Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Hyundai Santa FE
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Hyundai Santa FE has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 303 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V435000 Front Coil Spring Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V131000 HYUNDAI/ABS ECU NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V520000 HYUNDAI/FMVSS 120/TIRE PRESSURE LABEL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 69 complaints
- Air Bags 43 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 39 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 25 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 24 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 22 complaints
Of the 303 complaints on file, 32 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 303 complaints, owners report 35 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe has a considerable number of owner complaints, primarily focused on suspension, airbags, and vehicle speed control issues. These complaints, along with three recall campaigns, suggest potential reliability challenges. Limited data beyond these issues restricts definitive conclusions about long-term reliability, necessitating cautious approaches from prospective buyers.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| airbags | 60,000–100,000 miles | $600–$1,500 | common |
| vehicle speed control | 70,000–110,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid check
- Coolant system flush
- Timing belt replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Tire rotations
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noises
- Airbag warning light
- Issues with cruise control
- Check engine light
- Vibrations during braking
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Hyundai Santa FE at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.