10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,238 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #9

Apr 012015

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • miles
2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. Consumer requests remaining reimbursement for recall repairs.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #8

Aug 162011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 5 mph, he noticed that the vehicle would not decelerate when pressing the brakes. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 120,000...updated 09-21-12

- Grandville , IL, USA

problem #7

Sep 132011

Santa Fe

  • miles
On 9/13/2011, in san juan, pr, at approximately 4:00 P.M., my mother (74 years old) was driving her 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe at a very slow rate of speed on a wet concrete road. While approaching a red light, and while still far away from it, she applied her vehicle's brakes with no avail. The vehicle continue moving forward and stop only after hitting a car waiting for the light to change green. That impact caused this vehicle (V-1) to move forward and hit another vehicle (V-2) which was also waiting for the light to changed. My mother received a heavy impact force to her chest, shoulders, and neck area produced not only by impacting the vehicles in front of her but also because her vehicle's air bags were deployed. Her Santa Fe was also badly damaged.

- Brunswick, GA, USA

problem #6

Jun 012011

Santa Fe

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while applying the brakes between 3 and 12 mph the brake pedal began to vibrate and the ABS light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The manufacturer advised the contact that her vehicle was not a part of NHTSA recall campaign id number: 04V131000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock:control unit/module). The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage was 67,268.

- North Prairie, WI, USA

problem #5

Oct 142010

Santa Fe

  • 70,600 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving approximately 5 mph she applied pressure to the brake pedal but the vehicle would not stop until crashing into another vehicle. After crashing, she shifted the vehicle into park. Once the vehicle was in park the engine began to exhibit an abnormal increase in rpms and the engine roared extremely loudly until she removed the key out of the ignition. The police appeared on the scene but no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 70,600.

- Grafton, WI, USA

problem #4

Dec 212008

Santa Fe

  • 59,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving approximately 3 mph, the vehicle failed to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle crashed into a 7-eleven store. The driver and customers were uninjured. The vehicle has not been towed to the dealer. A police report was filed. The front end of the vehicle sustained cosmetic damage. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 04V131000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock:control unit/module). The dealer also informed the contact to have the vehicle towed to their establishment so they could inspect the vehicle. The manufacturer has not been notified. The current and failure mileages were 59,000.

- Centreville, VA, USA

problem #3

Dec 182007

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,603 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. While backing up at 3 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle continued moving and struck another vehicle. The contact's vehicle sustained back end damage. On one occasion, while approaching a traffic light, the vehicle moved forward while the brake pedal was depressed. She crashed into another vehicle. Hyundai stated that there was no relevant recall for that failure; however, the contact found NHTSA campaign id number 04V131000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock:control unit/module ). the powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 26,603.

- Mencor, OH, USA

problem #2

Apr 082006

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles
The 1st -Dec. 23 2004. My husband and I was traveling on the interstate and the car began to slow down. My husband pulled to the side of the road and there was smoke coming from the brakes. After getting out and inspecting for problems we got back in the car and attempted to proceed forward and the car would not move. We called the tow truck. By the time car got to the service department, they were able to drive the vehicle. When they did their inspection, they could not find any problems. We went a week later and pick the car up and drove away. Within 2 weeks, a similar problem arose, but the car was still drivable; therefore we did not take it in, but did call to inform the dealership of the problem. In February 2006, the problem came again and the car had to be towed to the nearest dealer. Initially there was no problem found, but I requested they check the brakes and it was a faulty master cylinder. This was replaced. Within 2 months, we were pulling from the driveway and it appeared my husband had mistakenly put his foot on the gas, however we were sure it was the brakes and the engine revved up and continued to move forward. We called and reported and they said we could bring it in for service., however they rely on the computer to indicate the problem. No problem existed based on the computer. As recent as Saturday, April 8, 2006, my son and I was driving and I was pulling behind a line of cars that were stopping at a stop light and the engine revved as I put my foot on the brakes. The car did not stop until I quickly put it in park. We took the car in today, Monday, April 10 and again, no problem being found. I called the Hyundai customer service, who is investigating the incident. My concern is that we know that there is a problem, but since we now rely solely on computer to locate problems we may never get the problem solved. I hope it doesn't take an accident to get this problem resolved.

- Calumet City, IL, USA

problem #1

Dec 282003

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,940 miles
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?).

- Blue Jay, CA, USA