Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

Owners filed 216 complaints about the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA between Apr 2005 and Apr 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (74).

Complaints
216
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags74
  2. Vehicle speed control44
  3. Suspension21
  4. Service brakes18
  5. Seat belts18
  6. Fuel/propulsion system14
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic13
  8. Engine11
  9. Power train11
  10. Electrical system10
  11. Steering7
  12. Engine and engine cooling7
  13. Fuel system, gasoline7
  14. Structure6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200512
200617
20076
20087
20094
201011
20119
201216
201316
201433
201517
201622
201713
201813
20198
20203
20211
20223
20233
20241
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

74 reports7 crashes2 related recalls
“The airbag light stays on constantly - mechanic says it's the switch in the passenger seat belt and they encounter this problem with this vehicle all the time. Prevents the airbag from deploying if not repaired.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2023Air bagsODI 11511672

Vehicle speed control

44 reports8 crashes
“While merging onto the freeway, the accelerator pedal got stuck to the floor with the throttle wide open. The brakes and emergency brake were ineffective. Measures had to be taken to drive off of the road into ice plant, we we were able to turn off the engine. Further inspection revealed a missing grommet at the wall where the throttle cable passes through to connect to the gas pedal. Furthermore, the plastic around the throttle cable was cracked, which allows for the throttle cable and pedal to push through and get snagged. This could have ended horrifically. We are lucky to be alive.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2025Vehicle speed controlODI 11655016

Suspension

21 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD FAIL AN INSPECTION DUE TO THE FRAME NEEDING TO BE RE-WELDED. THE DEALER (TARBOX HYUNDAI, 3665 QUAKER LN, NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02852, (401) 826-1500) WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION) AND 09V123000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2018Suspension, StructureODI 11083384

Service brakes

18 reports2 crashes
“I HAVE BEEN GETTING ELECTRICAL SHOCKS FROM MY CAR AROUND THE WELL OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE 7 SERVICE BULLITANS ON THE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO GO TO URGENT CARE AND THE EMERGENCY ROOM OVER THIS AND THE DOCTOR WAS WORRIED THAT I MAY HAVE NERVE DAMAGE TO MY FOOT OVER THIS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL/ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP WITH THIS AND HYUNDAI WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS. I HAVE WOUND UP IN THE HOSPITAL OVER THIS AND FEEL THAT THIS IS HIGHLY UNFAIR. THIS IS DANGEROUS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11374286

Seat belts

18 reports
“DRIVERS CHEST SEAT BELT IS LOOSE AND THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT BELT YOU SNAP AND LOCK IT IN PLACE MAKES THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT FOR THE DRIVER ONLY COME ON. I'VE HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND CHECKED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTED, AND CURRENTLY, AS LONG AS THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT REMAINS ON, EVEN IF THEY TURNED IT OFF, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF IMPACTED HARD ENOUGH IN VEHICLE COLLISION. THE AIR BAG IS OKAY AND IN WORKING CONDITION, ITS THE SENSORS IN THE SEAT BELTS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT ARE OUT OF DATE. THE "RED LIGHT" REMAINS ON FROM THE TIME I START THE VEHICLE AND ITS IN PARK, IDLING, MOVING, UP UNTIL WE ARE BACK IDLING, AND THE ENGINE IS OFF. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2020Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11328664

Fuel/propulsion system

14 reports
“I WAS DRIVING COMING UP TO A TURN, TOOK THE LEFT TURN, AND ACCELERATED LIKE A NORMALLY DO, THE CAR'S RPMS WENT UP TO ABOUT 5 THOUSAND RPMS. I HEARD A POP LIKE NOISE AND THE RPMS JUST STARTED DROPPING AND THERE WAS NO RESTRICTION ON THE GAS PEDAL (FELT LIKE I WAS PUSHING AIR). THE VEHICLE THEN JUST ROLLED ONCE IT WAS AT ABOUT 10 MPH RPMS WENT UNDER 1 THOUSAND AND THE VEHICLE DIED. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART IT IT WAS JUST CRANK AND CRANK, DOESN'T EVEN SOUND LIKE IT WANTS TO TURN OVER. PLEASE HELP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2017Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11010693
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.