2.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,285 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Hyundai Santa Fe suspension problems

suspension problem

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2004 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments

problem #15

May 252011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 38,828 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

5/25/2011, approx. Time 8:45 a.M. 2004 Santa Fe LX, 38,828 miles on vehicle. Original owners, bought new. Vehicle was sitting in our driveway, got in to leave for doctors appt., moved about two feet, when we heard this loud noise and air gushing sound from the right front of our car. Went out to investigate and found the coil spring had ruptured and cut through the sidewall of the tire. Thank god we were not traveling on any road or interstate hwy., I would not be telling this. Hyundai motors of America, corporate office was notified of my issue, and the fact the left spring could rupture at any time. They offered in good faith to pay for right spring and tire, but would not replace left front spring. Hyundai motors of America should be responsible for these defected coil springs and recall all 2004 Santa Fe to replace front coil springs and any other mechanical systems that were affected by the ruptured coil springs. Many owners of 2004 Santa Fe are not aware of this issue, hopefully Hyundai will take full responsibility before their are any fatalities, god bless us, and I pray he will keep us safe!!!!!

- Earlville, IL, USA

problem #14

May 212011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 91,315 miles
While driving on a straight, smooth section of interstate highway my wife and I heard a very loud boom, as if we had hit a large rock or something. There was no vibration that an impact would have caused. We didn't know what had caused the noise. 2004 Hyundai, Santa Fe drove fine. Two days later, when making a low speed right turn, the right front tire blew out. When the tire was removed it was discovered that the coil spring had broken, made contact with the tire and ripped it about three quarters around completely through. After researching the topic I was appalled at how many complaints there were about broken springs on 2004 Santa fes. It seems to be a recurrent problem with this vehicle and should be recalled. If the spring had ruptured the tire when it apparently broke, on the highway I hesitate to think what would have happened, or how many lives would be at risk. I believe it is time Hyundai stepped-up and recall the springs.

- Cold Spring, KY, USA

problem #13

Apr 212011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 43,389 miles
On April 21, 2011 went to back SUV out of my driveway when the front left tire went flat. After removing the tire found tire had a hole on inside wall of tire. This was caused by the coil spring protruding out. Upon further inspection found the coil spring broken. The car had to be towed to a repair shop. I feel very lucky this did not happen while driving at a high rate of speed.

- Drexel Hill, PA, USA

problem #12

Apr 212009

Santa Fe

  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was traveling down the highway at 70mph when, all of a sudden, I heard a bang and the car veered out of control. It was a terrifying experience. I regained control of the car I was able to safely pull to the side of the road to investigate and I noticed that the coil spring broke. The following day I brought my vehicle to the Hyundai dealer and they charged an outrageous amount to replace. Not very likely that I would purchase another Hyundai.

- Chepachet, RI, USA

problem #11

Mar 232011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 53,000 miles
I parked my vehicle in a parking lot at 8am and then by 1pm my coil spring broke destroying my tire and resulting in my getting towed. Had my coil spring broke on the highway I would have crashed

- Oradell, NJ, USA

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problem #10

Feb 212011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 91,000 miles
Was just pulling the car down the drive way and the front passenger side tire blew out. I stopped the car and a friend was going to change the tire. He noticed the spring had broken loose and punctured the tire. The car had been sitting in the drive way for 12 to 15 hours before we went to drive it. We had not even made it on the road and was only going a couple miles per hour and about 15 to 20 feet. We were on our way, going out of town and were thankful that we did not have this happen going 65 mph on the highway were we could have been hurt or hurt some one else. Several times a week we have a new born and a two year old in this vehicle. Thankfully they were not with us. This front end suspension problem needs to be looked at, somebody is not going to be as lucky as we were. For us it was the drive way and not driving on the high way at a high speeds with our family.

- Springfield, IL, USA

problem #9

Feb 072011

Santa Fe

  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I tried to start my 2004 Santa Fe but the engine would not turn over (it cranked fine so we knew it was not the battery). While it was being dragged onto the tow truck the driver's side front tire deflated. The wheel did not turn while being dragged up the truck ramp. The repair shop said that the front spring had snapped and triggered a kill switch to the fuel line which prevented the car from starting. I never heard any awful sounds while driving so the the front driver's side coil spring must have snapped while parked in the driveway. The spring needs to be replaced, as does the tire.

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

problem #8

Jan 312011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 84,647 miles
I went into garage to move my 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe out so my husband could put our 2009 Hyundai sonata into it. The Santa Fe had been sitting in the garage for about 4 days undriven. When I started to back up, it was making a loud noise. I got out of the vehicle to make sure there was nothing in the way. Not seeing anything in my way, I continued to back the Santa Fe out to the street still hearing a loud noise. My husband came over to see what was making the noise and noticed that the whole front passenger side fender was resting on the tire. Upon raising it with the jack, he noticed that the front passenger suspension coil was broken. I even took pictures of it while it was jacked up. The upside to this whole thing is that we weren't driving it at a high speed when this happened. I'm sure we would have flipped the vehicle and been seriously injured or even killed. We have 84,647 miles on it and were always very meticulous with maintenance. We will call the dealership tomorrow, but from what I can see, it looks like an expensive repair.

- South Amboy, NJ, USA

problem #7

Jan 212011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 112,000 miles
I have a 2004 Santa Fe and just the other day my driver side coil spring broke, lucky I wasn't driving it at the time however it going to cost about $1250 to fix.

- Fridley , MN, USA

problem #6

Jan 072011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
Failure of front coil spring while driving. Coil spring suddenly broke and punctured tire.

- Stratham, NH, USA

problem #5

Jan 102011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 113,998 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Passanger side spring seperated causing tire damage.

- Saratoga Springs, NY, USA

problem #4

Jan 032011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
I drive a used, 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe gls. Very recently, I was just leaving work when a seemingly very ordinary thing happened to my car. I was stopped at a stop sign, waiting to take a left turn. As soon as I accelerated and began to turn, my vehicle suffered a blown-out front-passenger side tire. As the tire blew out, I heard a loud "clunk"and then a "pop". surprised, I pulled the car over as soon as I could, off of the main road. I had roadside assistance come out to change the tire, because I found that I did not have the tools required in my car to change a tire. After the tow truck driver put on the spare, I paid him for his services and went to leave. As I turned the wheel to leave, my vehicle suffered another blow-out, same side. My car then had to be towed to the nearest shop to be looked at. Turns out, my front-right coil spring snapped and pierced my tire(s). I currently have 73,000 miles on my car, which is a good amount, but at the same time, coil springs do not just snap from normal wear and tear. The vehicle is 7 years old, not twenty. How could this happen" I found out that when the coil spring snapped, it also snapped the struts and the strut mount, on top of my two tires. The total amount for the damage was about $1200, as both sides needed new parts to ensure the best handling of the car. All I can think about is, what if I was on the expressway doing 65" it's a scary thought to know that I may not have come out of this alive. I am very lucky it happened at such a low speed, with hardly any cars around, or else I would not have lived to tell the tale. I have noticed that several other Santa Fe owners have had the same problem. And god forbid, maybe even more that have not lived to tell. This is a dangerous defect, and it needs to be looked at.

- Bensenville, IL, USA

problem #3

Jan 022011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 32,000 miles
Both front coil springs on my 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe broke the right at 22,000 miles and the left at 32,000 miles. Luckily the vehicle was parked both times.

- Mullens, WV, USA

problem #2

Jun 092009

Santa Fe

  • 24,500 miles
I bought my 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe new in February 2004. All of the brake pads had to be replaced at 23000 miles due to rusted calipers. However, my complaint is about something much more serious. The coil springs on both front mcphearson struts broke and penetrated the tires. The left front spring broke in February 2009 at about 23000 miles. The right front spring broke on 6/9/09 at approximately 24500 miles. Fortunately, the Santa Fe was parked in my garage both times the springs broke. Had the springs failed while I was driving down the road or on the thruway, there's no doubt in my mind that I would have crashed or rolled over. Although the tows and repairs were made under warranty at no cost to me, I don't trust the Santa Fe anymore and I do not intend to keep it.

- Williamsville, NY, USA

problem #1

Apr 062008

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 40,600 miles
One month ago, with 40,600 miles on my Hyundai Santa Fe the right front spring broke and shredded my tire which the Hyundai dealer replaced under warranty. Three weeks later the left front spring broke and shredded that tire also. If I had been on the express way, I probably wouldn't be here to tell about it. In the past fifty years I have owned 15 cars and never had a front spring break down much less two in three weeks. Even though the Hyundai dealer, patrick of schaumburg, replaced these springs under warranty, I still incurred a $200 car rental bill. Hyundai doesn't seem to know what the cause is of these spring failures at only 40,600 miles. Any help as to the cause of this problem would be greatly appreciated.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

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