general problems of the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe

12 problems related to engine and engine cooling have been reported for the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe based on all problems reported for the 2005 Santa Fe.

1 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 04/16/2023

Car all of a sudden stopped running like normal. Can't go above 20 mph without sounding like backfiring or dying.

2 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2022

Emergency brake light does not turn off even when not used, since I finalized the vehicle when I fill the gas tank up the car doesn’t want to start unless you rev the engine giving it some power, recently the vehicle has been not turning off after keys out of ignition unless pressing on the gas to kick start the engine turn off.

3 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/11/2018

Gas is leaking out of of the car the gas tank is bad I was driving the car and it stopped.

4 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/26/2017

I was driving coming up to a turn, took the left turn, and accelerated like a normally do, the car's rpms went up to about 5 thousand rpms. I heard a pop like noise and the rpms just started dropping and there was no restriction on the gas pedal (felt like I was pushing air). The vehicle then just rolled once it was at about 10 mph rpms went under 1 thousand and the vehicle died. When I tried to restart it it was just crank and crank, doesn't even sound like it wants to turn over. Please help.

5 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/03/2017

I had purchased this auto in may 2017. From a used car dealership. They had gotten the auto from a auto auction. When I purchased the auto - I purchased as is- no warranty- I test drove auto- had inspected- no major problems at that time. Had auto for a week- broke down- problems::::: very slow acceleration, shifting gears and jerking of the auto, very fast idling when stopping- I am writing to you because :::::after purchasing auto::::- can not drive. I have had 3 estimates- no one really knows what is wrong with the auto or diagnose the auto properly. I am unable to drive since I purchased the auto. It just sits, and when I think the problem is fixed, then it stops running. Some say it is the :::::catalytic converters - it has 3 that needs replaced. ::::::: I reported in my residence better business bureau - complaint resolution and to the attorney general office- both said they not not resolve :::: the dealership- does not want to mediate - or take back the auto. I could not afford to file a claim- in small claims court- and did not know if it would be worth my time. ::::::::: I know the auto is 2005 and has 189,000 now- but I feel that I have a auto now that is a safety hazard- if I am able to get the auto running - and it jerks around- and stops in traffic - it could cause me to have a accident. It is unsafe to have the auto on road at all. . It is also a environmental problem due to the unsafe catalytic converters- they get hot and can catch on fire. :::::::::: I can not find mechanics that want to work with the converters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I paid 3,000 for the auto- it will cost this or more to actually fix the auto. . . . . . . . . . . . . I am writing to the NHTSA- to get any feedback from you. Sincerely, m- very frustrated driver.

6 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 01/21/2016

In the past 2 months this has happened more and more frequently. When stopped at a red light, the car will suddenly surge forward. I must throw it into neutral to stop it. Even when I am in park it will suddenly act like I am giving it gas when I am not. It is very scary and happening much more frequently.

7 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 10/10/2014

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.

8 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 11/13/2013

Started engine. Placed the automatic transmission selection into reverse. The engine immediately had an unintended acceleration to perhaps 2500 rpm. Operator immediately applied very heavy pressure on the brake pedal to stop any rear direction movement. Operator immediately moved the shift lever back to the park position, shut off the ignition and restarted the vehicle. After restarting, everything was back to normal. This had also occurred one other time in September, 2013 under the same circumstances. Operator initially assumed that perhaps his foot had moved to the right and was depressing both the accelerator and the brake at the same time, but when attempting to see if this could be done, operator could not replicate. It is assumed the throttle sensor locator may be faulty. Very disturbing when this happens and could easily result in property or personal damage. .

9 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 09/02/2013

Tl-the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai santafa. The contact stated while driving 25 mph, the driver seat moved forward without demand to do so. The seats are electrical. The seat continued to push the contact forward to the steering wheel. The contact stopped the vehicle and used excessive force to push the seat back. The failure occurred twice. The vehicle had not been diagnosed by a professional. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. Jb.

10 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 02/19/2013

My moms Santa Fe has sped out of control several times in the last three months. The last incident caused injuries because the air bag failed to deploy. The first incident was in a parking lot where the car had unintended acceleration and crashed into several cars. Second incident was on the road where car sped up and she turned it off. The third was backing out of a shopping center parking lot where the car rapidly accelerated in reverse hitting a car and then tried to put in neutral but went into drive instead. She hit a post and the front end wrapped around the post but air bag did not deploy causing injury. State farm and many attorneys won't touch this case because of the costs involved to sue such a large corporation.

11 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 09/14/2011

Vehicle was being parked in a parking space in front of a grocery when it started accelerating and my vehicle hit the side of a car in the next parking space which in turn was pushed into the side of a second auto parked in the third space. This is not the only time that this has happened. It has happened 5 or 6 times in the past beginning approximately 2007. It has been taken to 2 dealerships and each time I was told that they couldn't find anything wrong. This is the first time any damage was done to any vehicle. This time when it happened, the auto could not be stopped using the brakes and the auto could not be steered. The other times was at a traffic light or a stop sign and the vehicle was going straight and were not aware of a steering problem. Do know that the brakes just barely stopped the vehicle after standing on the brakes with both feet. I now fear serious injury to me, my wife or someone else. This vehicle could very well take us out into a busy intersection.

12 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2011

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.


Other Engine And Engine Cooling related problems of the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe


Safety Ratings of Santa Fe Cars
Fuel Economy of Santa Fe Vehicles
Santa Fe Service Bulletins
Santa Fe Safety Recalls
Santa Fe Defect Investigations