2004 Hyundai Santa FE Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 43about this part
- Share
- 14%of 303 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,412miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 43 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Hyundai Santa FE, 14% of the 303 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,412 miles. 11 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My air sbag light is always on. It won't turn off.I don't if it is a problem with my air bags or just the light.it has been this way for years.there was not reason for it to turn on. I've never had an accident,so I don't if it will work when needed. I don't think I should for it. I think this a malfunction and should checked by a dealer at no cost.”
NHTSA complaint #11256061, filed 2019-09, 45,000 miles“Was on highway traveling at posted speed of 70mph when we were hit from behind by a dui driver. This made my car go into a spin and rollover 4 times. None of the airbags deployed. Car is total loss. I received dislocation of my collarbone that needed emergency surgery, concussion, fractured nose, lacerations to head and face, knee and hip injury.”
NHTSA complaint #10906781, filed 2016-09, 113,000 miles“On day the air bag warning light came on on the vehicle and has never gone off. The dealer told me that the air bag control module had failed. The dealer told me the repair would cost $450!. I could not afford to spend that much money to have it fixed. I have already spent over $3000 on repairs for this vehicle and I cannot afford to put any more money it to. From the number of air bag complaints I have seen I think there should be a recall issued.”
NHTSA complaint #10760135, filed 2015-08, 150,000 miles“My Santa Fe was taken in for service during which time the air bag light was activated. I had it checked by my local Hyundai dealer and I was told that the air bag module had failed. I was told that the repair cost was going to be $450. I have already had to spend over $4000 for other repairs on this vehicle and I cannot afford to spend any more. I have read on the internet of numerous complaints of air bag module failures on many different models of Hyundai's. …”
NHTSA complaint #10639484, filed 2014-09, 150,000 miles“I was involved in an accident while driving down a city street in plano, texas. A truck pulled out to get into the middle lane and was caught off and forced to pull into my lane directly in front of me. My brakes locked up after trying to stop, which isn't a problem because I know it is normal. What occurred was that as I struck the truck in front of me, my air bags didn't deploy, and my seat belt had failed to lock. Which caused me to collide with the steering wheel. The speed I struck the truck, which was going about 10 MPH when we collided, was about 45 MPH.”
NHTSA complaint #11081941, filed 2018-03, 226,923 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 1% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 2 | 1% |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 7 | 3% |
| 2019 | 7 | 3% |
| 2018 | 6 | 5% |
| 2017 | 20 | 2% |
| 2016 | 9 | 4% |
| 2015 | 9 | 4% |
| 2014 | 13 | 3% |
| 2013 | 5 | 1% |
| 2012 | 6 | 2% |
| 2011 | 7 | 4% |
| 2010 | 9 | 3% |
| 2009 | 29 | 8% |
| 2008 | 70 | 13% |
| 2007 | 102 | 15% |
| 2006 | 28 | 26% |
| 2005 | 74 | 34% |
| 2004 | 43 | 14% |
| 2003 | 42 | 14% |
| 2002 | 5 | 3% |
| 2001 | 3 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2004 Hyundai Santa FE
69 complaintsBrakes
43 complaintsFuel system
40 complaintsVehicle speed control
39 complaintsEngine cooling
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsSteering
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Hyundai Santa FE
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology