| Issue ID | 715225 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10260997 |
| Manufacurer | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| Brand | HYUNDAI |
| Model | SANTA FE |
| Model Year | 2004 |
| File date | 26/11/08 |
| Component | SEATS |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | I purchased a used 2004 hyundai santa fe in aug/2005 from a hyundai dealership (# ). In aug/2006, the airbag light came on. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the results were "code b1382 psab resistance high - resecure connector under the passenger seat/clear code". In feb/2008, the airbag sensor again appeared. The same technical code was detected, and the dealership resolution was to "reroute wire harness". In mar/2008, the airbag light again appeared and was serviced by the dealership. In nov/2008, the vehicle was again taken to the dealership due to the airbag light appearing. At the time of service in nov/2008, the vehicle was out of warranty. The dealership indicated they would not fix the airbag free of charge under the warranty, at which time, they were informed that a complaint would be filed under the california lemon law due to repeat fixes for the same issue. The dealership then fixed the issue. On nov. 26, 2008, the vehicle was hit in a high-speed rear end collision (~35mph) while at a stop light and pushed into an intersection, where it broadsided a moving vehicle. As a result of the impacts, the hyundai was totaled, all rear seated passengers sustained injury due to the spare tire being lifted from the initial impact and raising the 60/40 split rear seat and pushing it forward, the front passenger received chest contusions and the driver of the vehicle sustained upper body injuries. Despite being pushed forward and making a strong impact, the airbags failed to deploy. I requested hyundai investigate the matter, and they determined that although the front right of the vehicle was damaged from the secondary impact, it was not sufficient to warrant airbag deployment. I researched complaints from other hyundai owners regarding repeated airbag sensor light repairs and other airbag failures, including stories of crashes into poles with failed airbags. Hyundai has not issued any recall, but they probably should. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 63200 |
| Number of Occurences | 1 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | NORTHRIDGE, CA |
| VIN pattern | KM8SC13D44UXXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | Y |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | Y |
| Was medical attention required? | |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | 5 |
| No. of fatalities | 0 |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | |
| Drive train type | |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | 0 |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |