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2004 Hyundai Santa Fe: check engine light

14 of the 303 complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe describe check engine light.

owner complaints
14
of this car's complaints
5%
typical mileage
60,000
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 14 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Check engine light by model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 9, 2023 · Engine · OK · fire

In transit, it began smoking and the engine light came on. After pulling to the side, flames erupted and it became fully engulfed, followed by a small explosion. The vehicle and it’s contents were a total loss.

Filed Apr 12, 2018 · Fuel system, Suspension · 198,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 hyundai santa fe. While the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal odor of fuel inside and outside the vehicle. The contact noticed fuel leaking and that the check engine indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (columbia hyundai, 10981 montgomery rd, cincinnati, oh 45249, (513) 489-2000) where it was diagnosed that the coil spring and fuel tank needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the vehicle was 15 years old and exceeded the mileage to be included in a recall. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 198,000.

Filed Feb 12, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 102,000 miles · CA

Car stalls without warning while driving. First occurrence was over a year ago. I was driving down i5 going 70 MPH when the car suddenly died. I lost my power steering and brakes. I managed to coast to the next exit. It started after sitting a few minutes. And I was able to make it home. I've received codes for camshaft sensor, misfires, low catalyst. I've changed the cam and crank sensors, coils, spark plugs, timing belt and assembly, fuel pressure regulator and fuel pump over the past year. Still having the issue. Car drives fantastic for about 10 miles and stalls out. After waiting about 5 min. It can be driven for another few miles before stalling out again. Check engine light does not turn on when it stalls now. Very dangerous when trying to drive in town or attempting to merge into traffic. You never know when it will stall out.

Filed Dec 28, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 hyundai santa fe. While driving at 55 MPH, the gear shifter failed and the vehicle accelerated. The contact had to keep her foot on the brake pedal in order to avoid crashing. The check engine light illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 02/12/16*lj the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired.

Filed Jul 2, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 28,000 miles · CA

Car shuts off while driving, losing power steering and brakes, while traveling at highway speed or braking down a windy canyon road. Problem includes intermittent jerking, jumping, hiccupping - whatever you want to call it, it's not safe to drive. First month, after brand-new ny dealership purchase, I replaced my throttle position sensor 3 times. Trouble with my current problem began at 4 years, well under 30,000 miles. For a year I had to fear for my life every time I drove, never knowing if this trip would kill me or other motorists. Why did I have to drive it? Because the hyundai dealerships in los angeles couldn't diagnose the problem if they couldn't cause it to happen and there is no error code when tested. A year of fear. Just the hesitation jerking is scary enough while driving, but when it actually shuts down? When your RPM indicator drops from 2,000 to 0 and you're fighting for your life turning the stuck steering wheel and pulling up the emergency brake hoping you don't careen off a winding cliff or coast head on into unsuspecting traffic or clicking your hazards on and praying no one hits you on an oily rain slick pavement at night on the 101 freeway - that is when it really makes your heart jump out of your chest. After 11 months of shutting off, it got so bad it wouldn't turn on again and finally my check engine light came on and they were able to diagnose the crank shaft sensor. In the process of fixing, they made a leak in my power steering hose and damaged my pump. Because it was days after my warranty, the van nuys dealership charged me for the crank shaft sensor and other damage! 33,000 miles on my car. Well, that was november 2009. It's now 2015 (70,540 miles) and once again, I'm okayed to drive my unsafe car. The performance of these vehicles put drivers at an unreasonable risk of accident and since there is no error code, hyundai will do nothing.

Filed Oct 27, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 55,400 miles · MN

The first occurrence was tues. Oct. 21 backing out of a driveway and went to put the car in drive. It stalled right in the middle of a very busy road. I put it in park and tried to start it again. It did start but did not feel like it would continue to run. However, it did. The second time was yesterday when I was driving down a four lane road at 40 miles an hour and it just stopped running. I was so thankful it was later in the evening and traffic was very minimal. I put it in park and it did start but again did not feel like it would continue. It felt like it would stall again but did not, 2 more times before I got home. I called this morning to get it right in and never heard back. I am afraid to drive it because of the traffic on most of these roads. I do not feel like I was taken seriously even though I received a recall notice in sept. But have managed to misplace it. I do not remember what the recall was for. The second time this happened a panel light did come on. It was the malfunction indicator light. I am worried about an accident and possible death with this happening to the car.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 hyundai santa fe. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the accelerator position sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed Oct 22, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 70,863 miles · NY

