Skip to main content

Used 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Consumer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
207 reviews

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

Price history graph example

Trending topics in reviews

Pros
Cons
4.5 out of 5 stars

santa fe vs. endeavor

cindy, 08/26/2006
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe LX AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I recently traded in my 2004 mitsubishi endeavor on a 2005 hyundai santa fe.I drove the santa fe home after I purchased it in the dark. The next day I was cleaning the windows on my new pre-owned santa fe and found chips in the windshield and hard water spots on all of the windows and mirrors that I could not remove even with a special hard water cleaner.In addition,the windshield looked as if it had been sand blasted when in the sunlight.The dealership tried to clean the windows and mirrors unsuccessfully and has only offered to "fill" the two chips in the windshield,not replace it.Never drive a pre-owned vehicle home in the dark!Seems to be poorly made glass!Look very closely!

Report Abuse

2.25 out of 5 stars

Nice appearance for a piece of junk

mikeb, 02/23/2007
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe LX Fwd 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I bought the most expensive Hyundai I had higher expectations due to false advertising. Lower gas mileage than advertised I get 16 miles a gallon highway. Dealership says it's the additives in the gas that only affects Santa Fe B.S. High cost for maintenance and the car runs worse with every service they do. The transfer case was just replaced and it's still making grinding noises and the gear shift needed to be replaced as well, frozen wipers won't move even my small economy car had good wipers. I could go on but there may not be enough space here...very dissatisfied. I wish I could get my money back!

Report Abuse
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe for sale near you
Showing 3 of 28 listings
See all 28 listings

2.25 out of 5 stars

hate it

conway, 04/20/2005
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe LX AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

horrid accelarator...NO GAS MILEAGE!!!! does not get 17 city...must read the very fine print on the window sticker to see that it will actually get 11 to 13miles per gallon, and that was only pointed out to us by the service dept when we took it in for adjustments. passenger air bag is all but impossible to activate. must be sitting in exactly correct position to even get it turned on and, so far, we have only been able to activate it 3 times. if in a crash, it would be useless....when driving at low speeds and trying to maintain a constant speed, the ride is jerky and very distracting.

Report Abuse

2.38 out of 5 stars

An opinion

Tee, 05/26/2005
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Less than 12,000 miles and the valves are rattling unless I run premium gasoline. Gas mileage is about what they say as long as I run premium. Otherwise, gas mileage is about 25% less than they claim. Interior rattles coming from who knows where, but very irritating. Brakes are squeaking as if I need brake pads already -- surely not, but gotta have it checked out.

Report Abuse

2.63 out of 5 stars

Lied to Deceived

BOB, 12/27/2005
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe LX AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful

The dealer never informed me of the outrageous and extremely costly maintenance schedule. Didn't know I was buying a Jaguar!! Better think twice about buying!! Timing belt must be replaced at 60,000 at a cost of at least $600. If you don't replace, and something goes, you buy a new engine. If Hyundai is so confident of powertrain warranty. They should step up to plate and warranty timing belt to 100,000. Gas mileage a joke!

Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

best suv for your money

santafeguyfl, 06/15/2005
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe LX Fwd 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful

The carbuying press always bashes Hyundai's but we have had our 2003 now for almost 3 years. It has only had one problem at 43,000 miles the oil pump pressure releif valve froze. It was replaced at no cost under the best warranty in the industry while we were given a loaner car. The V-6 has more than adequate power for it's class and delivers great gas mileage for it's size. we average 24mpg in town and 29- 31 on the highway with the standard automatic transmission. The Quality has been so good in fact that I used Hyundai's $2000 owner loyalty rebate towards the purchase of my Elantra. The Santa fe has all of the features that would cost you 4-6 thousand more dollars on a RAV-4 or CRV

Report Abuse
3 out of 5 stars

Say no to Santa Fe

angelica marcano, 03/26/2017
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 7 people found this review helpful

bought at auction in Tampa FL. had car 2 months before started overheating and all kinds of mechanical problems

Technology
2 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
2 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
3 out of 5 stars

It’s not a Jaguar.

Rick Ruggieri, 04/14/2018
updated 06/05/2018
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful

Expensive to fix! Seems to be designed that way. Good value when we bought new and good warranty but after warranty ends, hold on to your wallet!

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
4.63 out of 5 stars

Happy

Scat, 03/17/2005
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Fwd 4dr SUV (2.7L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Great car for the price. More bang for my bucks than the competition. It's been absolutely reliable. Not a thing to replace. OEM tires were decent. A bit much with interior noise.

Report Abuse
3.88 out of 5 stars

Good SUV

retbpd01, 03/27/2005
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe LX AWD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

If the gas mileage was better, this may be the pervect mid size SUV. Reasonably priced, good standard features and great warrantee.

Report Abuse
Items per page:
10