2005 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
216 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
79,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 175 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 72 of 216 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 51 | 23.6% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 7.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 72 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 37 |
| Service Brakes | 18 |
| Seat Belts | 16 |
| Suspension | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
Air Bags: 72; Vehicle Speed Control: 37; Service Brakes: 18; Seat Belts: 16; Suspension: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Engine: 11; Electrical System: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 38 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 38 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 38; 100,000 to 149,999: 38; 150,000 and above: 16
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (41). 41 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 33 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 12; 2006: 17; 2007: 6; 2008: 7; 2009: 4; 2010: 11; 2011: 9; 2012: 16; 2013: 16; 2014: 33; 2015: 17; 2016: 22; 2017: 13; 2018: 13; 2019: 8; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 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 10128975 · 2005-07-16 (July 16, 2005)
AFTER STARTING THE CAR EACH TIME, AND EITHER BACKING UP AND THEN PULLING FORWARD OR PULLING FORWARD, THERE IS A POPPING SOUND AND A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS, THEN IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER HAVING MY BOSS WHO IS A MECHANIC, DRIVE THE CAR, HE SAID THAT IT WAS NEITHER OF THOSE ITEMS, AND COULD POSSIBLY HAVE SOMEETHING TO DO WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN OR THE U-JOINTS. I RELAYED THIS INFORMATION TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY THEN WENT BACK OVER TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142909 · 2005-11-16 (November 16, 2005)
PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK AS PER DASH LIGHT, DEALER CAN' T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH SYSTEM SUGGEST TURNING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING TO RESET COMPUTER. I TRIED THIS WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND LOST POWER TO MY BRAKES AND STEERING , MY WIFE WEIGHS 135 POUNDS THIS SHOULD WORK THE SENSORS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155188 · 2006-03-29 (March 29, 2006)
WHEN 2005 SANTA FE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IT HAS A DELAYED REACTION. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE DELAYED ACCELERATION OCCURRED IT CAUSED THE TIRES TO SPIN ON WET OR SNOW COVERED PAVEMENT. THE STARTER HAD TO TURN OVER MUCH LONGER THAN IT SHOULD BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS. THE BRAKES WOULD CATCH AS IF SOMETHING IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS LOOSE, THERE WAS A GRINDING/RUBBING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PARTIALLY APPLIED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10155188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173474 · 2006-11-14 (November 14, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ECU WAS REPLACED, AND THE FLOAT IN THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,114 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552964 · 2013-11-19 (November 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
Owner-reported narrative. 76,264 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116602 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)
MY 2005 SANTA FE 3.5L ENGINE HAS A COMPUTER OPERATED GAS PEDAL THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE A SMOOTH LINEAR ACCELERATION. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE AND ACCIDENT OR INJURY OCCURS. *AK THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SITUATION WAS ESPECIALLY AGGRAVATED ON WET, SNOWY OR ICY ROADS. *SC THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE CABLE SYSTEM GAS PEDAL TO A COMPUTER OPERATED GAS PEDAL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117366 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
DRIVER NOTICED THAT WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10629815 · 2014-09-01 (September 1, 2014)
THE REAR WIPER WILL TURN ON EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS OFF AND THERE IS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. EVEN AFTER PULLING THE FUSE THE WIPER WILL NOT TURN OFF. ALSO, CAME HOME LAST NIGHT AND THE DRL ON THE CAR WERE ON. ONCE THE CAR IS TURN OFF THE LIGHTS WILL ALWAYS GO OFF AFTER THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR IS OPENED THEN CLOSED. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN SEVERAL DAYS BUT YET THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE CAR THAT MAY CAUSE A PROBLEM WHILE EITHER MYSELF OR MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 151,894 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10744466 · 2015-07-28 (July 28, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE STARTED TO "JUMP" PERSAY. IT JUMPED FROM 1 RPM TO 5 RPM, WHEN I TRIED RO BRAKE IT ACTED AS IF MY GEARS WERE GRINDING, AND IT THRUSTED ME FORWARD. THIS IS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT THAT HAS HAPPENED ALOT, BUT UP TIL THIS MORNING, THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO MY HUSBAND DISCONNECTED MY BATTERY IN HOPES IT WOULD RESET. AFTER ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES WE HOOKED THE BATTERY BACK UP AND TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I ALMOST CRASHED THIS MORNING ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10744466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627506 · 2014-08-22 (August 22, 2014)
AFTER A RAIN WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AND START DRIVING IT IS FINE UNTIL I REACH 20MPH. THEN IT ACTS LIKE IT IS NOT RECEIVING ANY POWER. IT WILL NOT SPEED UP NO MATTER HOW I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR. I NOTICE THAT IF I PUT IT IN MANUAL AND GO FROM 1ST TO 2ND IT WILL STRAIGHTEN OUT AND DRIVE FINE. BUT, IF I PUT IT BACK INTO AUTOMATIC DRIVE AT A STOP SIGN IT WILL DO THE SAME THING STALLING OUT AT 20 MPH. IF I DRIVE IT FAR ENOUGH WITH OUT STOPPING IT WILL EVENTUALLY STRAIGHTEN ITSELF OUT. I AM WORRIED ABOUT PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THIS.…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10671016 · 2015-01-08 (January 8, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671016 at NHTSA ↗