Worst 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Suspension Failures
Airbags
Unintended Acceleration
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension Failures | 48 | — | — | 145,929 mi | |
| Airbags | 36 | 7 | — | 108,345 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 36 | 5 | — | 68,233 mi | |
| Fuel System | 25 | — | — | 165,542 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 16 | 1 | 1 | 69,948 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 16 | — | 3 | 112,135 mi | |
| Brakes | 16 | 1 | 2 | 115,794 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 15 | — | — | 68,285 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 14 | — | 2 | 45,971 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 12 | — | 1 | 77,420 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 12 | 2 | — | 96,079 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 10 | 1 | 1 | 92,237 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 9 | 4 | — | 51,735 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 | 4 | — | 48,736 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 7 | 1 | — | 4,364 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 7 | — | — | 72,765 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 6 | 3 | — | 18,367 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | — | — | 170,362 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 4 | — | 27,833 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 31,272 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | 1 | — | 105,731 mi | |
| Latches / Locks | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~271,773 vehicles.
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.
Other Hyundai Santa Fe Years
2004 Hyundai Santa Fe — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
What are common problems with the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?
How safe is the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Does the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Santa Fe reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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