2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 78 of 216 complaints (36%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 303 in 2004 to 216 in 2005.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | vs. 2005 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100–3,650 | 3,100–3,650 | 3,100–3,650 | 3,100–3,650 | 2,950–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–20 | 17–20 | 17–20 | 17–20 | 19–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–18 / 19–25 | 15–18 / 19–25 | 15–18 / 21–25 | 15–18 / 21–25 | 17–18 / 23–24 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 444–523 | 444–523 | 444–523 | 444–523 | 423–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 308 | 303 | 216 | 106 | 683 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 26 | 32 | 18 | 11 | 30 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 8 | |
| Injuries reported | 20 | 35 | 14 | 8 | 32 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Airbags & Restraints: 78 of 216 NHTSA complaints (36%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates it 17–20 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA estimates $3,100–$3,650 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 18 mpg (high) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 18 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 2.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 16 mpg | 22 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 2.7L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 16 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 22 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 36 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 78 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 44 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS · Campaign 14V435000 · Jul 18, 2014
Defect: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 05V527000 · Nov 17, 2005
Defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.
Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
AIR BAGS · Campaign 05V450000 · Oct 5, 2005
Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AS AN ADULT.
Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION CRASH OR THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A SIDE COLLISION CRASH; SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE'S OCS WILL PROPERLY CLASSIFY CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN WHEN SEATED ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT AND WILL DISABLE THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAGS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN FOR RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN SMALL CHILDREN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.