2003 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Suspension is the leading concern among 308 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 26 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, springs, coil springsJul 18, 2014
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model Year 2001-2006 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2000, through February 15, 2006, that are registered and operated, or which were originally sold and registered, in the following 20 salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.
If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.
Campaign 14V435000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearApr 16, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 83,355 MY 2001-2003 SANTA FE VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARMS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE REAR TRAILING ARM STEEL. OWNERS MAY SEE OR FEEL SLIGHT TO MODERATE CHANGES IN VEHICLE OPERATION WHICH WILL INCREASE IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED. THESE CHANGES INCLUDE A LOWERING OF VEHICLE HEIGHT THAT CAN LEAD TO TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. OWNERS MAY ALSO NOTICE A CREAKING SOUND.
IF THE CORROSION IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE REAR TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR TRAILING ARMS FOR INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE REAR TRAILING ARMS WILL BE REPLACED. REAR TRAILING ARMS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE DRAINAGE HOLES ADDED AND WILL BE TREATED WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIAL TO ARREST THE CORROSION PROCESS. INSPECTION, TREATMENT AND REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES WILL BE CONDUCTED AT NO COST TO OWNERS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 09V123000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/moduleMar 16, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (ABS), IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 3 AND 12 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PAD FRICTION SURFACES ARE WET, A VIBRATION MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CAUSING ABS SENSOR ELECTRONIC SIGNAL NOISE TO DEVELOP. AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE ABS SENSOR SIGNAL NOISE MAY CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO ACTIVATE THE ABS, EXTENDING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.
IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 04V131000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsDec 18, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECT LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 03V520000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: hydraulic
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 25, 2004
SLOWING DOWN ON A DECLINE THE CAR RAN OVER A ROUGH POPRTION OF ROAD, THE ABS ENGAGED (CLICKING SOUND) AND THE BAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR - CAR DID NOT STOP. DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN ON THIS BUT NO FIX AS OF YET. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 11, 2004
WHILE SITTING AT A STOP ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH BRAKE ENGAGED VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. DRIVER ENGAGED THE BRAKES FURTHER, AND FELT VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL. THEN, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 11, 2004
VEHICLE HAS HAD A HIGH PITCHED WHINE AT 35 MPH, COASTING, ACCELERATING, OR BRAKING. NOTICEABLE TO ALL DRIVERS/PASSENGERS, BUT NOT TO DEALER TECHNICIAN/SERVICE MANAGER. HAVE HAD IT IN THREE TIMES WITH NO CONDITION FOUND. AS TIME GOES BY I AM NOTICING THAT ALONG WITH THE NOISE, THE BRAKES FEEL WEAK AND I NEED ONLY MOVE MY ANKLE WITHOUT TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCAISIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IN THE RAIN, IT WOULD NOT STOP AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I REPRORTED IT TO HYUNDAI, AND WENT BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD (WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CAR) BY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I AM WASTING THEIR TIME AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS NEVER EVEN SEEN THE VEHICLE CALLED TO SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE ANTILOCK BRAKES CORRECTLY ( I DO KNOW HOW TO USE THEM, I'VE ALWAYS STOPPED WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SO I HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT). HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA 800 633 5151 X45017 FILE#785260 NEVER GOT ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED ON MY BEHALF AND NEVER CALLED BACK, NEVER DID ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. I AM CONCERNED THE CAR WILL NOT STOP WHEN I WANT IT TO SO I ONLY USE IT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, NOT EXACTLY WHAT A NEW CAR IS MEANT FOR. ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT I CANNOT GO TO THE NEAREST DEALER AS THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT IT UNDER HYUNDAI'S OFTEN MENTIONED 5 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 9, 2004
ABS PUMP INITIATED UNNECESSARILY. WHILE PUMP WAS RUNNING, BRAKING POWER WAS LOST AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, COASTING THROUGH INTERSECTION. VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND USING HAND BRAKE.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 2, 2003
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THEN THE BRAKE RELEASED AFTER STOPPING AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 7, 2003
CONSUMER HAD EXTENED STOPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS