Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Front Coil Spring Corrosion
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
HYUNDAI/ABS ECU
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
HYUNDAI/FMVSS 120/TIRE PRESSURE LABEL
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
- Remedy
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (303)
303 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The suspension is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 303 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 69 | 22.8% |
| Air bags | 43 | 14.2% |
| Service brakes | 43 | 14.2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 39 | 12.9% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 25 | 8.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 22 | 7.3% |
| Power train | 21 | 6.9% |
| Electrical system | 18 | 5.9% |
| Engine | 16 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system | 15 | 5% |
How 2004 compares with other Santa Fe years
Best and worst Santa Fe years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 209 | 4 |
| 2002 | 165 | 4 |
| 2003 | 308 | 4 |
| 2004 | 303 | 3 |
| 2005 | 216 | 3 |
| 2006 | 106 | 1 |
| 2007 | 683 | 7 |
| 2008 | 541 | 4 |
| 2009 | 358 | 2 |
| 2010 | 259 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,350
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 444 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 22 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2004 Santa Fe for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2004 Hyundai Santa Fe FAQ
How many recalls does the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 14V435000 (suspension), 04V131000 (brake), 03V520000 (equipment). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners filed 303 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (69), Air bags (43), Service brakes (43) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 18 city, 25 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2004 Santa Fe compare with other years?
Among the 2001–2010 Hyundai Santa Fe model years at least five years old, the 2006 drew the fewest complaints (106) and the 2007 the most (683). The 2004 drew 303. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.