10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
105,504 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 #7

Jan 092021

Santa Fe

  • 260,000 miles
Last night my mothers 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe caught fire the car had been parked for hours, the keys were not in the car it was completely off. It made absolutely no since untill I done some research and seen the lawsuit for this same thing and I wondered why this model was not included. I also seen multiple people wondering the same thing about their 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. My father was the only one iat the house and in the house he could have lost his life and everything they own the only way he knew it was on fire was a neighbor saw and started screaming and started backing up to the vehicle to pull it away from the house a police report was made but what is she supposed to do for a vehicle? when no one even started the fire.

- Shelby, AL, USA

problem #6

Mar 202019

Santa Fe

  • miles
The vehicle keeps won't start after pumping gas. It takes awhile, and stalls. Even stalled while driving, which terrifies me. I don't want to be out on the highway possibly risking an accident. I went to pepboys and spent $1800 on trying to figure out what the problem was, and its still doing the same thing. It happened more than once, and continues to happen.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #5

Jul 302015

Santa Fe

  • 154,470 miles
The air conditioner cuts off on level 4 while driving if I cut it down to level 3 it comes back on but will eventually cuts off completely.. is there a recall on ac parts, blower, codes etc?? this happens tooo much..its really frustrating

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #4

Jan 122013

Santa Fe

  • 108,000 miles
Noise comes from fronted like something cracked.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #3

Jun 122012

Santa Fe 4-cyl

  • 67,700 miles
Stopped at intersection, with my foot on the break, the SUV lurches forward and jerks. I placed it in park while waiting for the light to change. I was concerned that I would hit the car in front of me. I drove 2 hours and noticed continued misfiring and jerking while driving. It was ok when the engine was cool, but felt unsteady when up to temp. After being parked in grocery parking lot, while backing up the car stalled, I restarted and drove home. Took it to mechanics next day. At the Hyundai dealer now. They could not get any codes and the engine failure light never showed. The mechanic, said that he was 90% sure that replacing the timing belt/crank shaft position sensor/balancer shaft belt/pick up plate would correct the problem...this didn't work and the dealer asked to keep it a 5th night. I have not heard from them as of yet. I'm concerned that my car will not be repaired and am afraid to drive it.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #2

Jun 222008

Santa Fe

  • 84,360 miles
At 84,360 miles our SUV wasn't shifting into 2nd gear, would go from 1st to 3rd. A big klunk would occur around 20 mph. Took into dealership (withnell Hyundai, salem, or) in June 08, and they reset the computer. Husband argued with service dept., saying he wanted a new transmission, guy said if it went bad again that would probably happen, and he said if it went bad, would go bad by 100000 miles. Took SUV back in 8-2010 with 99960 miles, was shifting hard again, was told it was the rear motor mount, and they replaced that. Then at 105000 miles Jan. 2011, shifting hard again, took back to dealership they again reset the computer..at no charge to us, and told us "transmission was failing".

- Gervais, OR, USA

problem #1

Sep 162009

Santa Fe

  • 64,000 miles
My 2004 Santa Fe has serious rusting on the under frame. Rust is on the weld points and the fuel and engine covers are completely covered with rust and have chunks missing. A recall of 2001 through 2003 sante fe vehicles does not include ours. We have 64,000 miles on it and well taken care of and we our very concerned that further rusting will cause important parts to give way. I was told by Hyundai that nothing could be done but I could write a letter of complaint to Hyundai of America. This I did and have not had any response as of 10/26/2009. My vehicle '!@#$%. I am sure this is not an isolated vehicle and probably people do not realize there is an issue because like our car, it looks great until you put it on a hoist.

- New Berlin, WI, USA