There are 34 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owned a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while the son was driving approximately 25 MPH the braking system malfunctioned and when depressing the brake pedal the vehicle did not reduce speed or stop causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of a second vehicle. During the crash, the rear driver-side passenger sustained a lacerated bottom lip and dental and oral injuries. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed and later deemed destroyed by the insurance company. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced for the same failure by the local mechanic. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 150,000.
driving in the rain hit brakes they locked up
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED AND NEARLY STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SEARCHED ONLINE FOR RECALLS AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HIS VIN AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT CALL HIS LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (SCHIMMER FORD LINCOLN HYUNDAI OF PERU, 911 SHOOTING PARK RD, PERU, IL, 61354, 815-224-4500) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER WAS GOING TO REIMBURSE THEIR SERVICES, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000.
IN SEPTEMBER 2015 I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE WITH NO NOTICE. IT CAN BE PERFECTLY DRY OUTSIDE AND SUDDENLY THEY CONNECT AND START GRINDING. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED, WITH NO WARNING, BUT ALMOST ALWAYS WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN TO LESS THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI, BUT THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON THIS MODEL, THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS. IF THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES SUDDENLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS (WHICH IT DOES) THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE ABS AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). AFTER THE REPAIRS AS THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH ANY REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,600. UPDATED 10/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AN ACCIDENT ALMOST OCCURRED AGAIN DUE TO THIS FAILURE. UPDATED 10/11/2012 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK CONTROL UNIT MODULE), BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
ON 9/13/2011, IN SAN JUAN, PR, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 P.M., MY MOTHER (74 YEARS OLD) WAS DRIVING HER 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE AT A VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED ON A WET CONCRETE ROAD. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, AND WHILE STILL FAR AWAY FROM IT, SHE APPLIED HER VEHICLE'S BRAKES WITH NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AND STOP ONLY AFTER HITTING A CAR WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE GREEN. THAT IMPACT CAUSED THIS VEHICLE (V-1) TO MOVE FORWARD AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE (V-2) WHICH WAS ALSO WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGED. MY MOTHER RECEIVED A HEAVY IMPACT FORCE TO HER CHEST, SHOULDERS, AND NECK AREA PRODUCED NOT ONLY BY IMPACTING THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HER BUT ALSO BECAUSE HER VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. HER SANTA FE WAS ALSO BADLY DAMAGED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. ..UPDATED 09-21-12*BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,268.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER CRASHING, SHE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS AND THE ENGINE ROARED EXTREMELY LOUDLY UNTIL SHE REMOVED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE POLICE APPEARED ON THE SCENE BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,600.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE REPAIR SPECIFICS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/22/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A PULSATING SENSATION FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE LONGER TO STOP AND THERE WOULD BE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH A SEMI TRUCK DUE TO THE FAILURE. UPDATED 05/26/2015 *JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A 7-ELEVEN STORE. THE DRIVER AND CUSTOMERS WERE UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED COSMETIC DAMAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR ESTABLISHMENT SO THEY COULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 3-15 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD SURFACE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, FOLLOWED BY RESISTANCE AND CAUSED A BOUNCING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. SUDDENLY, A GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGING UNINTENDENTLY WHICH RESULTED TO AN INCREASE IN THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND PROGRESSED TO WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION UNDER ANY ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTI-LOCK: CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED THE FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ
2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HYUNDAI HAS NOT COME UP WITH A REASON WHY THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. CONSUMER BARELY MISSED AN ACCIDENT BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SLIDING TO A STOP. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ABS, HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. THE DEALER SUGGESTED ALL TYPES OF SCENARIO'S FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE ABS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND SLOWING THE VEHICLE NORMALLY WHEN THEY SUDDENLY DISENGAGED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS MANUALLY DISENGAGED BY PRESSING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF BUTTON AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES FAILED TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE BACKING UP AT 3 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED BACK END DAMAGE. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. HYUNDAI STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RELEVANT RECALL FOR THAT FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V131000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE ). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,603.
I AM SUSPICIOUS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. ONCE, WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, I TRIED TO STOP QUICKLY AND THE BRAKES MADE A STRANGE CLUMPING NOISE AND DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. I ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH CROSSING TRAFFIC COMING AT ME. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, WHILE SIMPLY DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD, ONE OF THE TIRES RAN OVER A SHALLOW IMPRESSION IN THE ROAD , NOT EVEN THE SIZE OF A POT HOLE, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY LOST HYDRAULIC PRESSURE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSING TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HILL AND LOST BRAKING ABILITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-5 SECONDS. LUCKILY NOTHING MORE SERIOUS OCCURRED.*AK
BRAKE FAILURE. THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZE/LOCKED WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE PARKING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 2-3 MPH. THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE BRAKE PROBLEM. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. *AK
THE 1ST -DEC. 23 2004. MY HUSBAND AND I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. MY HUSBAND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. AFTER GETTING OUT AND INSPECTING FOR PROBLEMS WE GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED FORWARD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. WE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK. BY THE TIME CAR GOT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THEY DID THEIR INSPECTION, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. WE WENT A WEEK LATER AND PICK THE CAR UP AND DROVE AWAY. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, A SIMILAR PROBLEM AROSE, BUT THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE; THEREFORE WE DID NOT TAKE IT IN, BUT DID CALL TO INFORM THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. IN FEBRUARY 2006, THE PROBLEM CAME AGAIN AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. INITIALLY THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND, BUT I REQUESTED THEY CHECK THE BRAKES AND IT WAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WAS REPLACED. WITHIN 2 MONTHS, WE WERE PULLING FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND IT APPEARED MY HUSBAND HAD MISTAKENLY PUT HIS FOOT ON THE GAS, HOWEVER WE WERE SURE IT WAS THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. WE CALLED AND REPORTED AND THEY SAID WE COULD BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE., HOWEVER THEY RELY ON THE COMPUTER TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM EXISTED BASED ON THE COMPUTER. AS RECENT AS SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2006, MY SON AND I WAS DRIVING AND I WAS PULLING BEHIND A LINE OF CARS THAT WERE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE ENGINE REVVED AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL I QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TODAY, MONDAY, APRIL 10 AND AGAIN, NO PROBLEM BEING FOUND. I CALLED THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHO IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT SINCE WE NOW RELY SOLELY ON COMPUTER TO LOCATE PROBLEMS WE MAY NEVER GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE AN ACCIDENT TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *NM
Showing 1–20 of 34 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