2004 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Suspension is the leading concern among 303 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 32 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 35 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, springs, coil springsJul 18, 2014
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 14V435000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/moduleMar 16, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS), IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PAD FRICTION SURFACES ARE WET, A VIBRATION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CAUSING ABS SENSOR ELECTRONIC SIGNAL NOISE TO DEVELOP. AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE ABS SENSOR SIGNAL NOISE MAY CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.
IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 04V131000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsDec 18, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECT LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 03V520000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
303 reports, newest first.
Suspension, Feb 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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 26, 2004, crash
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 AT THE CAR TOLD ME THEY HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE (BRAKE FAILURE, AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG THEN EITHER). AFTER CHECKING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I FIND 4 OTHER BRAKE FAILURE COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE SINCE OCTOBER 8TH OF 2003, WITH HYUNDAI DENYING THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CARS. I BELIEVE THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THIS MANY INCIDENTS IN SUCH A SHORT TIME FRAME(HOW MANY HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR WEBSITE?). *LA
Visibility, Jan 8, 2004
CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE HEATER KNOB WAS LOOSE. WHILE TURNING HEAT ON HEATER IT DID NOT RESPOND. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE.*AK