Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
1825–50K
2450–75K
3875–100K
38100–150K
16150K+
175 reports with mileage · 41 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports0 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
216 reports
117,000 miles · Jun 9, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V450000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V450000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
NHTSA ODI #10597098
80,000 miles · May 17, 2014
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON , TOOK CAR TO DEALER, PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF 400. DOLLERS. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND IS STILL ON. I CAN' AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING THAT KIND OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND HYUNDAI HAS BIG PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEMS. I ALSO HAVE A 2006…
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AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON , TOOK CAR TO DEALER, PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF 400. DOLLERS. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND IS STILL ON. I CAN' AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING THAT KIND OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND HYUNDAI HAS BIG PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEMS. I ALSO HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI ACCENT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10592128
9,300 miles · May 8, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury
I REAR END A CAR GOING 45 MILES AN HOUR AND NEITHER THE SEAT BELT OR THE AIR BAGS WORKED. I HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587233
90,000 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING AND CONSISTENT ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FRACTURE IN THE FUEL …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING AND CONSISTENT ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10576341
35,000 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10567054
82,000 miles · Mar 2, 2014
Air BagsFuel System, GasolineSeat Belts
WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2013. WE HAD IT ALMOST A MONTH WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE BLEW OUT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY FIXED THE LINE. THREE DAYS LATER THE STEERING WENT AGAIN WE GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE US $300.00. I GOT…
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WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2013. WE HAD IT ALMOST A MONTH WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE BLEW OUT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY FIXED THE LINE. THREE DAYS LATER THE STEERING WENT AGAIN WE GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE US $300.00. I GOT UPSET BUT THE MOST THEY WOULD DO FOR ME WAS SPLIT THE COST.THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER I STARTED TO SMELL GAS. I DIDN'T SEE ANY THING ON THE GROUND SO I LEFT IT GO. THEN IN NOVEMBER 2013 THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF AND THE BELL WOULD DING AS IF THE SEAT BELT WASN'T BUCKLED BUT IT WAS.I JUST HAD IT TESTED BY A HYUNDAI DEALER AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT CAUSES THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT AND BELL TO GO OFF. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE GAS TANK. THE WHOLE REPAIR WILL COST ME ABOUT $2000.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. IF THE SENSOR IS NOT REPLACED HE SAID THE AIR BAG WILL PROBABLY NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE SENSOR AT LEAST BECAUSE THAT SHOULDN'T BE SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10566721
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes
BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. STOP LIGHT SWITCH FAIL, $25 PART. RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR LATER MODEL YEARS 2007-2011 SANTA FE'S. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10564235
76,412 miles · Jan 6, 2014
Suspension
STARTED TO BACK MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. STOPPED, GOT OUT AND INSPECTED TO FIND THAT THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED MY TIRE. VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. I HAVE READ DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING HAPPEN…
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STARTED TO BACK MY VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. STOPPED, GOT OUT AND INSPECTED TO FIND THAT THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED MY TIRE. VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. I HAVE READ DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING HAPPENING ON OTHER 2005 HYUNDAIS. HYUNDAI REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM/DEFECT. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AS I'M SURE SERIOUS INJURY/DAMAGE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10558679
200,000 miles · Dec 28, 2013
Suspension
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT 4AM TO GO TO WORK. I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. MY DRIVEWAY IS NOT LONG AND I AM ON THE ROAD IN ABOUT 5 FT. AS I WAS TURNING THE WHEEL I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WENT DOWN. I ASSUMED I RAN OVER SOMETHING OR THAT MY BRAND NEW TIRES HAD FAILED. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR B…
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I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT 4AM TO GO TO WORK. I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. MY DRIVEWAY IS NOT LONG AND I AM ON THE ROAD IN ABOUT 5 FT. AS I WAS TURNING THE WHEEL I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WENT DOWN. I ASSUMED I RAN OVER SOMETHING OR THAT MY BRAND NEW TIRES HAD FAILED. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. LATER THAT DAY AS MY HUSBAND WAS CHANGING THE TIRE HE DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT COIL HAD BROKE AND IT PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THANK GOODNESS THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. BY READING ALL THE OTHER BROKEN COIL ISSUES THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG PROBLEM FOR 2005 HYUNDAI'S AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557517
124,452 miles · Dec 18, 2013
Suspension
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 9 PM LOUD POP AND PULLED OVER THOUGHT HAD BLOWOUT ON MY 6 WEEK OLD NEW FRONT TIRES! DISCOVERED MY FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE. POPPED THRU MY TIRE. OUT IN FREEZING COLD HAD TO BE TOWED AND NOW HAVE NO CAR TIL FIXED, SEEING OTHERS ON HERE WITH SAME CAR SAME ISSUE. *TR
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 salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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