2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
390
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
18
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
The 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE has received a total of 390 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:REAR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. 18 technical service bulletins have been issued by Hyundai Motor America for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspension (45 complaints), Air Bags (31 complaints), and Electrical System (25 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, potentially affecting up to 621,838 vehicles.
Recall 14V435000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
| 271,773 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 09V123000 — SUSPENSION:REAR
| 83,355 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: IF THE CORROSION IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE REAR TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 04V131000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
| 17,401 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: IF AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
View full details →Recall 03V520000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 249,309 vehicles affected
Defect: 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."
Consequence: THE TIRE PRESSURE LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
390 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the ABS system activated, and there was an abnormal shuddering in the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The driver's side rear trailing arm lower broke again. Was driving all of a sudden felt it start fishtailing and pulled over and thank God I didn't crash
The driver's side rear trailing arm lower broke again. Was driving all of a sudden felt it start fishtailing and pulled over and thank God I didn't crash
Bought a set of duralast gold wrists a801116 asks since the day i put them in i had to replace parts whole charging a problem that turned out to be from the wires. Cause it was causing arcing in every one of the cylinders.
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side front wheel detached without warning. The wheel bearing and hub were replaced by the owner. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted nor informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
Safety Rating for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
Hyundai Motor America has issued 18 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
19-GI-006H — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
This bulletin provides instruction detailing the proper methodology for scanning and uploading captured GDS data files to the Techline Repository. Compliance with this bulletin ensures that the GDS data files are correctly transferred and matched with a Techline Case number.
DOR-Y5Q6Z-01 — POWER TRAIN
This SKU is an Air Conditioning Bypass Pulley. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for potential bracket cracking. Bracket cracks may cause the engine drive belt to slip or jump off the pulley causing loss of power steering assist and electrical system charging.
14-01-040 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
12-AT-023 — EQUIPMENT
SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
0436021 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
PCM REPROGRAMMING FOR SMOOTHER FEELING INITIAL ACCELERATION. *NM
0436014 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CHANGE OF ALTERNATOR (GENERATOR) ASSEMBLY. *TT
0436017 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ECM REPROGRAMMING FOR INTERMITTENT HESITATION. *TT
0440013 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
INCREASED CLUTCH DURABILITY. *TT
0804 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THERE ARE TWO CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FUEL TANK SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SM - 03 SANTA FE, DEPENDING UPON PRODUCTION DATE. *NM
0460002 — STRUCTURE:BODY
THE RIGHT REAR DOOR MAY RUB AGAINST THE RUNNING BOARD COVER. RUNNING BOARD REPAIR KIT INFORMATION. *TT
Showing 10 of 18 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE.
Other Model Years of the HYUNDAI SANTA FE
- 2001 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — 293 complaints
- 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — 219 complaints
- 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE (current)
- 2004 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — 386 complaints
- 2005 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — 300 complaints
- 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — 143 complaints
- 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — 981 complaints
- 2008 HYUNDAI SANTA FE — 713 complaints
Other HYUNDAI Models
- HYUNDAI SONATA — 21,725 total complaints
- HYUNDAI ELANTRA — 11,768 total complaints
- HYUNDAI TUCSON — 7,920 total complaints
- HYUNDAI ACCENT — 2,733 total complaints
- HYUNDAI PALISADE — 2,456 total complaints
- HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 1,738 total complaints
- HYUNDAI GENESIS — 1,702 total complaints
- HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 — 1,636 total complaints