 reports · 100,000 mi
11.8 yr
25%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14V435000 2014-07-18
Suspension:front:springs:coil springs

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 Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road s

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.

04V131000 2004-03-16
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS), IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PAD FRICTION SURFACES ARE WET, A VIBRATION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CAUSING ABS SENSOR ELECTRONIC SIGNAL NOISE TO DEVELOP. AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE ABS SENSOR SIGNAL NOISE MAY CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

03V520000 2003-12-18
Equipment:other:labels

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

In owners’ own words

Suspension 15,000 mi 3 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. *AK *MR
Suspension 32,000 mi 7.3 yr in service
BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE BROKE THE RIGHT AT 22,000 MILES AND THE LEFT AT 32,000 MILES. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES. *TR
Suspension 62,000 mi 7.3 yr in service
FAILURE OF FRONT COIL SPRING WHILE DRIVING. COIL SPRING SUDDENLY BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. *TR
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 6 mo in service
MY WIFE HAD ENTERED A SMALL PARKING LOT AND WAS COMMING UP TO A CURB ABOUT 6" HIGH. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER THE CURB AND INTO A TREE. SHE IS SURE THAT SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR.*AK

Other Santa FE model years

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