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2005 Hyundai Santa FE Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 216 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Hyundai Santa FE, most often about the air bags (34% of complaints, typically around 93,500 miles). It is 13th of 26 Santa FE model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2005 Hyundai Santa FE problems
Air bags
74 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 93,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window, srs malfunction warning lamp/light.
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator was illuminated. The failure occurred a few times. The dealer stated that the air bag would not deploy due to a failure within the seat belt buckle switch on the front driver side. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Air bag for front passenger seat is on. Certain models were only recalled, but my light is on because of the recall. Since my VIN number is not listed for that recall, the dealership will not correct without over $450 service charge.
Speed control
44 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control, cables.
Sudden engine acceleration when parking. This is the second time this happened. My wife was parking the car and when she put her foot on the brake (note, she is a very experienced driver and was not accidentally pushing the accelerator, also nothing on the floor was touching it.) the engine started to accelerate to…
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa FE. While stopped with the vehicle in park, the engine began to exhibit an unusually large increase in rpms. The contact applied slight pressure to the accelerator pedal and the engine resumed normal operation. The failure recurred the following day while stopped, with pressure…
Brakes
32 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 48,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, antilock.
This started about 2 months ago. While engaging the brakes at low to moderate speeds, it feels like the ABS system is engaging but the braking is weak. I have to disengage and then reengage the brakes, sometimes multiple times for them to work. Research on the web indicates this exact problem for the 2004 model year…
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was previously involved in a crash that was unrelated to the braking system however, after the vehicle was repaired following the crash, the contact was advised that the brakes…
Fuel system
22 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, fuel injection system.
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that while driving, a fuel odor emitted in the interior and exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank was rusted and leaking. As a result, the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The…
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle, as well as a fuel puddle under the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 06v317000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not…
Suspension
21 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 85,500 miles. Parts named most often: front.
The left front strut coil spring broke in two,while vehicle was parked, I am a 30 year ase master technician, and this failure is not a normal wear occurrence, I have done some research, and have found this to be happening all over the united states. This is definately a safety issue , that the Hyundai corporation…
Driving down the highway a loud bang was heard. Discovered the driver front coil spring had broken. Fortunately no damage to the tire. I am surprised by the amount of similar failures reported. This certainly could have been much worse. I am a bit concerned that has not been investigated!
Engine
18 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
2005 Hyundai Santa FE 3.5 l engine. When accelerating from a stop, the engine often surges, causing the car to jump forward rapidly. Happens perhaps one time out of 3, but incidence is increasing. Hard to control acceleration.
My moms Santa FE has sped out of control several times in the last three months. The last incident caused injuries because the air bag failed to deploy. The first incident was in a parking lot where the car had unintended acceleration and crashed into several cars. Second incident was on the road where car sped up and…
Seat belts
18 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa FE. Upon starting the vehicle or while driving various speeds, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and a code for the front passenger seat belt sensor was detected. The contact was advised to take the…
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa FE. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator was illuminated. The failure occurred a few times. The dealer stated that the air bag would not deploy due to a failure within the seat belt buckle switch on the front driver side. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Transmission
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 107,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
In the past 2 months this has happened more and more frequently. When stopped at a red light, the car will suddenly surge forward. I must throw it into neutral to stop it. Even when I am in park it will suddenly act like I am giving it gas when I am not. It is very scary and happening much more frequently.
Started engine. Placed the automatic transmission selection into reverse. The engine immediately had an unintended acceleration to perhaps 2500 RPM. Operator immediately applied very heavy pressure on the brake pedal to stop any rear direction movement. Operator immediately moved the shift lever back to the park…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Hyundai Santa FE recalls
Suspension: coil springs
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 âsalt 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.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2005 Hyundai Santa FE
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Hyundai Santa FE?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (74 complaints, typically around 93,500 miles); speed control (44 complaints, typically around 22,000 miles); brakes (32 complaints, typically around 48,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Hyundai Santa FE have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 18, 2014 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Hyundai Santa FE?
- It is 13th of 26 Santa FE model years by number of complaints, with 216 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.