After starting vehicle and while driving, engine shuts down immediately and without warning. Was able to steer to the side of the street it as it was still rolling. No indications came on as to what the issue may point to. I shut the engine off and waited for a tow to my home which I total took about 45 minutes. Once at home the vehicle started with no issues. For the next two days my vehicle was at my mechanics and he could not reproduce the problem. I went ahead and had the transmission. Flushed as him and I had discussed as one of the last things to get serviced before winter. Later that day I drove a longer distance with top speed about 65 MPH with no issues. Just as I was returning home the car shutdown as I was crossing a busy intersection. Luckily, again I was able to steer the rolling vehicle to the side of the road. I attempted to start a few times but after a not so pleasant sound left it off. After being completely off for 30 to 45 minutes the vehicle was able to start again. This time the check engine stayed on. My search on the issue points to a crankshaft protection sensor, but this is not a clear solution and a costly thing to fix if this does not resolve. I see many complaints on the issue with no definitive resolution for hyundai owners even by hyundai technicians as they troubleshoot the problem. This is a scary thing to have happen and some of the vehicle jerks are rather hard and violent. Before these shutdowns become deadly please address. My last experience was 10/18 my vehicle is at my mechanic today.

Filed Nov 19, 2010 · Engine · AZ

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 hyundai santa fe. The contact stated that this was the forth time they had to replace the oxygen sensor. The check engine light came on when the failure occurred and the vehicle overheated. During the last failure, the main circuit board on the vehicle burned and was replaced three times in the past two years. The failure mileage was not known, but the current mileage was 135000.

Filed Aug 16, 2010 · Airbags, Electrical · 60,000 miles · RI

3rd time crank shaft sensor went in 1 year/5 months. Car only has 60,000 miles. All 3 times, car would not accelerate, check engine light then appears and seconds later the car shuts off. Twice we were on the highway when this happened and lucky we had enough time to get over to the breakdown lane before the car shut down. 3 times in a year and 5 months, this should not happen... Also, the air bag light has been coming on for the last year.

Filed Nov 24, 2008 · Engine · 48,600 miles · NY

Engine- defective short block engine car is back in shop now for the 5th time for the same problem. Check engine light on, loud rattling noises coming from engine. Dealer informed me it's a defective factory engine. Brand new short block engine replaced twice and car now back in shop for same problem. No longer feel safe in this vehicle, as twice I had to be towed to dealer b/c of engine failure and I had my 2 yr old son with me. In reviewing this website, I see countless numerous and similar complaints! The engine is the heart of a car so how many new hearts is hyundai willing to put in this one car? It cost more to fix this problem than to just accept the loss and properly compensate me! Repairs are as follows: new short block engine installed; return car same day b/c engine felt "loose"; told it was the sway bar links- installed same day; car still felt loose, next day check engine light on- car returned. This time told it was strut top needed to be replaced- done. Picked up car, 2 days later back in shop for same initial loud engine noise and check engine light on again. Told same problem with short block engine to be defective. Ordered brand new short block engine and replaced again! Picked up car after repair and again, same day, brought the car back b/c check engine light on again! Car presently still in shop and I'm forced to contact an attorney b/c the hyundai's consumer affairs states as long as the dealer keeps fixing the problem, they are not interested in offering me any compensation. How much more money are they willing to give this dealer before they realize this car is not worth another $6,500 repair bill?

Filed Oct 6, 2008 · Engine · 73,010 miles · AZ

Was driving on the freeway doing freeway speeds at 5:30 am going to work when my truck just shut down. Check engine light came on, I lost all power coasted about 300 feet, pulled off on left and engine died and would not restart. Come to find out, timing belt went bad, also had to replace the crank position sensor. I've got less than 75000 miles on this truck and am very upset that this is not covered on the warranty and that the parts they use to put these trucks together are so cheap!

Questions about the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe check engine light

Is check engine light a common problem on the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?

14 of 303 owner complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe (5%) mention check engine light. The model year with the most reports is 2017.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?

There are 0 recalls and 14 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe

Coil spring 49Airbag light 21Fuel leak 16ABS 15Sudden acceleration 15Stalling 14Jerking 12No deployment 9Engine failure 9Brake failure 8Grinding brakes 8Won't start 8Fuel smell 7Fire or smoke 6Loss of power 6Seat belt 6Tire blowout 6Door locks 5Fuel pump 5

All model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe

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