2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 300 complaints submitted for the 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - ROCKVILLE, MD

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE AT A COMPLETED STOP, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING;, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - HENDERSON, NV

    MY HYUNDAI SANTA FE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON. I GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF HYUNDAI SANTA FE OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING A LITTLE AFTER REACHING 100K MILES.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - BEAVER FALLS, PA

    I WAS IN A MINOR ACCIDENT WHEN THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I COULD NOT STOP THE SUV AND RAN INTO A GUARDRAIL . I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED. THE DEALERSHIP IN BEAVER FALLS, PA HAS DONE NOTHING FOR THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY SAID THAT MY MODEL IS NOT AFFECTED WHICH I FIND THAT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. I AM SELLING THE CAR BUT I ALSO WANT TO LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALER IN THE MORNING TO GET THE COIL RECALLS DONE. IF THE DEALER DECIDES NOT TO DO THAT EITHER AND WITH THE AIR BAG PROBLEM SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR MAYBE KILLED DRIVING THIS CAR AND I JUST WANT TO DO MY PART AND I DO NOT WANT A LAW SUIT ON MY SHOULDERS. I WILL GIVE THEM ONE MORE CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. I HAVE NOT DROVE THE CAR SINCE I HAD THE ACCIDENT AND WANT TO SELL IT AND TO DO SO I AM HAVING IT INSPECTED TOO. ALL THE WORK SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME I HAD THE ACCIDENT ! I GUESS IT MUST BE TO EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND A LIFE DOES NOT MATTER ANYMORE TO ANYONE IN THIS SICK WORLD.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - PHILLIPSTON, MA

    RANDOM UNINTENDED GRADUAL ACELLERATION. HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU RESUME CRUISE CONTROL TO A HIGHER SPEED. EXCEPT IT DOESN"T STOP AND CONTINUES ACELLERATING. THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL AT ALL. PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL ONCE STOPS THE ACELLERATION. ALTHOUGH LAST TIME IT TOOK 2 TRIES. CAN LIVE WITH IT. SO FAR ANYWAY. BUT DON'T WANT TO SELL IT WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IS NO HELP. HAPPENS MAYBE 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK (100 MILES).

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - PHOENIX, AZ

    I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS NOW. THIS NOW MAKES 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AC CONDENSER. DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE OIL COOLANT FILTER AND THE TWO PIPING THAT RUN IN BETWEEN THE OIL COOLANT FILTER AND THE AC CONDENSER CAUSES IT TO RUB AGAINST THE AC CONDENSER AND OVERTIME PUNCTURE IT AND PUT A HOLE THROUGH THE CONDENSER.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - GREEN FORK, IN

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE K-FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,995.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - ASHTABULA, OH

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER COLLIDED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAINT THE CONTACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND SEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ UPDATED 03/22/16.*JB

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - NEWPORT, VT

    WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT MY DAUGHTER'S, I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC. A LARGE BANG AND THE TIRE POPPED. WHEN I HAD A MECHANIC COME LOOK AT IT, HE SAID THE SPRING HAD BROKE AND WENT INTO THE TIRE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN HER DRIVEWAY. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I WAS LOOKING UP COST AND FOUND THE RECALL. I AM SO GLAD THIS WAS NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING OR HAD MY GRANDKIDS IN THE CAR.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - PITTSBURGH, PA

    MY WIFES VEHICLE IS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WITH APPROX. 75,000 MILES ON IT. WE'VE PURCHASED IT NEW. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, SHE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND IT SUDDENLY STARTED LURCHING FORWARD. SHE WAS ABLE TO ARREST IT IN 10-12 FEET. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THEN, SIX WEEKS AGO, AS SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND ROLLING A FEW MILES AN HOUR IN REVERSE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, AFTER DOING A UNCONTROLLED DONUT IN THE STREET SHE HIT A NEIGHBORS GARAGE AND A UTILITY POLE BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED, IN SPITE OF HER FRANTICALLY BRAKING. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE STREET AT THAT TIME. DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE WAS $2300.+ AND THE CAR WAS ANOTHER $1925.+. TWO WEEKS AGO, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER STOPPING IN TRAFFIC. THIS TIME SHE HIT THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. NO DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, BUT $1710+ TO HER FRONT END. EACH ACCIDENT COST US $250 IN DEDUCTIBLE. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL TRADE IT IN AS SOON AS IT IS FIXED.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
    - CHANNAHON, IL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARE TIRE RACK LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION AND COULD NO LONGER SECURE THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE