Model year

2005 Hyundai Santa Fe

NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 216 complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are AIR BAGS (72), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (37), SERVICE BRAKES (18). NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 17–20 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,350–$3,950, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

14V435000 · Jul 18, 2014

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

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…

05V527000 · Nov 17, 2005

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

05V450000 · Oct 4, 2005

AIR BAGS

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.

Complaints

216 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 18, fire flag on 0, injury field 14, deaths field 2. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

  1. AIR BAGS72
  2. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL37
  3. SERVICE BRAKES18
  4. SEAT BELTS16
  5. SUSPENSION16
  6. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM14
  7. ENGINE11
  8. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
  9. POWER TRAIN9
  10. SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC8

Investigations

No investigations are matched to this name.

Safety ratings

NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
ConfigurationFuelCityHwyCombkWh/100 miRangeAnnual fuel cost
Santa Fe 2WD · 2.4L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline182420——$3,350
Santa Fe 2WD · 2.4L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline182520——$3,350
Santa Fe 2WD · 2.7L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline172319——$3,550
Santa Fe 2WD · 3.5L · Automatic 5-spd · Front-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline162218——$3,700
Santa Fe 4WD · 2.7L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline162118——$3,700
Santa Fe 4WD · 3.5L · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegular Gasoline152117——$3,950

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All Hyundai Santa Fe model years