Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was in a serious car accident back in December 7, 2005 with my 2004 hyundia sante Fe. The car was totaled and scrapped thus I do not have the VIN number handy. I do still have the paperwork from the hospital and the personal injury lawyer. The airbags did not deploy. I was the only person in the vehicle. I was driving home from work on my usual route on easton avenue. I'm told (reports from witnessess) a young girl came out of a side street and hit me in the rear drivers side which in turn spun my car into 2 other vehichles on the opposite side of the road I was travelling down. As stated earlier I have little recall since the impact knocked me unconscious. I suffered a broken nose (scar still there) and torn left shoulder- which still bother me daily. I was hit blindside and spin into 2 other vehicles- knocked unconscious. …
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.
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.
My wife was driving on a little st. In fostoria,ohio on oct 16 at approx. 4 pm. Her speed was around 35 MPH and the road conditions were good. She had a large vehicle on her driver side as this is a two lane highway. A blazer/bronco crossed from the oncoming lane attempting to turn on a side street (south union street, cutting right in front of our 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The impact stopped her vehicle immediately and drove her car into a truck waiting to turn onto little street from the same side street. Although the accident caused a front end impact to our Hyundai, the airbag in our Hyundai did not deploy. My wife sustained injuries to her left collarbone and shoulder, and also to her right knee, requiring a trip to the emergency room and xrays. She was also unable to work for a short time due to her injuries.
While traveling through an intersection at which I had the green light, another vehicle, traveling perpendicularly, ran the red light and my Hyundai Santa Fe smashed right into the passenger side of that vehicle. My speed was approximately 25 MPH, yet the air bag did not deploy. The entire front of my vehicle is smashed and the car May possibly be totaled (we are waiting for insurance claims adjusters to examine). Our concern is that the airbags did not deploy on impact, as they should have.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed. The air bags failed to deploy. The police were contacted and a report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the sternum. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic where they deemed the vehicle as destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp remained illuminated near the front passenger side, indicating a malfunction. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was made aware that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V435000 (suspension) and was waiting for the recall notification. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. While the vehicle was parked, the front air bag deployed from the seat without warning or impact. A police report was not filed. The contact received injuries to the chest, arm, hip, rib, and head that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,294.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp flashed randomly. The vehicle was also included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V435000 (suspension). The part was unavailable to schedule the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.
Airbag complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe, 14% of the model year's 303 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 20 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.