There are 41 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP ON THIS VEHICLE 15 YEARS OLD BRAKES ALSO NOT LIKE USE TO BE I AM OWN THIS SUV LAST 15 YEARS I NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT I AM WORRY NEED TO BE FIXED FOE MY SAFETY [XXX] OWNER, C [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON DURING THE MORNING DRIVE THEN SHUT OFF NEXT TIME THE CAR WAS STARTED. ON/OFF PERODICALLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. NOW THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME. A GLIMSPE ONLINE HINT SIMLAR OWNERS HAVEING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SAYING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WIRING.
MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET IN PLANO, TEXAS. A TRUCK PULLED OUT TO GET INTO THE MIDDLE LANE AND WAS CAUGHT OFF AND FORCED TO PULL INTO MY LANE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AFTER TRYING TO STOP, WHICH ISN'T A PROBLEM BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS NORMAL. WHAT OCCURRED WAS THAT AS I STRUCK THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND MY SEAT BELT HAD FAILED TO LOCK. WHICH CAUSED ME TO COLLIDE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEED I STRUCK THE TRUCK, WHICH WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN WE COLLIDED, WAS ABOUT 45 MPH.
AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ON CONSTANTLY, AND DON'T GO OFF. I WAS RIDING AND LIGHT POP ON AND STAY ON.
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE (LEFT SIDE) SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR
TODAY, 11/2816, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG "DEPLOYED" FOR NO REASON. DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. NO IMPACT OR COLLISION. SEAT RIPPED OPEN. *TR
WAS ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT POSTED SPEED OF 70MPH WHEN WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND BY A DUI DRIVER. THIS MADE MY CAR GO INTO A SPIN AND ROLLOVER 4 TIMES. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR IS TOTAL LOSS. I RECEIVED DISLOCATION OF MY COLLARBONE THAT NEEDED EMERGENCY SURGERY, CONCUSSION, FRACTURED NOSE, LACERATIONS TO HEAD AND FACE, KNEE AND HIP INJURY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM THE SEAT WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE CHEST, ARM, HIP, RIB, AND HEAD THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,294.
TAKATA RECALL. JUST PRIOR TO A HYUNDAI RECALL IN 5/3/16 FOR A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK, MY "AIR BAG" LIGHT WENT OFF. LET ME BACK TRACK . IN 5/16, MY CAR BEGAN LEAKING GAS UNDERNEATH. SO BADLY, THAT ONE DAY WHILE PASSING THE FIRE/POLICE STATION IN NORFOLK, MA THE FIRE CHIEF AND HIS CREW BEGAN PURSUING ME. STOPPING ME IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE LEAK AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO SURRENDER MY CAR, IT WAS A "SAFETY HAZARD TO (ALL)." I PRESENTED A AAA MEMBERSHIP CARD. THE CHIEF HIMSELF CALLED AND ARRANGED A TOW TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. AFTER 2 DAYS, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HYUNDAI CORPORATION STATING THAT MY "GAS TANK WAS FAULTY" AND WAS SUBJECT TO A "RECALL". IMAGINE THE TIMING ON THAT? THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF HYUNDAI SOUNDED JUST GREAT ON THE PHONE. BUT WHEN MY MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD NOT TOUCH THE CAR FOR FEAR OF COMPLICATING THE WARRANTY, NO ONE INCLUDING HYUNDAI WOULD SEND ANYONE TO TOW THE CAR. AT MY PERSONAL PERIL, I DROVE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. AS I APPROACHED THE RECEPTION AREA, ALL REMAINING GAS GUSHED OUT OF MY CAR. I WAS GIVEN A BEAUTIFUL CURRENT HYUNDAI TO DRIVE AS A LOANER CAR; I NEEDED THAT CAR FOR 2 MONTHS. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO TELL ME MY CAR WAS "READY", THEIR ADVISOR ISSUED 2 PAGES OF PROBLEMS ALLEGEDLY EXISTING AND TRIED TO SELL ME A NEW CAR. I HAVE SINCE HAD SOMEONE ELSE LOOK AT MY CAR; NONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS EXIST. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALER, I ALSO ASKED THEIR ADVISOR "WHY HYUNDAI HADN'T FIXED THE AIR BAG LIGHT?" OVER THE 2 MTHS THEY HAD MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT "HYUNDAI DIDN'T USE TAKATA AIR BAGS." HOWEVER, NUMEROUS FRIENDS OF MINE DRIVING OTHER MODELS OF HYUNDAI HAVE RECEIVED RECALLS CITING THE "TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL." MY PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER TOLD ME "THE BAG ALONE WOULD COST $800. BUY A NEW CAR!" WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
CATALYST CONVERTER CALIFORNIA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP REMAINED ILLUMINATED NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V435000 (SUSPENSION) AND WAS WAITING FOR THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO PICK UP MY SON. I DID NOT CRASH MY CAR AT ALL. ALL OF SUDDEN. MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WONT SHUT OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC HE PUT IT UP TO THE COMPUTER IT READ RESISTANCE AIR BAG. ITS GOING TO COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED. MY WARRANTY WAS UP A WHILE AGO. ITS A SAFETY ISSUSE. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY CAUSE I JUST GOT THE CAR 8 MONTHS AGO. ALREADY I PUT IN 1,000 INTO IT. I JUST GOT THE FOOT MODULE THE BRAKES AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WEIGH THE SUSPENSION.
ON DAY THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ON THE VEHICLE AND HAS NEVER GONE OFF. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST $450!. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $3000 ON REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY IT TO. FROM THE NUMBER OF AIR BAG COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED.
MY SANTA FE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE DURING WHICH TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. I HAD IT CHECKED BY MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE HAD FAILED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR COST WAS GOING TO BE $450. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO SPEND OVER $4000 FOR OTHER REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND ANY MORE. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF AIR BAG MODULE FAILURES ON MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF HYUNDAI'S. SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPAIR THE FAULTY AIR BAG MODULES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE STERNUM. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL AND NO CAUSE FOR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
AIR BAG TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING ENGINE. QUESTIONED DEALER, THEY ARE AWARE OF KNOWN PROBLEM WITH DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG SWITCH AND WIRING CAUSING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME. HYUNDAI WILL NOT MAKE REPAIR TO THIS SAFETY DEFECT AT THEIR COST. COST IS WELL OVER $1000.00. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 41 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026