There are 7 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
GAS IS LEAKING OUT OF OF THE CAR THE GAS TANK IS BAD I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STOPPED
WHILE WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE TO GREEN, MY CAR WAS STOPPED, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. . MY CAR LEARCHED FORWARD. I COULD FEEL THE ENGINE ACCELERATE. BY THE TIME I GOT THE CAR UNDER CONTROL, I HIT THE CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE TRUNK WAS DAMAGED, NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR. SINCE OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ACCELERATION BEFORE. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE DEALER, THE DISCUSSING ENDS UP WITH THE DEALER SUGGESTING THAT I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND NOT THE BRAKE. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT WHEN THIS OCCURS PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE SHIFT MUST BE MOVED TO NEUTRAL THE FOOT TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE. EVERY TIME I DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER HE SAYS SHOW HIM WHAT HAPPENS, THE PROBLEM I CAN NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THE OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM AND CANNOT BE CREATED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT AS I READ THE COMPLAINTS I AM NOT ALONE. HYUNDAI HAS GOT TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
AFTER A STOP, ENGINE SUDDENLY SURGED AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THIS IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT; THERE HAVE BEEN APPROX 15 SIMILAR INCIDENTS OVER PAST 12-18 MONTHS. *TR
WHEN I'M STARTING UP FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AS IF I HAVE "FLOORED IT." I AM A REALTOR AND DRIVE 100'S OF MILES A WEEK. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY, ON AVERAGE. *TR
2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 3.5 L ENGINE. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE OFTEN SURGES, CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP FORWARD RAPIDLY. HAPPENS PERHAPS ONE TIME OUT OF 3, BUT INCIDENCE IS INCREASING. HARD TO CONTROL ACCELERATION. *TR
A/C HAS HAD A PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD THE COMPRESSOR REPLACED, BECAUSE THE "MECHANIC" TURNED THE BOLT THE WRONG WAY AND WRUNG IT OFF, I HAD TO REPLACE. HYUNDAI WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THEIR MECHANIC. THIS REPAIR DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AS IT STILL HAPPENS NOW, 8 YEARS LATER. IT WILL COOL GOOD, THEN THE COMPRESSOR WILL OUT AND NOT COME BACK ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. HYUNDAI SAYS THIS IT NOT PROBLEM WITH THEIR PARTS OR PROCEDURES. FINALLY GOT TIRED OF THEIR LIES AND FAILURE TO TRY TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS MY ONLY AND LAST HYUNDAI, THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER BACKED CAR COMPANY IN THIS WORLD. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THERE IS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, UPON INSPECTION THE VIBRATION WAS NOTICED HOWEVER A REPAIR COULD NOT BE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THE HARMONIC BALANCER CAUSED THE PROBLEM.
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