Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While merging onto the freeway, the accelerator pedal got stuck to the floor with the throttle wide open. The brakes and emergency brake were ineffective. Measures had to be taken to drive off of the road into ice plant, we we were able to turn off the engine. Further inspection revealed a missing grommet at the wall where the throttle cable passes through to connect to the gas pedal. Furthermore, the plastic around the throttle cable was cracked, which allows for the throttle cable and pedal to push through and get snagged. This could have ended horrifically. We are lucky to be alive.
While waiting for the traffic light to change to green, my car was stopped, with my foot on the brake. . My car learched forward. I could feel the engine accelerate. By the time I got the car under control, I hit the car that was in front of me. The trunk was damaged, no damage to my car. Since owning this car I have experienced this acceleration before. I have discussed this with the dealer, the discussing ends up with the dealer suggesting that I was pressing the gas pedal and not the brake. I told the dealer that when this occurs pressing the brake pedal does nothing. The shift must be moved to neutral the foot taken off the brake. Every time I discuss this problem with the dealer he says show him what happens, the problem I can not recreate the problem. The occurrence of the problem is random and cannot be created. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving from a stop at 20 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. As a result, the contact drove over a curb and crashed into two trees. The air bags did not deploy. No police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,600.
On May 16, 2016 I was driving my 2005 Hyundai on a city street and it started to surge and I had to put my foot on the brake to slow it down but it wouldn't stop. Luckily I was close to home and was able to get it in the driveway but the unfortunate part is it didn't stop until it hit my house. It was a very terrifying experience. I don't think I'm going to feel comfortable driving it again.
Sudden unintended acceleration in a Hyundai Santa Fe causing a major accident at our house with extensive damage to vehicle and property, and some personal injury. The vehicle had previously been reported as having over-revved on occasion, but the dealer had been unable to replicate the fault, and this had not occurred for some time. On this occasion the engine stuck in maximum revs, even in neutral, and an independent engineer attributed this to faulty cable positioning, although it is not know whether that caused the original sua or just the sticking. The airbag failed to inflate despite major impact. Hyundai have been singularly unhelpful and denied knowledge of this sort of thing occurring before, which is clearly untrue. …
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.
While sopped at a traffic light with foot firmly on the brake the vehicle suddenly started to accelerate. Applying additional pressure to brake pedal did not slow acceleration. I then shifted the vehicle into neutral. Within 2 seconds the acceleration started to decrease and returned to normal. Vehicle is scheduled to be inspected on 15 jan 2018. A similiar problem occurred in June of 2014 while I was backing into my driveway. At that time, I immediately shifted to neutral and turned the ignition off. An inspection by dealer revealed several cracked vacuum hoses and a faulty pcv valve.
Vehicle had been accelerating on its own while driving low speeds and on the highway. There were moments when it lurched itself forward quite violently, more so after transmission had time to warm up. Have also experienced moments of deceleration without cause. Its as if the vehicle cannot properly shift gears. Check engine light came on. This happened over the course of a couple of weeks. Had vehicle looked over by mechanic but they could not replicate the issue. Vehicle is parked until another mechanic can look at it. It is by no means safe to drive until problem is fixed.
When put into reverse 2005 Santa Fe engine roared. The consumer had no control over the vehicle. With the vehicle still in reverse, the consumer crashed into a neighbors deck causing a considerable amount of damage to the vehicle and the deck. The consumer had a left foot accelerator installed on the vehicle and wondered if that was the cause of the sudden acceleration.
My mother died in a vehicle accident with no other vehicles involved. Her Santa Fe went through a "t" intersection without stopping crossing highway, went airborne over hillside and struck a tree. Severed spine, chest trauma and shattered ankle. There are no skids marks at the scene airbags were deploy but when? Steering column is crushed in and steering wheel was bent inward. The road she was on is a residential side street. There is a 100 feet downgrade but straight as you approach the stop sign. The "t" intersection is a two lane not well traveled road. She drove this road many times before. What makes a vehicle travel at a high rate of speed in a 100 feet straight away, go through a stop sign get airborne after crossing highway? Acceleration sticking? Why is there so much damage to steering column if airbag went off? …
Acceleration complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe, 20% of the model year's 216 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2005 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 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 22,000 miles, and 53% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries and 1 death to speed control & acceleration 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.