While merging onto the freeway, the accelerator pedal got stuck to the floor with the throttle wide open. The brakes and emergency brake were ineffective. Measures had to be taken to drive off of the road into ice plant, we we were able to turn off the engine. Further inspection revealed a missing grommet at the wall where the throttle cable passes through to connect to the gas pedal. Furthermore, the plastic around the throttle cable was cracked, which allows for the throttle cable and pedal to push through and get snagged. This could have ended horrifically. We are lucky to be alive.
The worst 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags74
- Acceleration44
- Brakes33
- Fuel system22
- Suspension21
- Engine18
- Seat belts18
- Transmission11
- Electrical10
- Steering7
- Body6
- Lights5
- Driver assistance3
- Tires3
- Locks2
- Seats2
- Wheels2
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
Airbag light 55Seat belt 15Coil spring 14Jerking 13ABS 12Sudden acceleration 11No deployment 10Check engine light 8Fuel leak 7Fuel smell 6Tire blowout 6Grinding brakes 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe mention
B1513 2
Recalls 3
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 14V435000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 05V527000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 05V450000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe 54
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- The federal safety agency has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit...
- The federal safety agency has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag...
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the...
- This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover...
- This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
- Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships
- Follow the guidelines outlined in
- Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for...
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 24-25 | 20 |
| 2.7L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 23 | 19 |
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 16 | 22 | 18 |
| 2.7L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 16 | 21 | 18 |
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 15 | 21 | 17 |
What 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the tailgate failed to open while using the tailgate handle. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
Car all of a sudden stopped running like normal. Can't go above 20 mph without sounding like backfiring or dying
The airbag light stays on constantly - mechanic says it's the switch in the passenger seat belt and they encounter this problem with this vehicle all the time. Prevents the airbag from deploying if not repaired.
The Air Bag light stays on and from my research the air bag will not work in an accident.
The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
Airbag light is constantly on from the time I start the car, until I turn it off, mechanic stated it was the passenger seatbelt buckle switch. I've seen many posts online about the same exact thing happening to them. It poses a safety threat, as the airbags are not going to go off.
Emergency brake light does not turn off even when not used, since I finalized the vehicle when I fill the gas tank up the car doesn’t want to start unless you rev the engine giving it some power, recently the vehicle has been not turning off after keys out of ignition unless pressing on the gas to kick start the engine turn off.
A car in front of me lost control and I braked to avoid an accident but the car turned and had no stability, forcing me to maneuver it to avoid crashing by leaning on my neck.
I have been getting electrical shocks from my car around the well of the drivers side. I have been told that there are 7 service bullitans on the car. I have had to go to urgent care and the emergency room over this and the doctor was worried that I may have nerve damage to my foot over this. I was told that this was related to the accelerator control/engine control module. I have been trying to get help with this and hyundai will not return my calls. I have wound up in the hospital over this and feel that this is highly unfair. This is dangerous.
Compare the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
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Other model years
20012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Questions about the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe
Is the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?
Owners have filed 216 complaints about the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe, close to a typical Santa Fe model year.
What is the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe year score?
The 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe scores 74 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Airbags, with 74 complaints, typically around 93,000 miles. Next is acceleration (44).
How many recalls does the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
3 recalls, covering suspension and air bags.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 05V527000, 05V450000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Hyundai Santa Fe have bad airbags?
The Hyundai Santa Fe model years with the most airbags complaints are 2007 (102 complaints), 2005 (74 complaints) and 2008 (70 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
Official estimates for the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe range from 17 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 24-25 highway.
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