2004 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
303 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
72,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 248 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 48 of 303 complaints (15.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 74 | 24.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 29 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 48 |
| Air Bags | 36 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 25 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 16 |
| Suspension:Front | 15 |
Suspension: 48; Air Bags: 36; Vehicle Speed Control: 36; Fuel/Propulsion System: 25; Electrical System: 16; Engine: 16; Service Brakes: 16; Suspension:Front: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 55 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 28 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 45 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 38 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 50 |
| 150,000 and above | 32 |
Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 28; 50,000 to 74,999: 45; 75,000 to 99,999: 38; 100,000 to 149,999: 50; 150,000 and above: 32
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (55). 55 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 25 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 30 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2014 | 37 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2004: 24; 2005: 25; 2006: 14; 2007: 11; 2008: 11; 2009: 12; 2010: 17; 2011: 30; 2012: 20; 2013: 21; 2014: 37; 2015: 23; 2016: 23; 2017: 7; 2018: 10; 2019: 9; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 74 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10054896 · 2004-01-26 (January 26, 2004)
BRAKE FAILURE OF MY 2004 HYUNDAI, SANTA FE. THE CAR HAD 1,940 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I BRAKED, TO STOP BEHIND A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED FOR ANOTHER CAR TURNING LEFT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR ROLLED INTO THE STOPPED CAR. HYUNDAI IS DENYING THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR A MONTH NOW (WITHOUT A RENTAL CAR DUE TO THE FACT THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG) AND THEY TELL ME, TO PURSUE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, WILL TAKE UP TO TWO MONTHS. ONE OF THE THREE DEALER MECHANICS THAT LOOKED…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,940 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064201 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191537 · 2007-05-23 (May 23, 2007)
NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR CONDITIONS EXISTED PRIOR TO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY A FELLOW COWORKER TO BE THE FUEL PUMP. AAA WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE , AND UPON ARRIVAL, PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO BACK IT UP IN ORDER TO TOW. IMMEDIATELY, THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE WHEN FLAT, AND IT WAS A RESULT OF THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY BREAKING AND CAUSING THE COIL SPRING TO SNAP AND PIERCE THE FRONT TIRE. IT HAS BEEN 6 DAYS , AND I WAS STILL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 65,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268460 · 2009-05-12 (May 12, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE SIMILAR TO LIQUID TOUCHING A HOT SURFACE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS LEAKING ONTO THE PIPES, THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE FUEL TANK COVER, WHICH HAS ALSO CAUSED THEM TO RUST. THE CONTACT HAS AN EXTENDED FIVE YEAR WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY MAKE REPAIRS WHEN THE STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. SHE INFORMED THE DEALER THAT A MECHANIC CHANGED THE FLUIDS AND STATED THAT THE CRANKSH…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052042 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082032 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC BETWEEN 10-15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, WITHOUT BEING MOTIONED TO. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER'S SUSTAINING A STRESS LINE FRACTURE TO HIS LEFT WRIST. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 153 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074848 · 2004-06-05 (June 5, 2004)
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REVIEW THIS LETTER. MARCH OF THIS YEAR I PURCHASED A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. I WAS MOTIVATED TO DO THIS BASED ON MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE, AS A FORMER OWNER, ALONG WITH THE COUPLED KNOWLEDGE OF HYUNDAIS IMPROVED WARRANTEES. IN THE PAST I HAD NO REASON TO BRING A HYUNDAI INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, OTHER THAN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE PROBLEM IM HAVING WITH MY CURRENT VEHICLE IS FOCUSED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN, SPECIFICALLY THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES. INITIA…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081838 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE DRIVE TRAIN.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP AND THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSITIONED FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AS IF IT LOST POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS UP AND RUNNING, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER. THE CONSUMER ASKED IF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER BOARD COULD BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER REPLIED THAT THEY COULD NOT JUST THROW PARTS INTO THE VEHICLE IN HOPES T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121686 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
DT: THE END OF JANUARY 2004 OR BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2004 WHILE IN THE CAR IT SHOUT OFF AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER THE CAR JUST STARTED UP BY ITSELF. THEN, IN APRIL 2004 THE CAR DID THIS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. GOT A RECALL 03V030000 NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH STATED IT WOULD STALL IN COLD DAMP WEATHER, TOOK VEHICLE TTO HE DEALER THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. . THEN IN JUNE 2004 WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A SUNSHINE DAY THE CAR DID SAME THING. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY ASSURED CONSUMER THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340733 · 2010-06-30 (June 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS AGAIN REPROGRAMMED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS BEING EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086919 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)
THE NIGHT I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICAL I HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THIS WAS TO BE FIX BY DEALERSHIP, WELL NOW 8/15/2004 THERE ARE MORE ELEC. PROBLEMS THE FUSES ARE BLOWING AND THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING AS SHOULD BE.ALSO THE TRASMISSION WHEN APPLING THE GAS PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND BETWEEN 40/60 MPH JECKSING SENSATION TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122305 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR RUN INTO A HOLE. CONSUMER HAD NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID NO SIGN OF PHYSICAL IMPACT, APPEARS TO BE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG APPEARS TO HAVE DEPLOYED PREMATURELY. DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT TOUCH IT BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER SAID IT WAS TURNED OVER TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM MANUFACTURER. *TT *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122305 at NHTSA ↗