2003 Hyundai Santa FE: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 308 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (16% of complaints); the 2002 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2014
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 308 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Oct 2024
“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”Owner report · Steering · Apr 2024
“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.”Owner report · Wheels · Jul 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2021
“Brought my vehicle in for a alignment and they discovered the rusted and corradiated rear left trailing control arm on my 2003 hyundai santa fe, I brought to dealership after that to get a recall and the told me that since the vehicle was bought in nd and that state is not included in the recall they will decline the work, even thou minn. Is right next door like I live about 1 mile to mn they still wouldn't except the recall, it is obvious the part that is on recall fits my car, when looking on the right side arm there is no rust or corrosion. The dealer states it is not safe to drive vehicle, because the arm is starting to bend also. So what do I do now, it will be very costly to fix,”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2020
“The rear end of my santa fe has rusted through and the back wheels will not track in a straight line. Hyundai had a recall nr 09v123000 in 4/16/2009 to fix this exact problem but according to hyundai customer assistance, this recall does not apply to me because my santa fe wasn't purchased or registered in a specific state. My grandson was driving the car and nearly wrecked. Hyundai wouldn't even offer a tow into a dealership to inspect the problem.”Owner report · Suspension · Nov 2019
“Rear trailing arm corroded and busted while in motion. Caused rear end to collapse and fishtail. Passenger side snapped, drivers side is very corroded. Just purchased this car a couple weeks ago, had no idea these parts were unstable.”Owner report · Suspension · Nov 2019
“My vehicle calls for a sway bar n link it does not have one or a place to put one for the rear passenger side. When I go over a bump it makes a real loud noise. I replaced both shocks. Noise is still there. There are 4 recalls on this car. Recall #03v030000, #14v435000,#09v123000,03v520000. In motion *tr”Owner report · Wheels · Mar 2019
“The airbag lights keep coming on - I am now on my third repair to fix this ongoing problem. I likely need to replace the airbags! So costly but it is a safety issue so how can I not? This is a known and ongoing issue and hyundai should be responsible and cover this defect.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2018
“Currently there is a noise up front of the car and in the rear a friend that was riding in my car indicated that it may be a suspension problem. He also noted that there was a class action suit with hyundai about a subframe rust corrosion issue. The noise has become quite noticeable he believes might certainly be related”Owner report · Suspension · Apr 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 26 of these complaints and injuries in 20 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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 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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2003 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Santa FE by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE reliable?
NHTSA has 308 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE. The most complained-about area is suspension (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Hyundai Santa FE problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 85,000 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Hyundai Santa FE have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.